I grew up in northern Michigan in the 90’s where my non-school days consisted entirely of being outside playing with friends until dark. I’ve always had a love for being outside, exploring, and simply being in the wild.

When I moved to Reno, Nevada for grad school, I had the opportunity to get outside EVERY WEEKEND. Lake Tahoe has some of the most beautiful hikes I’ve had the opportunity to do. Living in Reno only fueled my desire to be outside even more.

After grad school, I moved to College Station, Tx, which is NOT The best place to live for someone who loves the outdoors. Despite having a lot of state parks, Texas is huge (if you didn’t know) and all but 3-4 parks are over 2 hours away from me.

Now that I’ve been in Texas 5+ years, I’ve decided to put more effort into getting outside because every time I go camping or go on a hike I feel lighter, more full of life, and generally just happier… so why wouldn’t I want to do more of that?!

*I am not affiliated with the above hoodie creator or business, nor am I recommending a purchase. I just saw it on Etsy and thought it was super cute!

I often travel alone so ensuring my safety is my number 1 priority. State and National parks tend to offer a level of safety I feel very comfortable with. These parks are often monitored by Park Rangers, or some kind of live in staff and are typically well maintained.

With this knowledge, I did some research and bought a Texas State Parks pass ($70 annual pass) to hold myself accountable. There are 89 state parks to visit in this massive state and I have 365 days to get my money worth in state park entrance fees and camping.

One thing about me – I don’t like wasting money so I’ll be sure to get at least $70 worth of State Park visits!

That being said, I’m excited to explore, get outside, and share my visits with you!

Follow my Journey through the Texas State Parks!

1/89 – Huntsville State Park (November 2022)

2,3,4, and 5th/89- Fort Boggy State Park, Mission Tejas State Park, Caddo Lake State Park, and Martin Creek Lake State Park (Coming January 2023)

Katelynn Kellogg

Katelynn is a Texas-based writer and travel enthusiast who makes the most of her time exploring new destinations while balancing a full-time 9-5 job. She has visited 12 countries and 27 U.S. states. She describes herself as a weekend warrior and shares her passion for travel, outdoor adventures, and solo journeys on her blog, KatelynnOutLoud.