And the Winner Is ...

The Colorado River Trail's 2011 Flickr Photo Contest was a big success!  Twenty-six days, 107 contest entries, and 950 votes later, we are pleased to announce our winner.  This photo by David Stall of the four young cowboys watching the rodeo at the Colorado County Fair captured the hearts of our voters and won the grand prize.

David's grand prize is a round of golf for two at the Wolfdancer Golf Club located at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa near Bastrop.  Our category winners also received prizes.  Those prizes included an RV site at Matagorda Bay Nature Park, a Light 'O the Moon float trip from McKinney Roughs Nature Park, two days and one night in a mini-cabin at Black Rock Park, an annual entrance pass to six of LCRA's recreational areas, and a Day on the Bay guided kayak trip also at Matagorda Bay Nature Park.

For more information on the contest and to see photos from our runners up, visit the photo contest page on our website.  Even though the contest is over, your photos are welcome in the Colorado River Trail's Flickr group any time.  Come join the fun!

Gas Saving Getaways - Matagorda Bay Nature Park

Ahh, the beach.  Just saying the word brings to mind sunny images and fond memories.  Remember that family vacation?  You can relive those childhood memories and create some new ones for your kids at Matagorda Bay Nature Park - this week's Gas Saving Getaway.



From leisurely walks on the beach, to fishing, to a nature scavenger hunt, there's something for everyone to enjoy at Matagorda Bay Nature Park.  Park staff provide entertaining and informative programs to visitors on the local flora and fauna, as well as recreational programs like guided kayaking trips.

If you're into RVing, Matagorda Bay Nature Park has space for 70 RVs at the adjacent RV Park.  More information is available on the RV Park by sending an email to parkinfo@lcra.org.

To find out more about all the fun things to see and do, contact park staff at 1-800-77-5272, Ext. 4740 or email them at matagordabay@lcra.org.  Make plans to visit Matagorda Bay Nature Park with your family this summer.  You'll be glad you did.

Giddy Up! Cattle Drives Bring Back the Old West

Think cattle drives are a thing of the past?  Not so in Matagorda County.  The spirit of the Old West lives on with the Huebner family who has been driving their herd between their ranch in Bay City to the Matagorda Peninsula for 101 years.

“The mother cows spend the winter on the peninsula and then we bring them all back with their calves in the spring,” said Kristi (Huebner) Meyer, fifth-generation cattle rancher. “We move about 500 mother cows to the peninsula but keep the yearling calves here in Bay City until springtime, allowing them to eat winter grasses we planted on about 4,000 acres.”  They made their most recent trip on December 16, 2010.



“A lot of the winter Texan snowbirds or tourists in the area are mesmerized by them, and amazed at the fact that we still use cattle drives to move our herd from one property to another,” Meyer said. “For me, this is just such a way of living – the cattle drives happened every year of my life.”

If you'd like to watch the Spring drive, contact the folks at LCRA's Matagorda Bay Nature Park for information at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 4740 or via E-mail matagordabay@lcra.org.  If you love the outdoors, you may be interested in the calendar of outdoor programs offered at Matagorda Bay Nature Park and McKinney Roughs Nature Park near Bastrop.

To read the full cattle drive story on LCRA's website, follow this link.

Video by LCRA Matagorda Bay Nature Park staff member Rhonda Westbrook.

Fall Is a Wonderful Time for the Beach

Even though we typically think of going to the beach as a summertime activity, the Fall is a great time to visit the beach - especially in Texas.  Think about it.  It's not that far-fetched.  Here are just a few reasons why:

• It's Texas.  The weather is still warm until well into October.
• It's less crowded.
• Prices are usually lower in the off-season.

I've got you thinking about a long weekend, haven't I?  Good!  The Colorado River Trail's got you covered.

Our southernmost county - Matagorda County - is a wonderful destination for a beach getaway.  There's great fishing year-round and all kinds of water sports.  Matagorda County is on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, and is the best place to watch birds in North America.  There are plenty of lodging options too.  From hotels and motels, to quaint bed and breakfasts, to RV sites - there are lots to choose from!

You can even take a beachcombing tour to learn about the shells commonly found on the beaches of Matagorda County.  The folks at Matagorda Bay Nature Park are offering an "Adventures in Beachcombing" guided walk on October 23rd (and again on November 13th) for only $8 per person.  Take a relaxing stroll on the beach with an interpretive guide and learn about the wonders of Matagorda.

For more information on guided tours at Matagorda Bay Nature Park, check out their calendar of community programs.  And for more information on things to see and do in Matagorda County, the friendly folks at the Matagorda County Convention and Visitors Bureau are there to help.

Photo courtesy of accent on eclectic. 

Wildlife Abounds on Matagorda Bay

School's out, or it will be for most kiddos this week. Have you thought about a trip to the beach this summer? If so, try something different this year. Matagorda County is home to almost 55 miles of Texas shoreline. If it's birding you like, Matagorda County ranked first by the National Audubon Society in the annual Christmas Bird Count. There are more species of birds here than anywhere else in the country! Other activities include fishing, boating, kayaking, beachcombing, and much more. You can even camp right on the beach! Matagorda Bay Nature Park offers nature programs on topics including beachcombing, guided wetland kayak trips, birding, and a nature scavenger hunt. Programs are scheduled throughout the summer, so there's bound to be one that fits your family's schedule. Contact the Matagorda Area Chamber of Commerce for more information on where to stay, where to eat, and things to see and do while you're there. Photo courtesy of slipshod snapshots.

Golden Sunsets and Sandy Beaches

Doesn't this photo make you want to be there? Right now? There's just something about a sunset on a beach that calms the body and spirit. The weather is perfect right now for a trip to the beach. If you want to go, give these fine folks a shout: Matagorda Bay Nature Park or the Matagorda County Convention and Visitor's Bureau. They've got information about birding, kayaking, educational programs, places to stay, and other fun things to see and do. Photo courtesy of darkhairedgirl.

Explore the Kayaking Trails at Matagorda Bay Nature Park

Kayakers get ready to launch for an afternoon of fun on the kayak trails in the coastal marshes of Matagorda Bay Nature Park. Photo courtesy of LCRA.