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See the Best of the Best in Texas – Professional Sports Teams

July 23, 2011 By
San Antonio Spurs logo

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One of the biggest thrills about visiting the great state of Texas is chance to see dozens of professional sports teams. Professional sports teams are the top of the line and the best of the best when it comes to a particular sport.

When visiting Texas you have the chance to see professional soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball and football teams. Here’s a look at what teams are playing in Texas and where you can see them play.

Professional Soccer

Soccer is making a comeback in the United States and Texas offers you the chance to see two of the best professional soccer teams. The Houston Dynamos and the FC Dallas, both divisions of Major League Soccer play out of the state of Texas.

Professional Baseball

When visiting Texas you have two chances to see a Major League Baseball team in action. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are based out of the state of Texas.

Professional Basketball

For basketball fans Texas offers you the chance to see three great teams, one of which is a multi-championship winner. The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs have the home court advantage in various parts of Texas. The San Antonio Spurs are perhaps one of the most popular NBA teams in the history of basketball.

Professional Hockey

Hockey is often thought of as Canada’s favorite past time but the city of Dallas has its own National Hockey League team. The Dallas Stars play right in the heart of Dallas.

When visiting Texas, don’t miss out on seeing some of the best of the best in their chosen sport play.

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The Wild, Wild Flowers of Texas

June 4, 2011 By
Closeup of lupines in bloom along trail, Lady ... 

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Texas is known for a lot of things, cowboys and cattle, oil wells, and country music.  It also has one of the most beautiful displays of wild flowers in the U.S.  The richest display of these jewels of nature is in the central hill country just northwest of Austin, in Llano country.  The most resplendent displays are seen in Spring through early summer.

Bluebonnets are by far the most popular Texas wild flower.  Typically they are an early Spring flower and have usually bloomed out by early May. The common name “bluebonnet” came from the similarity of the shapes of the petals to the bonnets pioneer women used to protect themselves from the sun.

Texas Paintbrush bloom alongside Bluebonnets.  It is often described by horticulturists as a hairy upright biennial herb.  It has an orange-red flower, loves direct sun, and blooms in early Spring.  Texas Paintbrush is self-seeding and while technically an annual, it returns to same fields year after year.

Indian Blanket is another very popular and prolific Texas wild flower. Its blooms are circular, with a deep red center, an orange mid-section, and sweet yellow tips.  The bloom ranges in size from 1 to 2-1/2 inches in size.

In honor of the Texas Wild Flowers and native plants throughout the United States, Lady Bird Johnson has created a Wildflower Center in Austin.  If you are unable to see the wildflowers in Spring and early summer, a trip to the Wildflower Center in Austin is an excellent substitute.  The Wildflower Center has developed a native plant information network that catalogues more than 7,200 native species.

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Nine Flags of Nacogdoches

June 1, 2011 By
Part of historic downtown Nacogdoches, Texas

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Located in east central Texas, Nacogdoches is officially, the oldest town in Texas.  The area between LaNana and Banita Creeks in what is now downtown Nacogdoches was the home a Paleolithic settlement  dating back to approximately 10,000 B.C.  Over time it evolved into the a settlement for Caddoan Indian tribe.

Because of its antiquity, nine flags have flown over the city Nacogdoches.  The first that we know of, is the French flag which flew in the years 1685-1689. The French influence was short lived and ultimately they were  pushed aside by the Spaniards.  The second flag was the Spanish flag which flew for almost 300 years (1510 to 1821).

The third and fourth flags are less well known.  The third flag was that of Gutierrez-Magee and flew for just one year  from 1812 to 1813.  It was Bernardo Gutierrez and Augustus Magee who made the first attempt to make Texas a republic.  The fourth flag was that of Dr. James Long and flew from 1819 through 1821.  Long led a failed expedition to claim Texas for the United States.

The fifth flag was the Mexican flag which flew from 1821 through most of the years until 1836.  However for a brief period, the sixth flag, that of the Fredonia Rebellion also flew. The Fredonia Rebellion was one of several attempts for Texans to free themselves from Mexican rule.

The seventh flag, Lone Star, commemorated the Battle of Nacogdoches which freed parts of Texas from Mexican rule in 1836.  The eighth flag was the Confederate Flag which flew during the Civil War period.

Finally, the ninth and lasting flag is the United States of America.

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Things to do in Amarillo, Texas

May 25, 2011 By

Amarillo is one of the cities in Texas and here one can really discover the old feelings of Texas. There are several entertainment and fun things one can really enjoy in this city. Canyons are very beautiful and an individual can get to see cowboys, and this place is surely the right choice for kids. Here are some of the favorite attractions in the city.

USA_Texas_Amarillo_Cadillac_Ranch_Sideview

Image via Wikipedia

The Amarillo Zoo is one of the definite places to visit and kids will definitely enjoy. It costs only few dollars to enter this zoo and also children under 2 years are free to go inside. There are more than 60 species of animals in the zoo and there is also an exhibit that shows some of the native wildlife of this region such as gray foxes and coyotes.

Another great attraction in this region is the Cadillac Ranch. This public art installation consists of 10 Cadillacs of the 50s and these are buried upright in the earth. All the buried cars are beautifully covered with graffiti artwork and nobody can find these anywhere in the world. The visitors are allowed to take spray paint and they can paint their creative artwork on these cars.

Another great place for kids is the Don Harrington Discovery Center. This science museum not only provides information for the kids, but also has many fun elements to entertain the kids. The plant lovers will definitely enjoy Amarillo botanical gardens in the city and this place exhibit many exotic plant species.

 

 

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Texas History, Family Fun

May 19, 2011 By
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Image by Visualist Images via Flickr

It is an assumption of wild acres: the endless sprawls of a frontier, the sweeps of lonely hills and rivers. The notion of Texas is often larger than the state itself (which is no easy feat, with the boundaries swelling over 268,820 square miles). It is a world of its own, conjuring images of American cowboys and their lonely treks, the romantic quests for freedom. Such thoughts, perhaps, lean toward the cliches, but their power still remains.

And no attraction captures the wonder of them more than the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum.

Future residents (after obtaining a moving company quote) are urged to find this unique institution. Established in 1999 which makes it one of the newest buildings of its kind within Texas the Bob Bullock Museum seeks to explore the origins of both the country and the state. Guests first arriving to the building are met by a 35 foot Lone Star: which symbolizes the philosophy of less is never more and more is always better. Those entering the structure will have three stories to explore, each filled with one of kind artifacts and archival information.

Individuals can now walk among the past. Encounters on the Land (which dominates the first floor) chronicles Native American tribes and European settlers.Building the Lone Star Identity (which is contained within the second floor) details the many battles and border skirmishes that shaped the territory. And Creating Opportunity enables guests to see how the notion of ranchers is truly limiting, offering validation for science, medicine and more.

The Bob Bullock Texas History Museum is a cannot-miss attraction.

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Fun and Entertainment Activities in Austin, Texas

May 16, 2011 By

Deep Eddy Pool located at 30.2765° -97.7732°,A...

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Amount of entertainment and fun option in Texas is enormous and this is one of the best places for spending the holidays. Austin is the capital city of the Texas state. This is the major technological and commercial center of the state and this place is considered to be one of the safest places to live. Here are some of the things one can do in Austin.

Volente Beach is a waterpark in the city and this is located very close to Lake Travis. This has many water rides, fun activities for kids, and sandy beach to entertain the visitors. The Ziker Park in this city is an example for natural beauty and also it has many fun activities for visitors to keep engaged. The visitors can enjoy mountain train rides, canoe rentals, open air musical shows, picnic facilities, riverboat rides, and even play soccer.

Ziker Botanical Garden is situated inside the Ziker Park and here one can see many theme-based smaller gardens. The gardens are beautifully decorated with attractive landscapes such as wooden bridges, waterfalls, and lily ponds. Water lovers will definitely enjoy the Deep Eddy Pool, this is a natural pool and water supply is done through artesian well. This pool has shallow area for children and deep end for experienced swimmers.

One can even avail package tour called the Austin Duck Adventures where the visitors can enjoy visiting beautiful landmark of the city along with a tour guide. Other than this there are so many other places such as Pioneer Farms, Inner Space Caverns, and Canopy tours to entertain the visitors.

 

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Texas Beaches You Can’t Miss

May 13, 2011 By
MIRRORJB

Image by androidny via Flickr

Texas is right on the Mexican border, and because of that it also has access to some of the beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. The water is warm, clear and almost always inviting – and the sand on the beach is the type that everyone talks about, white and soft.

Here are a few of the best Texas beaches that you’ll be kicking yourself if you miss during your next visit through the state.

  1. The beaches of Galveston Island. These beaches are some of the most romantic ones that Texas has to offer.  These beaches are very similar to beaches in Barbados.  If you are unable to take any Barbados holidays, then this beach is the next best option. There are also quite a few very nice restaurants and hotels that you should take a look at before you leave.
  2. The Corpus Christi beaches. The nice part about these beaches is that they seem very distant from the suburban life – but in reality, they are actually only a few miles away. Beauty, fun and convenience couldn’t come any closer! While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the awesome state aquarium that the whole state raves about!
  3. The very modern Sea Rim State Park. This is a super cool beach in Texas – in fact, it’s also a bird sanctuary. The neatest part is that it isn’t like the traditional beach landscape that everyone is so used to hearing about; the sandy beaches are mixed in with lush marsh land as well. You definitely need a camera for this one!

There are plenty of other beaches that you should definitely check out if you have the time to explore Texas – you should ideally set aside a week or so. However, you’ll probably be wishing that you had more time to spend on the sunny beaches lazing around in the nice weather.

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How to Spend Holidays in Corpus Christi, Texas

May 8, 2011 By

Corpus Christi is the popular vacation spot with warm temperature year-round. This city in Texas is the perfect spot for bird watching and sun bathing. This place has a lot of outdoor activities for the visitors to keep engaged. This beautiful city is surrounded by barrier islands that have miles of beaches all around. The beaches create numerous opportunities for different activities.

The bridge crossing into Corpus Christi. 

Image via Wikipedia

The Padre Island National Seashore is very close to the city and it has endless number of parks, bike trails, and hike to make the holiday memorable one. Corpus Christi is very famous for its windsurfing and kayaking. There is also a windsurfing association to help travelers and this provides information and also helps the beginners to start with. Kayaking is a best physical workout on water. There are several stores out there that rent kayak and provide information on how to get started.

Another famous activity here is horse riding and this is very famous on North Padre Island as there are many stables in that place. A person can go for an individual ride or an escorted ride according to their proficiency in horseback riding. Other than this, travelers can jog, bicycle, walk, or play volleyball on the beach.

There are many tourist areas near the beach with many activities as well as remote areas with perfect silence. Also, there is an aquarium and USS Lexington to amuse travelers. The USS Lexington is a WWII aircraft carrier. Another exiting thing to do is dolphin cruise and this is really a best spot for kids.

 

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Dressing for Travel in a Texas Summer Season

April 25, 2011 By

Texas is a destination of various entertainments, historical sites and urban areas that are hot spots for tourists to hit for a good time while on the road. The weather in the state can get warm during the summer months, making it important that you plan your wardrobe carefully for the trip. This will make things more comfortable and enjoyable for you.

When packing for Texas, make sure that you have shorts, light cotton pants, and shirts that are lighter pastel colors. These will keep you cool versus wearing darker colors that retain heat. Cotton is a cooler fabric to wear on the road, and you can often find wrinkle-free material that will make traveling easier.

You will also want to take along a few dressier clothes in case you decide to have a more formal night out on the town. Styles from such companies as Dereon clothing can offer you a selection of styles to pack for the road. By planning ahead, you can dress not only for comfort and style but also for the heat.

You also need to pack a few accessories such as a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a light windbreaker. These should be placed in a bag that you take with you on outings wherever you go. You will have more fun without a sunburn to deal with along the way. A bottle of Aloe Vera is good to have in case you do get burned. Texas will become one of your favorite destinations for your trip this summer, regardless of how hot the summer gets.

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Top 3 Texas Caves That You Have to Visit

March 26, 2011 By
Natural Bridge Cavern near San Antonio Texas. ...

Image via Wikipedia

Texas is definitely the state for you if you are a person who loves exploring endless tunnels in caves and caverns! There are guided tours and explore at your own pace opportunities. Here are a few of the top caves that never fail to attract flocks of tourists each year because they are so unique.

  1. The Natural Bridge Caverns. This is a very educational stop for the whole family – there are all kinds of different tours and shows that you can attend to learn more about the history and formation of the Caverns.
  2. The cool interior of Cascade Caverns. This is one of the best places to escape the three digit weather of Texas during the summer. Cascade Caverns sit underneath another very popular state park that you should definitely make the time to visit as well.
  3. The famous Longhorn Caves. This is a super cool network of caves that have some really neat history to them – fugitives even hid in the caverns for periods of time! There are tours that you can take and plenty of literature mixed in with some folklore that you can read to learn more about the Longhorn Caves while you’re there.

The most important thing that you can remember while you are exploring any of the caverns in Texas is to stay safe. You should never goof around in a cave and you should always bring a buddy with you – people do get hurt every year because they do not follow common sense rules. If you have never been in a cave before you should probably choose one that offers guided tours instead of setting out to pioneer one yourself.

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