My pup Valentine and I have been on an indefinite road trip, living nomadically since October 2023! If you'd like to see more posts & vlogs about our travels & adventures, please click here.
One thing that really surprised me was how much nature there is in Texas, how green it is, and how accessible it is! You can be in the city then drive 10 minutes and be surrounded by trees! There's also a little bit of everything for everyone whether you want to be more off the beaten path or enjoy a nicely paved walkway. Here are some of my favorite parks and spots where nature can be enjoyed!
PHIL HARDBERGER PARK CONSERVANCY
This was one of my favorite places! It's HUGE and there's a lot to explore--they also have different events and programs so I highly recommend looking at their website before visiting (don't forget to check out the map as well as any special announcements--there were some closures while I was there.)
There seemed to be plenty of parking the 3 times I went which was a big plus (I don't go to places where parking is a struggle!) I mostly entered where the Urban Ecology Center was located and I also drove to the entrance by the Butterfly Garden.
After walking past the center and onto one of the trails, I realized how big and spacious it was! We followed the wide dirt trail to the land bridge, which was what I really wanted to see! I love that they created this to make a safe passage for animals.
On the way there, I saw a lot of trees, plants, and flowers--some familiar, many brand new to me!
One of the major pros of this place is it's dog friendly! We met lots of nice pups here each time we came but my favorite pup was a Scottie dog named Angus! (See below :)) He was such a gentleman and after he met Val he kept waiting for us to walk with them! He would walk ahead then stop and look back. So adorable! His owners and the other pup they had were very nice as well :)
During my stay in Texas there was some updates being made to the bridge and sections near it so it was actually closed certain days! On the day Vanesa took me, we got lucky and it was open! So I was able to walk on it which was actually a tiny bit scary because of my fear of heights. But it's well made, you feel like you're walking amongst the trees, and Valentine was not scared at all :)
MCALLISTER PARK
We went here after Hardberger in hopes of seeing deer because Vanesa knows how obsessed I am with them! This park is known to have them and even the photo on their website has a deer in it :) We unfortunately didn't spot any but it was still fun to check out a new place. I also really liked the nicely paved walkway so Val could have a smoother stroller ride instead of some bumpy off roading lol.
CHRIS PARK
I found out about this park while Googling for dog-friendly places to go. It's part of Ruby City, a contemporary art space envisioned by late collector, philanthropist, and artist, Linda Pace. Chris Park was created to celebrate the life of her son, Christopher Goldsbury. From the website:
On April 10, 1997 Linda Pace lost her son, Christopher Goldsbury, to a drug overdose when he was twenty-five years old. Considering how art was their most joyful connection, Linda wrote in Dreaming Red, “For some time, I had thought about how to create or commission an artwork that would celebrate Chris’s life. What came to mind was an art park, a quiet place where people could come for reflection and for interaction with art.”
It's a smaller park and a very nice place to walk and reflect. I enjoyed the different installations there, my favorite being the quarried journal benches. They are inscribed with lines from Chris' journal--of course I loved the one that said, "I got licked by a puppy." It's a lovely tribute to Chris.
Check the website for hours before visiting and there is plenty of street parking.
WOODLAWN LAKE
I call this Vanesa's lake because she's the one who told me about it, frequents it, and it was easier to remember :) It's VERY big and there are TONS of ducks and lots of people too. I remember driving by and because of the size wasn't sure where I should park / enter so it was nice to get to go with Vanesa so she could show me the way. There are plenty of lots and even on a crowded afternoon we were able to find a spot. We walked the loop that went along the lake.
There were a lot of spots that were really pretty and I loved seeing all the different birds INCLUDING DUCKLINGS!!! They were so cute!
SOME MORE NATURE IN SAN ANTONIO
During my time here I admired many beautiful skies, sunsets, and clouds and one thing that still sticks out is how there is bird song everywhere! I really enjoyed hearing that every day and miss it! It was also fun to get to see so many different types of birds all around Texas!
I was lucky enough to get to see so many things in San Antonio so this recap is split into a few parts--you can find them all here.