Named after the dwarf palmetto plant, that surrounds the parks swamp, Palmetto state park brings a glimpse of the tropics to central Texas. The park is host to a variety of wildlife and plants thanks to the multiple water sources from ottine swamp, oxbow lake, and the san Marcos river. you can rent paddle boats and kayaks to paddle the rivers steady currents, or fish from the pier on the lake or banks of the river. There's also plenty of trails to hike and bike, but beware the swamp monster that's said to roam the swamps!  - More on that here  Swamp Thing!

There are 19 tent sites, 17 rv sites, and even cabins available for rent. The tent sites are near an artesian well and a nice playground for the kids. There is even a free book exchange at the bathrooms near the RV sites. If bird watching is your thing, this park is located on the Great Texas Coastal Birding trail, and is considered a hot spot with more than 240 species of birds observed. We didn't spend the night at this park, but its on our list for a repeat visit for sure!