Texas

Transcription

Texas

3838 CT Texas Supplement
10/31/07
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1-866-505-4456
2 TEXAS • October 2007 • Canadian Traveller 66
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www.galvestoncvb.com
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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY TEXAS TOURISM
TThan
exas
– It's More
You Think
T
here really is so much to see, do and
experience in Texas it is hard to know
where to start. There is the fabled western
culture alive in guest ranches, museums,
restaurants and music halls across the
state. But there are also 26 ethnic cultures
in Texas that have left their unique stamp
on the way of life here.
There is the rough and tumble oil
industry whose barons have spent their
wealth on exquisite art galleries, unique
museums and elegant performing facilities. There are the gleaming major urban
areas of Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston,
and there are countless small communities with proudly restored main streets
and town squares.
There is riding in the rolling hills, hiking in the desert and lounging on the
beach. There is some of the best golf in
the world. And there are more then 600
species of bird to watch along the
Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
There are historic sites from
the ancient to the astronomical.
There are wild rides and wacky
attractions.
Shopping, like everything
else in Texas, is big and
varied. Hit the upscale
malls and shopping
districts of Dallas,
Fort Worth, Houston,
Austin, El Paso and
San Antonio for designer labels and
one-of-a-kind creations. Bargain hunters
go to Grapevine Mills near Dallas, Katy
Mills near Houston, San Marcos and
Hillsboro for outlet malls and antique
hunters head to Forney, Waxahachie,
Jefferson and Boerne.
Some of the most interesting shopping is over the border in Mexico. Cross
into Juarez from El Paso, Nuevo Laredo
from Laredo, Reynosa from McAllen and
Matamoros from Brownsville.
Reflecting its multi-cultural heritage
Texas cuisine offers the best of more than
20 nationalities, including mixtures of
Native-American, Spanish, Mexican,
African, German, and old-fashioned
Southern home cooking all flavoured
with Texas charm.
Best of all, there is always a warm
Texas welcome, no matter where you go.
Canada
Loves Texas
It’s true, and the visitation
numbers back that up. Statistics
Canada report an estimated
333,000 Canadians visited Texas in
2006, representing a 9.2 per cent
increase over 2005. This comes on
the heels of an 18 per cent
increase in Canadian visitors to the
Lone Star State in 2005 vs 2004.
“We are thrilled to experience
such incredible growth from
Canada,” states Julie Chase, director of tourism, Office of the
Governor Economic Development.
“Texas Tourism remains committed
to Canada and we are increasing
advertising, public relations and
travel trade initiatives in the market this fall/winter in an effort to
keep Texas top of mind with
Canadian travellers.”
INSIDE
Texas For Birders . . . . . . . . . .4
Here’s To Wine . . . . . . . . . . .4
Yeeha! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
West Is Best . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Signature Events . . . . . . . . . .5
One State, Many Cultures . . . .6
Texas Tee Time . . . . . . . . . . .6
Regional Texas . . . . . . . . . . .8
TEXAS – A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE OCTOBER 2007 ISSUE OF CANADIAN TRAVELLER
Published 12 times a year by
THE DESTINATION SALES RESOURCE FOR TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS
Printed in Canada
Contents © 2007 by ACT Communications Inc.
All Rights Reserved. ISBN 1207-1463
1104 Hornby Street, Suite 203
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6Z 1V8
Tel: (604) 699-9990
Fax: (604) 699-9993
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3 Canadian Traveller • October 2007 • TEXAS 3
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Texas
For Birders
B irders know that, with
more than 625
documented species,
Texas is one of the best
places in North America
to be.A confluence of
three major migratory
paths and an amazing
diversity of habitats make
Texas birding especially
rich in variety.The Great
Texas Coastal Birding
Trail is a highway trail that
connects birding sites all
along the 1,000
kilometres of Texas coast.
Divided into three
sections, appropriately
named Upper, Central
and Lower Coast, the trail
can be easily navigated
and planned for travel.
Each section has its
unique bio-diversity,
climate and features, so
each is a unique birding
experience.
The Aransas National
Wildlife Refuge, located
just north of
Rockport,
is the
principle wintering ground
for the near-extinct
whooping crane.
Established to protect
more than 300 species,
including Canada Geese,
Pintail and Baldpate
Ducks, and Sandhill
Cranes, other animals
prosper at the refuge as
well.White-tail deer,
javelina and raccoon also
call Aransas their home.
The Padre Island
National Seashore, a
130-kilometre stretch of
undeveloped beach
located off the Texas
Coast, is home to more
than 350 species of
wintering birds. Further
inland, the Santa Ana
National Wildlife Refuge
south of Alamo on the
banks of the Rio Grande
River features beautiful
hiking trails and an 11kilometre wildlife drive.
Other birding sites
include Bentsen-Rio
Grande Valley State
Park near Mission where
Altamira Oriole, Great
Kiskadee and Ringed
Kingfisher have been
seen; Muleshoe
National Wildlife Refuge
which is a haven for
thousands of wintering
Sandhill Cranes; and Big
Bend National Park.
Here’s To
Wine
heck out the new releases or revisit old favourites – you’ll find all the
C
styles from Bordeaux and Rhone to Tuscany and Rhine – but with a
special Texas touch. The 21 wineries on the Hill Country Wine Trail are
scattered in a wedge roughly encompassed by the communities of Bend,
on the Colorado River to the north, Fredericksburg in the west, Austin in
the east and New Braunfels in the south. You’re welcome to visit any time,
however five special Trail Events scheduled throughout the year are
planned to enhance your experience. All of the Trails are self-guided
driving tours.
February starts the season with the Wine Lover’s Trail that coincides
with Valentine’s Day. Drive through sleeping vineyards, enjoy a sweetheart
dinner with selected food pairings and finish up with wine and chocolates.
April marks the season of rebirth with the Wine & Wildflower Trail.
Bluebonnets bloom in profusion and you’ll want to pack a picnic lunch
and raise your glass in a toast to the beauty of spring-green vineyards as you
linger on the winery patio. The Harvest Wine Trail in August celebrates
the freshly harvested vineyards and wineries rich with the earthy smell of
new wine. You can even join in the fun at a traditional grape stomp. Sample
the new releases in October with the Texas Wine Month Passport Trail
as autumn begins in the Hill Country. Have your passport stamped by 12
of the participating wineries and become eligible for a special draw. The
year wraps up on a festive note. The December Holiday Wine Trail sees
wineries decked in their party finery and filled with wine-related gift ideas.
Join the parties and special dinners and launch your holiday season in style.
Contact www.texaswinetrail.com.
Yeeha!
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hen it comes to intense, bone-jarring rodeo action, there's no
place like Texas. What was once a competition to test ranch
skills is now one of the Lone Star State's most popular
sporting contests. Rodeo is a year-round sport, and you can find the
live, heart-stopping action somewhere in the state every single month.
Family friendly, these destinations offer the perfect combination of
relaxation and recreation – cowboy style! Here are some Signature
Texas Rodeo and Livestock Show Events.
Texas Signature
• Southwestern Exposition,
Livestock Show and Rodeo,
January, Fort Worth
• Annual Southwestern
Livestock Show and Rodeo,
February, El Paso
• San Antonio Stock Show and
Rodeo, February, San Antonio
October
• State Fair of Texas, Dallas
• Texas Rose Festival,Tyler
• Annual Cuero Turkeyfest
Celebration, Cuero
• Texas Butterfly Festival, Mission
W
Events
• Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo, March, Houston
• Star of Texas Fair and PRCA
Rodeo, March, Austin
• Western Heritage Classic,
Abilene
• West of the Pecos Rodeo,
Pecos
• XIT Rodeo and Reunion,
Dalhart
• WRCA World Championship
Ranch Rodeo, Amarillo
November
• Wurstfest, New Braunfels
• Texas Renaissance Festival,
Plantersville
December
• Wonderland of Lights, Marshall
• Fiesta de las Luminarias, San Antonio
• Dickens on the Strand, Galveston
• Seashore Marketplace, North
Padre Island
West is Best
Looking for
a real Texas
vacation?
Saddle up and head to one of
the state’s working ranches
complete with cattle, chuckwagons and cowpokes.
Almost 100 real working
ranches in Texas cater to
guests, and city slickers are
welcome with plenty of
Western hospitality.
Scenic Bandera, just
northwest of San Antonio, is
home to a number of
ranches. Nearby Bourne
features Western adventure
and relaxation on the banks
of the picturesque
Guadalupe River. The famed
King Ranch along Texas’
Gulf Coast offers a true visit
to the Old West. Considered
the birthplace of Texas
ranching, the King Ranch
sprawls across almost 3,365
square kilometres, making it
larger than the entire state of
Rhode Island. If the rugged
beauty of West Texas is
more to your liking, try a
stay at ranches in Odessa,
Alpine or Van Horn.
Sunsets at these
magnificent vistas are
breathtaking.
Ranching not quite
January
• Texas Citrus Fiesta, Mission
February
• Mardi Gras, Galveston
National Cowgirl Museum
and Hall of Fame also in
Fort Worth. Experience life
in the Old West at the
Panhandle-Plains
Historical Museum near
Amarillo.
March
• South by Southwest Music & Media
Conference,Austin
April
• Buccaneer Days, Corpus Christi
• Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio
May
• Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville
June
• Texas Folklife Festival, San Antonio
• Texas Legacies, Canyon
September
• Hummer/Bird Celebration, Fulton
Tour the Pioneers,Trail
Drivers and Texas Rangers
Memorial Museum in San
for you? For a taste of
Antonio and learn about
Western culture visit
the great cattle drives and
Billy Bob’s Texas in
legendary lawmen. Or,
Fort Worth. It’s the
drop by the National
largest honky tonk in
Ranching Heritage
the world. Or visit the
Center in Lubbock.
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One State,
Many Cultures
Texas Tee Time
With more than 900 courses throughout the
state, there is a huge variety of terrain and every
level of play in Texas.
You can tee it up anywhere in Texas. In the Panhandle
ven grander than the sheer size of Texas is its cultural
diversity. People from all over the globe have settled
here through the centuries, weaving a vibrant tapestry of
languages, traditions, and art forms.
One of the best places to see it all is the Institute of Texan
Cultures in San Antonio. A rich variety of exhibits highlights
26 cultural and ethnic groups and offers up a lesson on the
many cultures that influenced the Lone Star State, and the
people who created Texas history. See how
different people arrived in Texas – how
they lived, ate, celebrated, and
other fascinating historical facts.
Want to get out and experience it for yourself? In
February Mardi Gras celebrations in Jefferson and
Galveston celebrate the
arrival of Cajun culture,
and cuisine in Texas. Keep
the Cajun feeling alive at
the huge Gumbo Cook-Off
in Orange in May. One of the
biggest bashes in the state is
the colossal Fiesta San Antonio in
April. In May Cinco de Mayo parties
happen all over the state. Head to Ennis for
the National Polka Festival in May or to Bremond, near Waco,
for Polish Day in June. Haul out your lederhosen for
Muensterfest in Muenster in April, for Oktoberfest in
Fredericksburg in October and Wurstfest in New Braunfels in
November. Take to wearing the green at St. Patrick’s Day
celebrations in Dallas, San Antonio, Dublin in the Prairies and
Lakes region, and Shamrock in the Panhandle. The
Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas on June 19, 1865
and Juneteenth celebrations are held in dozens of towns.
The biggest is probably the Juneteenth Freedom Festival in
Houston with its huge concert featuring blues artists.
E
Plains check out the Quicksand Golf Course in San Angelo,
while El Paso, in the Big Bend area, boasts the Painted
Dunes golf course, one of the premiere golf courses in the
Southwest United States. Bandera, in the Texas Hill Country,
is home to the beautiful Lost Valley Resort Ranch that
offers a tranquil, unique and beautiful setting all year long.
Deep in the Piney Woods in Huntsville, lies Waterwood
National Resort, and one of the toughest courses in
America, created by world-renowned golf architect Pete Dye.
If you're in the South Texas Plains, visit The Quarry Golf Club
in San Antonio, consistently named as the world's best.This
course includes a one-of-a-kind back nine that descends
into a massive limestone quarry surrounded by 30-metre
cliff walls.The Prairies and Lakes region includes the Mill
Creek Golf Resort and Country Club in Salado, with its
fabulous Robert Trent Jones II golf course.The magnificent
Columbia Lakes Resort in West Columbia outside of
Houston is located on a plantation setting and consistently
ranked as one of the top ten resort courses in Texas.
See how the pros do it at the Shell Houston Open, in
Humble, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, the
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Fort Worth and the
Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
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1-800-HOUSTON
www.visithoustontexas.com
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Texas Regions
Not too long of a deck here please
exas is big. No doubt about it.
Located halfway between the
Pacific and Atlantic oceans,
Texas is the largest of the continental United States. But it is not
just the literal size of Texas that’s so impressive.
The variety of places, cultures, sights and activities is absolutely endless. With seven distinct
regions, and a great highway system that links
them all, plan your trip so you’ll have time for
the roaming, wandering, and discovering that
will reveal the true spirit of Texas.
T
Prairies & Lakes
Dipping south from the Red River through the
heartland of Texas, the Prairies & Lakes region
contains something of all the other regions
within its borders. The countryside boasts
forests, prairies, rolling hills, lush pastures and
colourful wildflower meadows with bustling
ranches and tranquil farms, picturesque town
squares, quiet railroad towns and intriguing
historic sites. Some 50 popular lakes and reservoirs provide a host of recreational opportunities while Big D – the agglomeration of
cities and communities that form the DallasFort Worth Metroplex – fairly bursts with
energy, sophistication and cultural elegance.
It’s hard for visitors to know where to start
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. One
surefire choice is Fair Park, a 112-hectare site
that is not only home to The State Fair of
Texas, the largest exposition in North
America, but also to an eclectic assemblage of
museums and attractions. The Women's
Museum:An Institute for the Future chronicles the lives of American women through an
array of interactive exhibits. The African
American Museum displays an impressive
collection of African and African-American
art. You can relive the golden age of passenger
train travel at the Age of Steam Railroad
Museum or see more than 5,000 aquatic
creatures from around the world at the Dallas
Aquarium. The Hall of State is a national
landmark that celebrates the history of Texas
while dinosaur remains and dioramas of Texas
plant and animal life are displayed at the
Museum of Natural History. Enjoy handson and participatory exhibits on science and
technology at the Science Place and TI
Founders IMAX Theatre.
Kids love the Dallas Children’s Museum,
the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas World Aquarium
and the NRH2O Water Park.
Sports fans know their teams – NHL
Dallas Stars, NBA Dallas Mavericks,
Arena Football's Dallas Desperados and
MLS FC Dallas.
History buffs head to The Sixth Floor
Museum at Dealey Plaza where they can
examine the life, times and death of John
F. Kennedy.
Shoppers hit the aisles at the Dallas
Farmers Market and the West End
Marketplace, while the city's entertainment
districts of Deep Ellum, Greenville Avenue,
Knox-Henderson and Uptown offer a wide
variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
In Dallas, art and culture are almost as big
an attraction as shopping. Collector and
philanthropist, Raymond Nasher, and his late
wife Patsy, sponsored the 70-million dollar
Nasher Sculpture Center, located in the
Dallas Arts District. Art lovers also appreciate the collections at the Dallas Museum of
Art, and the Meadows Museum. The Latino
Cultural Center is humming with multicultural activities and arts. Music, classical and
contemporary, fills the Morton H. Meyerson
Symphony Center.
In Fort Worth, “Cowtown”, visit the
Stockyards National Historic District to see
the Stockyards, the Livestock Exchange, the
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and specialty
shops and restaurants. Take an outdoor seat at
a Stockyards Station restaurant and see the
twice-daily cattle drive through town.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall
of Fame explores the lives of women in the
American West. The Texas Civil War
Museum houses the largest private Civil War
collection west of the Mississippi. Country
music fans belly up to the bar in Billy Bob’s
Texas, the largest honky-tonk in the world.
Speed fans can catch motor racing at the Texas
Motor Speedway.
View the extensive collection of works
from around the world at the stunning
Kimbell Art Museum. The Modern Art
Museum of Fort Worth focuses on modern
and contemporary American and European
works, while the Sid Richardson Collection
of Western Art and the Amon Carter
Museum both exhibit pieces by Frederic
Remington, Charles Russell and other
Western artists. The Bureau of Engraving
and Printing has the local cultural scene
drowning in cash.
Sports fans head to Arlington, east of Fort
Worth and home of the Texas Rangers of
Major League Baseball, or to Irving, the home
of the NFL Dallas Cowboys.
Downtown Fort Worth’s Sundance Square
is a 20-block entertainment district named for
Western outlaws Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid. It’s also home to the stellar
Bass Performance Hall (a permanent home
for the Fort Worth Opera, Fort Worth
Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater,
and presentations by the Van Cliburn
Foundation and Casa Mañana Theatre,)
restaurants, theatres, galleries, shops, hotels,
and residential projects.
The twin cities of Bryan-College Station
are nestled in the lush Brazos River Valley and
home to Texas A&M University, the first
public institution of higher learning in Texas,
established in 1876. Tour the Brazos Valley
Museum of Natural History and learn about
local geography, geology and wildlife. Visit
the George Bush Presidential Library and
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Museum and discover the achievements and
challenges of Bush Sr.’s presidency.
Texas Gulf Coast
From green space to outer space, the Texas
Gulf Coast is a world of appealing contrasts. A
birding paradise, bustling commercial centre,
seaside playground, quiet agricultural land,
centre of the nation’s space program and site of
the big gusher that launched the Texas oil
boom, visitor attractions in this region are
almost overwhelming.
Big city sophistication is what Houston is
all about, but like all Texas communities the
past is not far away. The San Jacinto
Monument, commemorating the 1836 Battle
of San Jacinto, houses the San Jacinto
Museum of History and its collection of
artifacts from battle participants. Visit the
George Ranch Historical Park and tour
historic homes and see demonstrations of
pioneer, farming and ranch life. Sam Houston
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Park, the city's oldest park, is the place to see
seven historic Texas homes.
Family fun is everywhere in Houston. The
Children's Museum of Houston lets children
explore a variety of subjects through hands-on
participation. The Houston Zoo is the mostvisited zoo in the Southwest with more than
5,000 animals representing more than 700
species and the Houston Museum of Natural
Science houses the Wortham IMAX Theatre,
Burke Baker Planetarium and the Cockrell
Butterfly Centre.
Grown-ups can head to the theatres,
cinemas, restaurants and nightclubs of Bayou
Place and the downtown Theatre District for
some adult fun after the kids are in bed. On the
weekend head to Traders Village where 800
merchants show their wares at the largest Flea
Market on the Texas Gulf Coast.
On a more refined note, Houston’s
Museum District showcases everything from
medieval frescoes to modern masterpieces. The
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens displays
17th-, 18th- and 19th-century American
paintings, furniture, silver and ceramics. The
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum houses
two 13th-century frescoes that belong to the
Church of Cyprus. The Contemporary Arts
Museum hosts changing exhibits of newdirection art and modern-day masters. The
Menil Museum includes more than 15,000
paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs and rare books. See fine examples of
18th-century, Impressionist and PostImpressionist works from the permanent
collection of the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston. The Holocaust Museum Houston,
a living testimonial to those who died, has
permanent and changing exhibitions, a
memorial area and sculpture garden. Other
museums include the Houston Center for
Contemporary Craft, the Houston Fire
Museum, the Museum of Printing History,
theArt Car Museum, the National Museum
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of Funeral History and the John P.McGovern
Museum of Health & Medical Science.
Sports fans can watch the NFL Houston
Texans football team, the AHL Houston
Aeros hockey team, the NBA Houston
Rockets basketball team, the WNBA
Houston Comets basketball team, the MSL
Houston Dynamo soccer team and the MLB
Houston Astros baseball team. Gamblers can
head to the Gulf Greyhound Park and bet on
the dogs or head to Sam Houston Race Park
to try their luck on the ponies.
And then there’s golf. With more than 300
days of temperate golfing weather annually in
the area, the game is a year-round pastime
offering a wide range of challenges for golfers
of all levels. Play all the most famous PGA
holes replicated into one course at the Tour 18.
Visitors looking for a little natural serenity
head to the walking trails at the Armand
Bayou Nature Center to learn about local
indigenous plants and wildlife. The Houston
Arboretum & Nature Center offers plenty
of walking trails through its exhibits, and the
Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens
displays the region’s largest collection of
native and cultivated plants.
Between Houston and Galveston, Bay Area
Houston is home to the NASA/Johnson Space
Center and Space Center Houston. Enjoy a
spectacular journey into America's space
program – from the past all the way into the
future. Kids of all ages can jump on the moon,
man the space station, drive the lunar rover and
lots more at the exciting Kids Space Place.
A few kilometres down the road from
Clear Lake and NASA, discover the bayside
community of Kemah. Stroll the Kemah
Boardwalk, enjoy the parade of boats passing,
savour a meal at one of the waterfront restaurants, and check out the amusement rides,
shops, games, and street performers.
The elegantly restored Victorian buildings
of the Strand Historic District hark back to
the time Galveston was the richest city in the
Southwest thanks to the 19th-century cotton
boom. Tour The Bishop’s Palace, so called
because the diocese of Galveston-Houston
purchased the home, one of the most architecturally noteworthy buildings in the U.S.,
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in 1923. The Moody Mansion houses
changing exhibits and a collection of Moody
family heirlooms.
Head over to the Postoffice Street arts and
entertainment district to browse the galleries,
shops and cafés. Visit the Mardi Gras
Museum and the Galveston County
Historical Museum.
Visit Pier 21 Theatre, a wide-screen
facility showing The Great Storm, a multiimage presentation on the hurricane that
battered the city in 1900, killing 6,000 people.
Texas Seaport Museum and the Elissa tell
the story of Texas' only 19th-century tall ship
and her history as an immigrant vessel. Ships
still call into the port of Galveston today, with
two cruise lines offering itineraries that
embark from the city. The Ocean Star
Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum is a
museum, educational attraction, and working
drilling rig all rolled into one.
The Lone Star Flight Museum is the
home of the largest collection of historically
significant aircraft restored to flying condition
under one roof in the southern U.S. and the
vast Railroad Museum boasts one of the
largest railroad collections in the southwest.
Outdoors, Galveston boasts 51 kilometres
of beautiful Gulf beaches including Stewart
Beach Park, East Beach, Seawolf Park and
Galveston Island State Park. Palm Beach,
in Moody Gardens, offers 1.2 hectares of white
sand, freshwater lagoons, splash pad, volleyball
and plenty of beach fun. Moody Gardens also
includes a trio of pyramids: the 10-storey glass
Rainforest Pyramid, travelling science
exhibits in the Discovery Pyramid, and the
Aquarium Pyramid. One of the largest in the
world, the Aquarium includes a massive exhibit
space and more than nine million litres of water
to showcase the ocean waters of the North
Pacific, Edge of the Antarctic, the tropical
Pacific's Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, and
the colourful Caribbean. You can also splash
down at Schlitterbahn Galveston Island
Water Park year-round.
Inland, the elegant Victorian-era city of
Victoria boasts 12 parks, a zoo, and several
small heritage museums including the
Children’s Discovery Museum; Museum of
the Coastal Bend; the Nave Museum,
dedicated to Texas artist Royston Nave and the
McNamara Historical Museum, an exquisite
example of Victorian Gothic architecture.
The twin seaside towns of RockportFulton offer leisurely beachside vacations.
Visit the Fulton Mansion State Historical
Structure, the Rockport Center for the Arts
and the Texas Maritime Museum. For
birding, there’s no place like the Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge. Here, at the winter
home of the Whooping Crane, boat tours
provide a close-up view and you can learn
more about these endangered birds as selftaught ornithologists narrate and identify birds
along the way.
Discover Texas – Island-style – in the
fishing village of Port Aransas on Mustang
Island. Birding is big here with the Leona
Belle Turnbull Birding Center, Wetland
Park, Joan & Scott Hold Paradise Pond and
the South Jetty, all on the Great Texas Coastal
Birding Trail.
Port “A” is also the “Fishing Capital of
Texas” and offers deep-sea excursions yearround. Shelling is another serious hobby along
the 29-kilometre Gulf beach and uninhabited
St. Jo Island.
More active visitors enjoy watersports like
jet-skiing, wind surfing, rig diving and body
surfing, plus horseback riding, hiking and
biking. At the University of Texas Marine
Science Institute a boat tour provides a view
of marine life.
Corpus Christi is a major deep-water port
and one of the most popular seacoast
playgrounds in Texas with more than 180
kilometres of beaches and bayfront. The Texas
State Aquarium, living displays of sharks,
endangered sea turtles and other marine
animals are designed to create the sensation of
sinking deeper into Gulf waters.
Corpus Christi Beach is also where the
Second World War aircraft carrier U.S.S.
Lexington Museum on the Bay is docked.
Open year-round the floating museum hosts
five different tour routes, restored aircraft and
the only high-tech Flight Simulator in Texas.
Other Corpus Christi attractions include
the Corpus Christi Museum of Science &
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Natural History, Art Museum of South
Texas, the Corpus Christi Botanical
Gardens, the Asian Cultures Museum &
Educational Center and Heritage Park.
The city of Kingsville was founded by the
owners of the renowned King Ranch in 1904
and still maintains close ties to the ranching
operation. The massive King Ranch itself,
purchased from the Mexican government in
1853 by Captain Richard King, is said to be the
birthplace of the cattle ranching business,
producing two separate breeds of cattle and the
first registered American Quarter Horse.
Visitors can join guided tours of the ranch
operations or register for special interest and
nature tours.
In Kingsville, check out the King Ranch
Museum, the King Ranch Saddle Shop and
the John E. Connor Museum.
Birders follow the Kingsville Loop, one of
12 separate loops along the Great Texas
Coastal Birding Trail.
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Harlingen is home to everything tropical,
from parrots perched in the trees to
bougainvillea. Visitors are lured by its close
proximity to white sandy beaches, sprinkled
with seashells, and enchanting old Mexico.
The Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum
showcases the town's past, while a walk along
the Harlingen Heritage Trail takes visitors
past the beautiful homes on Taylor Street, once
known as Silk Stocking Row. The Downtown
Jackson Street District is the city's
downtown area, restored to its small-town
America origins.
Birders appreciate the fact that Harlingen is
situated between two wildlife refuges. East of
town is the Laguna Atascosa National
Wildlife Refuge, a refuge on the southern end
of the Central Flyway. To the west is the Santa
Ana National Wildlife Refuge, where more
than 400 species of birds have been spotted.
Brownsville is a birdwatcher’s idea of
heaven. Leisure activities include golf, tennis,
fishing, nature viewing, wildlife viewing,
swimming and going to the beach, while
attractions include the Brownsville Heritage
Complex, Historic Brownsville Museum,
the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts,
Children’s Museum of Brownsville, Palo
Alto Battlefield National Historic Site and
the Gladys Porter Zoo.
The booming resort town of South Padre
Island is an angler's paradise, birder's delight,
and sports lover's nirvana. Charter a guide and
head out for some deep sea fishing, or cast a
saltwater fly to attract the many species found
in the area. Beach fun includes jet skiing; bay,
surf, and deep-sea fishing; parasailing; sailing;
dolphin watching; beach combing; and
windsurfing. Other island activities include
bicycling, tennis, shelling, and horseback
riding on the beach.
The Laguna Madre Nature Trail, a
boardwalk that crosses 1.6 hectares of
wetlands, allows visitors to view birds and
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11:47 AM
animals in their natural habitat. The Trail is
close to the Whaling Wall, painted by
renowned environmental artist Wyland and
depicting a pod of orcas. For a look at marine
life indigenous to the area go to the Pan
American Coastal Studies Lab. Sea Turtle,
Inc. lets visitors learn first hand how the staff
rescues and rehabilitates the turtles before
releasing them back into the ocean. The South
Padre Island Dolphin Research and Sea
Life Nature Center offers daily presentations
by a research team.
Scuba divers can check out the Oil Rigs, a
vertical zoo of marine life about 96 kilometres
offshore in about 30 metres of water; the
Liberty Ships, three surplus Second World
War ships sunk in 30 metres of water about 56
kilometres offshore; or the Seven and OneHalf Fathom Reef, named for its depth, about
80 kilometres offshore.
The Port Isabel Historical Museum
offers two storeys of interactive exhibits that
illustrate the area’s history. Climb the steps of
the 1853-era Port Isabel Lighthouse and
enjoy a panoramic view of Laguna Madre Bay.
Big Bend Country
This is the land of Texan lore – lonely, rugged
expanses and immense sunsets.
Midland is a mix of cosmopolitan features
and small town comforts. Visit the American
Airpower Heritage Museum and learn about
Second World War airpower. At the Fredda
Turner Durham Children's Museum kids
can use their imagination. The Museum of the
Southwest hosts permanent, temporary and
travelling shows and the Marian Blakemore
Planetarium is a great place to learn about the
history of astronomy. The interactive Permian
Basin Petroleum Museum takes you step-bystep through the search for oil.
In Odessa, catch a performance at the
Globe of the Great Southwest, which is a
replica of Shakespeare's London theatre. See
ranch life in the 1930s at the Parker House
Museum. Learn about the office of President
and presidential campaigns at the Presidential
Museum. At the White-Pool House
Museum displays offer a look at Odessa's
history and the Ellen Noel Art Museum of
Page 12
the Permian Basin shows historical and
contemporary art.
Anchoring the far northwest corner of the
region, El Paso offers fine dining, shopping,
museums and historic sites. Check out the
city’s multicultural past at the El Paso
Museum of History. The Natural History
Museum of El Paso features more than 300
exhibits. Other cultural attractions include the
El Paso Museum of Art, and the International Museum of Art.
Hands-on exhibits at the Insights-El Paso
Science Center make science and technology
subjects easy to understand. The Ysleta del
Sur Pueblo contains an arts and crafts centre
and museum on the Tigua Indian Reservation.
Visit several Old Missions in the area,
which predate all other missions in Texas
and California.
Board the Border Jumper trolley and
go shopping and dining in Ciudad
Juárez, Mexico.
roll icon and local favourite son, Buddy Holly,
is honoured at the Buddy Holly Center and
the Walk of Fame, recognizes home-grown
music stars.
You can also check out Mackenzie Park,
a Prairie Dog Town and family amusement
park; the National Ranching Heritage
Center, where a collection of buildings
depicts the early days of Panhandle ranching;
and Science Spectrum, where science is fun
in interactive exhibits.
For a change of pace, stop in for a taste of
award-winning wines at area wineries.
Visitors to Abilene can tour Frontier
Texas, a state-of-the-art centre that puts you
back into the days of the Old West, then
head to the Abilene Zoo and see animals
from the plains of Texas and Africa plus five
different biomes in the Discovery Center.
The Buffalo Gap Historic Village, once a
stop on the Dodge Cattle Trail, is the site of
century-old buildings.
Panhandle Plains
Texas Hill Country
In northern Texas, the Panhandle Plains region
is the mental picture most people conjure
when they think of the Lone Star State. The
wide plains, open and seemingly empty as a
vast inland sea, move the soul and leave you
grasping for words. This is authentic cowboy
country, seasoned by the rich western heritage
that gives the Panhandle a flavour all its own.
Founded in 1887 at the junction of two
railroads, Amarillo was once the world’s
biggest cattle-shipping centre. Today you can
see the business end of ranching at the
Amarillo Livestock Auction. The cowboy
legacy is strong here and you can learn about
the development of the American quarter
horse breed at the American Quarter Horse
Heritage Center. Or shop for antiques in
Old San Jacinto, part of the Historic Route
66 Antique District, and view art from
European masters to American modern
works in the six galleries of the Amarillo
Museum of Art. Don't miss a photo op at the
Cadillac Ranch, an outdoor sculpture made
from vintage Cadillacs.
Lubbock is home to a legendary music
scene in its Historic Depot District. Rock ’n
Over the years, legions of travellers have fallen
for the Texas Hill Country. Cool mountain
lakes, serene valleys, cedar-studded hills and
clear-running rivers characterize the heart of
Texas where the terrain varies from hilly to
undulating to downright flat.
A city of contrasts, known for being downhome and sophisticated, laid-back yet highly
energetic, traditional and avant-garde, Austin
is renowned as the “Live Music Capital of the
World,” boasting more than 100 live music
venues that cater to blues, Latino, folk,
rock/alternative, jazz and, especially, country.
The PBS program Austin City Limits has
spawned the Austin City Limits Music
Festival, held every September. And many
Canadian groups have appeared in Austin’s
South by Southwest Festival which will
celebrate its 21st anniversary in March 2007
with nearly 24 hours of live music daily and
showcasing artists from around the world.
The capital city is also rich in history. Both
Congress Avenue and Sixth Street are
National Historic Register Districts that
feature modern skyscrapers alongside ornate
19th-century buildings.
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11:48 AM
Page 13
www.austintexas.org
Famous citizens have been commemorated at the Lyndon Baines Johnson
Library and Museum, which chronicles
the life of the most famous Austin politician;
the O. Henry Home and Museum, the
Victorian cottage that was home to the
short-story writer; and the Lady Bird
Johnson Wildflower Center, dedicated
to the preservation of native plants, and
the former f irst lady’s commitment to
the environment.
At the Bob Bullock Texas State
History Museum, three floors of interactive exhibits, a multimedia theatre and
rare artifacts tell the story of Texas. Tour
the State Capitol of Texas and the nearby
Governor’s Mansion and learn about
state government.
Other city attractions include the Umlauf
Sculpture Gardens, one of the city’s bestkept secrets; the Austin Children’s Museum;
the Austin Nature & Science Center; the
Austin Zoo; and the Congress Avenue
Bridge Bats, the largest urban bat colony in
North America.
Johnson City is best known for the
Lyndon Baines Johnson National
Historic Park. Divided into two districts,
the Johnson City District includes
Johnson’s boyhood home, while the LBJ
Ranch District contains the Johnson Ranch,
the family cemetery and the “Texas White
House”. Visit the Exotic Resort Zoo and
take a guided safari to see exotic animals
from around the world.
Stonewall is the “Peach Center of Texas”.
It also happens to be the birthplace of Lyndon
B. Johnson. Visit the interpretive centre at the
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic
Site and see a video on LBJ, then board a bus
for the LBJ National Historical Park. The
Sauer-Beckmann Farmstead, a livinghistory farm is also on the site.
The “Cowboy Capital of the World” is
located in Bandera, famous for its local
ranches and the number of championship
rodeo cowboys that were born here. Become
a “dude” for a day at any of the many guest
ranches. The Frontier Times Museum is an
eclectic place where you’ll find vintage
Built in 1886,The Driskill Hotel is located in
downtown Austin, four blocks from the
State Capitol building and 11 miles from
Austin Bergstrom Airport.
contacts
John Spomer, Managing Director
Tracy Purcell, Director of Sales & Marketing
Angie Yeo, Business Travel Manager
info
189 Guest Rooms / 14 Suites
11 Meeting Rooms
Largest Meeting Room - 2,501 sq. ft.
Total Meeting Space - 18,080 sq. ft.
amenities
The Driskill Grill, the 1886 Cafe and Bakery,
24 hour room service. Standard room
amenities include an alarm clock, bath
amenities, bathrobes and high-speed
Internet access.
604 Brazos / Austin,TX 78701
(512) 474-5911 / Fax (512) 391-7059
Toll free (800) 252-9637 / driskillhotel.com
email / [email protected]
rates
rack: $249 - 2,500
corp: $225 - 395
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11:48 AM
firearms, a shrunken head and a collection of
400 bells from around the world.
South Texas Plains
The lush Rio Grande Valley forms the western
flank of a sunny, pie-shaped region that fans
out from the border town of Mercedes to
include Goliad, San Antonio and Eagle Pass.
Touched by many cultures, the landscapes of
the South Texas Plains have been challenged
by wave after wave of tenacious souls who
found a way to wrestle their living from a
tough land.
McAllen is the epicenter of ecotouring
with six wildlife refuges less than an hour
away. Driving through extensive citrus
groves toward Mission, you can reach the
World Birding Center and the North
American Butterfly Association’s International Butterfly Park where native flora
attracts more than 290 brilliantly coloured
species. Or head to the town of Alamo where
the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
preserves the semitropical thorn forest and
provides a melting pot of all the Rio Grande
Valley’s natural treasures.
While you’re in town, visit the McAllen
International Museum of Art and Science
or park your car and stroll across the border to
Reynosa, Mexico and shop the markets and
sample Mexican food.
Every year nearly 2.5 million visitors
make the pilgrimage to San Antonio’s most
famous attraction – the Alamo. Mission San
Antonio de Valero, as it was known when
established by the Spanish in 1718, is the most
famous site in Texas history. Visit the IMAX
Theater Rivercenter and view Alamo –The
Price of Freedom a larger-than-life recreation
of the siege.
Other popular historic sites include the
mansions in the King William Historic
District, the San Fernando Cathedral and
Fort Sam Houston Museum. The Spanish
Governor's Palace, the 1749 residence of the
captain of the presidio, examines life in San
Antonio under Spanish rule while the
Pioneers, Trail Drivers, and Texas Rangers
Memorial Museum tells the story of the great
cattle drives and legendary lawmen.
Page 14
Additional museums in town include the
Institute of Texan Cultures, which traces the
contributions of 26 ethnic groups in Texas
today; the San Antonio Museum of Art,
displaying European, Latin American and
American art as well as antiquities; the San
Antonio Children’s Museum, a fun-filled
hands-on learning environment; and the
Witte Museum and H-E-B Science Treehouse, featuring natural history and natural
science exhibits.
And you can’t visit San Antonio without
taking a stroll along the colourful Paseo del
Rio (River Walk) that meanders for several
kilometres through midtown below street level
along the San Antonio River.
San Antonio’s outdoor attractions include
the peaceful formal plantings of the San
Antonio Botanical Garden and Lucile
Halsell Conservatory; guided tours of
Natural Bridge Caverns and a drive-through
safari at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch just
north of the city.
Cuero is a classic Texas town, with three
historic districts and more than 50 buildings
on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visit more than 40 churches, many established
before 1900. The Dewitt County Historical
Museum is housed in a Victorian home and
chronicles local history, while the Cuero
Heritage Museum displays community
memorabilia as well as the permanent exhibit
Cuero Talks Turkey, a look at the town's early
days as a turkey producing boomtown.
Piney Woods
The forested area of eastern Texas, known as
the Piney Woods, is a comfortable expanse of
lakes, forests and small towns that echo with a
genteel Southern drawl that’s closer to
Louisiana than to the western twang of Texas
ranch country.
Named after the state's second Governor,
George T. Wood, Woodville is the access
point to the Big Thicket National Preserve,
a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve.
The Big Thicket Loop is part of the Upper
Texas Coast section of the Great Texas
Coastal Birding
The oldest city in the state, Nacogdoches, is
also the site of the quest for Texas' independence
from Mexico. The story of the three attempts
to create a republic is told in exhibits at Old
Stone Fort. You can also trace the story at
the Sterne-Hoya House, the Oak Grove
Cemetery and at the reconstructed village at
Millard’s Crossing.
Kilgore is the site of the discovery of the
famous East Texas Oil Field, 4,000 hectares
of black gold potential. Check out the
history of the 1930s boom at the East Texas
Oil Museum.
The community of Longview, to the east
of Kilgore, also changed from a plantation
town to an oil town in the 1930s with the Oil
Field discovery. Exhibits at the Gregg
County Historical Museum outline the
importance of the discovery. The city is also
close to the recreation opportunities of Lake
O’ the Pines.
Marshall was once known for producing
saddles, harnesses, powder and ammunition
for the Confederacy. Today you can visit
Ginocchio National Historic District and the
Harrison Country Historical Museum.
Stop in at Marshall Pottery & Museum, one
of the largest manufacturers of glazed pottery
in the U.S., for a demonstration of potterymaking and firing.
Once known as the “forgotten city”,
Jefferson went from river boomtown to
backwater when it refused a railway depot.
Today it attracts visitors from around with
world with its historic home and garden tours
and antique shopping. Take a narrated tour
aboard a horse-drawn carriage, mule-drawn
wagon, steam train or riverboat. Caddo Lake
is the state's largest natural lake and is a haven
for outdoor recreation such as fishing,
swimming and boating.
Texarkana calls itself “Twice as Nice”
because of is unique location straddling the
state border between Texas and Arkansas.
Downtown attractions include a Scott Joplin
mural, the beautifully restored Perot Theatre
and the Texarkana Museum System that
includes the city’s oldest brick building,
Discovery Place kids’museum and the Ace of
Clubs 1800s House.
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11:48 AM
Page 15
TEXAS COASTAL BEND REGIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL
www.txcoastalbend.org
• Wildflower Capital of
Texas-Designated by
State Legislature
• April-Wildflower Month
• October-Turkeyfest
Celebration 2nd weekend
• December-CDC
Christmas in the Park
Lighted Display
Driving Tour
• Historic Homes & Churches
Listed on National Registry
• Nestled in Scenic Guadalupe
River Valley
(361) 275-2112 Fax: (361) 275-6351
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cuero.org
124 E. Church Street, Cuero, Texas 77954
10/31/07
11:48 AM
Page 16

Texas

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