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All Texas state parks to offer free admission for one day in November

Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center in Houston, Texas

Visitors get free admission to all Texas State Parks, including Sheldon Lake, on November 3.

tpwd.texas.gov/

Calling all outdoorsy Houstonians: Keep an eye the forecast for Sunday, November 3, because you won't want to miss out on free admission to all Texas state parks in celebration of Texas State Parks Day.

The free admission day is a new tradition after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) celebrated its centennial in 2023. In a press release, Texas State Parks director Rodney Franklin said he hopes the event encourages Texans of all ages to explore and enjoy Texas' natural beauty.

"Any day in a Texas State Park is a good day," said Franklin. "[All Texans] are invited to visit a park that is new to you, take a friend and try a new adventure."

Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center is the closest park for residents in the Houston area. The park has about two miles of trails for hiking and biking, as well as kayaking opportunities, the Jacob Observation Tower, and more. Visitors are also welcome to boat or fish in the 1,200-acre Sheldon Lake.

Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center in Houston, Texas Bring your own kayak or canoe and explore the 1,200-acre Sheldon Lake.tpwd.texas.gov/

TPWD lauds Sheldon Lake as a "natural oasis" due to its location about 20 miles from downtown Houston.

"This park is teeming with things to see, from birds to alligators, prairie grasses to wildflowers, trees to aquatic plants, butterflies to grasshoppers," the park website says. "Bring binoculars to see details and cameras to capture memories."

Sheldon Lake also stands out against many other state parks in the greater Houston area because it is always free to enter. So if a local resident can't make it on the free admission day, they can always come back any other day of the week.

For Houstonians who are keen on a weekend road trip to take advantage of the free admission day, two parks should be at the top of the list: Garner State Park (about 290 miles west of Houston) and Palo Duro Canyon State Park (about 615 miles northwest of Houston). The two popular parks recently appeared among the top 10 best state parks in the nation, according to the 2024 HomeToGo State Park Index.

But if traveling long distances isn't in the cards for that weekend, there's always one of the many state parks around Houston and East Texas, such as:

Stephen F. Austin State Park, San Felipe
Brazos Bend State Park, Needville
Galveston Island State Park
Huntsville State Park
Lake Livingston State Park

A full list of parks and a map of the closest nearby can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.

state parks texas parks and wildlife department houston

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Far West Texas city recognized as a top travel destination for 2026

Photo by Raul Miranda on Unsplash

El Paso was named one of the "Rising Star Destinations" to book for a vacation in 2026.

A new 2026 Travel Trends Forecast from vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has unveiled the top U.S. cities that are on travelers' minds for the next year, and one unsuspecting far West Texas city was included on the list: El Paso.

El Paso was named one of six most sought-after "Rising Star Destinations" in the Southwest and Mountain West regions. Search trends revealed traveler interest in El Paso skyrocketed 191 percent year-over-year, with vacationers pining after "desert landscapes" and "frontier-style towns with modern Western flair."

To determine where travelers are planning on booking their 2026 vacations, HomeToGo surveyed 1,000 American adults from November 26-28, 2025 to discover which locales offer "both affordability and under-the-radar appeal." Search interest and price insights were based on observed searches executed via HomeToGo's website from August 1-November 15, 2025, with a check-in date during 2026.

The reports findings show the vacation accommodations in El Paso cost a median $62.21 per night, earning the city a reputation for being more affordable than Texas' major cities like Dallas or Houston. HomeToGo also said travelers are "increasingly turning to smaller [Southwestern] towns" to find accommodations rather than booking a stay at a large resort.

Additionally, younger travelers like Gen Zers and Millennials are driving the shift toward these hidden gem destinations after collecting inspiration from social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.

"Western destinations are seeing a rise in interest, fueled by a broader cultural moment that has placed such locations firmly in the spotlight," the report's author wrote. "In 2025, artists such as Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter brought fresh takes on the visual language of country music firmly into the mainstream, with this movement further amplified across social media platforms."

There's plenty to do in the self-proclaimed "Sun City," such as hiking in Franklin Mountains State Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visiting local museums, and much more.

Other top "Neo-Western Revival" destinations to visit in 2026 include:

Marana, Arizona
Cañon City, Colorado
Yucca Valley, California
Queen Creek, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona

"According to the survey findings, 76 percent of U.S. travelers plan to go on vacation in 2026, with over a quarter (26 percent) actively booking longer and more extravagant breaks," the report said. "Fifty-seven percent plan to spend more on vacations in comparison to 2025, indicating that the appetite for travel is clearly growing."

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All Texas state parks to offer free admission for one day in November

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schedule your pto

Far West Texas city recognized as a top travel destination for 2026