Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, Texas

Give it up for Martin Dies Jr., who devoted years of public service to improving the state park system and received one of the coolest awards out there—a state park named after himself! This isn’t your run of the mill patch of land, Martin Dies State Park is one of, if not the destination for paddling in Texas, and is also known as one of the state’s most splendid woodlands. Sites in this park are decked out with the basics so you can spend your day gallivanting among the great outdoors. Let’s test out the waters, shall we? Newbs can take a guided tour of surrounding wetlands with all of the furnishings (canoe or kayak included!) and those with experience are welcome to wander on their own watch with their own gear. Outside of the life aquatic, activities include hiking, biking, bird watching, and perhaps the best of all activities: simply relaxing.