I’m not a huge outdoors person. But when the sky is an unlimited cobalt blue, the humidity is practically non-existent and the temperature hovers around 72 degrees, I’m spending time outside.

Luckily, that perfect triangle came together on the day we decided to take our four grandchildren to one of most spectacular areas in southeastern Texas – Brazos Bend State Park.

Not only is the park a short driving distance from any place in Fort Bend County, the price is right. For two adults and four eager children, the admission total was $14 – that’s less than it costs two of us to go to the movies.

A friendly volunteer welcomed us to the park, and I wondered how she could have a smile on her face as there were six cars in front of us, and I know we weren’t the first ones to the park during spring break. But smile and welcome us she did as she wished us a fun day.

Since it was noon, we headed back to Hale Lake for a quick picnic lunch so we’d have time at the visitor’s center and to walk some of the numerous trails in the almost 5,000-acre park.

While I spread peanut butter and jelly on some bread, the kids found trees to climb. Their squeals of delight was music to my ears, and they played tag and ran until they were out of breath.

After the trees had been conquered, we headed to the visitor’s center. The kids couldn’t wait for what they thought was going to be the highlight of the trip – the opportunity to pet a baby alligator.

But we saw a group of people in the amphitheater next to the center, so we headed over to see the show.

A park ranger was talking to the crowd as a snake lazily coiled around his arm, and the kids were mesmerized. When he said they could come down and pet the rat snake, the line of excited youngsters reached from the stage to the top of the theater.

In terms everyone could understand, the ranger talked about the importance of all creatures in the environment, cautioned children to not pick up snakes and then asked for questions. All four of ours shot their hands up in the air, and I knew the ranger had hit a home run.

Once inside the center, our grandchildren visited the patient volunteer holding a baby alligator at least 10 times, picked up every skull and shell on the nature table and watched the alligator jaws open and close for five full minutes.

Then it was time to head out on the trail. By this time, our neighbors had joined us, and six children took bets on how many alligators we’d see that day.

They took in everything on the trail, from the wildflowers to the coots paddling around on the lake as catfish lazily swam beneath them. No one complained about the distance, and they were thrilled when we told them we were headed to the observation tower where they could see for miles.

I stayed at the playground with the 3-year-old while the older ones headed out to the tower and had a chance to people watch. Children of all ages were using the strong limb of an oak tree as a swing, and there was constant laughter as they bounced up and down on the see-saw they’d created.

People were on the dock fishing, others were taking photos and others were lying back in the grass, soaking up the sun. I didn’t see anybody talking or texting on a cell phone, and that included me.

We were unplugged and unhurried, and that feeling lingered as we drove out of the park, all of us tired but filled with the satisfaction that comes from a day well spent at this crown jewel in the Texas Parks system.

 

This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.