I've lived in Texas my whole life, and I'm only just now, as an adult, beginning to see just how awesome it actually is. It's easy to take a place for granted when you're used to it, and sometimes it's necessary to try and look at your environment with fresh eyes so you can learn to appreciate it fully. I've grown up in the Big Thicket, and for a lot of my life, assumed that all of Texas was pretty similar to the immediate area around me and there wasn't much else to see but forests and creeks. I couldn't have been more wrong. Here are 5 of the coolest spots in Texas that have opened my eyes to just how awesome and beautiful a state Texas really is.

1. Caddo Lake

Caddo Lake is a lake and bayou that sits on the border between Texas and Louisiana. It houses bald cypress trees covered with Spanish moss that are quite the marvel to see and paddle around. When you visit, you can fish, paddle in a canoe or kayak, picnic, and stay in one of the historic rental cabins or even camp at one of the 46 campsites in the area. Fun fact: The lake is named after the Caddo Native Americans that inhabited the area until the 19th century!

2. Garner State Park

Garner State Park is a 1,420 acre park along the Frio River. There are beautiful trees, stone cliffs, tons of different species of wildlife, and around 11 miles of trails to explore. You can also swim or kayak here too! Come visit for a family camping trip, or stay in one of the rental cabins and get ready to explore one of the most incredible landscapes Texas has to offer!

3. Jacob's Well

Jacob's Well is a karst spring in the Hill Country around Wimberley that flows from Cypress Creek. Many people come to swim here, but be sure to check the website for dates before you visit, because it isn't open for swimming all year-round! However, the surrounding area is open year-round for exploration. There are a series of caves deep in the hole, but inexperienced divers have been killed, so diving is now only permitted for experienced divers, and only for research purposes.

4. Enchanted Rock

In Central Texas sits a giant pink granite rock formation called Enchanted Rock. Legend says it was named by the Tonkawa Indians who thought a Spanish conquistador had cast a spell on it to make ghost fires glow at the top of it. This beautiful area offers hiking, rock climbing, camping, and picnicking, not to mention gorgeous clear stargazing opportunities and abundant nature-watching.

5. Hamilton Pool

This gorgeous spectacle is located about 30 miles west of Austin. There's no camping, and visits are reservations only, but you can swim, hike, or picnic here for the day. The pool and grotto were supposedly formed when an underground river dome collapsed thousands of years ago.

These are just a few of the incredible sites and adventures Texas has to offer. There are so many others. Do some research on beautiful getaways in Texas, and I promise your search will return dozens of different, amazing places for you to visit! If you live in Texas, you don't even have to leave your own state to have some of the most amazing adventures and see some of the most beautiful sights of your life!