Travel & Outdoors
March 16, 2021
Sometimes It’s Hard to Be a Garden
Houston’s newborn Eden survives its first major weather event.
Travel & Outdoors
Travel & Outdoors
March 3, 2021
How to Care for Plants Damaged by the Texas Freeze—and Prep for Spring
Patience is key, but go ahead and trim those mushy bits.
Travel & Outdoors
March 3, 2021
Inside the Ambitious Plan to Redesign Houston’s Biggest Park
A ten-year, $205 million renovation is transforming Houston’s Memorial Park from a dense and dying thicket into a lush oasis. But is this restoring nature or replacing it?
Critters
February 28, 2021
Axis Deer Had Overrun the Hill Country. The Winter Storm Devastated Them.
Exotic species brought to Texas from Africa and Asia fared poorly in freezing temperatures.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Critters
February 17, 2021
In South Padre, Texans Have Rescued More Than 4,000 “Cold-Stunned” Sea Turtles
Conservationists worked to bring the endangered animals to shore—but getting the turtles warm amid a blackout is the next challenge.
Parks & Recs
February 12, 2021
Finding Respite at Davis Mountains State Park and Its Historic Indian Lodge
In the heart of hard desert country, this welcome refuge features hiking, breathtaking vistas, and proximity to must-visit West Texas attractions.
Parks & Recs
February 12, 2021
Where to Eat, Shop, and Stargaze in and Around Fort Davis
With Davis Mountains State Park as your home base, you can find a lot to explore in the area.
Travel & Outdoors
January 26, 2021
As More Novices Head to the Wilderness, Rescues Are Spiking at Some Texas State Parks
Big Bend Ranch State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area both saw a 50 percent surge in backcountry rescues last year.
Hunting & Fishing
January 21, 2021
In Search of the Chachalaca, the Least-Hunted Game Bird in Texas
With its distinctive, raucous call, the chachalaca is often heard in South Texas—but good luck spotting one.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Hunting & Fishing
January 20, 2021
Where to Hunt, or Photograph, Exotic Animals in Texas
From the Big Bend to East Texas, the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas ranches have been transformed in recent decades by the proliferation of exotic game animals, many of them rare and endangered in their native habitats. With the rise of “Texotics” has come an army of
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Wildlife
January 20, 2021
How Texas Hunting Went Exotic
Sprawling ranches. Rare animals. Rich folks with guns. Welcome to the state’s booming business of stalking wildlife from around the globe.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Travel & Outdoors
January 16, 2021
Sanderson Is an Underrated, Adventurous West Texas Escape
This scrappy town on the edge of the Big Bend region has a trendy motel, pistol-packing waitresses, and starry nights aplenty.
Travel & Outdoors
December 30, 2020
Houston Shut Down Its Biggest Biking Event for Pandemic Safety. The Indie Bike Scene Is Less Concerned.
Social cycling clubs have resumed their group rides, with tricked-out bikes and spotty mask-wearing.
Travel & Outdoors
December 17, 2020
It Snowed Across America, and We’re Not Jealous. We Swear.
It’s beautiful! Enjoy shoveling all of that.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Travel & Outdoors
December 10, 2020
Cold-Water Paddling Is for the Brrrave
Winter kayaking and canoeing are catching on, even among heat-loving Texans.
Travel & Outdoors
December 8, 2020
Jupiter and Saturn Will Soon Align in a Rare Astronomical Marvel, and You Can Start Watching Now
With help from the McDonald Observatory in West Texas, we share seven beginner stargazing tips.
Travel & Outdoors
December 8, 2020
An Old Pecan Tree Is a Beacon of Hope at the Holidays
With 60,000 white lights sparkling in the night, it draws hundreds of people each year in the tiny town of Bartonville, near Dallas.
Travel & Outdoors
December 3, 2020
Ten Great Vacation Rentals Vetted by Texas Monthly Writers
From a stargazing spot in Terlingua to a lakefront cabin in the Hill Country, these are a few of our writers’ favorite getaways.
Travel & Outdoors
December 1, 2020
Where to See Holiday Lights and Meet Santa (Safely) This Year
Across Texas, Santa is staying jolly this year with contact-free visits, drive-through light displays, and more pandemic-proof festivities.
Critters
November 20, 2020
Meet the Carrion-Craving Falcon That’s Taking Over Texas
Crested caracaras used to range no farther north than Texas’s southern tip, but now they’re expanding across the state—perhaps because of climate change and habitat loss.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Travel & Outdoors
November 19, 2020
First Look: Dallas’s Newest Luxury Hotel Revives a Historic Bank Building
The Thompson Dallas hotel has transformed the First National Bank tower into a sleek and sophisticated space. Luxury residences and shops are coming soon, too.
Travel & Outdoors
November 17, 2020
What’s Growing in My Garden Now: Images From Backyards Across the State
Texas gardeners share photos of their fall crops, plus tips for preparing for the winter season.
Travel & Outdoors
November 13, 2020
Paddling the River Walk, and Seeing a New Side of San Antonio
The stretch of the San Antonio River that runs through the city’s downtown has been off-limits to canoers and kayakers for years—until the pandemic provided a rare opportunity.
Travel & Outdoors
November 5, 2020
Meet an Intrepid Texan Who Spends Winters at the South Pole
Rockport resident Wayne White has worked for much of the last three years in Antarctica, where temperatures of minus 100 degrees don’t keep him from taking his daily walk or jog.
Travel & Outdoors
November 5, 2020
Now Is the Time to Plant Wildflowers in Texas. Here’s How to Do It Right.
Eight tips from expert gardeners.
By Rose Cahalan![Rose Cahalan's Profile Photo]()
Travel & Outdoors
October 30, 2020
Tour de Texas: I Just Biked Around the Entire State
I finished my crazy adventure after two months, circumnavigating Texas—all 3,000-plus miles—by bicycle.
Travel & Outdoors
October 21, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 7: Tough Climbs and Spectacular Views in West Texas
Bicycling the Big Bend region was an unforgettable experience, with beautiful desert and mountain vistas making up for the painful hills.
Travel & Outdoors
October 15, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 6: The Underrated Beauty of the Guadalupe Mountains
Nothing beats the feeling of flying down a hill toward the picturesque El Capitan peak.
Parks & Recs
October 14, 2020
Where to Find Fall’s True Colors in Texas
At Lost Maples State Natural Area, the trees put on a spectacular show every autumn.
Travel & Outdoors
October 9, 2020
Get Lost in the Woods at These Five Magical Texas Treehouses
They aren’t just for kids anymore.
Travel & Outdoors
October 7, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 5: Getting by With a Little Help From My Friends
At first, I had only cows and wind turbines for company on lonely stretches of Panhandle highway. Then supporters showed up to help the miles go faster.
Travel & Outdoors
September 30, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 4: Battling High Winds and Exhaustion in the Panhandle
I struggled to keep my bike straight on stretches of desolate highway this week. When the wind was at my back, I’d never been more thankful.
Travel & Outdoors
September 23, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 3: Riding the Northeast Texas Trail and Relishing Local Beers
Breweries in Sherman, Nocona, and Wichita Falls had just what I needed after sixty-mile days on the bike.
Travel & Outdoors
September 16, 2020
Five Great Gravel-Grinding Routes in Texas
Where cyclists can pedal past some stunning views and historic sites.
Travel & Outdoors
September 16, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 2: Riding Behind the Pine Curtain
I cycled nearly 400 miles across East Texas this week, enjoying the kindness of strangers along the way.
Travel & Outdoors
September 16, 2020
Texas Cyclists Are Discovering the Joys of Gravel Grinding
Why many are exchanging paved roads and traffic for rural routes and breathtaking scenery.
Travel & Outdoors
September 14, 2020
Getting Away From It All, on Wheels: Texans Take to Camper Vans and RVs
One Austin-based rental website saw bookings spike by 4,500 percent. Plus: six tips for first-timers.
Travel & Outdoors
September 10, 2020
Nine Fall Gardening Tips From a Texas Landscape Architect
David Hocker is busier than ever this time of year. He says that at home, you should be too. Here’s what to do.
Travel & Outdoors
September 10, 2020
Tour de Texas: Why I’m Cycling the 3,000-Mile Perimeter of the State
I kicked off my adventure by pedaling from Brownsville to Galveston, zipping past cars stuck in Labor Day traffic.
Health
August 25, 2020
Zoos, Aquariums, and Theme Parks Have Reopened Across Texas. But Is Visiting Worth the Risk?
I visited the Houston Zoo in search of normalcy and nostalgia. But filtered through my foggy face mask, the experience was unsettling.
Parks & Recs
August 20, 2020
Where to Go Swimming Now in Texas
A handy guide to which of our beaches, lakes, rivers, creeks, swimming holes, and swimming pools are and aren’t open.
Travel & Outdoors
August 19, 2020
The Texans Are Coming (to Colorado)
Fleeing hot weather and cabin fever, more and more Texas travelers are road-tripping to the Centennial State this summer.
Where To Stay Now
August 19, 2020
Airbnb for the Outdoor Set
Affordable private places to pitch your tent when public parks aren’t an option.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Critters
August 11, 2020
Sit, Stay, Wait: What Training a Puppy Taught Me About Pandemic Life
Rewarding and ignoring are the two key tenets of dog training. They’ve helped me get through this summer, too.
Critters
July 23, 2020
Why Black Bears Are Returning to Texas
Contrary to what a viral video suggests, it’s unrelated to the pandemic.
Parks & Recs
July 22, 2020
Tyler State Park Is the Ideal Escape for These Times (or Anytime)
The northeast Texas oasis among the pines reminds us of happier summers while providing needed respite now.
Parks & Recs
July 22, 2020
Tyler State Park: Where to Sleep and Eat
Rough it—or not—and make sure to get some barbecue.
Travel & Outdoors
July 22, 2020
A Four-Day, 65-Mile Walk Along the Texas Coast
As the state started shutting down, one man took to the coast in search of a different kind of solitude. And seashells.
Where To Stay Now
June 29, 2020
First Look: Austin’s Most Anticipated Grand Hotel
The 1928 Commodore Perry mansion has been restored to its former glory and turned into an upscale resort unlike anything in the city. Join us on a virtual tour.
Travel & Outdoors
June 24, 2020
The Surprising Story of How Salt Has Helped Shape Texas
From the Estelline spring in the Panhandle and the foot of the Guadalupe Mountains to the hypersaline lakes in the Rio Grande Valley, the common mineral is all around us.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()