Dallas Arboretum Summers

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Enjoy the many water features at Dallas Arboretum

Cool off in summer with a visit to the Dallas Arboretum. Dallas Blooms in spring, with thousands of tulips, marks one of Dallas Arboretum’s most beautiful flower displays. Yet even in the heat of summer, you can still find gorgeous blooms and a respite from stifling temperatures under green tree canopies.

Picnic Breakfast

Timing is everything. The earlier you visit, the greater the enjoyment. In summer, pack a picnic breakfast (not lunch). The gardens open at 9 am. Arboretum members gain an added benefit with early (7 am), members-only admission through November.

Dallas Arboretum – Three Sisters Overlook

Enjoy your stroll first, then locate a shaded picnic area. Unlike other formal gardens, the Dallas Arboretum allows picnicking throughout its grounds (except in the restaurants). Magnolia Glade offers tables under massive trees. My favorite spot, the cabanas at Three Sisters Overlook, even has rotating fans to cool you off.

Lush Greenery and Water

Dallas Arboretum refurbished and added several water features to its gardens over the last several years. I’m particularly fond of the Lagoon in the Tasteful Place Garden and the gurgling stream running through the Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill. My family’s favorites are the frogs at the end of Crape Mrytle Allee and the infinity pool in the Woman’s Garden. Even when temperatures soar, the combination of water and lush green foliage just seems to make things feel cooler.

Summer Highlights

On Tuesdays, beginning at 11 am, listen to music in the Val Late Garden. Petting zoo and face painting are part of Family Fridays in Pecan Grove. Use your cell phone for Nature Walk Bingo on Saturdays and Sundays. And the Tasteful Garden offers daily tastings. The day of our visit we sampled jalapeno sauce, bread and sorbet – yum!

Discounts

Summer is also the time for admission bargains. Now through the end of July, you can purchase a ticket and get another ticket for free on Wednesdays. And during the entire month of August, admission is just $2.

When you go. The Dallas Arboretum is located at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas.  The garden is open daily 9 am to 5 pm.

Everybody is Somebody in Luckenbach

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Is Luckenbach a town, a dance hall, or a tourist attraction? Truth be told, it’s a little of all three. There is a general store and post office; a dance hall, consistently recognized as one of Texas’ top ten; and a kitschy landmark. Transcending all generalizations, Luckenbach is a county music gathering place.

We visited Luckenbach the afternoon before a music festival. Dozens of folks prepared for the thousands arriving later in the day. Directed to a field to park, we made our way past weathered-wood ticket booths and onto the grounds. To our left, nailed to a fence, we found the Luckenbach logo and infamous population sign, a popular photo spot. The population sign, Population 3, often goes missing, stolen by tourists wanting more than a picture to remind them of their visit. Leave the sign in place and buy your souvenirs from the general store, please.

Courtyard and outdoor stage

Behind the Luckenbach store you’ll find a courtyard with picnic tables, an outdoor stage, and a rooftop canopy formed by hundreds year-old oaks. This is the heart of the Luckenbach experience. The Picker Circle listed on Luckenbach’s calendar denotes free outdoor entertainment – offered most afternoons. Grab a beer and relax. Enjoy the music, dance, eat, and people watch.

I’m not sure what I enjoyed more – the music from the fiddler onstage or the diversity of people. Remember, Everybody is somebody in Luckenbach. Our fellow visitors included a septuagenarian couple swing dancing in newly purchased cowboy hats; weekend bikers in leathers and bandana doo-rags, and twenty-something women in Daisy Duke shorts and boots. It’s a relaxed, unpretentious vibe.

The Feed Lot serves typical hamburgers and hot dogs. To the left of the stage is a bar with a remarkable selection of beers, but bring cash (no credit cards).

Post office and hat shop

The post office is also the town general store. Here you get the flavor of a tourist spot with everything from t-shirts to drink ware to guitar picks all embossed with Luckenbach’s logo. With a nod to country music, you’ll also find a nice selection of country music CDs.

The Snail Creek Hat Company, located behind the store and next to the outdoor stage, offers a unique twist to the traditional western hat. Yes, you can buy the traditional felted hats, but the store specializes in the wide brim, palm leaf variety – half Panama and half cowboy hat.

History of Luckenbach

In the 1840s German farmers, including Jacob and August Luckenbach, settled the area. The town thrived with a cotton gin and dancehall until the turn of the twentieth century. The town declined in population and opportunity until the 1930s when the dancehall was rebuilt. That rebirth as short lived. By 1960, only about 50 people lived in Luckenbach. Modern day Luckenbach owes its reincarnation to John Russel (Hondo) Crouch. Hondo bought Luckenbach in 1971 and declared himself mayor of the town of three. A humorist and writer, he hosted a Luckenbach World Fair, a women-only chili cook off, and other quirky festivals. And it was Hondo who coined the phrase Everybody is somebody at Luckenbach. Waylon Jennings 1977 song, Luckenbach Texas, sealed the town’s fate as a national icon. Music legends like Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett popularized the town as a country music destination.

If you go

Luckenbach is about 14 miles from Fredericksburg in Texas Hill Country. The physical address for your map app is 412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg. Most afternoons, you’ll find free country music entertainment on the outdoor stage. Because it is outdoors, weather may be a factor. The oak trees provide some cooling during hot Texas summers, though the ideal time to visit is in spring. Shows, festivals, and dances require tickets. Before you go, check the event calendar. The general store accepts credit cards, the outdoor bar does not.

 

Ballpark Fun with Frisco RoughRiders

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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.

Historic Washington State Park

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Historic Washington State Park transports visitors to the past when great western pioneers like Sam Houston and Davy Crockett traveled the Southwest Trail. It’s a hidden gem just twenty minutes off Interstate-30 in Arkansas.

Frontier history 

Originally just a supply depot along the Southwest Trail, Washington grew into a major town in the 1830’s. In its heyday, the town boasted sixteen doctors, as many lawyers, and three hotel keepers along with a host of craftsman and merchants – impressive for a frontier settlement.

Historic Washington State Park captures the town’s golden age — 1830 through 1880 — with its living history exhibits and reenactments. Over a dozen buildings have been restored including the 1836 Courthouse that served as Arkansas’ State Capital during the Civil War; a tavern purportedly where Houston, Crockett, and Austin planned the liberation of Texas from Mexico; Greek-Revival styled homes built in the mid 1800s; and even a log home circa 1835. Other buildings like the blacksmith shop are reconstructions.

The tour

The 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse houses the park visitor center. For a nominal fee visitors walk through town where costumed docents at each building bring history to life with stories of Washington’s past. Not all buildings are open each day, but you will be able to tour several of the historic structures.

  • The 1920 Print Museum is a favorite with its functioning antique printing press. First published in Washington in 1839 the Washington Telegraph is the oldest, continuously published weekly newspaper in Arkansas.
  • The legendary Bowie knife was made by Washington resident James Black, a silversmith, for frontiersman James Bowie. Tour the blacksmith to learn more.
  • Those interested in antique weapons will want to visit the B.W. Edwards Weapons Museum. Housed in the Old Bank Building, over 600 historic rifles and pistols are on display.
  • Other historic buildings provide visitors with a glimpse into everyday life. Homes of prominent Washington residents are furnished as they would have been in the mid 1800’s.

Allow at least three hours for the walking tour.

Annual highlights

A favorite time to visit the park is in March when thousands of naturalized jonquils create yellow flowering carpets throughout the town.  The park’s Jonquil Festival, a three-day event with craft fair, is in mid-March. Historic Washington State Park hosts several reenactments throughout the year including a Civil War weekend in November. And the park year culminates with its December Christmas and Candlelight weekends.

When you go

Historic Washington State Park is located eight miles northwest of Hope, Ark., on Highway 278. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before you leave the park, be sure to dine at Williams’ Tavern Restaurant. Located in an historic 1832 building, Williams’ Tavern serves southern food at affordable prices. The restaurant is on the grounds and open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Tip

For those wanting a longer visit, Hope offers numerous lodging options. Add nearby Crater of the Diamonds to your itinerary for a fun-packed weekend.

Diamond Hunting in Arkansas

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Prospectors, young and old, find treasures at Crater of the Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro. The park is the only diamond mine open to the public – and the best part – you keep whatever you unearth.

The Mine

Don’t be disappointed by your first glimpse at the diamond mine. Outwardly, it looks like a plowed farmer’s field. Appearances are deceiving. Hidden among the dirt furrows are diamond, agate, jasper, and quartz.

Diamond hunting can be surprisingly easy. Most gems found are small, about the size of a pea, and are less than a carat. The best diamond hunting is on a sunny day following a heavy rainstorm. The rain washes the dirt from the denser diamonds and the sunshine signals the hunter by reflecting off the diamond’s surface. In these conditions, diamonds can actually be found by simply walking the rows of plowed dirt.

Serious miners employ a more strenuous method to find their gems. Prospectors haul buckets filled with dirt to a washing area. Park regulars use water to sluice dirt away from the stones and then sift through the remaining gravel in search of diamonds. With the right rhythm, the dense diamonds settle to the sluicing pan’s bottom separating out from the washed away dirt. This is hard work but fun to try. The park has two covered washing sheds for water sifting. It’s a lively place with fellow diamond hunters readily helping each other by offering tips and assistance to novice treasure seekers.

Some diamond hunters use a third method to find the elusive stones. Divining a likely spot, they plop down in the field and dry sift the soil. This method appears to be most fun for the youngest treasure seekers. Kids love to dig and here they are in their element.

Geology and history

How did diamonds end up in this Arkansas field? About 100 million years ago, a volcanic pipe shot diamonds and other geological wonders from deep within the earth’s mantle to the surface forming the Prairie Creek Diatreme. Traveling at speeds from 60 to 250 miles an hour, volcanic pipes pushed earth up and out to the surface, mixing magma with rock and minerals in its path.

At Crater of the Diamonds, the diamonds lost 60 to 80 percent of their size during their trip through the earth’s crust when they mixed with the hot, molten magma.  Still, over the years there have been incredible finds. Discovered in 1924, the Uncle Sam diamond registered 40 carats. And in 1975, Mr. Johnson unearthed a 16 carat diamond, the Amarillo Starlight.

The first diamonds were discovered by John Huddleston, a local farmer in 1906. Commercial attempts to mine the diamonds did not succeed and in 1972 the State of Arkansas bought the property for a park. Since that time, over 2.8 million people visited and left with about 28,700 diamonds – that is roughly 600 diamonds a year. Not bad odds for treasure seekers.

More than diamonds

Even without a diamond, families can return home with treasures. Huge Jasper chunks litter the mine field with spots of red and burnished orange color. Lamproite with gold streaks of mica and translucent agate wait to be discovered. Visitors can remove one, five-gallon bucket of rock and soil each day. Following several visits to the Crater of the Diamonds, our family has an astoundingly colorful rock collection of personal finds.

Planning your visit

The park website offers tips for planning your mining expedition. Recommend wearing old clothes and boots as the field is often muddy. If you intend to wet sift for diamonds, bring rubber gloves. The park rents prospecting gear like sifting screens and hand trowels for a nominal fee. I suggest, however, that you bring your own bucket for transporting treasures home. Sandwich baggies are handy for keeping small stones from getting lost. Without shade trees, hats and sun screen are a must during summer months.

When you go

Crater of the Diamonds State Park (209 State Park Road, Murfreesboro) is open daily, with times varying by season. Entrance to the park is free, but there is a fee to access the diamond field. The park has tent and RV camping spots. The Queen of Diamonds Inn, located in nearby Murfreesboro, offers clean and comfortable rooms, or travel to either nearby Hope or Akadelphia for a wider selection of lodging.

So pack the kids and head out for a weekend treasure hunt. Maybe you will be next to discover a diamond.