Lone Star Travelers Blog

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Fort Davis, Texas to it’s 2008 list ‘Dozen Distinctive Destinations.’  They make note of the lack of traffic lights, absence of chain stores and they call the town “an extraordinary blend of majestic scenery, abundant wildlife and cultural resources.  fortdavis.com

The world’s largest inflatable beach ball will be bounced down Elm Street on Saturday the 25th of October and Sunday the 26th of October 2008.   Carnival Cruise Line in partnership with the Dallas Film Commission will be filming the fun for a commercial to be nationally aired on TV.  Guinness Book of World Records will be on hand to record the feat of bouncing this ball, 35 feet in diameter and 3 stories tall.  (The current record is 33 feet.)   Festivities at this Main Street District event kick off at 12Noon on Saturday and Sunday and will include a Carnival Cruise Line Fun Booth in Pegasus Plaza with live music, free ice cream and lots of giveaways.  You will have a chance to win one of 5 free cruises for a family of four on a Carnival Fun Ship.  972-341-2514 for more information.

Spanish Tracks and Trails is a Texas State Park event to be held on Saturday the 8th of November, 2008 from 10AM-4PM at Mission Espiritu at Golidad State Park.  Weavers, blacksmiths, leather workers and other artisians will be demonstrating their frontier style skills.  This event is free.  Goliad State Park is located just south of Goliad, Texas on U.S. 183 and 77A in the South Texas Plains Region.  361-645-3405  www.tpwd.state.tx.us/goliad

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the show “Dallas” original members of the cast including Larry Hagman, (J.R.) Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing, J.R.’s wife) and Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing J.R.’s younger brother) will host a barbecue at SouthFork Ranch in Parker, Texas (near Plano, Texas) on Saturday November 8th, 2008 from 5PM-12Midnight.  There will be fireworks, a concert, tours of the mansion and SouthFork and a question and answer period with the cast.  Larry Hagman says the question he is asked most frequently, was the event that closed the 1979-1980 season  ”Who shot J.R.?”  Viewers had to wait all summer until the show premiered again in the fall for that answer and to see if J.R. survived.  Organizers of the event call it a once in a lifetime chance for fans to spend an intimate evening with the stars of the show.  Ticket prices range from $100-$500 with $1,000 gaining a cozy cocktail hour with the cast.  For more information www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasreunion

The 6th annual Fall Flotilla will take place at Goliad State Park in Texas on Saturday the 1st of November, 2008.  Bring  your kayak or canoe and your safety equipment and enjoy free shuttle service and free lunch if you are pre-registered.  The float is 6.6 miles down the San Antonio River on the Goliad Paddling Trail.  The launch point is west of the town of Goliad off Highway 59.  Take out is at Goliad State Park.  Allow 2-4 hours to paddle this trail which is the first paddling trail ever to connect to a  Texas State Park.  If you would like to make a weekend out of it primitive campsites are located near the river as well as camping with utilities in the park campground.  Contact the Goliad Chamber of Commerce at 361-645-3563 for more information.  www.canoetrailgoliad.com  If you cannot make the Fall Flotilla the Summer Flotilla is scheduled for May 16th, 2008.  Goliad State Park is located just south of the town of Goliad in the South Texas Plains Region.