Friday, August 27 is the birthday of the 36th U.S. president, Lyndon B. Johnson who is a Hill Country native.
70 miles up the road from San Antonio and 60 miles over from Austin is the state and national park that tells LBJ's story in Stonewall, Texas.
You could probably spend at least half-a-day here with the state and national park all within driving distance.
With that said, if you plan on going this weekend, bring plenty of cold water, wear sunscreen and take it easy. Temperatures will be hot and the humidity will be high.
There could also be an isolated shower or storm, so remember: "when thunder roars, go indoors."
First thing's first, stop at the visitor center to get some basic information and a map of the two parks.
As you continue to venture through the park, you will observe several Texas longhorns. An interesting fact about the longhorns are that they adapted to the dry weather and are drought tolerant.
Be sure to stay off of the wildflowers or else you'll be friendly reminded to stay off of them. While the flowers aren't that noticeable in the summer, they are in blooming in all of their colors during the spring.
Next, you want to hop in the car and travel down the road a bit to the Sauer-Beckmann Farm where the animals roam free. But don't forget to close the gate upon entry.
One last thing, before you explore the next park, check out the American bison. There are also some good shady spots here to cool down in the Texas summer heat.
To get to the next stop, it's a long, winding but easy road to the national park. This is your chance to crank up the A/C and enjoy the stunning Texas views.
You'll cross over the Pedernales River, see more Texas longhorns and even see LBJ's childhood home on his family's ranch.
Finally, after driving along Lyndon B. Johnson's runway will be "Air Force One-Half" and the "Texas White House."
There is so much to see and learn at this stop. A perk, there are shady and climate controlled spots.
