Hit the road from McGregor, TX, in a big and comfy Chevy Traverse or Tahoe to enjoy incredible weekend getaways. Spend time exploring magnificent natural areas, swimming, paddling, and fishing in beautiful lakes, off-roading along the scenic Neches River, discovering the universe’s wonders, and birdwatching at North America’s top birding destination.
1. Jacksonville
If you’re an outdoor adventurer looking for a great weekend destination, Jacksonville is just a little over two hours away. The 7,000-acre Neches River National Wildlife Refuge at 262 West Highway 79 features the best example of a bottomland hardwood forest in the country. There are 25 miles of marked trails along the Neches River and up into the pine woodlands.
Head to the Lake Jacksonville Campground at 2703 Byrd Road on the 1,325-acre Lake Jacksonville, pitch your tent, and enjoy swimming, paddling, boating, and hooking bass, crappie, perch, and catfish. Hit the off-road trails in an ATV, UTV, 4×4, or on horseback at the 2,000-acre River Run ATV Park and go on a drive-through safari at Cherokee Trace at 1200 CR 4405 to observe wildlife roaming across open fields and drinking at the watering holes.
2. Tyler
Take a two-and-a-half-hour trip to Tyler for an incredible adventure in Tyler State Park at 789 Park Road 16. Overnight at one of the tent or RV campsites, hike and mountain bike down 13 miles of trails, paddle on the 64-acre spring-fed lake, fish for bass, perch, crappie, and catfish, and gaze at the stars in the Hudnall Planetarium at the Earth and Space Science Center at 1411 East Lake Street.
Meet the critters at the Caldwell Zoo at 2203 Martin Luther King Boulevard in the North American Herpetarium, African Aquariums, and Wild Bird Walkabout exhibits, and visit the Tiger Creek Wildlife Sanctuary at 17552 Farm to Market Road 14, home to exotic big cats from around the world. Go on a guided tour for an unforgettable encounter with rescued tigers, lions, leopards, and jaguars, and learn more about the plight of these magnificent big cats.
3. Laredo
If you want to follow the road a bit further afield, head to Laredo, about five hours from McGregor, to immerse yourself in the diverse river ecosystem of North America’s most outstanding birding destination and the only place in the country where you’ll find all four species of kingfishers. Observe roughly 240 bird species along the half-mile Las Palmas Trail, the Zacate Creek Trails, and the three-mile Chacon Creek Trail along the Rio Grande.
Catch glimpses of spot clay-colored thrushes, green jays, sparrows, migrating warblers, ducks, osprey, and pelicans around the wetland areas. Hike or bike down the trails in magnificent Lake Casa Blanca International State Park at 5102 Bob Bullock Loop, and wet your hook to reel in largemouth and hybrid striped bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, sunfish, carp, and crappie in the scenic 1,680-acre Lake Casa Blanca.
Go on fantastic road trips for unforgettable adventures in beautiful surroundings. Before you hit the road, swing by Jim Turner Chevrolet today for a thorough vehicle inspection to ensure your ride will get you safely to your destination.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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