Some people might argue that Texas beaches aren’t comparable to those in the Caribbean. And maybe they are right. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have any good beaches in Texas.

The truth is that there are plenty of great beaches in Texas where any family can spend a memorable summer vacation.

10 Texas Beaches

Here are ten great Texas beaches where thousands of people have had a lot of fun every summer.

Rockport Beach

The first of our top Texas beaches, is Rockport Beach. It is Texas’ first Blue Wave Beach. That is, a clean, litter-free beach that is managed with human safety and the environment in mind. It is also handicap-accessible, has public restrooms, and water that is safe to swim in.

Amenities at Rockport Beach include a boat launch, a loop for water-skiing, fishing piers, picnic cabanas with barbecue grills, kids’ playgrounds, volleyball courts, and more.

Pets, glass containers, vehicles, and overnight camping are not allowed on the beach. However, you may take a tent or pop-up for shade.

Here’s more info about Rockport Beach.

Crystal Beach

On the Bolivar Peninsula, just a little to the northeast of Galveston, is a small community called Crystal Beach. It boasts more than 20 miles of beach along the peninsula.

If you like camping on the beach, and fishing, Crystal Beach is a great vacation spot. You are also allowed to drive on the beach.

Here’s more info about Crystal Beach.

Padre Island National Seashore

On North Padre Island, just a little to the south of Corpus Christi, is Padre Island National Seashore. It is a stretch of about 70 miles of undeveloped beach.

This is a great area to see a lot of coastal nature. There is a program to re-establish sea turtles on the national seashore. You can see plenty of newborn turtles in the summer. You can also see a huge variety of birds.

For obvious reasons, the park is primitive, but you may camp on the beach. Keep in mind that most of the beach requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle. You don’t want to get stuck in the sand!

Read more about Padre Island National Seashore.

Mustang Island State Park

On the south end of Mustang Island, the island where Port Aransas is located, is Mustang Island State Park. The park has 5 miles of beach.

Mustang Island State Park has a rich animal life, like various types of rodents, birds, and also sea turtles. If you like exploring nature, you’ll have a great time at Mustang Island State Park.

The park has 48 campsites with water and electricity hookups, as well as another 50 primitive sites. There is also plenty to do, like swimming, hiking, fishing, kayaking, paddling, and bird watching.

Read more about Mustang Island State Park.

Malaquite Beach

Located within Padre Island National Seashore, is Malaquite Beach.

You can do primitive tent camping on the beach, and there are semi-primitive campsites available in the Malaquite campground. Semi-primitive means you have a campsite and picnic table, but no water/electricity hookups. The campground has toilets and cold-water showers.

Here’s more info about Malaquite Beach.

Galveston Island State Park

Around the middle of Galveston Island, is Galveston Island State Park. The park contains ponds, wetlands, estuaries, and has nice beaches that offer unsupervised swimming.

The park allows camping and has campsites with water and electricity.

Other than swimming, there is also plenty to do, like fishing, picnicking, bird watching, hiking, mountain biking, and paddling. You can also just kick back and enjoy nature.

Here’s more info about Galveston Island State Park.

East Beach – Galveston

Staying on Galveston Island, on the eastern tip is East Beach. During the summer, East Beach hosts several festivals and live concerts.

The beach park has some great amenities, like showers, restrooms, umbrella and chair rentals, kids’ playground, and concessions. There is also a bird sanctuary.

East Beach is the only beach in Galveston where alcohol is allowed, but keep in mind that glass is not allowed. You can take your dog, as long as you keep it on a leash.

Read more about East Beach in Galveston.

North Beach – Corpus Christi

On the northwest side of Corpus Christi bay, right next to the USS Lexington, is North Beach. The Texas State Aquarium is also within walking distance.

Along the beach is a concrete walkway, which is great for biking or taking a walk. There are plenty of places to eat along the beach as well. In Dolphin Park, on the north side of the beach, is a nice kids’ playground.

North Beach is a great location for a few days of fun in Corpus.

Read more about North Beach in Corpus Christi.

Port Aransas Beach

Of all Texas beaches, the one that we have visited the most, is Port Aransas beach. It is a long beach, but easy to get anywhere on the beach due to the sand road that runs along the beach. Buggy rentals make it easy to get around too.

The City of Port Aransas does a good job of keeping the beaches clean. You can camp on the beach, and there are a number of campgrounds along the beach, behind the barrier dune, as well.

Along some stretches of the beach are picnic facilities that include picnic tables and cabanas. If you buy a beach parking permit, available at gas stations, you can park on the beach.

Port Aransas beach is also home to the annual Texas Sandfest.

Read more about Port Aransas Beach.

South Padre Island Beach

The beach on South Padre Island stretches for miles along Padre Island. It is a beautiful beach with clean sand and plenty of activities on the beach. My second ever paragliding experience was at South Padre beach.

You can go horseback riding and ziplining on South Padre beach, and even take sandcastle building lessons from a master.

Being on the southern tip of Texas, South Padre Island may be a long drive to get to, but it is well worth the trip!

This wraps up our list of great Texas beaches to visit. While there are a number of other good beaches that we’ll cover in a future post, this list will give you a bunch of good options to choose from.

Have you been to any of the Texas beaches mentioned above? Tell us about it in the comments…

For several years, we have been hearing about Texas Sandfest in Port Aransas. I have always known that it is a sand sculpture competition on the beach. But I never knew what it all entails.

This past weekend was the latest edition of Texas Sandfest. We decided that it was time to go. So we set off in our camper van on the Thursday. Boy, were we surprised with what we found…

A little about Texas Sandfest

Texas Sandfest started in 1997 as a smaller event. However, due to its popularity, it quickly grew into a three-day event.

From the start, its main goal was to be a fundraising event. Today it is a non-profit organization that supports a number of other non-profit groups in the Port Aransas community.

Sandfest usually takes place in April each year, with the exact dates varying according to tide charts. It takes place on the beach between Sandcastle Drive and Beach Access Road 1A.

Our visit to Texas Sandfest

Sandfest begins on a Friday, so we arrived at our campground on Thursday late afternoon and set up camp. It felt good to be back in Port A after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey two years earlier.

Sandfest is enclosed and we paid $15 each for a 3-day pass. Friday was a good day to go because it wasn’t near as busy as Saturday or Sunday.

Most artists only start their sculptures on Friday, so you don’t see too many big sculptures on Friday. But it also means that you get to see how artists start out with building a sculpture.

Saturday and Sunday are the days when a lot of sculpture-building takes place. But there are also a lot more people.

Getting to Sandfest?

The City of Port Aransas prepares huge parking areas on the beach on the north-side and south-side of the venue for parking.

To help with getting people to the venue, there are shuttles (golf carts) that operate from Sandcastle Drive and Beach Access Rd 1A. They drop people off at the north and south entrances to the venue.

The shuttles worked well on Friday, but we had to wait in line on Saturday and Sunday. This is not a big problem because it’s only a 10-minute walk from the shuttle stations to the venue.

What’s at Sandfest?

The most obvious activity you’ll find at Texas Sandfest is sand sculpture building. Some artists begin their work on Friday. But by Saturday the creative juices are flowing and all teams have begun their work.

It is very interesting to watch the artists at work. I was amazed at what these people are able to achieve with only sand, water, and some tools. The artistry was incredible!

There are many vendors at Texas Sandfest. Food vendors sell on-the-go types of food, like corndogs, mac & cheese sandwiches, funnel cakes, ice cream, and more. Other vendors sell jewelry, clothes, wood carvings, bags, and more. There is also a music tent where you can sit, enjoy some shade, and listen to live bands.

We went all three days and spent at least 2 hours each day, wandering from sculptures to vendors and back to sculptures.

The Sculptures

Here are some of the magnificent sculptures that we saw at Texas Sandfest:

Tips for going to Texas Sandfest

Here are some tips for an enjoyable experience:

• Take money. There’s an entrance fee and the vendors will cost you a few dollars. If you run out of cash, there are ATMs available.
• Take a hat and be sure to put on sunscreen. When you’re in a nice environment like Sandfest, it’s easy to forget about the sun. I saw several bright pink bodies strolling around!
• If you have a people-friendly and animal-friendly dog, you can take it along as long as it is on a leash the entire time. Remember to clean up behind your dog, and have water available for drinking.
• You can take your own cooler with drinks and snacks.

Overall, we had a fantastic weekend in Port Aransas at Texas Sandfest. As a result, we are planning on going again next year.

PS. Kudos to the Port Aransas community for the amazing job they have done so far with rebuilding their town after the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey!

Have you been to Sandfest? Tell us about it in the comments below…

Do you remember how much fun it was to go see Christmas light displays when you were a kid?

For most of us, nothing has changed. It is still a thrill to go see the millions of twinkling lights and the wondrous world they create.

If you will be in Texas this holiday season, here are ten spectacular Christmas light displays to go see…

Christmas Light Displays in Texas

1. Nature In Lights – Fort Hood

Along the shores of Belton Lake, near Fort Hood, is the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area. The locals call it BLORA.

They host the annual Nature In Lights holiday lights display.

A cool thing about Nature in Lights is that visitors drive through the lights display. It stretches over 5½ miles and has more than 120 displays.

Along the way, you can stop by Santa’s Village where you can buy homemade cookies and hot chocolate.

Prices are very reasonable, ranging from $8 per car or mini-van to $60 for a big bus.

2. Trail Of Lights – Zilker Park, Austin

The Austin Trail of Lights is located in Zilker Park. It is probably one of the best Christmas light displays in Texas!

There are more than 50 light displays to enjoy. Many food vendors along the way will ensure that you don’t get hungry or thirsty.

If you’re planning to drive there, you have to buy your parking ticket before the time. A good option might be to park at the Burger Center or Republic Square Park, and then take a shuttle to Zilker Park.

While it may be a little tougher to get there, the Trail of Lights is spectacular and well worth a visit.

3. Prairie Lights – Grand Prairie (Dallas Area)

Prairie Lights is another “drive-thru” Christmas lights display in Texas. It is located in Grand Prairie, between Dallas and Arlington.

Prairie Lights has about 4 million lights set in various displays along a 2-mile path. It takes about 45 minutes to drive through.

Holiday Village is about halfway through the drive. Here you can get out of your car to buy some concessions, like hot chocolate, apple cider, funnel cakes, and more. The Holiday Village also has an indoor laser show and a walk-thru forest (for an extra fee).

Prairie Lights is in Lynn Creek Park at 5610 Lake Ridge Pkwy.

4. Zoo Lights – Houston Zoo

The Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo has a great holiday lights display.

There are more than 2 million lights in multiple displays along the way. They have holiday music playing as well.

For those who need a little warmth in the tummy, there is hot chocolate available too.

The Zoo closes at 5 p.m. for regular visitors and then re-opens at 6 p.m. for Zoo Lights visitors.

Parking can be an issue at times. If that is the case when you go at 6 p.m., grab some dinner first and return at 8 p.m. after the first wave of visitors has left.

5. The Riverwalk – San Antonio

Whether it’s Christmas or not, the San Antonio Riverwalk is a special place.

But when it is Christmas, the Riverwalk is even more special!

The entire Riverwalk gets covered in millions of colorful lights that turn the place into a magic wonderland.

If you’ve never been to the Riverwalk over Christmas, don’t miss out on the opportunity when it comes up. You’ll love it!

6. Walkway Of Lights – Marble Falls

The Walkway of Lights is a very nice Christmas light display in the Texas Hill Country.

It is located in Marble Falls, along the shores of Lake Marble Falls.

The Walk of Lights boasts more than a million lights on 230 displays. It takes about 30 minutes to walk through. There is a concession along the way where you can buy hot chocolate, apple cider, and cookies.

The Walkway of Lights is free, although they give you the opportunity to make a donation at the entry or exit.

If you’ll be in the Marble Falls area this holiday season, go see it. We’ve been there a few times and love it.

7. Santa’s Wonderland – College Station

Santa’s Wonderland in College Station is a treat!

It consists of two parts. The first is Santa’s Town, a Christmas village that has food, music, shopping, and other activities, like a petting zoo and pony rides. The second part is the Trail of Lights.

There are two ways to see the Trail of Lights. The first is Santa’s Hayride Tour, which is a 50-person hay ride that takes you through the trail of lights. The second option is the VIP Horse & Carriage tour (make reservations for this tour).

Santa’s Wonderland offers a lot. Go see it if you can.

8. Santa Land – Tyler

Santa Land is near Tyler in East Texas. It is the original drive-thru Christmas lights display in Texas.

Santa Land boasts more than 2 million lights, with many light displays in an area of more than 20 acres.

They have a large gift shop where you can buy many Christmas creations and hot chocolate and apple cider.

You can also have pictures taken with Santa.

9. Concho Christmas Celebration – San Angelo

The Tour of Lights is part of the Concho Christmas Celebration in San Angelo.

It is also a drive-thru Christmas lights display.

The Tour of Lights features more than 3 million lights in various displays over 2½ miles along the Concho river.

There is no entry fee, but they suggest a donation of $5 per vehicle.

10. Rock ‘N Lights – Round Rock

The final Christmas lights display in our round-up is Rock ‘N Lights Holiday Light Tour.

It is a fairly new drive-thru holiday lights display in Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

Rock ‘N Lights has more than 2 million lights in several displays along a 1½-mile path in the park.

The organisers recommend entering the park at the north entrance along Old Settlers Blvd.

After traveling through the lights display, you can stop at Christmas Towne, which has carnival rides, go-kart rides, food, and more.

There is no way that these are the only awesome Christmas light displays in Texas. If you know of any others, please share them in the comments.

Another summer rolls around in Texas… you’re in Austin… it’s hot and you’re looking for a fun place to take the kids to cool off. On top of that, it would be nice if you could also fit in some fun and relaxation. Look no further than Typhoon Texas in Pflugerville!

Typhoon Texas was formerly known as Hawaiian Falls Pflugerville. It is located about 30 minutes north of downtown Austin, near the intersection of I-45 and SH-130.

What’s At Typhoon Texas Pflugerville?

Typhoon Texas Pflugerville is a water park and adventure park. Therefore, it has…

Water Rides

Typhoon Texas Pflugerville has a total of eleven water rides…

• There are 7 exciting tube rides. Four have a height restriction of minimum 42 inches, and the other three tube rides have a restriction of 48 inches.
• The Reef Racer is a 6-lane racing slide. Racers must be at least 42 inches tall.
• There is a very nice wave pool called Breaker Beach.
• The lazy river, called Pfluger Cooler, is a great place to just cool off and relax. I did many loops on this one!
• Then there is a shallow open pool, called Splashwater Harbor, that is nice for lounging about and hanging out with the little ones.

We enjoyed every single one of those rides during the day that we spent there.

Adventure Attractions

Access to the adventure park is included in water park admission ticket, and features six great attractions:

• The Big Island Adventure Trail has 18 rope bridges and tunnels to climb over and through.
• The Ropes Challenge Course has various ropes activities on various levels, ranging in heights of 2 – 60 feet off the ground.
• The Pineapple Express Zip Tour is a 500-foot zip line that spans across the park.
• The Cliffhanger Free Fall lets you jump off a 7-story tower and free-fall to the ground. Don’t worry, there is a braking system that stops you safely before you get to the ground!
• Captain Cook’s Mast Climb is a 30-foot high rope ladder that requires a bit a of skill and determination to climb to the top.
• Mount Pfluger Rock Wall is a 36-foot rock climbing wall that will challenge most climbers.

Keep in mind that closed-toe shoes and a shirt are required to enter the adventure park. There are also height restrictions on these attractions.

Food

One thing that I really used to enjoy enjoy about the old Hawaiian Falls Pflugerville was that you were allowed to take your own cooler. This is not the case anymore, so keep that in mind.

They have two food stalls where you can buy pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, and so on.

Parking

Parking is free and gives easy access to the park.

Beating The Heat

Remember, this is Texas and it does get hot in the summer. Take flip-flops or water shoes to protect your feet from hot sidewalks. Also take hats and sun screen. Be sure to drink plenty of water while at the park.

We have been to Typhoon Texas Pflugerville and had an absolute blast for a whole day. I’m sure you will too!

Here is what others think too.

Have you been to Typhoon Texas Pflugerville before? Tell us about it in the comments…

Most of us have built sandcastles on the beach before. You know… the kind that involves a plastic shovel and a bucket that is shaped like a castle tower when flipped upside-down.

What if you would like to create something better than that… something that could be described as sand art? Well, you can do it.

Andy Hancock has been offering sandcastle lessons in South Padre for years.

Andy is an expert at creating sandcastles. He is the creator of the largest permanent sandcastle in the US. His work is simply amazing! See for yourself…

About Sandcastle Lessons In South Padre

Andy Hancock’s sandcastle lessons in South Padre are ideal for all ages, but it’s probably a good idea that the little ones are at least around 5 years old. This is also ideal for various types of people, like families on vacation, birthday parties, and so on.

There are currently three lesson packages available that are based on how much time you want to spend on it:

• The One Hour Session is deal for those who want to learn the basics of building sandcastles.
• The 2-3 Hour Sessions are ideal for those who want to learn more than the basics and get into some more creative sandcastle building. This one is also better for bigger families to ensure that everyone gets enough instruction.
• If you want to get really serious about it and go the whole way, the VIP Package is a full day course where you can learn even advanced techniques.

All of the packages include a sandcastle toolkit that comes with all the tools that you will need for your level of sandcastle building.

What Others Think

Andy has earned himself a very nice reputation with his sandcastle lessons. In TripAdvisor reviews, he has earned a 98% “Excellent” rating and received a TripAdvisor “Certificate of Excellence!”

As one reviewer put it…

“Fun fun fun! Just do it!”

You can also read here what another of our visitors said about sandcastle lessons in South Padre.

The bottomline is, this is a very different activity from what people normally do on the beach. The whole family can learn a fun skill and enjoy the beach just a little more every time you go.

If you would like to contact Andy to set up some sandcastle lessons, please visit his website.

Have you taken sandcastle lessons in South Padre before? Tell us about it in the comments…

If you’ve ever been to Hamilton Pool, you know that part of the Texas Hill Country is simply beautiful. Right next door to Hamilton Pool, on the Pedernales River, is Westcave Preserve…

Westcave Preserve is an outdoor environmental learning center… but not boring learning. It’s beautiful learning! It’s fun learning!

What’s at Westcave Preserve?

Warren Skaaren Environmental Learning Center

The Warren Skaaren Environmental Learning Center is most people’s first stop since it is also the visitors’ center. Make this your first stop as well.

The ELC has various interesting environmental exhibits, like the Solar Observatory,  the Geology Learning Wall, and several others. Spend a little time at each of these exhibits. They are all very interesting. 

It is also at the ELC where you register for one of the guided tours or buy your tickets for the self-guided tour.

Weekend Guided Tours

Westcave Preserve have guided tours on weekends.

These tours take you into a canyon that has very rich plant life. They also take you into a cave! At the end of the canyon is a beautiful waterfall that drops into an emerald pool below. This is truly something special to see!

These tours start at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with three additional tours starting every two hours thereafter.

They limit the size of the tours to 30 people to avoid them being over-crowded. For this reason, it’s a good idea to arrive about 45 minutes before your preferred tour time to reserve your spot. Reservations are made at the Environmental Learning Center.

A ticket to a weekend tour also gives you free access to the Upland Trails self-guided tours.

Upland Trails

If you like to explore things yourself, the Upland Trails self-guided tours are a great way to do that.

These tours consist of two loops of approximately one mile. They don’t take you into the canyon, but also have nice nature scenes.

In 2014, they built a bird viewing blind that is great for bird watchers.

The Upland Trails are open on Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 .a.m to 2 p.m., or on the weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Field Trips

Westcave Preserve hosts school field trips, which is an excellent way for kids to learn more about nature in Central Texas. Programs are adjusted for different age groups or interests.

Westcave also hosts non-school, private tours. It is best to call them to ask about availability. Their number is (830) 825-3442.

Other Tips for Westcave Preserve?

Here are some more tips to make your visit to Westcave Preserve as enjoyable as possible:

• Wear comfortable shoes. The tours, whether guided or not, will involve a reasonable amount of walking.
• Take your camera. You will see many beautiful things that will give many opportunities for great photos. Make your visit memorable!

This part of Central Texas is spectacular and Westcave Preserve gives you a perfect chance to explore and learn more about its natural beauty in a fun way!

Have you been to Westcave Preserve before? Tell us about it below…

The State Fair of Texas is one of the biggest and popular annual events in Texas. It has been around for more than 125 years. Every year, thousands of people flock to it from far and wide.

What is it that makes the State Fair of Texas so popular? What types of fun can people have there? Why should you go?

Let me tell you why this is one event you don’t want to miss if you are anywhere near Dallas around October.

Where & When Is The State Fair Of Texas?

The State Fair of Texas is held in Dallas. It lasts for 24 days and starts on the last Friday of September.

The fair is held at Fair Park, which is only a few miles east of downtown Dallas. It is also right next to Cotton Bowl stadium, where the fair’s signature football matches are played.

Why Should I Go To The State Fair Of Texas?

In a nutshell, there is a lot to do and see at the State Fair of Texas. Here are just a few of them…

Big Tex

Big Tex is one of the most recognizable mascots in Texas! He has been the State Fair’s mascot for more than 50 years. His primary job is to welcome visitors to the fair, and to make announcement during the fair.

It hasn’t always been happy times for Big Tex. He burned down in 2012, but was rebuilt and ready to go in 2013.

Football

Two college football games are a main part of the State Fair. The famous “Red River Rivalry” or “Texas – OU” game between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma is the centerpiece.

The State Fair Classic is the other big game, and is played between Prairie View A&M University and  Grambling State University.

These games are both played at the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park.

Auto Show

If you like cars, you must go the State Fair Auto Show. It is a huge auto show with more than 400,000 sq ft of exhibit space. Car manufacturers often use this show to unveil new models to the public, so you are likely to see cars that few others have seen before.

Livestock Competitions & Exhibits

If you like animals, there is plenty to see at the Texas State Fair.

There are various livestock shows, including one where the young ‘uns show the animals that they have raised and cared for, and an open show for all ages.

One of my favorites are the equestrian events where cowboys and cowgirls on horses show their incredible skills with barrel racing, roping, and ranch sorting. Also, don’t miss the Donkey & Mule show!

Deep Fried…

Let’s face it, “deep fried” is a southern thing and it’s very much part of Texas! It’s also a part of the State Fair!

Here you will find all kinds of deep fried food… deep fried Twinkies, deep fried Oreos, deep fried peanut butter, deep fried pork ribs, deep fried butter (the cardiologist’s favorite), and much more.

Ferris Wheel

The Texas Star Ferris wheel is 212 ft high, and is the biggest in the USA!

The Ferris wheel has 44 gondolas and can take up to 264 people. The incredible view you get when your gondola gets to the top of the Ferris wheel makes it the most popular ride at the fair.

Be sure to take at least one ride on the Texas Star Ferris wheel. 

Live Music Shows

The live music shows are another big attraction to the Texas State Fair.

There are more than 80 live music shows during the fair, including more than 10 well-known bands and artists. In 2014, for example, The Swon Brothers and Kool & The Gang, among others, will be playing at the fair.

These music performances all take place on the Chevy Main Stage.

It doesn’t end here. I have only touched on some of the things you can do at the fair. There is more… like a Chili cook-off and Dutch Oven cook-off, among many others.

It is now up to you to go to the fair and have all the fun you possibly can!

PS. Have you been to the State Fair of Texas before? Tell us all about it in the comments below…

Bandera Texas is called The Cowboy Capital of the World… and for a very good reason! It looks like a cowboy town!

Not a fake cowboy town with people wandering the streets wearing cowboy costumes…. No, Bandera Texas is the real deal!

Here you will see ranchers coming town, wearing jeans, boots and worn-out spurs. You’ll see horses tied up at a restaurant or bar, patiently waiting for their riders to finish their business inside. You’ll see store fronts that still look like a store from the old cowboy era.

Things To Do In Bandera Texas

Dude Ranches

Since we’re talking about cowboys, a dude ranch is a good place to do something fun. Here you can get a real ranch experience that includes roping, horseback riding, and interacting with other animals like goats or donkeys.

The good dude ranches also have a pool to help you stay cool in the summer.

My favorite dude ranch is the Silver Spur Guest Ranch, but there are others too, like the Dixie Dude Ranch, Rancho Cortez, the Flying L Guest Ranch, Mayan Ranch, and the Running R Guest Ranch.

Hill Country State Natural Area

The Hill Country State Natural Area is about 10 miles southwest of Bandera, basically next door to the Silver Spur Guest Ranch.

It is a very beautiful and undeveloped area of the Hill Country. There is plenty to do, including hiking one of the many trails and horseback riding.

Remember to take your own water along!

Frontier Times Museum

The Frontier Times Museum contains many artifacts reflecting Bandera’s history and cowboy heritage. It is well worth a visit!

Cowboy Bars in Bandera Texas

The last time that we were in Bandera, we spent some time at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar. This place is something special. They have live music on Wednesdays and on the weekend.

Although the bar is popular with bikers, it is not uncommon to see a couple of horses tied up in front of the bar while their owners enjoy a refreshment inside!

Another nice bar that has live music, is Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar.

The Chikin Coop is another bar / restaurant that I like. More about them below…

Tubing on the Medina River

When the Medina river is high enough, it is great fun to rent a tube and float down the river. This is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

The Bandera River Yacht Club rents tubes, kayaks, and even paddle boats.

Places To Stay in Bandera

A decent place to stay in Bandera is the River Front Motel. They have individual cabins that are nicely furnished. The River Front Motel is within walking distance of several popular bars and restaurants in Bandera, which is very convenient.

The dude ranches also offer accommodation, so check them out as well. They might cost you more, but they give a unique “cowboy ranch” experience!

If you are into camping or have a RV, try the Cowboy Capital RV park. The owner is a real friendly guy.

Places To Eat in Bandera

Our first meal in Bandera was at the Chikin Coop, a bar / restaurant on Main street. They serve burgers, sandwiches, salads, and have a full bar. They also have band and dancing at the Chikin Coop on the weekends.

If you like a really good cup of coffee, go to the Dogleg Coffeehouse, also on Main street. Not only do they make great coffee, but also have a nice variety of excellent pastries and scones.

Another great restaurant in Bandera Texas to try is O.S.T. Restaurant, also on Main street. They make some excellent chicken fried steak and chicken fried chicken, both traditional Texas meals. Their Mexican food is very good too.

If you will be spending some time in the San Antonio area, be sure to spend a day or two in Bandera as well. It will give you a genuine and unique experience of “cowboy” that you won’t find in too many places!

PS. Have you visited Bandera Texas before? Tell us about your experience in the comments below…

Yeee-haaah! Saddle up, and head to Austin… it’s Rodeo Austin time!

Yes, that’s how it is for many people who have been to Rodeo Austin before. That’s how it will be for you after you’ve been to the Austin Rodeo!

What’s so great about Rodeo Austin?

Rodeo Austin Events

It is really about all the events! Here are some of the fun things that you can do at the Austin Rodeo…

Fun In The Fairgrounds

Your first stop will be the Fairgrounds, where there are all kinds of fun activities, including Carnival rides.

The Carnival has all kinds of rides where kids and adults can have fun. This includes a Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Tilt-a-whirl, and more.

(Just keep in mind that your Fairground entry ticket does not include access to the Carnival… you have to buy a separate ticket.)

If you want to do something fun for the kids, take them to Kids Town. Here the kids can enjoy the Petting Zoo, take pony rides, and even learn about milking a cow. This is something that most kids don’t get to experience very often.

The K9 King’s dog show is something else you should not miss. These dogs are amazing! They do all kinds of high-flying tricks and other acrobatics.

Can you imagine what “swifty swine races” would be all about? It’s at Rodeo Austin, so check it out!

Mutton Bustin’ Mania

Would your kids have fun riding a sheep? If they are 5-7 years old and weigh less than 55 lbs, Mutton Bustin’ Mania could be some incredible fun!

Every Saturday from 3-4 p.m. is Mutton Bustin’ time! You have to register your kids online before the event.

Music Concerts By Top Stars & Bands

Every year, many well-known musicians and bands have concerts throughout the duration of the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo!

These artists include some popular names, like Josh Turner, Chris Young, the Eli Young Band, Scotty McCreery, Kevin Fowler, Dwight Yoakam, and Austin’s country music legend, Willie Nelson.

You can buy tickets to your favorite musicians online. It’s probably a good idea to buy your tickets early to make sure you get a good seat.

The Competitions

Rodeo Austin also has several competitions.

If you are a horse enthusiast, there are three incredible horse shows that you have to see. I think the Golden Stirrup show is special. It is a show for riders with special needs. Riding therapy helps to improve the lives of people with special needs so much, and this is their chance to show off their skills.

There are two livestock shows, a Junior Livestock Show and an Open Livestock show. The Junior Livestock Show is huge, with several thousand competitors. The Open Livestock show consists of a Texas Longhorn show and a Boer goat show.

A Professional Rodeo

It can’t be called “the Austin rodeo” without a rodeo!

The rodeo at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo includes several great events, like bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, tie-down roping, bareback bronc riding, and more!

If you’re a rodeo fan, don’t miss this one. It’s the fourth largest indoor rodeo in the world!

Austin Rodeo Tickets

The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo is on for about two weeks every year. It usually takes place in March, and is held at the Travis County Expo Center.

If you look at the concerts, all the fun in the fairgrounds, the competitions, the rodeo, and the young ‘uns on the sheep, there are so many reasons to make sure you don’t miss Rodeo Austin for anything!

Besides, it’s on for a whole two weeks! How can you miss it?

And I’ll bet that you’ll talk about the Austin Rodeo for a long time after it has ended!

PS. Have you been to Rodeo Austin before? Tell us about it in the comments…

Once a year there is a big musical stirring in Austin, Texas! The city is gearing up for the Austin City Limits Festival!

This isn’t just any old festival. ACL is the reason why Austin is also known as the live music capital of the world. The Austin City Limits Festival is the live embodiment of that title that Austin carries so proudly!

It isn’t any old musician that plays at ACL either. Over the years, many well-known and legendary bands and artists have played there. These include, among many others, people like The Eagles, Dave Matthews Band, Van Morrison, Keith Urban, Elvis Costello, and of course Austin’s own musical legend, Willie Nelson.

ACL has become so popular that the city voted to extend it to two consecutive weekends in 2013.

When & Where Is Austin City Limits Festival?

ACL is held each year in the late Summer or early Fall, i.e. either September or October. I don’t think anyone would survive if it was held in the middle of Summer. As was seen in 2013, the Fall can bring rain, but generally the weather is just great!

The venue has always been Zilker Park, on the south side of Lady Bird Lake. That means plenty of open space. But this is also near downtown Austin, so parking can be limited. Don’t let that make you miss out though!

What Makes The ACL Festival So Great?

 First of all, plenty of great music! Different types of music too… There are 8 stages with more than 150 bands playing country, indie, rock, and more.

There is plenty of food too, ranging from burgers to pizza to Mexican, Greek, sandwiches, BBQ, and much more. So you won’t go hungry!

Right in the middle of Zilker Park is the ACL Art Market with all kinds of things for sale from local artists.

My kids are a little older now, but if you have younger kids, each day between 11 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. is the Austin Kiddie Limits. This is great entertainment for the young ‘uns with all kinds of cool activities.

Other Things You Need To Know About ACL

You can take things like blankets, chairs, umbrellas, baby strollers, a soft-sided cooler and so on with you. But don’t take food or alcohol, or glass containers, bicycles, skateboards, and obviously explosives or weapons. Video cameras are not allowed either. There’s a long list of stuff that you can and can’t take along on the ACL website.

While some vendors accept credit cards, not all do, so take cash with you. Luckily there are plenty of ATMs around if you need extra cash.

There is no parking at Zilker Park during the Austin City Limits Festival, but there are plenty of other options to get there. Lots of people take the shuttle buses that run from the corner of 4th & Guadalupe street and drop you off at the festival.

I can only try to describe the Austin City Limits Festival to you, but words can’t do it justice. If you really want to know what it is about, you have to experience it yourself.

So, if you have plans to be in Austin around October, plan to attend at least one day of Austin City Limits Festival. You’ll love all the bands, food, art, and all the people having a good time!

PS. You can also read on TripAdvisor what others thought of Austin City Limits.

Have you been to the Austin City Limits Festival before? Tell us about it in the comments…