PaulR

(apparently can only include 5 images, so I had to turn the other 2 into links)

Took my soon-to-be 3 year old there this weekend for a guy's weekend...and his first camping trip.

It was our first trip to the park, and I think it was pretty much ideal for younger kids...especially for one's first camping trip. They had a great playground, plenty of picnic areas, pretty good bank access for fishing (hot dog skins did the trick for some bluegill), plenty of areas to for some light walking/hiking, and open areas to play. Thankfully, the burn ban was lifted due to the recent rains and we were able to cook in the fire pit rather than having to bring the propane stove. Much better tasting grilled cheese, hot dogs and marshmallows.

We were in the tent only area, with water and no electricity, and it was a great setup. Good restroom/shower facilities, water outlet right there at the campsite, fire ring, metal grill, garbage sack hanger and road access.

Other than getting into the 80s on Saturday, the weather was perfect. And even though it dropped to just under 50 on Sunday morning, he slept fine in the tent and bag. I think all the activities and walking around wore him out, so I'm sure that helped.

On our early morning hikes (he wakes up at about 6:30 and rather than letting him play and disturb our neighbors that early in the morning, we'd get out on the park roads and take a long) we saw deer, rabbits, squirrels and plenty of crows.

Here are a few pictures:

Looking from our campsite with the pavillion in the foreground and the restrooms in the back.



Area near the canoe launch point where we fished.



Indicative of the park road.



The playground.



The hiking trail follows a gas pipeline clearing and touches the inter-park road from Buescher to Bastrop State Parks.



Same clearing, looking South back towards Buescher.

http://]http://home.earthlink.net/~p...r/IMG_0222.jpg

Same pipeline clearing, a few miles down the road provides a nice overlook about halfway to the Bastrop State Park.

http://home.earthlink.net/~paul.r/im...r/IMG_0191.jpg

We didn't do much hiking on the trails...just walked a few hundred yards in from the trailhead. We've taken him on trail hikes before and ended up carrying him more than him walking with us mainly due to the terrain. Losing footing and dallying is an issue, so the stolls on the paved park roads were a little better. But we do plan on exploring the trail a little more when we return.

We'll be heading back in a few weeks...really had a great time.

Side note:

After our walk saturday morning, we decided to take a little side trip over tu Buda (about 45 minutes by car each way) to visit Cabelas. Sure we've got Bass Pro Shops in Houston, but I've been shopping Cabelas for 15 years or so and that's the closest I've been to their Texas store so I figured why not...

I got to do some shopping, and my son really enjoyed the store as well. They've got an aquarium with some very impressive largemouth, as well as catfish, perch, carp, etc. Plenty of mounts and animal displays for them to look at, as well as a few trout ponds in the store. You can even put a quarter in the little gumball machine and get about 20 pellets of food. My son really enjoyed feeding the fish...it was all I could do to pull him away from the pond.

I wouldn't call it a place to go for family entertainment, but if you're passing by, it's a great store with plenty to keep the kids occupied. It probably didn't hurt that Rainbow Systems was having a demo of their play structures outside when we got there.

ploddinTod

Nice trip report, Paul.

It sounds like your little feller took rather handily to his first camping outing. I had heard that there was a hiking trail connecting the two parks. It appears by your pictures that it's rather open utility easement, not a walk through the forest. But the open expanse gives good views of the hilly terrain, which is a welcomed contrast for those of us who live near the flat coastal praire. :rolleyes:

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PloddinTod

PaulR

Well, that's partially true. The trailhead (at Buescher) starts off as a trail through the woods...but we didn't go that far in, as I had my camelbak with water, but no other supplies or map. But the trail does cross the park road at times, and follows the utility easement at least partially, but I think a good part is in the woods.

I'll have more on the trail in about a month after we go back.

But if you look at this picture, you really can't see it, but next to the second (from either direction...or the middle if you'd like), there is a sign indicating that the trail goes off to the right into the woods.




(from the link below)

PaulR

Here's a page that gives a very good description and has some pictures of the trail:

http://www.austinexplorer.com/Hiking....asp?HikeID=30










Same clearing, looks like it was being installed/maintained.









Looking at the trail map:



There's really no short loop from the trailhead, and even if we drove down the road and found a place to park and do a the back loop (closer to Bastrop), the terrain on the West side of the trail is far too rough for a 3 year old.

So maybe we'll pack a lunch, walk for a mile or so, eat and then make our way back.

One thing's for sure...camping sure wears him out and makes him sleep well!