Brantley Lake State Park
A quiet basecamp in southern New Mexico where open land, dark skies, and nearby parks shaped the stay.
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park
A wild desert stop with incredible animals, a surprise bobcat, and a new photographer behind the lens.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
A few days in the dunes, where the landscape shifts underfoot and the sky does the rest.
San Angelo State Park
A slower stay in West Texas, where open ground, good light, and a surprise rodeo rounded out the week.
Guadalupe River State Park
A quiet stay north of San Antonio, where my first solo tow gave way to river walks, dog swims, and a first real taste of Texas Hill Country.
Richmond, Texas
A stay outside Houston that slowed things down
Martin Dies Jr. State Park
A quiet East Texas stay where the woods, sloughs, and lake matter more than any single attraction
Sam Houston Jones State Park
A rebuilt river park near Lake Charles, with a simple campground rhythm and easy trail time.
Palmetto Island State Park
A quiet loop in the palmettos with short trails that keep pulling you into the swamp.
Fontainebleau State Park
A live-oak campground on Lake Pontchartrain that's just close enough to New Orleans