Family Vacations Texas

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.

• 4 admission tickets to the State Fair of Texas; and
• 2 night stay in a 1 bedroom suite at the Candlewood Suites Plano in Plano, Texas (space is subject to availability, and must be used during the dates of the 2010 State Fair of Texas).

• My first choice was a Hilton brand hotel, but their rates were not what I wanted.
• My second choice was a Marriott brand hotel and I found one that fit the bill. The Springhill Suites by Marriott, Medical Center, Six Flags. The rate was $89/night for a suite with complimentary hot continental breakfast (make your own waffles), indoor (small) pool, free local calls and free internet. It’s located on I-10 just 10 minutes from Six Flags, 25 minutes from SeaWorld, 20 minutes from downtown and 35 minutes from Natural Bridge Caverns. This is a limited service hotel, and there were some challenges with housekeeping (but now-a-days with limited staffing, many hotels have the same problems). That being said, the hotel is one of the newer ones, the suites were very spacious, clean and I would return.

General Info

Park Hours:
July: Sun-Fri 10 am – 9 pm; Sat 10 am – 10 pm

August: Hours vary and park is closed on certain dates. Click Park Hours above for specific dates.

Lost Lagoon Hours:

July: Sun – Fri 11 am – 7 pm; Sat 11 am – 8 pm

August: Hours vary. Click Lost Lagoon above for specific times

Here’s how to enjoy SeaWorld San Antonio as if you owned the place.

1.      Buy your admission ticket in advance. Several different options.

The best option for families is to buy a full price adult admission ticket for $58.99 and a $5.00 Child's ticket (3-12 yrs) http://www.seaworldcares.com/ This is a great way to help Wildlife Conservation.

2.      Purchase a “Quick Queue” Pass.

Just show your pass to the staff at any of the rides and he or she will let you go in the side entrance by passing the line. You can only go thru once on most of the rides. The cost is $15.00 per person. Make sure your child meets the height requirements for the rides before you pay for the QQ . The QQ will allow you to maximize your visit, see so much more, and you will avoid hearing your children say” I’m hot, and bored. How much longer? When I was there last, waits were anywhere from 45 minutes to 1:15 minutes.

3.      All Day Dining wrist band.
This will allow you to eat as much as you want from the six restaurants. Now there is a limit each time you go thru, but you can go thru as many times as you want. You can also just get a drink, or a bottled water at any of the restaurants as well. TIP> Eat during show times and at off hours if possible. Lines will be shorter. Also if you are just getting a bottled drink, you can go in past the cashier, go to the cooler, take your drink, show the cashier your wrist band and you are on your way. Just to give you an idea of the food prices. An average adult meal will cost around $15-$20 and an average child’s meal will cost around $8.00.

Strollers/Wheelchairs

You can bring your own, but SeaWorld San Antonio has plenty to rent.

Bringing Food/Beverage into SWSA

SWSA allows certain items in the park. Please click above for specifics.

Parking $15.00. You can upgrade to preferred parking for $5 more.

What happens if it rains.

You’ll get wet. You’ll dry off. Click the link above to find out exactly what the policy is.

Map

After you enter the park there are maps all over the place. You must have a map for several reasons. First so you know how to get to where you want to go. It also shows you the times of the shows, what the shows are all about, and where the restaurants are.

Shows

All the shows are good, but their newest show, Azul, is not to be missed. I saw it in the afternoon, but I hear that the evening show is even more spectacular. Make sure you get there earlier than the published start time to get a good seat and look for some strange things happening in the audience. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. Other shows have some pre show antics as well.

Restaurants 

Each restaurant is different in theme and food. The most expensive restaurant is Rio Loco Bar-b-que, but if you bought the all day dining plan, who cares. Be patient, some food lines can be long. Food is good quality, fresh and filling. Tip: The Shamu chocolate chip cookies in a Shamu bowl are VERY filling. There are 3 of them, and one is enough. Make sure you have something to wash it down with.

Lockers  To avoid having to carry all your stuff around the park, you can get an all day locker for $14.00 (front entrance or by the Lost Lagoon water park). When you return the key, you get a $5 gift card for merchandise or food. You can also get a onetime use locker for $1. These are located outside of Rio Loco, Texas Splashdown, Happy Harbor, The Great White, Steel Eel, and Journey to Atlantis.

Feeding the animals On your Map (that you get at the entrance) there is a feeding schedule. Here are the costs for feeding:  $6 - tray of fish at Dolphin Cove, $5 - tray of fish at Rocky Point Preserve, and $4 - cup of nectar at Lorikeet Landing. (prices are subject to change). You cannot use your All Day Dining Pass to feed the animals. Sorry.

A couple of valuable tips:

• When you are planning to go to a theme park, always bring a few sandwich plastic zip lock bags. You can place your wallet, cell phone and anything else you don’t want to get wet.
   
• Give your children a coach’s whistle in case they get lost. Put it on a ribbon so they can wear it around their neck. The sound may be annoying, but, you will be able to find them quicker.

Here is the third round of 4th of July events that will light up the Texas skies this year.  If there's one you'd like added, please let us know in the comments.

Austin, TX  http://www.austinsymphony.org/tickets/events/h-e-b-austin-symphony/

The H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert and Fireworks Show. The symphony beginns at 8:30PM with the fireworks beginning at 9:30PM.

Houston, TX  http://www.houstontx.gov/july4/index.html

Freedom Over Texas  4PM – 10PM  Eleanor Tinsley Park at Buffalo Bayou

Four music stages featuring Pat Green, food booths, and a spectacular fireworks display.

McKinney, TX   Historic Downtown McKinney

The day begins with a parade at 1:30 followed by family activities, food booths, music and a fireworks display at 9:45PM.

Instructions on How to Enjoy Fireworks:

1. Lie on your back or raise your head towards the sky
2. Repeat after me:  OOOOOOOOOOOOO; AHHHHHHHHHHH
3. Then repeat several times when appropriate
4. Make sure you don't OOOOOOOOO and AHHHHHHHHH at the wrong time

Here is the second round of 4th of July events around the great state of Texas you may want to visit.
 

Bedford, TX  www.ci.bedford.tx.us

4^th Fest Island Adventure  From 12N – 11PM Music featuring King Creole, food, activities and fireworks at 10PM.

Temple, TX  www.discovertemple.com

Family Fun Fest at Miller Park. The fun begins at 4PM and end around 10:30PM

There’[s plenty of family activities, music, food and crafts and fireworks at 9:30PM

San Antonio, TX  http://www.saparksfoundation.org/calendar.html

Celebration @ Woodlawn Lake Park.   10 AM – 9 PM A fun filled day featuring games, food and musical entertainment and fireworks over Woodlawn Lake Park during the City's official July Fourth Celebration.

Instructions on How to Enjoy Fireworks:

1. Lie on your back or raise your head towards the sky
2. Repeat after me:  OOOOOOOOOOOOO; AHHHHHHHHHHH
3. Then repeat several times when appropriate
4. Make sure you don't OOOOOOOOO and AHHHHHHHHH at the wrong time

Over the next couple of weeks you will find some July 4^th events around the great state of Texas you may want to visit.
 

If you have an event that you feel is not to be missed, let me know so I can let everyone know.

Athens, TX  www.athenstx.org

“Fireworks at the Fishery”  Free 5PM – 10:30PM with fireworks at 9PM

There will be food vendors, music and you can go fishing in their pond.

City of Webster, TX  www.cityofwebster.com

An evening of family fun featuring a Salute to Veterans, bingo, entertainers, inflatable’s, concessions, games, plus free watermelon and snow cones!!! Fireworks at 9:15PM.

Eagle Pass, TX  www.eaglepasstexas.com

Parade begins at 6PM and the celebration begins at Shelby Park from 7PM – 1 AM with Fireworks at 10PM.

Instructions on How to Enjoy Fireworks:

1. Lie on your back or raise your head towards the sky
2. Repeat after me:  OOOOOOOOOOOOO; AHHHHHHHHHHH
3. Then repeat several times when appropriate
4. Make sure you don't OOOOOOOOO and AHHHHHHHHH at the wrong time

If you’re having family over for Thanksgiving here’s a tip:
Prepare dinner the day before, leave the key under the doormat, leave instructions on how to reheat the dinner and get out of town.

There are still some fantastic deals all around Texas whether you leave on Thanksgiving Day or on Black Friday. Even though there will be tens of millions of people on the road, hotel rates are LOW.

Here are some examples:

• Houston hotels near the Galleria are as low as $52.00
• San Antonio hotels near the Riverwalk are as low as $92.00
• Austin hotels near 6^th St are as low as $65.00
• Dallas hotels near Downtown are as low as $55.00
• Galveston hotels are as low as $95.00

These rates come from the Intercontinental Hotels Group site which includes Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and many others. (www.ichotelsgroup.com)

You will be able to find even lower prices by going to your favorite hotels chain website and check there rates. Now here is another tip. After you find the best rate on the chains reservations website, call the hotel and ask if they have a better rate. If you are a Senior, ask for their Senior Rate. If you are a member of AAA, ask for the AAA Rate.

If you travel, please be safe.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving no matter what you do.
 

Stu, The Texas Travellin’ Man

Ps. I’m stuffing my turkey with Chicken Fried Steak, so it will be a real Texas Turkey for the Texas Travellin’ Man.

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 to play the tee pee tourist . . . We’ll see.

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












The Texas Travelin' Man is Michael Baxter