Lone Star Travelers Blog

Galleria Dallas, Holiday Celebration

joanie7 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:38:39 +0000

The Dallas Galleria Holiday Celebration is in full swing with free activities for the entire family. The country’s tallest Christmas tree is featured at the Galleria ice rink, rising from the center of the ice rink up to the massive glass atrium. This spectacular tree sparkles with nearly a quarter of a million lights and more than 10,000 ornaments. Holiday Magic on Ice Shows feature Missle Toes the Galleria’s own ice skating Santa performing back flips as fireworks shoot off his skates. World and olympic celebrity skaters also entertain. Santa is in his Galleria Village, Slappy’s Holiday Circus and the Illumination Celebration, which is a tree light show are free for you and your family. During Hanukkah there is a Menorah Lighting and Celebratiion. Most events take place through Christmas Eve. galleriadallas.com 972-702-7100

Prairie Lights, Grand Prairie Texas

joanie7 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:30:37 +0000

Grand Prairie’s drive-through light park is featuring all new custom displays for 2011. 4 million holiday lights glow as you drive the 2 miles through Lynn Creek Park. Halfway through the drive you may get out of your vehicle at the Holiday Village where you will find food, gifts, photos with Santa and two additional attractions, The Holiday Dazzle-ation 4D Experience and Holiday Magic lighted walk-through Forest. On the way out of the park you exit through the world’s largest light tunnel. Prairie Lights is open from 6PM-9PM Sunday-Thursday and 6PM-10PM Friday and Saturday. Admission is $20 per car Sunday-Thursday on non-holidays. Friday and Saturday as well as holidays the admission is $30 per car. The Holiday Village admission price is $5 per adult and $3 per child. Admission to the forest is $3 per adult and $2 per child or buy a combo ticket for $7 per adult and $4 per child. Allow 1 1/2 hours to drive through the park with a stop at the village. An additional hour should be allowed on the weekend. Prairie Lights will be open through New Years Eve, December 31st, 2011. Lynn Creek Park is on Joe Pool Lake. 5700 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie, Texas. 75052 prairie lights.org

Gaylord Texan Ice, Shrek the Halls, 2011

joanie7 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:35 +0000

The Lone Star Christmas at Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas is underway through January 1st, 2012. The highlight is Gaylord Texan Ice featuring Shrek. Hand carved from 2 million pounds of ice by artisans from Harbin, China, you may stroll through this amazing attraction and relive the heartwarming story of Shrek and Fiona told through an interactive world of colorful ice sculptures. Non peak ticket admission prices are $21.95 per adult, $11.95 for children ages 4-12 years of age, $19.95 for seniors ages 55 years and older and under the age of 3 years free. Non peak times are Monday through Thursday December 5th-8th and Monday through Thursday December 12th-15th. All other days are regular admission prices. Regular admission price is $26.95 per adult, $14.95 for children ages 4-12 years, $23.95 for seniors ages 55 years and older and under the age of 3 years free. A $3.00 discount coupon is available to print at the www.mycokerewards.com website. It is good for a $3 discount off an adult ticket admission price through December 15th, 2011. You may walk through the exhibit at your own pace. It is 9 degrees inside. A parka is provided for every participant. Ice is open from 10AM-9Pm Monday through Thursday as well as Sunday. On Friday and Saturday the hours are 10AM-10PM. You may reserve a specific time slot on line. gaylordtexan.com 817-778-2500

Holiday at the Dallas Arboretum 2011

joanie7 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:00:45 +0000

Holiday at the Arboretum this year is “It’s a Fairy Tale World.” A 7 fairy tale castle exhibit highlights unique and extraordinary interpretations of various fairy tales. Weekend activities include live reindeer on Saturday and Sunday from 1PM-4PM thru December 18th. Frosty and Rudolph costumed characters will roam on Saturdays and Sundays from 11AM-3PM. The 66 acres of the Dallas Arboretum on White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas are festive and fun for the entire family. Admission to the Dallas Arboretum is $12 for adults 13-64 years of age, $10 for seniors age 65 years and older, $8 for children 3-12 years and under 3 years of age free. Onsite self parking is $7. On Wednesdays through December 28, 2011 tickets are buy one, get one free. On Thurdays AT&T sponsors a $8.50 admission price for seniors age 65 and older along with a 20% discount in the gift store.

Interlochen Lights, Arlington Texas, Christmas 2011

joanie7 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:56 +0000

Interlochen Lights will open on Friday, December 16th, 2011 and continue through Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011. 200 homes in this Arlington neighborhood participate and have been enchanting visitors with their extravagant Christmas lights, decorations and displays for 35 years. For many families the drive through Interlochen is an annual event and part of their holiday celebration. The drive-through entrance point is at the intersection of Randol Mill Rd and Westwood Dr in Arlington, Texas. Hours for the drive-through are 7PM-10PM from December 16th-December 22nd. On December 23rd, 24th and 25th you may drive-through from 7PM-11PM. Allow several hours for your visit. Traffic is bumper to bumper as thousands from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex are drawn to the Interlochen Lights each Christmas season. Directions to Interlochen Lights: from I30E exit at Fielder Road. Travel South to Randol Mill Rd. Turn right on Randol Mill Rd. Follow Randol Mill Rd. to Westwood Drive. From I30W Exit on Chase Parkway. Travel east on Meadowbrook Blvd to Randol Mill Rd. Turn right on Randol Mill Rd and follow to Westwood Dr. The drive through Interlochen Lights is free.

Gift of Lights Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth Texas

joanie7 — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:51:34 +0000

The newest Holiday Destination for North Texas families is a dazzling light display at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. You will stay in the comfort of your own vehicle as you drive-through 1.7 miles of LED lights. Hundreds of light displays have been created for your viewing pleasure from more than one million lights. Tickets to the Gift of Lights at the Texas Motor Speedway are $15 per car if you drive-through Monday thru Thursday or $20 if you drive thru Friday thru Sunday. Discounts of $2 off the admission price are available if you donate 3 canned goods for the Tarrant County Food Bank or $2 off the admission price with your donation of gently used clothing benefiting Goodwill of Fort Worth. Donations may be made at the Gift of Lights admission booth or donate at the Food Bank or Goodwill and obtain your discount coupon there. You may also obtain discount tickets at participating Walgreens. One discount only per vehicle. Everyone gets in free on Monday, December 5h. This special community night is sponsored by NBC5. Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway opens on November 23rd, 2011. The event closes on January 1st, 2012. The display is open Monday thru Thursday from 5:30PM until 9:00PM and Friday thru Sunday 5:30PM until 10:00PM. Gift of Lights will be open on Christmas Day. 888-926-7405

Christmas in Texas State Parks

joanie7 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:10:41 +0000

For those who love the outdoors, there is plenty going on at the Texas State Parks this Christmas! Many state parks have some type of Christmas-themed activity going on including hikes, carols, story-tellings, apple cider, cookies, and hot chocolate. Be sure to dress warmly! Here’s a listing of some Christmas events you’ll find around Texas State Parks now through December 10….

Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Site
December 1 – 14, 2011 8am – 5pm
Early German Christmas / Trail of Lights
To do: Illuminated walking trail with thousands of lights!

Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site
December 1 – 31, 9am – 5pm
Yuletide Texas
To do: Enjoy Christmas decorated ship.

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site- Barrington Living History Farm
December 3, 2011 10am – 4:30pm
Barrington Farm Holidays
To do: Christmas celebration includes making decorations and toys.

Brazos Bend State Park
December 3, 2011 3pm – 7pm
Simple Christmas
To do: Make smores and enjoy bluegrass! Get a visit from “Southern Santa”

Longhorn Cavern State Park
December 3, 10 & 17, 2011, 5pm – 8pm
Caroling In the Cave
To do: Christmas carols in the cave!

Goliad State Park
December 3, 2011, 8pm – 9pm
Christmas at the Mission
To do: Listen to a chorus sing Christmas music in the mission chapel.

Atlanta State Park
December 9 – 10, 2011, 6pm – 10pm
Decorate Your Campsite
To do: The park encourages you to decorate your campsite! Visitors get a free drive to enjoy the decorations.

Cooper Lake State Park- Doctor’s Creek Unit
December 9 & 10 6pm – 10pm
Christmas in the Park
To do: Free drive through of park to enjoy Christmas decorations!

Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park
December 10, 2011, 9am – 12pm
Santa Christmas Hike
To do: Hike up Ranger’s Peak where you can drink hot chocolate and apple cider! Free tram ride down.

Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
December 10, 2011, 1pm – 5pm
Holiday in the Park
To do: Cocoa, holiday crafts, and hike!

Tyler State Park
December 10, 2011. 5pm – 10pm
5th Annual Christmas Caroling Pine Ride
To do: Apple cider, cookies, and a caroling pine ride!

Fort Richardson State Park and Historic Site
December 10, 2011, 5pm – 7pm
Ghosts of Christmas Past
To do: Watch soldier “ghosts” from the 1870s celebrate Christmas while enjoying refreshments!

Fairfield Lake State Park
December 10, 2011 6pm – 10pm
Christmas in Fairfield Lake State Park
To do: Christmas lights and hayride!

Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
December 10, 2011, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Cross Timbers Cowboy Campfire Christmas
To do: Campfire and christmas cowboy music!

Lake Tawakoni State Park
December 10, 2011 6pm – 9pm
Twinkle Tour
To do: Decorate your campsite or take a hayride! (cookies and hot chocolate will be served!)

Cedar Hill State Park
December 10, 2011 6:30pm – 8pm
Caroling through Penn Farm
To do: Lantern tour through Penn Farm, singalong, and hot chocolate, apple sider, and cookies!

Estero Llano Grande State Park
December 10, 2011, 8pm – 10pm
Full Moon Hike with Santa
To do: Join Santa on a hike at night!

Veteran’s Day Freebies and Discounts

joanie7 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:44:28 +0000

The Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran’s Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200 and is available at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Design Center locations, Yardbirds and EXPO Design Center(R) locations. The 10% discount is available everyday for active duty and retirees, but not all veterans. Home Depot makes this offer available to all veterans on most military holidays.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available Nov. 7 – Nov. 11. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards. Like Home Depot, Lowes offers this discount daily to active duty military members, but not to veterans. However, they extend the offer to military veterans on military holidays.

Free Park Admissions for Veterans Day

Fee Free Day at National Parks. To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veteran’s Day weekend – November 11-13, 2011. Over 100 national Parks will be participating in this event

Bed and Breakfast for Vets

In the third year of the program, B&Bs for Vets has organized over 485 (and counting) participating Bed and Breakfasts and Inns across the US and Canada which will be offering veterans a free night’s stay on November 10th, the night before Veterans Day. This offer is available to both active duty military members and veterans with ID, but space is limited. Each Inn and B&B has at least one room available for this promotion and reservations must be made directly through the participating Inns and B&Bs. For more information visit B&Bs for Vets — http://www.betterwaytostay.com/current-promotions/bbs-for-vets/

Free Hugo Canes for Veterans

Sam’s Club locations nationwide will distribute 36,000 Hugo canes free of charge on November 9th, 10th, 11th, 2011 to U.S. military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Limited quantities available, while supplies last. Sam’s Club Membership is not required, but proof of military service may be required. For more information, visit HugoSalutes.com http://www.hugosalutes.com/

Cabela’s stores nationwide will honor the contributions of those who serve by offering employee pricing to all veterans and active duty military and reserve, law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel on Thursday, Nov. 10, and Friday, Nov. 11.
To participate in the Hometown Heroes event, veterans and active duty military, reserve, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel should present their service identification to the Hometown Heroes cashier upon checkout. The discount applies to virtually everything in the store (some restrictions apply).

Other Veteran’s Day Discounts

Free Car wash — Thousands of car washes around the country are offering vets a free car wash on Veterans Day. Find a list at Grace for Veterans at http://graceforvets.org/

Amazon.com – Discount “Veterans Day Honor” MP3 album download. This downloadable album includes 12 songs as performed by the military bands and ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces. Visit Amazon on Veteran’s Day to download the album

Netflix — one free month trial.

Sports Clips — Veterans Day National cut-a-thon and Help A Hero program . Sport Clips is the official haircutter of the VFW and will donate $1 from every haircut during the National Cut-a-Thon to VFW’s Operation Uplink , which provides free phone time to active-duty military personnel and hospitalized veterans. Sports Clips stores also offer a offer a Heroes discount which includes active and retired military. Find a location near you by visiting http://sportclips.com/storelocator/

Applebee’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be seven entrées to choose from ( http://www.applebees.com/menu/vetsday ). Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations at http://applebees.com .

Chili’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of six meals. This offer is available during business hours on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations: http://www.chilis.com/EN/Pages/locationsearch.aspx

Golden Corral – Free meal, Monday Nov. 14: The 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner. For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/

Hooters – Free Meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Hooter’s is serving up a free meal to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Choose one of the new specialty items on the Hooter’s menu. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com .

Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Friday November 11th. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating. For a list of locations visit http://locations.krispykreme.com/

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants – free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov 13, 2011: McCormick & Schmick’s is celebrating their 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13th. Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée. Veterans must provide proof of military service. Be sure to contact your local McCormick & Schmick’s as this is valid at participating restaurants only. Also, Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. For more information visit: http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Event.aspx

Outback Steakhouse – A week of Free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes Monday Nov. 7 – Friday Nov. 11. Outback Steakhouse is honoring America’s military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola product during the week leading up to Veteran’s Day. This offer is available to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identifications: U.S Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), DD form 214 Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), Photograph in Uniform, Wearing Uniform. For more information, visit, http://outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday.aspx

Subway – Free Six Inch Sub. Select Subway locations offer a FREE six inch sub to military veterans on Veterans Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may not be available everywhere. Please call ahead.

Texas Roadhouse – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Offer varies by location; Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information. Locations: http://www.texasroadhouse.com/locations

New Texas State Park in our future!

joanie7 — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:00:35 +0000

Texas Parks and Wildlife News Release
Texas Parks and Wildlife Buys North Texas Land for Future State Park

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department closed on the purchase of 3,333 acres of Cross Timbers region ranch land from several different owners late last week. TPWD paid $7.14 million for the property that straddles the Palo Pinto and Stephens county line near the town of Strawn.

TPWD and the Nature Conservancy identified the property that sits just a few miles north of Interstate 20 for a future state park site after spending the last few years exploring land in Johnson, Bosque, Erath, Hood, Parker, Palo Pinto and Tarrant counties. The state purchased three contiguous tracts composed of two ranches, and a 42-acre in-holding, located roughly an hour’s drive west of downtown Fort Worth.

Funds for the purchase come from the $9.2 million netted from sale in 2008 of the former Eagle Mountain Lake State Park, a sale made possible by an array of private and public donors. The transaction was done with the explicit understanding, supported by Gov. Rick Perry and area legislators, that the proceeds would be used to acquire another state park within 90 miles of downtown Fort Worth. The Legislative Budget Board also had signed off on the use of the Eagle Mountain property sales proceeds to purchase land for a new north Texas state park.

“By any measure, this property was worth the wait” says TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith. “We are excited about its diversity and the many recreational opportunities it will ultimately provide to the citizens and park enthusiasts of north Texas. The acquisition of the new park site never would have happened without the extraordinary generosity of so many private and public donors from the Ft. Worth area. All of us who care about the future of our state parks owe these entities a great debt of gratitude.”

The remainder of the $9.2 million from the sale of Eagle Mountain Lake State Park will be held in a dedicated sub-account for future park land acquisition and/or improvements.

TPWD and TNC have been working closely with landowners and local officials, including the mayor of Strawn, to ensure public support for the project. A cooperative agreement is in the works to include the use of 81-acre Tucker Lake in the proposed state park.

Smith has indicated that it will take some time to complete a master plan to guide public use and development of the site, which due to limited resources to staff and operate the park, might take several years to open. When the gates of Texas’ 94th state park do swing open, Carter believes the state’s investment “will pay recreational and conservation dividends for generations to come.”

The future state park property is rich in natural resources, fronting two miles on the north fork of Palo Pinto Creek and consisting of diverse topography ranging from hilltop vistas to riparian forests. The land is home to plentiful wildlife, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.

Fort Davis National Historic Site, Fifty Years Dedication

joanie7 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:08:58 +0000

On October 8th, 2011 the National Park Service at Fort Davis National Historic Site celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Authorization of Fort Davis National Historic Site.
The program including a flag ceremony with music provided by the 1st Armored Division Band from Fort Bliss, Texas.