A few years ago we had snow come into our region fairly late in the winter, around the time when spring was supposed to be knocking at our doorstep. We had already dealt with a fairly wet and cold winter season, and I, not being one to get too excited about frigid temps, was dreading it. So what better to do than start scouring the Internet for ideas for a quick weekend escape?

Surprisingly, despite the fact that my efforts to avoid real life are often unfruitful, I discovered that Caddo Lake State Park was close enough to drive to for the weekend. Since the weather in that area was supposed to be only somewhat wet and not nearly as cold, I was sold. Hiking and canoeing sounded like a much better use of my time than sitting in the house snowed in, again.

So off we went, and although we arrived during a power outage at our cabin (from the rainstorms that turned to snow at home), we ended up having an unexpectedly fantastic mini-vacation and made lasting memories – all because we chose to do something out of the ordinary! (And thankfully, the power was restored quickly.)

Caddo Lake has miles of paddling trails on the water. You can rent canoes and kayaks at outfitters in the area, or you can do like we did and book a cabin that provides use of its own canoes and kayaks. We had tons of fun paddling around the large, beautiful cypress trees that grow all over the lake.

Caddo Lake is home to the largest cypress tree forest in the world. I never would have guessed that Texas could claim something like that! What a treat it was to be on the water enjoying a float amidst the ethereal trees draped in Spanish moss. It truly feels like you’ve entered a new world since it’s such a different environment from the rest of the state.

You could spend all your time in the midst of all that beauty, but if you get tired of paddling, you can head to the town of Jefferson, TX, which is only about a 20-minute-drive from Caddo Lake State Park. This is a really cool and quirky historic town with lots of shops, antique stores, and restaurants. There were many people roaming the downtown area when we visited on a Saturday afternoon, and there’s stuff for all ages to enjoy.

One of the coolest spots in Jefferson is the Jefferson General Store, which is pretty popular and features specialty food and drinks, tons of vintage candy and bottled sodas, and unique souvenirs. It’s a huge store with plenty of memorabilia, and it added such a nostalgic flair to our weekend getaway. Then we got to head back to our cabin and enjoy the bayou sounds from our back porch. We were truly able to pack so much vacation into one weekend.

I’ve never regretted taking a chance on new adventures (even when they didn’t turn out as great as this one did!). I definitely recommend this trip, but if it’s nowhere near where you live, I hope it has inspired you to check out an area you might not normally consider. We did this on a whim, and it has been one of our favorites. Don’t be afraid to get out your maps and see what’s within driving distance – you just might find a family treasure!