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Palestine, TX 75801
visitorcenter@palestine-tx.org
1-800-659-3484
www.visitpalestine.com
Your Seasonal Guide to Outdoor Activities in Palestine, TX
By Hunter Lanier
With as big as Texas is, it has quite a diverse selection of biomes and climates. None are quite so beautiful and temperate all year-round as northeast Texas’ piney woods, which is exactly where you’ll find the enchanting town of Palestine, TX.
Never as hot as the gulf coast or as cold as the panhandle, Palestine is a goldilocks town for nature lovers, water sport enthusiasts, and anyone else who prefers their vacations under blue skies. With a never-ending rotation of annual activities, Palestine takes full advantage of its beautiful weather and natural beauty. Without further ado, here’s an easy-to-read guide on outdoor activities in Palestine for every season.
Magic in the Springtime
Natural beauty and human creativity come together at Davey Dogwood Park’s Fairy Garden Trails. Parents and kids alike will delight in this whimsical experience through the park in the vivid bloom of spring. Along the scenic trail, you’ll come across mystical fairy houses and structures built from nothing but natural materials, such as twigs, stones, and pinecones.
Were the fairy houses built by mythical creatures or Palestine’s creative community? We’ll let you decide what to tell the kiddos.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Fairy Garden Trails is a part of a larger event called the Dogwood Trails Celebration. In addition to the trails, you’ll be able to attend the Dogwood Festival and parade, take a trolley tour through the blooming Dogwood trees, and see live folk music from some of the area’s most gifted musicians.
Summertime and the Living is Easy
In spring, the flowers are in bloom, but in summer, it’s all about the blueberries. And as great as picking up a box of blueberries from the store is, there’s nothing quite like picking the blueberries yourself. Lucky for you, Palestine is home to Lake Creek Blueberry Farm, where you can have a truly unique family experience picking your very own blueberries. Talk about enjoying the fruits of your labor!
For something a bit more on the adventurous side, the Neches River Wilderness Race is an event not to be missed. This annual kayak race, split into two separate categories for pros and casual paddlers, provides not only an exciting challenge, but a chance to experience the beautiful Neches River and surrounding wilderness from the best seat in the house.
A Festive Fall
Just in time for the holiday season, Great Harvest Farms opens the doors to its Texas-sized pumpkin patch for five weekends. Taking home a pumpkin is just the tip of the iceberg—or maybe candy corn, in this case—as the farm hosts an entire series of family activities through October and November.
Get lost in the farm’s always-popular hay maze, then—if you can find your way out—celebrate your victory with a relaxing hayride. Kids will especially love the hay bale slide, pumpkin-shaped jump pad, and the opportunity to meet a miniature calf.
Year-Round Activities and Events in Palestine
Some attractions in Palestine are just too big for a single month to hold. Although we already brought up its Fairy Garden Trail in spring, Davey Dogwood Park is open throughout the year. In its 254 acres of lush greenery, you’ll find plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as scenic picnic areas for a relaxing day out.
Another of the city’s most popular trails is the Upper Lake Trail at—you guessed it—Upper Lake Park. In recent years, this trail has been significantly upgraded with renovated bridges and trails. The trail will take you around the park’s crystal-clear namesake, making it a fantastic place to reunite with Mother Nature.
As stunning as nature’s creations are, we humans aren’t so bad ourselves. See for yourself at Palestine’s outdoor Sculpture and Mural Tour, where you can admire the beauty of nature and human creativity all in one go!
Though not quite year-around, it would be remiss of us to not mention the Palestine Farmers Market. This venue of local, handmade, and homemade goods pops up every Saturday from March to December. Not only is this the spot for fresh food, but in many ways, it’s also the beating heart of the community.
Any Time’s a Good Time to Visit Palestine, TX
With activities and events tailored to every season, Palestine is the unsung hero of Texas getaways. Its prime location in woodsy Northeast Texas gives the town both a temperate climate and a uniquely peaceful atmosphere. Lone travelers, couples, and entire families alike will find something to love all year-round among the magical trails, blueberry picking, kayaking, and so much more.
Start planning your weekend getaway today by checking out some of Palestine’s coziest lodgings.
About the Author: Hunter Lanier is the head writer and content specialist for Tour Texas. When he isn’t writing about the many great places in the state of Texas, he’s writing books and screenplays. He may or may not own an armadillo in the future.
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