Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine and Texas State Parks online "Outdoor Activity of the Month" promoted family-fun spots near Cedar Creek Lake for travel in April. The magazine named Athens' Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center the "Best Place to Play Catch" in its April issue, and the online publication for Texas Parks touted Purtis Creek State Park near Eustace as a bird watching sanctuary in its "Outdoor Activity of the Month." The magazine noted young angers can catch their first fish at the fisheries center's 1.2-acre stocked fishing pond. The youngsters can learn how to bait hooks, and they can fish for sunfish and catfish all year long. Rainbow trout are stocked from December through March. Both adults and children can fish without licenses, and the facility furnishes bait and tackle. Visitors can also explore the facilities 300,000 gallons of aquariums that feature native Texas fish, watch a dive show, take a tram tour of the hatchery and walk through a wetland trail to watch birds and spot turtles. For information visit: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/ At Purtis Creek State Park visitors can view many of the more than 630 species of birds that are native to Texas. That's more species of birds than any other state in the nation. The publication notes that April is one of the best month's in the state for getting outside with the family, and birding is a pastime that can be enjoyed while hiking, biking or picnicking. To view an "Introduction to Birding" visit: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0476.pdf Also see "Texas Birds: Introducing Texas to Common Birds" at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_w7000_1673a.pdf And the video "Basics of Birding" video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygh5d2qNjnk&feature=youtu.be