Lake Tawakoni State Park, Texas

Water skiing or a fresh salad with cucumbers, peppers, juicy tomatoes and other fresh veggies? Thanks to the brilliant minds who manage this 376-acre state park and adjacent water reservoir located in northeastern Texas, you can have both - so long as they are enjoyed in moderation. With limited fresh water in the area, resource management has been critical in the appropriation of this precious resource. Luckily for park goers, they are nonetheless able to take advantage of the five miles of park shoreline for water-based recreational activities such as swimming, fishing and boating. Also offered at this park among the oak woodlands and tallgrass prairies are more grounded leisures such as mountain biking, hiking, geocaching and bird watching. Just remember that next time you forget to turn off the water while you brush your teeth, you might be sacrificing precious time on the jet ski!