Discovering your town: Towne Lake, McKinney

Another fabulous trail in the DFW area is Towne Lake in McKinney. The large lake attracts a few shorebirds like the great blue heron, night heron, snow geese and of course the mallard ducks. So if you're a birder this would be a great place to get those bird pictures.

Wilson Creek Nature Trail

One of the other neat features of this park is the Wilson Creek nature trail that also houses a small meditation garden. This short trail meanders through the woods and makes you feel like you are far away from civilization.

This park is actually part of a 102 acre Towne Lake Recreation area that houses basketball and volleyball courts and picnic areas. The 1.3 mile trail around the lake is paved and easy to traverse and for a birder like me, the shore birds that congregate here are a plus.

Towne Lake

Snow goose

Night Heron

If you are a resident in the DFW area, this is definitely a great place to enjoy the outdoors and get the much needed Vitamin N(ature).

Discovering my Town Series: Lakeside Park, Dallas

Lakeside Park is one of Dallas' secluded parks that will lift your spirits anytime of the year. The very first time we visited I was blown away by the beauty and the natural, rugged rocky setting of the place. In the springtime the park is gorgeous with blooming azaleas and rich greenery. It's an interesting lake - long, elongated body of water that is bordered by stately homes with manicured gardens on one side and a walking trail on the other. The topography of the place reminds me of the north east - rough hewn stone steps leading to the lake, pretty bridges, walking trails, quaint sculptures, an occasional egret - a totally picture perfect place and a must visit if you are in Dallas.

                      Bridge on top of Turtle Creek dam

                     The Cute Teddy Bear Park at Lakeside Park

                      Colorful azaleas in springtime

                                     Rough hewn steps along the trail

   Tranquil lake

         Quaint sculptures at Lakeside Park

Discovering your town: Austin, TX

Though technically Austin is not my hometown, it's not too far from our residence and it's definitely a fascinating place to explore.

The Hope Outdoor gallery is one of Austin's iconic and popular spot. It was situated in the heart of downtown Austin on a steep, stair stepped lot. It's fascinating to see the artistic expressions of so many.  In Jan 2019 it was decided to move the venue to a more accessible location.

Austin's Pennybacker bridge is a must-visit site. The arched suspension bridge stretches across the beautifu Colorado river. There is a short but steep hike to the top of the hill that is definitely worth the effort because the 360 degree views of the hills and the river are breathtaking.

There is no dearth of venues for outdoor adventure in Austin. Mount Bonnell is a great place to take a hike and take in some scenic views once you reach the peak. The steep steps leading up to the peak are flanked by majestic trees and beautiful foliage.

 You can spend hours taking in the gorgeous views from Mount Bonnell. On a clear day the Austin skyline can be seen in the distance.

If you love the outdoors you can be sure that you will not be disappointed in the hill country. You will be spending every  hour exploring trails, visiting parks, climbing hills and thoroughly enjoying the hill country landscape.

McKinney Falls State park in Austin was another interesting place to visit. The waterfalls cascade from limestone outcropping into tranquil swimming holes. The holes in the rocks and the trees growing out of the rocky outcrop gave this place a barren, Mad Max vibe. But once you reach the trail and walk through the woods, there is shade and a lot of neat picnic areas to relax and listen to the birds. Don't expect some sort of majestic falls but it maybe a good idea to visit after the rains when the pool and streams are full.

You cannot visit the capital of Texas without visiting the stunning Texas State Capitol. The tall majestic structure built of pink granite is a stunning visual to the Austin skyline. The architecture, the details, and the beauty in every nook and cranny has to be experienced. I could allot one whole day to visiting the Capitol and its immaculate grounds dotted with sculptures.

Texas Senate Chamber - That ceiling!

The rotunda at the Texas State Capitol

The devil is in the details! Beautiful stairwell with impeccable woodwork!

The Capitol dome's interior

 Terrazzo mosaic showing the seals of the six nations that ruled Texas 

Texas Rangers monument on the grounds of the Capitol

There's so much more in Austin and you need more than a few visits to enjoy all the beautiful sights. And no visit to Austin is complete without meandering through the UT Austin campus. But that will be another post.

 UT Austin - Clock tower

Discovering Your Town Series: Caddo Trail, Frisco

Entrance to the Trail at J CGrant Park

Caddo Trail  is a lovely urban trail that mostly meanders behind beautiful homes in west  Frisco. I loved walking this trails because the topography was so different. The trail starts out near Grant Park off of Wade Blvd. It takes you into a beautiful, rocky wooded area that forms the backyard for rows of gorgeous homes in that neighborhood. You can admire the lovely landscaping and gorgeous backyards if you wish.

After about 3/4 mile, the trail opens up slightly and continues along the limestone banks of Stewart Creek. As you cross a bridge over the creek, the trail goes further into the wooded parts of the area, and it becomes quieter, more meditative until it finally opens up near a new housing development.

Hopefully the City will complete the trail so that it forms a loop back to Grant Park. The trail is not very long, just about a mile one way. If you want a change of scenery and are looking for some new areas to explore, this trail is perfect for that. The pictures were taken during winter and I loved the trail even with the bare trees.

The bridge across Stewart Creek