Best Cabin Camping near La Grange, TX

I actually would rate this campground 3.5 stars, because it is better than average and getting better every year.

In 2011 a forest fire swept through this park and devastated over 90% of the piney woods. The park is still recovering.

However, something that has never changed about this location is that Bastrop State Park offers multiple camping options and great opportunities for family fun.

The park has car camping, walk-in camping, RV camping and even cabin camping/glamping. One of my favorite activities when visiting this park is to drive the scenic and winding tree lined road between Bastrop State Park and nearby Buescher State Park.

There are recreational activities for kids such as a playground, swimming pool, fishing, geocaching and hiking trails. Many of the facilities underwent a remodel and now offer restrooms with modern sinks, showers and toilet stalls.

There are sections of the park where one can see the devastation cause by the forest fire. It is a humbling experience for both children and adults to see the burnt but recovering forrest. There are also sections of the park where one can still stand under some of the old growth majestic pine trees. The walk-in sites are surrounded by forrest. The RV site has some of the tallest trees still standing. One caveat about the RV site is that you can hear the auto traffic from the nearby highway.

The park office has a small store and sells camping necessities and souvenirs. The town of Bastrop is nearby where you can find supermarkets, stores and restaurants so you're never too far from supplies.

Based on my recent visit to this park, I think that it still offers a variety of camping options, family fun and possibly an eco lesson for all of us.

We spent Christmas Eve here in a cabin and had a wonderful time! not only was every single shelter/cabin site around us empty so we truly felt like we were disconnected from urban life, but we got to see wildlife! lots and lots of deer and owls. Bathrooms near cabins were under construction so we used porta potties, but they were nice all things considered. there was a foot-pumped faucet for washing hands outside.  trails at the park were nice and mostly shaded. cool view of the Brazos river

This campground is located a short distance away from the city of Austin, Texas. The park is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). At the entrance there is an office where you can pay your admission fee and it has a small store where you can pick up supplies. If you arrive late, there is an after hour station to pay your fee which accepts cash or a credit card.

This park has car and RV campsites. There are no primitive sites. There is a campground called the Lake Bastrop North Shore Park located 15 minutes away with primitive sites.

The campsites are all very similar. There is an area to park your car and it will fit a small or midsize RV. There are water and electrical hook-ups which make it very convenient. There are typically plenty of trees for shade. Each site has a picnic table for dining, a grill for outdoor cooking, a pole to hang food or trash and there is a fire ring for a campfire. Of course they also have pad sites where you can place a tent. The pad sites will fit anywhere from a two man tent up to an eight man tent. In addition to the campsites there are a number of small cabins which can hold up to four people. The cabins have some basic amenities and the restrooms are nearby. Most of the campsites and cabins are only a short walk to the lake shore where you can catch a sweet view of Lake Bastrop.

There is limited hiking with one trail that runs along the lakeshore for about 6 miles. The main attraction of this park is living the lake life. Near the campsites one can launch a canoe or kayak. But there is also a boat ramp and boat dock where you can launch larger sized watercraft. If you don’t have your own watercraft you can rent a canoe or kayak from the office and pick it up near the boat dock. It is possible to fish from a boat or the shore. There are a number of community spaces which are great for picnicking. There is a sand volleyball court. And there’s a special area of the lake that has been roped-off and is designated for swimming.

I think that the only possible downside about this park might be that there are always lots of families and energetic kids running around. If you’re seeking peace and quiet this might not be your place. If you are seeking some fun activities, this place is great.

I think that the Lake Bastrop South Shore Park is a 5 star campground for all of the facilities, amenities and considering that the staff are friendly.

We had a really nice relaxing stay at Stephen F Austin State Park near San Filepe, Texas. Great little state park easily accessed from I-10. The 38 RV sites are all asphalt pad pull throughs with 30/15 amp electric, water and sewer complete with concrete pad for table, fire pit, lantern and all well spaced for plenty of privacy...big rig friendly. They have an additional 39 tent only sites with water and 25 primitive. Screened shelters are reservable for tent camping with 20 amp electric and water plus one rustic cabin with amenities. There is a$5 daily entrance fee in addition to camping fees. The bathhouse facilities are brand new. It's a small park but they do have five miles of trails for hiking/biking with views of the Brazos River. We enjoyed the wildlife; deer strolling in the campground every morning and evening, birds, rabbits, frogs, turtles, a bobcat and numerous owls. They have a Nature Center; however it was not open during our visit. The park office has a small store with sundries and park souvenirs. The nearby San Felipe de Austin State His­toric Site tells the story of early settlers to Texas and is worth a visit. We made a run to the nearby town of Sealy to do a much needed laundry stop...small community with grocery, dining and fuel to meet most needs. GPS 29.811982-96.108059 l(979) 885-3613 l Park Road 38 San Felipe, TX 77473

OK, this was my second visit to a Texas State Park. Simply said, I was blown away with this park. Driving in, deer scattered the landscape. Like my trip to Huntsville State Park, I opted for a screened shelter. The protection from the elements were well worth the $122.50 I paid for four nights. With electric/water, I was very comfortable and was able to use my electric heater in my tent. The shelter came with a locking door, although I don't think anyone would bother you anyway. There are some nice trails, including one that will take you to the Brazos River. The park was nice and quiet and the weather was cold, I absolutely loved it. The Park entrance has a little Store and the town of Sealy is just a few miles away should you need supplies. The staff was remarkably helpful and courteous. I really enjoyed the peace of this park, the Solitude and good energy force you to take in it's grandeur. Since it was freezing cold, (which I loved) the extremely clean bathrooms, with showers would be a welcome site. I was surprised how clean the facility was, it was even heated. I definitely plan on returning to the park, maybe gonna try out the cabin.

this is one of my favorite parks since it is close to home and is not that big for a weekend getaway is perfect

Great park. The trails are very basic but are fun to ride bikes on or go hiking. The RV sites are pull through with full hookups. The sites are large and have plenty of room to enjoy nature. The kids love just riding off on their bikes and exploring the park. We come to this park about twice a year as its a great park near Houston for a quick getaway weekend.

We live in Austin and this is truly our go to campground recently. Its so well kept, the campground layout is very clever. There's no bad sites! Nice privacy between sites. Some sites are on the lake with a little trail to access the water. There's so much do like hiking, biking, fishing, putt putt golf, kayak, paddle board rentals, etc. The water is very nice and clean. The bathrooms were spotless and are family style meaning you get your own private restroom/shower! There are a few sites with full hookups, the rest were just water/electric. Highly recommend this park!

Campsite Review:

Palmetto State Park is a tranquil campground located in Central Texas. It offers campers the chance to hike, bike, swim, paddle, fish or just lay in a hammock under the shade of trees. The park is located a few minutes drive from the towns of Gonzales and Luling. The park's most unique feature are the dwarf palmetto plants which grow throughout the forest.

When entering the park you are welcomed by a canopy of overhanging trees. At the entrance there is an office where you can pay your admission fee and shop for some basic camping necessities. There are also after-hour pay stations nearby.

At each campsite there is a parking space with water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, barbecue grill and fire pit. Most of the sites will fit small to medium sized RVs. There are plenty of shade trees around the campsites which are welcome during the summers in Texas. The restrooms are near the campsites and all of the restrooms, although somewhat dated, have sinks, flush toilets and showers.

Some of the attractions of this park include a small artesian spring, lake and the San Marcus River. There is a nice hike and bike trail which runs along the bank of the river which is flat and easy to walk or bike. There are some amazing sights and sounds while walking through the forest - from birds to insects to small mammals to plants. As previously mentioned, one of the unique features of this park are the dwarf palmetto plants that grow on the forest floor. These palmettos make you feel as if you've been transported to a tropical paradise. Paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals are available at a concession office near the lake.

There are a number of activities to enjoy at this park, but some of the facilities could use an update. I would think that is a nice park for families with kids because of the variety of activities that can be pursued. There are no extreme features like mountains or cliffs, just a number of peaceful nooks in nature.

Before or after your stay at Palmetto State Park be sure to pass by the little town of Luling, Texas where you can eat at the City Market Café which has some of the best barbecue in Texas.

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am offered the opportunity to test products. At this campground, I tested the Gregory Inertia 30 Hydration Backpack.

Top reasons I loved the Gregory Inertia 30 Hydration Backpack:

1. Size: The pack is 30 liters and is useful for day hikes, weekend adventures or carry-on airline travel.
2. Features: The pack has well thought-out organization with a large main compartment, a mid-sized compartment, a top stash pocket, stretch mesh front and side pockets and a flexible suspension. Also, there are a number of attachment loops for attaching tools, poles, solar chargers or other gear.
3. Technology: The new 3D hydration bladder is a breeze to fill, empty and clean. It has an tactile grip handle and rubberized fill top which make opening and closing easy. When cleaning or drying out the bladder, the sidewalls of the bladder maintain an open shape which allows easy access and evaporation of any residual water.
4. Quality: All of the materials are of high quality. I expect that the backpack will last many years. This is important for a day use backpack which will see regular duty under a variety of conditions. It is also important for backpacking, because no one wants a gear failure while in the backcountry.

I hope and expect that this backpack will become my go to backpack for a variety of adventures.

It's HOT in Texas during the summer. During our outing the temperatures reached 105F, but we were having so much fun that it really didn't matter. We decided to spend National Hammock Day near some water and shade at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park.

The campground made a mistake with my reservation, but ended up correcting it and allowing me and my crew to stay for free. Points right there for great customer service!

I think that we had one of the best campsites in the entire park at campsite #37. Campsites #35 and #36 are also excellent sites. All three of these sites are close to the water, near a restroom and steps away from a trailhead. Our campsite had ample room for 6 people with capacity for up to 8 people. With temperatures reaching 105F+ we were thankful that the site was surrounded by trees for shade. Not only were there an abundance of trees for shade, but there were enough trees for all of us to set up our hammocks. On a hot day, nothing beats hanging out in a hammock while a breeze flows around you. During the hottest part of the day we played games of Kubb and Fricket at the campsite. In the evening we went for a night hike and swim. This park is perfect if you enjoy swimming, canoeing, boating, floating or fishing.

This campground has undergone a number of updates to their facilities so the cabins, bathrooms, picnic area, boat dock and other areas look great.

Ranger Review of Nature's Coffee Kettle

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided some coffee by Nature's Coffee Kettle.

I'll be honest, I'm not much of a coffee drinker. However, when organizing a camping trip I've found it helpful to bring coffee for those that do drink it. Nothing can kill the vibe of a great camping trip more than a coffee drinker without their morning coffee fix.

Not being a coffee drinker, I don't even have a traditional coffee kettle in my camping kit. I typically bring instant coffee, boil water in a pot and serve it in a cup. So the all-in-one solution by Nature's Cofffee Kettle was perfect.

Nature's Coffee Kettle kits include a mylar kettle for brewing and your choice of a variety of coffee flavors - Colombian, Guatemalan, Sumatran, Brazilian, French Roast, etc. They even offer tea and hot chocolate. On this occasion we were just car camping, but the kettle is lightweight and portable which might make it useful for backpacking.

The kit functions in the following manner. The kettle is a mylar bag with a steeping section and a containing section. The coffee comes in bags similar to a tea bag. Each coffee bag can prepare 4 cups of coffee. You place the coffee bag inside the top of the included mylar kettle. You then pour a small amount of hot water into the top of the steeping section of the kettle to moisten the coffee bag. Once the coffee bag is moist, you pour the additional hot water into the top of the mylar kettle. The hot water steeps the coffee and flows into the lower containing section of the kettle. You can seal the mylar bag to allow the coffee to brew a bit more. If the first steeping does not create a strong enough coffee for your taste you can pass the coffee through the kettle a second time.

The kit comes with directions printed on the side of the kettle. The directions are easy enough to follow. My first attempt at brewing the coffee was a little awkward. However, my second attempt went much smoother.

Not even being a coffee drinker, I could tell that the taste of the coffee was better than instant coffee. I'm not sure how it might compare to coffee shop coffee. My friend Susan is a daily coffee drinker and has been known to leave a campground for a nearby town in search of good coffee. She tried the coffee and said that it was actually pretty good. So I'll take her word for it. Keep up the good vibes!

We started off the morning with coffee and a nice breakfast. The rest of the day went swimmingly.

Another possible benefit of the kit, that I only thought about after our trip, is that we could have prepared the coffee at our campsite, but carried the kettle and coffee to a scenic overlook to enjoy it. Think of the possibilities!

The pros of this kit include: 1. Portability 2. Lightweight 3. Convenience 4. Flavor

The only cons that I could think of regarding this product are the following: 1. The mylar coffee kettle did not stand up on its own, so I had to hold one corner while pouring in the hot water. 2. The kettle and bags only serve 4 cups. Many people drink 2 cups in the morning, so multiple brews might be required. 3. The refill bags of coffee seemed a bit pricey for this non-coffee drinker. Perhaps a coffee connoisseur might be able to taste and see the value of this fresh brew coffee kit more than I.

Overall, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try the Nature's Coffee Kettle kit. If you are a serious coffee drinker this kit might work perfect for you.