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The Great Outdoors

Outdoor Adventures

Davey Dogwood Park The 200 acre park is open year-round and has five miles of hard surface roads, unincorporated hiking trails and scenic views.

Grapeland Safari See a wide range of animals from all over the world. Drive through our 59 acre park in your own car. There are also pony rides, train rides, a petting zoo and a gift shop with unique souvenirs and refreshments.

Gus Engling Wildlife Management Area

Reagan Park The historic park was named for John H. Reagan. Established in 1911 from a tract of land known as Micheaux Woods. The bandstand was built in 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial and is home to Splash Park & the Museum for East Texas Culture.

Lake Creek Blueberry Farm Join us at Lake Creek Blueberry Farm in Montalba, TX for the best fruit, service and family experience! This year, we will offer pre-picked and u-pick options.

Bigwoods on the Trinity A 7,500 acre fair chase Texas trophy buck, wild boar, and flooded timber mallard hunting paradise just 90 minutes south of Dallas.

Garzilla Fishing Specializing in trophy gar fishing and rod and reel. The Garzilla Guide Service has been featured on the Animal Planet, History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and much more.

Old Pilgrim Church An authentic reconstruction of the original 1833 house of worship, said to be the first Protestant church in Texas.

Geocaching Geocaching is the real-world treasure hunt that's happening right now, all around you even in Palestine, Texas.

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Texas State Railroad Texas State Railroad has something for the whole family; tradition, comfort and adventure.

Palestine Community Forest Contains 700 acres of pine and hardwood tress offering scenic drives leading to lakes with fishing and picnicking. Sumac, yaupon and sweetgum tress add accents of brilliant color during autumn.

Pineywoods Autumn Trail Each autumn in Athens and Palestine, the picturesque landscape transforms to the vibrant colors as leaves begin to turn throughout the East Texas woodlands.

Palestine Community Lakes Surrounded by Community Forest, Upper City Lake, Wolf Creek Lake and Lower City Lake are some of the lakes available for fishing, relaxing, kayaking, canoeing and family fun. All have picnic areas with grills available. Small boats welcome.

ANDERSON COUNTY LIVESTOCK PAVILION & EXPO CENTER

The Boston’s Buckin’ BBQ Cook-off, Bullriding and Kid’s Rodeo takes place every March during the Annual Dogwood Trails Celebration. Other rodeo events and much more. Located at HWY 287N 903-731-4943

LAKE PALESTINE

Lake Palestine, located 30 minutes from Palestine, is a 25,600 acre recreational destination on the Neches River. With a total length of 18 miles, 135 miles of shoreline and an average depth of 16.25 ft, Lake Palestine offers plenty of room for fishing, boating, skiing and much more!

Birding in Anderson County

There are numerous public sites in Anderson County for birding. One of the most popular is the Gus Engling Wildlife Management Area located on U.S. Hwy 287.

Sandhill Crane

Purple Finch

Great Horned Owl

Birds of Anderson County, Texas Detail

GOLF COURSES

Elkhart Golf Course An 18-hole golf course located about twelve miles south of Palestine at 1740 FM 1817 in Elkhart.

Wildcat Golf Course A 9-hole, multi-tee layout with driving range. Wildcat Golf Course is located off Loop 256 at the corner of North Link St. and Country Club Road.
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Pine Dunes Golf Course Awarded Golf Weekly’s #1 course in Texas and #26 in America for 2011. Open year-round. Located at 159 PR 7019 in Frankston, 23 miles from Palestine on HWY 155. Pinedunes.com
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Disc Golf Course The course has nine baskets with three tees for each basket, giving the course a total of 27 holes to play. Greens Park is located at the corner of N. Queen St. and W. Cherokee St.

Fall Weekend Getaway: Post Oak Savannah

This East Texas region is famous for its fishing, railroad history, and foliage

Written by: Dan Oko

Read the article for the best stops in Palestine this fall.

Fall Weekend Getaway: Texas Highways Magazine

Fall Foliage in Palestine

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Palestine welcomes you for a getaway from the big city!

This fall, make the road trip to see the vibrant foliage. Taste what lies behind the pine curtain and experience the foodie scene from fine dining to pub fare. In the mood for something sweet? Don’t worry, we have one of Texas’ favorite pie stops or cool off with a sweet ice cream taco. Home to the Dogwood Trails, Palestine is graced with stately homes, gorgeous scenic drives and a Texas friendly welcome that offers a true Southern experience. 800-659-3484

Follow the Fall Foliage Driving Trails

Fairy Garden Project

There is so much more to explore in Davey Dogwood Park this spring! We know that the 5.5 miles of driving trails make for some amazing views, but park the car and step onto the trails and see how many of our hidden fairy gardens you can find!

How to Combat Nature Deficit Disorder

Does your family spend enough time outside? The odds are high the answer is no. More and more children are not getting as much time outdoors as they need, and the results are significant. Increased childhood obesity, anxiety, and other major health issues have all been linked to insufficient time outdoors. The term “Nature Deficit Disorder” has been coined to refer to these issues. Here are a few ways you can get your whole family to head outdoors and fall in love with nature:

Backyard Adventures

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Exploring the Wider World

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100 Best Family Outdoor Adventures

There are tons of ways to enjoy the outdoor world, and you can explore them together as a family! Focus on fun, exciting activities you all can enjoy. By showing your kids the wonder the outdoors can bring, you can foster a lifelong love of nature.

Content provided by Jenny Miller
https://stopndd.org/