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 Most people know Waco as home to Baylor University. But it’s more than that. Much more. The city, located about halfway between Austin and Dallas, has 18 museums, an excellent zoo, expansive outdoor recreation, several fine restaurants and cafes, and some unusual shopping. Tourism has skyrocketed here recently. Estimates are that about 35,000 people visit Waco every week and the city is seeing more and more people from out-of-state who are staying longer and se ...

From the smiles and expressions of hope on the faces of the Meeks family that owns tourist cabins and event facilities on the banks of the Blanco River in Wimberley you would never know the devastation they faced two years ago when a wall of water more than 44 feet high rushed down that river and devoured nearly everything in sight. They are rebuilding.

Almost 100 years ago, after World War I had ended in 1918, an American woman, Moina Michael, having just re-read the poem, In Flanders Fields, which was already known around the world, pledged to wear a red poppy as a sign of remembrance.  And she wrote a response to that poem entitled, We Shall Keep the Faith.

 Savor the thought of a juicy ¼ lb. all beef hot dog on a pretzel bun, piled with chili, onions, cheese and jalapeños. You can order that dog by the name of “Bad Hombre” at Maui Shaved Ice & Dogz at the new food park in Fredericksburg, Texas. Or you might want to try their “Hot Red Neck” slathered in chili, coleslaw and jalapeños.

You've probably already heard the bad news: honeybees are dying like flies.  And if they disappear our diets will change drastically.  These helpful insects pollinate a list of food plants as long as your uncle's arm.  It includes such favorites as apples, plums, peaches, Brussels sprouts, pears, okra, chocolate, broccoli, onions, coffee, apricots, beets, avocados, all sorts of beans, celery, figs, carrots, and on and on and on -- for another yard or two.   ...

 San Saba, home of the Armadillos and Harry’s and pecans, needs to be on your list of places to go this year. The small town, located on Hwy 16, just 36 miles to the north west of Lampasas, boasts an astonishing 64 events held throughout the year, according to Tony Guidroz, the Director for San Saba Economic Development & Tourism. In May, a new event will feature 13 performers, dances and more. San Saba Sounds of Shopping, scheduled for May 19-2 ...

HAUTE FOODS By Heather Wagner If you’re like most Texans, then likely your first experience with food trucks was picking up breakfast tacos from the local taco truck in town. (And if you call them ‘tacos’, then you’re most certainly from ‘round here.) The best tasting tacos, I’d argue, are those that are made from fresh ingredients, rolled into a homemade tortilla and ser ...

 Aggieland, the Brazos Valley, Bryan College Station—no matter what you call it, you can’t be bored here. Heck, even a former president of the United States will entertain you. Well, his library and museum will. Most Texans know College Station as home to Texas A&M University and that is a huge part of this community—you can even get guided tours—but there’s more. “We have a little bit of something for everybody,” says Elizabeth Webb, communicati ...

The old oak survived. No one knows for certain how old this stately tree on the bank of the Blanco River near Wimberley is—estimates range from 300 to 700 years—but it survived the devastating Memorial Day Flood of 2015. And so did the most unique wedding and special events venue in this neck of the woods: Old Glory Ranch. Old Glory had about $700,000 in damages from that flood.

Randy Ersch takes wood and makes miracles for people with special needs. His Fredericksburg workshop – Ingrained in Wood Design Specialties – hums with activity when he opens it up to special-needs clients of Advantage Care Services (ACS) for a “shop day.”  Under his watchful eyes and with his non-stop encouragement, young adults with cognitive issues enthusiastically sand, drill and hammer on simple projects like bird houses that to them become works of woodworking ar ...