A Day in Lufkin, Texas

I’ve spent the past few weeks wracking my brain for easy day trips and weekend trips I can take since flying continues to be out of the question due to the pandemic. I just don’t want to be stuck on a plane in close quarters with someone, ya know? Plus, having to wear my mask for 3+ hours does not sound that appealing to me. So driving it is! Despite living in Texas basically my entire life, I’ve actually never really explored the state (until recently of course). So I feel like I have a lot of catch up to do. It feels like such a shame that I’ve been to so many international destinations, but have no idea what is in my own backyard. I’ve decided not to let the lack of flights disappoint me and to really see what else is out there in Texas for me to explore and learn from.

My little sister is in Physicians Assistant school and has been doing monthly rotations where she switches up which hospital she works in. This month she’s in Lufkin and after seeing that it was only a 2 hour drive from Houston, I decided to make a day trip out of it and explore my first East Texas town. So, here it is- 24 hours in Lufkin, Texas!

What We Did

Downtown Lufkin - Lufkin’s downtown basically consisted of 1 main street, filled with boutique stores, small restaurants and cafes, and a few salons. It was definitely a huge difference from the big city centers I’ve visited over the past few years, but turned out to be such a charming experience. We were able to get free street parking right on the main street (how often does that happen usually in any downtown?) and didn’t have to wade through crowds to take pictures of the primary photo opps (aka the Lufkin sign and the Coco-Cola mural).

Angelina College Forest Fitness Trail - This trail is located behind the Angelina College gym and is served by a huge (and empty) free parking lot. I guess the students use the Forest Trail as exercise, which is pretty amazing if you ask me. The trailhead is concealed by numerous trees, but it’s right next to a giant gazebo so you can’t miss it. The trail itself is completely shaded with tons of trees, it is a forest after all, so don’t worry about hiking here even during the middle of the day. While the trail is visible, it isn’t the most well maintained so definitely pay attention where you are walking and notice the various markers on the hike so you don’t get lost. It is a loop trail, but there are little detours available to see other random areas. This trail is only about 1 mile and takes around 30 minutes to complete- another great road trip pit stop.

Kiwanis Park - We originally came to the Park to hike the Azalea trail, but it turned out to just be a loop around the park. Lukin residents must love outdoor exercise because there are signs all over park with information on different types of exercises you can complete. There is a mini skateboarding ramp, tennis courts, a playground, picnic tables, and plenty of space. Sometimes it really is just nice to get away from the noise of city life and just to enjoy the peacefulness that is nature.

Stephen F Austin Arboretum Trail - My sister found out that the college town of Nacogdoches was only 30 minutes away from Lufkin so we headed to Stephen F Austin University to explore the huge Arboretum Trail that is located on its campus. And it was definitely huge… The trail starts off with a garden and a green house, but then expands into bridges and long walkways, and eventually crosses (you literally need to cross a road) into a large forested area with a lot of mini trails and offshoots. We only had about an hour and a half to spend walking the trails, but I imagine that I could have spent half a day here. This was by far one of the best parts of my day trip!

What We Ate

Standpipe Coffee - Located in downtown Lufkin on a corner, Standpipe serves all sorts of delicious caffeinated drinks (check out my blackberry latte below) and a variety of unique scones. The Lufkin famous Coco-Cola mural is located in here and ready for your photos. On a normal day, I would have loved to crack open a book in its warehouse like environment, but since Covid is still going strong in Texas, Standpipe is limited to only to go orders currently. If you’re on a road trip, Standpipe is the perfect pit stop!

Skyline Burritos - Surprisingly, Skyline Burritos appeared to be the most modern building in Lufkin. It’s located next to a gas station on a road leading to downtown Lufkin in a shiny white store front. Due to Covid, customers aren’t allowed to enter the store and employees come to each car to take orders and deliver food- a pretty awesome situation if you ask me. The menu allows you to build your own burrito, taco salad (what I chose), bowl, or nachos and top it with a variety of toppings such as guacomole (no extra charge!), spicy ranch, queso, veggies, etc… It’s basically Chipotle but tons better. And in a tiny country town, it was a pleasant surprise!

Chilly Fillmore’s Frozen Yogurt - We stopped for a frozen treat on our way back from Nacogdoches to Lufkin sweating so much under the hot Texas sun. Sadly, Chilly’s wasn’t anything too special, if anything, it didn’t have the large variety of frozen yogurt flavors like Menchie’s or Orangeleaf. But, it was still a much needed relief from the outdoors. They have the usual popping boba, candy, and fruit toppings so it’s a perfect way to relax after a day of hiking.

I’m still on the search for the best Texas weekend and day trips- stay tuned!