| Toledo Bend Reservoir is a large
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| | Gardens is a short, pleasant drive South
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| artificial lake on the Sabine River
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| | of Many, Louisiana.
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| between Texas and Louisiana. Construction
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| | Hodges Gardens is the nation's largest
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| on the Toledo Bend Dam began on May 11,
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| | privately owned horticultural parkland
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| 1964, and water impoundment began on
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| | and wildlife refuge and is one of Sabine
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| October 3, 1966. The lake has an area of
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| | Parish's most celebrated attractions.
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| 185,000 acres (749 km2), and the dam is
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| | The gardens have a staff of 23 full time
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| capable of generating 92 megawatts of
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| | and 5 part-time employees. Most of these
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| electrical power. It is the largest lake
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| | work in the formal garden, gift shop and
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| either wholly or partially in Texas.
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| | greenhouse areas, though there is a small
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| The reservoir is a popular location for
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| | administrative staff. The greenhouse
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| freshwater fishing.
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| | personnel raise many of the Garden's
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| Sabine National Forest and Hiking Trails
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| | flowers and foliage from either seeds or
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| Wild Azalea Canyons - Famous since the
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| | cuttings. However, some flowers, such as
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| 1800s, this area provides a wonderful
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| | 42,000 tulips from Holland, must be
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| spot for year round hiking and in March
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| | bought from outside growers. The flowers
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| it blossoms with wild Azaleas - about a
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| | are used to fill the 75 beds located
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| 30 minute drive South.
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| | throughout the 60-acre main garden area.
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| Canyon Rim Woodlands Trail - Nearby, easy
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| | The gardeners replace the plants several
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| access, well marked trails, and an easy
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| | times each year with the different
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| walk in the woods makes this trail a
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| | spring, summer and autumn seasonal plant
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| great one to visit. About 20 minutes
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| | groups.
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| driving time from the resort.
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| | Horseshoe Casino - Shreveport Gaming A
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| Trail Between the Lakes - This 28 mile
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| | scenic drive North will take you to
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| trail, primarily through Sabine National
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| | Shreveport - Bossier City and some
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| Forest, has many points where you can
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| | exciting riverboat gambling on the
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| enter or leave the trail to make your
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| | historic Red River, fine restaurants,
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| excursion in the woods as long - or brief
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| | shopping and entertainment.
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| - as you like. It begins "just down the
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| | Two Indian casinos in Marksville and
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| road" from Fin & Feather, at the Lakeviw
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| | Coushotta are also only a pleasant drive
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| Recreation Site. and passes right by the
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| | away from the resort.
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| resort.
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| | Other Attractions Nearby Hemphill, Texas
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| Boles Field Recreation Area - The Boles
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| | offers some charming craft and gift
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| Field area is a tradition with fox
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| | shops, a historic county jail and museum,
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| hunters and is home to the National Fox
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| | and the unforgettable "Cedar Tree Domino
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| Hound cemetery. Boles Field is about a 45
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| | Players".
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| minute scenic drive away.
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| | Sabine Speedway is a quarter mile oval
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| Moore Wildlife Management Area: A few
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| | stock-car racing track that has races
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| miles up the road, the 27,034 acre Moore
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| | March through November on Saturday nights
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| Plantation Wildlife Management Area
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| | - just North of Many, Louisiana.
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| offers hunting and camping. Portable deer
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| | Many major fishing tournaments are held
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| stands may be used but may not be left
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| | on Toledo Bend Reservoir - some weekends
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| unattended for more than 72 hours.
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| | will find two tournaments being held at
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| Birding Blessed with many native species
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| | the same time! Frequent festivals in the
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| and a multitude of migratory species
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| | area such as: Zwolle Tamale Fiesta,
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| passing through, the area is a favorite
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| | Fisher Sawmill Days, Battle of Pleasant
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| among bird watchers. A number of eagles
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| | Hill Festival, Florien Free State
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| makes their homes on the lake.
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| | Festival, Zwolle Loggers Festival Fort
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| Cypress Bend Golf Resort Area Golfing
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| | Polk - Ft. Polk is the nation's fifth
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| Cypress Bend is a championship 18-hole
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| | largest military installation and is the
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| golf course. Experience playing through
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| | cornerstone of this west central part of
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| an impressive series of inlets and bluffs
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| | Louisiana. It began as Camp Polk in the
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| while overlooking the lake on all 18
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| | early 1940's, but has evolved into one of
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| holes. Cypress Bend is across the lake, a
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| | the U.S. Army's most modern facilities.
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| pleasant drive of about an hour.
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| | It now serves as the home of the Army's
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| Hodges Gardens World famous Hodges
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| | Joint Readiness Training Center.
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