Fun Travels Across the United States
TEXAS
NEWS (Please note) Cities and Towns follow the news in alphabetical order
Cabela’s Inc. and City of Allen, Texas, Break Ground on Future Store Site (For details go below to Allen)
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.
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.
Experience Beautiful Las Colinas in Irving
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, Texas convention center that will be completed November 2010.
ALLEN
Cabela’s Inc. and City of Allen, Texas, Break Ground on Future Store Site
Cabela’s Incorporated (NYSE: CAB) and the City of Allen broke ground Thursday on what will be the third Cabela’s store in Texas, joining the Fort Worth and Buda locations.
Cabela’s expects to open the 100,000-square-foot store located on Cabela Drive between U.S. Highway 75 and Allen Station Parkway, on the southern border of The Village at Allen, in early spring of 2011.
The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by more than 175 area businesspeople, community leaders and elected officials, served as a celebration of the partnership formed between Cabela’s and the city, which company executives credited with making the Allen store a reality.
Cabela’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Michael Copeland, a Texas native, said he was especially excited about making the World’s Foremost Outfitter even more accessible to the state’s residents, who make outdoor recreation a way of life. “It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since we opened the Fort Worth and Buda stores,” Copeland said. “It’s the success of those stores that has paved the way for the Allen store – and for that, we are incredibly grateful to the people of Texas.”
The store interior will feature 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 will reflect Cabela’s traditional store model with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing. A large glass storefront will allow customers to view much of the store’s interior as they approach the building.
About Cabela’s Incorporated
Cabela’s Incorporated, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is a leading specialty retailer, and the world’s largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the Company’s founding in 1961, Cabela’sâ has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitterâ. Through Cabela’s growing number of retail stores and its well-established direct business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUBâ Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program. Cabela’s stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAB.”
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
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. “We had a total of 21 nests last season with 20 of them being (Kemp’s) Ridley and the last one of the season Laggerhead,” Guillen said. “There were an additional six nests at Boca Chica Beach.”
According to Sandy Feet of SPI’s sandcastle wizard organization Sons of the Beach, the Saturn Street Strummers will perform “The Unlitter Song” with a new verse honoring sea turtles. The song is derived from the “Unlitter Pledge” initially introduced by the Sons of the Beach in the mid-80s. Thousands have recited it since its inception.
The pledge consists of:
“I promise to have fun, help others have fun and unlitter.”
“Unlitter is to properly dispose of more garbage than you generate,” Feet said. “We feel it all ties in together to keep the beach clean, and the turtles won’t encounter a lot of trash.
“We (Sons of the Beach) hope to join the Town (of South Padre) with their unlitter campaign,” she said. We’d like to be involved. The need for it (the campaign) transcends everything.”
In July 2006, the SPI Board of Aldermen voted to launch an unlitter campaign.
Reigning King and Queen Sargassum, SPI resident Gary Rupp and SPI Alderwoman JoAnn Evans; SPI Mayor Robert N. Pinkerton Jr.; and representatives from Sea Turtle, Inc. are expected to attend.
For more information contact the South padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, 7355 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597, (956) 761-3005