I study history but I also love outdoor fun! Playing outdoor is relaxing, good for our health, and can refresh our mind every once in a while. Do you ever wonder where you can go for a day-break in between papers, projects, endless grading, and all the other deadlines? The answer is always – mother nature. This kind of trip is easy to plan, low-cost, and a great cause to invite your friends to join. Here are some outdoor recreational places you can go in and around College Station. I’ve been to all of them and I absolutely love them.
 
1. Lick Creek Park
Location: 13600 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, Texas 77845
Hours: open around the clock except park curfew from 1:00AM to 5:00AM
Check on-going events: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoflickcreekpark/
 

• This 516-acre small park is located to the southeast of College Station. It is not a tiny neighborhood playground, and it is also the nearest place where you can get to with a large nature trail system, very good for walking, jogging, cycling, and your dogs (this is important, right?). Every time I want to enjoy a nice afternoon conversation with my friends but run out of coffee shops to go, I take my friends to Lick Creek. It is a relaxing place in all weathers.

 
2. Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway
Location: multiple park units around the lake, check the state park website for exact location of each unit
Hours: open around the clock
 

• Only half-an-hour drive to the southwest of College Station, Lake Somerville is my go-to place for fishing and outdoor barbecue. For y’all fishermen and women – you can catch crappie, drum, white bass and catfish, among others, both around the lake and downstream along Yegua Creek to the east. It is always fun to go freshwater fishing in a quiet and sunny afternoon, and the fish in our Texas lakes and rivers taste good! By the way, if you are a first-time fisher that want to try your luck at Somerville, don’t forget to buy a fishing license before you go.

 
3. Huntsville State Park
Location: 565 Park Road 40 West, Huntsville, Texas 77340
Hours: open daily 7:00AM to 10:00PM
Check on-going events: https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleSP/
 

• An-hour drive to the east of College Station, the Huntsville park is inside of the Sam Houston National Forest. Here you will have a huge supply of fresh air, a 210-acre Lake Raven with plenty of water activities (the swimming area is packed during summer!), and large picnic and camping areas for day-long or over-night use. My favorite thing is the hiking trails in the park. Hurricane Harvey damaged a large portion of its longest 7-mile trail, but the park was actively cleaning up the routes. Now we can still enjoy the shorter 3-mile trails to the north side of the lake. Another good thing is that the park’s Facebook page hosts live Q&As with the Rangers every Friday, during which you can get information about the up coming events and programs in the park. I participated in their Women’s Hike several times, and enjoyed the friendly companions of many Texan ladies.

 
4. McKinney Falls State Park
Location: 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, Texas 78744
Hours: open daily 8:00AM to 10:00PM
Check on-going events: https://www.facebook.com/mckinneyfalls/
 

• We all traditionally hate that school in Austin but we go to the state capital city to enjoy arts and nightlife all the time. We all know that. But one thing I particularly love is the state park to the southeast of Austin, just across the street from the Bergstrom airport. It is a two-hour drive outside of College Station, and we go there mainly on our way to San Marcos or San Antonio. The park has multiple trails, camping sites, and a nice little fall (a bit dangerous to cross, but don’t worry). Some history about the park (as an architectural history major will always tell you): it gets its name from Thomas McKinney, one of Stephen F. Austin (the Father of Texas)’s first 300 colonists. Today the remains of McKinney’s original homestead, a two-story limestone building dated back to 1850, still stands inside of this park. You will see it as you go deeper into the woods.

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Mingqian Liu
Mingqian Liu is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Department of Architecture