campermom

In the Hill Country area, Hill Country SNA is your best bet for equestrian activities. If you don't have your own, there are outfitters outside the park which will bring a horse to the park for you to use. Just contact the office there, they have the info. If you do have a horse, there are plenty of portable pens and shade. The trails are old ranch roads so stone bruises shouldn't be an issue. I just wish they had real toilets.

A far a Perdernales as a base camp, great idea. Fredericksberg has Enchanted Rock, you can visit LBJ ranch, Go to Kerrville to tour YO ranch, New Braunfels to Natural Bridge Caverns and Wildlife Safari, Guadalupe River Sp in Spring Branch.

The most Primitive camping I've seen so far is a tie between Bastrop and Lost Maples. We've camped both in tents but at water/elec sites. For wildlife, Brazos Bend outside of Houston is tops. The nature center is like a trip to the zoo. Second would be Perdernales.

Safe, that is a difficult question. I travel with my 5 year old son. Hubbie doesn't like the camping thig so much and works out of town. That doesn't slow us down. I've never felt uncomfortable about our own safety or possesions. We've camped Bastrop, Lost Maples, Garner, Perdernales, Brazos Bend, and South Llano River. The next trip is April 27-30 tto Seminole Canyon. We will be with family since it is so close to the border. I was concerned a little and waited til they said they'd go. Shouldn't be to hot, yet.

We just started camping this fall and have enjoyed every minute out there. We try to put trips together which include 2 parks (Day-tripping one, camping the other). This works well. We've done Bastrop/Palmetto, Lost Maples/Garner, Perdernales/LBJ Ranch, Lost Maples/Hill Country, and South Llano/Fort McKavet. Check which parks are day use only and tack them onto a trip if you're in the area.

Just get out and enjoy what was created just for us.