the-texas-travelin-man

This time of year, there's plenty of Halloween fun in Texas. Typical activities involve pumpkin picking and hay rides, costume parties, haunted house attractions, etc.  But I don't like to be typical. 

Some people think of this season as Fall but to me, there's winter, spring, summer and football season.  If there's one thing I love to do besides travel, it's watch a good game. Here in Texas we have two of the best stadiums to do that.  If you're traveling near Houston or Dallas and you can fit a live game into your itinerary, I highly recommend doing so.  But if your travels don't coincide with a home game, do the next best thing and take a stadium tour!

Fans of the powerhouse Texans head out to Reliant Field in Houston to show their support. This place is immense! It sits on 350 acres and consists of Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center, Reliant Astrodome, and Reliant Arena. It was pretty cool getting a behind-the-scenes look into the workings of the stadium and where the team works out and gets ready for a game.  One of the interesting things I learned on the tour is that they remove the field (which is real grass) after every game and store it in another facility. I also enjoyed seeing the differences between the Texans' and the visiting team's locker rooms…talk about home field advantage! Other stops include the Press box, weight room, cafeteria, gift shops and the premium seating areas (which, for a lot of us is the only way we’ll ever get to see them up close!)  Our tour guide also showed us how the stadium’s roof retracts. This way you can enjoy the nice weather outside, or if there’s too much of that famous Houston heat and humidity, the nice weather inside! 

Cowboys’ fans flock to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.  This relatively new football mecca (opened in 2009) is the largest domed stadium in the world and can accommodate 80,000 fans. Again, I’d highly recommend you take a tour if you want to really experience this amazing stadium.  If you can, take the VIP tour as opposed to the self-guided tour. It's $10 more, but really worth it! I had a great guide. He explained in detail everything about the building. A really cool stop was the VIP suite where Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, watches the games. I loved seeing the locker rooms - I could imagine myself as a Dallas Cowboy, getting suited up and ready to take on all challengers! And to add to my fantasy, we even got to walk out onto the field exactly as the Cowboys do, under a long hallway underneath a huge, lit-up Cowboys star on the ceiling!

Another thing I have to mention is the amazing high definition video screen. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen in any other arena. The picture is clearer than my HD-TV at home!  It’s so huge, so you get a spectacular view no matter where you’re sitting.

I highly recommend making a stadium tour part of your trip to the Dallas or Houston area.
 

For more information:

Reliant Stadium tours:  http://reliantpark.com/public-tours

Cowboys Stadium tours: http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/tours/tourInfo.cfm

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I just love spending time in Houston, a great city with its own vibrant energy. There are a ton of things to do and see here and it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our largest city. But, if ya'll are like me, sometimes you just need a break from the urban pace for a while. Well, if you’re in Houston you’re in luck, because there's a restful respite a quick hour's drive west of the city at Texas Ranch Life.

This is where you’ll find the peaceful, quiet setting of Lonesome Pine Ranch, a working ranch that is home to quarter horses, bison, Texas Longhorns, and all sorts of wildlife.You can come up just for the day and do some riding yourself, or you can just chill out, have a beer and watch the resident cowboys do all the work!

If you need a little more time to recharge your batteries, you can do what I did and spend a couple of days here. The Ranch has 8 homes dating back to the 1850’s that you can stay in, all fully restored with modern amenities. I stayed at The Creekside House, and it was great. I especially loved hanging out on the porch in the mornings, drinking my coffee and basking in the beautiful scenery. One morning I had the privilege of seeing a herd of buffalo across the road. Ah yes…now this is Texas!

While you can come to Lonesome Pine just to relax, this cowboy-wannabe wanted to get out and experience some ranch living. With 1800 acres of open-range riding through miles of rolling hills and incredible vistas it was just too amazing an experience to pass up, so Tommy, my beautiful (and patient!) mount and I spent many hours exploring. But as my sore legs and butt will testify, you can easily overdo it when the experience is as spectacular as it is here! And if you do, there are plenty of other things to keep you occupied.  There are wonderful hiking trails, fishing, skeet shooting, you can try your hand at tossing a tomahawk (a lot harder than it looks in the movies!), watch the resident cowboys roping, working cattle, cutting and team penning. Or, you can do nothing at all.

So, the next time you’re in Houston and you need a break from it all, remember the Lonesome Pine Ranch. It may only be a short drive from the big city, but you’ll feel like you're worlds away!

For more information, visit the Texas Ranch Life website.

I have always been fascinated with space, “the final frontier”. As a kid, I followed the voyages of the starship Enterprise, joining Captain Kirk and his crew on many imaginary missions. But my real heroes were the actual space travelers - the NASA astronauts.  When I found out that one of my real heroes, Neil Armstrong (the commander of the Apollo Space mission and the first man to walk on the moon) had passed away recently, I couldn't think of a better way to honor him than by visiting Space Center Houston, the official visitors’ center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Space Center Houston has several interactive exhibits, many of which are geared towards kids, but that doesn't mean they are "childish" -- adults will still find them pretty cool too.  For example, there are simulations that allow you see what it feels like to walk in space or land on the moon. The Astronaut Gallery exhibits actual space suits that have been worn beyond earth's orbit.  You can also take in a space flight related movie at the Northrup Grumman Theater (the largest giant screen theater in Texas) and experience the excitement of launching into space at the Blast Off Theater.

I suggest you head for the tram ride first, like I did.  It's included in the admission price and is the most popular thing to do here so there’s usually a wait, but it's worth it.  On this tour, you get to see some of the actual Space Center grounds, and you might even spot some real NASA employees at work.  We stopped at The Mission Control Center, and even though there wasn't’t a lot of activity going on that day, it's sort of incredible to walk in there and realize that this is the room where moon landings and so many other famous missions were coordinated.

We also stopped at the international space station which was interesting, but seeing Saturn V in Rocket Park was by far the best part of the tour.  It was huge, much larger than I realized, and an absolutely amazing sight to behold. 

Save some time to visit the Starship Gallery, too.  For me, it was worth the trip just to touch a real moon rock!  But all of the artifacts in the Starship Gallery are incredible: space capsules, The Apollo 17 command module, the giant skylab trainer, to name just a few. 

Check the Space Center Houston website for directions and hours. You can buy tickets online too.

All in all, I’d say even if astronauts aren’t your particular brand of hero, Space Center Houston is still a place that you'd enjoy.  But if you are really into space or science, then this place is a must-see!

It was going to be another scorching hot Texas summer day.  I was spending time near Austin with some friends, Jeff and Jeannie and their 10 year old daughter Jackie, and we decided to make the best of the sweltering August heat and head to the Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve.

If you've never heard of Hamilton Pool, that may be because it is still considered one of Texas' hidden gems, but the truth is, you can't keep a special place like this a secret for long.  Cars were already lined up for the parking lot when we arrived at 10 AM and we just made it in -- the car after us was not permitted in because they had reached the lot's capacity.  I guess the secret is out.

We all enjoyed a perfect swim for awhile, taking turns on the two tubes that Jeff had brought.  Later, we dried off and scarfed down our sandwiches and chips and it just tasted like the best meal I've had in a long time.  Someone nearby had brought a guitar and was playing some really nice tunes. The sun was baking hot, but the residual chill of the water kept me cool for awhile.  Jeff took his daughter around to the far side of the grotto, underneath the waterfall.  Jeannie pulled out a book to read.  I grabbed a tube and hit the water again.

• bring something to float with, a raft or tube

• bring a blanket to sit on

• wear good footwear; the trail has some rocky patches

• pack some food and drinks, there are no concessions there (but remember you will have to carry it all in with you)

• call ahead to be sure that swimming is allowed that day: (512) 264-2740

• bring life jackets or water wings for smaller kids - the pool is up to 30 feet deep in some parts

• bring pets; they are not allowed at all

• bring strollers or wheelchairs; some disabilities can be accommodated by calling ahead.

• pass up your chance to use the outhouses in the parking lot; they are your last chance to use any bathroom facilities

Can you believe that with all of the traveling I’ve done, I’ve never seen “Texas”?  I’m not talking about Texas, the state.  I’m talking about “Texas”, which has been hailed as the most spectacular outdoor musical drama in the world.

Performed at the Pioneer Amphitheater in the majestic Palo Duro Canyon, "Texas" depicts the trials, tribulations and triumphs of our forefathers in the Panhandle region during the 1800s. Besides learning about the history of this fascinating time and place, you’ll also be treated to singing, dancing, some of our unique brand of Texas humor, amazing special effects and the Dancing Waters of Texas!  Fireworks, always a favorite of mine, provide a thrilling ending to a dazzling show.  This family-friendly extravaganza, with a cast of over 60 talented actors, singers and dancers, has been performed since 1965 and returns every summer, bigger and better each year.

Enjoy the show!

Have you ever had an affinity for something, without really knowing why?

My wife was born in the heartlands, but she has always had such a strong connection to the ocean that people just assume that she grew up on the coast.  For me, that affinity is horses. I don’t know why... I have a friend who says it's because I must have been a cowboy in a past life. If that's so, I definitely didn't bring any of my cowboy skills with me into this life!  Yes, I can ride, but I'm definitely not a "cowboy" rider, if you will. No problem, because here in Texas, there are plenty of opportunities for me to do the next best thing: watch people who are!

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Deep in the heart of South Texas, Laredo is as close as you can get to Mexico without leaving the country.  It's no surprise then, that this city is known for its South of the Border atmosphere. 

Though Laredo is steeped in fascinating history (it was once its own country!), it is probably best-known for the legendary shopping along San Bernardo Avenue, a 40-block shopper’s paradise featuring the finest in Mexican imports such as clay chimineas, talavera pottery, jewelry, religious artwork, hand-made furniture and wrought iron creations, at prices you just don't find anywhere else in the U.S.

When you need a break from shopping, relax on a trolley tour around Laredo's historic downtown, take in regional contemporary art at the Laredo Center for the Arts or explore the area's diverse wildlife at the Lamar-Bruni Vergara Science Center.  Then, enjoy a meal at one of Laredo's many fantastic - and, of course, authentic -Tex-Mex dining options. 

ENTER NOW TO WIN a fantastic weekend getaway for two at Laredo's La Posada Hotel & Suites, named #1 in top hotels in the state of Texas by the TX Chamber of Commerce. 

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As I am on the road, traveling through Texas fairly often, I am lucky to see so much of the natural beauty our great state is blessed with. But as much as I see, Texas still manages to surprise me. I recently visited the Natural Bridge Caverns, about 30 minutes north of San Antonio and was awe-struck at the alien world that exists below the Texas soil.  

180 feet underground, you enter a surreal, prehistoric landscape of magnificent limestone formations, six million years in the making.  All your senses are on edge: the air feels wet and smells of earthy minerals.  It takes your eyes a few minutes to get used to the dark.  Every sound echoes in the acoustical chambers formed by the stone.

• You are not allowed to touch anything in the cave and they are strict about it.   Before you decide to bring small kids on a tour, be sure they understand "no touching"!
• The cave is wet and the path is slippery at times. There is a handrail to keep you upright, but wear appropriate footwear, preferably with non-slip soles
• It can get hot and humid in the cavern.  Really hot. Dress accordingly. Bring some cold water.
• You don't have to be an athlete to take a cave tour, but there is a lot of walking and some climbing and, as previously mentioned, it gets hot. It's not extremely strenuous, but just know your own physical limits before going.
• Stay near the front of the pack so you can hear your tour guide.  While seeing the formations alone is amazing, learning about the geology and ecology makes the trip that much more enjoyable.

In addition to a variety of cave tours, Natural Bridge Caverns offers several above-ground fun and educational activities for kids of all ages, including rope adventures, zip lining, and prospecting for minerals in a mining sluice.  There is so much here to explore.

As the 16th largest city in the United States and part of the No. 1 tourist destination in Texas, Fort Worth has come out from under the shadow of its "big sister" city, Dallas.  Fort Worth is an eclectic blend of cowboy-meets-culture: whether you prefer to spend your time in a museum or watching the world's only twice-daily cattle drive, this city offers plenty of things to do. And, if you need to give your wallet a little rest, here are 10 fantastic things to do in this city, completely free:

1. Amon Carter Museum of American Art  >> website

It's hard to believe that admission to this American treasure is free.  Housed in a beautiful, contemporary building, this museum offers a diverse array of exhibitions, publications, and programs that connect visitors to masterworks of American art in many genres, including painting, sculpture, illustration, photography and more. Don't miss your opportunity to view nearly 400 works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, the two greatest artists of the American West.

 

 

2. See U.S. Currency Being Printed...Legally!

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Fort Worth Currency facility is one of only two locations in the U.S. that print money (Washington, D.C. being the other). Come on a weekday and take a free 45-minute guided tour. The tour features the various steps of currency production, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with wallet-ready bills! You'll see millions of dollars being printed.

 

 

3. Tap your toe to a Cowtown Opry Show

Dedicated to the preservation of country music as a part of Texas heritage, the Cowtown Opry is a group of performers who specialize in bringing back authentic western music shows. Concerts include vintage and contemporary western music, songs from the singing cowboy movies, old time cowboy ballads, and western swing (THE official music of Texas!). Weekly concerts are free, on the steps of the Livestock Exchange Building. Visit the Cowtown Opry website for an up-to-date schedule.

 

 

 

 

4. Take a Tour of Fire Station No. 1

A historic fire station near Fort Worth's Sundance Square District, Fire Station No. 1 is part of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The exhibit features interactive models (including a bucking bronco) that commemorate Fort Worth’s first 150 years, from its early years as a frontier outpost, through its raucous cattle-town years, and into the modern big-city era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relive the romance and mystique of Old West cowboys and cattle drives! Watch the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive where teams of real cowhands drive longhorn cows through the Stockyards on Exchange Avenue. 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily in the Stockyards.  And look for the Drovers before and after each cattle drive for photo opportunities and to learn more about life on the trail!  >>more info and schedule

Home to more than 2,500 species of plants in its 23 specialty gardens, the Botanic Gardens are absolutely beautiful and a great place to learn about nature. The general gardens are free; there is a nominal fee for the Conservatory and the Japanese Garden, where the koi-filled pools, sculptured hillsides, crafted stonework and dramatic waterfalls provide a view of exotic conservation.

The 4.3 acre urban oasis is located next to the Fort Worth Convention Center featuring three pools of water and over 500 species of plants and trees. The quiet meditation pool, the aerating pool and the active pool all have water cascading down terraces and collecting in pools below.  1502 Commerce St.

Meteorites are the oldest materials known — older than any rock formed on Earth! The Monnig Meteorite Museum is one of the largest university-based collections with over 1,700 specimens. Explore the mysteries of meteorites, create your own terrestrial impact crater and even touch a piece of Mars at this “out of this world” gallery devoted to our visitors from space. Located on the grounds of the Texas Christian University campus. >> more info

9. Trinity Trails

Trinity Trails are the biking/cycling, running/walking and horseback trails of Fort Worth. The trails are named for the Trinity River, along which many of the trails are located.  There are over 40 miles of trails along the Trinity and its tributaries, connecting with 21 parks, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and Japanese Garden, Log Cabin Village, Fort Worth Zoo, the historic Stockyards and downtown Fort Worth. >> more info

10. Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell's permanent collection contains works ranging from the third millennium B.C. to the mid-20th century, and includes major pieces by Fra Angelico, Velazquez, Bernini, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet, Cezanne, Picasso, Mondrian and Matisse. It is also home to Michelangelo's first known painting. The collection comprises Asian and non-Western as well as European art. The museum features special and traveling exhibits on display throughout the year.  >> more info

Oh, and one more thing in Fort Worth that's free:
"Molly the Trolley" is a vintage-style vehicle that offers a quick and convenient way to travel throughout the downtown area for free, from the Fort Worth Convention Center to Sundance Square.  Molly stops near every downtown hotel property, landmark, dining, shopping and entertainment venue.  Be sure to hop aboard for a free ride while exploring Fort Worth's free treasures.  >> more info

According to the calendar, this past Sunday was the first day of summer. But we Texans don't need a calendar to know when summer starts. It's when the weather changes from hot and humid springtime temps to downright blistering summer heat.  It's when people start dreaming of trips to the Gulf Coast. And, it's when peaches come into season. Many people think Georgia grows the nation's best peaches, but Texas is right up there at the top of the list.  A Texas peach is the sweetest, drip-down-your-chin juiciest piece of fruit you'll ever eat.  And, of course, they're much bigger here!

You'll find good peach orchards throughout Texas, but the epicenter has to be the Hill Country, and specifically, the town of Stonewall, a good hour's drive west of Austin. Take a trip along Hwy. 290 and you are surrounded by trees heavy with fat peaches. It seems you could almost reach your hand out the window and pluck a few on your way. The smell in the air is sweet, ripe peachy nirvana. Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the area every year to buy the fuzzy fruit at roadside stands or to pick their own at the many orchards in the area. The growing season goes from May through August, with June and July being the biggest "boom" months for many varieties.

             

 •  White Peach Sangria

 •  Baby Back Ribs with Peach BBQ Sauce

 •  Peach Jalapeño Jam

I've got nothing against a good art museum or a sobering historical exhibit.  In fact, I think a great museum is one of the high points of a trip to a new place.  But, as Americans, I think most of us also love to explore the weird, the silly, the strange and the morbid.  With that in mind, I present to you ten of Texas' weirdest, coolest and most unique museums. 

Cockroach Hall of Fame

2231-B West 15th St., Plano  ∙  972-519-0355

I stumbled upon this place a few years back and I tell everyone who's going to be near Plano to pay it a visit, if only to get a laugh.  Located inside a pest control supply store and "curated" by owner Michael Bohdan, the hall of fame features plenty of information about roaches and mounted samples.  In addition to the "dead" cockroaches, Michael also displays live Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches which are three to four inches long and nearly an inch thick. My favorite part, though, are the displays of roaches in costumes, each in a diorama depicting a scene.  For example, there's "Liberoachie", sitting at a piano in a sparkling Liberace costume.  And there's also Marilyn Monroach - a dead bug wearing the signature white dress.  You'll leave with a smile on your face and a greater appreciation for the lowly roach.

Texas Prison Museum 

Huntsville  ∙  www.txprisonmuseum.org/

At the Texas Prison Museum, even the tour guide is a genuine artifact: retired warden Jim Willet, who oversaw 89 executions during his career,  walked us around and told stories about the exhibits detailing the history of the Texas prison system.  Highlights include the Contraband Exhibit, the Famous Prisoners exhibit and "Old Sparky", an electric chair that fried 361 prisoners between 1924 and 1964.   You can have your picture taken in a real 9' x 6' jail cell at the Museum for a great souvenir.  This very interesting museum is a bargain at only $4 for admission.

 

The Dog Museum

Ripley's Believe it or Not! Odditorium

Toilet Seat Museum

National Museum of Funeral History

The Art Car Museum

Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum

Devil's Rope Barbed Wire Museum 

Think about building a sand castle and I'll bet it takes you right back to your childhood. On many beaches across the U.S., however, sand-sculpting is not child's play, but a serious, competitive event where master sculptors create dimensional vignettes from sand and water that would blow your mind.

So what happens when teams of highly-skilled architects and engineers trade their drafting tables and computer programs for sticks and shovels They make some pretty incredible sand sculptures! Judges rated the sand castles on originality of concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. The first-place winners were the Matrix Spencer Architects team, with their masterpiece "Bedtime Stories by Mr. Sandman."

You don't kayak the Medina River for a wild, whitewater, exhilarating day on the water. You kayak the Medina because you want a relaxing excursion, surrounded by pristine, natural beauty and wildlife, shaded by the arching cypress trees where you can just let the river do most of the work.

It was early May, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the weather was a perfect  84°.  We started our trip on a wide open stretch of the river, but it wasn't long before we were paddling through a tunnel of bald cypress trees that lined both banks and created a leafy, ethereal canopy.  The Medina cuts through limestone bluffs and outcroppings with free-flowing springs that feed the river and the wildlife that live here. The sounds of birds, jumping fish and other hidden creatures could be heard echoing around us.

My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby soon, so when he told me he wanted to take her on a short getaway before the baby arrives, I thought it was a great idea.  “Do you have any good recommendations for a babymoon?”, he asked me.  “A baby – what?”, I replied.  Turns out he was asking me about a fairly new travel trend for expectant parents and, as the family travel expert, I was a bit embarrassed to tell him I hadn’t heard about it.

After a bit of research, here’s what I’ve learned:  a “babymoon” is a sort of “last chance” trip for couples who are about to enter (or re-enter) parenthood. It’s an opportunity for them to take a break from reading baby books, preparing the nursery and visiting doctor’s offices, and to spend some romantic time together, to be pampered, and to indulge themselves a bit before life as they know it changes completely. A USA Today article reports that as many as 59 percent of parents-to-be plan a last hurrah vacation during pregnancy. Seems like this trend is here to stay!

As I checked online for some good places to recommend to my brother, I found that there are many hotels, spas, and B&B’s that are offering Babymoon packages tailored to the needs of expectant couples. Some focus on the romance aspect and reconnection for the parents-to-be.  They include a candlelit dinner for two, in-room massage and treats like sparkling cider served in crystal champagne flutes or chocolate covered strawberries. Other packages focus on fun and activities, like prenatal yoga classes and shopping for baby clothes, even an ice cream sundae greeting upon arrival. Some additional very creative offerings created just for moms-to-be include:

• A late-night "cravings" room service menu
• Lymphatic massage designed to relieve swelling and discomfort
• Golf cart service around the hotel grounds to minimize walking
• A mini-bar filled with non-alcoholic healthy drinks and snacks

What are you making for the big Easter meal?   How about reservations!   If you're looking for a delicious and memorable Easter brunch, you can't do much better than Brennan's of Houston.

The Brennan's legacy started in New Orleans and in 1967, they ventured into Texas with Brennan’s of Houston.  In the early years, the Houston restaurant was a copy of its New Orleans big brother, but it soon started to absorb some of the local cuisine flavors and available fresh foods. Today, the menu reflects a perfect fusion of southern Louisiana Creole cooking blended with the Mexican flavors so prevalent in Texas cuisine.  For example, you'll find crawfish enchilada, wrapped in a tortilla and topped with pico de gallo sauce.

Easter is a family event at Brennan's.  Children love the table-side visits by the Easter Bunny and the bunny garden in the courtyard where real rabbits can be held and cuddled.  Adults love the special Easter brunch menu which features a wide variety of delicious options, including many of the restaurant's classic Texas-Creole selections.  Starters include Texas Wild Shrimp Remoulade and BBQ Breaux Bridge Crawfish Shortcake.  Entrées may include Eggs "Brennan", Pecan-crusted Redfish or Texas Bobwhite Quail.

No holiday feast  is complete without dessert and here at Brennans' you don't want to miss out on the famous sweet treat that began with this family -- bananas foster, flambéed right at your table.  It's as dramatic as it is delicious.  

Whatever you're eating and wherever you may be, I'd like to wish all my readers a very Happy Easter!

Brennan's of Houston
3300 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-9711
www.brennanshouston.com

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