by Autumn Kushner
Rowdy and Redass
Leave You Traveling
Manifest Destiny started it all: the idea that each individual in the country had the right and the free will to simply pick up their lives and relocate, traveling thousands of miles to find a better version of life. Through this, every American is born with a sense of identity only matched by Napoleon, Caesar, and Ghangis Kahn. Inspired by them and all that they accomplished, as this summer approaches, let the ghost of Jack Kerouac inhabit your mind: take off in search of the America and the dream that every young adult trapped in a small town longs for. Even if you do not have much money or time to hit the road, there are many places even in short driving distance from here that can enhance your life in ways you couldn’t even imagine. Below is a list of some of the most enchanting places within a few hours to go with friends, lovers, or even family.
Jefferson, Tx/ Caddo Lake- The perfect place for a weekend getaway for you and your special someone. About 4 hours away lies Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in Texas. It’s a Bayou. The town of Jefferson is a really interesting old timey town, riddled with Civil War stories, and it’s home to the Jefferson Hotel, one of the most haunted buildings in the country. Caddo Lake itself is beautiful and there are cottages everywhere that are rentable for a pretty decent price.
Guadelupe River- About two to three hours away is the Guadelupe. Spending a day floating in the river and drinking beer in the heat of the summer is perfect for a large group of friends. Often times they have concerts at night in the river as well. They even had Blue October go through last summer. If you take the scenic way down 77, you can easily make a detour by the Spoetzl Brewery, home of Shiner beer, for a tour. Check the website for tour times. It would be a good way to get your buzz going before hitting the water.
Moody Gardens, Galveston, Tx- It looks like the pyramids from the outside. Each pyramid encases a really interesting display. One is an aquarium where you can see amazing animals, including penguins, which you can actually meet this summer. Who doesn’t want to meet a penguin? One is a rainforest where monkeys and birds can be heard cackling through the trees. The last is a museum type setting where you can explore the rich port of Galveston’s history as the first real immigrant port in America, perfect for a family trip.
Cypress Valley Canopy Tours- In the heart of the Texas wine country lays this terrific gem. About 30 minutes outside of Austin you can go zip lining through the tree tops. While the individual prices are a little high, they are willing to negotiate group rates. This is perfect for clubs and teams of all sorts. Stop by the wineries afterward to take the stress away from hanging precariously high above a forest floor.
We live in an amazing state. There are quite a few other things to do, too. Living here, we are able to explore many things that most people in the rest of the country do not have at their disposal. There are many concerts in Austin, clubs in Houston, amusement parks and the Alamo in San Antonio. There are mountains to the west and beaches to the south. And before spending another minute of your free time lazing around on the couch, remember that if you don’t live your life, no one is going to live it for you. These small trips add value to life and doing them with the people you love can bring you closer together than ever.