My three children and their families are just returning from several days of snow skiing, snowmobiling and sledding in Red River, N.M.

They had a great time but it’s a long journey and very expensive. And I can sure do without all that snow and ice and very cold temperatures.

Any temperature near zero at daybreak is too cold for me. I think a better idea would be to camp a few days during the holidays at some of our great Texas State Parks.

One of the advantages of living in South Central Texas is these spring-like days right in the middle of winter. You don’t get many of those 70-degree days in Michigan during late December. These warm-up days after the passage of a cold front make great Texas camping days.

Let me suggest a few parks — most of them are under a two-hour drive.

Choke Canyon State Park — Located off IH-37 about an hour and a half south of San Antonio, this park is built around a 20,000-acre reservoir. Largemouth bass and channel catfishing are awesome on the lake. But the wildlife viewing in the campgrounds is South Texas at its best.

The Calliham campground is overrun with whitetail deer. Many of them are massive trophy bucks. Photographers from all over America can be seen shooting buck pictures they hope end up on the cover of some outdoor magazine.

Javelina, feral hogs, Rio Grande wild turkeys and endless species of birds can also be seen and photographed very near your campsite.

Palmetto State Park — This park, located on the San Marcos River just south of Luling, seems out of place. It reminds me of a Louisiana or East Texas river swamp. It is named for an indigenous dwarf palmetto that lends a “swampy” feel to the park. Canoeing, nature study and wildlife viewing all add to the camping experience in this unique little park.

Hill Country State Natural Area — This area is a must for the cowboy or horse person. What else would you expect from a park in Bandera, “The Cowboy Capital of the World?”

Overnight equestrian camping facilities at the park can accommodate those who bring their own horse to roam the 36 miles of trails. Several primitive camp grounds are available or the rhinestone cowboys can sleep in comfort in one of the two group lodges.

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park Historical Site — Located in the beautiful Hill Country near Fredericksburg, this park honors the 36th president of the United States. History buffs will love to take the National Park Service bus tour of the LBJ Ranch, known as the Texas White House. Visit the one-room school house that Lyndon attended, the family cemetery and exhibits of LBJ memorabilia.

Pedernales Falls State Park — This is another Hill Country must. The Pedernales River flows over a series of limestone ledges, giving the park is name. Whitetail deer roam the park in great numbers and bird blinds let birders get including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler that inhabit the cedar thickets.

Bastrop State Park — The lodges and cabins in this park, located right in the middle of the “lost pines of Texas” are both historic and beautiful. The park was built buy the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression of the 1920’s. The stone and timber buildings are built from native sandstone, oak and cedar.

Cyclists and mountain bikers love to camp in this park because of the undulating, pine tree-lined, scenic 13 mile park road between Bastrop and Buescher State Parks.

Brazos Bend State Park — If you are willing to drive a little more, this popular 5,000-acre nature refuge southwest of Houston is awesome. It’s one of my favorites of all our Texas parks.

Deer and raccoons are everywhere, but alligators take top billing. Big platforms built on swampy lakes are perfect viewing sites to see gators and waterfowl. Over 30 miles of multi-use trails provide great opportunity to hike and see this great hardwood river bottom preserve up close and personal.

Don’t let winter give you cabin fever.

Our mild Texas winters are perfect for some great camping experiences whether in tents, campers or cabins. On top of that these parks are near home and inexpensive.



Jim Darnell is an ordained minister and host of the syndicated outdoors television show God’s Great Outdoors. His column runs every Thursda in The Daily Record.