Goat Yoga Definitely De- Seum of Art in Austin, to Travelers Who Like Its Rustic Charm, Zoo and the Children’S Museum of Livers

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q ULTIMATE SUMMERTEXAS SUMMER BUCKET LIST TO SOAK UP EVERY SECOND "OF THE SEASON

6 KIMYA KAVEHKAR 5 JANE KELLOGG MURRAY ILLUSTRATIONS BY JAKOB HINRICHS

44 texashighways.com Photo: © Kenny Braun MAY 2018 45 VISIT

TEXASHIGHWAYSFOR A .COM PRINTABLE CHECKLIST OF ALL THE SUMMER FUN { {SOME TEXANS ON q aren’t content with a life well lived, they want hard evidence: the family vacation photos, a souvenir to stick on the shelf, their name in a register at the highest point in Texas. To help WATER you achieve those goals, we’ve compiled a list of " only-in-our-state pursuits you need to check off before another summer speeds by. Some of Texas’ greatest adventures require physical challenge (the world’s toughest canoe race) and some may Hang 10, Dude require getting out of your comfort zone (goat Whether you’re a beach bum who can’t wait to wax up your board or a curious beginner, catching yoga), while others are simply excuses to take waves makes your Texas summer all the more righteous. Some of the best surfing destinations in the state include Matagorda Bay, North Jetty on advantage of all Texas has to offer (waterparks, South Padre Island, Boca Chica Beach, Jamaica Beach in Galveston, and the neighboring towns museums, swimming holes, and old-fashioned Dr of Quintana and Surfside Beach. Most of these towns have vendors offering gear and lessons for beginners. If you don’t want to work for your waves, Pepper floats). This is a packed list—more than NLand Surf Park in Austin offers hourly rates (as well as seasonal and annual memberships) for 100 ideas to fill the 93 days of summer—but the access to its lagoon, which features a wave-making machine that creates consistent surf at three levels of difficulty. The facility also offers lessons, reward will be well worth the effort. Take note, an observation area, a sand beach, brewery, and restaurant, so you can have a full day of fun. For then take off. those who want to engage in surf culture without getting on a board, the Texas Surf Museum features exhibits on Gulf Coast female surfers, surfing films, and photography. nlandsurfpark.com; texassurfmuseum.org

46 texashighways.com Photo: © Kenny Braun MAY 2018 47 Athens Scuba Park

DIVE IN Can you truly experience summer in Texas if you don’t swim in a spring-fed swimming hole? Some of our favorites include San Solo- mon Springs in West Texas, Barton Springs in Aus- tin, Blue Hole in Wimber- ley, Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville, and Hancock LAZE ON THE RIVER Springs in Lampasas. Downstream from the Highland Lakes, the Colorado River in Bastrop winds through a quiet stretch of CHEER ON Texas’ Blackland Prairie that makes CANOERS for relaxing paddling. Forests and With 260 miles of paddling pastures line the river, and several Hurricane Harbor in Arlington, and fun!) in Texas. In East Texas, Ath- in the relentless summer sandbars and islands provide overnight Wet ‘N’ Wild Splashtown in El Paso. ens Scuba Park features a dive shop heat, the Texas Water Sa- camping stops between Webberville With its 70 acres of tube chutes, slides, for equipment and training courses fari is known as “the world’s Park and Columbus. Avoid camping on and pools, the original Schlitterbahn on everything from rescue diving to toughest canoe race.” Start- the riverbanks though, as almost all of in New Braunfels is a Texas summer- night diving, and 35 sunken wrecks ing June 9, competitors have Go with them are private property. time rite of passage. Water-sport enthu- to discover in both an indoor pool and four days and four hours to siasts might find a refreshing challenge an outdoor manmade lake. At Flower navigate the San Marcos River’s rocky hazards, rapids, the flow in wakeboarding parks like BSR Cable Garden Banks National Marine Sanc- WATCH JAWS portages, and spillways from Fill up a cooler and grab your pals for a lei- Park in Waco and Texas Ski Ranch in tuary, with the help of a dive charter ON THE WATER the headwaters in San Mar- surely float down one of Texas’ refreshing Frio River New Braunfels. company, you’ll experience a variety of rivers. Head to Concan to enjoy the Frio Even in the tame waters of Lake Tra- cos to the shrimping town of sea life as you delve into the depths of Seadrift on the Texas coast. River, trek to San Marcos to check out the vis, it’s easy to feel on edge when John TAKE A DEEP DIVE the Gulf of Mexico 100 miles offshore. texaswatersafari.org youthful spirit of the San Marcos River, Williams’ score for Jaws starts. That adrenaline rush is why movie-lovers Scuba-diving, often associated with athensscubapark.com; flowergarden or decamp to New Braunfels to float the World Series (June 2). The reservoir’s tropical destinations, is possible (and .noaa.gov Comal River. Riverside outfitters will prep bone-chilling waters (about 53 degrees) head to Alamo Drafthouse’s annual PADDLE- you for the relaxing float ahead. Don’t for- aren’t reserved for thrill-seekers; spec- Jaws on the Water events at Volente BOARD get to reapply sunscreen! tators can watch the cliff-diving action Beach in Austin. Each viewer gets a from boats, kayaks, and paddleboards keepsake tube to float in while a giant ON LAKE and beat the Texas heat with a plunge screen plays the 1975 Spielberg clas- MARBLE in the lake from a more sensible height. sic. To keep things interesting, scuba ADMIRE FALLS possumkingdomlake.com divers have been known to pinch and JUMP OFF A CLIFF tickle unsuspecting audience mem- Jolly Rodgers Paddle Co. SAN ANGELO’S offers a sublime stand-up Possum Kingdom Lake—the Bra- bers underwater. Check website for paddleboarding experience zos River basin’s first water supply PADDLE THE CITIES dates. drafthouse.com LILIES reservoir—sparkles with blue wa- Kayaking novices and experts will find It might seem odd to find water lilies in on the sparkling waters of Lake Marble Falls. Once ters and 310 miles of shoreline. But its much to love when going out on Lady arid West Texas, but in San Angelo’s you get the hang of it, head most striking feature looms dramat- Bird Lake in Austin, Buffalo Bayou in Civic League Park, seven raised ponds PARK IT AT A WATERPARK out for one of the rental ically over the water on the southern Houston, and the Trinity River in Fort Whether you seek out the most har- display hundreds of varieties. The plants company’s frequent spe- edge of the lake: two towering cliffs Worth. No need to buy your own equip- rowing, jaw-dropping slides or enjoy are the life work of Ken Landon, who has cial events. “Dive In Movie that rise 90 feet on either side—ap- ment or venture out into the wild un- the chill vibe of a lazy river, Texas traveled the world collecting seeds of Nights” feature classics like propriately named Hell’s Gate. Like known—rental shops provide boats, water parks offer something for ev- rare lilies, many of which are now extinct The Sandlot for viewers flies to honey, the world’s best com- life vests, and instruction. All you have eryone. There are also cool times to be in their native countries. Celebrate the floating in the lake. petitive cliff divers converge here in the to do is sit back and enjoy the cool urban found at Typhoon Texas in Katy, Great blooms at San Angelo Lilyfest on Sept. 15. jollyrodgerstx.com summer for the Red Bull Cliff Diving views—oh, and paddle of course. Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Six Flags internationalwaterlilycollection.com

48 texashighways.com Photos: © Kenny Braun MAY 2018 49 HOP ABOARD yoga classes, 20- to 85-mile cycling THE IVORY BILL trips, runs, and hikes of various Experience East Texas’ levels of difficulty. Lest you think Neches River on one of the it’s all a grueling, sweat-soaked af- GREAT Ivory Bill’s weekly guided fair, fun outings like viewing the q Marfa Lights and swimming in tours of the Big Thicket Na- tional Preserve. The covered San Solomon Springs at Balmorhea { pontoon boat explores the di- State Park are also on the schedule. verse flora and fauna of the fitnesscamp.org thicket’s swamps and forests, an outing that’s typically VISIT AN LCRA PARK OUTDOORS 10 degrees cooler than hik- Established in Depression-era Texas, ing the bottomlands on foot. the Lower Colorado River Author- nechesriveradventures.org ity operates 41 parks encompassing more than 11,000 acres—from the CLIMB TO THE Cedar Point Recreation Area along TOP OF TEXAS the north shore of Lake Buchanan Hiking Guadalupe Moun- to the isolated beaches of Matagor- tains National Park is a nice da Bay Nature Park, which offers reminder that Texas isn’t as guided horseback riding, beach- flat as some people think. combing, and birding. The legendary Six peaks in the park top Highland Lakes—Inks, Buchanan, 8,000 feet, including El Cap- LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis, and Aus- itan, the most famous sight GLIDE IN WEST TEXAS tin—sparkle in the Central Texas you’ll see when entering the See Marfa’s breathtaking desert landscape from a whole new perspective by hopping on summer sun. The biggest of the col- park driving north from Van one of Marfa Gliders’ aircrafts. Make an appointment online to ride shotgun and enjoy the lection, Lake Buchanan, offers nice Horn. Nearby Guadalupe view while a certified pilot takes the wheel. flygliders.com pebble beaches on its western shore, Peak is the highest point in perfectly primed for swimming, Texas at 8,751 feet. Test your water skiing, canoeing, and wind- legs on the Guadalupe Peak surfing. lcra.org Trail, an 8.4-mile round trip. nps.gov/gumo was created to give adults a chance to step DON’T FORGET away from their lives at work and home, and TO WRITE get in touch with the fun of being kids again, Don’t let the kids have all along with the fun parts of being an adult,” the fun this summer. Relive says Dave Kushner, vice president of commu- the glorious days of sloppy nity engagement. Who knows? You might joes, bunk beds, and camp- find a pen pal or develop a lifelong friend- fires with a stay atCamp No ship with your bunkmates. Upcoming ses- Counselors. Part of a nation- sions run May 10-13, and Oct. 5-8 and 11-14. wide chain, the Texas ver- campnocounselors.com sion of this adult camp takes place in Hunt, along the sce- TAKE YOUR FITNESS Enjoy the Mountain Breezes nic Guadalupe River. Just TO NEW HEIGHTS Situated along the southern reach of the Davis Mountains—one of the largest and wettest like grade-school camp, ac- Not for the faint of heart, the Davis Moun- mountain ranges in the state—the 2,709-acre Davis Mountains State Park is a favorite tivities include archery, arts tains Fitness and Training Camp whips summer getaway for heat-weary Texans because of its high elevation, low humidity, and and crafts, dodgeball, a slip amateur athletes into shape over the frequent breezes. Established in the 1930s, the park’s CCC-built Indian Lodge will reopen ‘n’ slide, and a talent show— course of a week in August. Every sum- in June after months of renovations. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/indian-lodge but with grown-up twists like mer, about 100 fitness enthusiasts gather a Bloody Mary bar at break- at Prude Ranch to partake in a wide range Visit an LCRA park fast. “Camp No Counselors of daily activities, like early-morning

50 texashighways.com Photos: © Laurence Parent (left); © Erich Schlegel MAY 2018 51 seafood to macarons. bottlingdept.com; faregroundaustin.com; conservatoryhtx { .com; dallasfarmersmarket.org/the-market d IMBIBE IN THE HILL COUNTRY EAT Brew buffs will find much to love at award-winning Hill Country brew- eries like Real Ale Brewing Co. in Blanco, Twisted X Brewing in Drip- ping Springs, Pecan Street Brew- DRINK ing in Johnson City, and Seguin Brewing Company in Seguin. The Hill Country Craft Beer Trail offers five different shuttles for a safe and fun way to experience it all. hillcountrycraftbeertrail.com

DRINK A DR PEPPER FLOAT As you tour the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco and delve into the history of this homegrown Texas soda, PICK YOUR OWN TEXAS FRUIT you might find yourself salivating. Summer in Texas means farm-fresh fruits will be ripe for the picking. Since Lucky for you, the museum’s Frosty’s 1982, Texans have been picking their own blueberries at Blueberry Hill Black’s BBQ Soda Shop serves everything from Farms in Edom. At Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls, blackberries should chili dogs to ice cream sundaes. But be ready for harvest in May, while peaches and nectarines at Sweet Eats Eat your way nothing beats an old-fashioned float, Fruit Farm in Granger ripen late May through August. through the made with hand-pumped Dr Pepper blueberryhillfarms.com; sweetberryfarm.com; sweeteats.com TRY A PIÑA PREPARADA and a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla ice Piñas preparadas satisfy your inner Barbecue cream. drpeppermuseum.com Blueberry Hill Farm’s baking powder, and salt; add child, but you might think twice about Blueberry Streusel Muffins to creamed mixture alternately serving one to a kid. The South Texas Capital of Yield: one dozen with milk. Stir in vanilla. Fold in specialties feature a hollowed-out blueberries. Fill 12 greased or Texas pineapple filled with a variety of fruits, Muffins: paper-lined muffin cups two- Lockhart is home to three of Texas’ gummy bears, sour worms, and other 1/3 cup sugar thirds full. most legendary barbecue joints: candies, all sprinkled with a dusting 1/4 cup butter or margarine, Kreuz Market (go for the sau- of chili-lime powder, then filled with softened Streusel: sage, stay for the smoky pork Topo Chico or malt liquor. Its brazen 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup sugar chops), Black’s BBQ (dinosaur ingredients and liberal use of sugar 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup all-purpose flour beef rib, anyone?), and Smitty’s make for a summer temptation that’s 4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon Market (lines form for a taste of worth the indulgence. Try one in Lar- 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 cup butter or margarine its shoulder clod, brisket, hot links, edo at La Laguna or Picca Dilly’s. and pork ribs). Why not try all 1 cup milk In a small bowl, combine sugar, three in a day? lockhartchamber 1 tsp. vanilla extract flour, and cinnamon; cut in .com/pages/bbqcapitaloftexas FILL UP AT A FOOD HALL 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen butter until crumbly, then Following a trend in cities like Atlanta features burgers by Fletcher’s and blueberries sprinkle mixture over muffins. and Seattle, food halls are popping up doughnuts by Maybelle’s; Fareground In a mixing bowl, cream to- Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to across Texas. These convivial food in Austin dishes out tacos by Dai Due gether sugar and butter. Add 30 minutes or until browned; courts feature several vendors in a and pretzels from Easy Tiger; Conser- egg; mix well. Combine flour, test with toothpick. large, shared space serving varied cui- vatory in Houston serves up poke and sines—like a mess hall but with more pizza (“European-style” Finn Hall is pizzazz (and a bar). The Bottling De- set to open later this year); and The partment at The Pearl in San Antonio Market in Dallas has everything from

52 texashighways.com Photos: Will van Overbeek (top); © Getty Images/iStockphoto MAY 2018 53 { FLY A KITE ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND There’s something joyful FAMILY about looking out across the Laguna Madre and seeing hundreds of kites soaring over the Gulf of Mexico. Pick out a colorful kite from the SHAKE multitude available at B&S FRIENDLY Kites or rent a kiteboard from UP THE a local vendor. In 2017, Na- SOTOL tional Geographic named the If Desert Door has island as one of the world’s 13 " greatest kiteboarding spots. anything to say about it, sotol will someday sopadre.com be to Texas what bour- GRAPE STOMP bon is to Kentucky. The In a classic episode of I Love Lucy, our favorite comedic heroine visits a vineyard for some FIND A Driftwood-based dis- barefoot grape-stomping, only to get into a juicy skirmish with an angry local. In Fredericks- LIGHTNING WHELK tillery, which opened in burg, Becker Vineyards pays homage with its annual Lucy and the Italian Woman Costume The lightning whelk—Texas’ December, crafts sotol Contest (Sept. 2), the culmination of two weekends of grape-stomping. beckervineyards.com state shell—is among the Gulf from the ubiquitous Coast’s largest shells at 8 to 16 West Texas plant of the inches long. Found only on same name. Take a tour, the western part of the Gulf take home a bottle, and Gaze at the stars of Mexico, the shell has a long try this recipe: history in the region: Some It may still be warm when the sun goes down, but nighttime activities offer Native Americans used it as TOUR THE BLUE BELL CREAMERY a welcome reprieve from the blazing sun. George Observatory in Needville, Blue Bell fans travel from all over to see the making of their a tool for eating and drinking, Desert Door Paloma only open on Saturdays, has three telescopes for public use and a planetarium Ingredients: favorite ice cream. At The Little Creamery in Brenham, vis- while others considered it to with educational exhibits. The University of Texas McDonald Observatory 2 oz. Desert Door itors can watch the manufacturing process from an obser- be sacred. high up in the Davis Mountains offers daytime tours, solar viewings, and Original Sotol vation deck while attendants narrate and provide fun facts, star parties. hmns.org/george-observatory; mcdonaldobservatory.org ¾3/4 oz. fresh and then check out the Visitors Center to read up on the com- BEFRIEND grapefruit juice pany’s history and see artifacts. The self-guided tours con- A PENGUIN ½1/2 oz. fresh lime juice clude with $1 scoops from the parlor. In addition to regular In Galveston, Moody Gardens’ ¼1/4 oz. agave nectar favorites, the creamery also serves special flavors like Milk 45-minute Penguin Encoun- Splash of ‘n’ Cookies and Cake Batter. bluebell.com ter grants you access to the grapefruit soda frigid penguin habitat, along INDULGE IN INNOVATIVE ICE CREAM with a biologist-led tour of the Directions: Sure, vanilla, chocolate, and rocky road satisfy—but a crop of food-preparation area, par- Combine all ingredients upstart ice cream shops are pushing the cup and cone with new ticipation in an enrichment except soda into shaker. adventurous flavors. Sample the slightly spicy strawlepeño activity with the animals, and Add ice and shake vig- from Melt Ice Creams in Fort Worth, blueberry lavender information about conserva- orously for 8-10 seconds, from The Latest Scoop in San Angelo, Rice Krispie treat tion, training, and biology. Or then fine strain in a rocks from A La Mode Gelateria in Corpus Christi, duck fat car- you can always visit penguins glass with fresh ice, and amel from Heritage Creamery in Waco, and roasted beets at the Aquarium Pyramid, top with soda. Garnish and fresh mint from Lick Honest Ice Creams in Austin and where they reside next door with a grapefruit wheel. San Antonio. melticecreams.com; latestscoopicecream.com; alam to seals, stingrays, and sharks. desertdoor.com odegelateria.com; heritagecreamery.com; ilikelick.com moodygardens.com

Lick Honest Ice Creams Photos: © Eric W. Pohl, 54 texashighways.com MAY 2018 55 Clark Crenshaw (right) users the chance to interact with the hallowed historical site in a new way. Take yourself At 14 sites on the Alamo grounds, the app recognizes your location and dis- out to the plays 3-D digital images of what the WATCH THE location looked like in 1836, the year BATS TAKE ball game of the Alamo battle, including various No doubt the World Series-winning Hous- characters that would have been pres- FLIGHT ton Astros are the hottest ticket this sum- ent. At each location, the app also pro- As if summoned by a mer—and the most expensive. For more { vides deeper historical context, inter- dinner bell, millions of wallet-friendly bat-crackin’ entertainment, FAMILY preting the sites as they would have bats spiral out of their the minor leagues offer numerous teams appeared when occupied by Native dark homes across Texas to support across Texas. Perks like the lazy Dell Diamond, home every summer night—a of the Round Rock Americans and then the Spanish. river at Dr Pepper Ballpark (home of the Express FRIENDLY “You can be engaged on your phone spectacular show if you Frisco RoughRiders) and the gorgeous and share it with the people around know where to look. view of the Gulf of Mexico at Corpus " More than 15 million you and still be in the moment,” says Christi’s Whataburger Field (home of the BEAT THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 10, the Caverns of Sonora is a prime lo- Mexican free-tailed bats cale to hide from the blazing Texas sun Leslie Komet Ausburn of Imagine Hooks) add to the fun. milb.com Summer Christmas shopping might Virtua. “The app is designed to elevate make Bracken Cave near sound crazy, but come November this summer. Keep in mind: While the San Antonio the world’s temperature 155 feet below the surface the experience.” alamoreality.com you’ll be patting yourself on the back. largest such colony. In In Laredo, the Sister Cities Festival is 72 degrees year-round, high humid- Austin, Congress features more than 180 vendors from ity levels mean it can feel more like 85. Avenue Bridge is home SPRAY PAINT A cavernsofsonora.com CAR AT THE VW Mexico (and sometimes China, Aus- to more than 1.5 million. SLUG BUG RANCH tralia, Argentina, and Spain) selling batcon.org/bracken; An homage to the more famous handmade items ranging from leather WATCH THE SUNSET batcon.org/congress Cadillac Ranch just 35 miles east, goods to jewelry to pottery. The free, FROM A TREEHOUSE this quirky roadside attraction on three-day shopping extravaganza has Cypress Valley Canopy Tours opened Interstate 40 outside of Amarillo been around for 16 years and runs July in Spicewood in 1999 as the first zip-line touts five Volkswagen Beetles planted 13-15 this year. visitlaredo.com canopy tour in the continental United nose-down in the dirt. In some ways, States. Nestled high above a creek, Cy- it’s better than its Cadillac cousin: HEAD UNDERGROUND press Valley’s two-bedroom “Nest” is an fewer people, lower profile, and more Halfway between San Antonio and ideal sanctuary for families. “There’s room to spray paint with abandon. Big Bend National Park off Interstate something about being off the ground, when you’re up in a tree,” co-owner SEE THE David Beilharz explains, “whether it’s some instinctive monkey evolution or SUNFLOW- it’s feeling like The Swiss Family Robin- ERS SHINE son.” cypressvalleycanopytours.com ALONG I-35 ENCOUNTER From May to October, REMEMBER—AND you’re likely to witness the ELEPHANTS REIMAGINE—THE ALAMO golden glow of sunflowers Last year, the Houston Zoo “What if you could stand where when driving along Texas renovated its McNair Asian Davy Crockett defended the Alamo highways. More often Elephant Habitat, adding a and could hear the story about how than not, the flowers are 7,000-square-foot barn and he wound up there?” asks Michael part of crops harvested boardwalk with unobstructed McGar, president of augmented- for their seeds. The sun- views of the pachyderms bath- reality production company Imag- flowers along Interstate 35 ing in their new 160,000-gallon ine Virtua. Thanks to the combined near Hillsboro often draw pool. Summer also brought a efforts of coders, artists, and a half- admirers, but keep in mind new baby elephant, Joy. Now’s dozen historians, you don’t have to the fields are mostly on Caverns of Sonora the ideal time to visit and learn wonder anymore. private property. about these highly intelligent Imagine Virtua debuted its free animals. houstonzoo.org Alamo Reality app in March, offering

56 texashighways.com Photo: Michael Amador Photos, clockwise from top: © Larry Ditto, © Theresa DiMenno, © Laurence Parent MAY 2018 57 WATCH A MUSICAL IN EMBRACE THE MOSQUITOES THE NATION’S SECOND- In most places, to be called “mosquito legs” would be consid- q LARGEST CANYON ered an insult. But skinny stems are prize-worthy in Clute, home SAVE Every summer for more than five de- of the Great Texas Mosquito Festival (and its Mosquito Legs cades, Palo Duro Canyon has set the competition). The 38th annual event, July 26-28, celebrates the stage for TEXAS!, an outdoor musical summer nuisance in style with three days of events, including chronicling the Native Americans carnival rides, the mosquito chase (a 5K race), barbecue and fa- who called this Panhandle wonder jita cookoffs, horseshoe and washer throwing tournaments, and home and the pioneers who settled it. games. Live entertainment caps off each evening with the likes It’s theater for the people, but more of Jack Ingram and Rodney Atkins. The buzziest sight is the DATE than anything, it depicts the drama Mosquito Calling competition, in which contestants vie to sum- of frontier history in a setting like mon the biggest bloodsucker. “It definitely put us on the map,” no other. Shows run June 1-Aug. 18. says Clute Visitors Bureau Director Angel Cowley. “We’ve em- texas-show.com braced it.” mosquitofestival.com

SEE THE SEA TURTLES The Gulf Coast is preparing for summer’s most welcome guests: tiny HONOR JUNETEENTH an array of films in downtown El Pa- Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings. AIA Sandcastle Celebrated on June 19, the June- so’s beautifully restored Plaza The- Competition While most of the endangered turtles’ teenth holiday memorializes the day atre. Don’t be surprised if you spy a nests are protected from public view, in 1865 when word of the Emancipa- few famous faces while you’re there; well-timed tourists can witness a re- tion Proclamation—signed two-and- in previous years, celebrities like Al lease from Malaquite Beach in front half years earlier—finally reached Pacino and Debbie Reynolds have of the Padre Island National Sea- Texas. Galveston celebrates with a attended screenings of their classic shore Visitor Center from mid-June reading of the Proclamation at the hits. plazaclassic.com through August. nps.gov/pais Ashton Villa. Houston’s Emancipa- tion Park is home to one of the old- GET SANDY IN GET COUNTRY ON THE 4TH est Juneteenth festivities in the GALVESTON In Austin, the red-headed stranger South—dating to 1872—with pa- What kind of sandcastle would a pro- Join a pickin’ returns to Circuit of The Americas for rades, church choirs, and vendors. fessional architect build? Find out on the 45th annual Willie Nelson’s 4th galveston.com; visithoustontexas.com Aug. 25 when more than 60 teams of circle in of July Picnic, a full day of country architects, designers, engineers, and music old and new. Meanwhile at CATCH A CLASSIC contractors dig in for Galveston’s an- Luckenbach Kerrville’s Louise Hays Park, Robert MOVIE ON THE SILVER nual AIA Sandcastle Competition. Earl Keen’s Fourth on the River This isn’t your average sandcastle con- Pickin’ circles are a longstanding SCREEN IN EL PASO offers free live music and the largest Celebrate the magic and nostalgia test—teams often spend months devel- tradition in the blink-and-you’ll- fireworks display in the Hill Country. of cinema at the Plaza Classic Film oping a design plan before taking to miss-it, unincorporated town of thecircuit.com; kerrvilles4th.org Festival (Aug. 2-12), which screens the beach. aiahouston.org Luckenbach. On Sunday through Thursday nights, musicians of all sorts and skill levels gather under the oak trees outside the Luckenbach Texas dance hall and general store for an acoustic jam session. If you’ve never strummed in public, don’t be shy; the town’s SAY WHAT? SOW THE SEEDS OF SUMMER LOOK TO THE SKY IN motto says it all: “Everybody’s Houston’s Comicpalooza attracts more than Luling will serve up a juicy slice of summer during its annual Wa- 40,000 attendees for all things comic books, sci-fi, termelon Thump, June 21-24. Held since 1954, the festival draws LONGVIEW Somebody in Luckenbach.” Now in its 41st year, the Great Texas Balloon Race (July 27-29) anime, gaming, and pop culture. This year’s event, an estimated 30,000 visitors to the small town for live music, a luckenbachtexas.com attracts some of the best balloon pilots in the world to race for May 25-27, promises star power from the likes of parade, car rally, carnival, and of course, watermelons—topped off the title during the day; evenings are filled with live concerts and Edward James Olmos, Jimmie Walker (dy-no- with a seed-spitting contest. watermelonthump.com a spectacular balloon glow. greattexasballoonrace.com mite!), and Orlando Jones. comicpalooza.com

58 texashighways.com Photo: © Erich Schlegel Photo: © Larry Ditto MAY 2018 59 the Menil Collection, Rothko Chap- { el, and the Houston Center for Pho- tography. “I like to call Zone 1 a ‘low- q er your blood pressure’ atmosphere,” Farr says. “It’s very calm and peace- TOWER BEAT ful; you’ll see families picnicking, people taking wedding photos, and OVER dogs chasing Frisbees.” houmuse.org TEXAS Enjoy the view from the COOL OFF WITH THE top of these city tow- HEAT GRANDEST OF HISTORIES ers. At Dallas’ Reunion The Bullock Texas State History Tower, a 470-foot observation deck with tele- Museum’s permanent exhibits—the scopes and high-defi- 17th-century La Belle ship and the nition zoom cameras original Goddess of Liberty statue, provides panoramic for example—are always worth a vis- views. In San Antonio, it. But the museum introduces new check out the city from opportunities for learning this sum- the 750-foot observa- mer with special exhibitions Rodeo! tion deck and the re- Gruene Hall and Comanche Motion. When you get volving Chart House your fill of history, the giant, dark, Restaurant at Tower and chilly IMAX theater is a worthy of the Americas. Travel respite. thestoryoftexas.com Two Ton Tuesdays June 5-Aug. 14. 34 floors in the glass el- evator of the Hyatt Re- Before the country music starts (cour- gency Houston to get to tesy of San Antonio band Two Tons LEARN HOW TO SWING Spindletop, a revolving DANCE AT GRUENE HALL of Steel), the venue offers one-hour restaurant that shows off Frolic with Grab your dancing shoes and head to swing-dancing lessons so you can the glittering metropolis. Texas’ oldest continually operating brush up on your boot-scootin’ skills. reuniontower.com; tower sea life dance hall, which this summer hosts gruenehall.com oftheamericas.com; hous Discover magnificent underwa- ton.regency.hyatt.com liest bar in Port Aransas”—and the museums across 9 square miles. ter worlds at the spectacular—and pirate-themed Gaff Bar, home of the With its location in the heart of the air-conditioned—Texas State Aquari- belt sander races. shortysportaransas city, the district allows visitors—it um in Corpus Christi. The expansive .com; gotothegaff.com saw 6.5 million last year—to truly facility displays all manner of marine FIND ZEN experience the diversity Houston life, from sharks and flamingos to NAMASTE WITH IN AN ART has to offer. river otters and dolphins, with special STAY AT A VINTAGE SUMMER RETREAT The institutions are divided into GOATS MUSEUM programs that involve feeding and If you’re looking for a tough workout, Stay cool in crow pose A stay at Alpine’s Antelope Lodge four walkable and cyclable zones: interacting with some of the animals this class isn’t for you. But if you need at a museum yoga class. feels like stepping into a sepia-toned Those with kids in tow might enjoy and educational programs led by staff an Instagram-worthy moment and a At the Blanton Mu- Big Bend postcard. While it still caters Zone 4, which includes the Houston members. texasstateaquarium.org good laugh, goat yoga definitely de- seum of Art in Austin, to travelers who like its rustic charm, Zoo and the Children’s Museum of livers. Several studios—among them Longview Museum of this 1949 motor court relic has been Houston; aesthetes should head to GOGA Goat Yoga in Austin, Goat Fine Arts, San Angelo refreshed after a new owner took over Zone 3, where the Museum of Fine Yoga Houston, Texas Hill Country Museum of Fine Arts, this year. New linens, appliances, a Arts, Houston and the Contempo- Goats & Yoga, and Goat Yoga Rich- and the Amon Carter GRAB A DRINK IN PORT A renovated lobby, updated plumbing, rary Arts Museum Houston are sta- ardson—have joined the trend of add- Museum of American Less than a year after Hurricane and improved Wi-Fi add comfort tioned; and history buffs will find ing goats into yoga classes because of Art in Fort Worth, mix Harvey ravaged the Gulf Coast, Port while retaining the lodge’s midcentu- much to learn in Zone 2, home of the the animal’s anxiety-reducing effect. stretching with creative Aransas is ready to welcome back ry character. antelopelodge.com Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, As class members practice sun salu- inspiration and con- tations, baby goats are free to climb templation. After class, tourists for the summer. While re- Holocaust Museum Houston, and on top of people, chase each other, you’re invited to enjoy covery work remains, many of the Czech Center Museum Houston. ADMIRE ART IN HOUSTON and even nap on the mats. goga.yoga; the art. town’s businesses have already re- Houston’s cultural abundance man- Houston Museum District Execu- goatyogahouston.com; nuluvgoatmilk opened, including Shorty’s Place— ifests itself in the Houston Museum tive Director Julie Farr has a special products.com/goat-yoga; goatyogarich the self-proclaimed “oldest and friend- District, home to a whopping 19 fondness for Zone 1, which includes ardson.com