A small town in the wooded west-central part of the state, Many is the nearest town to the restored Fort Jesup State Historic Site (6 mi/10 km east)—the fort was established by Zachary Taylor in the mid-1800s. Also nearby is Hodges Gardens (about 20 mi/35 km south), open year-round. This 4,700-acre/1,900-hectare arboretum was established in the 1940s in a stone quarry—it's truly impressive. Hundreds of varieties of trees and flowers are found throughout the gardens. Plan to spend at least half a day there. Many is also a major gateway to Toledo Bend Lake, a large reservoir created by a dam across the lower Sabine River. (The hunting, fishing and bird-watching around Many are superb.) 215 mi/345 km northwest of New Orleans.
