Day Trips

Stephen F. Austin State Park, outside of San Felipe, is really two parks in one. Along with the traditional recreation area, in a bend of the Brazos River there is a historic site celebrating the birthplace of Texas.

In 1823, Stephen F. Austin established his colonial headquarters at the Brazos River ferry crossing on the Atascosito Trail. He brought the first 300 families to his land grant, which stretched from the coast to near present-day Austin between the Brazos and Colorado rivers. The settlement boasted Texas' first newspaper and postal system and the beginnings of the Texas Rangers.

In Austin's time, San Felipe de Austin had a population of approximately 600 and was the social, economic, and political center of Texas, second only to San Antonio in size and importance in the Mexican territory. By all descriptions, it was a squalid little settlement of log cabins, tents, and lean-tos. The hand-dug water well was all that remained after the town was torched during the Texas Revolution to keep it from falling into the hands of the advancing Mexican army.

The site on a bluff overlooking the river was recovered for the Texas Centennial in 1936. A statue of Austin and a replica of his dogtrot cabin were added later. In 1969, the J.J. Josey General Store was moved to the location to house a museum operated by the local historical society.

A couple of miles from the historic site is the entrance to the 667-acre recreation area. Much of the state park occupies the dense riparian forest that provides a thick canopy from the summer sun. The landscape is covered with thick wetlands and tall trees draped in Spanish moss. It is a very pleasant place any time of the year, whether you're staying overnight at an RV site with full hookups, at a tent campsite, or in a screen shelter or just enjoying the day with a picnic.

Not only does the park have a large community of resident creatures, from ducks to deer, but it also attracts a variety of migratory birds. This is one of the most popular birding sites in the area. There are six miles of hike-and-bike trails that provide access to the lush forest and the riverbank, where fishing is a popular activity.

Certain members of your party may enjoy spending the day at the 18-hole Stephen F. Austin Golf Club. The tight fairways lined with commercially harvested pecan trees make for a challenging but scenic game. Greens fees are an affordable $34, and reservations can be made at www.sfaustingc.com.

Stephen F. Austin State Park and San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site are about 50 miles west of Houston and three miles north of I-10 near Sealy. For park reservations, call 389-8900 or go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

991st in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips" 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.