Lufkin, Texas Travel Guide

Water and wildlife, there’s no place like Angelina County, Texas to enjoy them all. Though not far from Dallas, Houston, Beaumont, or Shreveport, Lufkin seems like it is worlds away when it comes to nature. You will find great shops, museums, and plenty of festivals here but the pace is a bit slower. Hustle and bustle means the flapping of the bird’s wings, the thing of a well-placed golf ball, or a splash on the lake when the fish are biting

Each season in Lufkin has its splendor. In June you can paddle the waters of one of America’s less pristine rivers at the Neches River rendezvous. The summer also means boating, skiing, and fishing at Lake Sam Rayburn one of the top five best fisheries in the United States. Bring your tent, your hiking boots, and binoculars and take to the woods. Lufkin is nestled between the Davy Crockett and Angelina national forests. With 400,000 acres of national forest land practically in your backyard, there’s no better place to hunt or hike or enjoy the outdoors. The national forests enhance the quality of life by providing many outdoor recreation opportunities.

 

Don’t miss fall when the hardwoods burst forth in color and cyclists from all over take to the roads for the annual piney woods purgatory bike ride. That October ride is one of the state’s premier cycling events. Holidays bring parades, festivals, and shopping tours of downtown Lufkin. The first Street Art Center provides a place for area artists, writers, and musicians to show and sell their work. Christmas comes to life at the Exposition Center when volunteers transform it into an evening in old Bethlehem. And while the halls and trees are decked for the holidays at the Museum of East Texas, you can bet it shines bright year-round with exhibits of national and regional importance. During the summer, the museum becomes a recreation center welcoming hundreds of children to its renowned art camp.

Nothing tops the sprinkling of color in the woods when the wild azalea’s redbuds and dogwoods burst into bloom. The plenty of woods experience is naturally beautiful year-round but in spring it will take your breath away. It’s also when the Cowboys hit the arena for the Angelina benefit rodeo and the whole community clowns around for the greatest show on dirt. It’s boy howdy time on the streets as well in April as Lufkin throws that downtown hoedown to show off its revitalized business and arts district.

The arts are flourishing as well across town on the Angelina College campus, home of the Angelina Center for the Arts. The Arts Alliance delivers big city music dance and theatre experiences on the temple theater stage. Artist Lance hunter has transformed downtown Lufkin with murals depicting scenes from her history. View the Indian maiden Angelina for whom the county is named to the birth of the Brookshire Brothers grocery chain headquartered here in Lufkin. It’s no surprise Lufkin is home to the state forestry museum, the only one of its kind in Texas. It features the industry that gave Lufkin its start, Forest Products. In fact, the forest is so big there is an entire festival dedicated to it. Each fall, the Texas State Forest festival brings in more than 30,000 visitors to celebrate sawmills, Lumberjacks, wood products and the industry that put this city on the map.

This history and the history of the entire region is documented in a museum of its own – the History Center in Duvall. Delve a little deeper into the archives and learn the stories of the people, the land, and the industries that have made East Texas rich in culture and heritage. The wildest place in town at any time of year is the Ellen Trout Park and zoo. Considered one of the finest small-town zoos in the nation, it’s home to 800 wild and exotic creatures from around the world.

When it comes to experiencing Angelina County, your lodging options are impressive, from bed-and-breakfast to campgrounds and RV parks. Your dining options are as varied as your choice for lodging. From homegrown bakeries and fine dining venues to national and regional chains, there is something for every palate or pocketbook.

How To Quickly Learn a New Language Before Your Next Trip

When it comes to traveling through a foreign country, speaking a little bit of the local language can help you a lot. First, it shows that you actually respect the language, as well as the country that you are in. And second, it makes things much easier for both you and the person that you are talking to, since not everyone will speak in your native language. Of course, maybe you will never pronounce a certain word correctly, but what really counts is the thought.

Anything you do to learn a new language will really help you out a lot when it comes to visiting a foreign country. So, if you would like to visit a certain country, but are afraid of doing so because you don’t speak their language, don’t change your plans, because there is always something that you can do about it. With this in mind, here are some of our best tips that should help you learn a new language before your next trip. Enjoy the ride!

Start Practicing As Early As You Can
Basically, the more time you have to learn a new language, the better. How much time you will need to spend on learning a new language depends on your skills and your learning style, as well as the language itself. For some people, two weeks is more than enough, while others might need up to two months. If you would really like to learn a new language, you need to practice.

Talk To a Native Speaker
One of the best ways to learn a new language is to talk to a native speaker. You can do this either online or in real life. Today, it is much easier to communicate with other people than it has ever been before. You can easily log into your favorite social media account and contact someone who is a native in the language that you are trying to learn.

You Don’t Have To Speak Fluently Right Away
Talking to someone on the Internet is a whole lot different than listening to a shop owner screaming at you for holding up the line for too long. Don’t worry if you don’t understand what people are trying to say to you. It is all a part of the process, and it usually just means that you need a bit more practice.

Safety Tips for Traveling Solo

Traveling is an adventure not meant for everyone, and that’s okay. Traveling alone, however, can be a dangerous undertaking. If you are a traveler and your friends are not,or maybe you just need some “me time”, there are a few things you should keep in mind for staying safe while traveling alone.

Have a system

If you are traveling alone you should have a system with friends back home to make sure you are safe. Make sure you check in with them regularly. When I’m traveling alone I check in with something irregular like an inside joke so they know it is really me.

Make local friends

Try doing a homestay or hostel when traveling alone. This way you have locals or others in the area that are looking out for you. You don’t necessarily have to go anywhere with them but if you give them a rough idea of your plan and something happens, there is someone in the same city as you that can take charge.

Safe-travel

Don’t tell people you’re alone

I know this sounds like a contradiction, what I mean is don’t tell random strangers that you are alone. There are records of the people staying in your hostel or the hosts for a homestay house, but you should not go around telling everyone you meet that you are traveling solo. You can never be certain of who you are talking to, predators are less likely to prey on someone in a group.

Let others know your system

On this same train of thought, if you do let it slip that you are alone, do not be afraid to tell people about your security system. Again, having someone looking out for you increases the chances of a criminal being caught for any misconduct.

Watch your drinks

Everyone should do this, always. If you are alone or in a group, always be aware of your drink. This is the oldest rule in the book and this awareness should only increase if you are traveling alone. And of course, don’t drink too much. You need to be able to stay alert and coherent.

Plan ahead

Know where you are going so you are not constantly looking down at your phone. If you are distracted by trying to find directions you open yourself up to pickpockets and thieves. Also, people who look lost are vulnerable to other types of criminals. Furthermore, if you know where you are going you can share this with friends and family back home so if something does happen they have an itinerary to share with the authorities.

Choose a good place

Lastly, choose a place where you will be happy being alone. Think about what you want out of the trip and what will make you happy. If you are a social butterfly that lives to meet new people, you might like the city. If you would rather sit in a quiet area and read, maybe the woods or the beach. Whatever it is you enjoy, you will be safer if you feel comfortable.

Top 3 Ways Traveling Makes You Smarter

When it comes to traveling, it is one of the purest pleasures that a person can experience in life. Not only is travel a great booster for your mind, but it is probably the only time you feel completely calm and relaxed. When you are on a road trip, you don’t have to worry about all your personal problems that you left at your home, because, after all, that is the whole point of traveling – to get rid of your personal problems, even if it is just for a few days.

Traveling helps you negate the impact that both your private and professional life have on you. On top of that, traveling also makes you a better person, which is always a good thing. But did you know that travel can actually make you smarter as well? You probably didn’t, did you? That’s right – travel can make you smarter, and here’s how!

You Become Open-Minded
When you travel, you have the opportunity to meet so many different cultures that you probably didn’t even know exist. Because of that, you become more aware of all the differences between each culture, which is why you let go of your personal prejudices that you may have had in the past. Soon you realize that cultural pride is nothing but a lack of experience, and as a result of that realization, you begin to respect people much more than before, which automatically makes you a better person. Simply put, you become open-minded.

Self-Sufficient Attitude
When a person travels, it is pretty much safe to say that they are responsible for everything. This includes everything from the preparation for the trip to maintaining their own well-being. Because of this, you develop a better sense of responsibility, as well as a self-sufficient attitude, which is great for your personal growth. Not only does traveling make you a better person, but it helps you stay in touch with reality as well.

Improved Creativity
As you travel to different cities and countries, you come across some truly amazing creations. Some of them are creations of nature, while others are creations of mankind. That being said, when you return back to your home, these beautiful experiences come with you as well, and as a result, you start implementing them into your own life.

Four Summer Travel Tips That You Need To Know

You probably have some sort of summer vacation planned, don’t you? Whether it’s a few-weeks-long vacation or just a quick road trip, going on a summer vacation is always a good way to recharge your batteries. However, for some people, road trips and vacations can be quite tricky if they are not properly prepared. This is especially the case when it comes to people who live a healthy life, like the owners of Zone Garage Calgary, because it is pretty easy to forget all about your healthy habits once you leave your home.

When it comes to traveling, the first thing that you need to do is make a good travel plan. Don’t forget to include your healthy habits in your travel plan, because – just like we said a couple of seconds ago – it is pretty easy to forget all about them once you hit the road. Although this is a good summer-travel tip, it works for any other time of year as well. That being said, here are four more summer-travel tips that should help you get the most of your summer vacation. Enjoy the ride!

Stay Hydrated
Sweating, moving around, and just being out in the sun will dehydrate you a bit, and that is completely normal. With this in mind, make sure to always have a bottle of water in your bag, regardless of what time of day or night it is. Although a natural juice is a good alternative, nothing beats water.

Bring Snacks
If you enjoy walking long distances, or you just love to have fun around the city, make sure to always bring some snacks with you. Having something to munch on will help you when hunger strikes, but you have nothing to eat. Just make sure to bring some healthy snacks.

Stay Active
Out of these four summer-travel tips, this one is probably the least difficult to incorporate into your summer vacation. Many summer vacations include activities such as shopping or sightseeing, both of which will keep you moving. Also, make sure to work out whenever you can.

Pack Healthy Food
When it comes to going on a summer-vacation, make sure to never leave your home without some healthy food in your bag. Make sure to bring some healthy teas with you as well. These will help you stay healthy during the road trip.

Things to Do Before You Travel

Planning travel is always important. Without a plan, you may need up making your trip the worst trip of your life. If you want to make sure that your trip is smooth, safe and enjoyable, then you should know what to do before you travel. If you are planning a family trip then here are a few things that you should do before you travel.

1. Contact the Kennel and House Sitter

The first thing you should do is to contact the house sitter to make sure that the house is available. If you book a house using an online service, then make sure of its availability by calling the house sitter before you travel.

2. Plan Your First Day

If you are traveling for sightseeing and tourism, then you should have a proper plan for your first day. On the first day, you will be unfamiliar with the surroundings. On your first day make sure that you understand the place. Learn all about the place you can. Learn about the nearby attractions and how much they cost. When you plan your first day, your entire trip will be amazing. It is your first day when you will also plan the rest of your travel plans.

3. Check the Weather

One of the most important aspects of traveling is the weather. If you are planning to go outdoors and sightseeing, the weather is important. Make sure that you do not plan your trip during a rainy season. If however, there are chances of rain, make sure that you got all the stuff to protect you and from ruining the trip. Check the local weather forecasts to get more details.

4. Search Your Hobbies at the Destination

The best way to enjoy your travels is to search your hobbies at the local destination. If you like to go scuba diving, you should know where to find a resort. If you like to go hiking on mountain trails, you should know the best places. Do some research, and you will make your travel even better and fun. You should do all the research before you travel.

5. Plan Your Last Day

Another thing that you should do before you travel is to plan your last day as well. Planning the last day will ensure that you do not leave anything behind. Make a checklist of items that you have to take back home.