Eisenhower State Park

A Father's Day drive to Lake Texoma. Not a lot to see, but a breeze off the water and a Buc-ee's stop the boys had never really seen before, which turned out to be the part that made it.

It was Father’s Day, and the ask was narrow: somewhere nature-centric, off the beaten path, where the kids could have fun and stay cool, without fighting a crowd.

Eisenhower answers that. An hour and ten minutes north, a sandy swimming cove, bluff trails, fishing, and a Junior Ranger pack the kids can borrow. On a Sunday it is not a tourist magnet, so the crowds stay manageable.

Honestly, there is not a lot to see

That is the truth of it. What was good was driving out and feeling the breeze by the lake. The kids played in the water. It was a light trip.

Buc-ee’s is what made it festive

The Buc-ee’s in Melissa is fifteen minutes from us and directly on the way, which is the sort of thing that decides a route.

The boys do not remember going when they were younger, so for them it was new — and that is what made the day feel like an occasion rather than a drive. They had the frozen fruit bars, a chicken burrito, and pulled pork, and we came away with an array of jerky, which is always good there.

The small-town Dairy Queen

We stopped at a Dairy Queen on the way. Dairy Queens are always the best in a small town, because they tend to be the main hangout for a lot of local people. That is worth a stop on its own terms.

What it costs

Free for us on the Texas State Parks Pass. Otherwise six dollars an adult, with kids under twelve free.