Category Archives: Seasonal Fun

Old Tunnel State Park

Posted on by

The nighttime exodus of millions of bats ranks as one of Texas finest natural wonders. In season, Old Tunnel State Park, located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, provides prime bat viewing. If you plan a summer visit to Fredericksburg, Texas, be sure to reserve an evening for the bats.

Mexican Free-tailed Bats

Unlike their northern cousins, Mexican free-tailed bats do not hibernate in winter. Instead, these flying mammals spend time between Mexico in colder months and south Texas in warmer months. The bats arrive in Texas Hill Country around March and return to their winter homes in Mexico around October. Up to three million Mexican free-tailed and 3,000 cave myotis bats have repurposed the abandoned railway tunnel at Old Tunnel into their summer home.

The little Mexican free-tailed bat is less than five inches long and weighs about 14 grams (that’s just half an ounce), and are a tasty bite for hawks and owls. The bats emerge en masse to increase their odds of escaping predators flying outside the tunnel opening. The counter-clockwise emergence vortex serves the additional function of helping the bats to gain lift as bat bones are denser than those of birds.

Aerial River

At dusk, onlookers see a streaming black river flowing above the tree canopy as the little critters make their way south towards the Guadalupe River. The bats will swoop down to the river for a quick, in-flight drink of water and then fly to feeding grounds in farm fields as far as 100 miles away. The bats are insectivores, eating whatever nighttime insects they find. Their primary food are moths, and a Mexican free-tailed bat can consume as many as 40 in a night. Once full, the tiny creatures return to the tunnel to rest until the next evening feeding flight. Viewing a bat emergence is a must on any nature lover’s bucket list. My husband and I were transfixed in awe as the river of bats continued for almost fifteen minutes, and intrigued by the scent left in the bats’ wake. Yes, you can smell the bats! It’s a little like an umami scent.

Bat viewing tips

Old Tunnel has two viewing areas. Aligned with the tunnel entrance, the lower level is space limited and no children under four are allowed. The upper viewing area is also a wonderful option. Both areas require an advance reservation that can be made online at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Bats emerge most but not all nights. The mammals are fair-weather feeders and often stay put in the cave during rainy evenings. That makes sense as fewer insects are available during inclement nights. Docents were on site the night we visited. These volunteers are a wealth of information and source of great bat trivia.

Old Tunnel State Park

At a mere 16-acres, Old Tunnel is the smallest Texas State Park. The 920-foot tunnel, now home to our bats, was built at the beginning of the twentieth century to link Fredericksburg to Comfort by rail. The railroad venture didn’t pan out and the line was abandoned in the forties. In an effort to protect the bat colony, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department purchased the land in 1991 with the express purpose of protecting the bat colony. The area became a state park in 2012. The park has a mile-long trail that follows the old railroad bed. No camping is allowed at the park.

Alamo Springs Café

Why not have dinner before seeing the bats? Alamo Springs Café, adjacent to the park, claims to offer the best burger in Texas. It’s a funky café that looks like a house with a few too many additions on it. We ate there on a Saturday night and were treated to tunes from a local band. The café and patios are packed at dinner time, so be patient. The service is friendly and efficient. The burgers are great, but my favorite were the onion rings….awesome!

When You Go

Old Tunnel State Park is at 10619 Old San Antonio Road, Fredericksburg. Bat viewing for both the upper and lower areas requires an advance reservation. Bats don’t use alarm clocks, so you need to check the Old Tunnel hotline at (866) 978-2287 or check the park’s Facebook page to get the latest emergence time. Alamo Springs Café is at 107 Alamo Road. The café is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. There are also a few outdoor tables at Old Tunnel if you want to bring your own picnic.

Be careful driving home. The area is chocked full of deer, we almost hit a buck making our way back to Fredericksburg.

Tip

Frankie the Free-tailed Bat is a cute book for kids. It’s loaded with information about the bats. You can download a free copy courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Texas Tulips

Posted on by
Fields of Tulips at Texas Tulip Farm

From childhood, I’ve associated springtime with tulips. Each year, my mother planted the ubiquitous, red variety. The bright blooms, while short-lived, signaled the arrival of warmer weather and Easter. Wherever I lived, I would plant tulips. At least I did until I moved to Texas. Tulips aren’t readily adaptive to mild Texas temperatures. Without the colder winter, tulips won’t develop their flower bud. I tried one year to trick my tulip bulbs by pre-cooling them in the refrigerator for forty-five days. Alas, the result still proved disappointing that spring. But I have new hope. I found Texas Tulips, a small tulip farm near Pilot Point. Yes, a tulip farm in North Texas.

Texas Tulips

Pieter and Petra Koeman, originally from the Netherlands, own and operate the small farm. Beginning late February, the tulip fields are open to visitors. This is not a formal garden. It’s a working tulip farm with rows of blooms waiting to be picked. The novelty of you-pick tulips drew hundreds of people the afternoon of my visit. There were college students from nearby University of North Texas, families with small children, seniors, and a surprising number of young couples, all there to enjoy the spring blooms and take home a bouquet.

Parking is free, but entry to the farm is $5 a person. The tulips sell for $2.50 a stem. That can be a bit pricey, but I was able to assemble a $20 bouquet with some unique tulip varieties that you will not find at your local Kroger. To avoid crowds, try a weekday or come early in the morning. You’ll have to hurry as there are only a couple of more weeks left for tulip blooming. Texas Tulips is located at 10656 FM 2931 in Pilot Point.

Buy the Bulbs

If you miss the farm this season, don’t despair. Texas Tulips sells bulbs online for planting next year. Order your bulbs now and they will be shipped to you the first week in December for your own spring tulip display.

Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

Posted on by

Preston Trails Farm

It’s pumpkin time! If you are looking for a Fall family outing, check out The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm at Preston Trail Farms. Located in rural Gunter, a trip to the farm makes for a relaxed, low-key afternoon in the country.

More than a pumpkin patch

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm has a little something for everyone. Of course, you’ll find the requisite furrowed field with small pumpkins positioned along the rows. Ah, but there is so much more.

Petting zoo

Preston Trails Farm petting zoo

My personal favorite is the petting zoo with its cattle (including longhorns), sheep, and goats. Your admission includes a small sack of feed, all you need to make close friends of the animal kind. Unlike other petting zoos, you don’t go into the livestock enclosures but feed the begging goats at the fence. This worked much better for my younger grandkids. The fence barrier kept the farm critters from surrounding and overwhelming the little kids. If you haven’t seen a longhorn cow up close and personal, here’s your chance.

Hayride and maze

A farm tractor pulls several flatbeds with hay bale seating for you ride. The course is just around the farm perimeter, but there’s more. Be sure to read the whiteboards posted along the track, as they tell a clever little story about Farmer Rick. As you round the last curve of the route you’ll discover the fate of the missing farmer.

The maze, created from bales and rolls of hay was surprisingly difficult. There are enough dead ends and crazy twists to give maze runners a challenge. Not far from the maze are several wooden sawhorses where older kids (and adults) can practice their lasso skills. And on weekends, the kiddos can ride the farm train, a tractor-pulled train of barrel cars.

Photo op

Be sure to bring your camera. Scattered throughout the grounds, family photo opportunities abound. There are hay rolls painted as pigs and pumpkins, great wooden cutouts to stick your face through, and picturesque old farm equipment. And of course … there are pumpkins!

Preston Trail Farms

The whole pumpkin patch experience is behind Preston Trail Farms, a year-round general store. It’s a cross between a feed and hardware store, just like the ones I remember from my youth. The general store even has three different kiddie rides out front, the type that used to be in front of grocery stores, in this case a mechanical horse, longhorn, and two-seater carousel.  

Tender Smokehouse is a small restaurant, is tucked into one corner of the store. The smokehouse has a limited menu serving breakfast tacos and BBQ sandwiches and banana pudding.

Once pumpkin season passes, you can shop the store, grab lunch at Tender Smokehouse, and enjoy the year-round petting zoo out back.

COVID-19 precautions

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm encourages mask wearing in all places. While we were there, about half the folks wore masks. There are cute signs all throughout encouraging six-foot distancing and the hayride seating also encourages distancing. I’d suggest visiting the farm during the weekdays or early in the morning to avoid crowds.

When you go

Preston Trails Farm (15102 Preston Road) is located in Gunter. Admission to the farm is $10 for all over the age of two. Your admission includes a small bag of food for the petting zoo. On weekdays your admission also includes a small pumpkin. On weekends, you pay for pumpkins in the store. The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is open seven days a week now until November 25. Hours are 8 am to 8 pm.

History Trivia Fact. Preston Trail Farms and the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm are on the old Shawnee Trail cattle drive route.

Ballpark Fun with Frisco RoughRiders

Posted on by

For a fun-filled family outing, head to Frisco and an evening with the Frisco RoughRiders. As American as apple pie, baseball is the quintessential family sporting event. The Frisco RoughRiders, a Double-A affiliate to the Texas Rangers, deliver baseball thrills at the fraction of the cost of a Major League Baseball (MLB) game.

The team

A member of the Texas League, the RoughRiders compete against teams from Texas and surrounding states of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. This is great baseball, with players giving their all for a chance to be called up to the majors. Through the years, over 140 RoughRiders have gone on to careers in the MLB including greats like Nelson Cruz. And if you are a Texas Rangers fan, you still may see your favorite players here, as well. The Rangers use the RoughRiders to rehabilitate players on their injured list.

The venue

Dr. Pepper Ballpark, home to the RoughRiders, received accolades when built in 2003 and again after its 2015 renovation. It’s a modern facility with prime game viewing from its 8,000 seats. Like many other ballparks, its amenities include everything from a playground for little fans to air-conditioned, luxury entertainment suites. Unlike other ballparks, it also sports a lazy river complex out near right field. Yes, you can swim and watch a ballgame. There is even a party area for adults featuring DJ music and Deep Elum brews.

Small ball fun

With four mascots, you can expect between-inning fun. There are prairie dogs Daisy and Deuce to encourage fan participation and cheer the boys on. And Ted E. Bear and Bull Moose, giving a nod to the team’s namesake, Theodore Roosevelt’s Roughriders. From base running relays to absurd dance off contests, the franchise does its best to entertain the whole family with more than just a great ball game.

Keeping it affordable

Frisco RoughRider tickets can be more expensive than other minor league clubs. That said, a family of four can still spend an evening at the ballpark for less than $50. On Thursdays, a Dr. Pepper Fan Pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for just $44. The grocery store Kroger partners with the ballpark to sell lawn tickets (that include a free hot dog) for just $7. Kroger special pricing is good for games on Sunday through Thursday. While more expensive, Flex Passes provide the option to go to any ten home games and includes food and drink with your ticket.

When you go

Dr. Pepper Ballpark is located at 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco. The 2019 opening day is April 4 against Midland RockHounds. The 2019 season runs from April through August with the last home game on August 25 against Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Paid parking is available on site.

Tip: Stonebriar Mall is a quarter mile away from Dr. Pepper Ballpark. The west shopping mall parking lots offer a free option to stadium parking. The area around the mall is filled with restaurants for pre- and post-game dining.

North Texas Camping

Posted on by

Nothing says adventure like spending a night out in the wilds, even if those wilds are located just a few miles from home. While our northern neighbors camp during the summer months, spring and fall are the best times to pitch a tent in North Texas.

CampingThe spring floods closed many local camping spots. However, you can still camp at two, city-run parks. Erwin Park is best suited for those who want a more rugged camping experience, and Little Elm Park works well for families with small children.

Erwin Park

Located in north McKinney, farm fields border this green space. The 212-acre park is a favorite campsite for local Scouting groups. If you are a mountain biker, you’ll love this area. Erwin Park sports almost nine miles of mountain bike trail maintained by Dallas Off Road Bike Association. Camping areas with covered picnic pavilions (there are three) require payment and advance registration. There are also numerous, smaller campsites with fire pits ideal for families and small groups.

The park has two restroom facilities (no showers) at picnic pavilion areas. From November to March, the city secures water to the park to prevent pipes from freezing. You can still camp during that time, but there are no toilet facilities.

When you go

Erwin Park is at 4300 County Road, McKinney. Operated by the City of McKinney, you can reserve a picnic pavilion by calling (972) 547-2690.

Little Elm Park

Little Elm Park is one of the least expensive camping locations on Lake Lewisville. The park not only has campsites, but also sand volleyball, baseball fields, and a swim beach. A newly opened playground is sure to be a hit with your pint-sized campers. Hiking trails are limited, though you will find a paved, one-mile trail ideal for strollers at the north end of the park.

When you go

The park is operated by the City of Little Elm and is located at 701 Eldorado Parkway. Camping is $5 a night per tent. You can pay for overnight camping at the kiosk in the parking lot. For more park information contact the city at (9720 731-3296.

Happy camping!