Texas Vacation Ideas
July 16, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under activities, family, feature
While visiting Grandma and Paw Paw last week, we went to the Houston Downtown Aquarium & the Kemah Boardwalk. First we went to the Aquarium. I found a “Buy one All-Day Adventure Pass, get one free coupon online to the Aquarium–yeah, what a deal! Each pass includes unlimited access to Train Shark Voyage, Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, Ferris Wheel, Carousel & Lighthouse Dive.
The Aquarium and amusements are centered around the Aquarium restaurant in downtown Houston. My kids wore their swimsuits and swim shirts, so that after seeing/doing all the attractions and amusement rides, they could cool off in the water fountains. (If you go, be CAREFUL the water fountain’s cement is very slippery!) We started out in the Aquarium Adventure exhibit which had a sunken shipwreck and lots of different sea life to see. My boys loved getting to touch the stingrays, baby sharks, crab and star fish in the open hands-on exhibit. Then at the end of the Aquarium, Adventure Exhibit there is a white tiger exhibit. We got there just in time to see them feed the tigers by placing raw meat all around their habitat for them to hunt and find, while a trainer talked about the tigers and answered questions. (I send you a short video file of the tigers from my point and shoot camera.) 
After touring the exhibits, we sat down on the covered picnic benches and ate a picnic lunch that we brought. The parking is really close by, so it was easy to go back and forth to your car if needed.
Our favorite attraction was the train ride that takes you through the whole park and through the shark tank. It also has a fake shark that pops out of the little lake at one point! The ferris wheel has great views of the Houston skyline. The carousel was very unique in that it had an aquatic theme with alligators, sharks, dolphins, and seahorses to ride on. The boys loved the Lighthouse Dive ride that takes you up and drops you down.
We had a great time and did everything leisurely in about 4 hours. The best part is it was only $35 for the 4 of us with the coupons!
Aquarium buy one all-day pass and get one free! http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/coupons/special_deal.display.php?id=102
Free appetizer of the day at Aquarium restaurant: http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/coupons/special_deal.display.php?id=664
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The Kemah Boardwalk is 20 miles from downtown Houston and overlooks Galveston Bay. This place has a lot of meaning to my husband and I because we had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Landry’s restaurant’s ballroom that sits right on the bay there.
Kemah is a combination of great restaurants (including the Aquarium restaurant like in downtown Houston), great views of the bay, marina, dancing water fountains, and amusement park right at the water’s edge. The amusement park includes about 10 rides. You can buy an all day pass for $16 per person, but I could not find any discounts! My 10 year old son loved the new wooden roller coaster, while my 4 year old liked the Aviator airplane ride. They also have a train that takes you around the entire Boardwalk area. And a real speed boat thrill ride called the “Kemah Beast” that takes you into the Galveston Bay. My husband and I just love eating at one of the many restaurants with views of the channel where you can watch sailboats and shrimp boats go in and out. It makes a nice day or afternoon/evening trip with the kids.
Shutterfly pics to follow. Plus one stock photo from the internet of the Kemah Boardwalk area attached (www.visithoustontexas.com).
Canopy Tours in Cypress Valley
July 5, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under activities, family, feature
The Hart family visited Cypress Valley Canopy Tours on a recent trip to Austin. This is a little about their adventure:
When we arrived at the Cypress Valley Canopy Tours, they suited us up with a helmet, harness, and gloves.
They gave us training on how to take off from the platforms, glide on the zipline and how to land on the next platform.
Before we know it, we were on the first platform and they were locking us onto the zipline.
The first “Zip” is a little scary. We took off from a platform over 40 feet in the air–don’t look down!
After the first zip trip, we couldn’t wait for the next one.
Our tour included zipping from one 100 foot cypress tree to the next, we also saw the Lofthaven. It is a treehouse that is also a bed and breakfast – you can stay in overnight. What a fun thing to do! We will have to do that the next time we go.
The guide pointed out many interesting sights – one of which was a group of snakes below in the creekbed!
Our experience lasted about a hour and a half.
We were all ready to do it again!
This is a “must-do” if you are in the Austin area and your kids are adventuresome and 8 years old or older.
More information about Cypress Valley Canopy Tours can be found here.
Macey Hart is a Flower Mound mom of two. She is a photographer who uses a fancy camera when not zipping through the Texas forrests on a zip line. She can be reached through her website, Macey Hart Photography.
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The Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort
June 23, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under DFW East, feature
Located amidst the expanse and charm of Texas’ breathtaking Hill Country, lies the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott Hotel. The resort overlooks Lake LBJ and is surrounded by lush manicured water scapes and gardens…it’s so serene that you’d never know you were still in Texas. For an affordable getaway that feels like hundreds of miles away – I’d definitely recommend it!
Playing at the pool and in the sand!
On the golf course and overlooking the property.
Enjoying splash-time at the pool!
Lost Pines Resort – Austin area
June 15, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under family, feature
This summer many Texans are looking into vacations that are closer to home. Burb Mom loves this idea because there are so many amazing adventures in Texas.
This family vacation idea is from Macey Hart. Her family traveled down to the Austin area to the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa.
They had a great time and she took these pictures:
Macey thought that it was a great place for families with children. It is located just 20 minutes outside of Austin so the trip from DFW was just a 1/2 day drive.
Her kids loved the lazy river, pool with slide, and sandy beach area.
They also have bicycles, tricycles, a playground, s’mores at the fire pit each evening, a nature park, bug nets you can check out for hunting, horseback riding and many other activities.
Her family found it a fun vacation spot and spent the weekend, but might return for a week.
“It was very laid back and a relaxing getaway.”
Macey is a Flower Mound mom and photographer. Her photography can be viewed at her website, Macey Hart Photography.
Frog Hunting
June 14, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under DFW North, feature
My two boys and I went frog hunting! There is a man-made creek bed behind Life’s A Beach (My kids’ favorite hangout. Mine too–for pretending I am on the beach somewhere while drinking a Pina Colada!). There we found tiny little baby frogs that are smaller than your finger nail. Since Christmas, the boys have been bugging me to order the tadpoles for their frog habitat Santa brought them. So instead, we caught two and put them in a jar to take home. We also caught a few of the tiny frogs and two tadpoles that were already transforming with arms and legs. Beware though, taking these babies home are a lot to take care of!
They need spring water and their habitat cleaned often. We also had to make a trip to the pet store to get special food for them and some fruit flies that don’t fly (Odd isn’t it? How did they do that?!) My kids love to show the frogs and tadpoles to friends and my son also had the opportunity to take them to school to show them off. Meanwhile they are learning and getting to watch the transformation of the two tadpoles everyday.
May Flowers
May 24, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under To Do in DFW, feature
All of the photos were taken in and around our DFW burbs.
Frank Buck Zoo
May 24, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under DFW North, feature
Last month we went to the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville.
If you have not been there, it is a nice small zoo that has a long and colorful history. Located right in the heart of Gainesville, Texas, the Frank Buck Zoo has been serving the children, schools and citizens of North Central Texas and Southern Oklahoma for over 50 years! We even found out that in March 2008, the zoo inherited a fascinating collection of camp tools used to capture animals and media memorabilia from the 1930, 1940, & 1950’s.
That day, we pretty much had the zoo to ourselves. They have a petting zoo area and you can arrange to feed the giraffes if you are there at a certain time. They also have a nice wooden playground out front with lots of fun painted photo op signs!
The zoo is open daily, year round – so it’s great on a whim, or for a planned excursion!
Macey Hart is a Flower Mound photographer who specializes in family and child photography.
Bluebonnets in/near the ‘burb
April 3, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under To Do in DFW, feature
Macey went in search of local bluebonnets this week and found these in Westlake*. Here are some photos from that day:
photo by Macey Hart
photo by Macey Hart
- photo by Macey Hart
photo by Macey Hart
photo by Macey Hart
photo by Macey Hart
*You might want to read “If You Give a Texas Mom a Sunny Spring Day” BEFORE you head to this location!
If you have found some good places for bluebonnet pictures, please leave a comment…
Macey Hart is a Flower Mound photographer. She can be contacted through her website, Macey Hart Photography.
Dallas Arboretum in the Spring – Photos
March 25, 2009 by Macey Hart
Filed under To Do in DFW, feature
Not much is prettier than the Dallas Arboretum at this time of year – these are pictures taken this spring by photographer Macey Hart:
Macey Hart is a Flower Mound photographer. She can be contacted through her website, Macey Hart Photography.
