The great state of Texas is home to 103 state parks. Spreading across the entire state, the parks can be found in a variety of environments, with an assortment of activities and attractions in the parks and surrounding areas. These seven parks offer their own unique experiences and are perfect getaways for any camper.

1. Marin Dies, Jr. State Park, Jasper, Texas

This camp is great for a spring or fall getaway. The area is great for kayaking and canoeing, and there are plenty of water front sites available. Swimming is available, but, due to alligators, pets are not allowed in the water. Along with the great water views, the park has an amazing nature center which has nature classes for children and informative displays. If you're looking to get out, every spring, Jasper has an airshow in town which features everything from RC planes to B-52 bombers. This is a great local activity that anybody will enjoy watching. Martin Dies, Jr. is a small, cozy park which makes an enjoyable holiday vacation.

2. Pedernales Falls State Park, Johnson City, Texas

While the falls aren't shaded, this park makes for a fun summer trip. There is plenty of swimming spots in the river, which is the perfect way to cool down after a day out hiking. Located in the heart of hill country, Pedernales offers lots of great trails, but the area is very rocky, so make sure to bring sneakers or hiking boots with good traction. There's lots of land to explore, but the area can easily flood so make sure to check weather conditions before heading out on this camping trip

3. Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, Texas

Brazos Bend State Park is close to Houston, so it's a close-to-home vacation. Since there is no swimming available to beat the Texas heat, this park is best to visit during the spring and fall when it' cooler. There may not be swimming to keep you busy during the day, but there is a planetarium that is open to the public. The park also offers plenty of hiking and biking trails that circle the waterfront. Be warned though, the park has a lot of alligators which can often block paths on trails.Be smart, turn around, try again some other time. Aside from the occasional gator spotting, the park is a perfect way to explore nature during school breaks.

4. Inks Lake State Park, Burnet, Texas

This is one of the best summer camping spots. Inks Lake is known for its large swimming area known as Devil's Watering Hole (as seen above). The water is always packed with people looking to cool off, and the cliff is dotted with people waiting to jump the 40-20 feet into the water. The camp store, which is perfectly stocked for any last minute camping needs, has kayak and canoe rentals for those looking to explore more of the lake.Plenty of campsites are waterfront, so you'll never be too far from a scenic view. Inks Lake is a campground you'll want to go back to again and again, and will always be amazing any time of year.

5. Possum Kingdom State Park, Caddo, Texas

If you're looking for the ultimate getaway, some place away from towns and is uncrowded, Possum Kingdom is the place for you. This campsite is a good half hour from a gas station and 45 minutes from the nearest town. While the drives are long, it can be worth it. Only 30 minutes out of the campground is a fossil dig site. Once a watery oasis, the now dry, rocky pit is a plethora of small prehistoric remnants. It's free and open to the public year round. Just show up with digging tools, a bottled water, and a sandwich baggy to store your finds. It's best to visit in the morning or later in the day since the ruthless Texas sun shines on every inch of the pit. After some time digging around, you can head back and take a dip in Possum Kingdom's swimming area. Possum Kingdom is a great little getaway.

6. Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose, Texas

This is the place dreams are made of! This entire park is all about dinosaurs. The area was once home to many of the giant beasts, and the land proves it. The riverbed is lined with dinosaur footprints, and others can be found preserved throughout the park. When driving up to the park, you pass by Dinosaur World, an attraction which features different dinosaur statues and information about popular dinos. When entering the park, you're greeted by two large dinosaur replicas which make for great photographs with your camp group. Aside from the dinosaur attractions, the camp is great. The sites are spacious and the camp store is perfect for souvenirs. The camp is also close Big Rocks Park, which is a popular Glen Rose spot. No matter the age, everybody will enjoy this park. It's not everyday you can touch dinosaur footprints.

7. Tyler State Park, Tyler,Texas

This is one of the best parks you can camp at during the summer. It caters greatly to RVs and campers, but many tent sites are water front and have nice breezes. The lake at Tyler State Park is clear and cool. The swimming area is large and has a long floating dock for people to jump off of. The swim area is right next to the camp store which offers rentals for canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and newest addition: paddle boards. When you're tired of the water, you can visit nearby Gladewater, Texas, which is only a 30 minute drive. Gladewater happens to be the antique capital of east Texas. Its streets are lined with antique shops and malls, making for plenty of unique finds. All around, no one can have a bad time at Tyler State Park. The one thing you must be careful about though are the raccoons. Every camper should know to lockup food and throw away trash, but the raccoons are very frequent visitors to the camp sites, so it's important to stay on top of that so they won't be so bothersome. Even with the raccoons, Tyler State Park won't let you down, and you'll want to visit again.