Texas destinations

2 Texas parks climb into top 10 on new list of best U.S. state parks

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the No. 2 best state park in the country.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images / HomeToGo

There's still plenty of time to pack in one last road trip this summer and fall, and a new study by vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has determined two Texas state parks should be at the top of the destination list: Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Garner State Park.

The popular parks emerged among the top 10 best state parks in the U.S., according to the "2024 HomeToGo State Park Index." The annual report ranks 50 of the top U.S. state parks based on five major metrics: The search volume for vacation rental stays in the area, the size of each state park, the number of trails in each location, the number of wildlife species in each destination, and each park's "picturesqueness" according to photographers.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, known as the "Grand Canyon of Texas," came out nearly on top as the No. 2 best state park in the country, earning a score of 37.61 out of a possible 50 points. It's the second-largest canyon in the U.S., the report says, where the park's 30-plus miles of trails can keep even the most athletic traveler occupied.

The report goes on further to say Palo Duro Canyon is loaded with "rich geographical history" and "dramatic landscapes" that produce many photographic opportunities.

"[Visitors can] marvel at the stunning rock formations and vibrant sunsets that light up the expansive skies," the report said.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website, it only costs $8 per person to enter the park, and children aged 12 years and under get free admission. But the department recommends that campers and day trip visitors reserve passes online and double check that the park hasn't reached full capacity before visiting.

For travelers who don't want to make a drive to the Texas Panhandle, they can head to the Hill Country to visit Garner State Park, which ranked as the No. 9 best state park in the U.S. It earned a score of 33.51 points.

Garner State Park is known for its accessibility to the winding Frio River, which runs nearly three miles throughout the park. There's also ample opportunities to explore, as the park sits on 1,774 acres of land.

Garner State Park, Frio River, tubing, family friendly Tubing in the Frio River at Garner State Park is a great way to cool off during a hot summer day.Photo courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

"Swim in the Frio River or float its waters on an inner tube, operate a paddle boat, and hike 16 miles of scenic trails," the TPWD's website says. "You can also camp, study nature, picnic, canoe, fish, play miniature golf, geocache and ride bikes."

Visitors who decide to turn a day trip into an overnight stay can take advantage of the park's screened shelters, cabins, and campsites.

Elsewhere in Texas, Caddo Lake State Park ranked No. 40 out of all 50 parks in the study. This East Texas park is a great destination for fishers, thanks to the 26,810-acre Caddo Lake. Over 70 varieties of fish live in the lake, and visitors don't need a fishing license to fish from a state park, according to the TPWD. But keep an eye out for alligators, and brush up on alligator safety.

The top 10 best state parks in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Letchworth State Park, New York
No. 2 – Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas
No. 3 – Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
No. 4 – Mohican State Park, Ohio
No. 5 – Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri
No. 6 – Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana
No. 7 – Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
No. 8 – John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida
No. 9 – Garner State Park, Texas
No. 10 – Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania

The full report can be found on hometogo.com.

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Holiday News

American Airlines expects record-setting travel on Thanksgiving 2024

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

American Airlines ready for takeoff.

The holidays are looming and American Airlines is ramping up. Over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, the Fort Worth-based airline expects to process nearly 8.3 million customers across more than 77,000 flights.

According to a statement from American's COO David Seymour, the airline is having a good fall season and canceled fewer flights than its peers during October.

“Thanks to the hard work of our 130,000 team members, we canceled fewer flights than any of our major competitors this October and beat our own records for on-time departures and arrivals,” Seymour says.

That's surely good news. One hates to rain on their parade, but in June 2024, the only flight I booked this year, my flight was canceled less than 24 hours before take-off. I had made hotel reservations, scheduled a pet sitter, planned events, and arranged for a friend to pick me up at the destination airport. One employee speculated that it may have been "insufficient crew." Their only solution offered was: Feel free to reschedule your flight.

Thanksgiving facts and figures
The travel window runs from November 21 to December 3, and the airline expects to carry more than 500,000 more customers than it did last year.

The most-traveled day will be Sunday, December 1. The second most-traveled day will be Monday, December 2.

The peak of peak: 1,035 mainline and regional aircraft will be enroute at 10:45 am on Sunday, December 1 — the highest number of flights handled at any given time during American’s travel period.

The airline expects to serve more than 6.8 million Biscoff cookies on board from November 21 to December 3.

Travel tips
Download the American Airlines app and check in for your flight, noting added any bags to your trip. This will save you time at the airport.

If traveling internationally, download the Mobile Passport Control app, which can speed up your entry into the U.S. Global Entry members can download the Global Entry app, which allows you to submit your entry and go straight to the officer.

Upon arrival at the airport lobby, scan your mobile boarding pass to print bag tags quickly at a kiosk. If you’re not checking bags, go straight to TSA security with your mobile boarding pass.

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