It’s often said that everything is bigger in Texas, and the amount of outdoor activities in the state is no exception. From hiking at national parks to rafting and riding through canyons, there’s no shortage of things to do outside in the Lone Star State. Given the sheer number of opportunities available to the general public to get outside and explore, the Texas outdoors could more aptly be called the Texas playground. Here are some opportunities to get outdoors and have some fun in the state of Texas:
The playground at Exploration Park is vibrant, colorful and full of character. It features just about any play component available, including net climbers, disc swings, puzzles, a tube slide and more. All of the commercial playground equipment Texas used has been manufactured in a youthful color to create a cohesive play space for Texas children.
The play site at Klyde Warren has a great futuristic feel with galactic net climbers in bright colors mixed with silver steel elements. Built under the skyscrapers and architecture of Dallas, it fits seamlessly into the surrounding cityscapes. It is a masterful commercial playground design Texas has implemented into this urban area. Dallas Texas playground equipment is known to be impressive, beneficial and plentiful throughout the city.
This whimsical playground is not far outside of the city between Dallas and Fort Worth. This great location is the perfect place for one of the best playgrounds in Texas. It contains a lovely themed play system, fun cartoonish characters, rope climbers and slides all over an accessible poured rubber surfacing of vibrant green and blue. The design of this playground is visionary, a true gem near two major Texas cities.
Spending time in any one of the 80 state parks in Texas is an excellent way to see the sights of the great outdoors. The largest park in the state, Big Bend Ranch State Park, is over 300,000 acres in area, and is located in south Texas along the U.S./Mexico border. However, there are also smaller parks like Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas, which was named for the many dinosaur fossils and tracks within the park found by archaeologists. In any case, each Texas state park features guided tours and most allow overnight camping. A complete, up-to-date map of Texas state parks can be found here.
Hopefully this article will give one a better understanding of just why the outdoors in Texas are truly a Texas playground. In addition to the various commercial playground equipment Texas has and the school playground equipment Texas offers, these activities are sure to delight families searching for something to do on the weekend. Whether alone or with friends and family, there’s no shortage of outdoor adventures to find and sights to see in the Lone Star State.
Texas is home to over 1,100 public lakes, each with its own combination of fish to catch, including bass, crappie, catfish, and more. With so many lakes to choose from, one should have no problem finding their own Texas fishing getaway. One thing to keep in mind before going out to fish, however, is that the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife requires a license for anyone fishing in public waters. This can be obtained online at the TDPW website, or in person at any TDPW office.
Another fun activity in the great Texas playground is cave spelunking. The state of Texas has thousands of caves, including seven caves that are open to the public and require no special equipment or training to enter. These caves could even take the place of school playground equipment Texas. Most caves in Texas are made of either limestone or dolomite rock, which help create some of the unique structures and formations inside the caves. To learn more about spelunking opportunities in the Lone Star State, visit the Texas Department of Wildlife website .
For fitness enthusiasts and novices alike, rock climbing and rappelling are fun, engaging activities. Fortunately, Texas has several state parks and natural areas that feature rock climbing areas, all of which are supervised by the TDPW. All necessary equipment is provided on site, and those who wish to rock climb or rappel must wear a helmet at all times when on the rocks. Since danger is inherent to rock climbing, novices will learn beforehand some ways to safely practice the activity.
The Green Bay Packers are a professional football team with remarkable staying power in their small town of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Started in 1919, the Packers are the third oldest team in the NFL, known as the only team in the league that isn’t run for profit and owned by the city of Green Bay. Lambeau Field itself is an interesting place to visit because of two primary reasons: the stadium, and the Walk of Legends. The latter is an art walkway of 24 statues celebrating football in Green Bay, past and present.
Tubing is a great activity for those that want a relaxing, less physically demanding outdoor activity than hiking or rock climbing. Of the several rivers that run through Texas, most feature designated tubing locations where one can float downriver for miles atop an inflatable innertube. Although some locations require life jackets before starting, it’s often up to the tuber to decide this. If there’s any commercial playground equipment Texas offers that could replace this exciting activity, it’s yet to be found. Check out this page for more information on the Guadalupe River State Park, one of several state parks in Texas which features tubing as a common outdoor activity.
