Texas RV Travel blog

Jazz has a long and distinguished history in Texas. Like most genres of music developed here, the music has its roots in many cultures. That is why you really should go to at least one of these festivals. The fest in Brownsville will provide an opportunity to hear all the types of Jazz music as developed south of the border that migrated to Texas.

Brownsville 12th Annual Latin Festival

October 9-12, 2008
Various venues in and around Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville Texas is celebrating its 12th Annual Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival with more Grammy Award Winners and Nominees than ever, the World Salsa Dance Champions, free music clinics, free dance lessons, art shows, after-show jams and the premier Salsa dance event of the Rio Grande Valley! Bring the family, stay the weekend, we have great ticket and hotel discount packages! Call 956-831-9590 for more info.

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Another one of my favorite festivals is the Old Settlers Reunion held in Nocona this month. Nocono is a great place to buy a new pair of cowboy boots, if you wear them. Events also include Includes events related to the Chisholm Cattle Trail, cattle drives, bbq chuckwagon dinner.

Gary Nicholson has produced two Grammy winning records and many poplar records.  In 2006, Nicholson was nominated to the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. Over four hundred of his songs have been recorded in various genres including country, rock, blues, folk, bluegrass, and pop by such diverse artists as BB King, Garth Brooks, Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Etta James, John Prine, Dixie Chicks, Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, Keb Mo, George Jones, the Neville Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Del McCoury, Guy Clark and so many more. In addition to his Grammy winning records with Delbert McClinton, who has recorded twenty five of his songs, he has produced records for The Judds, Wynonna, Pam Tillis, T Graham Brown, Chris Knight, and others.

Click HERE for more information.

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Comanche Warrior Triathlon

Comanche Trail Park in Big Spring Texas (432-264-2376)
Saturday, September 6, 2008

Packet Pickup: 430 PM to 830 PM on Friday and 530 AM on Race Day
Pre Race Meeting: 715 AM on Race Day

Triathlon: Begins at 8:00 AM

The Swim: 500 Meters in Comanche Trail Lake
The Ride: 30K of rolling terrain
The Run: 5K of level to rolling terrain inside Comanche Trail park

The park in which this is held is family friendly and includes a Kid Zone, golf course, tennis courts, hike and bike trail and a small camping area.

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RV Parks in Area:

Lake Colorado City State Park - We have stayed in this park and it is nice. Bring your fishing pole! The park has campsites with water hook-ups and campsites with water and electrical hook-ups. 50-amp electric service hook-up for RVs available for an additional fee. In addition, the park has 11 Limited Use Cabins (waterfront) with small refrigerator, microwave, sleep 4 people, A/C, heat, ceiling fan, shutters, picnic table on a covered porch, fire ring and grill.

Moss Lake - RV Park/Campground offers full hook-up (includes water, sewer, and electricity) and half hook-up (water and electricity). A dump station is also provided. Overnight camping by permit is allowed throughout the facility.

There are two privately owned RV parks in the area. Here are the reviews.

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Bastrop and Buescher State Parks lie within the Post Oak Savannah, a mix of pine, oak, grasslands and mixed flowering plants. This diverse environment shelters wildlife including the pileated woodpecker and the endangered Houston toad.

Check the event schedule for interpretive activities including historic tours of the CCC structures, evening presentations and guided nature hikes.

Bastrop State Park-Historic CCC-built native rock cabins, lodges, freshwater swimming pool and bathhouse. Lake Bastrop offers boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing. Camp amongst the pine trees or tee off at one of the most scenic 18-hole golf courses in Central Texas. Dogs and people love the sandy, shady 7-mile long Lost Pines Trail or one of several shorter trails.

Scenic Drive-Experienced bike riders will enjoy Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher State Parks. You may also drive this scenic route through the Lost Pines, a remnant of an extensive pine-oak forest covering much of Central Texas during the last ice age.

Beuscher State Park-Land contained in the original Stephen F. Austin’s grant offers historical sites found with GPS. Watch wildlife and 250 species of birds. Stocked fishing lake with non-motorized boating. Beuscher Hiking Trail is a 7.7-mile trail that follows Park Road 1C towards Bastrop SP. The easy trail is covered in pine needles and shaded most of the trail.

• Right click to download PDF of hiking trails from TPWD website
• Visit TexasHiking.com page on Bastrop SP
• Visit TexasHiking page on Beuscher State Park
• Stargaze the skies above Bastrop State Parks

Accommodations include primitive camping, cabins, lodges, RV spots and campsites. You may reserve through the ReserveAmerica system or contact the parks directly.

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Come to Austin, Texas in the springtime for the South by Southwest Music/Film/Interactive Conference/Festival. Yes, that is a mouthful to say, but it is the most exciting ten days of the year.

• Whether you are a musician, a music lover or in the music business, a Net2.0 person or a gamer, an independent film maven, a seasoned producer or a newbie screenwriter–you must come.
• Spend the days networking, promoting your band, book, game, application or innovation. Learn about social networking, mobi marketing, new apps and platforms. Get discovered, funded, mentored or published. Connect with press, radio, and film industry players.

• At night, grab a music or film schedule and anguish over your choices. Run around downtown Austin, eat and drink too much, have a wonderful time listening to tunes or watching flicks, but remember you should get up the next day to do it all again.

SXSW Music and Media Conference is held March 12-16, 2008. What started at an area hotel with about 30 bands playing in a few clubs around town has expanded to 1500+ musicians performing at 70+ music venues. During the day, thousands of entertainment and media industry professionals fill the Austin Convention Center for panels, presentations, trade show and exhibits. Dolly Parton, R.E.M. and The Black Crowes are already scheduled to perform.

SXSW Interactive Festival (Interactive feed), held March 7-11, 2008, explores the latest in media technologies with panels, presentations, trade show and exhibits. Look for ScreenBurn, gaming-specific programming with an open-platform arcade featuring tournaments and exhibitions. Mark Zuckerberg, from Facebook, is the keynote speaker on Sunday, March 9

SXSW Film Conference and Festival (Film feed), held March 7-15, 2008, covers the art and the business of independent cinematography. Scheduled events include a conversation with Michael Eisner, ex-head of Disney, and Helen Hunt, actress turned director whose new film Then She Found Me, will screen at this year’s SXSW Film Festival.

Register for events by clicking here | Download tools to keep updated here | Keep up with industry news here

If you will be staying in a hotel, reserve NOW. Otherwise, you may be staying in San Marcos or Johnson City and commuting in each day. This is a huge event, even for Texas!

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There are some places in Texas that you should only go with your loved one. Special places of the heart where you will be treated like royalty and every hedonist impulse of yours will be indulged. This article is just an esoteric collection of romantic inns and lodges that have luxurious accommodations and offer spa services. Explore a little.

Ye Kendall Inn is a Texas and a National Landmark located on the banks of Cibolo Creek at 128 Blanco in Boerne, Texas. Dine at the renowned Limestone Grille, relax at Tavern 128 or enjoy the Hill Country AVEDA Spa. Walk to the town shops and eateries. They have 36 unique rooms, suites and cottages. Call (830) 249-2138 for reservations.

Barons CreekSide - Revel in the nature creekside at 316 Goehmann Lane in Fredericksburg, Texas. Choose from a farmhouse, chalet, log cabins (including 250 year old Swiss one) or the lodge. Indulge at the Living Touch SPA, offering bodyshaping, reflexology, aromatherapy, pain relief therapy. Call (830) 990-4048 to make reservations.

Barton Creek Resort & Spa is located at 8212 Barton Club Drive in Austin, Texas. The resort and spa are nestled in 4,000 secluded acres of rolling hills and provides the ultimate luxurious experience. Stunning Hill Country views greet each guest of the 303 guest rooms and suites. Be pampered in a full-service spa and salon, golf on one of four championship golf courses. Call 866-572-7369 or 512-329-4000 for reservations.

Crystal River Inn Bed and Breakfast is a romantic getaway in the middle of San Marcos that offers custom-designed romance packages that may include champagne, chocolates, flowers, bath baskets, breakfast in bed, fireside picnics, horse-drawn carriages, limousine rides, massages, candles or hot-air ballooning. Call for details 1-888-396-3739.

San Gabriel River Inn is located in a beautiful rural setting of Bertram, Texas. Enjoy total privacy, so condusive to relaxation. Walk along the river, fish in the pond or stargaze from your private hot tub. For more information, call 512-355-2102 or 512-335-8335.

Moody Gardens Hotel and Spa at Seven Hope Boulevard in Galveston, Texas, is a wonderful place to escape for a romantic rendezvous. Package includes a jacuzzi suite and breakfast in bed. A bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and a rose are delivered upon arrival. The spa indulgent package includes a luxurious room for two. champagne and a gourmet cheese and fruit tray upon arrival. Relax with a couples massage in exclusive spa suite. Call (409) 741-8484 or (888) 388-8484 for more packages.

Blisswood at Lehmann Legacy Ranch in Cat Spring, Texas is a 650-acre ranch with bicycling, birding, Bass fishing, horseback riding, massage, golf, hot air ballooning or just relaxing. Choose from 12 individual cabins and farmhouses, including the Enchanted Cabin, nestled in thick woods near Enchanted Lake. Reserve your space in this magical setting at 713-301-3235.

If you would like to have other ideas for what to do on St. Valentine’s Day, please view these posts on Texas RV Travel Blog

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