. . . it is sunny, but there is a gentle breeze blowing off the water. You are lying in a hammock under a palm shade shelter sipping an ice cold drink. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea gently break on a white sand beach, just footsteps away. . . Where in the world are you? You are in Cancun, a great vacation spot on the tip of the Yucatan Pennisula in Mexico.

Beginning May 1, you may fly directly from Austin, Texas to Cancun, Mexico for as little as $9.99 on vivaAerobus. Now, I must tell you that after they add departure and airport fees to your fare, you are looking at over $140 one way, which is still a good fare.

The Cancun that you will visit has two zones. There is the city where the natives live and then there is the hotel zone, a 14-mile long island where some world-class hotels stand over the most pristine beaches in the world, overlooking the Caribbean. The lagoon, between mainland and the island is perfect setting for jet skiing or other water sports. Spend your days on the beach or take a ferry to Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) to spend the day looking at ruins.

If you are thinking of sun and fun this winter, visit HotelsByCity.net, where you may find cheap hotels and guides to each destination. For instance, I found hotels for $54 USD per night, all-inclusive hotels for just over $300 per night, with $100 resort credits per day. There are adult-only and family-oriented hotels, so you will be sure to find exactly what you need.

Posted by CyberCelt under Accommodations & Beach & Family Fun & Flying & Hotels & Other Countries & Romance & Scuba/Snorkel & Shopping & Travel Sites Reviews | No Comments »

Through February 3, 2008
Southwestern Exposition Livestock Show & Rodeo
Will Rogers Memorial Stadium
3400 Burnett Tandy Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76107

Established in 1896, this popular event attracts nearly one million people from around the world to the nation’s oldest livestock show and daily performances of the world’s original indoor rodeo.

Click here for RV parks in Fort Worth.

January 31-February 17, 2008
59th Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum Grounds
3201 E. Houston Street
San Antonio, Texas

In 1854, in an emerging Texas cattle town, history was made when one of the first ever Texas Agricultural Fairs was held in San Antonio. Today, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is one of the top five PRCA rodeos in the nation and is recognized by the PRCA Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

On February 17, 2008, attend the South Texas Ranch Rodeo Finals in Horse Barn 2. Ranch Rodeo contestants are actual working cowboys from ranches in and around South Texas. The modern Ranch Rodeo pits teams of working cowboys against one another in events similar to the task they face every day such as steer loading, branding, roping and tying.

Hotels and RV parks in San Antonio may be found by clicking here.

February 21-March 2, 2008
76th Annual San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo
San Angelo Coliseum
50 E. 43rd
San Angelo, Texas

The PRCA rodeo includes the following events: saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, bull riding and girls barrel racing.

The 2008 Santa Fe Trail Ride is February 15–23, 2008. It starts at Old Settlers Camp in Buffalo Gap, Texas for 90 mile trek to San Angelo in time for the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo parade. For more information, please click here to visit the Santa Fe Trail Ride website.

• Hotels, B&Bs and ranch accommodation in San Angelo may be found here.
• Click here for information on RV campgrounds in San Angelo area.

Posted by CyberCelt under Animals & Bed n Breakfasts & Camping & Events & Family Fun & RV Parks | 2 Comments »

There are a lot of festive activities and in February. I wanted to post about Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day events. I will return with market days and Black History Month celebrations.

Mardi Gras

January 25-February 5, 2007
Mardis Gras ! Galveston
Galveston, Texas

January 31-February 3, 2008
Mardi Gras Weekend
Port Arthur, Texas

February 1-2, 2008
Mardi Gras DFW
Fair Park, Dallas, Texas

February 2, 2008
Bud Light Mardi Gras River Parade
San Antonio River Walk

February 1-3, 2008
Mardi Gras Upriver
Jefferson, Texas

February 5, 2008
Mardi Gras on Main
Kerrville, Texas

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2008
Ninth Annual Valentine’s Day Dinner
Brownsville, Texas

February 14, 2008
Valentine’s Murder Mystery Dinner
Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Bryan/College Station area

February 15-17, 2008
St. Valentine’s Day Motorcycle Massacre
Boerne, Texas

Posted by CyberCelt under Fairs/Festivals & Family Fun & Food/Wine & Historic & Holidays & Monthly & Museums | 2 Comments »

Click to read entire story.

Frank Bates says he hopes his Airstream Ranch will become as popular as other roadside attractions, such as . . .

Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas

Posted by CyberCelt under Historic travel & Other States & Strange | No Comments »

The Capital of Texas (COT) Zoo in Cedar Park is perfectly safe. I just want to say that before I talk of another volunteer who fed the mountain lion and then put her hand back in the cage to pet the big kitty.

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See more pictures on the COT Zoo site.

The lion bit her hand and would not let go. The volunteer had a cell phone and called 911. It took forever for the dispatcher to get the volunteer calmed down enough to hear that a mountain lion had her hand in its mouth. If you want to hear this poor woman shriek, you may hear it on FOX Austin. The woman had a broken bone in her hand and some deep puncture wounds. The mountain lion was never loose, it never left its cage.

This is the second volunteer that was bitten by a mountain lion at the zoo. As you know, we should never get between an animal and its food. This means feed an animal and back away. Any move toward its food can be misconstrued as a threat. This is natural and normal for all animals, including dogs. Teach your children about this.

Hours The zoo is open everyday (10 am-530 pm) during the summer. Call for winter hours.

Admission

• Teen and Adult (12 & up) $6.99
• Children (2-11) $4.49
• Toddlers (under 2) free
• Family one-year membership $49.00

Membership in the Capital of Texas Zoological Association gives you and your family FREE admission to the zoo, including members-only events, and many more benefits! Buy a membership today!

Location and Directions
The address of the Capital of Texas Zoo:
376A Jenkins Road
Cedar Creek, TX 78612
(512) 303-6675

Located off of SR 71, 12 miles east of the Austin Bergstrom Airport. The final roads to the zoo (South Pope Bend and Jenkins road) are unpaved rural roads, so drive carefully.

Information

The zoo always is in need of volunteers and members:

Volunteers are essential to the Capital of Texas Zoo. They assist zoo staff in most aspects of zoo operations and support the zoo in our mission to create a sustainable future for wildlife. If you are dedicated to wildlife conservation and want to put this dedication into practice, we invite you to consider volunteering at Capital of Texas Zoo.

Posted by CyberCelt under Animals & Did You Know & Strange & Wildlife Watching | 2 Comments »

Something new and different has been added to the Outback line of trailers. You will like the dual action spaces, including the garage/master bedroom, a living area with king dinette and full size couch, and a bonus loft area.

A large garage in the rear of the Outback Loft accommodates all your motorized toys, with a ramp door on the curb side. Take the toys out of the garage, and the area becomes the large master bedroom with queen sized bed and LCD TV.

In front of the garage/master bedroom you’ll find a stairway to loft, and a roomy bathroom with shower, across from the kitchen. The front of the trailer is a dual living area with a huge dinette that converts to sleeping area, and a sofa slide-out that converts into a full sized bed.

The Outback Loft looks like no other RV. The second story extends up 6-feet, 3-inches above the roof when camping and retracts into the attic when you are on the road.

This is a 2008 trailer and should be available soon. Find dealers on the Outback Division website.

Posted by CyberCelt under RV Reviews | 3 Comments »

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot to death in Memphis, TN. We do not celebrate his death today, but rather his life. What a life it was! What would the world be like if he had not stepped out on the motel balcony that day? Forty years later, his words still move me.

I Have a Dream

When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.

Love

I still believe that LOVE is the most durable power in the world.
Over the centuries men have sought to discover the highest good.

This has been the chief quest of ethical philosophy.
This was one of the big questions of Greek philosophy.
The Epicurean and the Stoics sought to answer it;
Plato and Aristotle sought to answer it.

What is the summon bonum of life?
I think I have an answer America.
I think I have discovered the highest good.
It is LOVE.

This principle stands at the center of the cosmos.
As John says, “God is love.”
He who loves is a participant in the being of God.
He who hates does not know God.

From Paul’s Letter to American Christians
written by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday

Posted by CyberCelt under Holidays & Remember | 4 Comments »