A trip to Texas is never complete without horseback riding. If you're a resident and haven't gone horseback riding, some may not even consider you a Texan. So, what are you waiting for? Big Bend State Park in Presidio is the biggest state park in Texas and has some of the best space and trails for horseback riding.

Ancient extinct volcanoes, mountains, canyons, and waterfalls grace this beautiful state park. The park runs along the Rio Grande and natural life is abundant. If you're looking for a true wild west experience, this is where you'll get it. Horseback riding can be done on guided tours or in the backcountry of Big Bend State Park.

Be sure to bring potable water for yourself, as well as our horses. Some water at Big Bend State Park is not potable and all must be treated. In fact, if there is anything that you think you may need for you or your horse, be sure to bring it. As mentioned, Big Bend State Park truly is the wild west, so supplies will be limited to mainly what you bring. There is a rancher station, but it has limited inventory.

As a naturally wild horseback riding adventure in Texas should be, terrain can be quite rough on your horse. Be sure that you bring extra horseshoeing equipment, just in case. You want your horse to have just as much as fun as you and to be comfortable. Speaking of comfort, don't forget about your own footwear. While riding the horse, you will need some riding boots. Any true Texan has to have boots, right? If you decide to be even more adventurous and do some hiking or backpacking, you'll need some hiking boots to tough the terrain.

Big Bend State Park can be enjoyed as a day trip or camp sites and lodging are available as well. The 480 square mile park has dozens of trails and plenty of natural features to explore. Enjoy viewing wild cactus, cottonwood groves, scrublands, and a mountainous region, including canyons and waterfalls. Big Bend State Park has all the best natural features of Texas in one place.

Sources:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/activities/outdoor_recreation/equestrian/
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/big_bend_ranch/

Galveston Island, Texas is known for its abundance of outdoor and water sports. There are many ways to fish in the waters of Galveston. One method is pier or rock fishing directly from the Galveston Island Seawall. Another is breakwater fishing. Aside from being quite fun, another benefit of fishing from the Galveston Seawall is that it happens to be free. Just don't forget to purchase a fishing license; it's required to fish in Texas for anyone between the ages of 17 and 65. Where applicable, be sure to get the three-day license.

A variety of fish can be caught along the Seawall. Some of those include Sheepshead, Sand Trout, Bull Reds, Gafftop Sail, Flounder, and more. Some may choose fishing off the rocks or pier, while others may instead go wade fishing in the breakwaters. The breakwaters of Galveston are calm much of the time. Galveston has plenty of different beaches and areas to fish from. Some are family-oriented, while others are better suited to the adult crowd. Galveston Island Sate Park boasts great breakwaters for fishing.

When some people think of Texas, they may automatically picture a place that is dry and hot. While that may be true for some parts of Texas, Galveston does not fit that bill completely. Dry it is definitely not. How well would that work for fishing?

For wade fishing and perhaps even rock fishing and pier fishing in Galveston, you may want a good pair of waterproof fishing boots. Not only can they protect the feet from getting too wet, but they can be good for walking on wet or muddy terrain. Another important thing to remember about fishing is to check the fishing schedules to be sure winds and other weather will be favorable. Remember that Galveston is an island, so it can be prone to hurricane weather.

Parts of Galveston are still recovering from a hurricane that occurred in 2008. Despite the devastating effects of Hurricane Ike, fishing in Galveston remains strong. Many travel to Galveston just for the fishing, and the 2008 storm that caused so much destruction has not seemed to destroy the love of fishing in Galveston.

Sources:
http://www.galveston.com/islandfishing/
http://outdoor.zappos.com/n/p/dp/45176513/c/128.html

Outdoor vacations don't always have to be about hiking, kayaking and nature walks. One of the most exciting places to visit in Texas is Alamo Village, which is located just north of Brackettville and Fort Clark Springs in southwest Texas. Not only will you get a taste of history, but you will also get an up-close-and-personal view of a real movie set.

Alamo Village was first created as the set for John Wayne's 1960 film The Alamo, but the village still exists today as a tourist attraction for visitors to Brackettville. It is home to the John Wayne Western Museum, which is perfect for those who enjoy learning about the Duke and his films, but it is also a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

First, gunfights take place in the streets and buildings of Alamo Village at least four times a day in the summer. You'll find live music in the Saloon, Mexican food and cheeseburgers in the Cantina and plenty of gifts for friends and family at the Indian Post. Once you've had your fill of the indoor attractions, head outside where the real fun begins.

Alamo Village is set up like an actual old-west town, complete with cattle, horses, dogs, cats and even chickens. Trail rides and cattle drives are scheduled throughout the year, giving visitors a taste of what life was like so many years ago. They even have sheep-shearing and cattle-branding demonstrations by real cowboys.

Horseback riding is available all day long in Alamo Village, sometimes on the trail and sometimes in the village, depending on what visitors want. And you can't miss the comedy gunfights that occur sporadically throughout the day - they might be loud, but they're lots of fun to watch, and you might even get to pick up a souvenir.

Alamo Village also hosts annual cowboy races, which aren't much like the races you see at your local track but are a hoot nonetheless. The first place winner gets a custom trophy saddle, so don't miss out if you know how to sit a horse.

Visiting Alamo Village costs $10.75 for each adult and $5 for each child (kids under 5 enter free). When you visit, make sure you bring a pair of snazzy cowboy boots so you'll fit in. The Durango Ranch boots are a comfortable, authentic choice.