Event - #Travel #Texas - #Belton - Central Texas State Fair Spring Music Fest - April 10-13, 2025

Belton, Texas - Central Texas State Fair Spring Music Fest
April 10-13, 2025
Cadence Bank Center
Venture out to the family-friendly Central Texas State Fair in Belton, right between Waco and Austin. Emjoy headlining acts like comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Igelsias, musical act All American Rejects, and more. Carnival rides and attractions. Animal shows (such as Arabian Horses and Sea Lions). Food vendors. Merch. So much to do and see!
Address: 301 WEST LOOP 121, Belton, TX 76513
Hours: Check Website
Fees: Different activities have fees (see website), Show Tickets may include admission to fair grounds, Parking is FREE
For more information - https://www.centraltexasstatefairspringmusicfest.com/

Review - Washington, DC - Cherry Blossom Festival

I had the privilege to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC this past Sunday. I lucked out in that it was right during peak bloom (meaning the flowers were the biggest they were going to be and then start falling off the trees). The festival itself lasts until April 13th this year. There seems to be a lot of events that happen especially on weekends.

One thing I learned from the National Park service (you can find helpful guides at the Welcome Tent which according to the website below, is open 10 AM – 5 PM, Mondays – Thursdays, and 10 AM – 6 PM, Fridays – Sundays.) is that there are many different Cherry Blossom species! So, even if you come later in the festival, there will be blooms. You can find maps, pins, and Junior Ranger activities at the National Park tents.

Is it Crowded? - I visited on a Sunday so I felt it was less crowded. What makes it feel crowded is that there is a walking trail all around the Tidal Basin and people stop and take photos. The areas furthest from the monument was less crowded. Really pretty picture spots were definitely more crowded. Inside the monuments was a bit hectic as people are trying to get their pictures with the statues.

Can I Bring a Stroller? - the "trail" ranges from well-paved to decent dirt to massive holes/cracks to huge tree root dirt, so I highly recommend a stroller that can handle the rough terrain. I brought a stroller and was fine. They do have wheelchair/stroller ramps up to all the monuments.

Can I Use a Wheelchair or Mobility Scooter? - there are areas that will be manageable for people with mobility areas but don't plan to walk through the trees as the paths are dirt, full of treet roots and holes, and not very easy to manage. The areas around the monuments are paved and there are ramps (right now, the elevators are not operating).

How do I get there? - If you drive into DC, do not drive around the Tidal Basin itself as the traffic is VERY BAD. The free parking is very limited. Better to park away from the area and walk. Walking is very easy and strollers/wheelchair friendly. Parking is free on weekends at the metro stations and using public transportation is only a few dollars. I did see several hop-on/hop-off buses going around the city and to this area which is a good option if you plan to go outside the Tidal Basin but it costs money. I personally just used a public parking garage (I was able to pay online for cheaper rate) and just walked over. There are metro trains directly from the nearby airport. Or you can uber/lyft.



Food Tips - Bring snacks with you as the lines for the onsite cafes/vendors were quite long and the prices were high. Normally I endorse foodtrucks, but for the ones crowding around the streets in this area, I have my doubts. First, almost none of them displayed their prices and some changed the prices on the fly in addition to obvious price gouging. The quality of the product was questionable (a frozen drink that was not frozen at all). Some only take cash. Better to walk down the street about 5 minutes to an honest business.

Restroom Tips - I saw several restrooms with long lines epecially those inside monuments. Look at the map. There almost always was another restroom just a short walk away with no line at all. Try to use the restrooms around this area because once you start walking in the direction of the capital buildings, there are very few public ones available.

For information, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/maps.htm

For More Information, https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

For LIVE web cam views, https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch/

Book Review - Moon Death Valley National Park

Browsing through the library for places to visit in the future, I found this book on Death Valley National Park which is on my bucket list of places to visit. It's not really a place to visit during the summer break due to the super high temperatures (and a lot of local businesses actually close for parts of the summer due to the heat).

You know I love the Moon Travel Guides for their full-color maps and highlights in addition to the tips and beautiful photographs. This book is divided into sections - Death Valley National Park itself, Furnace Creek and the Amargosa Range, Stovepipe Wells and the Nevada Triangle, Scotty's Castle and the Eureka Valley, Panamint Springs and the Saline Valley and more. Within each section is a detailed map, highlights, where to go, when to go, visiting in a single day, accommodations, recreation, etc.

What's really valuable is knowing where you will need a high-clearance vehicle or a 4WD vehicle because some of the roads and trails are not appropriate for normal passenger cars or even RV's or trailers.

The first 20 or so pages highlight the top 6 experiences followed up a very useful chart of In-Park lodging options.

Title: Moon Death Valley National Park: Hiking, Scenic Drives, Desert Springs
Author: Jenna Blough
ISBN: 978-8-88647-040-6

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Lake Jackson - Sea Center Nature Day - April 5, 2025

Lake Jackson, Texas - Sea Center Nature Day
April 5, 2025
Sea Center Texas
The Sea Center Aquarium and Fish Hatchery is hosting a Family Fun day with catch-and-release fishing, live reptiles interactions, and a Birds of Prey show.
Address: 302 Medical Drive, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
Hours: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Fees: FREE
For more information - https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/sea-center/sea-center-nature-day

Book Review - Moon Tahoe and Reno

As you know from previous posts, I've been researching places to visit with my family this summer. While I was exploring the Travel Section at the library, I narrowed down my search to places I haven't been to in a very long time or at all. One of the places I have been wanting to visit is Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas so I picked up this book.

What I love about the Moon Travel Guides (and you'll hear this from me a lot) are the full-color maps and the little highlights in each section.
Just a side note, this book was published in 2020, so be sure to research locations for updated hours and prices before heading out.

The Tahoe and Reno book is organized by area - South Shore, North and West Shore, East Shoe, Carson Pass, Reno, and Nevada's Frontier Towns (Virginia City, Carson City, etc). Each section contains maps, trip highlights or must-sees, tips, and info about restaurants, recreation, shops, accommodations, and tips. Plus, there are tips on "getting there" which is very helpful.

Title: Moon Tahoe and Reno: Local Spots, Getaway Ideas, Hiking and Skiing
Author: Nicole Szanto
ISBN: 978-1-64049-759-7

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Salado - Wildflower Art Show Weekend - March 29-30, 2025

Salado, Texas - Wildflower Art Show Weekend
March 29-30, 2025
Salado Civic Center
Celebrate Spring at Salado's annual Wildflower Arts and Crafts Festival outside at the Civic Center. Explore family-friendly activities, browse craft vendor booths, enjoy food truck vendors, and more.
Address: 601 N. Main Street, Salado, TX 76571
Hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Fees: FREE
For more information - https://www.salado.com/

Book Review - Lonely Planet's The World's Great Wonders

Whenever I visit my local library, I always end up wandering the aisles and browsing the returns carts for interesting books that just "pop out". And that's how I found this fascinating book. It's a little bit older, published in 2014, but the information as a whole is still relevant. For more specific details about places, I would further research before heading out. Covid has negatively affected a lot of places/tours so research first.

This book deep-dives into 50 of the world's greatest wonders such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and even the Aurora Borealis with details about how the wonder was created or formed, suggestions on getting there, and things to do while you're there. Lots of full-color photographs and diagrams. Tons of facts. Overall, a really great book for both travelers and researchers.

Title: The World's Great Wonders: How They Were Made & Why They Are Amazing
Author: Lonely Planet
ISBN: 978-1-74321-430-5

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