December getaways

Fa-la-la in fresh air at these 11 Texas parks decked for the holidays

Roasting s'mores around a campfire under a starry sky sounds like the picture-perfect break from the holi-daze of December.

Texas state parks and historic sites are decking their halls — well, trees and structures and campsites — to welcome guests in search of a little socially distanced peace and quiet this month. There are campground decorating contests, drive-thru lights tours, and special winter hikes planned through New Year's Day.

Reservations for overnight stays can now be made for up to five months in advance, and up to 30 days in advance for day-long visits. For extra safety, capacity limits, cashless transactions, and other safety protocols have been instituted, as well.

Whether you need to use up some end-of-year PTO or you're in search of some fa-la-las in fresh air, here are some of the holiday happenings coming up at Texas parks. Check their website for even more.

North Central and East Texas

Tyler State Park
A Pineywoods Christmas takes place December 11-12. Stroll or drive through the Lakeview and Big Pine campgrounds of Tyler State Park and take in campers' elaborately decorated sites. Then mask up and stop in the Silver Canoe Park Store for discounts on one-of-a-kind holiday gifts from East Texas.

Daingerfield
Daingerfield State Park hosts the eighth annual Christmas in the Park from December 16-19. The event hops on the biggest holiday trend of 2020: the drive-thru lights tour. Take a drive through the park lit up like Santa Land and marvel at the decorated campsites and lights. The event takes place 6-9 pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 6-10 pm Friday and Saturday. Free admission during those days and times only; otherwise, it's $4 per adult and kids are free.

Eisenhower State Park
Light Up the Park encourages campers to decorate their campsites with holiday cheer. Those who do will be allowed to camp for up to a full week for free. Setup runs December 14-17. Then on December 18-19, visitors can drive through and see the lit-up sites and drop off letters to Santa in a special "North Pole Mailbox." They'll waive the $5 entry fee if you bring an unwrapped toy for donation.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Wake up and start 2021 the healthiest way possible, with a First Day Hike from 10 am-12 pm January 1. You'll join a park interpreter on a strenuous walk, crawling and scooting through some of the most remote areas of the park's Penitentiary Hollow, including caves and rock crevices. Spots are limited and reservations are required. If you think you'll oversleep for the first one, the hike repeats at 2 pm.

Central Texas

Lake Whitney State Park
Decorate your campsite and help spread some Christmas cheer at Christmas in the Park. Guests can then drive through and see them for free between sunset and 8 pm on December 19. Come back January 1 for a First Day Scavenger Hunt Hike — don't forget your smartphone to snap photos of the treasures and turn them in for a prize.

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site
The 51st Annual LBJ Tree Lighting will be a virtual event, streaming on Facebook and Instagram on December 20. However, guests can still visit park headquarters and the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm to view the decorations that will adorn the sites the week before Christmas. Don your mask and visit the gift shop for unique last-minute gifts.

Gulf Coast and South Texas

Goliad State Park & Historic Site
Stroll the history of Mission Espiritu Santo in the History in Lights event, running nightly from 6-8 pm through New Year's Eve. Lights and shadows bring the story of the site and its heroes to life as visitors walk the same path taken by Native Americans and Spanish Franciscan priests. Entrance fee is $4 per adult (free for kids); social distancing is required, and face coverings are encouraged.

Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Lighted Holiday by the Lake takes place December 11-13, and a Christmas Light Drive Through on December 12. Reserve a campsite in either the Javelina or Opossum camping loop for December 11-12, decorate it with Christmas lights, and your camping fees will be waived. Then take a free drive through lighted campsites on the night of December 12; to gain free entry, arrive any time between 6 pm and 9 pm that night.

Brazos Bend State Park
The whole family can take part in a self-guided, self-paced, ADA-accessible holiday hike at Brazos Bend State Park from 10 am-4 pm December 19. Pick up a guide at the Nature Center and then hit the Creekfield Lake Trail to learn about the the park. When you're done, head back to the Nature Center to share your findings and receive a holiday gift.

West Texas and the Panhandle

Abilene State Park
During Fa La La in the Forest on December 12, campsites, screened shelters, and yurts will be adorned with lights and decorations, and guests can drive through and see them. The Friends of Abilene State Park will be there to take monetary donations instead of entrance fees (suggested: $5 per car), and the park will also collect donations for Abilene Food Bank (canned goods only) Toys for Tots.

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
Bundle up and join the ranger-guided Home for the Holidays Hike at 11:30 am December 19. The family-friendly jaunt through the mountains near El Paso will introduce hikers to all of nature's wintery treasures in the area. Admission is $9 for adults, $2 for children. Reservations are required, and social distancing will be enforced.

Campers are encouraged to decorate their sites at parks this month.

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife

Campers are encouraged to decorate their sites at parks this month.

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Holiday Travel News

The busiest day at DFW Airport and more holiday travel tips

Photo courtesy of DFW Airport

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Thanksgiving holiday travel is about to get heavy and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is gearing up with an estimated 3 million customers flowing through the airport between November 20 and December 2.

According to a release, the peak travel time period will be on the evening of Sunday, November 30.

Busiest travel days
Large crowds are expected throughout the holiday period with four peak travel days anticipated for local departing and arriving customers.

The airport’s roads and terminal curbs are anticipated to be the busiest on the following days:

Friday, November 21
Wednesday, November 26
Saturday, November 29
Sunday, November 30

Sunday, November 30 is expected to be the single busiest day with an estimated 269,000 travelers passing through DFW as customers return from the long holiday weekend.

Customers departing or arriving any day of the holiday season should expect heavy traffic across the airport’s roadways, particularly approaching the terminals from the north, and along the terminal curbs. These areas are likely to see higher levels of congestion than usual.

Heavy traffic is also expected at Terminal C due to ongoing construction in that area. Customers flying American Airlines have the flexibility to check in at any terminal, and then get to their gate via the Skylink train, thereby avoiding the traffic jam at Terminal C.

How early to arrive
DFW always recommends arriving early but this holiday season, they are encouraging travelers to arrive extra early during the Thanksgiving travel period, with a recommended 60 to 90 minutes extra to their usual plans. At minimum, travelers should arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.

The extra time will provide flexibility for customers navigating traffic, construction areas, and parking availability, as well as check-in and security screening during peak times.

Getting to and from
Parking: Customers should book parking in advance using the DFW website or mobile app, and use public transit when possible. When entering or exiting through DFW’s parking plazas, dedicated TollTag lanes are the quickest option.

Public transportation:

DART’s New Silver Line: This new service, launched in October, originates in Plano and stops in several cities along the way to DFW’s Terminal B, including Richardson, Addison, Carrollton and Coppell – bypassing downtown Dallas for a faster northern route.
DART’s Orange Line: Service extends from Plano, through downtown Dallas and Irving, before arriving at Terminal A.
Trinity Metro’s TEXRail: Starts in downtown Fort Worth, passing through North Richland Hills and Grapevine to Terminal B – offering an easy west-side connection.
Trinity Railway Express (TRE): Connects Dallas and Fort Worth to the CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, with transfers via the TRE Link Shuttle.

Curbside protocol
Curbside areas are reserved for active loading and unloading only. Customers waiting to pick up passengers are encouraged to use the airport’s cell phone lots or one-hour parking located in the terminal parking garages at no additional charge.

New entrance into Terminal B and detours into Terminal A
DFW is currently entrenched in a complex construction project: transitioning access into Terminals A, B, and C to new right-hand exits from International Parkway, rather than the confusing left-hand exits it had previously. That's a currently ongoing thing and there are various detours underway to support the current phase of construction activity.

Terminal B: Customers flying out of Terminal B now access the terminal with new right-hand exits from International Parkway.

Terminal A: Customers departing out of Terminal A and arriving to the airport from the south will detour past the existing Terminal A entrance and take the left-hand U-turn before the North Exit Plaza to redirect to Terminal A’s southbound entrance. Signage along International Parkway will direct drivers through areas with adjusted traffic flow.

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