A little help y'all. I'll be in the McKinney/ Dallas area over Thanksgiving and am looking for not-to-distant photo locals. I prefer wildlife; birds,wolves, etc. but if great vistas can be had, I won't shy away. 2-3 hour drives at most. Any help or recommendations are appreciated.
Thought I would start here before a 4 hour surfing session.
Thanks, Bruce
I went to Fossil Rim at Glen Rose in spring based on the recommendation of someone on this board. I got there late but I got some good pictures. Not exactly indigenous wildlife, but interesting. Mapquest shows 108 miles from McKinney.
http://www.fossilrim.com/
Bruce,
I would second Mike's recommendation on Fossil Rim. Take the "behind the scenes" tour. You really do get to go places where the drive thru tour is not allowed (wolves, cheetahs, etc.).
If you don't mind "captive" subjects the Fort Worth zoo is also pretty good (better than Dallas').
A lot of what you will see (or not see) will be dependent upon the weather. If we are having a "warm" Thanksgiving the animals tend not to be too active.
There is a tiger sanctuary in Bridgeport (north of Fort Worth), I can't remember the name of it.
I can't think of any other places other than private ranches that are in the area.
If you could stay longer or take a longer ride, Palo Duro Canyon is gorgeous!
And as far as beautiful landscapes, well that's all of Texas! (from a native born Texas).
Thanksgiving is a great time to be in north Texas. That is when we get our fall color and the temps will be decent enough for outdoor activity.
For exotic wildlife Fossil Rim is pretty neat. As Sharon suggested call and ask for a photographers tour. This way they drive and you photograph from an open air vehicle, plus you can stay until dark. I took one of these trips in Feb. It was cold but fun.
Hagerman NWR is at Lake Texoma (north of Metroplex). I have not been there but hear they get birds for the winter.
Fort Worth zoo is photographer (tripod and monopod) friendly and is worth part of a day. And yes, it is way better than the Dallas zoo.
Fort Worth Nature Center has some nice hiking trails, birds, bison, prairie dogs.
I might be tempted to go east to Daingerfield SP to see if any fall color there.
Three hours away is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Reserve near Lawton, Oklahoma. Big granite hills (800 ft tall) bison, longhorn, and elk roam freely. Probably too far for a day trip but worth an overnight.
Also in Oklahoma is Turner Falls (about 100 miles from DFW).
With more time and distance I'd go to the hill country west of Austin, but that is also too far for a day trip.
Discussion
4 repliesThought I would start here before a 4 hour surfing session.
Thanks, Bruce
http://www.fossilrim.com/
I would second Mike's recommendation on Fossil Rim. Take the "behind the scenes" tour. You really do get to go places where the drive thru tour is not allowed (wolves, cheetahs, etc.).
If you don't mind "captive" subjects the Fort Worth zoo is also pretty good (better than Dallas').
A lot of what you will see (or not see) will be dependent upon the weather. If we are having a "warm" Thanksgiving the animals tend not to be too active.
There is a tiger sanctuary in Bridgeport (north of Fort Worth), I can't remember the name of it.
I can't think of any other places other than private ranches that are in the area.
If you could stay longer or take a longer ride, Palo Duro Canyon is gorgeous!
And as far as beautiful landscapes, well that's all of Texas!
Sharon
Thanksgiving is a great time to be in north Texas. That is when we get our fall color and the temps will be decent enough for outdoor activity.
For exotic wildlife Fossil Rim is pretty neat. As Sharon suggested call and ask for a photographers tour. This way they drive and you photograph from an open air vehicle, plus you can stay until dark. I took one of these trips in Feb. It was cold but fun.
Hagerman NWR is at Lake Texoma (north of Metroplex). I have not been there but hear they get birds for the winter.
Fort Worth zoo is photographer (tripod and monopod) friendly and is worth part of a day. And yes, it is way better than the Dallas zoo.
Fort Worth Nature Center has some nice hiking trails, birds, bison, prairie dogs.
I might be tempted to go east to Daingerfield SP to see if any fall color there.
Three hours away is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Reserve near Lawton, Oklahoma. Big granite hills (800 ft tall) bison, longhorn, and elk roam freely. Probably too far for a day trip but worth an overnight.
Also in Oklahoma is Turner Falls (about 100 miles from DFW).
With more time and distance I'd go to the hill country west of Austin, but that is also too far for a day trip.
Have a great trip.