[A/S] Re: Traveling in the South West soon!

["prairietex" <hilty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Barbara,

About 2 miles south of exit 457 on I-20 between Dallas and Ft. Worth 
is the Cedar Hill State Park. It is on the lake and convenient to 
just about everything in the DFW Metroplex. See: 
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/cedarhil/cedarhil.htm . I live about 
4 miles from the park, and we will go over there for a quick getaway 
weekend. Fees are $15 per night plus a $3 daily fees per person. You 
can buy ($50/yr) a Gold Conservation Pass that lets you into any TX 
state park without the daily per person fees (a good deal if you plan 
to be in Texas). There are lots of other state parks in the system. 
See: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ 

Hunter stayed at the Corps. of  Engineers park to the southwest of 
Ft. Worth. My wife and I visited her while she was there. It is a 
beautiful spot on Lake Benbrook about 5 miles south of I-20 exit 429 
on Hwy 377 to a small park road called S Lakeview then east to the 
park. I don't think there was a street sign except a brown sign 
pointing to the park where you turn. It is called Holiday Park. I 
don't know if there is a web site for this park.

A suggested route to Fredericksburg would be to take Hwy 67 through 
Cleburne to Chalk Mountain (passing Cleburne state park and Dinosaur 
Valley state park) then 220 south to Hico and then Hwy 281 that will 
take you to the Hill Country. 281 is trullly a beautiful drive and it 
avoids I-35 with its construction and HEAVY truck traffic. If you 
must take 35, stop in Hillsboro at the NTAC North Texas Airstream 
Community just south of the outlet mall on Walnut Hill Dr. $10/night 
camping, not scenic but good company. If you take Hwy 281 a must stop 
is Inks Lake state park between Burnet and Llano. See: 
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/inks/inks.htm and 
http://www.skyboom.com/johnhilty/index3.html From there it is only a 
few miles to Llano and then south past Enchanted Rock state park to 
Fredericksburg.

In Fredericksburg the Ladybird Johnson Municipal Park with water, 
electric, sewer and cable RV hookups is situated in a pecan orchard 
about 2.5 miles south of downtown on Hwy 16. $18/night $200/mo. Golf 
course adjacent to the RV park. We make this trip the first weekend 
in Dec. every year and take this route. While in Frederickburg all of 
the LBJ sites are worthwhile to see. Suggested restaurants - the 
Rattskellar (laid back cuisine), Plateau Cafe (chicken fried steak by 
the fireplace), Andy's (breakfast). All reasonably priced in their 
category.

Either before or after you visit Big Bend you might consider going 
through Ft. Davis to the state park there. It is only a couple of 
miles from the McDonald Observatory and another great Texas spot. 
See: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/davis/davis.htm  After 
boondocking at Big Bend it might be a pleasant stop. 

At Tucson the Gilbert Ray park is electric only, but very worthwhile 
if you like the desert. See: 
http://www.accessarizona.com/recreation/guides/saguaro_camp.html We 
have suggested it to other RVers who have sent us post cards thanking 
us for the recommendation.

John Hilty