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Northeast Texas: Pines and Lakes in the Lone Star State!

When you head east from Dallas, Texas, a slow transformation occurs. You begin to see pine trees interspersed among the hardwoods. Then, suddenly, you are thrown into a region filled with pines, giving Northeast Texas a nickname: The Piney Woods. This is an area filled with nature preserves, national forests and national parks, making any hiking, cycling, boating, or fishing enthusiast giddy with pleasure. The region is also thick with the ghosts of the past, the very history that gave birth to the Lone Star State.

History buffs should visit Nacogdoches. Billed as "the oldest city in Texas", Nacogdoches began as an outpost for the Spanish in the 1700s. The history of the town can be viewed at The Old Stone Fort, a replica of the fort built by Don Antonio Gil Y'Barbo, founder of Nacogdoches. Reproduced on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University, this important landmark contains a continuing exhibit on the history of the house. The Fort is part of a 15-site walking tour given by the visitors center, which can be found in Civil Plaza.

Another historical destination can be found in Jefferson, one of Texas's oldest towns, which has over 30 structures decorated with State Historical Medallions. In its heyday, Jefferson served as a port for ships steaming along the river on their way to and from New Orleans. Today, Jefferson is a picturesque community basking in its historical importance. Antique shopping is a very popular aspect of the Jefferson experience. If you want a more thorough view, visit the Jefferson Historical Society Museum. The museum is chock full of mementos of pioneer days, early steamboat commerce, and antebellum society.

Near Jefferson, outdoor aficionados will swoon over pristine Lake O' the Pines. The 18,700 acre lake is an excellent spot to pull out your fishing pole, start up your boat's engine, or take a scenic hike among the pine trees. Anglers love that trophy size small and largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish have been pulled from the lake. A series of trails twist and turn throughout the parks that surround the lake. If fishing and hiking are not your thing, hop on one of the many party boats taking visitors on a tour of the lake, or on a midnight cruise.

More outdoor fun can be fun by visiting Caddo Lake State Park. The park got its name from the Caddo Indians that used to reside in the area. The 26,810 acre lake offers fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, and nature trails. There is also an interpretive center in the park providing information on the local flora and fauna. Anglers can rent Jon boats or pontoons as they stalk pickerel, sunfish, large and smallmouth bass, catfish, and crappie.

About 70 miles north of Houston, Lake Livingston is the second largest lake completely in Texas. The lake's surface area covers over 93,000 acres. The lake is set against a backdrop of rolling hills and pine forests and offers further outdoor adventure in Northeast Texas. The lake is part of the Lake Livingston State Park, and draws swimming, sailing, fishing, and beachcombers from around the country.

Avid hiking enthusiasts can ply their hobby in one of the national forests of the area. The Sam Houston National Forest is the largest in the region, and covers 255 square miles. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and off-road activities are very popular. The Davy Crockett National Forest has 250 square miles of relatively undeveloped forest. This is the place to be if you want to get off the beaten path. The Four C Recreation Trail meanders through the forest, offering excellent views along its 20-mile length. The Neches River runs through the forest, and has a canoe trail for those who want to get up close and personal with the river. Or you can venture into the Big Thicket National Preserve, a relatively small (in Texas terms), but widely diverse area of rivers, streams, and wildlife. Trails from a half mile to 18 miles twist through the preserve, the most traveled of which is the Kirby Nature Trail. The trail varies in length from 1.5 to 5 miles, and takes hikers through the scenic, sweet-smelling trail filled with the sounds of owls, woodpeckers, and other inhabitants.

Northeastern Texas is a present wrapped in a historical gift box. The beginnings of Texas are as apparent as the pine trees that dot the countryside. National forests call to nature lovers. Quaint little hamlets, with streets lined with Victorian homes, hearken back to the antebellum south. Rivers, lakes, and streams whisper through the fog, offering their particular aquatic treats. So, if a vacation surrounded by time, in the arms of Mother Nature, sounds appealing, Northeastern Texas is just the place!