Some of the best family-fishing spots in America are close to home, according to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. Eight Texas state parks excelled in criteria that included proximity to an urban area, abundance of common fishing species, nearby amenities, room to cast a line, and recommendations from anglers. The eight Texas spots are:

6. Galveston Island State Park, Galveston
20. Cedar Hill State Park, Cedar Hill
29. Inks Lake State Park, Burnet
45. Lake Livingston State Park, Livingston
66. Eisenhower State Park, Denison
79. Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Mathis
86. Huntsville State Park, Huntsville
93. Blanco State Park, Blanco

And as you know, fishing is always free in Texas state parks, so plan some time to wet a line. Forgot to pack the fishing gear? Many state parks loan fishing equipment.

No need to check the rain gauge when you head to the beach!  You will always find water for wading, fishing and swimming on the Texas Gulf coast.

A list of 5 state park coastal destinations begins with Sea Rim State Park, newly refurbished and reopened after two hurricane punches (Rita and Ike). Check out the park’s updated amenities (including showers and bathrooms) in “Sea Rim Rebirth” from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Four other beachy state park destinations to explore this summer are:

• Galveston Island State Park
• Goose Island State Park
• Mustang Island State Park
• Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site

Read “A Day at the Beach” for an update on each of these park destinations, and find plenty of ways to enjoy a breezy change of scenery in “Get Coastal”, stories from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.

Remember to play it safe in the water.  Always:

• Wear a life jacket.
• Supervise children closely.
• Know how to swim.
• Avoid alcohol

It’s hot-off-the press - your 2014-2015 State Park Guide with its handy pull-out map of all park locations. The Guide describes more than 90 state parks and state natural areas and provides details of each park’s accommodations plus available activities such as swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You’ll also find what’s new at state parks, including which parks now have Wi-Fi access or have added facilities and trails.

Plan your next stay with information about cabins, RV sites, and campsite amenities, and a checklist of what to take with you. Search for parks near you or by region, and use the handy facilities index as a quick reference to what you’ll find at each park.

Your State Park Guide is waiting! Pick it up at any state park and stay in the know about all the ways to enjoy the outdoors at your state parks. Can’t wait till your next park trip to see what’s new? View the digital version or download the PDF.

The 2014 State Park Guide is made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Toyota and La Quinta and the generous support of advertisers.

An estimated 8 in 10 Americans have never seen the Milky Way. The culprit: the growing glow of artificial lights. To see those famous big, bright Texas stars, you’ve gotta get away from the city lights.

The new Dark Skies Program will put stars back in your eyes and the eyes of your kids. Skies are always darker in a state park, and some state parks specialize in stargazing by offering stargazing programs and nearby observatories or very dark skies. Check the calendar for star events near you and see the dark sky (called Bortle) ratings of the darkest state parks.

Soon you can see even more stars at state parks. TPWD is launching new efforts to make park skies more visible by using the latest ways to manage night lighting so that it’s useful without adding to light pollution.

This constellation of resources will put more stars in your eyes:

• Parks with nearby observatories and dark skies
• 10 Tips for Stargazing
• Weekly Stargazing Tips
• Night Sky Photography Tips