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Hi all,

I purchased a nice canvas tent on a very nice Black Friday sale, as a "Santa gift" for my family this Christmas (along with 2 Nikon rifle scopes). I'd like to do some simple fishing while we're there, if possible.

We'll make a trip out to Big Bend at some point, but for now, what are the best places to go camping in central Texas? I have a young boy (almost 5), and I'm trying to expand his sense of wonder about the world around him in conjunction with all the new things he's learning in school.

Inks Lake State Park near Longhorn Cavern might be ok https://www.google.com/search?q=Longhor ... 8&oe=utf-8
been a bit cooler in the hill country than in Austin proper
Inks has campsites and cabins (just in case)

Campsites
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks- ... /campsites

overview of Inks http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lake

Thank you very much - those both look like beautiful parks. I've also found Buescher State Park, and it seems really spot on too.

Make a reservation as many State Parks are fully booked and you don't want to arrive to find that out...especially tired and at night.

Colorado Bend is a longer drive but the surrounding area is much less developed. The same would be true of Lost Maples but the spaces there are very limited. The best fishing would probably be at Inks Lake.

Inks lake Park has more stuff to do (Kayaks/boats or rent, 2 fishing piers, small convenience store there etc) and inside STATE PARKS you do not need to buy fishing licenses to fish ...


Geocaching and if I recall correctly, they added POKEMON GO (But I'm not positive they added Pokemon thingy)

a few miles away on the Llano side of Lake Buchanan is LCRA Lower Colorado River Authority Black Rock Park http://www.lcra.org/parks/developed-par ... -park.aspx (They charge admission but are adjacent to a free COUNTY park that has a boat ramp sort of a shallow gradual beach slope into the water if I recall (for wade fishing?) http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/b ... kId=820021
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I was thinking South Llano River State Park, but it's closing for a while.... only allowing drawn Hunters
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/south ... /campsites
South Llano River State Park
Park Closure Alert . . .

The park will be closed on the following dates:

*From 10 p.m. Nov. 28 until 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 2016.
*From 10 p.m. Dec. 5 until 2 p.m. Dec. 8, 2016.
*From 10 p.m. Dec. 19 until 2 p.m. Dec. 22, 2016.
*From 10 p.m. Dec. 26 until 2 p.m. Dec. 29, 2016.
*From 10 p.m. Jan. 9 until 2 p.m. Jan. 12, 2017.
*From 10 p.m. Jan. 23 until 2 p.m. Jan. 26, 2017.
*From 10 p.m. Feb. 6 until 2 p.m. Feb. 9, 2017.

Only drawn permitted hunters will be allowed in during these dates. Contact the park for more information.
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I'd probably choose INKS Lake State Park if you can get in, if not full, there's more stuff to do/see (hiking trails to explore together, etc).... convenience store is a big plus if you "need" something .... The park store sells snacks, camping supplies and souvenirs Great if bored kid with no TV/Screen needs a cold drink/candy bar/etc...

Inks Lake State Park Store
https://www.yelp.com/biz/inks-lake-stat ... ore-burnet

Inks Home page
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lake

State Park Stores
http://tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/park_store/

NotRPB wrote:Inks lake Park has more stuff to do (Kayaks/boats or rent, 2 fishing piers, small convenience store there etc) and inside STATE PARKS you do not need to buy fishing licenses to fish ...

Need one to fish from a boat. Don't need one to fish from shore or pier.

Definitely Inks Lake for 5 yr/old and adults. I've been to pretty much all of them and with fishing in mind and (assuming) less experience with camping this park offers fishing with no license (as stated above from pier or bank but need one from boat), swimming area that is fairly unique and more hiking than most people are familiar with. Also, you can take a quick trip to Longhorn Caverns a few miles away.