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.

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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There are many Market Days and Farmers’ Markets in Central Texas.

Usually Farmers’ Markets are for best for local grown fruits, vegetables, and homemade jams, jellies and salsas. During Market Days, anything goes! You will find antiques, furniture, collectibles, jewelry, crafts, candles, music CDs, Mexican imports, bird houses, hats, clothing, leather goods, books, plants, wind chimes, sculpture, glass catchers, gazing balls, framed art, drawings, photography, nuts, baked goods, honey butter, homemade preserves and canned fruits. You will also meet the people who grew, made or crafted the items you are buying.

Bastrop Farmers’ Market is open year-round on Fridays from 1 to 5 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Bastrop’s Farmer’s Market is part of the River Valley Farmers Market Association, so everything offered for sale is grown and produced by the merchant. Bring your egg cartons, planting pots, canning jars or bags (paper or plastic) to the market for recycling. WIC coupons accepted. After shopping, take a tour of historic Bastrop or relax at one of the many parks in Bastrop.

Blanco Market Day
Historic Courthouse Square
Blanco, Texas

Blanco Market Day is held every third Saturday of the month March through November on the front lawn of the courthouse. Setup time for vendors is 730 AM and Market Day ends around 4 PM. Dogs are welcome! After you shop, grab a periwinkle blue bike (Blanco Blue Bike) for FREE use at one of several locations around Blanco. Grab a bike an pedal out to swim or fish at Blanco State Park.

Boerne Market Dat
Main Square Gazebo
Boerne, Texas

Boerne Market Days are held the second weekend of each month. Items for sale include antiques, arts and crafts, clothing, pottery, jewelry, Texas souvenirs and gourmet food products. Eat lunch on Main Street or enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Cibola Creek. Plan to visit the Cibolo Nature Center.

Elgin Farmers Market
410 North Main (next to Elgin Library)
Elgin, Texas

Elgin Farmer’s Market is part of the River Valley Farmers Market Association. Everything offered for sale is grown and produced by the merchants. Open seasonally on Tuesdays from 1 PM to sellout. Bring your egg cartons, planting pots, canning jars or bags (paper or plastic) to the market for recycling. WIC coupons accepted. While you are in Elgin, stop at Southside Market or Meyer’s Elgin Sausage for some famous Elgin Hot Sausage.

Gruene Market Days
1641 Hunter Road
New Braunfels, Texas

Market Days in Gruene are held on the third full weekend of the month, from February through November, and on the first weekend of December. Market day opens at 10 AM and closes at 5 PM. Gruene Market Days are special in that all products are made by the vendors themselves. Admission is free. While you are there, eat at the Grist Mill on the Guadalupe River, take a tubing trip, or stick around to hear live music at the oldest dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall.

Kyle Market Day and Farmers Market
Front Street (between Kyle City Hall and the Historic Train Depot) under the Water Tower

Kyle Market Day is held the first Saturday of the month, April through November, 9 AM to 2 PM. Enjoy live music by popular local musicians. Stroll along the downtown streets and view the local attractions. Take a swim in the Municipal Swimming Pool, located in Gregg-Clark Park.

San Marcos Farmers Market
204 S. Edward Gary
San Marcos, Texas

This market is a member of the San Marcos/New Braunfels Farmers Market Association, a non-profit organization formed to provide a place where Central Texas farmers may market their fresh, homegrown and homemade products to the local consumer. San Marcos Farmers Market is open every Tuesday, year round, from 3 to 6 PM. This market offers homegrown fruits and vegetables, homemade breads and pastries, fresh eggs, homemade salsa, jams and jellies, flowers and plants. Find lavender in all forms and other natural products. Bring your swimsuits and swim or tube down the crystal clear San Marcos River across the street from the market place. Grab a trolley and go shopping at the Outlet Mall,

Sunset Valley Farmers Market
3200 Jones Road
Sunset Valley, Texas

Open every Saturday morning from 9 AM to 1 PM. The emphasis is on organic, sustainable production of food. This farmers’ market has won awards for being one of the best in the area, state and nation. Enjoy live music and bring your dogs!

Wimberley Farmers’ Market
Lions Field on FM 2325
Wimberley, Texas

The Wimberley Farmers Market is open every Wednesday from 3 to 6 PM. Park directly across the street.

Wimberley Market Days
Lions Field on FM 2325
Wimberley, Texas

Wimberley Market Days are held on the first Saturday of each month from March or April through December, from 7 AM to 3 PM. With approximately 450 vendors, this is the second largest flea market in Texas. No dogs allowed, but there are kennels where you may board Fluffy. The event is free, but you must pay for parking.

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May 2

Custom Car and Truck Show, Conroe. Top 75, Top 10 Under Construction, Best of Show Car, Best of Show Truck, Best Engine, Best Undercarriage, Best Interior, Best Debut Car.

May 3

Mayfest, Driftwood, Texas, 10am-6pm, free. Enjoy a beautiful day on the grounds of the historical church. Bake sale, food, vendors, silent auction, activities for children, live music including Nashville Recording Artist, Jill Parr.

The Heritage Gala, Dripping Springs, 6-11 pm, reservation. Relax under the stars and 150-year-old oak trees on the grounds of Dr. Pound Pioneer Farmstead Historic Museum. Wine tasting, gourmet dining, dancing to swing/jazz band, guided tours of historic homestead, silent and live auction.

Spring Fling, Gainesville, 10am-5pm. in Leonard Park. Eddie Coker, children’s entertainer will keep the youngsters busy, while parents explore the arts and crafts vendors. Radio Disney, Talley Fun and Games carnival, Little Britches Rodeo, Critterman and his Animal Ambassadors, Chuck Wagon Cooking and Blacksmith demonstrations, dog agility and obedience exhibits and miniature train round out the fun.

May 3-4

Comfort Village Spring Antiques Show, Comfort, (Sa) 10am-5pm, (Su) 10am-4pm, Comfort Park on Highway 27. Look for stoneware and baskets, pewter, cupboards and farm tables, benches, shelves, architectural artifacts, textiles and linens and antique tools.

Heritage Home Tour 2008 : Roses of San Antonio Street, San Marcos, (Sa) 12 noon-6pm, (Su) 12 noon-5pm, San Antonio Street, tickets needed. A self-paced tour of 6 historic homes built between 1887 and 1920, spanning American Foursquare, Queen Anne, Pioneer Farmhouse, Greek Revival and other styles. Ticket holders receive 2008 Homes Tour map and descriptions. A beautiful selection of antique roses will be for sale at the tour ticket sales center on Mitchell Street, between W. San Antonio and MLK Streets.

Texas Bison Festival, Hwy 290 East of Stonewall, (Sa&Su)10 am to 6pm, LBJ State Park, Adults $5; Children under 10 free. See a live bison herd and witness the Native American blessing of the herd. Visit the 1800s Texas Living History area, enjoy cowboy music and poetry, explore the farming lifesyle. In the Native American cultural area, you will enjoy dancers, music, storytellers; learn the art of bow making, flint knapping and fire making. Try a Bison burger or Bison sausage.

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Did you know that the United Kingdom is the largest overseas market for travel to Texas and the US? Even with restrictions on and the expense of air travel, people from the UK are still jumping on Flights to USA.

The main purpose for visits from the United Kingdom to Texas are categorized as leisure & visiting friends and relatives, with popular destinations being (1) Houston, (2) Dallas/Fort Worth, (3) San Antonio and (4) Austin. Visitors from UK love shopping, dining, visiting historical sites and small towns, touring the countryside and sightseeing in cities. (Texas Travel Research 2006).

What is the one thing I would do if I flew in from the UK to Texas? I would visit the musical capital of the world, Austin, Texas. While Houston, San Antonio and the D/FW metroplex offer many worthy attractions, there is no place like Austin.

During the day, there is the natural beauty of the Wildflower Center, the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail and the spring-fed waters of Barton Springs to enjoy.

For shoppers, the West End offers an eclectic collection of art, antiques, and collectible shops in cottages and storefronts built in the 1930s and 1940s. There are restaurants, bakeries and coffee houses in the area.

Sixth Street, a seven-block stretch of Victorian-era buildings once known as Pecan Street is lined with cafes, nightclubs, pubs, dance clubs, live music venues, restaurants, galleries and shops. On the weekend, the street is closed as the district explodes with music.

Welcome to Texas!

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Texas Independence Day Celebration
March 1-2, 2008 10am-5pm
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site

Visit this historic site during the 172nd birthday celebration! Enjoy the free two-day historic festival, with folk in period dress, craft demonstrations, military reenactments and music.

Visit Texas authors and have them sign your favorite book about Texas.

View the hand painted lithographs by naturalist John James Audubon, Audubon’s Creations: His Texas Legacy.

Colonel Travis (in spirit) will be on hand to convey why he and 188 other heroes chose to make a stand in San Antonio de Bexar on March 6, 1836.

Watch Gone to Texas, a musical production about the life of Sam Houston or Once Upon a Time in Texas, songs and stories from Texas History.

The historic site includes:

• Independence Hall-relive the moment Texas was created with a tour through the replica constructed on the cornerstones of the original building where Independence was declared. Tours throughout the weekend.
• Star of the Republic Museum-Delve into Texas’ colorful past through the award-winning exhibits and hands-on activities at this outstanding museum. Open 10–5 daily.
• Demonstrators Trail-Period craft demonstrators and reenactment camps bring the past to life with displays throughout the weekend. Located between the Museum and the Visitors Center; also in the Museum.
• Barrington Living History Farm–Visit the home of the last President of Texas, Anson Jones, and learn what life was like on an 1850’s cotton farm complete with outdoor kitchen, oxen, hogs, chickens and chores. Open 10–5 daily.

Interested in Texas and the fight for independence? The historic Texas Independence Trail is a road trip that takes you

Right-click HERE to download the Texas Independence Trail brochure.

Here is a list of the State Parks and Historic Sites on or near to the Independence Trail.

• Bastrop State Park, Bastrop
• Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site, La Porte
• Brazos Bend State Park, Needville
• Buescher State Park, Smithville
• Casa Navarro State Historic Site, San Antonio
• Fannin Battleground State Historic Site, Fannin
• Galveston Island State Park, Galveston
• Goliad State Park, Goliad
• Lockhart State Park, Lockhart
• Monument Hill/Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, La Grange
• Palmetto State Park, Gonzales
• San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, La Porte
• Sebastopol State Historic Site, Seguin
• Sheldon Lake State Park, Houston
• Stephen F. Austin State Park, San Felipe
• Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, West Columbia
• Washington-on-the Brazos State Historic Site, Washington

Find information on any of these parks and historic sites at Texas Parks and Wildlife website HERE.

Note: The Alamo is NOT on the Independence Trail. The defenders of the Alamo held Santa Anna and his arm at bay to give Sam Houston and his ragtag militia time to develop into a fighting force that could defeat Santa Anna.

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