Places

You say you’re 10 years old and you want to ride a real bucking bull? No problem. Big D Mini Bulls of Wimberley can help. And we’re not talking about some coin-operated rocking bull in a mall or a mechanical bull in a carnival.

Hang your Stetson in Central Texas, and you’ve got a lot to brag about.  We live in an outdoorsman’s paradise — more than a dozen sparkling clear lakes offer you world class fishing, sailing, and other water sports.  Our hills abound with whitetail deer, wild turkey, and other game.

It is impossible to be bored at the State Fair of Texas. Impossible? Absolutely. Within this 277-acre historic park in Dallas, you’ll discover auto shows, live music, a petting zoo, creative arts, livestock shows, a midway full of thrill rides and games, several great museums, and 18 different shopping areas offering everything from books to mattresses, hot tubs to tools and farm equipment.

“Howdy, folks. Howdy, howdy.” That’s Big Tex—all 55 feet of him—welcoming everyone to the State Fair of Texas. He first showed up at the fair in 1952. He learned to speak by the next year and by 1997 gave a friendly Texas wave. Big Tex is one of the most famous Texans on earth—and the tallest. Like many Baby Boomers, he has had some problems with age.

You’re going to love Utopiafest. First of all, it’s in Utopia. The village’s name is not hype. It’s a tiny town of less than 300 folks situated way out in the west end of the Hill Country where the hills are just a little taller, the roads twistier, the big cities and freeways farther away. The area is tucked away between Garner State Park, one of the most popular Texas parks, and Lost Maples State Natural Area that lures visitors in during the fal ...

“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” I love to explore the Hill Country every chance I get. There are tons of things to see and do, and for someone like me, who doesn’t have a lot of down time, daytrips are the ideal way to do some sightseeing. I recently renewed my State Park pass.  In the past, I haven’t taken advantage of the pass, but I’ve decided that this year will be different. My goal is to visit all of the State Parks within a 100-mile radius of whe ...

Each summer, the glistening Guadalupe River becomes a magnet, attracting youngsters from far and near to the Hill Country for fun and, in the case of a very special camp near Center Point, inspiration and healing. The scenic, 55-acre campground overlooking the river offers canoeing, archery, swimming, campfire cooking, horseback riding and many other pastimes popular with kids, but what really sets it apart  is its name – Camp CAMP (Children’s Association for ...

Have you ever imagined yourself walking through lavish oceans of blue lavender in Provence, drinking inthe fragrance? Well, I have! Unfortunately, I haven’t made it to France yet, but my dear husband agreed to come along with me and make a date of the Blanco Lavender Festival.  We spent a pleasant, early June morning roaming through fields of lavender right here in our own beloved Texas Hill Country. The festival brochure offered self guided tours at two farms.

Though they number more than 800, Bharat Patel can call them each by name. Strolling around the grounds of his Blanco hotel, Patel points to ‘Vincent Godsif’ and ‘Belinda.’ This one, he says, is ‘Peggy Martin,’ and there’s ‘New Dawn.’ The names refer to the 20-plus cultivars of roses that grow and bloom in mass profusion around the Best Western Plus/Blanco Luxury Inn and Suites.

In what’s promising to be a “reel” fun four-day run this spring (April 28 through May 1), the spotlight again will be beaming brightly on historic Fredericksburg as the community’s focus shifts (slightly) away from its treasured Old World heritage and reorients, amazingly enough, more towards something most would associate with the West Coast and Tinsel Town – namely, the art of filmmaking.