Things to Do in Deep East Texas

Road trips are one of the ultimate expressions of freedom. Just you, the road, and the stops along the way. You feel totally in control, but at the same time, the infinite blue skies, towering trees, and wide open roads give you the distinct feeling that in your service to something greater. But there's no tension between these two feelings. There's only a happy balance. It's the magic of the road trip. 

And there are few places that magic is felt more than Texas' Piney Woods region. Maybe it's the highway that runs under the canopy of pine, maybe it's the downtowns brimming with character, or maybe it's just the echoes of the past that give the area its mystic allure. Here's what you can find behind the treeline. 

Ride a Train Through the Piney Woods

There's aren't many places left where the only way in is by rail, and that's exactly the appeal of the Texas State Railroad. Trips take off from the Rusk depot and head through 25 miles of thick forests with no highway, no parking lots, no strip malls—just Mother Nature in all her natural beauty. On an old-fashioned train, out there in the woods, you're having the same experience someone might've been having in the 1880s. 

Keep an eye on the railroad's calendar before you book, as they host themed train rides all year long. One of those themes might speak to you. The Oktoberfest Beer Train, the Spooky Special, and the Polar Express are among the most popular, so get your tickets early!