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And several stunners are within a day’s drive of Austin:
• The 66,000-acre Amistad National Recreation Area boasts rugged canyons, rolling hills and swimming (in a man-made lake resulting from the impoundment of the Rio Grande).
• Big Bend National Park, dubbed the Lone Star State’s “gift to the nation,” is a vast wilderness covering a whopping 800,000 acres. From rock climbing to river trips, it’s a playground for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Diverse habitats converge at Big Thicket National Preserve, home to several unique species – including the American black bear, Texas pine snake and red-cockaded woodpecker (just one of countless unique bird species).
– Hannah Van Sickle, The 100 Companies