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Deep
in the Heart of Texas
 by
Jerry W. Bird
When
I think of Texas, I think of the legendary Bob
Wills and San Antonio Rose," one of my all time
favorite songs. I think of ten-gallon Stetsons,
cattle drives, rodeos, barbecue parties and all of
the friendly people I've met during decades
working in the communications side of the petroleum
industry. In preparing this introduction, I have
borrowed from my first text book in the Spanish
language, "De Todo un Poco (a little bit of
everything," because that's what I think is a good
way to start. Sample the short capsule items below.
If you want to get the full story on Texas as a
place to live or for the vacation of a lifetime,
there are excellent links at the bottom of the
page. Here's a capsule of what those in the know
say about their destination. "Horseback
riding, city tours in historic trolleys, roller
coaster rides, beach-combing, resort
family getaways or
an adventurous road trip are just some of the
activities that families can enjoy on a summer
vacation to Texas. With plenty to see and do for
family visitors of all ages, area attractions and
special packages help parents provide their young
ones with days of fun-filled summer adventures
throughout the Lone Star State."
Panhandle-Plains
Historical Museum,
the Smithsonian of Texas
Two wheels or four,
2003 includes several unique anniversaries that
represent events that led to an unprecedented
century of progress in U.S. transportation, from
Henry Ford's first mass-produced automobile to the
production of the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle
in a shed in Milwaukee, WI.
One hundred years later it's
time to celebrate! The
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum agrees and it is
planning a summer-long museum exhibit and party
celebrating American's love of transportation
called "Let The Good Times Roll." This exhibit will
run from May 24 through September 2,
2003.
The centerpiece of this
exhibit is a major artifact of the museum's
collection- an extremely rare 1903 Ford Model A.
This car bears the serial number 28, making it one
of the oldest surviving models of this rare
automobile. In addition the visitor will
see-
-a car dealership featuring
Amarillo street scenes (circa 1953) highlighting
the 50th anniversary of the Chevrolet
Corvette.
-a 1950's era drive-in movie
theater.
-a picnic scene from Palo
Duro Canyon featuring a Ford Model A (complete with
rumble seat).
-a 1940s tourist court with
vintage vehicles parked outside.
-a 1940s to 50s diner, with
appropriate cars parked outside.
-several classic
Harley-Davison motorcycles from the early
1900s.
-and various Route 66
scenes.
Volunteer interpreters,
dressed in period costume, will help visitors
understand and appreciate this golden age of
transportation.
Special events, such as car
and motorcycle shows, will be planned on the
weekends through the summer, helping to emphasize
the popularity of transportation in this
country.
"We anticipate this exhibit
will be a must see for all kinds of groups, from
car and motorcycle clubs to Route 66 fans. In all,
we expect about 15,000 visitors to the exhibit and
summer series of special transportation events,"
Dr. Walt Davis, director of the Panhandle-Plains
Historical Museum, says.
Better yet, the core of "Let
The Good Times Roll" will live on for several more
years as part of the museum's permanent exhibit by
helping the museum restore and renovate its entire
transportation collection and exhibit.
The Panhandle-Plains
Historical Museum is the largest history museum in
Texas, with over 200,000 square feet and more than
2 million artifacts in its collection. It's like
being at the Smithsonian, but with a Texas
accent.
So let the good times roll,
y'all.
The Panhandle-Plains
Historical Museum is located on 4th Avenue in
Canyon, TX, about 15 miles south of Amarillo. Phone
806-651-2244. Open seven days a week. Closed New
Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day. Admission fee applies.
Eric W. Miller, Director of
Communications
Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council
800-692-1338, 806-373-3909 (FAX)
http://www.amarillo-cvb.org
Western Experience:
When travelers think about Texas, the first things
that come to mind are cowboys, cattle drives and
ranches. For families wishing to take in the full
western experience, there are a number of working
ranches located throughout Texas that offer tours.
For instance, the LH7 Ranch is a 1,000-acre working
longhorn ranch located in Bandera. It offers
Longhorn Ranch Tours for individuals and groups,
birding tours, as well as a 50-acre fishing lake.
In addition to a lodge, the LH7 Ranch offers 14 RV
hookups and natural camp sites. For more
information, call (830) 796-4314. Also, Prude Guest
Ranch, located in Fort Davis offers horseback
riding, hay rides, special chuckwagon cookouts and
campfires complete with fiddle players and more.
Overnight accommodations are available in
bunkhouses, as are RV hookups. For more
information, call (800) 458-6232.
Trolley Car City
Tours: What better way to take in a new city
than aboard a fixed rail trolley car? In Galveston,
visitors can take the grand tour aboard
turn-of-the-century style trolleys, similar to
those used in the city from the late 1800s to 1938.
Offering transportation from Galveston's Seawall to
the Strand Landmark Historic District and Pier 21,
riders can take in the beautiful historic homes and
other points of interest, including Moody Gardens,
one of the largest entertainment complexes in
Texas. Featuring a ten-story Rain forest Pyramid,
Moody Gardens is home to the largest bat exhibit in
the Southwest. It also has an interactive
children's exhibit designed in collaboration with
NASA, as well as an Aquarium Pyramid. For more
information about Moody Gardens, call (800)
582-4673. For more information about the Galveston
Island Trolley, call (409) 797-3900.
Texas Thrills & Chills:
Texas offers 600 miles of some of the most tranquil
coastline in the nation, making Texas beaches
perfect for families seeking the ultimate location
for beachcombing, snorkeling, dolphin watching or
building a sandcastle. For families seeking the
excitement of wet and wild water rides or the
exhilaration of a traditional roller coaster, Texas
has just the ticket. There are theme parks such as
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Six Flags
Astroworld in Houston and Fiesta Texas in San
Antonio, as well as Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels
and Schlitterbahn Beach Water Park in South Padre
Island. Each park offers exciting rides and other
entertainment suitable for the entire family.
Fun-Filled Family Resorts:
For families seeking special packages and the
resort experience, Texas comes up big. From
children's programs to golfing, a variety of dining
options, pools, tennis courts and spas, resorts
offer something for everyone. In San Antonio, The
Radisson Resort Hill Country and The Hyatt Regency
Hill Country Resort offer a variety of family
packages. For example, the Radisson has teamed up
with SeaWorld of San Antonio to offer a family of
four the 'Ultimate SeaWorld Adventure' package. For
details, call (210) 509-9800. In addition, The
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort is offering
'Sunshine on Sale,î with free golf for
children under 17 and a fourth night at the resort
for free. For further details, call (210) 647-1234
Uniquely Texas Road Trips:
Families considering a road trip will find that
when it comes to driving tours in Texas, getting
there is half the fun. The Lone Star State offers
exciting day or multi-day trips, like the Texas
Melting Pot itinerary, that includes traversing
cattle country in the Panhandle Plains, taking a
leisurely drive through the South Texas Plains to
colorful Laredo, experiencing German heritage in
New Braunfels; and ending in San Antonio, where a
visit of the Spanish missions is truly a must. The
Movies, Music and Markets itinerary begins in Fort
Worth and ends in Port Arthur. Stops range from
historical to cultural to natural attractions and
includes the cosmopolitan city of Dallas, the
American rose capital of Tyler-located in our Piney
Woods Region, and a swamp full of gators! For more
information on these itineraries or a Two Nation
Vacation Mexico experience, click on the driving
tours section of www.traveltex.com. Parents using
suggested driving tour itineraries on the site may
even find that common car phrase, 'Are we there
yet?î will be a road trip phrase of the past.
In addition to these family
travel suggestions, here are just a few packages
currently being offered to families traveling to
Texas this summer:
Houston: This
energetic, cosmopolitan city, offers an array of
professional sports teams and sporting events, and
attracts visitors with its lively nightlife and
performing arts.
Lion King Houston Travel
Package: This summer the hit Broadway musical,
The Lion King, roars into Houston for a limited run
from July 5-August 25. A 3-day/2night package is
available starting at $167 per person for two
nights including tickets to Disney's Lion King,
hotel accommodations and valuable discount coupons
like free admission to the Houston Museum of
Natural Science and the Cockrell Butterfly
Center. In addition, a VIP coupon book for use
at the Katy Mills Mall and other 2-for-1 admission
to local attractions are included. For more
information, including rates and restrictions, call
(800) 433-5335 or visit www.traveltohouston.com.
Austin: In addition
to being the state capital, Austin bills itself as
the ìLive Music Capital of the World,î
with live entertainment seven days a week in a vast
array of venues. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Austin's
year-round mild weather, lovely landscapes and
hike-and-bike trails.
Barton Creek Country
Club: Perfect for families who golf together,
the Family getaway package includes luxury
accommodations, the choice of either 18 holes of
championship golf on one of two courses with cart
and range balls, or two 25-minute spa services per
night's stay for each adult; use of fitness
facilities and breakfast. In addition, children up
to the age of 12 play golf free when playing with
an adult and enjoy free access to a basketball
court, nature trail, indoor and outdoor pools,
Kid's Club and special camps. Rates begin at $485
per family (2 adults and up to 2 children). For
more information, call (800) 336-6158.
Corpus Christi: A
paradise of sun, sea and surf, Corpus Christi has a
history steeped in life on the high seas, complete
with Spanish explorers, pirates and buccaneers.
Today, Corpus is one of the nation's 10 largest
ports.
Villa del Sol is
offering family-friendly beachfront condominium
accommodations, which sleep up to six people, with
efficiency kitchens, two swimming pools, a hot tub
and cabana area and golf, tennis and fishing close
by. In addition, guests receive discounts on
tickets to area attractions. Packages start at $174
per night, based on a two night stay, dinner for
two at a nearby restaurant, and a Villa Del Sol
T-shirt. For more information, call (800) 242-3291.
San Antonio: A
multicultural city that truly reflects the soul of
Texas, San Antonio is the home of the famed Alamo,
Spanish missions and the River Walk, featuring
restaurants, boutiques, museums and other
attractions on a picturesque waterfront setting.
The Ultimate SeaWorld
Adventure Package: The Radisson Resort Hill
Country and SeaWorld of San Antonio have teamed up
to offer a special family package. For a family of
four, the package starts at $429 per night and
includes a one-bedroom Shamu suite, breakfast for
four, four one-day passes to SeaWorld, four
'behind-the-scenes' tour tickets at SeaWorld,
transportation to and from the park and evening
turndown service with Shamu Goodies. For
reservations and more information, call (210)
509-9800.
Fort Worth: A city
dedicated to both culture and cowboys, Ft. Worth
enthusiastically celebrates these aspects of its
identity. In addition to its wealth of world-class
museums, Ft. Worth continues to embrace the
traditions and customs of the Old West, including a
daily downtown cattle drive.
Fort Worth Family Getaway
Packages: Starting at just $79 per night, these
convenient, affordable family packages include
admission to Ft. Worth's top attractions and
events. Packages include accommodations, admission
to attractions such as the Ft. Worth Zoo, Museum of
Science & History, Noble Planetarium, OMNI
Theater, Billy Bob's Texas (weeknights only), the
Stockyards Championship Rodeo and Pawnee Bill's
Wild West Show, as well as discounts and deals on
other attractions. For more information, call (800)
433-5335.
For more information on
family travel, suggested driving tours, or other
general travel events information and vacation
destinations, visit www.traveltex.com
or call 1-800-8888-TEX, ext. 2493 for a free Texas
State Travel Guide. For travel discounts to Texas,
click on the "Trip Savers" banner. Texas Economic
Development (TxED) - Market Texas Tourism Division
promotes Texas as a premier travel destination and
supports tourism statewide
Contact Info : Neilia
Stephens/Christine
Hinz/212-725-0707/ns@dc-intl.com, Lindsey
Kirn/214-252-0900/lindsey@tuckerpr.com
Marketing Research
http://www.research.travel.state.tx.us/salesmarketing.asp
State Promotion
http://www.traveltex.com/index.asp?SN=2305815&LS=0
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