Family Vacations Texas

Matagorda County Christmas Bird Count – Matagorda County is home to miles of glistening, sandy beaches, pristine waters, world-class fishing, and diverse wildlife. Every year, in the weeks before Christmas, avid bird-watchers from all over Texas and beyond pack up their binoculars and cameras and flock to Matagorda County to volunteer for the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count.  There they join hundreds of volunteer birders who combine their passion for birding and conservation with a few days away from home. 

Audubon Bird Counts occur in various designated spots across North America and are vital in collecting data on bird populations throughout the continent. The organization depends upon its “citizen scientists” to search out and identify the birds and record the sightings, data which help identify those species in need of conservation action.  Newbies are welcomed; accuracy is assured by always having at least one experienced bird watcher in every group. The event is often an annual Christmas family tradition, with repeat “voluntourists” who return every year.  Contact the Matagorda CVB for more information.

Texas Parks Trail Work  –   The western part of Texas state is home to two of the nation’s most impressive and beautiful parks.  400 miles west of San Antonio is Big Bend National Park and north of that, straddling the Texas-New Mexico border, is Guadalupe National Park.  Both parks cover thousands of acres and are home to more than 1,000 plant species and 400 bird species, as well as antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer, banded gecko, rattlesnake, coyote, black bear, elk, and mountain lion.  Maintenance for such enormous land masses is an ongoing challenge, but budgets are tight and the parks do not have permanent maintenance crews.  That’s where the Sierra Club steps in: 70% of the trail maintenance that is done in the parks is by volunteers.  Work includes trail improvement, restoring grasslands, planting trees and more.  For more information, see Guadalupe project details and the Big Bend project details. Other park volunteer opportunities available on the Texas State Parks website.

Care for Animals at Wildlife Rescue & Rehab -- WRR in Kendalia, TX rescues and rehabilitates many kinds of animals, with a goal to release back to nature when possible and to provide permanent sanctuary when release is not an option.  The Wildlife Rescue & Rehab facility is home to native wildlife, farm animals, wolves, bears, big cats and primates.  They welcome volunteers who will have the opportunity to do hands-on rehab that may include bottle-feeding baby animals one day and assisting an injured animal with physical therapy the next. On your free days, spend some time in nearby San Antonio or Austin, or imbibing in the Texas wine country.

Dig for dinosaur fossils – The Arlington Archosaur site has been the location of many amazing fossil discoveries, including dinosaurs, turtles, fish and crocodiles.  Plenty of rare fossils from the Cretaceous period (95-100 Million years old) have been uncovered here and help is needed to continue the dig.  Volunteers really do get hands-on experience: you’ll excavate in the soil and map any fossils you find, you'll clear hillside for continued digging and prepare fossils for identification.  Don't fear if you're a newbie -- orientation and a short training session will demonstrate what you need to know. If you've ever wanted to help excavate a dinosaur, while vacationing in the nearby Dallas-Fort Worth area, join the Arlington Archosaur Facebook page or contact Earthwatch Institute.

Beach clean-up – For some people, it’s just not a vacation if you don’t hit the beach.  If you love the sand and surf, there’s a volunteer opportunity for you too.  The Texas General Land Office “Adopt-A-Beach” Program is an all-volunteer organization committed to keeping trash off of Texas beaches.  Clean-ups start at 9 AM and end at noon, leaving plenty of time in your day to relax and enjoy your vacation. The work is not difficult and kids are welcomed to join in the effort too. Oh, and some nearby hotels offer discounts to volunteers.  For clean-up sites and dates, visit The Texas General Land Office website.

There are plenty of opportunities in Texas to lend a hand during your vacation. These are only a few examples, but wherever you might wish to travel, there’s a Habitat for Humanity, an animal rescue group, a soup kitchen that needs you and would sure appreciate your time. If you’re lucky enough to take a nice vacation, you just might find it feels pretty great to share your good fortune.

It’s a new year, a leap year. A whole new 366 days to explore the adventure to be found on Texas back roads, on Main Street, and in the heart of Texans who make this the greatest state in the Union.

On my calendar for this year are blogging and photo trips to new craft breweries such as the Karbach Brewing Company in Houston, and established wineries from Bernhardt in Plantersville to the Fairhaven Vineyards in Hawkins.

Minor League baseball will be played for the first time in Sugar Land when the Skeeters take to the diamond at Constellation Field this spring. I plan to be there to cover the action. 

I’ll be heading over to Grand Saline to check out the reptilian action at the East Texas Gators & Wildlife Park, paying my respects at painted churches, and continuing the search for the best catfish kitchen in the state. So much to see, so much report . . .

In 2011 Texas highways led me to some mighty fine food, new friends, little known historical spots, and quirky attractions. Quality time spent with retired railroad man Bobby Jack Middleton in Hearne and Frank the hobo in Tomball was unexpected. The thick chocolate malt that I found at The Diner in Corsicana brought back childhood memories, while hearing first person accounts of the ghosts of Galveston, San Antonio and on The Lex in Corpus Christi was chilling.    

Coming face-to-face with “Old Sparky”, the infamous electric chair at Huntsville’s Texas Prison Museum, was thoughtful provoking, and visiting the graves of men who fought for the Texas military during the American Civil War was humbling.

I loved touring the Tee Pee Motel in Wharton with its rows of cone-shaped lodges, a throwback to the day when the family summer vacation was made in a station wagon and Route 66 was more than just a tune on the AM radio.

Sampling Dr Pepper made from the original sugar laced recipe in Dublin was sweet . . . pun intended. The Sterling McCall Cadillac Museum in Warrenton was a nice surprise and exploring the historic Fulton Mansion near Rockport was really cool for a fan of architectural design.

Then there were the churches, big and small. The stained glass at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Round Top was “heavenly”, and the tiny Saint Martin’s Catholic Church on Highway 237 was so . . . small.

The mom-and-pop restaurants that I visited in 2011 were no less than awesome. The T-bone steak at San Antonio’s Josephine Street Café easily went head-to-head with the fried shrimp at the Laguna Reef in Flour Bluff. Barbecue at Holders in Dobbin was just as good as the original “pig sandwich” at the Pig Stand on Broadway in the Alamo City. And, the burger at the Chicken Oil Company in Bryan is still at the top of my list . . . well, at least for now.

My Texas getaways were seriously good in 2011. Maybe this year you’ll hit the road to create your own Lone Star adventures and meet a character or two.  I certainly plan to keep on pick-up truckin’ across the state on my own as a Texas trekker. It’s just too much fun not to!

Listen . . . the open road is calling. Can you hear it?  

It’s Christmastime in Texas . . .

Traditions range from cowboy boot tree ornaments and long horns with Christmas balls dangling left and right, to snowmen decked out in western wear and Poncho Claus delivering toys to kids from his lowrider in the barrio.

 Whether you’re a fan or not, one Texas holiday tradition has been around since before the turn of the last century - the Christmas fruitcake from the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana.

Loaded with fists full of pecans, cherries, pineapple, raisins, papaya, sugar and all sorts of other stuff, the DeLuxe Texas Fruitcake is a Lone Star legend. On a recent visit to the 105-year old bakery on West 7^th Avenue in downtown Corsicana, I watched as hundreds of folks sampled and searched for the perfect holiday treat to share with their family and friends.

Just imagine . . . this is the fruitcake given to the Crown Heads of Europe by circus great John Ringling. It was enjoyed by American cowboy and humorist Will Rogers, and world famous Italian tenor Enrico Caruso.  There I was surrounded by fruitcake lovers and those, like myself, willing to give the much maligned holiday dessert a second chance based on reputation.

There were all sorts of tasty-looking options displayed behind the glass. There was an apricot pecan cake, a pineapple pecan cake, and an apple cinnamon pecan cake. Then there was the Texas Blonde pecan cake and mini pecan cakes in tiny tins. Deluxe Petites and chocolate Petites and apricot Petites and pineapple pecan Petites . . . it was overwhelming. But wait… there was more.

I had come to taste the legend and maybe take one home, but no . . . I was now confronted with the Collin Street Bakery’s New York cheese cake, a key lime cheese cake, a praline pecan cheese cake, berry cheese cakes of all sorts and something called a Pumpkin Extravaganza. Then there were the traditional cakes, pies and cookies, not to mention the candies and nuts. Why were they making it so difficult? Why?

I worked and weaved my way to the counter only to find that the covered sample tray had been picked clean by fruit cake scavengers ahead of me. It was a Christmas conspiracy . . . the anticipation, the waiting, and now this.

I broke from the counter, and based on pure faith and a century old reputation, I picked up a tin of fruit-laden Texas tradition and walked slowly to the check-out. 

Today as I wait patiently for the family Christmas dinner in a few short days I wonder, will this fruitcake from Collin Street Bakery become a tradition in my home? Maybe so, but if not I sure have a lot of other choices at the old bakery to work with and I have no problem giving each of them a try.

You’ve got to love Christmastime in small town Texas. From Orange to El Paso and Brownsville to Amarillo, lights are strung throughout downtown with care, in hopes that the tourist soon would be there. 

Not too far north of Dallas is the town of McKinney. For 31-years the community has staged one “Dickens of a Christmas” and this year I was there to join in the celebration. Though not as large or flamboyant as the famed Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, McKinney still throws a great holiday party on the Square every Thanksgiving weekend.

The gray sky, crisp temps and steady breeze added to the Victorian era theme of the decorated downtown.  As we strolled the 12-block historic district we noticed that “A Christmas Carol” was being performed at McKinney Performing Arts Center inside the old courthouse. Nearby, Santa was listening closely to a young boy as the child confirmed that he had been good all year long and that an X-Box would be the perfect gift to find under the tree this Christmas.

At the corner of Tennessee Street and Virginia two women dressed in their Victorian best posed for a photo. “Make it quick”, one said as the cold wind whipped beneath her dress. They were heading inside for hot tea and cookies.

All around us families walked together, talked together, and experienced quality time together as if traveling with the Ghost of Christmas Past to time long ago. There was caroling on one street corner and hand bells on another. The Victorian magic show befuddled a group of kids as their parents stood back with their cups of hot coffee and tea.

Out front of the historic Grand Hotel McKinney was a garland wrapped karaoke stage where youngsters took turns singing loud and out-of-tune renditions of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells. But, no one cared that they weren’t pitch perfect. It was Christmastime in McKinney and everyone was having fun.

The restaurants and shops around the Square were in full holiday mode. There were festive decorations both inside and out. The original Panty Restaurant was filled with festival goers at lunchtime looking for a ho-ho-home-cooked meal. I had the Blue Plate Special . . . a large portion of meat loaf with hot mashed potatoes and a bowl of beans. It was mighty fine on this blustery day in north Texas.

This is what Christmas in small town Texas is - happy faces, greeting everyone with a wave or a friendly nod, spending time with the family and joining in a tune or two celebrating the real reason for the season.  

Don’t even consider being a Scrooge if you’re coming to McKinney at Christmas. Bah humbugs are not allowed.  

Be sure to visit TourTexas.com for a complete list of Christmas festivals and celebrations throughout Texas.








  Michael Baxter is the Texas Travelin' Man


Always visit TourTexas.com for the latest Texas Travel information, travel guides and Texas brochures.

It’s parade season. Multi-million dollar productions in New York City, Anaheim and elsewhere around the country fill the holidays and our television screens with glitz and pageantry.

But, despite their uber budgets – ask a Hill Country German if you need a definition - those nationally televised events can’t compete in spirit and pride with the productions staged in small town Texas.

Earlier this fall I stood elbow-to-elbow with thousands of spectators along the curb at the Gillespie County Parade in Fredericksburg and the annual Holiday Parade in Tomball.  The excitement and anticipation in the air was as thick as the oak and pecan-infused smoke at the Salt Lick around lunch time.

A jacked up, tricked out F-150 with a local beauty queen, sponsored by a neighborhood florist, and wrapped in yellow roses and tinsel streamers is every bit as special to a small community as a two story fairy tale float on 34^th Street in the Big Apple.

The pride of the local high school band, smartly dressed in its performance garb and marching to the beat of a precision drum line is contagious. There are the old military vehicles sporting the red, white and blue and carrying veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam as ROTC units march in step nearby.

In Fredericksburg there was a canopied flatbed trailer filled with seniors rocking back and forth while waving to the crowd. In Tomball it was a Camaro convertible with the recently crowned Mrs. Senior Assisted Living surrounded by her great grandkids.

The distinctly different sirens of a 70-year-old unit and a state-of-the-art fire engine wailed in harmony as they rolled down the flagged boulevard. Men and boys removed their well-worn caps and western hats each time Old Glory passed by. Young girls cringed and giggled when the horses “pooped” on the asphalt.

Wide-eyed kids found it hard to focus on any one element of the procession. Cowboys on horseback to the left were competing with colorful clowns on motor scooters to the right. An Uncle Sam on stilts loped along the yellow stripe on Main Street in Tomball. Antique tractors and hand-pulled red wagons toting costumed farm dogs rolled by in the “Burg”. It was eye candy for all ages and it was all Texas.

Big city parades may have their high flying helium filled cartoon characters, heart-throb celebrities and rose covered rolling wonderlands, but they will never have the down home authenticity of a locally owned parade. It’s a spectacle of community pride. It’s small town Texas and I’ll take that over big city pomp any day.

Ghost sightings are nothing unusual in San Antonio. The downtown is filled with “spirited spots” said to be the favorite haunts of the departed.

With all the carnage surrounding the siege of the Alamo in 1836 it should be no surprise that the historic site and the city blocks surrounding it are said to be loaded with paranormal activity. Add to that natural deaths in the years to follow and you have the perfect scenario for specters and spooks near the Riverwalk.

The beautiful Menger Hotel is reported to be among the most haunted of San Antonio’s historic downtown locations. Directly across the street from the Alamo and built on the site of Texas’ first brewery, the Menger Hotel opened for business in 1859. From President Theodore Roosevelt to baseball great Babe Ruth, the Menger continues to provide a nostalgic place of rest for the living  . . . and the dead.

My friend Jo Cox spent many years working in San Antonio’s hospitality industry. From the legendary St. Anthony to the Crockett Hotel, and other properties, she says the Menger still ranks at the top when it comes to things that go bump in the night.

There is the story of ghostly hotel chambermaid who was murdered by her husband. Sallie White was so loved by the hotel staff that they paid for her funeral, and out of apparent gratitude she is said to still roam the halls of the Victorian wing of the Menger late at night attempting to continue her assigned housekeeping duties.

The spirit of a woman wearing a blue dress and small, metal spectacles is often seen knitting in the old lobby. It is said that she appears to be an “intelligent” haunting, and actually rude to anyone when spoken to.

Tales of the ghost of King Ranch founder Captain Richard King persist to this day. King spent the last days of his life in his suite at the Menger and his funeral was held in the parlor there. Many employees and guests have said that the spirit of Captain King simply drifts in and out of his former suite without regard for walls and closed doors.

On occasion items have moved on their own or “floated” in mid air, and for years staff and guests have reported hearing voices and laughter when there is no viable explanation. As my friend Jo once told me, the Menger Hotel is the place for a supernatural stay in the Alamo City.

By day the City of Tomball, 25-miles northwest of Houston, is filled with thriving antique and specialty shops, mom-and-pop eateries, entertainment and a quality of life that makes living in a small town special.

Despite the lively daytime activities here and in communities just a short drive away, it’s rumored that after dark the surrounding countryside is filled with a nightlife better suited for those who have crossed over. No, not into Montgomery County . . . those who have passed away, yet feel the need to remain in Tomball.

THE MUSEUM MYSTERY

Nestled in the heart of the popular Tomball Museum Center with its historic homes, log cabin, church, one-room school house and farm museum is the Griffin Memorial House.

Built about 1860 by Eugene Pillot, a renowned builder along the Texas Gulf Coast, the Griffin House is a beautifully restored example of Civil War era architecture complete with its own apparition in the attic.

Museum Director, Charles Hall shared with me the story of a female spirit in the Griffin House that has circulated for years. As the story goes the figure of a woman dressed in period clothing has been seen in the upper reaches of the home and more than once rocking quietly back and forth in her rocking chair in the parlor.

The ghost is thought to be the 21-year-old daughter of the Faris family who once lived in the home. The mysterious cause of the young woman’s death has never been determined.

SPRING CREEK SPECTERS

During the Civil War a Confederate powder mill sat in what is now Spring Creek Park, just a short drive from downtown Tomball. It was there Texans loyal to the Confederacy worked around the clock making cannon powder for the rebel army’s artillery pieces.

In 1864 a horrific explosion destroyed the facility killing three men working there. The force of the blast was so great that a huge crater was created that over time filled with water and became a popular swimming hole for locals.

Despite rumors of spirits at the pond and in the surrounding woods, the lure of the cool dark water continued to draw swimmers to the powder mill site willing to risk a ghostly encounter for a quick dip. Unfortunately for some that decision ended in their death. After several curious drownings the powder mill pond was fenced, but the rumors remain even today among park-goers and overnight campers.

A paranormal investigation was conducted at Spring Creek Park in 2008 with results showing evidence of unexplained responses to questioning, shadowy images and psychic impressions. Could these have been the spirits of deceased soldiers of the Confederacy, drowning victims or possibly both?

GRAVEYARD GOTCHA

Historic old cemeteries surround Tomball. From the Pillot plots and the Salem Lutheran Church cemetery, to the Magnolia’s community cemetery and others in Klein and Spring, exploring the final resting places of founding fathers and mothers can be an adventure . . . especially after dark.

A story circulated on the Internet involves the Dowdell cemetery just east of downtown Tomball on FM 2920. It’s said that a group of friends looking for a graveyard “gotcha” parked their car outside the locked gate of the cemetery late one night.

It wasn’t long before they heard the sound of approaching footsteps through the open windows. As the sound grew louder the group peered into the darkness but saw nothing. The sound continued to “walk”around the car, pausing at the rear, then slowly move away into the night.

Minutes later, as they sat there talking about their creepy encounter, a green light flashed through the cemetery and the chained gate began to rattle on its own. The terrified group drove back into Tomball and later that night found unexplained handprints in the dust on the back window of their hatchback.

The days around Halloween tend to make one wonder a bit more about things that go bump in the night; things to be explored after dark, or better yet, left alone. Welcome to Tomball, y’all.

For years the Mernard House at 33rd Street and Avenue N 1/2 has been known as "the" haunted house of Galveston.

Built in 1838, the home of Michael Mernard - one of the original signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, sat empty for many years with its windows boarded shut. The imposing oaks surrounding the mansion only added to its eerie appearance. In fact, long time Islanders such as my old friend Sheila Lidstone still talk about crossing the street as kids in order to avoid passing directly in front of the "creepy" old house. Like Ashton Villa, Mernard House is today one of Galveston's most beautifully restored historic homes with rumors of its own resident ghost.

According to local legend, well before the Civil War the Mernard House was the site of Galveston's first ever Mardi Gras Ball. At midnight a young woman tripped on the front hall stairway, fell and broke her neck.

For years that followed on Mardi Gras night, Mernard's slaves were said to have seen the ghost of the young woman standing on the stairs. It is not known for sure who the young woman was, but it is believed to be Mernard's daughter, Clara, who reportedly died in her teens.

Another ghostly tale of Galveston Island . . .
 





  Michael Baxter is the Texas Travelin' Man

Always use TourTexas.com for Texas City Maps, Texas Brochures, Family Vacations in Texas and more...

A short drive up the coast from Corpus Christi are the communities of Rockport and Fulton.

I had driven through several times over the years, but on this particular day I decided to stop and see what it was that many of my friends found so endearing about this part of Texas.

Sure, being on the Texas Gulf Coast in itself was a plus, but there had to be more. There had to be something else that draws guests by the thousands  . . . it didn’t take me long to find out why.

We came into Rockport down a drive of eclectic shops, restaurants and art galleries. The pastel colors, shingle signs, and wall murals were what you might expect from a quirky coastal community.

 My favorite wall art was a faded advertisement for The Cool Coast Camp. An almost folk art image of what appeared to be a giant sawfish was painted on a building along with a notation of its 17-foot length, 6 ½ foot width and 2,000 lbs. weight. To the side it read free admission, and at the bottom was brushed, “Hamburgers and Ice Cream”. I love this stuff!

Our next stop was the marina with row after row of gulf worthy vessels, some with masts, others without, but all really cool for a guy who has spend very little time on the water. Nearby were the public beach and the Texas Maritime Museum. A boater told me that the Museum was the site of the annual Rockport Festival of Wine & Food, and was filled with stories about the rich maritime history of Texas. He had me at wine and food.

From there my Texas Travelin’ Gal and I drove over to the neighboring community of Fulton with its resort-style homes and hidden getaways. It was there that we happened upon the incredible Fulton Mansion, completed in 1877. 

With an architectural design reminiscent of the Addams Family with a Texas flare, the Fulton Mansion offers a rare glimpse into the posh Victorian world of a prominent South Texas family during the days when central heating, interior gas lighting and flush toilets were a novelty here.

From birding and fishing, to shopping for art treasures, or just relaxing in the salty breeze, I now have a better understanding of why my buddies like this part of the state. The Rockport/Fulton area is now on my list of places to spend more time when traveling along the south Texas coast on Texas 35.

It has sat quietly along Highway 237 between Warrenton and Round Top for more than a century - a tiny sanctuary for reviving the soul and praising the Lord.

At just over 250 square feet, Saint Martin’s is said to be the World’s smallest Catholic Church. The simple white frame structure is home to an equally small congregation that meets there for Mass once a month.

From the hardwood floor - worn smoothed from years of wear, and twelve small bench pews, to the exposed roof beams and traditional bell steeple above, this pint sized house of worship may be simple in construction, but it’s filled with the Spirit.

On either side of the ornate gold and white painted alter are iconic symbols Catholicism: the Virgin Mary, Christ and a Crucifix, and a large oil painting of St. Martin – Patron Saint of soldiers. There are vases of fresh and silk flowers, and framed words of wisdom.

A hand-written note lay on the Alter – an open letter to God. Though short on words, the message was strong. “Almighty Father. Empower the Holy Spirit to help us with decisions that we have to make at this time. Sweet Jesus, give strength to our daughter and her family to cope with having a very special daughter, our RETT ANGEL. Thank you Lord for all you have given us, especially our children.”

TOUR TEXAS: Whiskey. Steaks. Whiskey. Steaks.

I’ve made the Josephine Street Café in San Antonio a regular stop for more than 25-years. It’s the kind of place that locals flock to every day and tourists happen upon by accident or on the recommendation of someone who knows good food.

I can remember twenty-five years ago asking the concierge at the Hilton Riverwalk where I might find a good restaurant where the locals eat. He told me to go out of the driveway, then down Broadway, take a left at the Pearl Brewery and look for the flashing signs that read “Whiskey, Steaks, Whiskey, Steaks” . . . he added “park under the freeway and order the steak”.

Since that first outing little has changed at the Josephine Street Café and I wouldn’t visit the Alamo City without a steak and Shiner Bock in a corner booth there.

On this trip a buddy and I settled in around sunset. I didn’t even have to look at the menu. It was the 16 oz. T-bone steak with mashed potatoes, white gravy and a single, large onion ring that spoke to me.

Regular customers and first-timers continued to come and go on the well worn hardwood floor as classic county music played overhead. The old wooden bar along one wall was busy with orders for Texas craft beers, Budweiser and mixed drinks. A waitress patiently waited behind the tree that pierces the dining room floor and ceiling, while a group of customers made their way to their table.

I really love this place. It’s like Cheers with history. From the wait staff to the customers, Texas friendly is the norm and the food is consistently the primary reason for coming.

My steak, topped with seasoned butter, was done just right, and went down great with the ice cold Texas beer from the little brewery about two hours to the east of San Antonio.

My friend and I talked about this and that, watched the diners as they enjoyed their meals, and laughed at the passing convertible party bus decorated with Lone Star and Schlitz beer signs. It was a great night to be in San Antonio.

That’s when our waitress suggested the “best apple pie and ice cream in the entire state of Texas”… come on, who could pass that up? Not me.

Several minutes later the large slice of homemade apple pie with an equally large scoop of Bluebell vanilla was set down on our table. It was awe inspiring . . . a sugary golden crust over cinnamon laced baked apples, and a layer of melting Texas tradition.

The Josephine Street Café is San Antonio. It’s one of those places where the locals congregate to have a good time over a great meal or a brew or two. It’s my go-to place when passing through and I can’t wait to try the ribeye on my next trip to town. I might even have another slice of apple pie.

Fall in Texas. Sometimes it’s cool, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes there’s color in the leaves, and other times no so much. This year it’s been a lot like the scorching, dry summer that has preceded it. But despite what nature may serve up in any given year, fall in Texas is legendary for two things . . . football and the tailgate parties that come before the action on the field.

From the Pros to college, and high school to youth leagues, tailgating is a statement. It’s an art. It’s the opportunity to experience a shared interest with a few friends or a few hundred. It’s a serious part of fall football and no one does it better than Texas.

An Aggie by marriage, I was invited to make the trip to College Station recently to watch the SMU Mustangs go head-to-head with Texas A&M. I had never been to a game at Kyle Field so I was really looking forward to the contest.  

Dressed in my recently purchased maroon and white, I was ready for the game, but not for all the pre-game parties that I found clustered throughout the campus. It was the sort of thing that I had heard about from die-hard fans for years, but not even my fertile imagination would have done justice to the real thing.

Row after row of Aggie logoed pop-up tents cozied up to motor homes, folding chairs, ice chests, smokers and barbecue pits fired by Kingsford charcoal or 12-inch splits of hardwood. I’m sure that there were some Hank Hill propane aficionados somewhere, but they were well hidden from the purists among the shrubs and pick-ups.

I joined a group of Aggie tailgaters, not be confused with LSU “tailgators”, in a parking lot several long blocks from Kyle Field for a bit of pre-game revelry prior to kick-off.  The “Saw-em-Off Rangers” were a blend of alums, current students, family and friends brought together for an evening of football frenzy. Some had game tickets, while others would cheer their team on gather around the large flat-screen TV attached to the rear of the massive maroon and white tailgater trailer.

With the smell of smoke and barbecue from surrounding parties in the air, pans of well-seasoned beef and chicken fajitas were set out on our tables along with warm tortillas, guacamole, pico and more. Homemade desserts like chocolate iced Rice Krispy Treats and Jamie’s Whoop Pies – maroon-colored red velvet delights with sweet sour cream icing between the muffin top layers – provided a balance.

Large chests filled with iced cans of the official beverage of Texas were bottomless, as was the camaraderie. Washers were tossed at holes in plywood game squares much like horseshoes at posts. Footballs were flung overhead and maroon porta-potties soon filled to capacity. It was a great day to be on the campus of Texas A&M University.

Football season in Texas is short lived, but its long standing traditions live on. The rivalries are fierce and time spent together at the tailgate party deepens old friendships and creates new ones.

 If nothing more, grab a bucket of spicy wings, a six-pack of Shiner 102 and a buddy, drop the tailgate on your pick up or set a card table in the driveway, then crank up a game on the radio . . . It’s how we celebrate here. It’s football season in Texas.










  Michael Baxter is the Texas Travelin' Man

Always check TourTexas.com for Texas Tourist Information, Texas Travel Guides, Family Vacations and more.

In 1984, Vernon and Mary Bowers opened Kuntry Katfish with just ten tables and seating for forty. Today the Conroe landmark on Highway 105 has grown to three simply decorated dining rooms filled with catfish connoisseurs seven days a week.

I could have had a fried shrimp platter, frog legs or crawfish etouffe. I could have filled up on chicken fried steak with cream gravy or a half-pound Kuntry burger. But, when you venture beyond the end of your driveway to an eatery with the word “Katfish” in its name, you order the catfish.
 

I’ve eaten at Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish before, so I waited in mouth watering anticipation for the first course – a plate filled with hot southern hushpuppies fresh from the fryer and a bowl of signature pickled green tomato relish. . . oh, baby! 

The combination of those hot, crispy fried cornbread balls and the sweet and spicy tang of relish conjured up images of fishin’ poles and lazy green rivers, while “Mountain Music” by the band Alabama wafted from the speakers overhead.

When my order arrived I took a moment to enjoy the aroma and the presentation before me.  Five large, corn meal crusted catfish fillets were fried to golden perfection and stacked on a mound of homemade, skin-on fries. The freshly made tartar sauce only delivered more hits of deep south memories of my kidhood. As on previous visits to Vernon’s, my greasy fingers and I were lovin’ it.

Bite after bite soon made me realize that once the plate had been emptied there would be no room Vernon’s signature desserts. I love the homemade banana pudding, pecan cobbler, and brownies with ice cream, but this was the right decision for this particular visit. Catfish had brought me here and I would leave with the taste of catfish on my lips.

There are lots of good catfish restaurants across Texas. Mel’s in Tomball, Catfish Charlie’s in Corpus Christi, and the Clear Springs Restaurant in New Braunfels top my list. But today I was satisfied with the hushpuppies, tomato relish and tasty fillets that I found in Conroe, Texas.

Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish is at 5901 Old Highway 105 W. in Conroe. Visit www.kuntrykatfish.com for a look at the menu. 

   

The Busy Bee Café sits alongside the railroad tracks in old Pearland. Though the building looks relatively new, a sign over the door reads, “A Texas Tradition Since 1935”.

We found the Busy Bee Café by accident while cruising through Pearland looking for cool “stuff” to write about for this blog, and as is often the case . . . it just “spoke to me”. “Hey buddy . . . yeah, you in the red pickup. Try me out. You’re gonna like it!”

My wife called the surroundings cute. Straight-back wooden chairs at café-style tables beneath an open ceiling, and giant Lone Stars and Texas memorabilia hung on the walls. The hand-dipped Dreyer’s ice cream station at the counter was an unexpected surprise. That’s when the café spoke to her, “Hey lady . . . yes you with the old guy on a mission. Try me out. You’re gonna like it.”

There was an awesome list of Texas-style comfort foods surrounded by local advertising from front to back in the brown paper menu. An ad for Long’s Auto Repair and Wrecker Service was posted above the heading BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY, and smaller spots for Studio Five Eighteen Salon and Right Price Movers were paired with the list of  thirteen burgers and sandwiches, and five poor boy combinations … all “served with fries or chips”. I was going to like this place.

The waitress was small town friendly and offered suggestions from the fried catfish and baked potato stuffed with taco meat or barbecue beef, to homemade meatloaf and smothered chicken. But today was one of those days when you have to say to yourself . . . let’s do it.

I ordered the house specialty - chicken fried steak with white gravy. My sides were fried okra and fried green tomatoes, and the most incredible homemade corn casserole that I had ever eaten . . . ever. The top was crispy, it was filled with giant kernels of whole corn, and the flavor . . . it was oh, so tasty. Just like grandma never used to make.

Stuffed with the entrees we only sampled the old-style cornbread and rolls, but did take a couple of containers filled with blackberry cobbler for the road. Hours later they were still amazing.

If the Busy Bee Café has been serving meals like this for more than 70-years, it’s no wonder why it’s been a Texas tradition since 1935. It will no doubt become a tradition for me when traveling through Pearland in the days ahead. It spoke to me.  It said, “You’re gonna like it,” and it was right.

The Busy Bee Café is at 4009 West Broadway in Pearland, Texas 77581. Call ahead at 281-485-8690.

The beach has a special lure that keeps drawing me there. Maybe it’s the laid back nature of it all. Maybe it’s the constant sound of waves lapping against the shoreline or the gulls hovering overhead hoping for a quick snack on the wing. Or, maybe it’s the way that I can just close my eyes, draw a deep a breath of salty air and imagine that I’m far away from any responsibilities and deadlines.

The miles and miles of coastal Texas attract visitors by the millions every year for good reason. Though not always the picture perfect destinations profiled in Conde' Nast Traveler, the beaches and communities of the “third coast” have a character of their own. They are what they are and that’s plenty good for most.

Galveston Island has history. Its beaches were once shared by the notorious pirate Jean La Fitte and the native Karankawa tribe. Crooner Frank Sinatra played the piered Balinese Room that stretched 600-feet out over the water as gambling in the illegal casino went on in the back . . . until the Texas Rangers put an end to that in the late 1950s.

The beaches in Galveston are fun. Some are free, while others charge a fee. They have been a part of Texas culture since before the days of the Republic and families still migrate there every summer for the sand, the shopping, the food and the adventure. Check out the East Beach and Stewart Beach . . . loads of space and family fun.

Farther down the coast is Padre Island with its rolling dunes and white sand as far as the eye can see. Just a short drive from Corpus Christi, I have spent hours at PI taking in the views, snapping photos and soaking in the solitude . . . if you go deep enough into the National Seashore it’s like a whole ‘nother world where you can be at one with nature and Mother Earth. Uh, sorry . . . a flashback to the ‘60s.

At the southernmost tip of the State you find gulf side getaways like South Padre Island. The beaches there were made for lounging and the water sports are endless. Fishing, boating, windsurfing and other activities fill the day with fun in the sun. A sea life museum, the world famous Schlitterbahn, nature parks and more round out the “do list”, and the local eateries are loaded with fresh seafood to be had.

A getaway to the Texas Gulf coast is something special. For some it’s a seasonal ritual, for others it’s a first time experience with enough memories to fill a five-gallon orange sand pale to overflowing. But, for whatever reason, it’s a trip to be treasured, because the beaches of Texas are “Beachy Keen”.  

I didn’t really know what to expect as I walked into the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville. 

All that I knew about prison life had come from B-movies with titles like “The Big House”, “Caged” and my all time favorite, “Reform School Girls”. Johnny Cash sang about it in his classic tune “Folsom Prison Blues”, lamenting how “I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when . . . ” But the truth is doing time behind bars is something that most of us can’t imagine.

Setting an immediate mood is the lack of color inside the museum. Exhibits are sandwiched between a gray concrete floor and the black ceiling high above. Many of the display cases are done in the same simple scheme, while others are wrapped in “brick” for an added splash of authenticity.

The men were all drawn to a display of weapons issued to Texas prison guards over the years. There was a Thompson sub-machine gun with a round drum magazine, a variety of shotguns and a “gas gun” used to lob tear gas canisters into groups of unruly inmates.

Kids seemed to most enjoy the colorful memorabilia from the world famous Texas Prison Rodeo encased behind glass and chain link fencing. Held from 1931 until 1986, the Texas Prison Rodeo was dubbed “The Wildest Rodeo in Texas” and featured traditional rodeo events with inmate “cowboys” riding the bulls and broncs. Performers such as Tammy Wynette and George Jones, Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker were regulars every October in the Rodeo’s heyday.

The women couldn’t help but pose for photos behind the bars of a replica prison cell with its bunk bed and stainless steel “facilities”. With both hands gripping the bars the faux felons would consistently smile for the camera in the first shot and then change expression to a “woe is me” look for a second.

On display was a nickel-plated 1911-style pistol taken from the Bonnie and Clyde “death car”, along with discolored newspapers recounting the events in which the notorious duo was ambushed and killed on May 23, 1934 on a Louisiana back road.

“Last Statement”, an artistic photo exhibit of black and white images and text by Barbara Sloan and Kelly Prew, chronicles the impact of murder and execution, and how those actions affect families and friends on both sides – the victim and the convicted.

Some of the last statements profiled express sorrow, while others talk about regrets, or ask for forgiveness. On the other hand there are several that offer nothing but contempt for the system. Johnny Frank Garrett was executed on February 11, 1992 for the murder of a 76-year-old nun named Sister Tadea Benz. In his last statement Garrett thanked his family for loving him and then told the rest of the world to “kiss my ass!”  

By far the star atrraction was Old Sparky, the Texas electric chair used to execute 361 prisoners between 1924 and 1964. Displayed in a dimly lit “death chamber”, Old Sparky glowed beneath a single accent spot light. It was easy to imagine why death row cons sent to Old Sparky were said to be “Riding the Thunderbolt.”

Where there had been much chatter in other parts of the museum, an unexpected quiet surrounded Old Sparky. I think everyone who stepped up for a look realized at that moment that this simple straight-backed wooden chair had ended many lives over the years. No one spoke, and no jokes or comments were made. The only sound was the clicking of camera shutters as visitors paused to ponder. 

The Texas Prison Museum is thought provoking and presents a piece of Texas history that, though not always pleasant, is real. It’s about life and death. It’s a must see stop when in Huntsville. 

For Texas travel information about real Lone Star destinations and more, always visit tourtexas.com

The Texas Prison Museum is at 491 Hwy 75 North in Huntsville, Texas. Call (936) 295-2155  or visit www.txprisonmuseum.org

Vacationing with the family in the 1950s was a lot different from today. I remember rolling along two-lane highways in our white over turquoise Ford Fairlane while singing to rock and roll tunes on the AM radio. Our air conditioning was called 4-40 . . . that’s all four windows rolled down at 40 mile per hour. 

Bathroom breaks were on the roadside or the occasional small town along the route, and oh how we looked forward to the big billboards featuring images of pecan nut logs that read, “Stuckey’s . . . 100 miles”, “Stuckey’s . . . 99 miles”, “Stuckey’s . . . “. It was a great time to travel.

A part of the adventure in those days was where you spent the night. Would the motel have a flashy neon marquee and a pool with green water or would the restaurant serve French toast with powdered sugar. Would the room smell like your grandma’s musty old closet, or would a roach the size of Zippo run across the ceiling after lights out? You never knew what to expect.

About 60 miles southwest of Houston in the laid back community of Wharton is a nostalgic tribute to those days long past. It’s the sort of place that many of may remember, but probably didn’t have the opportunity to stay in. It’s an old-style roadside motel with just ten units lined in a row like ten little Indians; after all this is the Tee Pee Motel.

Originally built in the early 1940s just off of what is now Highway 59, the Tee Pee Motel is the ultimate throw back to another time and has become a regional landmark. I had driven past it for years, but on this day decided to stop in for look. 

As I cruised by the towering arrows that dot the closely cut lawn I flashed back to when I was a kid. And, though I never stayed in one, I remembered seeing similarly painted concrete tee pees while on family vacations and in Travelogs.

The motel staff was friendly and jumped at the chance to show me what the interior of a modern day tourist tee pee looks like. I’m sure that Native Americans never traveled with free Wi-Fi access, cable TV, microwave, refrigerator and a coffee maker. Poor them. Lucky us.

The décor was nothing fancy, but the room was clean and smelled fresh . . . nothing like the buffalo hide and campfire smoke of the earlier models. Earth tone colors and Indian patterns filled the room. It was the kind of old skool getaway that folks should experience at least once in a lifetime if only to say that they had slept in a true blast from the past. 

After more than 70- years the Tee Pee Motel is one of only four original tee pee-style properties remaining in America, and it’s the only such lodge in Texas. It’s an icon from a simpler time. It’s the kind of place where I should have dozed off clutching my Red Rider with dreams of Roy and Dale. Maybe it’s not too late pardner. We’ll see.

It had been three years since my last visit to the Chicken Oil Co., and today I had the urge for a Texas burger and a brew.

The Chicken Oil Co. opened in Bryan as a gas station and burger shop in 1977. Since then it has stopped selling gas, and has become one of the coolest eateries in Texas.

On the well-worn hard wood floor I stood side-by-side with twentysomething other customers, a six-foot-tall cigar store Indian and a classic Seeburg “Select-o-matic” juke box waiting to place my order. Behind the counter Jessica was offering advice to a family of first timers who all decided on the quarter pound Snuffy Burger Special with a Coke and fries – the C.O.C.’s most popular menu item.

My turn at the counter came just as Willie and Waylon began pleading, “Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys” from speakers hidden among the exposed beams high above.  Knowing that quarter pound Snuffy burgers were for beginners I stepped forward and with authority in my voice ordered the loaded half-pound Snuffy with cheese and jalapenos, fries and a Shiner Bock. It just don’t get any better than that.

I took a seat at one of the many rustic-style tables with an assortment of initials and phrases carved into its surface. Above me on a wall was a display of 350 old beer cans from breweries such as Blatz’s, Pearl, Black Label, Dixie and Gilley’s.

Oil and beer signs hung from the ceiling and along the walls in every direction. A winged Pegasus of the Mobile Oil Company and the Sinclair Dino stood out from the other more mundane gasoline placards, while as expected Lone Star and Shiner neons lit the room in a soft glow.

Riding the ceiling beams were rows of worn out western saddles sharing space with a menagerie of mounted sailfish, bears, ducks, deer and moose. It’s like the Smithsonian Institute of Texas with country music, cheeseburgers and beer.

My name was called and I picked up my order. A half pound Snuffy burger is something to savor, so I took my time unwrapping the crisp white paper surrounding the meal that I had driven more than 100 miles to eat. It was hot and juicy. The combination of cheese, mustard and mayo, diced onions and spicy peppers on the fresh bun completed the presentation.

More and more customers filled the dining room as Willie broke into “Georgia On My Mind” from the speakers at the tin ceiling above the saddles, and I dug in to my side of Texas-style fries. It was a meal to brag about to your buddies back home, and one that I will definitely enjoy again the next time I pass through Bryan.

Bon Appetit Pardner!

For Texas travel information about real Lone Star destinations and more, always visit tourtexas.com

Visit the Chicken Oil Ranch at 3600 S College Ave, Bryan, TX 77801, or call (979) 846-3306. On the web it’s at dixiechicken.com/articles/chicken_oil_co.

Most sports fans are familiar with their names. Astros. Rangers. If you’re a newcomer to Texas maybe your favorite team is a Brave or Cardinal.

Though Big League games are filled with big name players that fans of baseball love to watch, honestly it’s the Minor Leagues where the real fun is found simply because of its small town nature, promotional antics and grassroots fan base. It’s baseball the way it used to be.

From the Hooks at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi and the Air Hogs in Grand Prairie, to the Missions in San Antonio and the soon to play Skeeters in Sugar Land, Minor League baseball is flat out fun.

A few years back my wife and I took in a game at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. At that time the Round Rock Express was home to the Triple-A farm team for the Houston Astros. Talents such as pitcher Roy Oswalt and outfielder Hunter Pence had passed through that franchise on their way to the “Bigs” in Houston.

The ballpark is first class with turf to rival any major league field and thousands of green seats . . . it was a sea of green from the mound to the press box. Foul ball dinged brushed aluminum panels lined the walls of the upper deck, and there was seating for hundreds more on the grassy outfield berm beyond the fence and in the glass-faced box seats for fans with connections.

We had paid the mind-boggling low price of $12.00 a ticket for two great seats behind the home team dugout along the first base line. It was a perfect night for baseball in central Texas, and as the sun set one could feel the excitement; the excitement of small town baseball being played by young guys hoping to make their childhood dream come true.

As we sat there in the stands among hundreds of retirees, school kids, families and UT Longhorns from the University of Texas, we had expected to see a great game, but never imagined that we’d soon become a part of Minor League baseball history.

The game was close as the Nashville Sound’s young pitcher Manny Parra pitched his game. Strike outs, ground outs, and fly outs continued to mount, inning after inning until the last history making pitch.

The local newspaper reported it like this: “ROUND ROCK – He’s been good all season, but on Monday Manny Parra was perfect. The 24-year-old from Sacramento retired all 27 batters he faced in Nashville’s 3-0 victory over Round Rock, completing the eighth perfect game in Pacific Coast League history in just his second Triple-A start.”

In the bottom of the 9^th inning Parra clearly had Round Rock fans in his corner. With each pitch they cheered, with each out the anticipation grew . . . imagine a perfect game. One out . . . it couldn’t have be scripted any better. Two outs . . . everyone was on their feet shouting encouragement to an opposing pitcher. Then came the pitch to clinch the game. A pop-up to second base and it was done.

Parra leaped from the mound into a bear hug from his catcher as the rest of the Nashville Sound piled on, bouncing in unison like some giant uniformed mass of caps and cleats. The cheers and applause of the appreciative Texans in the stands continued to grow as the celebration on the field went on.

At some point Parra realized that the fans of the Round Rock Express were not leaving, but were in fact giving him the sort of thunderous ovation normally reserved for a hometown hero. It was then that the true quality of a professional shown through. Manny Parry stepped out from among his teammates and raised his cap to the crowd in sincere appreciation.

There was jubilation between the baselines and in the stands as the young pitcher shared his accomplishment with everyone at Dell Diamond that night. As we walked to the car the last image that I saw on the giant centerfield screen was Parra signing autographs for young wannabes with big league dreams of their own.

Manny Parra went on to the Majors the next season and today pitches for the Milwaukee Brewers. Others who played that night, such as Houston Astros’ catcher Umberto Quintero, also made it to the “Game”. And, for those of us in the stands, we’ll always remember the excitement and the enthusiasm of a 24-year-old ball player who for nine innings in the Minors was Pitcher Perfect.