Austin Trail of Lights Will be Lit This Year!

For 3 years, Austin Trail of Lights remained dark due to economic reasons.  This year, be amazed by the lights and sets that have been created on the banks of Lady Bird Lake.  Viewing the lights reflected in the lake is mesmerizing.  The Trail is a great family outing and FREE.  Food and drinks available.  Level ground means this trail is easily navigable.

Trail of Lights, Austin, Texas

Austin Trail of Lights

December 16th – 23rd, 2012
Zilker Park, Austin, Texas

FREE ADMISSION!

Daily Hours: 6:30 -10 pm

Trail Schedule: Sunday 12/16 – Sunday 12/23

Trail of Lights 5K Race: Saturday 12/15

Get details on performances, parking, shuttles, vendors by clicking here.

There will be on-site parking at Zilker Park, and two shuttle routes to the Trail from Barton Creek Mall and Republic Square Park.  Take the shuttle, save gas, time and aggravation.

Please: When you approach the site, stop and make sure everyone agrees on where to meet if the family is separated.  The Zilker Tree was always a good meeting spot for my family,  The kids would spin beneath the tree and make themselves dizzy.

 RV Parks in Austin Area

Austin Lonestar RV Park- 5 miles south of downtown on the East side of I-35.

Austin Oak Forest RV Park – 10 minutes from downtown Austin, the University of Texas and the State Capitol. Located east of IH-35 by Decker Lake.

Emma Long Metropolitan Park – on Lake Austin. Some RV slips available. Camping, swimming. Located off FM 2222.

McKinney Falls State Park – Southeast of Austin on Onion Creek. Water and electric sites available. These are not pull through sites and an RV with 2 slides may not fit. Call park for information.

Plum Creek RV – Large sites. Located on IH-35, 12 miles from Austin and 4 miles from San Marcos.

**Click for hotels**

Texas Christmas Holiday Celebrations

There is much to see and do in Texas during the holiday season. Each year, I try to highlight a new way to enjoy the holidays, with an eye to gas prices and other costs. So, jump in your RV or car and get ready to see the beauty of Texas during the Christmas Season.

The Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail

Every year, the citizens of towns and villages in the Texas Hill Country spring into action.  These elves spends days, if not weeks, preparing festivities for visitors.  From the map, it may look like you could drive the trail in one day.  Please do not try it. The roads are not divided highways and many run through the center of towns.  Below is a map of the trail with possible day trips delineated by green boxes.

2012 Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail Participants

• Bandera – cowboy capitol of the world
• Blanco – beautifully decorated courthouse and scenic views of lavender fields and wineries
• Boerne – Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch
• Burnet – visit Bethlehem in Texas
• Fredericksburg – 26 foot tall Christmas Pyramid, a German-themed Christmas tree and an outdoor ice skating rink
• Johnson City – Christmas at the LBJ Boyhood Home, lighted courthouse
• Kerrville – always a fun place to visit
• Llano – “Starry Starry Nights” on the banks of the Llano River; snow tubing
• Marble Falls – spectacular lights on the bank of Lake Marble Falls
• Wimberley – EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens’ Trail of Lights

Map of Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail

Day Trips on 2012 Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail

Lodging on Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail

Click and link for all types of lodging on the trail.

Bandera | Blanco | Boerne | Burnet | Dripping Springs | Fredericksburg |

Johnson City | Kerrville | Llano | Marble Falls | Wimberley

When we are camping, I  spend a lot of time on different auction sites. Some of these sites are a way to get a real bargain.  I recently discovered DealDash, which is a penny auction website with some important differences.  Deal Dash starts each auction at $00.00. The bids can only be raised by $0.01.  Whenever you place a bid, a timer starts.  If no bids are placed before the time is up,  the highest bidder wins. There are no reserves on any action.

To bid you must buy bids for $0.60. If you do not win the auction, you may use the Buy it Now option and purchase the item at a discounted rate AND all your bids will be returned to you. Try DealDash risk free, with free shipping on any of your won or purchased items. No sales tax unless you live in New York.

They have safeguards built in, like No Jump Auctions.  No one can enter bidding after the price of the auction reaches $5.00.  This keeps someone from jumping in after other bidders have bid the price of the item up.  They also have a Bid Buddy that allows  bidding on auctions automatically.  As long as you have bids to use, the system will place the bids for you.

Runaway Fright Train

October 6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27

The Runaway Fright Train will host “Beware of the Zombies.”  There will be zombies on the train; you will not know when or where.  As you ride through the dark woods, you’ll feel spirits encircling you in the shrouded mist.  The zombies rise from the dead to haunt the living in this Halloween Theater on Wheels for all ages.

Make it a full evening by enjoying the Halloween Festival at the Haunted Historic Depot in Downtown Jefferson – offering something for everyone. The Fun Brothers Bound House brings their alligator bounce house to our Halloween Festival on October 13, 20, 27, 2012.  Admission is free with the purchase of a Halloween train ride.   Other free activities will include mini-maze, mini-haunted house, movies, children’s crafts and games.

Phone Number: 866-398-2038

Jefferson Railway is located at 400 East Austin, Jefferson, TX 75657

Tickets and information: https://tickets.jeffersonrailway.com/content/runaway-fright-train

The Polar Express

Wear your pajamas on the train that is decorated for the holidays.   The Polar Express will be read aloud on the route to the North Pole, complete with background music from The Polar Express movie. Passengers are served hot chocolate and cookies by chefs.

Santa Claus and elves await the passengers at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and elves then board the train. Chefs in each train car  will entertain passengers and lead Christmas caroling. Santa Claus and the Elves, moving through the train, will greet each child, giving them their own personal silver bell.

Phone Number:  877-726-7245

Texas State Railroad is located on Park Road 70 in Palestine, TX 75801

Tickets and information: https://www.texasstaterr.com/polar/buy-tickets.html