retirement communities
We use this discussion to record common questions and answers. Topics include anything else that people interested in similar areas would find generally useful.
Information to help Retirees who travel south for the winter months. Information on trailer parks, retirement commuities and other related issues.
What types of retirement communities are out there? How good/bad are retirement communities. How to choose a retirement community.
LEESBURG,FL,RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
My wife and I are looking for a retirement community
in the Leesburg area. We did visit one community in
the heat of the summer,but didn't have time to see
all of them.
If someone is living in a community, please give me
some information on how you like living there.
You may contact me at jdp44@enter.net
Alabama Beach House
New 2 bed room Alabama Gulf of Mexico beach house for rent Nov-Jan. $650/month including utilities (cable TV, electricity, water-sewerage, gargage pick up). House broken pets welcome. Safe neighbordood, uncrowded beaches, near many golf courses, and great salt water fishing.
HLowman178@aol.com 334/857-2325 evenings
I'm Back!
Hi everyone, I've been away for a while, my daughter got married this summer and well, one thing led to another, but I'm back.
I was searching for retirement trailer parks in Texas.
(1) Because we can't afford those fancy, smancy retirement communities and ...
(2) We heard that Texans were real friendly and they appreciated Canadian retirees.
Here is a site I found, to help you find trailer & mobile home parks in Texas.
http://www.americasguide.com/
My husband's aunt & uncle used to own a trailer in a park in Pharr, Texas. I think they only paid something like $1,000.00 a year (approximately) for 6 months there and 6 months away. Of course they probably had to pay electricity, cable and some other stuff but that's not bad. Especially if you still have to maintain your Canadian home as well.
We're off to Florida next week. Can't wait.
Oh and last year on our drive down I75 we stopped off at Leesburg and stayed at a place called Spanish Village. They have a home page as many of these places do ... and they offer a guest program where you can come stay for 2 nights to see how you like the community.
We reserved the guest program with them and paid $49.00 US to stay the 2 nights. It was a great experience. We loved the area, but alas we could not afford the monthly fees. That's why we're considering a trailer park instead.
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.
ciao,
We have friends from Nova Scotia who bought a trailer in a beautiful, friendly RV park near Arroyo City, Texas (near Harlingen) on the Arroyo Colorado (good fishing). He was just put on dialysis and can no longer come south for the winter (heart broken). They have asked me to assist them in the sale of their trailer. I'm new at this but anxious to help them. You can phone or e-mail me. Stanton Hubbs 956-748-2380 shubbs@earthlink.net
Looking for Snowbirds
I'm writing a magazine article about snowbirds. How you decide on a location and handle two homes, finances, health care and other issues. I'd love to talk to you if you are a snowbird or thinking about becoming one. please e-mail me at mbfranklin@aol.com or mbfranklin@kiplinger.com. thanks!
At this very moment, hundreds if not thousands of midwesterners are bidding tearful and fond farewells to family and friends -- before loading up their vehicles and gleefully high-fiving one another upon successful completion of yet another great escape. I am of course referring to the annual Winter Texan migration that is on its way to our beautiful shores.
SPI's Winter Texan population has all too often been the butt of some rather unkind jokes (anyone who has not heard the one about the Winter Texan who arrived with a pair of overalls and a $100 bill and spent two months here without changing either, raise your hand. Uh-huh, just as I thought...) I myself have on occasion been guilty of repeating such tired cliches, and I am not feeling too good about that. As a way of doing penance, this week I would like to profile some Winter Texans that I happen to know pretty well.
Don and Ginny Wierenga are a couple of retired educators who, like many other Winter Texans, maintain their primary residence in the Midwest -- specifically, Saugatuck, MI. After a few winters in rental units, they finally broke down and purchased a couple of condos at Saida some five years ago. One thing that distinguishes the Wierengas from other Winter Texans is the fact that they happen to be my parental units. (Long standing joke: I run away from home 2000 miles and what do they do? They follow me!) While two sisters and four nephews back in Michigan exert a powerful tractor beam, Don and Ginny's winters belong to me.
"Dad Feets" still enjoys the occassional round of golf, but he really loves burning up the tennis court. He found his writing voice relatively late in life and has contributed regularly to the op-ed pages of several local publications. He uses stones, shells and driftwood found on his regular beach walks to create clever little sculptures he calls "bird castles." He organizes sand castle building projects with other Saida residents, gets more use out of my bicycle than I do, and maintains a genealogical web-site at www.wierenga.com.
"Mom Feets" also plays tennis, works out regularly and was in fact recently mistaken for my sister (not sure how I feel about that one.) After spending the largest part of the year actively involved in the raising of her grandsons, she enjoys spending the winter months relaxing by the pool, watching movies and contributing to the local economy by paying regular visits to her favorite area shops. She is a voracious reader and keeps in touch with the Michigan branch of the family via her laptop and cell phone. She is a generous tipper.
While Don and Ginny truly enjoy the company of the other Winter Texans at Saida, they are just as comfortable having a beer or two with me and my friends over at the Pub. And while many other Winter Texans are driven back north before the snow melts by the arrival of spring breakers, the Wierengas prefer to hang here all the way to April, enjoying the antics from their balcony vantage point in the throbbing heart of spring break madness -- they have even been known to share their dinner with 'breaker neighbors who goofed and spent all their money on beer. Age has not closed their minds or their hearts, and I count myself fortunate indeed to be their daughter.
Mom and Dad Feets
Fact is, I owe my personal discovery of this little bit of Texas and the wonderful years I have enjoyed here to yet another pair of Winter Texans. Grandma Bea and Grandpa Clifford spent their golden years traveling this continent in an Airstream, finally landing (in a seasonal sort of way) at Pine-To-Palm Park in Weslaco in the mid-'70's. They would return to Michigan in the summer with exotic tales of a lush valley that winter never found, and the still-pristine tropical island laying just off its shores. A typical teenager, I listened with half an ear, never dreaming that the day was not too far off when I would follow them down to Texas to take my first stab at adulthood as a high school English teacher in Weslaco....
The rest, as they say, is history. Grandma and Grandpa have long since passed on to that big RV park in the sky, but I will be eternally grateful to them for helping me find my way to South Padre.
Try and remember this before you tell me yet another bad Winter Texan joke... ;-)
Visitors Enjoy a Variety of Species Caught Along the Texas Coast
As a rule, 90 percent of Texas saltwater anglers fish for two or three different species, at most. The top two, of course, are the red drum (redfish) and speckled trout. Flounder usually swim in a distant third. Below this upper tier of saltwater species sits a heap of oddly assorted fish that are seldom caught. When they are found on the business end of a hook, most Texas anglers view them as a nuisance.
Among this group of miscellany are a few good fighters, some excellent table fare and at least one good looker. So, why do Texans view them with such disdain? Social pressure, perhaps. But for visitors, unhindered by peer pressure, they represent a beautiful bounty. Most Winter Texans like them so well in fact, they actually try to catch them. Why not? They're here.
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They bite. They fight. What more could you ask for?
Prince and princess among these vagrants would have to be the whiting and pompano. Whiting, or Gulf Kingfish, are a mottled brown, rather homely looking fish. However, they are plentiful in the surf, easy to catch and sport some of the tastiest fillets available. They feed on the bottom and are not finicky. A wide assortment of live and dead baits will take them. Most often they are caught on fresh dead shrimp, squid or cut mullet. Due to a smallish, underslung mouth, they are apt to pick a hook clean before the fisherman is aware of the bite. For this reason, more durable baits, such as squid, can produce more fish. Light wire circle hooks also help increase the catch ratio.
Pompano are not only delicious, but are one of the more eye-catching fish to swim in the near shore waters. In Florida, pompano are sought with such vengeance that they are tightly regulated. Texans, on the other hand, don't get too worked up over this silvery sportster.
Pompano like to run the clear, sandy surf, picking off small baitfish and crustaceans. They can be taken on small jigs or spoons, as well as natural baits such as sand fleas and shrimp. Pompano will usually feed in the mid to lower portions of the water column.
Another advantage to fishing for both whiting and pompano is their tendency to stay in large, tightly-packed schools. Once the fish are found, anglers usually experience consistent action. The downside is neither of these fish get much larger than a pound or so on average, leaving something to be desired in the fighting department.
However, Winter Texans looking to test the mettle have come to love another overlooked silverside. Jack Crevalle, one of the hardiest fighters in the Gulf of Mexico, are a favorite of beach running visitors.
Much like the pompano, jacks are revered in Florida, but shunned in Texas. The argument goes that since jacks fight so hard and are not edible, they waste valuable fishing time. A quick glance reveals that many hard-fighting fish, most notably the tarpon, are not considered edible, yet are highly sought by fishermen.
For most shore-bound anglers, the jack represents the best opportunity to catch a true heavyweight. Fish in the 25 to 35 pound class regularly cruise within casting range of dry sand. And, make no mistake, jacks can fight. A tilt with one of these bruisers can easily last a half-hour or more. But, then again, what better way to spend 30 minutes than tied into a fish that easily dwarfs even the biggest speckled trout?
Take A Leisurely Drive Through Texas On The Way Home
By Kathy Olivarez
Winter Texans who have time may enjoy exploring other parts of Texas on their way home. And those who stay in the Valley fulltime now may want to take a trip or two before the next season gets into full swing.
For those who head north along Highway 281 and I-37 into the San Antonio area, this is a great place to stop and explore. San Antonio is one of the four cities in the United States known for the unique culture it offers due to the strong Spanish influences in the area. As was the custom the Spaniards that settled first in Mexico and eventually made their way what is now central Texas were devout Christians who believed they had a mission from God to Christianize the Indians of the lands they conquered.
San Antonio was first established as Mission San Antonio de Valero to teach the Indians of the area in 1718. At some point the name of the mission was shortened to “The Alamo.” A Spanish fort, San Antonio de Bexar, was built nearby to protect the mission. It was here that a group of 189 defenders gave their lives so that Texas might free from the tyrannical rule of the dictator Santa Ana, who was trying to drive the Americans out of Texas on March 6, 1836. Today the Alamo is the most visited tourist site in Texas. The museum houses relics from the siege as well as other displays related to the time period.
The Alamo is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information on the Alamo call (210) 225-1391 or go online to www.thealamo.org.
In addition to the Alamo there are additional missions located in the San Antonio area, there are other missions that influences the settlement of the area. Mission San Francisco de la Espada has an aqueduct that is now a National Historic Landmark. Nuestra Senora de la Purisma Concepcion, is the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States. The acoustics are said to rival those of the Mormom Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo has been completely restored with Indian dwellings, a flourmill, a granary and workshop to look as it looked in the 1700’s. Mission San Juan Capistrano houses displays of artifacts from the Spanish colonial period. The church still actively serves the community.
The San Fernando Cathedral, which was completed in 1750, is the oldest Catholic sanctuary in the United States. Santa Ana raised the flag of “No quarter” from the cathedral to warn the men of the Alamo there would be no mercy.
Also open for viewing is the Spanish Governor’s Palace where Stephen F. Austin came to ask for permission to bring an American colony to Texas in 1820. It is located at 105 Military Plaza. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also dating back to the era of Spanish colonization is the Casa Navarro State Historic Site. Navarro was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The home consisted of his home, the kitchen and an office. Located at 228 S. Laredo Street, the home is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to the Spanish influence on the city, there was a sizable German influence on the community. The King William District west of the hemisphere area, is filled with old homes most of which have been restored. The Guenther House, which belonged to the founder of Pioneer Flour Mills, is nearby at 205 E. Guenther St. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. A restaurant, museum and retail store now occupies the site.
San Antonio is home to many museums of note. For those wanting to learn more Texas history, the Institute of Texas Cultures located in Hemisphere Park looks at each of the cultures that made contributions to the settling of Texas. A good combination is to visit the museum and then take the elevator to the top of the Tower of the Americas. There it is possible to see all over San Antonio. For those who are hungry there is a restaurant at the top that moves slowly in a circle giving diner a chance to see the entire city in about an hour’s time.
Across from the Alamo in Alamo Plaza, there are three museums that offer a variety of opportunities. For those who like the unusual or improbable, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, located across from Alamo Plaza is filled with oddities. The Guinness World Records Museum is next door. It has variety of displays on science, speed, the human body and world records.
And the Plaza Wax Museum houses 250 lifelike figures in theme settings of Hollywood. Famous Texans from George W. Bush to Tom Landry are represented in the museum.
The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum has over 4,000 items on display from “Old Tex” the Longhorn steer that represents the early days of the cattle industry that developed in Texas.
A Pioneers, Trail Drivers and Texas Rangers Memorial Museum looks at the era of cattle drives and the days when it was the wild west. Located at 3805 Broadway, this museum is open and admission is free.
Art lovers will not want to miss the San Antonio Museum of Art, which houses a collection of Greek and Roman antiquities along with European, Near Eastern and Islamic art. This museum is housed in the old Lone Star Brewery at 200 W. Jones Avenue.
San Antonio has always been a military town and the Fort Sam Museum, located at Building 123 on Stanley Road, looks at the development of the fort from 1845 from the present. It emphasizes some of the major military figures such as John J. Pershing and Dwight D. Eisenhower who lived there and of Texas military history such as exhibits of the Buffalo Soldiers and the Rough Riders. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A U.S. Army Medical Department Museum, which depicts the history of military medicine from 1775, is located at the intersection of Stanley Road and Harry Wurzbach Highway and is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Building 1046.
The Witte Museum, considered by many to be San Antonio’s top museum, was founded in 1926. It features a variety of history, science and cultural exhibits. Exhibits range from the dinosaur era to dog run cabins. The museum is located at 3801 Broadway and is open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sunday it is open from noon to 5 p.m. The museum is free on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information go online to www.wittemuseum.org.
The downtown of San Antonio was restored prior to the 1968 Hemisphere with emphasis on the Riverwalk built along the banks of the San Antonio River. The hotels, restaurants and boutiques that line the river walk offer a variety of foods, music and shopping to suit anyone. Many enjoy the outdoor cafes where they can sit and watch the riverboats go by taking tourists on a tour of downtown San Antonio by the river. It is also a favorite location for many ducks, who enjoy floating the river and occasionally harassing the visitor eating at one of the sidewalk cafes who fails to share his or her dinner with them. (I speak from experience!)
For those who wish to shop, the River Center Mall, built on the Riverwalk, offers a variety of shopping experiences. There are also locations outside the mall where visitors to the city can board the riverboats for the water tour. A highlight of the mall is the IMAX Theater that shows the movie, “Alamo…The Price of Freedom,” which tells the story of the 13-day siege and fall of the Alamo seven times a day.
Before leaving the downtown area sports fans may want to go to the Alamodome to see how it works. Tours are scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays if there are no special events planned. To check on the availability and times of tours go online to www.alamodome.com. There is an admission fee.
Those who love the plants of Texas will not want to miss the Botanical Gardens with its native Texas area, a Japanese Garden, a Rose Garden, a Sacred Garden and a special garden for the blind. Most areas are wheelchair accessible. The Lucile Halsell Conservatory contains 90,000 square feet of ecosystems built around a courtyard and pond.
Nearby the Japanese Garden, the Sunken Gardens Theater and the Brackenridge Eagle, a miniature train takes visitors around the park making stops at the San Antonio Zoo, the Brackenridge Golf Course and Pioneer Hall Museum. The zoo is home to 3,500 animals including a white rhino. For those who have trouble walking a train takes visitors through the zoo for a minimal cost. Admission is charged for entrance.
Sea World San Antonio is the world’s largest marine life adventure at 250 acres. It features an amazing animals park featuring sharks and tropical fish, whales and penguin exhibit filled with delightful penguins that entertain visitors with their antics. Visitors can commune with dolphins at Dolphin Cove and learn more about seals in the seal and sea lion display. The world-renowned Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale horses are on display near the front gate.
With so many places to see in San Antonio, Winter Texans might want to spend several days there. For those looking for a place to stay the Braunig Lake RV Resort, located at 13550 Donop Road in San Antonio is just three miles south of Loop 410 on I-37. To make reservations call (877) 633-3170 or e-mail info@brauniglakeresert.com.
San Antonio is not the only place to visit going home. For those of German heritage, New Braunfels, about an hour north of San Antonio on I-35 was a German colony settled in 1845 by Price Carl of Solms-Braunfels.
The Lindheimer Home, owned by Jacob Lindheimer who was the first to classify many of native Texas plants, is an example of the type of limestone and cedar homes built by German settlers. It also has many of the original furnishings. The museum is open summers only daily except Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The home is located at 491 Comal Street.
The Sopheinburg Museum is built on the hilltop where Prince Carl Solms-Braunfels built a log fortress. It houses the German nobelman’s personal effect as well as Indian artifacts and pioneer artifacts. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 401 W. Coll Street.
The Jacob Lindheimer Home is a perfect example of the line stone and cedar homes built by the hardworking German immigrants that settled in Texas. Lindheimer was a botanist who was the first to classify much of Texas’ native flora. Many plants bear his name. This museum is open during the summer from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. except Wednesdays.
The Wagenfuehr Home and Buckhorns Barbershop Museum has a 1900’s barbershop, dolls from around the world, hand-carved miniature circus animals and many other items. This museum is open during the summer from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. except Wednesdays. It is located at 521 W. San Antonio Street.
Landa Park is filled with crystal springs, which pour more than eight million gallons an hour to create the state’s shortest river. The Comal River is only 2.5 miles long. The park offers boating, bicycling and tubing opportunities.
Hard-working German immigrants settled first in Gruene (on the northern outskirts of New Braunfels), which was built on the banks of the Guadalupe River and established a town prior to 1850. The restored town, which has a dance hall where many top-notch entertainers can be found, an outdoor restaurant built in the ruins of the old flour mill, antique stores, old fashioned stores and many boutiques, is one of the most popular tourist stops in the state.
For those who remain in Texas year-round and may be having grandchildren visiting in the summer, a 65-acres, Schlitterbahn is the state’s largest waterpark. While it is filled with chutes, and water slides be sure to keep children occupied. There are hot tubs and pools designed to keep grandparents cool and happy.
And for those who love the water, raft and canoe rentals plus guided float trips on the Guadalupe River that winds through the area between the dam at Canyon and New Braunfels offers a summer wonderland of fun.
For those who might consider taking the grandchildren here for a fun reunion, the Maricopa Ranch Resort at Canyon Lake is located at 12915 FM 306 in Canyon Lake. Call 1-877-964-3731 for more information or go online to www.maricoparesort.com.
Moving north along I-35 San Marcos is the place to shop. A large outlet mall has over 500 stores selling almost everything anyone could want. Most are specialty stores like Coach, which of course, sells only its products. Most brands of china, silver and other brands of cookware are available. If it is summertime, while grandma and mothers shop, grandpa can take the kids to the Aquarena Center where they can ride glass-bottomed boats on natural springs and view endangered creatures that live only in the San Marcos River while grandma and mom shop.
Then it’s on to Austin where there are all kinds of activities to keep folks busy for a day or two. Birders might want to stop at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. It was designed primarily to preserve the nesting habitat the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black Capped Vireo.
If it is summertime don’t miss the bats at sunset when they fly from under the Congress Street Bridge. Mid July to August over a million of these tiny creatures, who spend their days in the crevasses under the bridge, fly out in search of food. The result is a spectacular sight of flying bats and an air that is clear of pesky mosquitoes and insects found in other areas in summer.
One of the best views when most will be leaving in a normal spring is the proliferation of wild flowers that dot the roadsides between the Valley and Austin. With this year’s drought, there are relatively few on the road although recent rains may have helped that. In Austin the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, founded by the wife of former president Lyndon Johnson, is a 42-acre site planted with native landscaping. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with extended hours in April when flowers are at their peaks. It is located at 4801 La Crosse Avenue.
Zilker Park will be popular with nature lovers with his botanical garden, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden and Hartman Prehistoric Gardens. Barton Springs, part of the Edward Aquifer, offers year-end swimming opportunities for the hardy. Those with bikes may want to enjoy Austin’s hike and bike trails along Barton Creek and in the center of town.
The Bob Bullock Texas State Museum, - which opened a couple of years ago, has a number of exhibits related to Texas history. Special effects in the museum add to the authenticity of the exhibits. There is also an IMAX theatre that shows a brief history of Texas.
The Texas State capitol building is a replica of the capitol building in Washington, D.C. except for the fact it is built out of pink granite mined in Texas. For those who want to know more about this area, there are walking tours around the area that leave daily at 9 a.m. from the south steps of the capitol.
Leaving Austin it is a relatively short drive to Waco, which was made famous by cattle, cotton, corn, collegians and culture. Before the Civil War, plantations line the banks of the Brazos River. After the war it was the Chisholm Trail that led cattle captured in the Rio Grande Valley were herded through Waco on their way north. The cattle were driven across the Waco Suspension Bridge after it was built in 1870.
The Dr. Pepper Museum, located at 300 S. 5th Street tells the story of how the famed soft drink got its start. It is open Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
The Governor Bill and Vara Daniel History Village is an 1890’s Texas village with more than 20 buildings. The center, which is located at 1108 University Parks Drive, is open Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Homestead Heritage Traditional Crafts Village is located on 500-acre working farm where craftsmen demonstrate how to create hand-made furniture, pottery and ironworks. Handmade crafts and foods are featured in the gift shop.
The Texas Ports Hall of Fame honors Texas natives such as Lee Trevino, Babe Didrikson, George Foreman and Tom Landry. It is located at 1108 S. University Parks Drive.
From Waco it’s on to Dallas, which is filled with a variety of opportunities for sightseeing. The John F. Kennedy Memorial marks the spot where Kennedy was assassinated. The accompanying Sixth Floor Museum provides an educational exhibit located on the sixth floor of the Deally Plaza, formerly the Texas School Book Depository, where Oswald allegedly shot Kennedy. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Another specialty museum is the Mary Kay Museum, which chronicles her rise to fame as head of a cosmetics firm. It is located at 16251 Dallas Parkway in the Mary Kay International headquarters. It is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment. Call (972) 687-6300 for more information.
One of the fun things to do in Dallas is to go to a Medieval Times Show, which takes visitors back to the Middle Ages where guests are assigned a knight to cheer for. A dinner theater, feast on a Medieval Age meal which is eaten with fingers, while watching knights jousting and demonstrating Middle Age skills. Shows are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays there are two shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday there is a show at 5 p.m. For reservations call (214) 761-1800. The theatre is located at 2021 N. Stemmons Freeway (I-35).
Dallas has many museums including a Frontiers of Flight Museum, located at Love Field, Cedar Springs and Mockingbird is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (214) 350-1651.
The Science Palace &TI IMAX Theater has more than 250 hand-on exhibits. Located on Grand Avenue at the entrance to Fair Park, it is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Dallas Memorial Center for Holocaust Studies, located at 7900 Northaven, is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Call (214) 750-4654 for additional information.
The age of Steam Museum, located at 1105 Washington Street, looks at the era when railroads were king. It is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Dallas Firefighters Museum, located at 3801 Parry Avenue, looks at the history of fighting fires in Dallas. It is open Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For theatre lovers, the Dallas Theatre Center, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, presents 154 plays during its eight-month season from September to May.
Outdoor lovers will want to visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, located on a 66-acres haven of natural beauty near downtown Dallas. The headquarters is located in a Spanish Colonial-style mansion that belonged to Texas oilman John Staub. It is surrounded by 25-acres of gardens and 41 acres of woodlands.
The Texas Discovery Garden has a 500-seat auditorium and a Southwest Garden. A special Garden for the Blind, which features aromatic herbs is a part of it.
From Dallas it is a short drive to the Oklahoma border.
Back in San Antonio, many drivers decide to take SH 281 north to avoid the high traffic areas. About an hour north is Johnson City where the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park is located. The modest frame home where the former president lived as a schoolboy is furnished with period furniture. The old ranch complex referred to as Johnson Settlement, owned by President’s grandfather and great-uncle from 1867-72, features a dog-trot cabin, an 1880 stone farm building, and pastures filled with Texas Longhorn.
Nature lovers will want to hike through Pedernales Falls State Park, which has 4,800 acres of river frontage and waterfalls. It provides habitat to a variety of wildlife in that area.
From Johnson City the next stooping place should be Burnet, named the Texas Bluebonnet Capital of Texas. Nature lovers may want to take a stretch break and visit the Canyon of the Eagles, which is a 900-acre nature park with a bird and butterfly trail. The Eagle Eye Observatory is open to the public.
The Vanishing Texas River Cruise offers ecological tours of the rugged Colorado River Canyon of Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country. The cruise is a good way to see spring wildflowers while the fall is a good place to see migrating birds. For information on the cruises call 800-728-8735.
Lampasas is a little further up S.H. 281. The sulphur springs that flow through the city were popular among Native Americans before white settlers arrived. They are now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Keystone Square Museum houses a variety of items related to the Texas frontier. Located at 304 S. Western Street, it is open on Saturdays only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Further to the north Hamilton might be a good stretch break. There are memorials at the courthouse to Ann Hamilton a teacher killed defending her students in a Comanche raid. A marker for Elsie Warenskjold, a Norwegian settler and pioneer who spoke out against slavery is remembered.
Hico, still further up U.S. 281, has a Billy the Kid Museum because local legend says he was not killed by Pat Garrett but died of a heart attack on the way to the newspaper at age 90.
The last stop on U.S. 281 is Wichita Falls. The waterfall is a recreation of the original falls washed away in a flood in 1886.
Wichita Theatre & Opry House, built in 1908, is a historical landmark providing live music, touring shows musical dramas and performing arts and film events. For information about upcoming offerings, call (940) 723-9037.
The Backdoor Theatre, located in a-turn-of-the century icehouse, also offers theatrical performances Thursdays through Saturdays. For information on upcoming performances call (940) 691-7441.
A railroad museum featuring vintage railcars, World War II Troop Sleepers, and a postal car is located at 501 Eighth Street. It is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nature lovers will want to visit the River Bend Nature Walks located on 15 acres in the city. It features wetlands and other bird watching opportunities.
Regardless of what route is chosen to leave Texas for the summer, or for fulltime residents to explore Texas during the off-season, be careful on the road and y’all come back next year!
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