The northeast region of Texas covers the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Sherman. Visitors and residents alike can find a variety of activities for all ages in the area, including touring family-friendly animal attractions and participating in outdoor recreation at national parks. Northeast Texas has a variety of special events and festivals throughout the year.
Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands are two national recreation areas overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA.) Forest Service. Both facilities are in northeast Texas with Caddo to the east and Lyndon B. Johnson to the west of the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. The Caddo Grasslands covers 17,785 acres, while the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands encompasses 20,250 acres.
Visitors to the grassland areas can boat and fish in the lakes of the recreational area. Largemouth bass and channelfish are among the species that populate the waters. The region has trails for mountain biking, hiking and horseback-riding. Hunting is also permitted in designated areas of these public lands. Picnic areas and campgrounds for tents and recreational vehicles are found at both grassland areas.
They are open year-round. The USDA Forest Service does not charge an entry fee though campsites face a nightly rental fee and the service sells maps of the area and firewood on-site.
The Dallas Zoo is along the South R. L. Thornton Freeway between Ewing and Marsalis Avenues in the Fair Park area of Dallas. Established in 1888, this northeast Texas attraction is the oldest zoo in the state. The zoo held "Zagat" ratings of "very good to excellent" for its appeal and "good to very good" for its service and facilities, as of October 2010.
The Dallas Zoo's 95 acres make it the largest zoo in Texas. The Wilds of Africa exhibit includes an aviary, a chimpanzee forest and the zoo's gorilla trail. At the Lacrete Family Children's Zoo, kids can interact with and touch animals like goats and sheep, enjoy pony rides and participate in games and craft activities.
The Dallas Zoo is open seven days per week, year-round, closing only on Christmas Day. General admission was $12 as of October 2010. Children and senior citizens enjoy discounted admission rates. The zoo has its own on-site pay parking lot. Strollers and wheelchairs are available to rent.
Each year the city of Winnsboro, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas, hosts the Northeast Texas Music Festival. The Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce and country music production company Nextex Productions team up to organize and host the event. The festival began in 2000 and typically occurs on a Saturday in June.
Live country music performances take place throughout the day and in 2010, 17 different bands and artists participated in the event. A variety of vendors are also on-hand, selling food, crafts and other items.
The festival occurs in the Jack Cross Pavilion at the Winnsboro City Park. For the 2010 festival, advanced general admission tickets were $20 at the gate. The event has free parking.
