Blanco State Park, Texas

Beware of the R.O.U.S.’s!! (Rodents Of Unusual Size… see Princess Bride Video). Ok, maybe they aren’t quite as frightening as the rats from the video, but nonetheless the nutria, more commonly known as the river rat, are an invasive species that live in abundance in Blanco State Park. Rats aside, other common animal sightings include mallards, squirrels, armadillos and raccoons. Hillsides of cedar and pecan trees are also notable features of this 104.6-acre park which lies at the frontier of Texas’s shifting landscape, transitioning from dry, arid desert to the verdant plains that border the Gulf of Mexico. Common activities in the park include swimming, boating, tubing, fishing, hiking and picnicking.