My granddaughter Ainsley and I were visiting my son in Austin, Texas, and even though it was a hot summer day, the three of us decided to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. This facility has many facets, including conservation, research, and education; our goal was to enjoy the flowers and garden designs. The Wildflower Center was founded by Lady
Tag Archives: Texas
Exploring Martin Creek Lake State Park, Texas
One thing is for sure. Not being able to explore the world this past year, I got to know my own neighborhood, so to speak. My daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter live in the small East Texas community of Tatum. It’s a half-hour drive from my home in Henderson. Every time I travel along Route 43, I pass the sign for
Finding fun where you live
For many of us this year has meant staying close to home. As a travel writer, I decided to get to know the communities close to me while I had the opportunity. One I enjoyed exploring was my own—Henderson, Texas. I moved to Henderson more than 10 years ago after I retired from my fulltime writing position. I wanted to
Gladewater: An East Texas Gem
Like many travel writers, I am staying close to home this year. Fortunately for me, many of the communities in East Texas have a lot of reasons to visit; many offering excellent museums and fun shopping. Case in point — Gladewater. Gladewater Museum I start my tour at the Gladewater Museum located in a 1939 Art Deco building used over
Finding history in East Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas is the oldest community in the state. Around 1700, the Spanish began establishing missions in and around Nacogdoches to have a presence in the area and to bring Christianity to Native Americans. Naturally when you visit this East Texas city you expect to find several historic attractions and you won’t be disappointed. Two homes open for tour are
East Texas Animal Park offers education and fun
On a beautiful winter’s day recently I experienced a little bit of Africa and other exotic locations in the rolling hills of East Texas. My destination was Cherokee Trace Wild Animal Park, just east of Jacksonville, a 300-acre preserve and drive-thru safari. “The safari as it is today was started in 2003. It is still owned by the same family,”
Celebrating the season with history
Community tree lighting is commonplace in many communities around the world. But in Kilgore, Texas, it’s A Very Derrick Christmas as stars atop oil derrick replicas are lit to honor the city’s history. “It was October 3, 1930 when the Daisy Bradford #3 came in at 6,000 barrels of oil a day changing the future of the communities of East
Discover Historic Texas at Millard’s Crossing
On a beautiful spring day I visit homes, a church, school and land office all from the 19th and early 20th centuries and all original to East Texas. The buildings, and symbols of local history, were dismantled and reconstructed on a plot of land in Nacogdoches and collectively named Millard’s Crossing Historic Village. The village is named for the railroad
Museum chronicles Texas oil boom
Before me in muted light is a life-size muddy street with a traffic jam. Going one way is a mule-drawn wagon and going the other way are two cars. The street is impassable because of its width and the axle-deep mud. Welcome to East Texas during the oil boom. The lobby reminds me of other museums; an old car, antique
Texas “dinosaur museum” is a big hit with children
My four-year-old granddaughter Ainsley loves fish, sea turtles, sharks and dinosaurs. Although when she started to talk she stumbled over certain words, she quickly learned the names of many dinosaurs – Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brachiosaurus. Naranjo Museum of Natural History in Lufkin, Texas is an excellent place to visit for a little girl interested in all things prehistoric. This