Anahuac NWR Bird Rookery

In 2019 I had a chance to visit Anahuac NWR. With COVID-19 driving many of us to seek out activities that can be done safely with social distancing during the COVID pandemic. 

The Anahuac NWR Bird Rookery part of Anahuac NWR is a bit odd, its tucked many miles from the main visitor infrastructure but it has some great short trails to get you into the lowlands where the gulf of Mexico and the State of Texas blend together.

The first parking area will put you at the live oak trailhead. The area is well paved, easy for my sedan to navigate. Its buggy, I suggest you bring your bug spray. The total length of the trail is less than 1/2 a mile and you will move across a diverse set of landscapes ending at a waterway where you can feel far away from everything.

The second parking area you will come across puts you at the Rookery trial head. This trail is better developed (Fewer bugs), longer perhaps 1- mile with an equally diverse set of landscapes, ending at a large field that is half marsh, half solid land. This trail is a birding dreamscape. We saw a couple out looking for a few feathered friends who were on their trips back north.

I think that I most enjoyed was the water crossing at the very start of the trail, so many fish, birds, and turtles to be seen. We easily lingered for 30 min spotting these animals as they enjoyed the warm sun and cooler water.

We coupled our trip to this part of the refuge with an afternoon on Bolivar flying kits and enjoying the gulf.

The total trip from downtown Houston and back was 9 hours. A great chance to get out of the city for the day.

Sulphur Springs

Camp Tonkewa Springs

Chiangmai Thai

One of the great things about living in longview is the every changing array of restaurants. New ones open every month and others close about as often. Not all are fantastic but many are worth a try... I mean hey what else are you going to do tonight?

About 6 months ago with no fan fair Chiangmai Thai opened in a strip mall behind the AT&T store. I was luck to spot is and have visited several occasions.

The food is variable based on how busy, the day or the week and who is cooking. The prices are reasonable and the food is fairly fast.

Their wait staff is unique, all brand new servers who have no experience in food service and who know nothing about Thai food. A true experience every time, but one that I honestly enjoy.

Two negatives that I would feel remiss not mentioning: If its a dish that comes with rice you will need an additional side as the rice potion is too small. Secondly last week when we went in a cockroach was spotted scurrying across the wall in the dining area.

http://www.longviewthaifood.com

Lake Houston Campground

One of the great things about Texas is its never too cold to camp, there is however a 4 month time frame when its quite hot and camping is less than desirable.

From the Longview/ Kilgore area you are about 4 hours from downtown Houston, however you can reach the City park of Lake Houston in about 3hours. This park is located on the northern most part of Houston and is a great stop on your way to the Houston Airport that is also situated in the norther part of the Houston.

Unlike many city parks this one has overnight camping including a full bath house.

They also have family style bunk cabins for rent, along with indoor and outdoor pavilions.

I did not venture too far onto the trails but the whole area has that back woods bayou meets pines feel that is unique to this part of the county.

Henderson TX Rodeo

It'll drive a cowboy crazy
It'll drive the man insane
And he'll sell off everything he owns
Just to pay to play the game

And a broken home and some broken bones
Is all he'll have to show
For all the years that he spent chasin'
This dream they call rodeo

Well it's bulls and blood, it's dust and mud
It's the roar of a Sunday crowd, it's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle, he'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps, it's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo, it's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain and they call the thing rodeo

It's the broncs and the blood
It's the steers and the mud
And they call the thing rodeo

 Garth Brooks - Rodeo Lyrics 

I don't know if anything else needed to be said. If you are living, visiting or passing through East Texas a trip to the Rodeo is a must do on your list. The Henderson Rodeo is a family Rodeo (that means no smoking, no swearing and no alcohol). As an added bonus their rodeo arena is somewhat enclosed keeping the cool night air and the bugs at bay. And of course you will get a satisfying dose of Texas pride, cowboys and true blue patriotism.

Pairs Texas - Pairs Bakery

A bit of a drive from Longview.

En route to an Oklahoma Casino.

A ghetto Eiffel tower. 

A Bakery

A Bakery that deserves to be called a Bakery

Devine cookies

True coffee

Homemade breads

Real ingredients

Modern industrial vibe

and a bit of the stereotypical french attitude

Perfection.

A weekend in Hot Springs AR

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Longview Tx is less than 5 hours from Hot Springs AR. Full disclosure I love Hot Springs AR.

I love the food in Hot Springs, and on this weekend trip during the late fall my husband and I discovered Cafe 1217, a fantastic healthy deli, its off the walking section of the historic district but is on a main road in town. As this was our second trip to Hot Springs since moving to East Texas we felt comfortable with the off the main street journey and it was completely worth it, this is a top choice for anyone having a meal in Hot Springs.

http://www.cafe1217.net/menu.html 

 I love the historic baths in Hot Springs National Park. I don't have any photos, but plenty are online so look it up and give yourselves at least 2 hours to soak while your in Hot Springs. On both visits now we have spent closer to 5 hours at the baths, just thinking about it makes me want to drive up there this weekend....





And of course the hiking. The national park has an abundance of easy access hikes, from 1/4 miles that are paved to long day trips and even a few multi day options. Being weekend visitors we have stuck to the shorter side of thing.








During this trip we took the journey up the observation tower. Being late fall the colors were mostly gone but it was an interesting experience and the observation deck had an abundance of local history. Opting to take the elevator up is a great idea and the stairs down are a bit crazy if you not very comfortable with heights. I enjoyed the tower but would not list it as a must do if you only have one weekend in Hot Springs.









Following the tower we drove the mountain top road to the side away from town and did a 2 mile there and back journey on a well maintained sloping path. Any time hiking in a lovely landscape is a great use of time.

Java Primo

Up early on Sunday Morning to make it back to Longview with time to get ready for the next week we have now twice stopped in Arkladelphia for coffee/ Chai. A small chain Java Primo make a blended Chai that is divine. Nestled in the historic down town of this struggling college town there is always parking and you will walk away with some caffeine and a smile.

Down Town

Santa Land

(this post was drafted in Dec 2014 and is just now being published)

As a child on several occasions my parents would put us in the car and drive us through a christmas light display. Now reaching my second year in East Texas and having seen the miles of cars lined up for Santa Land I knew it was time. My husband and I got in the line of cars and slowly crept our way to Santa Land. 

The first bit of advice I have is go pee before you get in line. The second bit is have some sort of book on CD or pod case, I promise you that local radio will get old after the first 30 min that you are in a dead stop on a county road just waiting to have the cars start to move forward.

As we approached the park it was instantly apparent that this was the best idea ever. They have a low frequency raid station that the trees at the entry way are set to and once in the park music is pumped in. This being Texas so many kids were in the beds of pickup trucks lounging on beanbag chairs and eating popcorn, it made me want a pick up all the more.

The park loop will take you a solid 45min and the quality and aww is continual. If you are visiting or living in East Texas a christmas season to Santa Land is well worth your time.

http://santalandtexas.com 

Jefferson Tx