Lone Star Travelers Blog

On Saturday December 13th, 2008 from 8AM-1030AM Stephen F. Austin State Park invites you to a pancake breakfast featuring homemade syrup, sausage, juice and coffee with special guest Santa Claus at the head of the table.  The fee for this special Christmas breakfast is $4 per person.   From 6PM-8PM that same day Stephen F. Austin State Park will host a caroling hayride through the park.  Stay to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies after the hayride.  Admission is one canned good per person.  Stephen F. Austin State Park is in the Prairies and Lakes Region.

On Saturday December 6th, 2008 from 6PM-9PM Purtis Creek State Park invites you to join the park staff for the lighting of the park’s Christmas tree.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand as you enjoy hot chocolate and hot cider and watch a Christmas movie by the campfire.  Campers may show off their holiday decorations at their campsites and compete for prizes.  This event is free.  Park entrance fees do apply.  Purtis Creek State Park is in the Prairies and Lakes Region.  Purtis Creek State Park is located in the town of Eustace, Texas 60 miles east of Dallas, Texas in Henderson and VanZandt counties.

The Dallas Cowboys play their last Thanksgiving Day game at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on Thursday November 27th, 2008 at 3:15 PM versus the Seattle Seahawks.  The nationally televised game will feature half time entertainment by the Jonas Brothers.  An American Boy Band group the three brothers gained fame from appearances on the Disney Channel.  For the past 11 years the Thanksgiving Day football game half time show at Texas Stadium had kicked off the Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign.  More than 25,000 volunteers though out the country will ring bells over the familiar site of the red kettles, soliciting spare change donations from holiday shoppers.  In 2007 they collected a record $118 million for the Salvation Army.  Note:  The Cowboys final season at Texas Stadium is sold out.

On Saturday December 13th, 2008 bring the family to Cedar Hill State Park for an evening of Christmas caroling.  At 6PM a lantern lit tour of the historic Penn Farm kicks off the activities which include a sing-along around the campfire, hot chocolate and  apple cider will help to keep you warm and cozy as the cookie plate is passed your way.  Christmas caroling will continue until 730PM.  972-291-3900×232 Cedar Hill State Park is an 1826 acre urban nature preserve located on the shores of the 7500 acre Joe Pool Reservoir, just 10 miles from Dallas, Texas in the Prairies and Lakes Region..  

Lake Texana State Park invites you to come out and explore their Haunted Halloween Trail.  The entire family will enjoy carnival games, a pumpkin carving contest (bring your carved pumpkin for judging) and a costume contest for children 12 years of age and under.  The fun begins at 7PM on Saturday, November 01, 2008.  Lake Texana State Park is located halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi in the Gulf Coast Region.  The event is free however state park entrance fee does apply, or show your Texas State Park Pass.  361-782-5718.