Things to Do in Livingston, Texas

The centerpiece of the area is Lake Livingston, an 82,600-acre reservoir on the Trinity River and one of the largest lakes in the state. It's a magnet for boating, sailing, fishing, and lakeside living, with marinas, ramps, and waterfront parks all around its long shoreline. Lake Livingston State Park, a 635-acre park on the water, offers swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, birding, camping, and screened shelters — an easy, family-friendly way to enjoy the lake.

Across the water near Coldspring, Wolf Creek Park adds more camping, boat ramps, fishing piers, and a marina. However you like to get on or near the water, Lake Livingston is the main event.

Just east of Livingston, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas operates Naskila Casino, one of the area's biggest draws. Open 24 hours a day, it features more than 1,000 electronic games along with dining at the sit-down Timbers Grille and the quick-bite Cafe Itto Si — a lively entertainment destination drawing visitors from across the region and the Houston area.

The tribe's reservation, set in the Big Thicket, is also home to outdoor recreation: the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation Campground sits beside manmade Lake Tombigbee, with fishing, swimming, boat rentals, and hiking trails. It's a peaceful, out-of-the-way escape rich in the tribe's deep heritage.

Livingston's historic downtown, anchored by the Polk County Courthouse, offers the shops, cafes, and small-town courthouse-square charm of a true East Texas county seat — a pleasant place to stroll and browse.

The surrounding country is the legendary Big Thicket, one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America. With the Big Thicket National Preserve to the southeast and miles of pine forest, creeks, and backroads all around, Livingston is a fine base for hiking, birding, paddling, and exploring the wild heart of deep East Texas.