El Paso Offering New Hotels
If your Texas travels take you to El Paso, you'll find some new hotels as well as some hotels under construction:
The El Paso Hilton Garden Inn opened in late December 2006. Located at the entrance of the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP), the 154-room hotel displays the unique Bhutanese architectural style for which UTEP known.
The Hyatt Place El Paso Airport has opened with over 112 oversized guest rooms. The guest rooms offer state-of-the-art technology, a 42" flat-panel HDTV, signature Hyatt Grand Bed, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi internet access throughout the hotel.
Plans were unveiled in March for the construction of an $18 million DoubleTree El Paso Downtown City Center. The 17-story hotel will feature 210 guest rooms and full service restaurant. Construction is set to begin in June 2007 and will be completed in Spring 2009.
Golfers take note: the Butterfield Trails Golf Club is scheduled to open in June next to the El Paso International Airport. Designed by Tom Fazio, the course will feature a par-72 and an 8,800-square-foot clubhouse with a full-service restaurant and bar.
Labels: Big Bend Country
posted by Paris and John @ 1:48 PM
Austin Named a Top Art Community
The readers of AmericanStyle magazine have named Austin the number nine Big City in the 10th annual Top 25 Arts Destinations readers’ poll.
What city grabbed the top spot? New York City took the # 1 spot for the fourth consecutive year followed by Chicago and San Francisco.
Labels: Austin
posted by Paris and John @ 5:37 PM
Third Paddling Trail Opening in Goliad
On April 25, the third location on the Texas Paddling Trail will open in Goliad. The event will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Goliad State Park.
The initial segment of the Goliad Paddling Trail begins at Highway 59, flows 5 miles to historic Ferry Street, and continues 1.46 miles to a take-out at Goliad State Park. The newly designated 6.6 mile segment of the San Antonio River in Goliad County becomes the state’s third inland paddling trail — the first on a Texas river that is anchored by a state park.
The Goliad trail joins the Luling-Zedler Mill Paddling Trail (on the San Marcos River), the Columbus Paddling Trail (on the Colorado River) and seven coastal paddling trails.
As part of TPWD’s Texas Paddling Trails network, the Goliad Paddling Trail will include highway signage, maintained put-in and take-out locations, designated parking and interpretive information and maps to help visitors get the most out of a day on the water.
“Year-round river flows, direct access to Goliad State Park, and proximity to Goliad’s historic Courthouse Square, the Angel of Goliad Hike and Bike Trail and Mission Espiritu Santo make the segment an attractive canoe or kayak experience,” said Dale Bransford, SARA’s Park Services Manager, who is coordinating the planning and operation at the trail.
For more information on the trail system, visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/paddlingtrails/ .
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 5:32 PM
Texas Celebrity Travel News
Every two weeks we take a look at celebrity travel throughout the Lone Star State. See if any of these stellar visits give you an idea for your next getaway...
BastropThe bright lights of Tinseltown are currently shining on the town of Bastrop, where America's favorite "Pretty Woman" Julia Roberts is filming the cinematic drama "Fireflies In The Garden." "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere, Carrie-Anne Moss of "Matrix" fame, Ryan Reynolds and Ioan Gruffudd, who round out the cast, can also be spotted this spring in the community, which is located approximately 30 miles from Austin. Known as the "Most Historic Small Town in Texas," Bastrop is dotted with a number of architectural gems, including the "Old Town" Visitors Center, which led a previous existence as a Victorian era bank, and the Bastrop Opera House, built in 1889, where the town's residents gather annually to celebrate the Yesteryear pioneer festival.
AustinMovie buffs had the chance to hobnob with Hollywood's elite in early April when Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson and Kurt Russell returned to the capital city to premiere Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's homage to B movies, "Grindhouse" at the Paramount Theatre. Fans unable to attend can still experience a bit of Hollywood magic at The Texas Chili Parlor on Lavaca Street, one of the movie's filming locales, where customers can sample a mild "X" version of the caliente concoction or burn their tastebuds with the "XXX" variety.
Ray Wylie Hubbard, Omar Dykes, Joe Ely and Kelly Willis are among the musical menagerie who, thanks to artist Aaron Sacco, peer out from the exterior wall of South Austin Music at 1402 S. Lamar. Austin favorite Charlie Sexton, whose face is among the group of 30 to now grace the music store's facade, was among the throng of 1,000 admirers of the artist's work who gathered for its official unveiling in mid-March 2007.
In close proximity to South Austin Music's homage to the performers who have made the city the Live Music Capital of the World lies the South Austin Speed Shop, a virtual Valhalla for vintage vehicle buffs where "Premonition" star and honorary Texan Sandra Bullock and her husband Jesse James congratulated Garage Magazine's Girl of the Year Kat Von D at a party held in the centerfold's honor.
Following his onstage appearance at SXSW, rock icon Iggy Pop indulged his "Lust For Life" at The Sheraton Austin Hotel, the 365-room retreat featuring a view of the state Capitol where the singer, along with the other founding members of The Stooges Ron and Don Ashton, were spotted granting an interview.
San AntonioSan Antonio-born star Ricardo Chavira, known to fans of the ABC hit "Desperate Housewives" as Gabrielle's former husband Carlos Solis, returned to the Alamo City in mid-April to celebrate the grand opening of Museo Alameda which, at 20,000 square feet, is the largest museum dedicated to Hispanic heritage in the United States. Grammy Award winner Linda Ronstadt was on hand to perform tunes from her ode to her Latin roots "Canciones de Mi Padre," during the three-day event, which saw the first of an estimated 400,000 annual visitors tour the 11 galleries housed inside a former movie theater which once showed films featuring such classic stars of Latin cinema as Pedro Infante and Maria Felix.
DallasActor Jude Law was among the guests invited to the preview of British artist Polly Morgan's latest exhibition at Kristy Stubbs Gallery on Fairmount Street. A noted taxidermist, Polly Morgan's work can be viewed by appointment along with masterpieces by Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns.
At Al Biernat's Restaurant actress Jane Seymour and her husband, director James Keach, who will celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss in May 2007, perused a menu offering such delectable dishes as caramelized salmon, pan seared bass over lobster risotto and chick piccata with capers and linguini after unveiling the Keach-directed indie flick "Blind Dating" at the Dallas AFI Film festival.
Fort WorthWhile former NASCAR winner Matt Kenseth is accustomed to flying past the finish line behind the wheel of a race car, now the recent champion of the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway can also start the engine of a Boeing 737. The stock car driver, who made his debut lap around a track at the Winston Cup series almost 10 years ago, just completed flying lessons at the American Airlines Training Academy and Conference Center in Fort Worth.
Labels: Texas celebrity travel
posted by Paris and John @ 9:45 AM
Hollywood Comes to Bartlett
We were driving through the small town of Bartlett, northeast of Georgetown, the other day when we found the downtown area blocked by huge trucks and film crews. Hollywood had once again come to Bartlett. It's not the first time; the farming community has also appeared in
Stars Fell on Henrietta and
The Newton Boys.
This time, the antiques shops that line the town's main street will provide a dramatic backdrop for scenes in the upcoming movie
Kings of The Evening. Starring Tyson Beckford and Lynn Whitfield, the Depression-era saga is also being filmed in Austin.
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, Texas celebrity travel
posted by Paris and John @ 9:29 AM
Looking for Wildflowers?
Looking for wildflowers? This winter's rains have made this a great year for wildflowers throughout the state. There's always the state wildflower hotline (800-452-9292) for flower info but we've also found a great online resource. The
Texas Department of Transportation website allows you to search by type of flower, county, and even roadway. We found several good fields in our area that we hadn't seen this season. Time to hit the road and take some pictures!
posted by Paris and John @ 3:53 PM
Celebrate Earth Day in Bend
Earth Day's just around the corner and one pretty part of the earth--Colorado Bend State Park--is celebrating. Activities on April 21 will include self-guided hikes to see the 65-foot-high Gorman Falls, wild cave tours at Gorman Cave, hikes to Gorman Springs (an area open to the public only twice a year), picnicking and more. The fee for Gorman Falls tours (held from 9am-4pm) is $5 for travelers age 13 and older. The wild cave tours will be held on the hour from 9am-3pm for $15 per person. Reservations are recommended for the cave tours; call 325-628-3240.
Labels: Festivals
posted by Paris and John @ 1:04 PM
Celebrate San Jacinto Day at Battlefield
April 21 means San Jacinto Day, marking the 1836 battle which won Texas's independence from Mexico. There's no better place to learn more about the event than at the San Jacinto Battlefield State Historic Site in LaPorte. From 10am-6pm, the park site will celebrate with reenactments and living history encampments. Look for reenactors in period costumes, demonstrations of period weapons, children's activities, food (although picnics are also welcome) and more. For more information, call 281-479-2431.
Labels: Festivals, Gulf Coast
posted by Paris and John @ 4:33 PM
Sam & Harry's Steakhouse Leaving Ft. Worth's Worthington
Fort Worth's Renaissance Worthington Hotel, a AAA four-diamond hotel, has been the home of Sam & Harry's Steakhouse but has announced that the famous steakhouse is leaving the hotel.
Labels: Fort Worth
posted by Paris and John @ 3:30 PM
TEXAS Drama to Start Offering Steak Dinners
You've no doubt heard of Amarillo's Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the 72 ounce steak that's free if you eat it and all the fixings. And the TEXAS outdoor drama is one of the state's largest tourist attraction and is the country's best-known outdoor drama.
This summer, the two powerhouses will partner together; visitors to the TEXAS performances can enjoy a steak dinner before the show from the Big Texan Steak Ranch. The partnership will be offered throughout the 2007 season which runs June 5 through August 18.
Prices for the steak dinner will range from $8.95 to $13.25 a person, depending on the age of the diner and whether they are part of a group pricing program. All meals are subject to an additional 6.25% tax.
Ticket prices for TEXAS will range from $10 to $27.50, depending on the location of the seat, the day of the performance and the age of the attendee.
For more information:• call the Big Texan at 806-372-6000 x 102
• call the TEXAS office at 806-655-2181
Labels: Panhandle Plains
posted by Paris and John @ 10:25 AM
Celebrate Texas Bison Week
What are you doing to celebrate Texas Bison Week...and did you even know there
was a Texas Bison Week?
Yep, the week of April 22-29 has been declared Texas Bison Week with a governor's proclamation; to celebrate the Texas Bison Association and Bison Provision Company are co-sponsoring a special dinner.
The Texas Bison Week Patron’s Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 6pm to 10pm. The event will be held at the Pedernales Hall on Flat Creek Crossing Ranch. The ranch is located in Blanco County adjacent to Pedernales Falls State Park.
The gourmet, four-course dinner will feature bison tenderloin paired with glass of selected Texas wine. Following dinner, those attending will hear a guest speaker talk on “Texas Bison . . . Past, Present, and Future”. A silent auction and raffle will offer bison related items for guests.
Reservations are required; the price is $50 per person. For reservations, call Linda at 512-636-4023.
For more information:• visit
www.texasbison.org • visit
www.bisonprovision.comLabels: Festivals
posted by Paris and John @ 1:20 PM
Texas Weather: What a Difference a Day Makes!
There's a common joke in Texas that if you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes. Well, on Easter weekend, we went from a sunny Friday to a snowy Saturday! Here are some photos of bluebonnets along RM 1431 taken on Saturday, just a few miles from the TexasTripper offices...and snow falling at the TexasTripper offices Saturday afternoon! Fortunately predictions call for a fast warm-up this week.
Labels: TexasTripper News
posted by Paris and John @ 10:31 AM
Way Out Wineries Sponsors WOW Flowers Road Trip
When: Friday, April 27 and Saturday, 28 10am – 6pm; Sunday April 29, noon – 5pm
Eight wineries located within a day trip of many central and north Texas cities are sponsoring the WOW Flowers Road Trip in late April. Travel past fields of flowers, to eight small, wineries for a taste of Texas wines. Each of the wineries is located in or near a small, picturesque town, and the winemakers/owners are there to greet you and talk to you about their products.
At your first stop on the WOW Flowers Road Trip you’ll receive a souvenir wine glass to take with you to the other wineries for your complimentary tasting.
At each winery you visit you’ll have a special wine paired with pasta including dishes ranging from Fettucine Alfredo to Chicken Tetrazini, to Spaghetti and meatballs. All along the way you’ll enjoy the scenic beauty of spring in Texas and some Way Out Wines.
Price: Tickets are $15 per person in advance or $20 at the door (if available).
Participating wineries: The wineries included in the event are: Barking Rocks in Granbury, Bluff Dale at Bluff Dale, Red Caboose at Meridian, Brennan at Comanche, Rising Star at Rising Star, Alamosa at Bend and Pillar Bluff and Texas Legato at Lampasas.
To purchase tickets:• call Brennan Vineyards at 325-356-9100
• visit
www.wayoutwineries.org and fill out the ticket request form
Labels: Festivals
posted by Paris and John @ 10:26 AM
Mt. Vernon Displaying Rare Bird Treasures
Looking for a day trip with some educational fun? Check out the display at the Franklin County Historical Association's Fire Station museum in Mt. Vernon, Texas.
The Oological exhibit highlights more than 150 bird eggs alongside information about each species. (Oology is the study of eggs, especially those of birds.) An egg from the extinct Carolina parakeet and one from the extinct Passenger pigeon are the rarest in the collection.
According to Cliff Shackelford, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ornithologist, "To my knowledge, there is not another museum in the world that has the Carolina parakeet or Passenger pigeon egg on public display."
In addition to the eggs' rarity, they also offer visitors a glimpse into history. Prior to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, collecting bird eggs was a popular hobby. Mt. Vernon's collection can trace its roots back to a taxidermist in Ohio who collected the majority of the eggs in the late 1800s. The eggs eventually found their way into a Texas collector A.W. Nations' possession.
"He was a lepidopterist, one who studies butterflies, and had had a well preserved collection of more than sixty Texas butterflies," said B.F. Hicks, Franklin County Historical Association Board of Directors member. "Mr. Nations had his butterflies and the egg collection, as well as a mammoth bone, and some mounted heads. It seemed he had plans of having his own private mini-natural history museum."
Today the entire collection is on public display in Mt. Vernon.
Located in a renovated fire station from the 1940s, the oological display was constructed according to state-of-the-art Smithsonian standards with fiber optic lighting and a specialized air filtration system. Visitors can also view the century-old butterfly collection, as well as other pieces of the museum's collection. Computerized additions to the bird-egg display are scheduled for installation when funding permits.
Hicks said all of the museum's items on display are in some way connected to Texas, making this opportunity a unique way to learn about the state's wildlife. Mt. Vernon is also a great location to get outdoors and see some of the avian species first-hand.
"They have more birding and wildlife viewing sites listed on our state's wildlife viewing trail system than any other community its size," said Shackelford. "There are more than a dozen bird watching sites within a thirty-minute drive from downtown."
More information on the Mt. Vernon Fire Station Museum can be found on the Franklin County Historical Association Webpage or by calling 903-537-4760. Birding and wildlife trail maps can be located through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Website.
For More Information:• visit
http://www.fcha-online.org• visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/ Labels: Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris and John @ 12:02 PM
Texas's Top RV Parks
Wondering which RV parks and campgrounds in Texas are best? Woodall's has made its selection of top campgrounds around the country in the 2007 Woodall's Campground Directory. Among 8,000 private campgrounds around the country, 19 Texas campgrounds received the Woodall’s 5W/5W rating as the best.
Here are the top Texas RV parks according to Woodall's:
• Admiralty RV Resort, San Antonio
• Alamo Fiesta RV Resort, Boerne
• Austin Lone Star RV Resort, Austin
• Bentsen Palm Village RV Park, Mission
• Blazing Star Luxury RV Resort, San Antonio
• Buckhorn Lake Resort, Kerrville
• Dallas Destiny RV Resort, Denton
• Fort Amarillo RV Resort, Amarillo
• Havens Landing RV Resort, Montgomery
• Johnson Creek RV Resort, Ingram
• Koyote Ranch, Medina
• Lagoons RV Resort, Rockport
• LakeView RV Resort, Houston
• Llano Grande Lake Park Resort & Country Club, Mercedes
• Pioneer Beach Resort, Port Aransas
• Rayford Crossing RV Resort, The Woodlands
• Shallow Creek Golf & RV Resort, Gladewater
• Sunset Point on Lake LBJ, Marble Falls
• Victoria Palms Resort, Donna
posted by Paris and John @ 12:34 PM
