City of Marfa

Most small, west Texas towns are considered "in the middle of nowhere", but this is far from the case when it comes to Marfa, Texas. While it's geographical location might be considered somewhere in nowhere, the abundance of things to do and see is a stark contrast to that label.

Marfa, a town consisting of a couple of thousand residents that is the county seat of Presidio County, offers art, history, and some of the most beautiful scenery of the Lone Star State.

Established in 1883, this tiny water stop on the railroad line on the high plateau of the Chihuahuan Desert has grown into a great place for artist and tourist alike. Located approximately 4800 feet above sea level, the climate is much more tolerable than most areas of west Texas. This makes it the hub of places to camp, hike, and sightsee when visiting the area.

Marfa is located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, which makes it a great place to stop for a few days after visiting to the national park, or the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis. While here visitors can swim, hike, camp, visit museums, or one of more than a dozen art galleries. You read that right- art galleries!

For more information about Marfa, the art galleries, and to see their calendar of events, visit the official website here.

Great Wolf Lodge- Grapevine

The Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine offers a unique blend of fun for the entire family. Parents and children alike will enjoy days, if not weeks, in this huge hotel and waterpark.

The highlight is the indoor waterpark, featuring waterslides, a four story waterfort, and six pools, all kept at a comfortable 84 degrees year round.

There is also a huge arcade featuring over 100 games, with ticket redeemable for wonderful prizes.

Mix this family fun with a spa and massage for the adults, along with a wonderful dining selection, and you can't go wrong.

Visit the Grapevine Great Wolf Lodge soon! For more information visit their website.

Palace of Wax & Ripley's Believe It or Not!

If you are in the area of the Metroplex (Dallas-Fort Worth), don't pass up a chance to visit one of the places that will give you a great afternoon of entertainment and more souvenirs than you'll know what to do with.

Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax & Ripley's Believe it or Not!, located just inside western Grand Prairie on I-30, is over 41,000 square feet and is split into two sections.

The Palace of Wax museum features life sized, realistic wax figures from history, Hollywood, and beyond. Prepare to spend hours looking at the exhibits and reading the informational plaques that accompany them.

Celebrities such as Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr come to life as you walk past, then wonder.... are they looking back at you? Or see a dozen former presidents standing shoulder to shoulder. Its as though you can hear their voices and feel their presence. Or maybe you'd like to see the Christian section, featuring Jesus as he preaches the Sermon on the Mount.

No matter what your choice, you won't leave disappointed and will feel as though you have stepped back in time and to another place. It's impossible for me to describe the feeling when you walk out the door at the end of the exhibit. After all the years I've been going (about 35), I still have goosebumps at the end of every tour.

After your stroll through the museum, its off to the other side to visit Ripley's Believe It or Not! This assortment of oddities from around the world will leave you wondering- can you believe it, or not? It also houses the Enchanted Mirror Maze, with nearly 3,000 square feet of mirrored paths that will lead you in circles for what seems like forever.

Once you've completed your walk-through of Ripley's, there's a large souvenir shop with plenty of items to choose from. Souvenirs include themed items from both the Palace of Wax and Ripley's, as well as other attractions in the area, and Texas memoribelia too. You can also visit the Wax Bar, where they will dip your hand in the hot wax and make a mold of your hand.

Parents should be cautioned about the Ripley's side of the exhibits. Due to its nature, it might be frightening to some younger guests. Most will think its just silly, but be aware some of it can be quite scary, even for adults.

Dallas World Aquarium

The Dallas World Aquarium is a great place to spend the day with your family. The dozens upon dozens of exhibits are complemented by a wonderful rainforest setting. Included in the DWA is a bookstore, gift shop, and small deli.

The highlight of most anyone's visit will be the tunnel going underneath thousands of gallons of salt water. Get a panoramic view of fish, sharks, and more as you walk through or sit on the benches lining the tunnel.

Another highlight where crowds gathered was the cute penguins in the outside exhibit. Though it was exceptionally hot this year it was worth a little sweat to get a few pictures taken with the strange looking beasts.

Visit the DWA website today to find out more information and to view the live webcams!

Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, located in San Antonio, is the second of two theme parks in Texas. Like its counterpart in the Metroplex, Fiesta Texas offers a variety of rides, food, live shows, and other entertainment.

Unfortunately I've only had the opportunity to visit this park twice, but one of my daughters has been down several times over the last few years. She says, though it seems smaller than the one in Arlington, that it is just as much fun and has had a lot of growth over the last few years.

When we went several years ago, it was a lot more spread out than the Six Flags in Arlington. It reminded me in a lot of ways of Sea World and the long distances between each attraction. Also, the temperature was extremely hot, it seemed a lot more dry than it does here and there was a lot less entertainment under a roof to protect us from the sun.

But it was a great time, and my daughter that has been several times has had the opportunity to go to both Six Flags parks here in Texas multiple times, so if she says it would be worth a visit, I'd take her word for it!

To find more out about Six Flags Fiesta Texas, visit their website today.

Hurricane Harbor Waterpark

Situated just across the highway from Six Flags over Texas in Arlington, Hurricane Harbor has proved itself to be one of the best when it comes to waterpark entertainment. Whether swooping down the Black Hole, or lounging and relaxing in the sun in the Lazy River, Hurricane Harbor provides hours of family entertainment for everyone.

For more information, visit their website here.

Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington)

Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington was opened in 1961, and was the first Six Flags in operation. The name comes from the six flags that have flown over Texas during its rich history. Some of these flags are represented by different sections of the park, such as Mexico.

Six Flags provides a variety of family entertainment. From rides, to live shows, to food, there's something here for everyone.

Being born in the late 60's, I became familiar with Six Flags not long after it opened. And over the years, the growth has been wonderful, but some of the things have stayed the same. I remember as a child the excitement of watching the cowboys have a shootout in the Texas section. That feature is still available today and is still as exciting as the first day I saw it. And I remember many years ago when the old time train would get "robbed" by some of those same bandits.

The log ride originated in this park- as a child I remember the discussions we had about which was "faster" out of the two flumes. A ride I miss from my childhood was the ferryboat. It was slow, boring, but a great place to relax and give the parents a break. This ride can now be found out in east Texas in Jefferson- a company there bought it and uses it to give tours up and down the river.

Whether you are looking for thrilling rides, exciting shows, or just a place to go to get away and ride some relaxing, slow rides, Six Flags is the place for you.

For more information, visit Six Flags website.

The Davis Mountains

The Davis Mountains State Park is over 2708 acres in size and is located in Jeff Davis County, four miles northwest of Fort Davis. This is approximately halfway between Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, and Big Bend National Park, so it makes a great pivot point if you are wanting to see some of the best Texas has to offer, as well as jump over into New Mexico and visit the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns.

Originally, the park was deeded to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family. Then in 1933, improvements began by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the late 1930's, the park opened to the public and formal campground facilities were added in 1967 (a year before I was born!).

The Davis Mountains is the most extensive mountain range in Texas. They were formed by volcanic activity during the Tertiary geologic period, which began around 65 million years ago. The mountains were named after Jefferson Davis, U.S. Secretary of War and later President of the Confederacy, who ordered the construction of the Fort Davis army post.

I remember my first (and only) trip to the fort when I was around 13 years old. I was shocked at its layout. Expecting something like a castle, I was amused at how simple and spread out it was. But after walking around for only a few moments, it wasn't hard to look around and imagine the original soldiers that were stationed here.

Back in the "old west" as west Texas settlements increased, raiding in Mexico and along the San Antonio-El Paso Trail became a way of life for Apaches, Kiowas, and Comanches. Then, after the war with Mexico, a wave of gold seekers, settlers, and traders came through the area and needed the protection of a military post - Fort Davis. This is what made it so crucial to the survival of west Texas.

Fort Davis was active from 1854 until 1891, except for certain periods during the Civil War. In 1961, the historic fort ruins were declared a National Historic Site, and an extensive restoration and preservation program was initiated by the National Park Service.

The Alamo

Any trip to Texas can't be complete without a visit to the Alamo. This is the birthplace of Texas heroes, such as Jim Bowie, William B. Travis, David Crockett, and many others. These figures are not only heroes, but legendary.

However, for many first time visitors, it can be quite shocking. Movies and pictures portray the Alamo as a desolate outpost, but over the years that outpost has grown into a huge metropolitan area, with skyscrapers and everything else a large city has to offer. And that metropolis has grown up right around the Alamo, which sits in the middle of downtown. Drive too fast and you'll blow right past it.

Also, the size of the Alamo, or what is left of it, is tiny. Its amazing to know the importance that such a small location can hold.

Below is an article about the battle of the Alamo.

Originally named Misión San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years. Construction began on the present site in 1724. In 1793, Spanish officials secularized San Antonio's five missions and distributed their lands to the remaining Indian residents. These men and women continued to farm the fields, once the mission's but now their own, and participated in the growing community of San Antonio.

In the early 1800s, the Spanish military stationed a cavalry unit at the former mission. The soldiers referred to the old mission as the Alamo (the Spanish word for "cottonwood") in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. The post's commander established the first recorded hospital in Texas in the Long Barrack. The Alamo was home to both Revolutionaries and Royalists during Mexico's ten-year struggle for independence. The military — Spanish, Rebel, and then Mexican — continued to occupy the Alamo until the Texas Revolution.

San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Marín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' men — and strengthened its defenses.

On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory.

While the facts surrounding the siege of the Alamo continue to be debated, there is no doubt about what the battle has come to symbolize. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason, the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

Jefferson, Texas

Jefferson, Texas is a quaint, small town featuring tour attractions reminiscent of its heyday. Its streets are lined with antique and gift shops stocked with unique treasures. Horse-drawn carriages and trolleys tour along the original brick streets.

Just one block away from downtown Jefferson are riverboat tours of Big Cypress Bayou, the same waterway once traveled by stern-wheelers. Evenings in Jefferson offer live theater productions, as well as a variety of dining choices. Retiring for the night in Jefferson offers the opportunity to experience any of the over 60 bed and breakfast establishments.

The city of Jefferson, Texas is perfect for a weekend get-a-way, a honeymoon spot, meeting/retreats, or a one-day family outing.

For more information, visit the Jefferson, Texas website today!

Big Bend

Big Bend National Park encompasses more than 800,000 acres in southwest Texas. For more than 1,000 miles, the Rio Grande forms the international boundary between Mexico and the United States; Big Bend National Park administers approximately one-quarter of that boundary. Within the 118 twisting miles that also define the park’s southern boundary, the river’s southeasterly flow changes abruptly to the northeast and forms the “big bend” of the Rio Grande.

Because the Rio Grande serves as an international boundary, the park faces unusual constraints when administering and enforcing park rules, regulations, and policies. The park has jurisdiction only to the center of the deepest river channel; the rest of the river lies within the Republic of Mexico.

South of the border, people call the Rio Grande by its Spanish name, Rio Bravo del Norte. South of the river lie the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila and the new protected areas for flora and fauna, which are comprised of regions known as the Maderas del Carmen and the Cañon de Santa Elena.

The park exhibits dramatic contrasts; its climate may be characterized as one of extremes. Dry, hot late spring and early summer days often exceed 100 degrees in the lower elevations. Winters are normally mild throughout the park, but sub-freezing temperatures occasionally occur. Because of the range in altitude from approximately 1,800 feet along the river to 7,800 feet in the Chisos Mountains, a wide variation in available moisture and in temperature exists throughout the park. These variations contribute to an exceptional diversity in plant and animal habitats.

The 118 river miles that form the southern park boundary include the spectacular canyons of Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas. The Rio Grande, meandering through this portion of the Chihuahuan Desert, has cut deep canyons with nearly vertical walls through three uplifts comprised primarily of limestone. Throughout the open desert areas, the highly productive Rio Grande riparian zone includes various plant and animal species and significant cultural resources. The vegetative belt extends into the desert along creeks and arroyos.

For more information on Big Bend National Park, visit the website today!

Pride House B&B

The Pride House was the first Bed and Breakfast in the state of Texas. Its located in Jefferson, Texas, minutes from shopping, dining, and antique shopping. This Victorian mansion will please everyone with its stained glass windows and huge ceilings. Some amenities include fireplaces, large, comfortable beds, and footed bathtubs.

Sit in a swing on the porch after a nice meal of delicious food, then head over and have a great time in "downtown".

Read more about the Pride House here.

Old Mulberry Inn Bed and Breakfast

In May 2007, Southern Living rated the Old Mulberry Inn Bed and Breakfast as one of the top ten Texas retreats. And its no wonder! The rooms are spectacular, the location perfect, and the hospitality top notch.

As many of the B&B's in Jefferson, the Old Mulberry Inn is located in the historical district, just minutes from the old downtown area that offers dining, shopping, antique browsing, and other entertainment. Each room offers a private bath, footed tubs, showers, and even has cable TV and a VCR. Ceiling fans are also included to help visitors survive the hot Texas summers.

Read more about the Old Mulberry Inn and check room availability here.

Sea World

Sea World is by far one of our family's favorite destinations for a summer vacation. They sell two day tickets- and its a good thing because it takes at least two days to experience all the park has to offer.

There are a variety of shows to see. The Rockin' Ski Party is a delightful event with plenty of high flying action. There's Sea Lions as well, and of course the most famous all all Killer Whales!

Inside the park is a large waterpark to help guests cool off and give the kids yet another place to burn off some energy.

Visit the Sea World website today for more information.

NRH2O

NRH20 is located in North Richland Hills, Texas, also known as "NRH". Over the years, the waterpark has grown into a huge attraction, providing hours upon hours of family entertainment.

The park features a huge toddler area and pool, with plenty of small slides and other attractions for the younger ages. Also included in the park are several waterslides, including the spectacular Green Machine. For young and old alike there is the Frogstein Splashatory, which is a section of waterslides, sprayers, a huge bucket that dumps water on guests, and some fun "science" type projects with water as well.

When tired you can kick back and enjoy the lazy river, either by swimming or sitting on a tube. And for the ultimate in excitement, the wave pool offers up and down waving fun for everyone.

We can't speak of NRH2O without mentioning the Dive-In Movie, played on most Friday nights. Each week provides a new feature, which is shown on the back wall of the wave pool. Guest can sit in the grass, or the water, to watch the show. Who could go without seeing Jaws while sitting in an intertube?

For more information, visit the website here.