The day before we left Lake Conroe, we went out exploring the east side of the Sam Houston National Forest. We drove FM 150 east from New Waverly, almost to Coldspring. We turned right (south) on FM 2025 and made an immediate left on FS 210, entering Double Lake Recreation Area.

As soon as you enter, you you may explore either side of the lake.  On the east (left) side of the lake (as you enter), on FS210A, there is a loop of RV camping. On the right side of the loop (it is one way), sites #29, #32, #36 and #39 are pull through. On the left side, #31, #40-#44 are larger back-in sites. As you make the curve, #51 on right is fair sized back-in site and #55 and #60 are pull through sites. Before you leave the loop #65 is fair sized back-in site.

The reason I am being so detailed is that some of the sites with full hookups were not big enough for anything other than a popup or truck camper.   This was a lovely shaded camping area, with some sites overlooking the lake. Further down FS210A is group camping to the left and right. These sites are not suited for RVs.

Camping Site

Back around the other side of the lake on FS210, there are 23 camp sites without utilities on both sides of the road. There are decks and piers on the lake, and a hiking trail with bridges and a boardwalk that circles the lake. There is also an eight-mile mountain biking trail that I will write up in separate post.

Double Lake

If you hike on the biking trail, you are endangering yourself and the bike riders. From Double Lake RA, there is a five-mile hiking trail that will take you to the Big Creek Scenic Area.  The Lone Star Hiking Trail makes a short detour through the lower park area.

Double Lake Hiking Trail

Double Lake RA is stocked with bass, bream and catfish. There is one small boat ramp with parking. Only boats with electric motors are allowed on Double Lake. This 23-acre lake has a swimming beach. There is a wonderful CCC built lodge and pavillion that may be rented.  During the season, canoes and paddleboats can be rented at the concession stand at Double Lake which also has groceries, ice, and other items for sale.

This recreation area is a great spot for day use or camping. We will definitely camp in this spot in the future.

Posted by CyberCelt under Campground Reviews & Camping & Camping & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Hike/Bike/Run & Lakes & Nature & Wildlife Watching | 1 Comment »

Leaving Stubblefield Lake campground, we turned back toward FM 1375,  passing the cutoff to the multi-use trailhead. We stopped at the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Interpretive site.

Red-headed Cockaded Interpretative Site

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker lives in  mature southern pine forests. Often the woodpecker selects pine trees that have an inside core of  dead wood. This allows the woodpecker to easily dig out a cavity. As the woodpecker pecks, the pine tree bleeds pitch around the nest hole. The heavy flow of gum helps keep tree-climbing snakes away from the nest.  It also makes the nest easier to spot.

We were standing there looking for the woodpeckers and their nests.  All of a sudden, we heard them.  Tok, tok, tok.  We remained still and then realized the woods were full of woodpeckers.

Where the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers Live

Can you spot the cavities in the trees excavated by woodpeckers?  Look for cavities with stains beneath them on the trees.  This is where the sap has run.

Multi-Use Trail

Past the interpretive site was a road crossing for the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) and one for the multi-use trail.  Horses and mountain bikes are allowed on the multi-use  trail; but, evidently, it is too sandy and not many people use it.  We have heard about a mountain bike trail at Double Lake Recreation Area. We will check it out tomorrow.

Ferns

I continued to be amazed by the lush greenery everywhere.  Look at the ferns growing along the roadside (above).  The only place you see ferns growing in Texas is on a rock face after a hard rain or under a waterfall.

We crossed back over Lake Conroe and turned right on FS 205 into the Cagle Recreation Area.  Cagle RA has a boat ramp, hiking trails, and 47 full-hookup RV camping sites.  The camping sites are situated along two loops under the pines, Sweet Gum Loop (19 sites) and Sycamore Loop (28 sites).  Some of the camp sites are overlooking Lake Conroe.

We followed FM 1375 to Highway 75, the original highway between Houston and Dallas that was replaced by IH-45. We headed south through the small towns of New Waverly, Montgomery, Esperanza and Willis.  When we pulled back into Thousand Trails we were greeted by a newly blooming tree in our camp site.

Posted by CyberCelt under Birding & Camping & Hike/Bike/Run & Horseback Riding & Lakes & Nature & RV Travel | 2 Comments »

Posted by CyberCelt under Beach & Birding & Camping & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Horseback Riding & Lakes & RV Travel & Rivers & Wildlife Watching | 1 Comment »

Sam Houston National Forest

While we were in Lake Conroe, we explored the Sam Houston National Forest, an incredibly lush, green pine forest. Loblolly pines have rough-textured bark that sticks out from the tree. Shortleaf pines have smoother bark, more like plates of bark. Loblolly pines have large cones and their leaves are groups of three twisted pine needles. The Shortleaf pines have smaller cones and straight pine needles usually found in groups of two. Loblolly pines are found in moist areas, while Shortleaf pines are more drought-resistant.

As you can see by the map below, the Sam Houston National Forest is in chunks and pieces, intermixed with private lands.

We set out to explore the forest by going west on FM 1097 and crossing Lake Conroe. On the west side of Lake Conroe, we turned right on Lake Mount Pleasant Road. This is a windy road that crosses farmland and forest, we stayed to the left whenever the road forked. This part of the byway was all mature pine trees, so we pulled over to listen to the sound the wind made through the trees.

The road ended in a T-intersection with FM 149, where we turned right (north). The road ran through Loblolly and Shortleaf pines. We came to a crossing of the Lone Star Hiking Trail.  This 128-mile trail is off limits to horses, bikes and ATVs.  It is possible to hike segments of the trail by leaving a car at a designated parking area or having a friend pick you up at the end of the hike.

Stubblefield Lake

We drove east (right) on  FR 237 to FM 1357 where we turned east (right) again.  We headed north (left) on FR 215 to Stubblefield Lake Road.  Stubblefield Lake is an oxbow lake separated from Lake Conroe by the wanderings of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River.  The trees around the lake were mature, mixed hardwoods and pine trees. This is not an RV campground, the sites are short and have tent pads. Some sites overlook the lake. The campground is convenient to hikers of the Lone Star Hiking Trail.

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Hike/Bike/Run & Lakes & RV Travel & Road Trips | 2 Comments »

Texas Windfest

April 16-19

Portland Community Center, 2000  Billy G. Webb Drive, Portland, Texas

Saturday morning the annual Windfest Parade will wind through the heart of Portland with jugglers, floats, marching bands and, dancers. Live music fills the air from the entertainment pavilion. Clown shows, Wild West shoot outs and magic shows will entertain you.. Follow your nose to the annual Windfest cook-off to taste chili, ribs and beans. Sunday at noon registration for the annual Windfest Dachshund Dash costume and race contest opens.

Texas Sandfest

April 17-19

Port Aransas, Texas

Sandfest is the largest Master Sand Sculpting Competition in the US! This year, 28 Master Sculptors and 200 amateur sculptors will compete in five different competitions, spanning three days.  Over 100K attended last year.

International Boat Show

April 23-26

Corpus Christi Marina, Shoreline Blvd.,Corpus Christi, Texas

People’s Street T-Head is host to a large boat show and wakeboard and wakeskate event.

71st Annual Buc Days Festival

April 23-May 3

Corpus Christi Bayfront, Corpus Christi

Buc Days begins when the Pirate Queens sail into the Yacht Basin and kidnap the mayor. The mayor surrenders the city and the pirates raise their flag. Buc Days includes illuminated night parade, PRCA Pro rodeo, BBQ challenge, Folklorico competition, carnival, Music and Fire on the Bay, 5k Run, live music.

Posted by CyberCelt under Beach & Camping & Fairs/Festivals & Family Fun & Fish/Hunt & Music & Nature & RV Travel & Rodeos & Sports | 1 Comment »

7th Annual FeatherFest

April 2-5

Galveston Island, Texas

Support recovery efforts after Hurricane Ike and visit one of the nation’s top birding locations during spring migration  Download this event schedule (PDF) or Galveston birding guide (PDF).

Green Jay Photograph from McAllen Chamber

McAllen International Birding Tour

April 18-May 3
Based in McAllen, Texas

The most spectacular birding experiences throughout South Texas, Mexico, and Central America. April 18-21 Monterrey, Mexico; April 22-24 Rio Grande Valley; and April 26-May 3 Costa Rica.

10th Annual Nature Quest

April 21-26

Garner State Park, Concan, Texas

Birding, wildflowers, butterflies, stargazing, rivers and Garner State Park.  Golfing and flyfishing.  See event schedule (DOC), Registration required.

Celebrate Nature! 2009

April 24-27

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

See Yellow-Cheeked Warblers, Black-capped Vireos, learn about native plants. Sunday is FREE fun-filled family events.

Great Texas Birding Classic

April 26-May 3

Based in Lake Jackson, Texas

The Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC), sponsored by the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is a friendly, but serious birding for conservation tournament. Read more on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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The Ice at Discovery Green Through January 19

Discovery Green features an outdoor ice skating rink with a season full of family-friendly activities. Due to unseasonably warm weather, the Ice Rink will open at 3PM on Friday, December 19 and 3PM on Saturday, December 20.  For weather updates call the Ice Rink hotline at 713-434-RINK (7465).  See the events calendar for more information.

Snow Box

Toddler-friendly rink, complete with fluffy snow and a visit from Santa.

Nights on The Ice

Even non-skaters may enjoy the performances from professional skaters, hot jazz music, outdoor films and Friday night skate tunes.

Monday at 6 pm, Houston Skating Stars

The region’s best figure skaters, coaches and precision teams performer for you.

Tuesdays 7-9 pm, All That Jazz…On Ice

Local jazz musicians perform on the Anheuser-Busch Stage

Thursdays 7-9 pm, Silver Blades on the Silver Screen

Glide-in for a collection of the best holiday and skating movies are shown on our super-sized screen on the Anheuser-Busch Stage, overlooking the rink.

Fridays 7-9 pm, Cool Tunes, Hot Ice!

Skate to the tunes spun by DJs from Hot 95.7.

Downtown Christmas Market

December 18 & 25

Ice Carving Competition

January 10

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The Ice at Discover Green is just one of the venues included in the Downtown District Holiday Spectacular. Highlights include an amazing line-up of shows in the Theater District, holiday decor at Main Street Square and shopping adventures like the Houston Pavilion.

Two Holiday Trolleys will connect all of the festive happenings in downtown, making it simple for visitors to park once and experience multiple downtown destinations during their visit. The trolleys are FREE and will run Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday beginning Thanksgiving weekend through December.

Houston Holiday Spectacular - Click for a schedule of events.

Posted by CyberCelt under Animals & Camping & Day Trips & Famous Texans & Kayak/canoe/tube & Music & RV Parks & RV Reviews & RV Travel & Reviews & Skywatching & Trouble | No Comments »