Days 1 and 2 | Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is one of the biggest lakes in the country, covering 89,000 acres and stretching into both Texas and Oklahoma. A popular setting in which to camp, fish, hike, and just relax, with plenty of marinas, coves, parks, and inlets, Texoma is a great place to spend a few days. While you’re there, consider renting a sailboat; the lake has become a sailor’s paradise because of its size and depth. Use Eisenhower State Park as your base and visit the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge for birding.

Days 3 and 4 | Paris, Texarkana

Paris is nicknamed “the Best Small Town in Texas.” The locals don’t speak French, but seeing the city’s own 65-foot Eiffel Tower–topped with a cowboy hat–can give you the illusion, with a little Texas twist. The restored Samuel B. Maxey House State Historic Site is one of the town’s most popular attractions.

On the way to Texarkana, stop at the Museum of Regional History and learn about the Caddo Indians, then put on your dancin’ shoes in preparation for the Scott Joplin mural and interactive exhibit on the history of ragtime music. The whole family will enjoy Discovery Place, a children’s museum featuring hands-on science and history, including a play area with a Caddo hut, plus an early kitchen and store. In the evening, head to the Oaklawn Opry, with everything from gospel, bluegrass, and country to a little bit of comedy.

Days 5 and 6 | Jefferson, Caddo Lake

Jefferson is one of the most charming and most frequently visited cities in Texas–and for good reason. Named after Thomas Jefferson, the city is a mix of the antebellum South, East Texas, and Louisiana. Stay at one of the many bed-and-breakfasts and dedicate an afternoon to browsing at Old Mill Antiques, the largest antiques mall in East Texas, with 20,000 square feet.

Sip a five-cent cup of coffee at Jefferson’s General Store before driving to Caddo Lake, a stunning setting with eerie moss-draped cypress trees, bayous, and hidden coves. A pontoon boat tour of the lake with a guide, followed by a picnic at Caddo Lake State Park, could be just the thing before you continue your journey.

Days 7 and 8 | Marshall, Nacogdoches

Founded in 1841, Marshall has since been designated an “All-American City” and attracts countless people each year to its tall pine trees, rolling hills, and wildflowers. Fishing, hunting, camping, and water sports are popular activities at nearby Caddo Lake and Lake O’ the Pines–known as two of the best fishing lakes in Texas. Train buffs will love the Marshall Depot and Museum, which honors the city’s heritage as a transportation hub. Catch a horse race at nearby Louisiana Downs, or stay in town and visit the Ginocchio Hotel, which was recently restored and is now the home of the Harrison County Historical Museum.

Nacogdoches, named for the Caddo family of Indians who lived in the area, had its beginnings as the site of a Spanish mission and is one of the oldest cities in Texas (founded in 1716). The Old Stone Fort Museum, once a gateway to the vast Texas frontier and now on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University, displays a wealth of information about the area’s history. Next, head to the unique Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site, one of the most intensively investigated Indian sites in Texas, which includes three large earthen mounds.

Days 9 and 10 | Woodville

The area that is now Woodville was once inhabited by Caddoan, Caddoan-Cherokee, Atakapan, Alabama, and Coushatta Indians. Visit the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, off U.S. 190, and then take a bus tour from the reservation to the Big Thicket National Preserve, a 97,000-acre wildlife sanctuary.

Spend the next few days exploring all that lush East Texas has to offer. To cool off, try Lake Tejas in Woodville, a spring-fed lake that was dug out in the shape of Texas by the National Youth Administration in 1939.

Or you might choose to take a drive on the LPC Dogwood Trail, east of Woodville on U.S. 190, where the dogwoods bloom from mid- to late March. Part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, it’s ideal for birding; you’ll likely see several species that appear only in this part of Texas.

Days 11 and 12 | Beaumont, Port Arthur

Why not embrace Beaumont’s roots with a stop at Gator Country Alligator Theme Park? Located just off I-10, Gator Country has more than 120 alligators, including Big Al (the biggest alligator in captivity in Texas) and Big Snappy (a snapping turtle that weighs a whopping 50 pounds). At Beaumont’s many museums, you’ll discover the first oil well (Spindletop Museum); get the scoop on East Texas natural resources (Energy Museum, Edison Plaza Museum); find out about steamboats and their role in this area (Clifton Steamboat Museum); trace the life of a great golfer (Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum); experience art (Southeast Texas Art Museum); and come across the “World’s Largest Fire Hydrant” (Fire Museum)–no dogs allowed, of course!

In nearby Port Arthur, which is located on beautiful Sabine Lake, you can actually smell the Gulf Coast. Get into the spirit of things at the city’s annual Mardi Gras, a family-friendly version of the original, with bands and parades, or at the annual Janis Joplin Birthday Bash, where you can belt out your own version of “Bobby McGee.” For a bit of nature, explore Sea Rim State Park, or go crabbing, birding, or sightseeing on Pleasure Island.