Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches

It was no easy feat, but I found them: the beaches of Lake Livingston.  After failing to find a beach at Lake Conroe a couple days earlier, I was absolutely determined to find something equating a beach at Lake Livingston State Park, which is around two hours north of the northern reaches of Houston, Texas.  You see, I was passing through Livingston on my way home from Diboll, TX, where I was performing a Mad Science show for the local library.  For those of you who are familiar with that stretch of Texas, Diboll is squarely between Lufkin and Livingston, which are both fairly sizable towns with a lot to offer a visitor.  None of the listed locales, however, boast a beach in any of their tourist literature.  Soooooo, I paid the $5 entry fee for the state park, hopped out of my car, and went off-trailing (the on-foot equivalent of off-roading) around the edge of Lake Livingston in hopes that a swimming pool and an in-lake swimming area edged by a boardwalk were not all the lake had to offer.  Behold!  This is what I found:

This counts, I tell you! (Photo by E.G.D.)

This one was sort of behind and below the area with the swing-set.  Those are the best directions I can give, because I had to get a bit creative to find it.  Here’s a shot without ducks:

See? It’s totally a beach! (photo by E.G.D.)

I hopped around the rocks for a while at this little beach, and then I moved on.  The other beach I found was behind and below the campsites for campers (the sites with water and electric hookups):

This one’s rocky, too. (photo by E.G.D.)

Whether or not you are looking for a beach there, Lake Livingston is quite lovely, and I recommend it to anyone who happens to be in the area.  There were many families cycling around the trails (apparently bikes are welcome pretty much anywhere in the park), enjoying the swimming hole, hiking, fishing, grilling… the usual state park camping sort of things.  I get the feeling it’s the local population’s favorite way to beat the heat in the summer.  And hey, there are beaches!  I know.  I found them.

Have a great day (hopefully at the beach) – E.G.D.

Helpful links: Lake Livingston State Park: “At Lake Livingston State Park, you can swim (in the lake or pool), fish, boat, hike, bird, camp, picnic, mountain bike, ride horses, geocache and study nature. We have activities for the whole family!”

Alligator Safety Tips (YIKES!)

Texas State Parks Swimming Safety Tips

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E.G.D., you are absolutely right! It does count. The definition of a beach according to Merriam-Webster is “a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments.” 🙂 We beach fans take them where we can get them!

Thanks so much for sharing your find!