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.
Travel & Outdoors
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.
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”?
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.”
Critters
January 31, 2023
What the Heck Is Going On at the Dallas Zoo?
After a leopard escape, the suspicious death of a vulture, and the theft of two monkeys, Texans are anxiously awaiting an explanation.
Music
January 31, 2023
The Ultimate Road-Trip Playlists for Six Texas Destinations
A longtime reporter makes some big decisions about what to listen to when you’re heading to Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, or the Big Bend region.
Critters
January 23, 2023
After a Long Saga, a Weird Little Texas Cave Critter Is Staying on the Endangered Species List
The blind, elusive Bone Cave harvestman was at the center of a right-wing attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act.
Critters
January 17, 2023
I Wrote a Book Called ‘The Leopard Is Loose.’ Then a Leopard Got Loose in Dallas.
An escape in 1950 inspired my novel. The wildly different public reactions show how much our relationship to animals has changed.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Why the Deer Are Bigger and the Hunting Is Easier in Texas
Wildlife biologist Larry Weishuhn explains the changes he’s seen in his lifetime of Texas woodsmanship.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades.
It’s easy to forget that fire ants are actually an invasive species.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Big Bend, Big Crowds
What happens when hundreds of thousands of people go to the same place looking for a little quiet time? One of our two national parks is finding out.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
But It’s Not a Dry Heat, Actually
State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon says we need to be ready for more triple-digit days and more humidity.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
“We Lived a Wacko, Crazy Life” on Caddo Lake
Dottie Carter shares her memories of life in Uncertain, Texas.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
Whither the Wild Pecan?
Our state tree has been genetically transformed to meet the global nut market’s demand. But what’s good for the world may not be great for Texas.
Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
An Ode to Texas’s Disappearing Swimming Holes
I’ve spent the past half century immersing myself in Texas’s clear, cool waters. But if development and drought have their way, I may be the last of my kind.
Critters
January 12, 2023
Pray for the Predator
Proposed regulations have prompted an intense backlash from hunters, trappers, and landowners.
Parks & Recs
January 9, 2023
Welcome to Palo Pinto, Texas’s Next State Park
Set to open later this year, it'll give North Texans 4,871 scenic acres to roam.
Business
January 6, 2023
Inside Frisco’s Lavish, Enormous New Golf Resort
Here’s what half a billion dollars buys in luxury golf amenities.
Parks & Recs
January 4, 2023
I Fell in Love With Camping at Stephen F. Austin State Park
This peaceful spot near Houston is perfect for families, history buffs, and first-time campers.
Travel & Outdoors
December 21, 2022
Take a Hike on New Year’s Day, and You’ll Have Good Luck All Year
Well, that might be a stretch. But these six Texas hikes will start your 2023 off right.
Travel & Outdoors
December 16, 2022
Reclaiming the Outdoors for My Abuelos
Edward Abbey’s acolytes and their ilk lament the overcrowding of natural spaces. But the land was never theirs to begin with.
Travel & Outdoors
December 7, 2022
Why You Should See Mexico City Like a Tourist
Forget the trendy emphasis on so-called authentic neighborhoods and instead focus on the magnificent art and architecture of this bustling world capital.
Travel & Outdoors
December 7, 2022
Explore These Five Pueblos Mágicos Near Mexico City
These magical towns all offer something special, from outdoor excursions to artisan goods.