Will be spending the Summer in Houston, is there anyone notable areas outside of Houston that are striking/noteworthy? (Austin: buy, garden)

[OptimusPrime69]

I will be working there on a contract for three months and I am pretty big into nature and nature photography. Are there places in and around Houston that are unique/cool to photograph? I prefer natural settings. I know Houston is no California when it comes to striking beauty, but are there places that are uniquely "texas" in and around Houston? Places of particular significance? Natural beauty, etc?

Thanks for any tips. I'm looking forward to getting to know Houston.

[alsal29]

While you are not going to get the scenery around Houston that you get in California, I recommend the Big Thicket National Preserve. If you visit the Visitor's Center, it tells you why the area is special. It actually encompasses a fairly large area with many different ecosystems. The main Visitor center is about an hour and a half from Houston.

Places a little closer, I would recommend Armand Bayou or Brazos Bend State Park.

[nana053]

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

Edith Moore

Terry Hershey Park

Terry Hershey Park Hike & Bike - The Anthills

Hermann Park's Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden | Hermann Park Conservancy

[Clever nickname here]

Bayou Bend https://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-ben...n-and-gardens/

Presido La Bahia in Goliad. Goliad State Park & Historic Site

Matagorda Island Matagorda Island

Anahuac Natl wildlife refuge https://www.fws.gov/refuge/anahuac/

As mentioned-
The Big Thicket National Preserve https://www.nps.gov/bith/index.htm Martin Dies, Jr State Park would be my choice. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/martin-dies-jr
Brazos Bend State Park http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend

Bastrop and Buescher State parks are interesting as a wild fire went thru a few years ago and nature's regeneration is on fully display. Buescher State Park

Houston sits at the intersection of 3-4 ecosystems; Piney Woods to the north, The Katy prairie to the west, the Post Oak savannah/Coastal Plains to the south, and the Gulf to the east/southeast.

If you are going to hit up all the state parks buy an annual pass.

[cBach]

I would get some sunset pictures at Kemah or Galveston.

Maybe drive to Louisiana and drive along the Creole Nature Trail, is only a couple of hours from Houston.

The Texas Hill Country around Austin has some nice scenery as well.

The architecture of the skyscrapers in downtown Houston present interesting photo ops.

[chris_ut]

Most of the good scenery is going to be on the west side of Austin. Drive to Mount Bonell and you will feel like you are in SoCal which is why so many Californians flock to that area.

[Dopo]

I really enjoy driving through Sam Houston National Forest
Lots of pine trees

[OptimusPrime69]

Hey, thanks everyone! I appreciate the suggestions. I have really no experience with Texas or any affiliation to the state, so I'm looking forward to see what it's like and I hope I can get some good shots to really "capture" Texas while I'm there. I actually am quite interested to hear about areas west of Austin maybe? What kind of scenery is there? I assumed prairies?

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

I actually am quite interested to hear about areas west of Austin maybe? What kind of scenery is there? I assumed prairies?

No, that area of the State is the Texas Hill Country. Rolling hills, limestone and pink granite formations, wildflowers, lots of rivers. A very beautiful part of Texas and a favorite area of many, including me. In fact, we just spent the weekend outside of Johnson City, hiking Pedernales Falls State Park and touring wineries and distilleries.

I think the area in and around Fredericksburg may be one of my favorite places in the world.

[Dopo]

Hill Country doesn't have this

Near FM 1375, New Waverly, TX 77358
https://goo.gl/maps/nyXMvPHi2q42