The Black Tailed Prairie Dog.

There are many reasons to travel to the Texas Panhandle. One of them is to visit Prairie Dog Town.

Prairie Dog Town was established in the early 1930′s by Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy N. Clapp. What started as a modest home for four dogs has grown into a thriving colony–or town, as it were. Today, it is one of the most widely visited attractions in Lubbock.

Prairie Dogs are wonderfully adapted to life on the treeless plains of the American West. They burrow deep into the earth for shelter, and nibble on what grasses they can find for nourishment. They live in many areas of the United States, from the Mississippi River Valley to the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to Mexico.

Their society is fascinating to observe, and observe them is what visitors to Prairie Dog Town do. There are distinct “neighborhoods” in each town. There are familiar faces and strangers. There is love, confrontation, play, and gossip.

Prairie Dog Town is also home to Burrowing Owls and rattlesnakes. This keeps life exciting.

Is it worth traveling to Lubbock to see the Prairie Dog Town? Only you can say. What we do know is that, if you do come to town to see the dogs, you should stay in a Lubbock, Texas Bed and Breakfast.

A performance at the Museo Alameda in San Antonio.

San Antonio is home to a wonderfully rich blend of cultures. Mexican, Texas cowboy, and German cultural influences are found throughout the town. The evidence is everywhere: in the neighborhoods, the food, the music, and the art.

Shops sell turquoise jewelry, cowboy hats, and colorful wool blankets. Restaurants serve ceviche, steak, and bratwurst. An evening stroll along the River Walk will bring sounds of Mariachi and oompah bands to the ears, or heartfelt melodies picked sparsely on guitars. San Antonio is like a plate with slices of Mexico, Germany, and the Texas plains on it; taste them all during your stay.

Many San Antonio, Texas Bed and Breakfasts are located in the King William Historic District. Covering an expansive 25 blocks on the south bank of the San Antonio River, the King William Historic District boasts some of the most lovely residential architecture in the city. Wealthy German merchants built their homes here in the late 1800s, and most of these homes have been lovingly preserved and/or restored. The annual King William Fair, which takes place in 2012 on April 28, raises money for the preservation of the historic district.

San Antonio’s museums also reflect the city’s wonderful heritage. The Institute of Texan Cultures provides an overview of San Antonio’s diverse ethnic and cultural background, and an in depth look at its role in settling the American West. Museo Alameda is the largest Latino museum in the nation. The Instituto de Mexico features exhibits by Mexico’s past and present leading artists. The list goes on and on.

Instead of criss-crossing the world to visit Europe and Mexico, head to San Antonio. Have some chips and salsa, a thick American steak, and a glass of German beer. San Antonio is a cultural feast. Enjoy.

Make your dream come true. Go horseback riding in the Texas Hill Country.

Many of our Texas Bed and Breakfasts offer horseback riding. Some have horseback riding on site, as does Blisswood Bed and Breakfast in Cat Spring and 9E Ranch B&B near Smithville and Bastrop. Others, like McCardell Cottage in Livingston, can help guests locate riding opportunities. McCardell Cottage is near Lake Livingston State Park.

Many of us don’t have the opportunity to ride horses very often. We live in cities, and perhaps it’s not a priority. Yet it calls to us. Something seems so wonderfully freeing about horseback riding across a field or down a trail. The very thought conjures images of that American icon, the cowboy. If you’ve been horseback riding, you know what we mean. If you’ve never had the pleasure, you know you want to try it.

The Texas Hill Country is a wonderful place to ride horses. The land is lovely, the weather mild. Think about it, and then find a Texas Bed and Breakfast with (or near) horseback riding.

Find romance in Texas.

Whisk your Valentine to Texas for a romantic getaway this February. Sip wine in the Texas Hill Country or walk on the beach by the Gulf Coast. Spend a night at the Opera in Dallas or linger over dinner at an outdoor cafe in San Antonio.

Texas Bed and Breakfasts offer romantic lodging throughout the state. They’re in the big cities and they’re in the small towns. They’re up in Lubbock and they’re down in Galveston. Some are historic, some are modern, all are charming.

Whether you’re escaping cold winds in the north or simply looking for a change of scenery a few hours from home, this Valentine’s Day, find romance in a Texas Bed and Breakfast.

The Paris, Texas Eiffel Tower. It simply has to be seen.

Under different circumstances, it would be troubling to hear that men and women armed with bows and arrows were headed to Paris, Texas. In reality, it’s fun.

As it has for the past couple of years, Paris, Texas will once again host the annual Delta Southwest Shoot Out on March 23-25, 2012. Archers are encouraged to make their lodging plans soon; we hope archers will consider staying in Paris, Texas Bed and Breakfasts.

Archer or not, Paris, Texas is worth a visit. Main Street is hopping these days, with quirky shops, tasty eateries, and interesting art galleries. The architecture is historic and attractive, and it’s a pleasure to stroll down the street, window shopping or shopping for real.

Then there’s the Eiffel Tower. You can spend thousands of dollars to fly to France and see the “real” thing, or you can spend considerably less, drive to Paris, Texas, and see the next best thing. We may be biased, but we like ours; the cowboy hat is a nice touch.

Tournament information is available at Archery Shooters Association.

The Menil Collection

Houston is a large city with many museums. All are worth a visit. Some are quite extraordinary.

Tutahnkhamun, The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, is currently on exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (through April 15, 2012). This is just one of the reasons to visit this impressive museum.

The Menil Collection is housed in a modern space that highlights the art and encourages viewers to have a personal experience with each piece. John and Dominique de Menil had a vast and varied collection of art. For years, they loaned many of their pieces to museums. Eventually, they decided to build their own.

Delving into the history of funerals may not be the first thing that leaps to mind, but it makes the short list of things to do when in Houston. The National Museum of Funeral History explores one of the most ancient customs known to humankind. Learn about ancient mourning rituals and the history of embalming. See a wide array of hearses, coffins, and caskets. Learn what happens to popes and presidents after death. This museum is utterly fascinating.

What would happen if your eccentric uncle could share his eclectic collection of found objects with the world? It would look something like The Orange Show. Jeff McKissack spent 25 years creating an architectural collage from just such materials. It is definitely worth a look.

People from all over the world travel to Houston to see the Houston Museum of Natural Science. They are not wrong to do so. Upcoming and current exhibits include Discovering the Civil War, and Warriors, Tombs, and Temples,newly discovered artifacts from China’s First Emperor.

Houston is filled with fascinating museums. It’s worth making time to visit at least one of them while in Houston.

Looking for a good lodging option? Try a Texas Bed and Breakfast. Several good Texas B&Bs are located on the outskirts of Houston.

If you have never been to a rodeo, check out SandHills in Odessa.

The SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo starts tomorrow, January 5, 2012, at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, Texas. We hope you’re already settling in to an Odessa, Texas Bed and Breakfast.

The big event begins with Steer and Heifer weigh ins and concludes January 14 with an evening Rodeo in the Coliseum. In between, there are lamb shows, horse shows, and goat shows. There are Kids Rodeos and Steer Roping Slacks. See the amazing Dusty Tuckness, bullfighter extraordinaire, and Cory Wall, the 2009 Bullfighter of the year.

There is also plenty of entertainment at SandHills Rodeo. Among others, see:

• Roz Beaton (who toured with the Cirque du Soleil “Cavalia” show) and Sally Bishop in the SureShot Acts Amazing Trick Riding.

• The Cooper Brothers

• Trevor Brazile

• The Peek Brothers

• JW Harris

If you’re not already in Odessa, we hope you’re on your way there. Once you arrive, you’ll be comfortable in an Odessa, Texas Bed and Breakfast.

Holiday lights in San Antonio.

What we have in common is our desire to offer our guests the finest lodging experience possible. Our guests travel for pleasure, business, and family. Guests come from all over the world, including the town next door. Our guests stay in Texas Bed and Breakfasts because the inns are romantic, and comfortable, and inviting. Guests stay in our inns because we serve amazing breakfasts, and often offer evening refreshments as well. Guests stay with us because we understand what they want, and we do our best to provide it.

Across the state, we love what we do. We love it because of you, our wonderful guests. Thank you for staying with us. Without you, what we do would be meaningless.

Happy New Year!

Look for D.S. Metal Works at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.

We’ve blogged about the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in the past. What we neglected to include was the fact that one of our Texas Bed and Breakfast innkeepers is an acclaimed artist who has had a booth at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar for years.

Wayne and Kathy Rossi run the Star House Bed and Breakfast in Dripping Springs. In addition to being an innkeeper, Wayne is also an experienced metal sculptor; for more than 20 years, he has created his art at his studio, D.S. Iron Works, which is on the grounds of the Star House Texas Bed and Breakfast. Guests are invited to visit the studio and watch him at work.

Wayne and D.S. Iron Works have been featured on the Diane Sawyer Nightly News Segment on “Made In America“. Wayne hand-cuts his metal, using only his hands (not computers) to free-draw and cut each and every part of his artwork. While Wayne does import some gift items from other countries for the large Armadillo Show, the rest of the year he sells only items made 100% in America.

D.S. Iron Works is offering a $30.00 booth credit for potential Texas Bed and Breakfast customers who attend the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar and stop by the D.S. Iron Works booth. Wayne will include a $2.00 nail puzzle in each Texas Bed and Breakfast swag bag, as well.

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar takes place each year at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas. It is more than just a craft show; it features an almost non-stop line-up of live music, and great food to boot. It is a fantastic place to pick up unique holiday gifts. It is also a fun experience.

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar runs through December 24, 2011. Don’t miss it!

Fireworks will light the sky in San Antonio on New Year's Eve.

Texas is a large, diverse state. It has big, cosmopolitan cities and small, historic towns. It has vast stretches of open land, and miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Bed and Breakfasts are located all over the state, in the big cities, the small towns, and the countryside.

Make New Year’s Eve special this year, no mater where or how you like to celebrate it, by spending it in a Texas Bed and Breakfast.

Stay close to home or go away for a night or two. If you enjoy all big cities have to offer, spend New Year’s Eve in Fort Worth, San Antonio, or Dallas. If you’d like to wake up on January 1, 2012 and go for a walk on the beach, head to a Texas Bed and Breakfast on the Gulf Coast. If you’d like to spend a romantic evening sipping wine in a quaint, historic town, head to one of our member Bed and Breakfasts in the Texas Hill Country.

Special events are happening all over the state. There is a Midnight Volksport Walk in Fredericksburg, for anyone interested in walking in the new year. There are numerous concerts and galas all over Dallas and Houston. San Antonio hosts a huge, free celebration with live music on six stages, food, and fireworks.

New Year’s Eve should be spent however you feel comfortable spending it. We’re certain you’ll be comfortable in a Texas Bed and Breakfast.