Critters
May 31, 2023
All Hail the Alligator Gar, a Giant and Primordial River Monster
Anglers used to dismiss it as a “trash fish.” Now fishermen (and scientists) are recognizing the gar for the amazing creature it is.
Travel & Outdoors
Critters
May 30, 2023
The Hell Pig, the Texas Titanosaur, and Seven Other Outlandish Beasts That Once Roamed Big Bend
West Texas is home to some of the world's most spectacular fossils, from the gentle moose camel to the fearsome tusked swamp beast.
Critters
May 23, 2023
In Pursuit of Texas’s Rarest Bird, the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken
Fewer than 200 of the birds remain in the wild. Every spring, they put on a vibrant mating display.
Critters
May 22, 2023
Turkey Trouble in Sun City
Aggressive birds are ruffling feathers in an over-55 Georgetown neighborhood. Residents have fended off the gobblers with decorative pillows and golf clubs.
Critters
May 18, 2023
Meet Your New Nightmare, the Hammerhead Worm
If you try to kill it with a shovel, it’ll just split into two.
By Rose Cahalan![Rose Cahalan's Profile Photo]()
Travel & Outdoors
May 15, 2023
A Wildflower Ramble at Clymer Meadow Preserve
The Nature Conservancy paradise teems with colorful blooms—and on May 20, Texans have a rare chance to see them.
Travel & Outdoors
May 10, 2023
Into the Wild with San Antonio’s Bloom Project
The nonprofit helps kids and teens affected by incarceration find healing in nature.
Critters
May 9, 2023
Definitely Don’t Touch the “Blue Sea Dragons” Washing Up on Texas Beaches
This bizarre species has a more potent sting than a Portuguese man-of-war.
Texas Trip Guides
May 9, 2023
Galveston Is a Tourist Hot Spot Once Again
Its fortunes ebb and flow, but the historic island is experiencing a renaissance, with new hotels and renovations and a shiny new cruise terminal.
Where To Stay Now
May 9, 2023
Where to Stay in Galveston
From glamorous resorts to a repurposed storage tank, options abound.
Travel & Outdoors
May 8, 2023
An Ode to Roadside Grilling in West Texas
Dozens of public grills line some of the state’s most scenic highways. Here’s how to enjoy a meal with a view.
Travel & Outdoors
May 2, 2023
Where to Watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse in Texas
Get ready for astronomical magic, daytime darkness, and yes, probably a bit of traffic on April 8, 2024.
Parks & Recs
May 1, 2023
Get Lost in the Fog at This Swampy, Spooky East Texas Park
Mossy cypresses seem to float in the clouds at Martin Dies Jr. State Park, which offers otherworldly paddling and hiking trails.
Travel & Outdoors
April 26, 2023
I Biked the I-35 “Hell Route” From Austin to San Antonio So You Don’t Have To
Cycling for eighty miles along a busy highway frontage road isn’t exactly a wise idea, but I found a perverse enjoyment in it.
Critters
April 24, 2023
Move Over, Snake Farm: Reptilandia Is the Hill Country’s Classy New Reptile Zoo
Ghostly axolotls float, sausage-fat skinks dive, and snakes slither in thoughtfully designed, naturalistic habitats at the new Johnson City zoo.
Parks & Recs
April 19, 2023
Meridian State Park Offers Delights for Every Age
My kids splashed in the lake and studied bugs, while I was thrilled to see a rare golden-cheeked warbler.
Critters
April 18, 2023
The Ringtail Is Texas’s Nighttime Ninja
Count yourself lucky if you catch a glimpse of this common but shy nocturnal mammal.
Travel & Outdoors
April 17, 2023
Want to Buy a West Texas Ghost Town? Now’s Your Chance.
The windswept outpost of Lobo is for sale.
Travel & Outdoors
April 17, 2023
Five Great Texas Paddleboarding Trails
From rugged coastal inlets to calm urban lakes, these spots offer something for every SUPer.
Travel & Outdoors
April 14, 2023
Pilot Point Is a Quaint North Texas Getaway (and an Animal Lover’s Paradise)
It promises a grand time on a big lake, next to an awakening downtown square and miles of horse (and lemur!) country.
Best Thing In Texas
April 10, 2023
The Hill Country Is Getting a 367-Acre Nature Preserve, Thanks to a Generous Landowner
Monarch butterflies and painted buntings are among the species that flock there.
Critters
April 10, 2023
Apocalypse Sow: Can Anything Stop the Feral Hog Invasion?
They’ve overrun nearly the entire state, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage annually in spite of widespread attempts at eradication—including traps, contraceptives, and a heavily armed Ted Nugent.
Critters
April 6, 2023
Purple Martins Are on the Wing in Texas
The majestic birds nest only in houses built by human “landlords.”
Where To Stay Now
April 5, 2023
Welcome to the Return of Glam at the Best New Hotels in Texas
Turndown service! Amazing cocktails! Small but expensive soaps! These ten new and renovated hotels (and ten more honorable mentions) know how to treat their guests.
Texas Trip Guides
April 4, 2023
Hip Bars and Culinary Surprises Take Longview to a New Level
Come to this East Texas city for the hot-air balloons. Stay for the gluten-free beers, natural wines, and impressive array of cuisines.
By Katy Vine![Katy Vine's Profile Photo]()
Critters
April 4, 2023
It’s Hummingbird Season in Texas. Here’s How to Bring Them to Your Yard.
The tiniest of Texas birds are also some of the most marvelous, reaching speeds of up to fifty miles per hour.
Parks & Recs
March 29, 2023
Lake Mineral Wells State Park Offers Adventurous Hiking, Fishing, and Some of the Best Rock Climbing in Texas
This underrated pocket of North Texas is well worth your time.
Critters
March 27, 2023
Did Your Wedding Even Count if There Were No Goats?
The new party VIPs are beer-drinking goats, beer-toting donkeys, and the occasional giraffe.
Books
March 24, 2023
Her Grandfather Dug For Fossils in Big Bend. Now Her Photos Celebrate His Spirit of Adventure.
Sarah Wilson's ‘DIG’ combines photos, her grandfather’s Kodachrome teaching slides, and creatively staged paleontological artifacts.
Best Thing In Texas
March 22, 2023
Congratulations to Mr. Pickles, the Houston Zoo’s Elderly Tortoise, on Becoming a Dad
He and Mrs. Pickles are the proud parents of three new hatchlings.
Critters
March 22, 2023
Mosquito Hawks Are Flitting All Over Texas
Favorable weather led to scads of the insects this spring. (And no, they don’t eat mosquitos.)
Critters
March 17, 2023
This Texas Couple Helps Hatch Hundreds of Baby Wood Ducks
Bob and Donna McFarland have handed out 177 nest boxes for the colorful species.
Travel & Outdoors
March 14, 2023
How One Texas Town Is Rethinking the American Lawn
The North Texas suburb of Lewisville is encouraging residents to let their lush, manicured yards grow wild.
Critters
March 13, 2023
The Hunt for Wildcat Fossils in Central Texas
In a dark corner of Natural Bridge Caverns, near San Antonio, wildcat bones lay undisturbed for thousands of years. Scientists are just beginning to unlock their mysteries.
Travel & Outdoors
March 10, 2023
Comfort Is the Hill Country’s Best-kept Secret
The independent spirit that helped create this historic town can also be found in its new restaurants, bars, and stores.
Parks & Recs
March 8, 2023
Empire, Wide and Glorious
As we celebrate one hundred years of our state parks, they are more popular than ever. But our booming population is overwhelming the state’s scarce public lands. What will the next century hold for Texas’s “best idea”?
By Rose Cahalan![Rose Cahalan's Profile Photo]()
Parks & Recs
March 8, 2023
There’s a State Park for That!
The twenty best Texas parks for birding, time traveling, kayaking, meeting up with relatives, and more.
Critters
March 3, 2023
What’s Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas?
Two ’roos recently went walkabout, calling attention to the fact that in Texas it’s legal to keep them as pets—but that doesn’t mean you should.
Critters
March 2, 2023
Texas’s Biggest Coastal Wildlife Rescue Center Is Now Open in Corpus Christi
Visitors can watch injured sea turtles and dolphins recover at the state-of-the-art facility.
Travel & Outdoors
March 1, 2023
Saying Goodbye to Fairfield Lake State Park
I stopped by for a hike on the park’s final day. Its 1,420 acres are set to become luxury homes.
Critters
February 27, 2023
West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country
Scientists are using GPS collars to gather surprising data—including on one bear that walked 35 miles to dumpster dive.
Travel & Outdoors
February 22, 2023
Our Guide to Johnson City, Where You Can Stroll to Wineries and Museums
Here’s where to stay, eat, and explore in LBJ’s hometown.
Hunting & Fishing
February 21, 2023
Texas Women Fly-fishers Are Angling for Respect
They’re changing the state’s male-dominated fly fishing scene.
Critters
February 13, 2023
Beware the Mighty Mantis Shrimp
It’ll punch you with a tiny spear that has the force of a .22 rifle.
Hunting & Fishing
February 9, 2023
My Quest to Lasso an Aquatic Bronco
The first rule of catching a carp: don’t expect to catch a carp.
Hunting & Fishing
February 9, 2023
Carp Diem! Where to Try and Catch Texas’s Most Underappreciated Fish
Three good spots around the state to fly-fish for Cyprinus carpio.
Travel & Outdoors
February 8, 2023
Let the Good Times Roll at These Texas Mardi Gras Parties
Catch beads by the sea in Galveston, join the cowboy-themed festivities in Bandera, or watch a dog parade in McKinney.
Travel & Outdoors
February 7, 2023
Six Great Ski Spots for Texans
Looking for a quick getaway, a kid-friendly resort, or a cozy lodge? We’ve got you covered.
Travel & Outdoors
February 6, 2023
One of Texas’s Coolest Caves Lies Beneath an Upscale San Antonio Neighborhood
Robber Baron Cave once hosted fortune tellers, dance performances, and even a zip line.
Travel & Outdoors
February 2, 2023
But What About the Trees? The Rundown on Texas’s Icy “Oakpocalypse”
A forester assures us most of our Texas trees will likely come out of this fine. Until then, “Cra-a-ck.”