We didn’t have a reservation and took a chance that we could get a camping site by driving up to Brazos Bend State Park, less than 30 miles southwest of Houston.
No way. Not on this New Year’s holiday weekend. Only thing available was overflow parking lot (no utilities, only Port-a-Potty) for $7–if you purchased an annual $60 Texas Park Pass. Otherwise, it would be an additional $5/each for a day pass. That would make it $17 to park in the parking lot. The day pass is waived if you have an annual pass. We knew we would be using additional state parks, so we opted to purchase the pass.
Jimmy and I did a quick trail walk at sunset along 40-Acre Lake and saw hundreds of birds starting to roost for the evening and our first alligators … peering out of the dark waters and warming themselves by the trail. Amazing creatures.
Photos: Texas’ Brazos Bend State Park wildlife seen at sunset on 40 Acre Lake included Blue Heron and alligators. (Julianne G. Crane)