POTD: Cascarones, San Antonio
Fiesta San Antonio just wrapped up last weekend but you can bet that the remains of cascarones like these still dot the San Antonio streets. These confetti-filled eggshells, topped with tissue paper to hold in their sparkling bounty, are intended to be broken over the heads of fiesta goers. The tradition first started in Mexico and, even though it might be messy, is said to bring you good luck.
Labels: Photo of the Day, San Antonio
posted by Paris & John @ 2:46 PM
POTD: Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport
This weekend we passed through the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport, seen here. Just this month, the Houston Airport System (in partnership with Continental Airlines) announced that it will be spending $1.2 billion on a renovation and expansion of the airport. The project will expand Terminal B from 360,000 square feet to 1.7 million square feet, bigger than the city's Minute Maid Park. Look for work to start later this year and continue for the next seven to ten years.
Labels: Houston, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:37 PM
POTD: Austin's Pennybacker Bridge
This scenic bridge is located on Loop 360 or Capital of Texas Highway on the west side of Austin. This bridge spans Lake Austin and is made of weathered steel.
Labels: Austin, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:24 PM
POTD: Texas Tombstone
As we travel the roads and backroads of Texas, we're always on the lookout for Texas shaped objects. Through the years we've seen everything from Texas-shaped mailboxes to a drive-thru burger joint in the shape of the Lone Star State. Last month we spotted this Texas shaped tombstone located in a cemetery in Burnet.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 10:15 AM
POTD: Oatmeal School and Church
Today the home of the Oatmeal Church of Christ, this historic building has long served the community of Oatmeal in Burnet County. Built in 1869, the stone structure was once a combined church and school.
Labels: Hill Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 12:30 PM
POTD: Wild Basin, Austin
For a close look at the terrain, flora, and fauna of the Hill Country, step out of the city at Wild Basin, a wilderness preserve located just minutes from downtown Austin. The 227-acre sanctuary includes three miles of trails that wind through the brush; an easy-access trail is also available.
Labels: Austin, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:19 PM
4212008: Driskill Goes Green
On Earth Day, our attention turns to eco-friendly travel so this news caught our eye. Austin's Driskill Hotel has announced its launch of “Destination Earth…Destination Driskill,” a three-stage plan that ensures operations and services positively impact the environment. Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), the Denver-based hotel management company that oversees operations at The Driskill, along with some 30 other luxury hotel, resort and condominium properties, recently rolled out the “Destination Earth" program which targets all areas of the hotels’ operations.
In commemoration of Earth Day, the Driskill also introduces several special activities:
- Free valet parking is being given to guests arriving in hybrid vehicles.
- The 1886 Café & Bakery offers a special organic menu that includes organic breads and desserts, ice tea and lemonade, chemical- and hormone-free poultry, eggs from locally-raised free-range chickens, locally-raised venison and local farm produce.
- The Driskill Bar is conducting a tasting of organic wines.
- The hotel will not launder any towels or bed linens from guest rooms on Tuesday, April 22, unless specifically requested by guests. This is expected to save 7,385 gallons of water, equivalent to one month of water consumption by an average Austin household.
- Packets of wildflower seeds are being placed in all guestrooms with notes encouraging guests to consider native landscaping at their homes to reduce water consumption.
- Recently named the most “Pet-Friendly Hotel in the Country,” the hotel is stepping up its pet program by providing waste bags and scoopers for guests who arrive with dogs.
What the Program Includes: The complete “Destination Earth…Destination Driskill” program includes a checklist of 90 changes and improvements, which range from establishing more energy-efficient protocol for guest rooms—having only one light and the radio turned on at check in—to replacing all Styrofoam products with recycled paper and plastic products. Bottled water is provided only by request for meetings; outdated bath linens are recycled for cleaning purposes in house and bed linens are donated to charitable organizations; incandescent lighting is being replaced with energy efficient florescent bulbs. Sensors are being installed in all mechanical rooms, housekeeping closets, hallways and meeting rooms to reduce electricity usage.
The program is already garnering good marks from Austin officials. General Electric and the City of Austin performed recent electric and water audits on the hotel’s current operations. Both gave praiseworthy remarks.
For More Information:• visit
www.destinationhotels.comLabels: Austin
posted by Paris & John @ 9:03 PM
POTD: Oatmeal Water Tower
Texas has some pretty unique watertowers (Luling's watermelon water tower comes to mind first!) but this water stand pipe in Oatmeal ranks right up there. Painted like a box of oatmeal, the tower promotes the annual Oatmeal Festival which actually outgrew the community of Oatmeal and had to be moved to nearby Bertram. The festival takes place every Labor Day weekend.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:24 PM
POTD: Hippie Hollow, Austin
Located northwest of Austin on the shores of Lake Travis, Hippie Hollow (officially McGregor/Hippie Hollow Park) is best known for one thing...or lack of one thing: clothes. This clothing-optional park is for adults only and is Texas's only public clothing-optional park. A day use fee is charged per car.
Labels: Austin, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 1:18 PM
41808: NYLO Hotels Breaks Ground In Irving
Just 10 minutes from the DFW Airport, work is now underway on a new NYLO Hotel at Las Colinas in Irving. The 200-room hotel will open in May, 2009.
The five-story NYLO Las Colinas will sit on more than five acres at the northwest corner of Royal Lane and Sierra Drive.
It sounds like the hotel will be a prime meeting spot with a 3,000-square-foot ballroom and over 6,000 square feet of meeting space. The ballroom will open onto an outdoor courtyard and connect to The Loft, the hotel's signature restaurant and bar.
NYLO's first hotel, NYLO Plano at Legacy, opened in Dec. 2007, in North Dallas, at the northwest corner of Headquarters Drive and Preston Road in Plano.
For more information:• visit
www.nylohotels.comLabels: Dallas
posted by Paris & John @ 4:09 PM
POTD: National Museum of the Pacific War to Expand
The National Museum of the Pacific War, part of the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site in Fredericksburg, will soon be undergoing the ground breaking ceremony for a 40,000-square-foot expansion. The event will take place on May 9 when Governor Rick Perry will speak at the event. General Michael W. Hagee, the Former Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a Director of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation (and a Fredericksburg native) will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Event: May 9, 2008. Ceremony is scheduled for 11am followed by a free barbecue in the adjacent parking lot.
Location: 311 East Austin Street, Fredericksburg
Labels: Hill Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 12:34 PM
Houston Gets CityPass
Starting May 13, visitors to Houston will have a good option for seeing the city's top attractions: CityPass. We've used CityPass in Chicago and it's a great deal offering savings in terms of money and time. This will be the first city in Texas (actually the first in the Southwest) to offer CityPass and we're looking forward to using it on our next visit.
How does it work? CityPass includes a booklet that contains actual tickets to attractions, attraction information, transportation directions, best times to visit, a map and info from National Geographic Traveler. A very important detail: CityPass ticket holders also avoid most ticket queues.
Price: The Houston CityPass will cost $34 for adults (a $63.40 value) and $24 for children ages 4-11 (a $44.70 value).
The Time Period: You'll have nine days to use your ticket booklet from its first use.
The Attractions: The Houston CityPass will include:
- Space Center Houston
- Downtown Aquarium
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- The Houston Zoo
- Option ticket: The Health Museum OR George Ranch Historical Park
- Option ticket: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston OR Children's Museum of Houston
Where to Buy: Starting May 13, Houston CityPass can be purchased at any participating Houston attraction, at the Houston Visitors Center at 901 Bagby St. or online at
www.VisitHoustonTexas.com or
www.citypass.com.
Labels: Houston
posted by Paris & John @ 12:19 PM
We Have a Winner!
Congratulations to AC in Kyle, the winner of our latest TexasTripper contest! She wins two autographed guidebooks and a couple of bluebonnet t-shirts for her beautiful bluebonnet photograph. Head over to the
Roaming Readers section to check it out! And if you'd like to submit your own reader recommendations for Texas travel (have you enjoyed a great restaurant lately? found a scenic drive? come across a great little museum or festival?), submit your review and/or photos on the
Roaming Readers submission page.Labels: TexasTripper News
posted by Paris & John @ 12:11 PM
POTD: Handblown Glasses
The blue rimmed glasses from Mexico are our favorite, and we've bought them at towns all along the Texas-Mexico border. This shot was taken at our favorite close to home import shopping area: San Antonio's El Mercado, the largest Mexican market in the US.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:45 PM
41508: W Dallas-Victory Hosts Wedding Event
If you or a family member have a wedding coming in your future in the Dallas area, check out the upcoming event at the W Dallas-Victory. This upscale hotel is hosting a wedding event on April 17 from 7-9 p.m. Some of the highlights include a Carolina Herrera fashion show, Bliss treatments, decorations by Bella Flora, and a wedding giveaway. Also at the event, you'll learn more about the hotel's
WOW VOWS program .
Where:W Dallas - Victory
2440 Victory Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75219
For More Information:• learn more about the wedding program by calling 214-397-4121
Labels: Dallas
posted by Paris & John @ 3:18 PM
POTD: Cedar Park Cave Day
On Saturday we attended Cedar Park's Cave Day, a twice-annual event that looks at some of the 800+ caves found in Williamson County. Caver Bill Larson (in the black t-shirt) points out a cave on the new Discovery Well Preserve.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 4:19 PM
041408: Georgetown Festival of the Arts Planned
The Georgetown Festival of the Arts, in its fourth year, is offering an schedule of artists and cultural activities beginning the weekend of May 31 and ending on Sunday, June 8.
May 31-June 1: Art in the Park on May 31 & June 1, a juried art show along the river in San Gabriel Park, will bring in over 200 artists from around the country to participate.
May 31: On the evening of May 31 the popular Symphony in the Park will provide fireworks along with a Mendelssohn concert.
June 5-8: Mendelssohn in Georgetown, Thursday, June 5 through Sunday, June 8, features the music of Felix Mendelssohn in concerts and lectures in a number of venues. The Shanghai and Miro Quartets will be playing Thursday, June 5 as part of the series. A complete event schedule is online at
www.georgetowntexassymphony.org .
Price: Tickets are $20 for concerts, $5 for all symposia and $5 for entrance to Art in the Park. Student tickets are $5 for all events.
Labels: Festivals, Hill Country
posted by Paris & John @ 1:37 PM
411082: Spring Plant Sale, Gardening Festival at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
This weekend marks the annual Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. If you've got the gardening bug, here's your chance to take a tour with an expert to learn more about habitat gardening, caring for native trees, choosing native plants, and more. Tours will take place on the hour from 11am to 2pm.
The center's Wildflower Center store will also be hosting special guests both afternoons:
Saturday: - Jackie Poole will sign her new book, "Rare Plants of Texas
- visitors can sample jelly and other treats from Texas Traditions
Sunday: - L. Raywill sign the 2008 Wildflower DaysTM art print and T-shirt
- Jen Ohlson will sign her book about Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail called "Every Town Needs a Trail"
- George Miller will sign "Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas"
Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors and students, $3.50 for University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff with university identification, $3 for children and free for members and children under 5.
For more information:• call 512.232.0100
• visit http://wildflower.org/plantsale
Labels: Austin, Festivals
posted by Paris & John @ 2:50 PM
POTD: Sage or Salvia Wildflowers
Sage or salvia is blooming along along the Edwards Plateau now or it can be seen at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. This shot was taken at the TexasTripper offices near Lake Travis. It's a favorite with hummingbirds.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:41 PM
41108: Cedar Park Plans for Cave Day
Saturday, April 12 marks Cave Day in Cedar Park, an event hosted by the Texas Cave Conservancy. It offers a chance to look at the many caves in the region as well as a rare cave beetle, the Rhadine persephone beetle, only found in the Cedar Park area.
The event takes place at four sites in the area, starting at Kay Redden Park, located at the corner of Lake Creek Boulevard and Buttercup Creek Boulevard. Nearby, visitors will see the seven caves in the Buttercup Cave Preserve (although there’s no cave entry here). Cave expert Bill Larson will talk about the discovery and history of each cave. Tours will be offered at 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M
The next stop is the Twin Creeks Historical Area, a new park that’s home to an historical log cabin, springs, and even an Indian Shelter Cave available for visitation.
The third site is the Texas Cave Conservancy owned Educational Show Cave. Visitors first need to pick up a cave entry pass at Kay Redden Park. Allow a fifteen -minute drive to the cave.
The last stop will be a tour of the new City of Cedar Park- Discovery Well Cave Preserve. This tour will start at 3:00 P.M.
We plan to attend Cave Day and hope to come back with some good photos of the facilities to share next week!
For additional information:• call the City of Cedar Park-Parks & Recreation Department, 512-401-5500
Labels: Hill Country
posted by Paris & John @ 2:21 PM
411082: Spring Plant Sale, Gardening Festival at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
This weekend marks the annual Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. If you've got the gardening bug, here's your chance to take a tour with an expert to learn more about habitat gardening, caring for native trees, choosing native plants, and more. Tours will take place on the hour from 11am to 2pm.
The center's Wildflower Center store will also be hosting special guests both afternoons:
Saturday: - Jackie Poole will sign her new book, "Rare Plants of Texas
- visitors can sample jelly and other treats from Texas Traditions
Sunday: - L. Raywill sign the 2008 Wildflower DaysTM art print and T-shirt
- Jen Ohlson will sign her book about Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail called "Every Town Needs a Trail"
- George Miller will sign "Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas"
Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors and students, $3.50 for University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff with university identification, $3 for children and free for members and children under 5.
For more information:• call 512.232.0100
• visit
http://wildflower.org/plantsaleLabels: Austin, Festivals
posted by Paris & John @ 9:50 AM
40908: Happy Birthday, SeaWorld San Antonio!
It's hard to believe, but SeaWorld San Antonio opened its doors 20 years ago. The event took place on April 15, 1988 and on Thursday, April 10 of this week, the park will mark the anniversary with a special ceremony and live webcast.
Events: Haley Scarnato, San Antonio’s own American Idol finalist, will perform as the anthem soloist when the park opens its door that special day. A Joint Forces Color Guard representing the park’s commitment to the military will present the colors and the U.S. Army Medical Command Band from Ft. Sam Houston will entertain. (In case you didn't know, SeaWorld offers a special “Here’s to the Heroes” program which provides a single day’s free admission to the park for any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve service member or National Guardsman and as many as three of his or her direct dependents.)
Other events during the April 10 celebration will include:
• the Timberwilde Elementary School choir from the Northside Independent School District will assist in singing Happy Birthday
• Southwest Airlines’ mascot, Spirit, will present a giant birthday card to SeaWorld’s costumed character Shamu
• a special Shamu cake weighing nearly 4,000 pounds (you'll even be able to download a recipe for making your own Shamu cake on the SeaWorld website)
• a fireworks display
Webcast: The first-ever Web cast for SeaWorld San Antonio will be hosted at on the
SeaWorld site beginning at 10:00 a.m. CDT.
Labels: San Antonio
posted by Paris & John @ 8:36 AM
040808: Schlitterbahn Announces Dragon's Revenge
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels has announced a new ride scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend. The Dragon's Revenge will feature eight uphill blasts, six creepy caverns, a two-story freefall and, of course, an angry dragon!
This is the first heavily themed ride the park has opened in its nearly three decade history. The ride will include spinning tunnels, theatrical lighting, fiber optics, fog and fake fire.
To ride Dragon's Revenge, riders need to be 42 inches or taller.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort will open weekends starting Saturday, April 26. The park is one of our favorites and it has a great budget saver: you are welcome to bring a picnic basket into the park (just no alcohol or glass containers.)
For More Information:• visit
www.schlitterbahn.comLabels: Hill Country
posted by Paris & John @ 4:16 PM
POTD: Wild Turkey
We saw this wild turkey near Cedar Park the other day; it seems like spring and fall are always good months for spotting these tall birds.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 4:05 PM
040908: W Dallas-Victory Hosts Wedding Event
If you or a family member have a wedding coming in your future in the Dallas area, check out the upcoming event at the W Dallas-Victory. This upscale hotel is hosting a wedding event on April 17 from 7-9 p.m. Some of the highlights include a Carolina Herrera fashion show, Bliss treatments, decorations by Bella Flora, and a wedding giveaway. Also at the event, you'll learn more about the hotel's
WOW VOWS program.
Where: W Dallas - Victory
2440 Victory Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75219
For More Information:• learn more about the wedding program by calling 214-397-4121
Labels: Dallas
posted by Paris & John @ 8:42 AM
POTD: Beware of Flash Flooding
This shot was taken last summer on the road to Castell, just south of TX 29 between Llano and Mason. As you can see, the Llano River is flooding the roadway. Be sure to keep an eye out for water over the roadways, especially at night. With the hilly, rocky conditions in the Hill Country, this region is especially prone to flash flooding, and deaths occur every year as drivers try to cross flooded roadways. Spring and early summer are especially dangerous times for flash flooding.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:32 PM
POTD: Dell Diamond, Round Rock
It's a definite sign of spring that baseball season is underway. This shot was taken last season at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, home of the Round Rock Express, a Minor League Baseball Class AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros.
Labels: Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:18 PM
40408: Austin Fills with Urban Music Festival, Texas Relays
This weekend will be a huge one for Austin visitors for two reasons: the Texas Relays and the Urban Music Festival. The Texas Relays, which started on April 2 and continue through April 5, is considered one of the country's top track and field events.
The
Urban Music Festival, held at Auditorium Shores, will be featuring Jeffrey Osborne this year along with After 7, Trey Songz, Hope Flood, Bavu Blakes, and Phillip Martin, with a special guest appearance by former UT football player Vince Young.
Jeffrey Osborne photo courtesy Urban Music FestivalLabels: Austin, Festivals
posted by Paris & John @ 12:22 PM
40308: Motorsports Festival Planned for Austin
On Saturday, April 12 from 4 PM to 11 PM, the Boost Mobile Nightshift will fill the Travis County Expo Center in Austin. The event will feature hundreds of tricked out cars and bikes, high-speed drift demos, high flying Freestyle MotoX (over a semi truck!), and a live performance by hip hop artist Lloyd.
The nation’s largest touring event series of its type, Nightshift Austin will mark the first Nightshift and third stop on HIN Events’ 21-city 2008 tour. More than 10,000 auto and entertainment enthusiasts are expected for the event in Austin.
At 6pm, the festival will be recognizing Austin soldiers returning from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Sgt. Nick Ashby, creator of the "Citizen Soldier" Tribute Car which he designed for the Army National Guard.
The day's festivities will include more than 300 tricked out vehicles totaling over $15 million in value, ranging from Japanese to Euro and from high-end luxury to wild and exotic. Notable cars include:
o Johnny Nguyen’s Honda S2000, one of the hottest S2000s in Houston
o Lindz Doringo’s Nissan 350Z, as seen on the cover of Modified magazine
o Randy Rigg’s award winning Nissan G35 from Los Angeles
o Street Lightz right hand drive Honda Civic Type R Tour Car, a rare treat for American fans
o Topher Shively’s 1000HP Nissan 350Z, one of the most powerful 350Zs in Texas
o Boost Mobile Nissan RX8 designed by famed automotive stylist RJ de Vera
Location: The event will take place at the Travis County Expo Center, located east of town at 7311 Decker Lane.
Admission: $25. All ages.
Photo courtesy Boost Mobile Nightshift
Labels: Austin, Festivals
posted by Paris & John @ 3:00 PM
POTD: Bluebonnet Closeup
Bluebonnets are really coming out after some rains last week in the Hill Country. Although it might not be as spectacular as last year's crop, the roadways are lined with the state flower and the coming days promise more blooms. This shot was taken along FM 1431 west of Cedar Park.
Labels: Hill Country, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:50 PM
POTD: Philosphers' Rock, Austin
This statue, called "Philosopher's Rock," stands in Austin's Zilker Park at the entrance to Barton Springs and was sculpted by Glenna Goodacre. The three philosphers portrayed here are J. Frank Dobie, Roy Bedichek and Walter Prescott Webb, all Texas authors.
Labels: Austin, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 3:28 PM
Austin Celebrity Travel News
In the 1970's he touched our hearts in "The Way We Were," and in late March the
Austin American-Statesman reports that 2008 cinema icon
Robert Redford gave Austinites a glimpse of the way things might be as he stood at the podium at Alamo South to discuss "Unforeseen," a documentary that sheds light on the ongoing struggle to preserve Barton Springs. Acting as executive producer for the project, this thought-provoking feature, which includes appearances by such Texas treasures as Willie Nelson and Ann Richards, is currently showing at the Alamo South Lamar.
Taking a trip down memory lane,
Zac, Isaac and
Taylor Hanson, who were discovered in the late 1990's at Austin's annual SXSW festival, Mmmbopped into Las Manitas restaurant for a bite to eat during their recent return to the Live Music Capital of the World,
People magazine reports. Another Austin landmark feeling the effects of the city's growth, only months remain to order huevos rancheros, migas con queso, chalupas and flautas prepared by the Perez sisters at their familiar 211 Congress Avenue address. Following an extended development battle, the beloved eatery will relocate one block from its current location this summer to make way for a Marriott hotel.
A familiar face around Austin during SXSW, music aficionado
Elijah Wood was spotted filming Heloise & The Savoir Faire, an act signed to the "Lord of The Rings" star's budding Simian Records label, in mid-March during their set the Habana Calle 6 Annex, a Cuban-nuanced nightclub on East 6th Street.
No visit to Austin would be complete without a stroll down Sixth Street. According to
People magazine, revelers dropping by the strip's bevy of bars during SXSW may have been lucky enough to spot former N'Sync stars
Chris Kirkpatrick and
Joey Fatone enjoying some brew before they said "Bye, Bye, Bye" to Touche', a popular watering hole located at 417 E 6th.
On March 8, 2008, A-lister
Vanessa Hudgens made her way to Light Bar, one of Congress Avenue's top boites, for an after-screening soiree in celebration of the SXSW premiere of "Explicit Ills",
People magazine online revealed. While sightings of the Disney darling were scarce during her stay in the capital city, a few lucky fans spotted the "High School Musical" star as she filmed scenes from her upcoming flick "Will" on the University of Texas campus.
While filming continued on beau Brad Pitt's latest cinematic venture, "Tree of Life" in Smithville,
Angelina Jolie passed the time by stocking up on reading material at a Barnes & Noble. Austinites can find the latest bestsellers at five Barnes & Noble locations-- Westlake, Sunset Valley Village, The Arboretum, Hill Country Galleria and The Homestead Shopping Center at Lakeline Crossing.
--by Grace Sydney
Labels: Austin, Texas celebrity travel
posted by Paris & John @ 4:24 PM
POTD: Dinosaur at Zilker Park
At the Hartman Prehistoric Garden in Austin's Zilker Park, don't be surprised this Ornithomimus dinosaur. This bronze statue was designed by local sculptor John Maisano and cast in Bastrop.
Labels: Austin, Photo of the Day
posted by Paris & John @ 2:53 PM
Fredericksburg
