POTD: Trail of Lights, Austin
The
Trail of Lights kicks off in Austin this year on December 9. Winding along the south shore of Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) in Austin, the pedestrian trail is a favorite family activity for Austinites and visitors. The trail is located in Zilker Park and is just a short walk from the Zilker Tree, another holiday symbol of Austin.
Labels: Austin, holidays, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 9:16 AM
Palo Duro Canyon SP Will Remain Open This Winter
This winter season, Palo Duro Canyon State Park will remain open through the winter months. In recent years, the park closed facilities past Water Crossing #1 to public access, including many trails and campgrounds. The park also reduced staffing and hours at the front gate.
Camping & Cabins: All campsite and cabin reservations are handled through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s central reservation system at 512-389-8900 or visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Winter Hours: Winter hours for Palo Duro Canyon State Park are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The park may close occasionally due to weather. The direct phone number for the park is 806-488-2227.
TEXAS: One part of the park that will be closed this winter is the outdoor musical drama TEXAS which always closes in the winter. Its 2008 season starts in early June. For information call 806-655-2181 or visit
www.texas-show.com.
About the Park: Palo Duro Canyon State Park has grown in recent years to more than 26,000 acres, one of the largest in the state park system. It is located about 25 miles southeast of Amarillo at the end of State Highway 217. The canyon is one of the largest canyons in the U.S., stretching for miles in a northwest/southeast direction. Within the state park, the canyon’s maximum depth may reach 1,000 feet.
Activities include camping, from primitive to RV, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and camping (bring your own horse or, weather permitting, join a trail ride from the private stable in the park) and star gazing (the stars are very bright during the winter months). Visitors can also stay overnight in cabins on the canyon rim or in the Cow Camp located at the end of Park Road 5.
Labels: Panhandle Plains, State Parks
posted by Paris & John @ 9:04 AM
Amarillo Plans Holiday Events
Amarillo has a full calendar of holiday events during the coming weeks. We've just received an email from the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council with a rundown of the events sure to put you in a holiday mood:
- The Amarillo Little Theatre presents A Christmas Carol weekends from Nov. 29 through Dec. 16. For more information, call 806-355-9991 or visit www.amarillolittletheatre.org.
- Center City of Amarillo presents “Holidays in the City – Electric Light Parade” on November 30 at 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 806-372-6744 or visit www.centercity.org.
- Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Holiday Open House is December 7 and 8. No admission charge. For more information ,call 806-651-2244 or visit www.panhandleplains.org.
- The Lone Star Ballet presents its annual production of The Nutcracker December 7-9. All new this year. For information, call 806-372-2463 or visit www.lonestarballet.org.
- Stroll and shop along Historic Route 66 during the 2007 Holiday Festival on December 8 from 4-9 p.m. For more information, visit www.amarillo66.com.
- Enjoy the 42nd Annual Winter Night Ceremonials as the Kwahadi Indian Dancers perform on Dec. 28 & 29 at 7:30 p.m. (there’s a 4 p.m. matinee on Dec. 29). For information,, call 806-335-3175 or visit www.kwahadi.com.
- Amarillo Symphony Uncorked returns with a bang featuring pianist John Bayless. After the concert, dance until midnight and join in a champagne toast to the New Year. For information or tickets, call 806-376-8782 or visit www.amarillosymphony.org.
- Check the complete December arts calendar in Amarillo at www.artsinamarillo.com.
For More Information on Amarillo, contact the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council:• Call 800-692-1338
• Visit
www.visitamarillotx.comLabels: holidays, Panhandle Plains
posted by Paris & John @ 8:54 AM
Texas Celebrity Travel News
AustinWhile movie buffs will remember her Oscar-winning performance in "Children of A Lesser God" and TV viewers will recognize her from her stint on the NBC comedy "My Name is Earl,"
Marlee Matlin is also a literary luminary. In support of her children's book, the actress enjoyed the Texas Book Festival's premiere night gala, which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel, the Austin American-Statesman reports.
BoerneWhen "Palo Pinto Gold" hits theaters in June 2008, Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne will share the big screen with Texas troubadour
Kinky Friedman and country crooners
Mel Tillis,
Roy Clark and
Trent Willmon. An 86-acre western wonderland in the Texas Hill Country, visitors can admire the bevy of buffalo and Longhorns that call the venue home and relive the days of ranch hands and gunslingers among 30 wild west-style buildings each weekend throughout the year.
College Station
Former President
George H.W. Bush was awarded an eagle's eye view of College Station in early November as his parachute glided down on to the campus of Texas A&M University to mark the grand reopening of the museum which chronicles the life and times of the 41st president. Open Mondays through Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum offers not only a look at the leader's time in office, with recreations of the White House Situation Room, the Oval Office and a miniature version of the White House, but also gives visitors a rare glimpse at his younger years as tourists find themselves on a flight simulator that brings back Bush's days as a Navy pilot back to life, while a replica of Barbara Bush's wedding dress represents his happiest moment in life.
Former President George H.W. Bush and U.S. Army Golden Knights Sergeant 1st Class Mike Elliot freefall while parachuting during the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum grand reopening ceremony on November 10, 2007. "Just because you are 83 years-old does not mean you have to sit around," said the 41st President following his sixth parachute landing. "The U.S. Army Golden Knights made me feel like I was 23 again.". (PRNewsFoto/U.S. Army)DallasAshlee Simpson and her bassist beau Pete Wentz were spotted by The Dallas Morning News days before Halloween at the favorite haunt for Hollywood hotshots, Ghostbar, a luxury lounge located on the rooftop of the W Dallas-Victory Hotel.
"My Name Is Earl" star
Jaime Pressly pleased her palate recently at the Hotel Palomar's Central 214, the boutique retreat's ode to American cuisine. Patrons of the Palomar can also peruse the menu at Trader Vic's, the hotel's Polynesian-influenced restaurant.
Irving
The 65,675 football fans that huddled together at Texas Stadium to watch the Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets 34 to 3 had plenty to be thankful for on turkey day as multi-platinum recording artist
Kelly Clarkson belted out some of her top-selling tunes during halftime. The Burleson-raised "American Idol" is also currently singing the praises of The Salvation Army-- the performance marked the beginning of the 2007 Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign.
New BraunfelsEach summer, the Texas Hill Country town of New Braunfels is teeming with tubers, lazily floating down the Guadalupe and Comal rivers. Although the water's temperature dips during the fall, Disney darlings
Cole and Dylan Sprouse of "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody" fame got the opportunity to enjoy a Mark Twain-style adventure on the rivers as cameras rolled on the upcoming action adventure flick "The Kings of Appletown." According to the San Marcos Record, Tinseltown's top TV twins will will be in New Braunfels, the home of Schlitterbahn and Wurstfest, and surrounding areas throughout November.
Labels: Texas celebrity travel
posted by Paris & John @ 5:30 PM
POTD: Zilker Tree at Dusk
This Sunday night marks the lighting of the Zilker Tree in Austin's Zilker Park. This photo was taken at dusk last Christmas season. The tree will remain lit through December 31.
Labels: a, holidays, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 5:00 PM
Hotel ZaZa Houston Offers Shop Til You Drop Package
Still have big plans for lots of holiday shopping? We've received word of a package at Houston's new Hotel ZaZa that's great for shoppers. The hotel's "Magic Carpet" shuttle service will keep you out of the holiday traffic, providing door-to-door service to Houston retail hot-spots Rice Village, Highland Village and The Galleria for guests who book the “Shop 'Til You Drop” overnight package
The Package: The “Shop ‘Til You Drop” package includes:
• Shopping bag
• Transportation to Rice Village, Highland Village and The Galleria
• Complimentary gift wrap for all items purchased during stay
• Special ZaZa holiday turn down service each night of stay
Rate: $265 (+ tax) per night. Maximum 2 people. A fee of $50 per night will be added for additional guests.
Dates: The package is available until December 22.
For Reservations:• call Hotel ZaZa Houston at 713.526.1991
Labels: holidays, Houston
posted by Paris & John @ 4:46 PM
POTD: Palm Shaded Santa in Luling
Luling gets in the holiday spirit with its Texas-sized Santa standing beneath towering palm trees.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:29 PM
Austin Music Office Releases “Happy Holidays from Austin, TX”
The Austin Music Office is releasing a new CD: “Happy Holidays from Austin, TX.” The event is kicking off with a public release party on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Austin Visitor Center, 209 E. Sixth Street.
The 11-song album serves to promote the city’s live music scene and features Austin artists; it includes:
"Happy Holidays from Austin, TX" CD Song Titles
1. All I Want for Christmas Is To See Another Year – No Show Ponies
2. Kwanzaatime – Chandra Washington/Circle of Light
3. Santa Baby – Kelly Willis
4. Christmas Fais Do Do – Marcia Ball
5. Hanukia – Tish Hinojosa
6. What Child Is This – Will Taylor and Strings Attached featuring Eliza Gilkyson
7. Feliz Navidad – Vallejo
8. Give You My Gift – Asleep at the Wheel
9. I Had A Little Dreidel (Austin Style) – The Hay Seeds
10. You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Asylum Street Spankers
11. Silent Night – Willie Nelson
You'll find a limited number of the CDs are available for sale for $9.99 at the Visitor Center, or at Waterloo Records.
Labels: Austin, holidays
posted by Paris & John @ 7:57 PM
Reader Question: Thanksgiving '08 in the Hill Country?
I am looking for something in the Hill Country for next Thanksgiving. A hotel, lodge anything where there's a little scenery and the meal is served on Thanksgiving day. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance, Amanda
Dear Amanda,
Thanks for your email. We've got a variety of suggestions; we haven't had Thanksgiving dinner at these properties (although after this year's cooking and cleaning, that's sounding like a good idea!!) They're all very nice but very different from each other:
Escondida Resort, Medinahttp://www.escondidaresort.comThis resort is owned by Bob Phillips of the television show Texas Country Reporter; it's small (just 10 rooms) and known for its surrounding beauty and its on-site spa.
Ye Kendall Inn, Boernehttp://www.yekendallinn.comThis historic inn is located in Boerne (in the Hill Country but not in the country); the inn's Limestone Grille is well-known for its fine dining. From the inn, you can walk to the many antiques shops and boutiques in downtown Boerne.
Hyatt Hill Country Resort, outside San Antoniohttp://hillcountry.hyatt.comFor a large resort, this one's great; it's technically in San Antonio but is outside Loop 410 and surrounded by green space. The resort serves a big Thanksgiving dinner and has plenty of walking trails for after-feast walking.
Canyon of the Eagles Lodge & Nature Park, Burnethttp://www.canyonoftheeagles.com/This resort is a great property for nature lovers. It's on an arm of Lake Buchanan and surrounded by wildlife. The restaurant serves a holiday meal and activities range from night sky viewing to eagle watching cruises aboard the Vanishing Texas River Cruises.
Happy travels! Paris and John
Labels: mailbox
posted by Paris & John @ 5:43 PM
POTD: Smitty's Market, Lockhart
The smoky hallway leading to the pit at Smitty's Market is a clue to the years of barbecue tradition this building has witnessed. Although the name of Smitty's Market may be new to some Texas travelers, this was the home of Kreuz Market for over half a century. In 1999, Nina Schmidt Sells took over the market her father had long run, changed the name, but kept the smoky goodness for which the market is known. Nina's brother took the Kreuz name and opened a new barbecue eatery also in Lockhart.
Labels: Barbecue, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 12:34 PM
Enchanted Springs Ranch to Celebrate Cowboy Christmas
If you're looking for a Christmas activity with a real Texas theme, don't miss the annual "Cowboy Christmas" at Enchanted Springs Ranch near Boerne.
Dates: December 22 and 23, 10am-5pm
Activities: The holiday event will include tractor wagon rides, a saddled Longhorn steer, decorated Old West town, horseback rides for kids, photos with Cowboy Santa, and more.
Admission: $10 for adults, $5 ages 3-12, under 3 free
For More Information:• visit
http://www.enchantedspringsranch.comLabels: Hill Country, holidays
posted by Paris & John @ 12:25 PM
POTD: Christmas Lights, Burnet, Texas
Christmas lights are just around the corner (and already lit in some locations like Marble Falls). Here's a shot from last year on the courthouse square in Burnet. Burnet's big Christmas event, Main St. Bethlehem, will take place December 7, 8, 9 & 14, 15, 16 as Washington Street is transformed into the old town of Bethlehem, complete with costumed townspeople. TexasTripper tip: Get here early for this very popular event scheduled from 6pm-9pm nightly; lines can stretch for blocks.
Labels: Hill Country, holidays, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:47 PM
Happy Thanksgiving from TexasTripper!
After a 90 degree day here yesterday, the Hill Country bundles up for a near freezing night tonight...another reminder to us how interesting Texas travel always is! Wherever your Thanksgiving travels may take you, safe travels and happy holidays from TexasTripper.com!
Labels: TexasTripper News
posted by Paris & John @ 6:10 PM
POTD: Tree Preparations at The Alamo
The day before Thanksgiving, San Antonio gets ready for the holidays as a tree is decorated in front of The Alamo. On Friday, the city will officially launch the holiday season with the annual
Holiday River Parade.Labels: Photo of the Day, San Antonio
posted by Paris & John @ 6:15 PM
POTD: Market Square, San Antonio
San Antonio's Market Square will be bustling with shoppers in the coming days. Along with many boutique shops, the square is home to El Mercado, the largest Mexican market in the US, one filled with imports ranging from jewelry to piñatas to blankets. Musicians stroll the square and one of our favorite Tex-Mex restaurants--Mi Tierra--is located here.
Labels: Photo of the Day, San Antonio
posted by Paris & John @ 10:36 AM
POTD: King Ranch
Just a short drive from Corpus Christi is Kingsville, the home of the King Ranch. This truly Texas-sized ranch sprawls across 825,000 acres. Here the Santa Gertrudis and King Ranch Santa Cruz breeds of cattle were developed as well as the first registered American quarter horse. The public can visit the ranch year around; a visitors center offers videos about the ranch history and drives around the ranch include a look at Longhorns, horses, and the many breeds of cattle that made this ranch famous.
Labels: Gulf Coast, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 10:19 AM
Reader Question: Winter Visit to South Padre?
Dear TexasTripper.com,
My parents are first-time Winter Texans and this year I will be visiting them in McAllen. I'd like to visit the beach while I'm there but is the winter a good time for the South Texas beaches? Thanks, Melody, St. Paul, MN
Dear Melody,
Thanks for your email! Winter days can be a little cool on South Padre Island (nothing like Minnesota winters, though!); most visitors don't swim but instead enjoy beach activities. Most days are ideal for beach walks, horseback rides and bird watching. South Padre Island is lively this time of year as many winter visitors fill the town. From South Padre it's an easy drive to Brownsville if you'd like to make your visit an international one; in Brownsville you can easily walk across the International Bridge for a few hours of shopping in Matamoros.
Happy Texas travels! Paris and John
Labels: Gulf Coast, mailbox
posted by Paris & John @ 10:09 AM
POTD: Blue Bonnet Cafe, Marble Falls
The Texas diner is more than a place to stop for a meal, it's a Lone Star State institution. Since 1929, the Blue Bonnet Cafe has been drawing in diners in Marble Falls; chicken fried steak is always a top choice. The cafe is especially known for its pieces and does record business at Thanksgiving when they'll prepare as many as 250 pies!
Labels: Hill Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 4:03 PM
Thanksgiving at Austin's Driskill Hotel a Texas Tradition
Once again, the longtime holiday tradition of dining at the Driskill Hotel in Austin on Thanksgiving Day will take place this year. The historic hotel will offer both a lavish buffet brunch during mid day and a three-course prix fixe fine dining experience in The Driskill Grill for the evening meal.
Thanksgiving Brunch: Thanksgiving Brunch, complete with complimentary champagne, is served on the elegant Mezzanine level, with seatings from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Prices for brunch are $58 for adults, $24 for children ages 6-12 and complimentary for children under age 6. A special children’s buffet is available. For reservations, call 512-391-7041.
Thanksgiving Dinner: The Driskill Grill offers a special four-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner that features Buttermilk Sous Vide Turkey Breast with sourdough sage stuffing, dried cranberries and Madeira reduction. The $75 prix fixe menu also includes Heirloom Potato Salad, Butternut Squash Ravioli and a trio of fall desserts. (See attached menu) Guests may also select from The Grill’s regular menu. Reservations for the 6:30 or 8:30 p.m. seatings can be made by calling 512-391-7162.
Labels: Austin, holidays
posted by Paris & John @ 4:40 PM
POTD: Dugout, Palo Duro Canyon
Dugouts like this one provided shelter for early Panhandle settlers in the Palo Duro Canyon area near Amarillo.
Labels: Panhandle Plains, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:53 PM
POTD: View of the Alamo from Atop the Hyatt
A view of the Alamo, taken from the pool deck atop the Hyatt Regency San Antonio. Although it's nestled in downtown San Antonio, the shady grounds around the Alamo still provide visitors a quiet place to reflect on the history of this site.
Labels: Photo of the Day, San Antonio
posted by Paris & John @ 3:00 PM
Texas Clipper Artificial Reef Sinking Postponed to Nov. 16
AUSTIN, Texas - A ship with three lives - World War II troop transport, New York City luxury liner, and sea cadet training vessel - is now expected to make her final journey Friday. Weather permitting, the Texas Clipper will be sent to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico Nov. 16 to become an artificial reef.
The sinking is now tentatively scheduled for Friday afternoon, a day later than originally planned, since a cold front arriving Thursday is causing choppy seas.
The 473-foot vessel was launched on Sept.12, 1944 as the USS Queens, a WWII transport and attack ship. She carried troops and wounded from Pacific battlefields and was the first attack transport arriving at Iwo Jima.
After the war until 1958, she was recommissioned as the SS Excambion, one of the post-war Four Aces for American Export Lines. She carried cargo and passengers in grand style between New York City and Mediterranean ports.
From 1965-1994, she sailed as the USTS Texas Clipper, a Texas A&M University - Galveston maritime training vessel. Dozens of former cadets who once sailed on the Clipper plan to be present when she goes out for the last time.
One thing will not go down with the ship: a valuable mural by artist Saul Steinberg, known for his whimsical cartoons in New Yorker magazine. In 1948, Steinberg drew a 22-foot wide cartoon mural for the cocktail bar aboard the Excambion. In the 1970s, the mural was obscured by overzealous interior designers. But in January 2007, as the ship was being prepared for reefing, the "lost" mural was found hiding under layers of wallpaper, paint and bolts. Some of it was peeled back to reveal lively images of passengers, ships, the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The mural is now in storage in Austin, and experts are trying to determine whether it can be restored.
As an artificial reef off South Padre Island, the ship could generate up to $30 million annually in fishing and SCUBA diving tourism for local economies over 50 years. The structure is expected to form the foundation of a vibrant community of corals and fish.
For More Information:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has set up a Texas Clipper Reefing Hotline to provide updated information on the sinking schedule. Phone (800) 792-1112, enter 9 and then enter 8830# to hear a recorded message with the latest information.
Labels: Gulf Coast
posted by Paris & John @ 1:09 PM
POTD: Port Isabel Lighthouse
The Port Isabel Lighthouse (which is a State Historic Structure but is operated by the City of Port Isabel) was constructed in 1852. It was one of 16 lighthouses originally built on the Texas coast and is the only one that's open to the public.
Labels: Gulf Coast, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:48 PM
POTD: A Veterans Day Thank You
A special thank you to the soldiers of Texas on this Veterans Day. This photo was taken in Del Rio at the Fourth of July festivities.
Labels: Big Bend Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:06 PM
National Cowgirl Museum & HOF Inducts Four
Fort Worth's National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame added four new inductees to its Hall of Fame today:
Kalyn Brooks (1978-2001)Born with numerous birth defects including deafness and a growth hormone deficiency, Brooks defied the odds and became an accomplished horsewoman. Known as the “Miracle Barrel Racer,” she won Miss Fort Vancouver in 1995 and Miss Northwest Pro Rodeo Association in 1997. She died from heart surgery complications she incurred as a child.
Nellie Cashman (1845-1925)This Irish-born pioneer was one of the few female business-owners in the American West. From Alaska to Arizona, miners had restful quarters and good meals thanks to her boarding houses and restaurants. Because of her benevolence, she earned the nicknames “Miner’s Angel,” “Angel of Tombstone” and “Frontier Angel.”
Terry Stuart ForstThis ranching industry leader manages the oldest family ranch in Oklahoma, the 7S Stuart Ranch, winner of the 1995 AQHA’s Best Remuda Award. She turned the ranch around financially by embracing change and transformed the ranch into one of the most profitable ranches in the Southwest.
Donna Howell-SicklesIn the Western art genre, North Texas artist, Donna Howell-Sickles has been exploring the layers beneath the cowgirl’s engaging exterior for more than 30 years. A vintage postcard featuring a cowgirl with ruby red lips atop her horse captured Donna’s fascination with the cowgirl. Her artwork encapsulates the camaraderie and the timelessness of the cowgirl spirit.
Labels: Fort Worth
posted by Paris & John @ 3:18 PM
TexasTripper Travel News, Nov. 8
TexasTripper.com's Travel News
Nov. 8, 2007
Dear Readers,
November is getting off to a fun start with us; we just received our copies of the fifth edition of our Day Trips from Austin guidebook! We've been writing this guide since the early 90s when it was first published by Two Lane Press in Missouri; at that time our book was called Day Trips from Austin and San Antonio. The last several editions have been with Globe Pequot and now the book covers getaways just within two hours of Austin, an area roughly from Waco to San Antonio and Brenham to Mason.
Fall festivals are in full swing throughout Texas now with holiday events right around the corner. We're busily covering events across the Lone Star State and look forward to bringing you news of holiday festivals!
Happy travels! Paris and John
Don't Miss Photo of the Day The newest section of TexasTripper features a different Texas photo every day!
Enter the TexasTripper Contest!
Celebrate the publication of the fifth edition of our Day Trips from Austin guidebook with our new contest; enter for a chance to win:
• two Lakeway Resort t-shirts
• an autographed copy of the 5th edition of our Day Trips from Austin guide
• an Austin toy bat
• a Texas lapel pin
Wurstfest, New Braunfels, through Nov. 11 Texas Stampede, Dallas, Nov. 9-11
Edgewood Heritage Festival, Edgewood, Nov. 10
Heritage
Syrup Festival, Henderson, Nov. 10
Christmas in Tyler, mid-Nov. - New Year's
Nine Flags Festival, Nacogdoches, Nov. 16 - Dec. 8
Holiday Events at The Woodlands, Nov. 17
Brazos Valley Worldfest, Bryan, Nov. 17
Victorian Christmas Festival, Austin, Nov. 24-25 (photo)
Enchanted Forest Renaissance Faire, Ingleside, Dec. 8-9
Martin Luther King Jr. March and Rally, San Antonio, Jan. 21
Texas Travel News Austin's Men's Club, Spa Now Open to Day Visitors
Texas Clipper to be Sunk as Artificial Reef Nov. 15
Austin, Dallas & San Antonio Named Among Top 25 US Cities
Beaumont's John Jay French Museum Plans Candlelight Tour
Texas Celebrity Travel News, October
Groundbreaking on New Austin City Limits Theater
What's New on TexasTripper?
Get Ready for the Whooping Cranes!
Reader Question: Border Getaway for the Weekend?
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Named Nation's Top Indoor Water Park
Austin "Keeping It Weird" with Holiday Events
San Antonio Hotels Restoring and Renovating
San Antonio's Emily Morgan Hotel Getting Ready for Holiday Parties
Labels: TexasTripper News
posted by Paris & John @ 3:44 PM
POTD: Collins Street Bakery, Corsicana
With Christmas just around the corner, things will be cranking into high gear soon over at the Collins Street Bakery in Corsicana. Since 1896 this fruitcake has been a Texas holiday favorite; two Collins Street Bakeries in Corsicana sell the cakes as well as many other baked goods.
Labels: Photo of the Day, Prairies and Lakes
posted by Paris & John @ 2:10 PM
Austin's Men's Club, Spa Now Open to Day Visitors
Here's some news we didn't know: the country's largest men's-only spa is located in Austin. El Rey™, a men's spa and executive club, is now open to visitors and non-members thanks to the newly-added day-member packages.
The spa offers 12 treatment rooms in a country club setting. The spa is one of the few in the country offering the men’s Italian skin care line ComfortZone™. Other El Rey spa and personal care services being introduced as part of the club's expansion, include body wraps, scrubs, and microderm and chemical peel services. Two customized leg treatments are also being added to help athletes, travelers, and those with leg discomfort.
Visitors to the Capital City can purchase a day pass called "El Ambassador" with a choice of premier packages starting at $300.
El Rey was founded in 2004 by entrepreneur and travel connoisseur Clint Campbell who patterned the spa after the finest facilities in major metropolitan markets such as London, New York, Chicago, and elsewhere, The 4,300-square-foot club offers members everything from manicures and pedicures to massage therapy and concierge services. Members also gain access to a full service bar on-site, 18 flat screen TVs throughout, a king-size poker table, and a locker room with a jacuzzi and steam room.
Location: El Rey is located at 311 West Fifth Street in downtown Austin.
For More Information:• visit
http://www.elreyclub.comLabels: Austin, spa
posted by Paris & John @ 1:59 PM
Texas Clipper to be Sunk as Artificial Reef Nov. 15
Whether you're a diver or a history buff, we think you'll find this news from Texas Parks & Wildlife interesting; they'll be sinking the historic Texas Clipper next week; shortly after, the ship that will become an artificial reef will be available as a dive site.
AUSTIN, Texas — When she is finally sent to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico Nov. 15, the USTS (United States Training Ship) Texas Clipper will go down in history as the artificial reef that almost wasn’t.
The stakes were high all along: as an artificial reef, the ship is expected to generate as much as $30 million annually for local economies over a lifespan of at least 50 years. The complex, durable structure with its high, vertical profile will form the foundation of a vibrant community of corals and other invertebrates, as well as recreationally important “bottom” fish such as snappers and groupers, and pelagic species like cobia, king mackerel and dorado.
The 473-foot vessel was mothballed twice between periods of active sea service before retiring as the oldest ship in the United States Merchant Marine fleet in 1996. Then, on the cusp of being turned-over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as that agency’s most ambitious artificial reef project, the ship sank at her berth at the U.S. Maritime Administration facility near Beaumont, Texas. Even as she was raised and patched, last-minute negotiations saved the Texas Clipper from the scrap heap and she was towed to Brownsville, Texas, for environmental remediation and preparation as a reef.
“It would make a good movie, the twists and turns in this story,” said TPWD Artificial Reef Program Coordinator J. Dale Shively. “There were times when we thought for sure the project was dead.”
But nearly a decade after the state first applied to MARAD for the transfer of the Texas Clipper as part of the artificial reef program, success is in sight. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified Oct. 1 that the ship is free of hazardous materials. Nov. 14 she will be towed to a site 17 nautical miles from South Padre Island, Texas. The next morning, workers will open valves to flood the ship and allow her to settle 134 feet to the hard sand bottom.
By Nov. 17 — a Saturday — the site will be open to the public for diving and fishing.“This ship has an incredible history,” said Shively. “Of course, after three decades as a Galveston-based training vessel, she has a very strong Texas connection. But we like to say she’s already had three lives, starting in the Pacific theatre during World War II, and her role as a reef will be her fourth life and final journey.”
The Texas Clipper, most recently (1965-1996) a maritime training vessel for Texas A&M University-Galveston, began her life as the USS Queens (APA-103), a WWII transport and attack ship. As the Queens, she participated in the Pacific war and was the first attack troop transport to arrive at Iwo Jima. After the war she was recommissioned as the SS Excambion, one of the post-war "four aces" of the American Export Lines. As the Excambion, she carried cargo and passengers in luxurious style between New York City and Mediterranean ports.
As an artificial reef, the Texas Clipper will be the site of several scientific monitoring programs. The University of Texas-Brownsville will partner with TPWD to monitor biological growth on the hull of the ship from the very beginning, and Texas A&M University and the National Marine Fisheries Service will conduct an ongoing experiment to look at the pace of corrosion in Gulf waters (this will be useful for, among other things, gauging the potential environmental impact of wrecks containing fuel, oil and other ecologically harmful substances).
“The benefits — to the local fishery, to the economy of South Texas, and to ongoing science — are tremendous,” said TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Director Larry D. McKinney, Ph.D. “The only reason we don’t have more of these complex reef communities in waters off Texas is because we lack the hard substrate that corals and other reef organisms need to get established. We can provide that with artificial reefs — whether former oil production platforms, concrete culverts or something as magnificent as this ship.”
Prepared for reefing by Resolve Marine Services, Inc. (with ESCO Marine, Inc. as subcontractor) in Brownsville, the Texas Clipper will go down as possibly the cleanest ship every deliberately sunk for this purpose. Remediation, just completed in recent months, has included the removal of 1,680 cu. yards of asbestos and more than 76,000 pounds of PCB-containing materials.
Labels: Gulf Coast
posted by Paris & John @ 10:31 AM
POTD: Dance in Luckenbach, Texas
Dancers enjoy a little boot scootin' across the dance floor in Luckenbach, Texas.
Labels: Hill Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 10:02 AM
POTD: Arkey Blues, Bandera, Texas
One of Texas's most famous honky tonks, Arkey Blues in Bandera features live music and dancing on a sawdust-covered floor.
Labels: Hill Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 11:26 AM
Houston Wine Competition Scheduled in November
The fifth annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition is scheduled for November 10-11, 2007. All 2008 competition winners will be announced shortly after the competition.
The top winners from the competition will be recognized at the Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition on February 18, 2008 at 7 p.m., on the floor of the Reliant Astrodome. Buckles, chaps and saddles will be awarded to the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show, Class and Reserve Class Champions, Top Texas Wine, Top All-Around Winery, Top Wine Outfit, Top Value Wine, Top Red Wine, Top White Wine, Top Sparkling Wine and Top Dessert Wine.
Guests get to sample the Champion wines as well as signature appetizers from area restaurant and catering institutions. Guests will vote on their favorite bites in the Best Bites Competition.
All Champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction and Dinner, March 8, 2008. The 2007 auction was a record-breaking event, bringing in more than $840,000.
For More Information:• visit
www.rodeohouston.comLabels: Houston
posted by Paris & John @ 9:04 AM
New Edition of Day Trips from Austin!
We've just received our author copies of the 5th edition of
Fredericksburg
Dancers enjoy a little boot scootin' across the dance floor in Luckenbach, Texas.
