Summer Travel

Texas Panhandle

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument: This national monument was quarried 1,000 years ago by early inhabitants to gather flint for the manufacturing of tools. Activities available at the Visitor Contact Station. However, you may only visit the actual flint quarries on a two-hour ranger-guided tour. Plan ahead for hours and to reserve a tour.
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge: A wintering area for migrating waterfowl such as ducks and geese, the refuge also provides habitat for endangered species including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and mountain plovers. Resident species include both mule and white-tailed deer, prairie dogs, bobcats, coyotes, wild turkey, pheasants, quail, and rabbits. Available activities include: bird-watching, picnicking, and photography. No hunting, overnight camping, open fires, or charcoal grills allowed.
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway: This state park was home for Indians of several cultures for more than 10,000 years before being ranched in the latter part of the nineteenth-century. Home to the Official Bison Herd of the State of Texas. Park activities include: picnicking and camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain bike riding, rock climbing, boating, fishing, swimming, a scenic drive, and guided tours. Boat, bike, and horse rentals are also available.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area: A popular, local water recreation area, the Lake also provides flood control, and fish and wildlife benefits. Activities include camping, fishing, hunting, boating, camping, picnicking, and horseback riding.
Lake Rita Blanca City Park: This city-owned park, formerly part of the XIT ranch, provides a 2,000-acre wintering area for ducks and geese, as well as a home for a wide variety of wildlife, including scaled quail, bald eagles, mule deer, and swift, gray, and red foxes. Activities include: picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling. Has two rock climbing walls and a moving stepping stone entrance. Camping and motorized vehicles are prohibited. Closes at 10 p.m. More information via Number 49 on this list of attractions.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park: The Grand Canyon of Texas. Activities include camping, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, geological study, nature study, mountain biking, and scenic drives.

Nearby Locales

TravelTex: Includes a clickable map with links to area attractions and events, a state-wide events calendar, free publications to order and a screensaver to download, suggested tours, and electronic postcards to send.
Colorado: Come to Life (Colorado Tourism Office): Links to a calendar of events, as well as links to lodging, recreation, attractions, wine and dine, transportation, regional maps, city lists, and more information. Searchable.
There's No Place Like Kansas (Official State of Kansas Tourism Website): Includes an online travel planner, regional travel ideas, a travel guide, calendar of events, and information for group tours. The online travel planner has lodging, events, attractions, outdoors, shopping, restaurants, and medical information.
New Mexico True (New Mexico Tourism and Travel): Includes visitor information, outdoor fun, history and culture, facts and trivia, and New Mexico links.
Explore Oklahoma (Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department): Includes information on theater, games, outdoors, events and festivals, and cities and regions. Also includes a trip planner.

United States

Recreation and Tourism (USA.gov): Links to United States government recreation and travel sites.
Visit Your National Parks: Links to all national parks, including information about fees and passes. Browse by park name or state, or search by theme. Also check out the lists of lesser known parks, wild and scenic riverways, and parks that illustrate national significance.
Interactive Visitor Map: Online views of Forest Service roads, trails, recreation sites, wilderness areas, and wild and scenic rivers.
America's State Parks: Locate a Park: Nongovernment web site. Select a state to link to official state web sites.

Around the World

U.S. Passports: Includes information on applying for U.S. passports, including where to apply, where to get forms, and what to do if your passport is lost or stolen.
Country Information (International Travel): Search feature to find specific country information; will include country descriptions, local laws (including criminal penalties), medical facility descriptions, and more. From the U.S. Dept. of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Travel Advisories: Links to current travel warnings, which include descriptions of safety and stability concerns. From the U.S. Dept. of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Traveler's Health (Centers for Disease Control): Notices about disease outbreaks around the world. In particular, check out the Travel Health Notices and the Destinations recommendations.
SARS Information for Travelers (Centers for Disease Control): Up to date information on travel alerts, precautionary measures for travelers to take, guidelines for businesses and institutions, special guidelines for international adoptees and their families, and links to WHO information.
Library of Congress Country Studies: Has 101 country studies which describe and analyze each countries' political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions. Focus is on lesser-known areas of the world. Most studies were published from 1988 to 1998, but excellent source for background information. Maps are in PDF format. Browse tables of contents or search by keyword.