Caddo Lake State Park in Karnack, Texas delivers this dreamscape in living color—without the talking woodland creatures (though the local wildlife certainly has plenty to communicate).

When Texans envision state parks, many conjure images of arid landscapes, rolling tumbleweeds, and perhaps the occasional prickly pear standing proudly against a blazing sunset.

The pace of modern life has turned many of us into multitaskers with little time left for stillness. Across Upstate New York, ...