The Caddo Region of East Texas is a designated section of the national historic corridor El Camino Real de los Tejas. Also called the Royal Road and King’s Highway, it was an important trail blazed in 1691, stretching from the interior of Mexico, across the Rio Grande, and then across Texas and into Louisiana.

The East Texas section of the trail includes the communities of Alto, Grapeland, Hemphill, Nacogdoches, and San Augustine. Surrounded by the four national forests of the piney woods of Texas, outdoor recreation opportunities abound, including birdwatching, fishing, hiking, and boating.

Embedded into the beautiful forest setting is the rich history of the human inhabitants of the land, including Native Americans, Spaniards, and European settlers. Signs of the immigrants, adventurers, and pioneers who came before are carefully protected and integrated into modern day entertainment and exploration. READ MORE

Happy Birthday Kacey Musgraves

Born August 21, 1988, East Texan Kacey Musgraves continues to wow audiences all over the world with her music. She rejoined Lost Highway Records when they reemerged this year and recently released her version of the traditional country song “Lost Highway” made popular by Hank Williams and written by Leon Payne, a blind singer songwriter from Alba, Texas, a stone’s throw from Kacey’s hometown of Golden. See her talk about the song in the video above which also features her Mineola, Texas, grandparents and listen to her beautiful version of “Lost Highway” here.

Nestled among lakes and forest-filled country backroads, Winnsboro’s focus on the arts and history garners it a seat at the table with much larger towns as an official Texas Cultural District. With a very active art center anchoring the community, guests find creativity at every turn.

A mosaic-laden 1948 Farmall C tractor greets visitors to the Winnsboro Farmers’ Market pavilions on Carnegie Street next to the railroad tracks. Created by artist Barbara Dybala of Hidden Mosaic Studio, it sets the tone for the town’s deeply rooted blending of art and agriculture.

Meet farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and crafters at the Winnsboro Farmers’ Market from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday morning through October.

Read more about the town and plan a tasty getaway there soon as well as to the other fabulous small towns and thriving markets in the Upper East Side of Texas. READ MORE