| Texas is big and brawny in every way, a state | | | | in all shapes and sizes. There are garden-variety |
| brimming with natural assets. Whether visiting rugged | | | | types like skunks and jackrabbits and more ominous |
| mountains, sandy beaches, wild canyons or pine tree | | | | residents such as black bears, coyotes and mountain |
| forests, the "Lone Star State" pleases travelers in a | | | | lions. The bird population is considerable, |
| million wonderful ways. | | | | encompassing more than 450 species, offering the |
| In the northwest panhandle plains, Palo Duro Canyon | | | | greatest collection of winged friends in the entire |
| State Park is located in Canyon, Texas. Comanche | | | | national park system. Fortunately for visitors, |
| and Apache people, Spanish explorers, modern day | | | | hundreds of miles of roadways and nature trails |
| Texans, and tourists alike have all relished in the | | | | provide tried-and-true routes for exploring all of Big |
| bounty of this high plains preserve. Palo Duro Canyon | | | | Bend's interesting nooks and crannies. |
| was gradually carved over the course of a million | | | | On southeast Texas' Gulf Coast, Padre Island National |
| years by the relentless Prairie Dog Town Fork of the | | | | Seashore is located in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast |
| Red River. The result is a canyon that presently | | | | of Corpus Christi. This seashore protects the world's |
| measures 120 miles in length, 20 miles in width, and | | | | longest remaining undeveloped barrier island and |
| reaches a depth of approximately 800 feet, earning it | | | | attracts 800,000 visitors each year. For those who |
| the popular title "Grand Canyon of Texas." The | | | | like waterworks, count such favorite pastimes here |
| canyon's subtle colors - the red, white, yellow, gray, | | | | as saltwater fishing, windsurfing and beachcombing |
| and lavender- arise from the claystone, sandstone, | | | | for seashells and driftwood. Many visitors seem to |
| gypsum and mudstone layered within its walls. Area | | | | enjoy participating in the park's special hatchling turtle |
| plant life adds variety to the landscape too, with | | | | release programs. At these sessions, baby sea turtles |
| mesquite, cottonwood, and juniper trees, and Indian | | | | whose eggs were incubated at a park facility are |
| blanket and star thistle enlivening the scene. Animals | | | | carefully set free into Gulf waters. Landlubbers on |
| such as the Palo Duro mouse, barbary sheep, | | | | Padre Island can go bird watching, hiking, biking or |
| roadrunner and longhorn steer may be viewed from | | | | horseback riding. All the while, Padre's rangers present |
| the park's auto routes or scores of hiking, biking and | | | | interpretive deck talks and beach or birding walks |
| horse trails. Newcomers should stop by the visitor | | | | designed both to entertain and educate guests. |
| center on the canyon rim, a native stone structure | | | | In nearby Brownsville, Texas' southernmost city, has |
| designed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the | | | | been billed as "On the Border by the Sea," offering |
| early 1930s. For guests who'd like to hear the | | | | the best of both worlds for the long- or short-term |
| compelling tale of the "Lone Star State's" pioneer | | | | visitor. Cross the Rio Grande from Brownsville and |
| heritage, the popular "Texas Musical Drama" is | | | | spend a day in Matamoros, Mexico. Or, visit the Sabal |
| performed seasonally at Palo Duro's outdoor | | | | Palm Grove Wildlife Sanctuary, nested on 172 acres. |
| amphitheater. | | | | Owned by the Audubon Society, it's one of the |
| Big Bend National Park, accessible from Marathon, | | | | best-preserved Sabal Palm forests in the United |
| Alpine, or Marfa/Presidio, is at the mountainous | | | | States. |
| southwest tip of the "Lone Star State." Aptly named | | | | A short jaunt to the northeast brings you to Natural |
| "Big," this national treasure is certainly vast and wild; it | | | | Bridge Caverns (located just north of San Antonio). |
| does take several days to truly explore these | | | | This cavern is one of the world's premier show |
| parklands and the far-flung towns within this region. | | | | caves. One way of entering the South Cavern is to |
| Travelers should keep an eye (or two) on their gas | | | | be lowered down a 160-foot shaft on a winch. For |
| gauges and fill up their tanks whenever the | | | | those not quite so adventurous, there's a walk-in |
| opportunity arises. Big Bend's terrain is a contrasting | | | | tunnel to the bottom of the shaft entrance. Once |
| combination of Chisos Mountain woodlands, canyons | | | | there, you'll be awed by stalactites in excess of 6 |
| cut by the mighty Rio Grande, and an enormous | | | | feet in length, and one that is 14 feet long - among |
| expanse of the Chihuahuan Desert. An appealing mix | | | | the longest in North America. Above ground, guests |
| of plants represents both American and Mexican | | | | enjoy the cave's namesake, the 60-foot Natural |
| varieties, and the park's desert-dwelling animals come | | | | Bridge that spans the sinkhole of the cavern. |