89. Dinosaur Valley State Park, 3/19/26

 We visited Dinosaur Valley SP as a day trip because it's so difficult to get a campsite there.  It's a very popular park; the dinosaur models that greeted us a as we drove in were impressive and the tracks themselves - visible even with water in the river - were extremely cool.  There were tons of families and kids having a blast with all the dinosaur stuff.  There are 50 car campsites and numerous backcountry hiking / backpacking trails and 6 backcountry campsites on the other side of the river.  

The dinosaur models at the park store.

They came from the 1964 World's Fair!

Paluxy River, no tracks here. 

Here are some of the tracks! 

88. Lake Whitney SP, 3/16 - 18/26

 Campsite #129 was lovely!  We were at the end of the road (literally) and had a view of the lake from our doorway.  We walked the whole park - both trails, and all the roads from our campsite to the trails.  Lake Whitney is an Army Corp of Engineers lake and the park used to be part of the military complex - in the middle of the park are 2 runways from when it may have been a glider training facility!  Currently, the signs say to contact the park about using the runway but there is a model aircraft group that uses it as well.  So far, this is the only airstrip and model aircraft "base" we've seen in a park!  The trails are lovely, easy, as described.  We birded the park too and saw some unusual birds, probably migrating.  

Campsite 129.

View from our tent. 

Two Bridges Trail. 

Airstrip F50, Register at office.

Whitney Area Miniature Aircraft Club.

One of the runways. 

Nearby: We didn't venture out of the park, but there are a few restaurants and bait shops in Whitney and Laguna Park.