Texas RV Travel blog

The first Juneteenth celebration happened spontaneously in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger read General Order #3 to the assembled people in Galveston, Texas.

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free . . .

The celebration was poignant because it had taken 1-1/2 years for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas after it was signed into law.

Tip of the Hat to  sneakerboxx.wordpress.com/ for image

Today, this historic event is celebrated around the USA and the world, not only as a slave  independence day, but as a celebration of the culture, the history and the countless contributions made by people of color to the world.

Emancipation Proclamation * Juneteenth * Freedom Celebrations * Redemption Songs

June 13-19
Galveston

June 19
Miller Outdoor Center, Houston

June 19-20
Cecile Holman Park and Benny Houston Community Center, Brownwood

June 19-20
San Marcos Plaza by the Cock House, San Marcos

June 20
Fred More Park, Denton

June 19-21
Woodson Park, Odessa

June 27-28
Last Frontier Heritage Celebration & Buffalo Soldier Living History Encampment
Cochran County Park, Morton

Emancipation Proclamation * Juneteenth * Freedom Celebrations * Redemption Songs

This is not a complete listing. Check your local community for activities in your neighborhood. Pick a celebration and join in the fun. Let us never forget that we are all free, regardless of race, creed, belief system or skin color.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Did You Know & Fairs/Festivals & Holidays & RV Travel & Remember | 2 Comments »

Our last stop was the Big Creek Scenic Area, a rare preserve of over 1400 acres. Driving south on FM 2025 from Double Lake, we went left (east) on FS 221, left on 217 and parked on left. This is a parking lot for the Lone Star Hiking Trail, as well.

Big Creek Scenic area offers four trail loops of various lengths for hikers to enjoy.  Of course, the Lone Star Hiking Trail is also in this area.

Big Creek Scenic Area fills a diverse ecological niche. Anywhere a tree had fallen, a small Magnolia was reaching for the sunlight.

Where water was close to the surface, dwarf palmettos, the only palm native to Texas, pierced the gloom with pointed leaves.

After our walk, we drove back on FS 217 until it ended at FM 2666. We went right on FM 2666 to FM 2025 and went right.  The first thing we saw was the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT).  Part of the Lone Star Hiking Trail has been designated a National Recreational Trail.

We hope to return in the Spring to hike parts of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. However, from what we saw, you have to be a dedicated hiker to manage the last miles of the LSHT.

Here is the description for the last 5.4 miles of the LSHT:

0.0 Trail head at FM 2025
1.3 Very muddy area (see picture above)
1.7 Iron Bridge
2.3 Trail Crosses FM 945
2.5 Base of old Fire tower
3.4 Base of old Fire tower
3.7 Gravel road
4.1 Gravel road and foot bridge
4.6 Bridge on side
4.8 Iron Bridge
4.9 Foot bridge in bad condition
5.0 Power Line
5.1 Two foot bridges within 200 feet
5.4 End of Trail

Well, that ended our trip for the day, but not our back road adventures. We traveled north on FM 2025, and turned left (west) on FM 150. We traveled until we turned left (south) on FM 925. We turned right at the second church onto what I believe was FM 2282, but it was unmarked. The road turned into FM 3081 and we journeyed south until we hit County Line Road, which took us into Willis. From Willis we took the old Highway 75 south to FM 830 and back to our campground.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Hike/Bike/Run & Nature & RV Travel & Wildlife Watching | No Comments »

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Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail winds through the pine trees and hardwoods of Double Lake Recreation Area for eight miles.  The single-track Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail is maintained by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Forest Service and the Houston Area Mountain Bike Riders Association (HAMBRA).

As you enter the recreation area, take the left fork (FS210A) and go past all the camping loop and group areas. Park by the restrooms as the trail head is behind them. From the trail head, go left at the first fork, so you will travel clockwise and be facing the trail markings. You will wind up back at this parking area.

Dangers are three road crossings, other bikers, hikers (who are off the hiking trail), deadfall, mosquitoes, low branches, tree roots and soft corners. There are three bridges on the trail. Make sure you hit them square on. If you have a problem, the trail parallels the park road system, so you can probably get help.

For up to date information on this trail, check with the Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Hike/Bike/Run & Nature & Road Trips | No Comments »

Many people in the US do not know that Texas is a great state for growing grapes for wine. Texas grapes include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Merlot. Texas wineries are also doing great work with grapes such as Sangiovese, Syrah, Riesling, Blanc du Bois and Viognier.

Wine is big business in Texas. According to a 2007 study by MKF in conjunction with the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and Texas Tech University

• Texas is America’s No. 5 grape and wine producer
• Texas has more than 220 family-owned vineyards covering 3,100 acres
• The Texas wine industry contributes more than $1.35 billion a year to the state’s economy and supports about 8,000 jobs for Texans

For complete information about Texas wines and wineries, please read this post: Texas Premiere Wine Destination.

Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival

April 16-19

Different Locations Austin and the Texas Hill Country.

The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival brings masters of the culinary arts and wine producers together.  Venues include several in Austin, as well as Dripping Springs, Stonewall and Tow, Texas.

Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit

April 17-19

Perini Ranch, Buffalo Gap, Texas

The Buffalo Gap Wine & Food Summit, Inc. is a Texas non-profit organization founded by Tom Perini of Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Fess Parker of Fess Parker Winery & Vineyards, and Dr. Richard Becker of Becker Vineyards. Taste gourmet dishes, sample award-winning wines and dance under the stars.

Accommodations available at the Perini Ranch.

RV camping at Abilene State Park and Lake Colorado City State Park

The Grand Wine & Food Affair

April 22-26

Sugarland, Texas

Five days, 100 world-class wineries and chefs showcase their talents at winemaker lunches, vintner dinners, wine seminars.

Accommodations available at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Fairs/Festivals & Food/Wine & Golf & Horseback Riding & RV Travel | 6 Comments »

The Houston Art Car Parade

Saturday, May 9 at 1 PM

Both sides of Allen Parkway

Between Taft and Downtown

for information, please see the website of

Orange Show Center for Visionary Art

Houston, Texas, the Art Car Capital of the World, is scene of the 22nd Annual Houston Art Car Parade.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people witness and participate in a rolling display of art on wheels. The Parade has become a nationwide phenomenon and continues to bring out the artist in everyone.

In 2008, more than 250,000 people joined the party and watched as a 30 foot tall dragon, a mobile disco, a giant opera-singing Viking woman, as well as almost 250 other Art Cars motored along Allen Parkway in downtown Houston.

Area RV Campgrounds

Almost Heaven RV Resort is located south of Houston in a rural setting, with convenient access to the Houston Medical Center, as well as all the Sporting and Convention facilities. The resort has a fishing lake, shady spots and all amenities.
4202 Del Bello Road
Houston, TX 77578
(281) 489-8561

Lake View RV Resort has a fishing lake, cabins and park models, swimming pool, jacuzzi, fitness and recreation rooms, all concrete pads with full hookups: 15-50 AMP/water/phone, propane, BBQ and picnic areas, free DSL.
11991 South Main Street
Houston, TX 77035
(800) 385-9122 / 713-723-0973

South Main RV Park has large shaded lots, concrete patios, full hookups, laundry, 20/30/50 amps, paved streets, free wireless Internet, free cable TV, computer room, access control gates, on-site management, clean laundry facilities, free local calls and transportation to Medical Center and shopping.
10100 South Main
Houston, TX 77025
(713) 667-0120

Rivers Inn RV Park is situated on 16 acres and has fish ponds and horseback riding. Golf and activities are closeby.
3602 Rivers Rd. CR 905
Pearland/Manvel, TX 77578
(866) 989-2600 / (281) 489-2600

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Fairs/Festivals & Family Fun & Performing Arts & RV Parks & RV Travel & Strange | 4 Comments »

Are you craving some crayfish, creole or gumbo? If you cannot journey to Louisiana, then spend some time at these festivals in Texas. Eat your fill and then dance off the calories!

14th Crawfish Festival & Zydeko Music

April 3-4

Clear Lake Park, 5001 NASA Parkway, Clear Lake

Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival

April 4

18th and Congress, Austin, Texas (across from the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum)

Extensive menu of Cajun seafood, including 6000 pounds of jumbo crawfish. Music includes Cajun, Zydeco, Funk, Brass Bands, Blues, Rock & Jazz.

14th Annual Bayou City Cajun Fest

April 4-5

Trader’s Village, Houston, Texas

Cajun and Zydeco music will be performed all weekend.  Food catered by The French Quarter Restaurant.

The 23rd Annual Texas Crawfish & Music Festival

April 17-19 and 24-26

Historic Old Town Spring, Texas

Largest crawfish festival in the South, three stages with country, rock and zydeco entertainment. Some proceeds to Hurricane Ike

The 53rd Annual Sylvan Beach Festival and Crawfish Jam

April 25

Sylvan Beach, 100 Bayshore Drive, LaPorte, Texas

Live entertainment, food, arts & crafts, cook-off, carnival and fun.

Posted by CyberCelt under Culture & Day Trips & Fairs/Festivals & Food/Wine & RV Travel | No Comments »

Dallas Blooms

April 1-12, Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas. Largest floral festival in Southwest, 66 acres of gardens and blooming trees.

Official Bluebonnet Trails

April 1-30, Ennis, Texas. Download a trail map (PDF) and check the website for updates.  This is one part of Texas that had sufficient rainfall to produce spring wildflowers.

Burnet Bluebonnet Festival

April 10-12, Several Locations, Burnet, Texas (see event schedule (DOC) for more information. Fun run, carnival, Hill Country Flyer, pet parade, car show, CAF air show, birding and wildflower show, more.

East Texas Wildflower Trail

April 15-May 31, Starts in Henderson, Texas. Rusk County has three wildflower trails.  Download the trails map (PDF) and spend a leisurely weekend or longer, touring the countryside.

Bloomin’ Temple Festival

April 16-19, Downtown Temple, Texas. Wildflower Capital of Texas, April 16-19 for great entertainment, carnival, plenty of food, and special events, including a car show, Kid Zone, bike tour, 5K and fun run and much more!

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Fairs/Festivals & Family Fun & Gardens/Tours & Music & Nature & RV Travel & Wildflowers | 2 Comments »