The Wide Open Spaces: The Beautiful Outdoors in the Texas Hill Country.

More than 500 thousand acres of Texas is beautiful land with unspoiled ecosystems, state natural areas, state parks, and historical sites. In the heart of Texas there is something for every outdoors enthusiast. You will be able to find lakes a plenty, and tons of state parks with hiking, biking, and enjoyment of the outdoors.
In the northern part of the Texas Hill Country about 90 minutes north of Austin, you will find the county of Burnet. Located in Burnet County, you will find Longhorn Cavern State Park. This is a natural limestone erosion creation that has taken thousands of years to form and what a wondrous site to behold. You will be able to take a walk back in time in the museum and learn about the history of the cavern. It has been speculated that it was used as shelter during the prehistoric times for cavemen and many Ice Age fossils have been found in the area. However, the earliest records show that the Comanche Indians used it first. There is also history of its use during the Civil War and there is legend that it was the hideout of the notorious Texas outlaw, Sam Bass. It is definitely a great place to explore and see a piece of Texas history.
For more outdoors recreational activities, you should head on over to Inks Lake State Park located on the Colorado River in Burnet County Texas. Here you will see the geological wonder of gneiss, or protrusions of granite rocks. They are a beautiful site to behold. The best way to view this is definitely from the water and there is plenty of that at Inks Lake State Park. It is a great place for all water activities as well as hiking and backpacking along the 7 miles of trails. Definitely a must visit place if you want to see some more rugged terrain.
If you head a little more west to the counties of Lampasas and San Saba, you will find yet another haven for the outdoors devotee: the Colorado Bend State Park. Again, Texas shows its beautiful nature. You can take a guided tour to the Gorman Falls or even go on the Gorman Cave tour. While most of the park can only be seen by way of guided tours, it is definitely a great place to visit to see the beautiful, rugged terrain. Here, you will find not only 15 miles of hiking trails, but also mountain biking trails and lots of places for primitive camping. If water is more your thing, you can enjoy canoeing in the beautiful canyons of the Colorado River. You can even see Post Oak Falls by way of boat about ½ a mile down the river. It is a great place to spend the day enjoying the beautiful Texas scenery and watch the sunset.
Texas has a lot to offer for everyone. The next time you are visiting Austin or San Antonio, the gateway to the Texas Hill Country, make sure to visit all of the beautiful sites. It is definitely a place to visit if you like the great outdoors. No matter what type of outdoors activity that you like to do, make sure to make the Burnet, Lampasas and San Saba Counties a must stop on your trip to the Texas Hill Country.

Tymon Hytem is a native Texan who has lived in the Texas Hill Country his entire life. He is knowledgeable about the lifestyles, foods and travel destinations of Texas. You can find some more information on Texas restaurants, destinations and attractions that you do not want to miss by visiting www.cuisineofaustin.com/ > Austin Restaurants and www.cuisineofsanantonio.com > San Antonio Restaurants .

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