Page 2 | Nature

GOLIAD

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Ashley Landis.

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It’s 2014 and I’m back to adventuring!

Santa brought me a new tent and some camping gear for Christmas, and I couldn’t wait to try them out. As soon as the temperature rose above 65 degrees, I hit the road to Goliad State Park.

The town of Goliad is important in Texas history. It was a key location during the Texas fight for independence.

The Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga and the Presidio La Bahia, which protected the mission, were sites of bloody skirmishes, and they still stand today in and near the state park. Read more →

BUESCHER STATE PARK

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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It’s that special time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas when the To Do lists pile up with gift shopping, meal preparing, house cleaning, party planning, seeing family and friends, traveling, eating and generally stressing.

When I go “home” for the holidays, I exhaust myself trying to see as many people and do as many things as I possibly can. That was the case during the Thanksgiving holiday and I came back feeling completely overwhelmed.

Fortunately central Texas heated up for a few days, just long enough for me to have an escape to Buescher State Park near Smithville, TX.

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RAINY DAY IN AUSTIN

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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Sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate.

Austin is an outdoors city. There are so many hike and bike trails, kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing; pretty much any outdoors activity you can think of is represented in the Austin area. But what do you do when it’s raining?

There was a 90 percent chance of rain in the forecast when I set out to answer that question.

First I stopped by the Bob Bullock State History Museum. This is a fabulous museum that chronicles the full history of Texas. It also has an IMAX theater and a beautiful terrazzo floor depicting a campfire scene in the entry way.

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LOST MAPLES STATE NATURAL AREA

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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Fall has definitely come to Texas. The air is getting cooler, rain has returned to the forecast and the leaves are changing. Wait, what? Leaves don’t change in Texas.

So I thought.

I heard about this place called Lost Maples State Natural Area, a park full of maple trees that change colors vibrantly in the fall. I had to check it out!

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PEDERNALES FALLS STATE PARK

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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Pedernales Falls State Park is fairly close to home for me, but the short drive doesn’t make it any less spectacular.

The main attraction at the park is, of course, Pedernales Falls. It’s a massive area in the Pedernales River that’s packed with giant boulders, pools and rushing water, and it’s all accessible to the public.

I’ll tell you more about that in a minute. First, if you’ve been following this blog, you’ve probably thought, “I wonder how Ashley sets up camp.” Well you’re in luck! I have the Readers’ Digest version right here…

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SONORA

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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XBar7830 If you’re looking for a relaxing get away with all the comforts of home, Sonora‘s the place.

It’s on I-10, just south of Eldorado, and it’s home to X Bar Ranch Nature Retreat and the Caverns of Sonora.

I was tired when I arrived at X Bar Ranch. Before Sonora, I visited Balmorhea, where I camped, and Marfa, where I slept in a safari tent and bathed outdoors. I loved doing all of those things, but four days of traveling, living outside (in the rain) and packing in as much activity in as I possibly could made me ready for some peace and quiet.

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BALMORHEA STATE PARK

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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