As winter comes to an end, many people are dreaming of getting out and about. If your spring plans include plenty of road trips, check out these fun destinations along I-20.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
If you like to keep road trips short so you can spend less time on the road and more time at the destination of your choice, this is a perfect stop for you. Less than an hour away, outside Odessa, is this beautiful state park with its stunning sand dunes, each one perfectly etched by the wind. Though there are no trails due to the constantly shifting landscape, you can wander the dunes, explore them on horseback, and even “surf” them on sand discs, which are available to rent from the visitor center. Spring is a perfect time to visit, as the summer sun on the dunes can be brutally hot.
Cheniere Lake
If you’ve got the time – this trip is nearly a nine-hour drive, one way – then head east to Louisiana and check out this incredible destination. Here, you’ll find curtains of moss hanging from cypress and tupelo gum trees, all in a watery scene that reflects the images back, creating an eerily beautiful tableau. Enjoy a spring camping trip and once you’ve explored the 3,000-acre lake, head out to nearby cities Monroe and West Monroe for antique shopping, great restaurants, or a visit to the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens.
Abilene
Take a short (just over two hour) drive east to the Storybook Capital of Texas. See if you can find all 24 statues of storybook character sculptures in town. You’ll also find an incredible holographic exhibit at Frontier Texas!, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the history of the area. There are art galleries, museums, historic sites, amazing restaurants, and one of the best zoos in Texas as well.
Cedar Hill State Park
Just outside of Dallas, you’ll find this Texas gem that sits on the edge of Joe Pool Lake. You can enjoy a weekend of camping, geocaching, boating, hiking, swimming, and biking. And Dallas is just a short drive away, so you’ll be able to head over and grab some delicious food from the House of Blues Restaurant & Bar or Stirr on Main Street.
Follow the Anatole on Briarwood blog for more travel tips and inspiration.