This magnificent river cuts literally through the mountains and is the greenest part of Big Bend. The sheer cliff walls on either side give the visitor a wondrous feeling of isolation. Canoeists and rafters are allowed on the river with the right permits. Commercial outfitters just outside the park also offer commercial float trips. Swimming is neither banned nor encouraged because the Rio Grande has some fast moving currents, steep drop-offs and is subject to dangerous flash flooding. Fishermen delight in angling for catfish. Hikers can choose to follow the river trails through Santa Elena, The Mariscal, the Hot Spring and Boquillas canyons and get a close up view of the hundreds of birds and animals that come to drink in the river. If you want transportation but prefer to stay off the river, then El Camino Del Rio or “the river road” is an excellent paved route that follows the Grand River through the mountains and canyons. However, this road has some hazards like steep grades, sharp curves and the occasional loose livestock.

The name of the park comes from the u-shaped bend in the Rio Grande River that acts as the border between Texas and Mexico. Most of the park is part of the Chihuahuan Desert, which extends deep into Mexico, but the park also contains the rugged greenery of the Rio Grande Flood plains and the woodlands of the Chisos Mountains. Geologists and rock collectors love the fossils, limestone and sandstone formations in the Santa Elena, Mariscal and Boquillas canyons, while birdwatchers delight in the 450 different types of birds ranging from the comic roadrunner to the humming bird and peregrine falcon. Rugged outdoorsmen have several hundred miles of trails to choose from while the more leisure traveler can drive more than 100 miles of scenic roads.

The only restaurant in the park is a part of the Chisos Mountain Lodge, which also has a gift shop, motel-style rooms and stone cottages for rent. The Lodge is frequently booked up so it is a good idea to always make reservations ahead of time. Other motels are available a short drive away outside the park in the towns of Terlingua, Alpine, and Fort Davis.

This land is bordered on three sides by mountains and on the fourth by semi-arid plains. The mountains help block the rains, which make this area a fairly green, almost lush desert. Certainly after a summer storm, the land becomes alive with colorful cactus blossoms from the agave or century plants, lechuguilla and prickly pear. The animals here are mostly nocturnal but deer, coyotes, javelinas (wild pig), skunks and jackrabbits can sometimes be seen. The best time to visit this area is in winter. When the rest of the country is locked in snow, the desert is a comfortable 27 ºC but can get as hot as 42ºC in the summer. Hikers and mountain bikers are always warned to take more water than what they think they need. The dry climate makes dehydration the most serious danger here.

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The state’s capital of Austin is also nestled in the hills next to Lake Travis. This city is the home of University of Texas at Austin and a growing commercial center. The land is dotted with short small woods, lakes, rivers and caves. The hill country region area is great for freshwater sailors, deer hunters and fishermen. Central Texas weather can be a little more extreme. Winter months usually include two or more short ice storms while the summers can get as hot as 43C during July and August.

Located in the middle of southern USA and on the Gulf of Mexico, the Lone Star State is actually six major land regions put together. As the areas flow into one another, the land changes from dark pine woods, to rolling hills and finally into sparse beautiful desert. Each area has its own commerce, agricultural specialties and distinctive weather but all the land is equal in its unique beauty and history.
Johnson Space Center

West Texas divides the border between Mexico and New Mexico. It is beautiful but harsh cactus land that includes the Davis Mountains. The land is filled with limestone rocks, twisted mesquite trees and prickly pear cactus. For true desert beauty, check out Big Bend National Park, southeast of El Paso. It is a favorite place for hikers, campers and rock enthusiasts. Tiny towns and ranches are nestled among all the plateaus and canyons of this region. This area only has two seasons, warm and really hot. The best time to visit is from December to March when the days are warm, the nights are cool and the desert plants bloom from all the water in the air.

East Texas is the wet eastern quarter of the state located on the border of Louisiana. This area is also called the Piney Woods area and is filled with hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams, making it a fisherman’s paradise. The mix of pines and hardwood trees eventually give way to the Blackland Prairies, which are 12 million acres of grassland. Most of this land is used for cattle grazing and is covered in beautiful wildflowers during March and April. When passing through, be sure to check out the town of Tyler, the rose capitol of Texas. Tyler has seven museums, gardens, camping areas, theater, a zoo and beautiful historic homes. During March and April, the land overflows with colors from roses, azaleas and a multitude of wild flowers.

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The Alamo and the River Walk are the main tourist attractions in San Antonio and the top two attractions in the entire state of Texas. The Alamo is a partially reconstructed Spanish Mission in the heart of the city and was the place where 189 Texas patriots died in 1836, while defending their land against a greatly superior Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The defenders included the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett and colorful Texian knife fighter Jim Bowie. You can tour the small museum of historical artifacts located in the reconstructed chapel for free. The historic Battle of the Alamo is depicted at the San Antonio IMAX Theatre Rivercenter and at the Texas Adventure multimedia special effects theater within one block of Alamo Square.

San Antonio International Airport is located 13 miles north of downtown along route 281. Transportation to the downtown hotels is available via cab for about $15, via shuttle bus for $8 or via public transportation for less than one dollar. You can drive from San Antonio to Houston in about four hours along Interstate 10. You can drive to Corpus Christi, on the Gulf Coast, or to Laredo, on the Mexican border, in a little over two hours.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is located in the southern suburbs of San Antonio. It contains the remains of four Spanish Missions in various states of preservation. Mission San Jose is the best preserved with its entire compound reconstructed as it would have looked in colonial times. It enables you to see how the mission operated as a self-contained farming and manufacturing community with houses for hundreds of pacified Native American Indians.

As in most southern cities, San Antonio can become very hot during the summer months especially July and August. It can get cool in the winter but seldom very cold. The best times to visit are in Spring or Fall.

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It is hardly more than a bend in the road. A couple of shabby old buildings stand beneath a grove of spreading oaks. The whole town covers less than ten acres. A sign as you enter town says: “population 3”. The Luckenbach post office stands at the center. It includes a general store and saloon. Out back, folks sit on benches under the oak trees sipping Lone Star Beer and listening to country music. A cowboy strums his guitar.

The only other significant structure is the dance hall. It is a genuine old-fashioned Texas dance hall. Local bands play western music on most weekends. Folks from all around the area come to dance and party.

They have an interesting assortment of entertainment events in Luckenbach. It includes Armadillo races, cowboy Christmases, bluebonnet balls, mud daubers days, an annual hug-in, and the world’s all women’s chili cook off. Most famous of all is the Fourth of July picnic. It has been frequented by country music star Willie Nelson. Waylon Jennings and Willie both recorded hit records about Luckenbach.

Luckenbach sits along both sides of ranch road 1376 approximately 17 miles south of Fredricksburg, Texas. It is about an hour drive north of San Antonio and an hour west of Austin. You should stop and ask directions! Luckenbach is not easy to find. You better hurry! It might disappear before you get there.

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The central downtown area has an exquisitely reconstructed old-town area and an outdoor heritage museum in adjacent Sam Houston Park. The cultural center of Houston with its Museum of Fine Arts, Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural Science, Contemporary Arts Museum and several other cultural attractions is immediately to the south. The Bayou Place Entertainment Complex and Enron Field, new home of the Houston Astros baseball team, are both located nearby.

The surrounding terrain is low and flat with a warm damp climate. They grow cotton, sugar cane and rice in the neighboring farmlands. The summer weather can be rather hot and humid. Winters are cool but seldom very cold. Fall and spring often produce the most pleasant climate for visitors.

There are shopping malls scattered all over Houston. The Galleria, located in the uptown area west of central downtown, is the most impressive with its wide assortment of international designer shops. Highland Village and Uptown Park are other shopping malls located nearby. Further west is the Katy Mills Mall with many outlet stores, retail establishments, restaurants and entertainment venues. Deerbrook Mall, Willowbrook Mall and Woodlands Mall are located north of downtown. Baybrook Mall is located south along the route to NASA and Galveston.

Houston hotels can be booked here if you need one.

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The famous four-level West End Market Place used to be a candy-and-cracker factory but now has activities and entertainment for all ages. On the first level is the West End Market Place Visitor Center. Escalators connect the levels which are filled with eateries, ethnic jewelry stores, the West End Comedy Theatre, western wear and Texas-themed shops. Level 3 has a photo shop where visitors can dress up in costumes and have their pictures taken with scenes of the Old West and the Victoria Era. Level 4 has a sports bar and indoor miniature golf.

Dallas’ climate is humid but most of the annual rain falls in the spring often bringing entrancing thunderstorms. Dallas also sees hot, dry wind in the summer time. The winters can get quite cold, even icy. Fall is the ideal time to visit but if you don’t mind the occasional rain shower spring is also pleasant.

You don’t want to miss shopping on a McKinney Avenue Trolleys which connect the Downtown Arts District with the historic, picturesque Uptown. Uptown is an upscale area offering dozens of boutiques, galleries, hotels, and restaurants, including the Hard Rock Café. Fine dining, fine shopping, and fine art are all part of the Uptown experience.

The people of Dallas are pleasant, too. They’re welcoming and full of hospitality. Anyone who visits is more than likely to hear the greeting, “Hey, y’all!” Just don’t forget to taste some of their Texas Barbeque (BBQ) and enjoy a Tex-Mex dinner with a margarita. (Tex-Mex is a Texan spin on Mexican cuisine.)

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Austin is home to the University of Texas, often referred to as “UT” or simply “Texas.” It is the largest university in Texas as well as one of the largest in the United States. The school’s burnt orange colors and Longhorn steer mascot are popular throughout the state of Texas.

Austin is positioned on the Colorado River and there are many lakes in Austin and its surrounding area, including three man-made lakes within the city limits. The lakes are popular for water activities such as swimming, water skiing, boating, and fishing. Mount Bonnell is one of the highest points in Austin. It is located adjacent to Lake Austin and has an elevation of 780 feet above mean sea level, making it a great location to view the Austin skyline or sit and watch the sun set.

Austin is the State Capital of Texas and is where you will find the elegant Governor’s Mansion. This beautiful Greek revival style mansion is located near the State Capitol at the corner of 11th Street and Colorado. It is a National Historic Landmark and is the oldest executive residence west of the Mississippi. The First Families of Texas have lived in the Governor’s Mansion since 1856. Tours of the Mansion and its beautiful gardens are available to visitors.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is located in southeast Austin about eight miles from downtown. The airport is on the site of the former Bergstrom Air Force Base on Texas Highway 71 and U.S. Highway 183. The airport offers a variety of restaurants and Texas themed gift shops but the most memorable aspect of the airport is the Live Music Stage that regularly features local performers.
Musicians

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