Small town, big fun

There isn’t much in Livingston, Texas.  But the good things in the small town southeast of College Station are unique and spectacular charms. Lake Livingston, Florida’s Kitchen and the tree-lined streets are attractions worth driving for.

“Lake Livingston is the second biggest man-made lake in the state and Livingston’s attractions include fishing and many water sports,” said Sam Price, raised in Livingston.

While visiting Livingston, an alligator gar was caught in the lake. Alligator gars are dangerous creatures, but seeing one up close and personal is a treat. This half-alligator, half-fish looking creature was both disgusting and incredible to see.

“It doesn’t look real,” said Jordan Suhr,  senior communication major who works in Livingston during the summer. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

If you’re not one for animals who can easily chop a finger or two off your hand, boating is another common activity in Livingston.

“Although the water can be a little choppy, there’s nothing like wakeboarding early in the morning along the dam,” Price said. “If you get up early enough, the water is smooth and the lake is very peaceful.”

After water skiing, fishing and a long day in the boat, the best place to go for some grub in Livingston is a little place called Florida’s Kitchen.

“The place has excellent ribs, but a lot of the time it’s the conversations you have with the employees that make the experience unforgettable,” Price said.

Florida’s Kitchen has been recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine for being one of the top 40 restaurants in Texas.

“That recognition is well-deserved, because I can’t think of anything that doesn’t taste good there,” Price said.

The natural beauty in Livingston is something to be admired. Tall pine trees are plentiful. In fact, a summer camp in town is named after the Alabama-Coushatta word for “land of the tall pines”—Cho-Yeh.

On the way out of town, there is a watermelon stand where you can purchase seeded and seedless watermelons for under $3.

“The melons were very flavorful and I liked that we could purchase them without the seeds, because it makes eating watermelon much less of a hassle,” Price said.

Although Livingston is a small town, with a little imagination and a good attitude, big adventures can be created.

“It’s a great place to live,” Price said. “It’s not too big, not too small. It’s 45 minutes away from big cities, and it has a great community.”