Fun Travels Across the United States
TEXAS
News
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Round Rock
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NEWS
Cabela’s Inc. and City of Allen's new store
Lots of Events Taking Place in San Antonio
ALLEN
Cabela’s Inc. Opened
Cabela’s 100,000-square-foot new store located on Cabela Drive between U.S. Highway 75 and Allen Station Parkway, on the southern border of The Village at Allen, opened in spring 2011.
The store interior features an aquarium, gun library, boat shop, general store and bargain cave among the famous Cabela’s conservation-themed wildlife displays and trophy animal mounts. The building’s exterior reflects Cabela’s traditional store model with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing. A large glass storefront allows customers to view much of the store’s interior as they approach the building.
AUSTIN
Lake Austin Spa Resort Introduces Luxuriously Refined Guest Rooms
Lake Austin Spa Resort is pleased to introduce a multi-million dollar refinement on all 40 award-winning lakeside guest rooms, keeping them casually elegant and comfortable while incorporating new aesthetic touches and modern high tech conveniences.
The guest rooms were visualized by co-owner, Mike McAdams who, along with a team of interior designers, artists and staff members, worked for the past year to create the new décor, which is bright and fresh with splashes of color and similar to the residential feel of the LakeHouse Spa which opened in 2004 to great acclaim. Each room is finished to perfection with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the ultimate comfort for guests.
Below is a sample of some of the newest additions to the rooms:
High Comfort:
• Artesian, handmade, crocheted afghan throws
• Beautiful hand-made quilts artfully displayed in each room
• Original photography by the resort’s own Director of Flora and Fauna, Trisha Shirey
• Commissioned art inspired by our guests and their experiences
• Eco-friendly “Aura®” Benjamin Moore paint
• Spacious writing desk
• Linen draperies
• Over-stuffed chairs and ottomans
• Custom-designed and custom-made furniture
• Egyptian cotton sheets
• Colorful rugs on Saltillo tile floors
• Down pillows & comforters in linen duvets (alternative available)
High Technology:
• Digital, high-definition, large flat panel LCD Samsung televisions with DVD
• AM/FM clock radio and an iPod docking station with remote control
• Complimentary high-speed Internet access, including Wi-Fi in each room
• Ceiling fan with remote control
• In-room safe and refrigerators in each room
Lady Bird Suite:
The beautiful Lady Bird Suite, named in honor of the former First Lady and one of Texas’ most beloved citizens, is the resort’s most spacious and versatile accommodation. It includes a living room, fireplace, private wildflower garden and outdoor whirlpool.
This breath-taking suite has been meticulously appointed with:
• Two custom designed, canopy queen-sized beds
• Hand-chosen, fine antiques
• Artwork crafted by local artists including a black and white drawing of Lady Bird’s childhood home, The Brick House in Karnack, Texas
• Comfortable, slip-covered, over-stuffed chairs
• Velvet, classic sofa
• Dining table
• Elegant wall paper on walls and ceiling of living room
• Most of the above High Technology and High Comfort Features
For reservations, call 1-800-847-5637 or visit www.lakeaustin.com.
BRAZOSPORT
More soon
IRVING
Located immediately adjacent to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Irving, Texas boasts more than 75 hotels, 11,000 rooms and hundreds of restaurants. With a close proximity to both Dallas and Fort Worth, it is easy to enjoy the best attractions and entertainment in all three cities while visiting the area.
The unique location next to an international airport and in between Dallas and Fort Worth, two of the United States' largest metropolitan cities, makes Irving, Texas one of the most convenient and accessible cities in the country and an ideal location for business and leisure travel.
Las Colinas --
is a 12,000-acre master-planned community within the city of Irving, Texas. This area is home to over 2,000 corporations, and is the global headquarters of 5 Fortune 500 companies. Las Colinas is currently experiencing more than $2 billion in hotel, retail, entertainment, office, residential and meeting facility development, including the addition of a 280,000 sq ft Irving, convention center.
PEARLAND
Bass Pro Shops
The newly opened store offers nearly 150,000 square feet of outdoor excitement including the area’s largest selection of quality gear for fishing, hunting, camping, boating and marine. Much more than a hunting and fishing store, however, Bass Pro Shops also offers equipment for hiking, backpacking, outdoor cooking and more. Shoppers will find outdoor apparel for men, women and children, along with a fine selection of outdoor, casual and athletic footwear. A gift and nature center serves up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.
The 8,000+ square-foot Islamorada Fish Company restaurant (pronounced ‘eye-la-mah-rah-dah’) will feature fresh seafood entrees, smoked meats and wild game, rotisserie broiled fowl, great steaks and more all in a relaxing ‘Florida Keys’ atmosphere.
Known for bringing the outdoors indoors, a typical Bass Pro Shops retail store features over 3,500 area antiques and artifacts, up to 400 trophy fish and wildlife mounts and many grand murals depicting scenes reminiscent of the area making it a true destination experience.
Interested in learning a new outdoor skill or improving existing ones? Watch for the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Skills Workshops schedule. These are free classes that will be offered on a regular basis and will include topics like outdoor cooking, nature photography, fly fishing, camping, archery and more. Widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education, Bass Pro Shops has received more conservation awards than any other outdoors retailer.
About Bass Pro Shops:
A major catalog and Internet retailer, Bass Pro Shops, headquartered in Springfield, MO, currently has 45 retail locations across the United States and Canada. The stores attract some 90 million visitors a year. In addition, Bass Pro Shops also provides products and services for thousands of independent dealers world wide through its subsidiary company, American Rod & Gun.
For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, visit www.basspro.com . Request a free catalog by calling 1-800-BASS PRO.--
ROUND ROCK
There's lots to do in Round Rock, Texas -- from sports to sightseeing to just plain rest and relaxation. If you're into sports, there are stadiums, fields, tracks, gyms, courses, courts, etc.
There are also fun places to visit. Here are some:
Old Settlers Park -
Boasts 495 acres of playing fields, 2.5 miles of trails, 15 baseball fields, 22 practice softball fields, 5 softball fields, 2 football fields, 9 practice soccer fields, 5 full-size championship soccer fields, 12 tennis courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, 1 professionally designed disc gol course, picnic areas and grills, several concession stands and restroom facilities, and ample parking.
Dell Diamond -
Catch a game at the home of the Round Rock Express and the Houston Astros Triple A Franchise. Here you'll find 8688 fixed seats, 3000 lawn seats in the unique outfield berm area, 330 feet down the left field line, 325 feet down the right field line, 375 feet to both poweer alleys, 407 feet to the deepest point in center field, 8-foot outfield wall, 6 new luxury suites added this year, 3500 paved on-site parking spaces, 500 additional on-site gravel parking spaces, and several concession stands and restroom facilities.
El Arroya
Want to indulge in eating and sleeping? From barbecue to gourmet cuisine, there's something here for all tastes. Unwind with a Mango Margarita at El Arroyo or have a heaping helping of slow-smoked brisket and the best peach cobbler in Texas at Round Rock Barbecue Company. Or, enjoy the filet mignon at the Main Streeet Grill.
Motels/Hotels
When ready for some shut-eye, there are plenty of hotels and motels to stay in, including Marriott Austin North, Best Western Executive Suites, Candlewood Suites, County Inn & Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, Days Inn, Extended Stay America, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn & Suites, La Quinta Inn & Suites, and many more.
Shopping
For shopping - there's a variety of eclectic shops as well as high-end shopping malls, including antique & boutique. Recently, Round Rock Premium Outlets opened featuring 120 designer and name-brand outlet stores offering savings of 25-65% every day. Or, visit LaFrontera, with more than 300 acres of shopping to keep you busy. IKEA is also here now.
For more information, contact the Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, 120 S. Brown Street, Round Rock, Texas 78664; 512-218-7023 or check web site www.SportsCapitalofTexas.com.
SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio Conservation Society brings the citys culture alive with lots of events -- festival of food, drink and music
"A Night In Old San Antonio" (NIOSA®) is a four-night festival in the heart of downtown San Antonio that celebrates the city's diverse cultural legacy for more than 80,000 revelers annually. Through the magic of 250-plus food, drink and atmosphere booths; more than 20 live musical acts; children's games; decorations; souvenirs and costumed volunteers, NIOSA brings the city's heritage alive in 15 areas: Arneson Theatre (amphitheatre built in 1941 into the natural curve of the city‚s river bank), Chinatown, Clown Alley, French Quarter, Froggy Bottom (pays tribute to the cultural contributions of African-Americans), Frontier Town, Haymarket (celebrates the produce and livestock market near San Fernando Cathedral during the city's Spanish Colonial period), International Walkway (showcases different ethnic groups that developed San Antonio's unique heritage), Irish Flat, Main Street USA, Mexican Market, Mission Trail (honors the early years of the city's San Antonio Missions), Sauerkraut Bend, South of the Border (Northern Mexico influences), and Villa España (celebrates Spanish and Canary Islanders heritage).
Sponsored by and benefiting the San Antonio Conservation Society, the 64th presentation of NIOSA will be held Tuesday through Friday evenings, April 24-27, 2012 during the city's 11-day Fiesta San Antonio® celebration.
WHEN: April 24-27, 2012, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Gates close and alcohol sales stop at 10 p.m.; food sales and entertainment continue until 10:30 p.m.
WHERE: Grounds of the La Villita National Historic District--the 18th century Spanish neighborhood that now serves as arts village, bounded by the San Antonio River and Alamo, Nueces and Presa streets (approximately five acres).
WHO: Founded in 1924, the San Antonio Conservation Society (one of the nation's oldest and most active historic preservation organizations) began with efforts to preserve such unique features as the San Antonio River Bend (now the cornerstone of the famous San Antonio Riverwalk) and the city's four Spanish Colonial Missions. The Society has been responsible for saving most of the historic attractions which make San Antonio one of the top tourist destinations in the south.
NIOSA chairman Kathy DeWaal, elected by the Conservation Society as its Fourth Vice President, volunteers her time all year to plan and coordinate the event, and is assisted by three NIOSA vice chairmen, Loraine Zaiontz, Missy Fertitta and Charlie Hansen, and treasurer Barb Machado (all of whom are appointed and are also volunteers) in leading the team of 16,000 volunteers that work at the event.
PROCEEDS: NIOSA is one of the top˜if not the top˜fundraisers for historic preservation in the nation and truly lives up to its motto as a 'Celebration for Preservation.' Funds raised enable the Society to continue its mission of preserving historic buildings, objects, places and customs relating to the history of Texas and all that is admirably distinctive to the state. Out of the roughly $1 million in profits from NIOSA, the Society spends nearly $350,000 annually supporting restoration and preservation of historic properties and parks throughout the city and neighboring counties, plus more than $400,000 annually supporting education and advocacy programs and projects such as the Heritage Education tours, seminars, community tours, scholarships, the resource library and the house museums. Additionally, the Society has also donated $600,000 since 2000 to historic restoration projects in La Villita, HemisFair and historic neighborhoods throughout the city through special funds set up with the City of San Antonio.
TICKETS: Gate tickets are $12 for adults and $2 for children six to 12 years; children five years and under are free. Discount advance tickets are available online atwww.niosa.org and at locations around San Antonio around March 1; visit the website for specific locations.
INFO: Visit www.niosa.org or contact (210) 226-5188 or niosa@niosa.org.
Follow NIOSA on www.facebook.com
NIOSA's mobile website at www.niosa.org/mobile includes an interactive map of the event with lists of all foods, beverages, entertainment and more.
NIOSITAS: The Conservation Society also stages NIOSITAs (a private mini-NIOSA) throughout the year for conventions, meetings, and festivals˜for groups from 300 up to 10,000 -- to raise additional preservation funds. Just as NIOSA
commemorates the ethnic and cultural influences of San Antonio with food and
entertainment, NIOSITAs reflect the diverse cultures of San Antonio.
FOOD: What makes NIOSA unique over the zillion run-of-the-mill festivals around the world?
· All food items are created, perfected, and prepared by NIOSA volunteers on-site and truly reflect the areas where they can be found. In fact, sometimes the only place they can be enjoyed is at NIOSA.
· Many food booths are run by volunteers from the second or third generation of a family.
· Not only do these unique foods reflect the ethnic cultures of San Antonio, but they have been sought-after mainstays of our event for many, many years.
· On the average, NIOSA revelers annually consume over 31,000 lbs. of beef; 14,750 lbs. of chicken; 4,500 lbs. of sausage; 3,000 turkey legs; 56,500 buns, rolls and bolillos; 36,645 flour tortillas; 11,000 tamales; 29,120 lbs. of fruits and vegetables; and 4,000 lbs. of guacamole.
The Spire
The Historic Sunset Station announces the latest addition to it's unique collection of meeting and special event venues. The doors are officially opened to The Spire. The new venue located at 230 Center Street has preserved some of the culture and heritage of downtown San Antonio.
The Spire was originally constructed in 1884 as the original stone structure of the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation relocated to a structure just three blocks away of this historic structure. The church still remains and is one of San Antonio's oldest African American congregations.
Terri Toennies, CMP HIstoric Sunset Station's General Manager says, "We listened to our customers and The Spire provides them with a new option in historically-themed venues for central San Antonio".The Spire can accomodate up to 300 guests for a meeting or a special event.
For more information on the Spire or other venues in the Historic Sunset Station call the sales office at 210-474-7640 or to learn more about what San Antonio has to office check out web sitewww.SanAntonioVisit.com
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
Turtle Days
A reigning king and queen, a few enthusiastic ukulele strummers, world-famous sand-castle builders and many other environmentally-conscious community members, will gather Friday at the South Padre Island Visitors’ Center for a ceremony marking the significance of Turtles Days.
“Turtle Days begins when the first nest is found and ends when the last hatchling swims away,” said Nancy Marsden, Turtle Days project manager. The 10 a.m. ceremony consists of an unfurling of the Turtle Days flag. However, the flag will not be raised until the first nest is found, and it will be removed when the season ends.
Last year, the first turtle nest was found in April, and the season ended in August, according to Lucy Guillen of Sea Turtle, Inc.
For more information contact the South padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, 7355 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597, (956) 761-3005