Things to Do
Weekends, sorted
Parks and refuges, family favorites, deep history, dockside dining, and the festivals that make this region feel like a hometown. This is the running list Carol shares with every family she works with.
Parks, refuges, and outdoor life
Trails, camping, fishing, and birding across both states.
- Visit
Eisenhower State Park
Camping, hiking, biking, and shoreline on Lake Texoma, Denison.
- Visit
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Birding and trails on the Big Mineral Arm, Sherman.
- Visit
Bonham State Park
A 65-acre lake with CCC trails, paddle boats, and campsites.
- Visit
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
Hiking, fishing, and bald eagles on the Washita arm, Oklahoma.
- Visit
Leonard Park
85 acres with a pool, train, and the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville.
- Visit
Lake Texoma Public Access
The full Texas Parks & Wildlife list of ramps and beach access.
Family fun
Zoos, trampolines, escape rooms, and lake beaches for the crew.
- Visit
Frank Buck Zoo
Giraffe feedings and an African savanna exhibit in Leonard Park.
- Visit
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Jump parks and climbing for the high-energy set, Denison.
- Visit
Downtown Escape Rooms Sherman
Family-friendly puzzle rooms on South Travis.
- Visit
The Kids' Playspace
Play and creativity space for little ones in Durant.
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Island View Park
Beach access and picnicking on the Pottsboro shore. No website needed, just a towel.
- Visit
Frontier Village & Museum
Pioneer buildings kids can walk through, Denison.
History and museums
Presidents, railroads, cattle towns, and the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations.
- Visit
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site
The 34th president's 1890 birthplace in Denison.
- Visit
The Sherman Museum
Local history in Sherman's 1914 Carnegie Library.
- Visit
Red River Railroad Museum
The Katy railroad story, on Denison's Main Street.
- Visit
Three Valley Museum
Bryan County history in downtown Durant.
- Visit
Morton Museum of Cooke County
Gainesville history in a former fire station.
- Visit
Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site
The legendary Speaker's home preserved in Bonham.
Dining and nightlife
Dockside grills, hometown catfish, breweries, and lake-view dining.
- Visit
The Island Bar & Grill
Dockside at Highport Marina, Pottsboro, with sunset views.
- Visit
Huck's Catfish
A Denison institution worth the drive.
- Visit
Lakeside Restaurant at Tanglewood Resort
Lakefront dining on the Pottsboro shore.
- Visit
Anchor Up Club & Grill
A friendly Highport Road hangout.
- Visit
The Jalapeno Tree
Tex-Mex favorite with a Denison location.
- Visit
Choctaw Casino & Resort
Grand Theater concerts and resort dining in Durant.
Events and festivals
The festivals that make Texoma feel like a hometown.
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Whitesboro Peanut Festival
A townwide fall tradition since 1965 in Whitesboro.
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Durant Rodeo
Bucking broncs and hometown crowds in Durant.
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Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival
Professional Shakespeare in Durant every summer.
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Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival
Heritage, music, and community in Tishomingo.
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Lake Texoma fishing tournaments
Striped bass tournaments run spring through fall across both shores.
Weekends are better with a local
Want the spots only locals know?
Ask Carol about the hidden coves, the quiet ramps, and the taco trailers. She has spent a decade collecting the list, and she loves sharing it with new neighbors.
Let's talk Texoma
Come for the list, stay for the lake
The best thing to do in Texoma often starts with a conversation in Carol's kitchen-table style: honest, unhurried, and full of good directions.