So...lots have been written about being from Louisiana. Much of it true, but much I'd never heard of:
1.) We're not all from New Orleans.
2.) Some of us have never (gasp) even been to New Orleans.
3.) We don't have to go to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras.
4.) However, if we're talking about Saints, it's usually not the Catholic kind.
5.) We don't have to have gone to LSU to like the Bayou Bengals.
6.) Most of us have survived at least one hurricane.
7.) We don't all speak French, but we can all pronounce French last names. Silent "T's" really aren't that difficult.
8.) We don't do snow. Stop making fun of us because we can't drive in it. None of us have snow tires. It only happens every few years.
9.) We do have festivals for darn near everything.
10.) Back to Mardi Gras--if you're from SETX, don't bother coming to shop on Mardi Gras in Lake Charles. Stores close early. Also, check out Creole, Mamou, and Lafayette for some awesome Marsi Gras celebrations.
11.)Most of our state is very natural and there's lots of water. We like it that way.
12.) Until the first hard freeze, bug spray is the perfume of choice.
13) Even with the mosquitoes, and muddy water at the coast, we still love living here.
14.) Because, hello, you can get it shipped, I guess, but you can't get fresh crawfish or king cake anywhere else. And...
15.) If you've ever had real Cajun or Creole (and yeah, there's a difference) food in Louisiana, you'll be able to recognize how it's not REALLY the same thing out of state.
16.)We know not to mess with alligators. Because if you don't mess with them & their babies (btw, like one of the only reptiles who do that) they don't mess with you. They're afraid of you. We also know not to feed them. Because when you feed them, Florida happens. That's why we've had not a single human killed by an alligator in Louisiana History.
17.) We are usually friendly people and will respect that you have your opinions, please listen to the reasons we have to support ours. For instance--hunting. Most hunters are also big conservationists. They want healthy wildlife. They want the ecosystem to survive. However, that only applies to native species. The nutria rat was a mistake import. It was brought in because beavers were being hunted too much--we learned our lesson, sadly with both animals. While they've both prevailed, the nutria has destroyed much of our shore protection. Protection we need for hurricanes. And our native animals' numbers are dwindling because nutria are eating their food. So, yes, there's a bounty on nutria.
18.) We are a strong, resilient people. We like our home state.
19.) Different areas of the state are DIFFERENT. I went to college with some women from northwes Louisiana. They don't close anything for Mardi Gras and had never heard of boudin (they were missing out!)
20.) We are very welcoming people. It's not uncommon to be invited in for lemonade, tea, or a cup of Community Coffee.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Gator Country
This past weekend, these Louisiana girls decided to go west and get touristy in nearby Texas, specifically Beaumont. My family is a fan of a show on PBS called The Daytripper. After watching the episode on Beaumont, we had a new found respect for Jason's Deli and a desire to check out Gator Country.
So, here's the thing about Gator Country: There's a website. There's even a FB page. There is not, however, a sign to tell you which exit to take when you're traveling eastbound I-10. It is, however, right off the interstate, and if you pass it up, you'll see it just north of the interstate--if you're paying attention. I'll confess right here that I've traveled this particular stretch of I-10 countless times and never noticed Gator Country.
To get to Gator Country from Louisiana, take I-10E to exit 838. Take a right (head north) after you exit. Then keep an eye out on the left. It's not far, and there are signs where you turn.
Here's a tip: bring swimwear & towels, especially for any children. And be aware there's a gift shop with stuffed animals, soft drinks, and various Gator Country memorabilia.
Upon walking through a plywood cutout of a gator's mouth, we walked onto a boardwalk. Alligators were abundant in the water below. On the front porch, there's a large, fake gator, perfect for taking pictures--just be sure not to sit on its head. There are also a couple of, well bored-looking, raccoons. They had a pool, some food, and an LSU hammock for the raccoons. And their keeper may have been hanging out just out of view, but they really did look bored and like they were trying to get out.
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Once inside, we paied--for 2 adults & a 4-year-old, and a small brown bag of dog food to feed the gators--it was a little over $40. This seemed a bit high to me, especially considering you can visit a zoo and see a live animal show for considerably less. However, they did have a snake collection to rival any zoo. They had several albino snakes, including a very large Burmese python. Gator Country is also home to an African Rock Python, one of the world's most aggressive snakes. Theirs is around 3 years old and was probably under 6 feet--they grow up to around 20 feet. They had two venomous snakes that I saw--a copperhead and a water moccasin (cottonmouth), several lizards, and alligators (of course) and two crocodiles. Their labeling could use some attention as not everything was labeled, though. They also had a couple mammals, namely hedgehogs & a chinchilla.
We missed the beginning of the 2:00 show, but did see most of it. The volunteers that were doing the show seemed very knowledgeable about and comfortable with the snakes they handled. I noticed a few bits of information they were probably misinformed about, namely the largest alligator on record (it was, in fact, 19 feet, caught in Louisiana in 1890s and not weighed). But on the whole, the show was very entertaining, educational, and informative.
After a brief intermission, the volunteer led us out to the pond to see the famed Big Al---the biggest alligator on property. I believe he also stated that Big Al is the heaviest alligator in captivity in Texas. Once again, the volunteer was entertaining and informative. And Big Al was Big Al. He's pretty impressive.
Once Big Al's part in the show was over, we headed to a concrete pool. This is the part that you need a swimsuit for; it's also the part we knew nothing about.
You can swim with alligators. Yes, you read that right. You can swim with alligators. The gators are small, probably 3-4 feet, and their mouths are taped shut. They seemed to only be used for one group of people and then returned to their inside enclosures. We were going to let our daughter join the throng of kids in the pool, right up until we saw that the pool was at least waist-deep for children who looked around 5' tall. They all got soaking wet--Gator Country does sell t-shirts if you want to dress your child in dry clothing once they're done swimming. But I had no desire for my child to get soaking wet and drive back to Louisiana. Swimming with alligators did make the entrance fee seem less steep. I mean, where else can you do that?
In between the inside and outside sections of Gator Country, there's a large playground. However, it was so hot the day we went, I was worried that the slides would be too hot for little legs.
We stopped along a couple of the raised walkways and threw dog food to the alligators. Once again, where else can you legally do this? The gators were used to this and, though there didn't seem to be any confrontations over food, they were all very interested in it. I can definitely see why this is illegal in the wild.
All in all, it was a pretty good experience, save for not knowing about the wet activity. Gator Country really should put some funds into a brochure or pamphlet for the Texas Tourist stops in Beaumont & Orange. It would definitely increase their traffic.
Now, just a word about alligators. If you want some reputable information about them, visit or contact a wildlife refuge, specifically Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier, Louisiana. The gators in the Baton Rouge Zoo and the world famous San Diego Zoo all came from Rockefeller.
Alligators in the wild are typically not aggressive to humans. The exception is a female with babies around. If a baby feels threatened and calls for help, any female around will respond. This is unusual for reptiles. The lesson here is that if you see a baby alligator, assume its protector is around and leave. Even Big Al, who clearly could've taken the volunteer, should he choose to, simply didn't choose to. The Houston Zoo has even managed to clicker train their white (leucistic, not albino) alligator Blanco. They feature a neat video featuring their training sessions in the reptile house. Blanco is pictured above.
Here's the link to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge.
Gator Country's website
Gator Country's Facebook Page
So, here's the thing about Gator Country: There's a website. There's even a FB page. There is not, however, a sign to tell you which exit to take when you're traveling eastbound I-10. It is, however, right off the interstate, and if you pass it up, you'll see it just north of the interstate--if you're paying attention. I'll confess right here that I've traveled this particular stretch of I-10 countless times and never noticed Gator Country.
To get to Gator Country from Louisiana, take I-10E to exit 838. Take a right (head north) after you exit. Then keep an eye out on the left. It's not far, and there are signs where you turn.
Here's a tip: bring swimwear & towels, especially for any children. And be aware there's a gift shop with stuffed animals, soft drinks, and various Gator Country memorabilia.
Upon walking through a plywood cutout of a gator's mouth, we walked onto a boardwalk. Alligators were abundant in the water below. On the front porch, there's a large, fake gator, perfect for taking pictures--just be sure not to sit on its head. There are also a couple of, well bored-looking, raccoons. They had a pool, some food, and an LSU hammock for the raccoons. And their keeper may have been hanging out just out of view, but they really did look bored and like they were trying to get out.
Once inside, we paied--for 2 adults & a 4-year-old, and a small brown bag of dog food to feed the gators--it was a little over $40. This seemed a bit high to me, especially considering you can visit a zoo and see a live animal show for considerably less. However, they did have a snake collection to rival any zoo. They had several albino snakes, including a very large Burmese python. Gator Country is also home to an African Rock Python, one of the world's most aggressive snakes. Theirs is around 3 years old and was probably under 6 feet--they grow up to around 20 feet. They had two venomous snakes that I saw--a copperhead and a water moccasin (cottonmouth), several lizards, and alligators (of course) and two crocodiles. Their labeling could use some attention as not everything was labeled, though. They also had a couple mammals, namely hedgehogs & a chinchilla.
We missed the beginning of the 2:00 show, but did see most of it. The volunteers that were doing the show seemed very knowledgeable about and comfortable with the snakes they handled. I noticed a few bits of information they were probably misinformed about, namely the largest alligator on record (it was, in fact, 19 feet, caught in Louisiana in 1890s and not weighed). But on the whole, the show was very entertaining, educational, and informative.
After a brief intermission, the volunteer led us out to the pond to see the famed Big Al---the biggest alligator on property. I believe he also stated that Big Al is the heaviest alligator in captivity in Texas. Once again, the volunteer was entertaining and informative. And Big Al was Big Al. He's pretty impressive.
Once Big Al's part in the show was over, we headed to a concrete pool. This is the part that you need a swimsuit for; it's also the part we knew nothing about.
You can swim with alligators. Yes, you read that right. You can swim with alligators. The gators are small, probably 3-4 feet, and their mouths are taped shut. They seemed to only be used for one group of people and then returned to their inside enclosures. We were going to let our daughter join the throng of kids in the pool, right up until we saw that the pool was at least waist-deep for children who looked around 5' tall. They all got soaking wet--Gator Country does sell t-shirts if you want to dress your child in dry clothing once they're done swimming. But I had no desire for my child to get soaking wet and drive back to Louisiana. Swimming with alligators did make the entrance fee seem less steep. I mean, where else can you do that?
In between the inside and outside sections of Gator Country, there's a large playground. However, it was so hot the day we went, I was worried that the slides would be too hot for little legs.
We stopped along a couple of the raised walkways and threw dog food to the alligators. Once again, where else can you legally do this? The gators were used to this and, though there didn't seem to be any confrontations over food, they were all very interested in it. I can definitely see why this is illegal in the wild.
All in all, it was a pretty good experience, save for not knowing about the wet activity. Gator Country really should put some funds into a brochure or pamphlet for the Texas Tourist stops in Beaumont & Orange. It would definitely increase their traffic.
Now, just a word about alligators. If you want some reputable information about them, visit or contact a wildlife refuge, specifically Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier, Louisiana. The gators in the Baton Rouge Zoo and the world famous San Diego Zoo all came from Rockefeller.
Here's the link to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge.
Gator Country's website
Gator Country's Facebook Page
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Moody Gardens--Palm Beach & the Aquarium Pyramid-- Galveston Island, Texas
Going to Galveston for the weekend means a visit to Galveston Island's newer landmarks, the pyramids @ Moody Gardens. We found out that when you stay at the Hotel at Moody Gardens, you get passes for Palm Beach, which was awesome, since I'd planned on bringing my daughter there anyway.
So, thanks to Maw Maw & Paw Paw, my daughter & I were able to partake in some of the water activities Palm Beach has to offer. Now, if I haven't said it before, my daughter is a water baby. She loves water and always has. We have gone to the local mini-water park a couple times a week during the summer for the past couple summers. Moody Gardens is like a mini-water park on steroids. It isn't Schlitterbahn or a Six Flags Water Park, but it is more than the community water parks that seem to be springing up everywhere.
It also doesn't hurt that it is on Galveston Bay, so you can also do a bit of nature watching. We saw countless seagulls fishing, but what was really exciting was the brown pelicans we saw searching for a meal.
For a beginning of the season Saturday, it was surprisingly uncrowded. We did the lazy river a couple times, played in the wave pool, and enjoyed the slides for the shorter kids, as my daughter didn't meet the height requirements for the two big slides. We also ate lunch at Palm Beach. I'm not sure if we were just really hungry, but the shish-ka-bobs we got were delish.
After a couple hours we were ready to go. Palm Beach isn't really an all-day thing for young kids. So, here's the low-down. They have bathrooms, complete with showers, so if you're not staying at the Hotel, go ahead and bring shampoo to get that chlorine out. They also have lockers for rent. And they have free (first come, first served) life jackets for kids. Lockers are rented and life jackets are available in the gift shop, near the entrance.
Here's the Palm Beach page on Moody Garden's website:
http://www.moodygardens.org/seasonal_fun/palm_beach/
The next day, before heading out of Galveston, my daughter, mother, & I checked out the Aquarium Pyramid. I was the only one who had ever been before. Both Mom & my daughter seemed to have a really good time.
Their penguin and their seal/sea lion exhibits are both multi-storied, letting you get different views of the animals. The animals in both of these exhibits came right up to the glass and seemed interested in the humans on the other side.
There were all the usual suspects you'd expect in an aquarium, including several species of sharks, which kids were encouraged to find. My daughter was given a handout with all the species of shark and a box next to them to be stamped when we located that particular species. Even at 3, she really enjoyed doing that. Or at least, she enjoyed the stamping.
Another exhibit we both enjoyed was the touch pool. We both got to touch a sea star, and I got to tickle a pencil sea urchin. It was a truly unique experience and one I highly recommend.
It took a couple hours to see everything, but again, not a full day event. If you do plan to stay at Moody Gardens for a full day, there are passes available that let you partake in all that Moody Gardens has to offer.
Here's the Aquarium Pyramid page:
http://www.moodygardens.org/attractions/aquarium_pyramid/
And here's the ticket info:
https://secure4.gatewayticketing.com/MoodyGardens/Content.aspx?Kind=LandingPage&merchant=OC&CG=TI&C=Aquarium&__utma=1.1566542156.1369835063.1369835063.1370446212.2&__utmb=1.2.10.1370446212&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1370446212.2.2.utmcsr=moodygardens.com|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/&__utmv=-&__utmk=264279055
Moody Gardens is a definite must-see spot on Galveston Island!
So, thanks to Maw Maw & Paw Paw, my daughter & I were able to partake in some of the water activities Palm Beach has to offer. Now, if I haven't said it before, my daughter is a water baby. She loves water and always has. We have gone to the local mini-water park a couple times a week during the summer for the past couple summers. Moody Gardens is like a mini-water park on steroids. It isn't Schlitterbahn or a Six Flags Water Park, but it is more than the community water parks that seem to be springing up everywhere.
It also doesn't hurt that it is on Galveston Bay, so you can also do a bit of nature watching. We saw countless seagulls fishing, but what was really exciting was the brown pelicans we saw searching for a meal.
For a beginning of the season Saturday, it was surprisingly uncrowded. We did the lazy river a couple times, played in the wave pool, and enjoyed the slides for the shorter kids, as my daughter didn't meet the height requirements for the two big slides. We also ate lunch at Palm Beach. I'm not sure if we were just really hungry, but the shish-ka-bobs we got were delish.
After a couple hours we were ready to go. Palm Beach isn't really an all-day thing for young kids. So, here's the low-down. They have bathrooms, complete with showers, so if you're not staying at the Hotel, go ahead and bring shampoo to get that chlorine out. They also have lockers for rent. And they have free (first come, first served) life jackets for kids. Lockers are rented and life jackets are available in the gift shop, near the entrance.
Here's the Palm Beach page on Moody Garden's website:
http://www.moodygardens.org/seasonal_fun/palm_beach/
The next day, before heading out of Galveston, my daughter, mother, & I checked out the Aquarium Pyramid. I was the only one who had ever been before. Both Mom & my daughter seemed to have a really good time.
Their penguin and their seal/sea lion exhibits are both multi-storied, letting you get different views of the animals. The animals in both of these exhibits came right up to the glass and seemed interested in the humans on the other side.
There were all the usual suspects you'd expect in an aquarium, including several species of sharks, which kids were encouraged to find. My daughter was given a handout with all the species of shark and a box next to them to be stamped when we located that particular species. Even at 3, she really enjoyed doing that. Or at least, she enjoyed the stamping.
Another exhibit we both enjoyed was the touch pool. We both got to touch a sea star, and I got to tickle a pencil sea urchin. It was a truly unique experience and one I highly recommend.
It took a couple hours to see everything, but again, not a full day event. If you do plan to stay at Moody Gardens for a full day, there are passes available that let you partake in all that Moody Gardens has to offer.
Here's the Aquarium Pyramid page:
http://www.moodygardens.org/attractions/aquarium_pyramid/
And here's the ticket info:
https://secure4.gatewayticketing.com/MoodyGardens/Content.aspx?Kind=LandingPage&merchant=OC&CG=TI&C=Aquarium&__utma=1.1566542156.1369835063.1369835063.1370446212.2&__utmb=1.2.10.1370446212&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1370446212.2.2.utmcsr=moodygardens.com|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/&__utmv=-&__utmk=264279055
Moody Gardens is a definite must-see spot on Galveston Island!
Pleasure Pier, Galveston Island, Texas
This past weekend we had a mini-family reunion of sorts. My cousin graduated from UT Medical School. His proud parents rented a huge house in Galveston for the event. While it couldn't contain everyone (my parents stayed at the Moody Gardens hotel), my daughter & I stayed with the rest of the family.
The house was a couple blocks away from the Gulf of Mexico and 7/10 of a mile away from one of Galveston's newer attractions, Pleasure Pier.
Our day had already been eventful, especially for a mom & a 3 year old. We'd gotten up early and headed over to Moody Gardens, where we'd spent the morning at Palm Beach. Then we went back to visit with family and rest before heading to the famed Sand Castle Contest on East Beach in the afternoon and early evening.
So, it was around 8:30 that we started the walk to Pleasure Pier. My mother came with us, and we ambled along Seawall Boulevard, stopping in a couple stores, before reaching the pier.
There were a couple rides my daughter was just too short for, but I'd done my research and visited Pleasure Pier's website. I knew there were several rides she was the required height for, so when it came time to purchase a ticket, I bought her the pass. Some rides I would have to go on, as well, so I bought myself a pass, too. Here's the thing--to go on the pier, you must have at least a walk-on pass. Walk-on passes start at $10 for adults (over 48"), $8 for kids (under 48"), and $7 for seniors (must have ID). Rides start at $4. But the unlimited ride passes are $26.99 for adults, $19.99 for kids, no senior discount. We got there late, but my daughter still got to ride everything she was tall enough to ride. In hindsight, I probably could have gotten away with a walk-on pass and tickets to ride what I need to ride with her. Lesson learned. However, it was much cheaper to do the unlimited for her, especially since it allowed her to ride her favorite--kid-sized bumper cars--three times in a row.
Most of the rides are lit up, but the icon of the pier is definitely the ferris wheel. It's all the way at the end of the pier and definitely not something to miss. It was nice to sit down for a bit, though we spent more time hanging in the air, waiting for others to get on or off, than we did making rotations. Because it was at night, I can only imagine how amazing it would've been during the day, over the water, that high up. They also had a pretty good band playing (I thought it was recorded music until I saw the musicians).
Pleasure Pier had typical carnival games--Guess Your Age or Weight, Ring Toss, etc. We bypassed all of these in favor of the rides. We also did not eat at Pleasure Pier, though besides typical carnival foods, it is also the location of Bubba Gump's. They even had a Gump's on the Run (to-go orders). You did not need to purchase any kind of pass to get food from Bubba Gump's.
All in all, I'm glad we decided to check out Pleasure Pier. My daughter had a fabulous time. One warning--watch out for Pirate's Plunge. Even walking too close could leave you soaked.
Here's the website. I definitely recommend checking it out before you go.
http://www.pleasurepier.com/index.html
The house was a couple blocks away from the Gulf of Mexico and 7/10 of a mile away from one of Galveston's newer attractions, Pleasure Pier.
Our day had already been eventful, especially for a mom & a 3 year old. We'd gotten up early and headed over to Moody Gardens, where we'd spent the morning at Palm Beach. Then we went back to visit with family and rest before heading to the famed Sand Castle Contest on East Beach in the afternoon and early evening.
So, it was around 8:30 that we started the walk to Pleasure Pier. My mother came with us, and we ambled along Seawall Boulevard, stopping in a couple stores, before reaching the pier.
There were a couple rides my daughter was just too short for, but I'd done my research and visited Pleasure Pier's website. I knew there were several rides she was the required height for, so when it came time to purchase a ticket, I bought her the pass. Some rides I would have to go on, as well, so I bought myself a pass, too. Here's the thing--to go on the pier, you must have at least a walk-on pass. Walk-on passes start at $10 for adults (over 48"), $8 for kids (under 48"), and $7 for seniors (must have ID). Rides start at $4. But the unlimited ride passes are $26.99 for adults, $19.99 for kids, no senior discount. We got there late, but my daughter still got to ride everything she was tall enough to ride. In hindsight, I probably could have gotten away with a walk-on pass and tickets to ride what I need to ride with her. Lesson learned. However, it was much cheaper to do the unlimited for her, especially since it allowed her to ride her favorite--kid-sized bumper cars--three times in a row.
Most of the rides are lit up, but the icon of the pier is definitely the ferris wheel. It's all the way at the end of the pier and definitely not something to miss. It was nice to sit down for a bit, though we spent more time hanging in the air, waiting for others to get on or off, than we did making rotations. Because it was at night, I can only imagine how amazing it would've been during the day, over the water, that high up. They also had a pretty good band playing (I thought it was recorded music until I saw the musicians).
Pleasure Pier had typical carnival games--Guess Your Age or Weight, Ring Toss, etc. We bypassed all of these in favor of the rides. We also did not eat at Pleasure Pier, though besides typical carnival foods, it is also the location of Bubba Gump's. They even had a Gump's on the Run (to-go orders). You did not need to purchase any kind of pass to get food from Bubba Gump's.
All in all, I'm glad we decided to check out Pleasure Pier. My daughter had a fabulous time. One warning--watch out for Pirate's Plunge. Even walking too close could leave you soaked.
Here's the website. I definitely recommend checking it out before you go.
http://www.pleasurepier.com/index.html
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Houston Zoo
So...these Louisiana girls packed up and headed to Texas for a couple days. We had not been to the Houston Zoo since right before my daughter turned two...we were overdue for a trip.
The Houston Zoo has upped its prices in recent years, but with good reason. It really is an awesome zoo. Some things haven't changed. The reflection pool and the lion water fountain are favorites from my youth that can still be found. But Houston has also dome some major upgrades.
After entering the zoo and donating an extra $4 for bracelets that read LION (my daughter) and TIGER (me), we headed to the Ethel G. and Allen H. Carruth Natural Encounters Building. My daughter had a fabulous time in here. She got to duck into dark caves and crawl through tunnels that were surrounded by water. Some of the exhibits were closed for "remodeling" and there was an odd front porch that was just kind of there. But overall, it was a nice building that I am sure is very popular during the humid Houston late spring, summer, and early fall. We went on a weekday in January, and it still had a fair number of people looking at exhibits.
Because of the temperature and because it was a weekday, we were able to see everything we wanted to in just a few hours. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience. Houston has a world-class zoo. The zoo has a FB page that updates daily. They also have a youtube channel, and, of course, a website. This summer my daughter is going to be attending a half-day camp (they start at age 4), so I'm sure I'll post some more about the zoo then. :-)
Houston Zoo on YouTube The Houston Zoo website
The Houston Zoo has upped its prices in recent years, but with good reason. It really is an awesome zoo. Some things haven't changed. The reflection pool and the lion water fountain are favorites from my youth that can still be found. But Houston has also dome some major upgrades.
After entering the zoo and donating an extra $4 for bracelets that read LION (my daughter) and TIGER (me), we headed to the Ethel G. and Allen H. Carruth Natural Encounters Building. My daughter had a fabulous time in here. She got to duck into dark caves and crawl through tunnels that were surrounded by water. Some of the exhibits were closed for "remodeling" and there was an odd front porch that was just kind of there. But overall, it was a nice building that I am sure is very popular during the humid Houston late spring, summer, and early fall. We went on a weekday in January, and it still had a fair number of people looking at exhibits.
Because of the temperature and because it was a weekday, we were able to see everything we wanted to in just a few hours. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience. Houston has a world-class zoo. The zoo has a FB page that updates daily. They also have a youtube channel, and, of course, a website. This summer my daughter is going to be attending a half-day camp (they start at age 4), so I'm sure I'll post some more about the zoo then. :-)
Houston Zoo on YouTube The Houston Zoo website
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Christmas Lights in Natchitoches, LA
The Christmas lights in Natchitoches are why our camping trip took a decidedly road-trip turn. I hadn't been to Natchitoches to see them since the 1998 Christmas Festival, and my husband & daughter had never seen them.
We missed Christmas Fest by one day. I was okay with that. The crowd was much thinner. And there were no fireworks to convince our border collie that THE WORLD WAS ENDING!
We arrived in Natchitoches about an hour and a half before sundown. After getting a snack, we headed out to Front Street with the dogs. We parked down by the water, walked around, and waited for the sun to go down.
Let me tell you, Hodges Gardens has nothing on Natchitoches. The water towers have Natchitoches labeled as the City of Lights, and with good reason. Cane River Lake's two bridges were decorated. There were light displays on the banks of the lake opposite Front Street, and some light displays right where we were. And they were magnificent.
Something that was rather new to me was the fact that the carriage house was open, and there are now horse-drawn carriage tours of Natchitoches, though I'm not sure whether this was just for Christmas Fest or something being done year round.
Natchitoches is just beautiful any time of year, and after dark, the light display during the month of December is just amazing.
One note--if you bring your dog(s), be prepared for the fact that it seemed like more food hit the ground than made it to people's mouths the day before. We had to constantly make sure none of that food was making its way into our pups' mouths.
If you've never been, the drive to Natchitoches is definitely worth it. Just don't forget to visit Lasyone's and get a meat pie!
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http://www.christmasfestival.com/
Also, the good hotels book up, so if you don't live in reasonable driving distance, make your reservations early!
We missed Christmas Fest by one day. I was okay with that. The crowd was much thinner. And there were no fireworks to convince our border collie that THE WORLD WAS ENDING!
We arrived in Natchitoches about an hour and a half before sundown. After getting a snack, we headed out to Front Street with the dogs. We parked down by the water, walked around, and waited for the sun to go down.
Let me tell you, Hodges Gardens has nothing on Natchitoches. The water towers have Natchitoches labeled as the City of Lights, and with good reason. Cane River Lake's two bridges were decorated. There were light displays on the banks of the lake opposite Front Street, and some light displays right where we were. And they were magnificent.
Something that was rather new to me was the fact that the carriage house was open, and there are now horse-drawn carriage tours of Natchitoches, though I'm not sure whether this was just for Christmas Fest or something being done year round.
Natchitoches is just beautiful any time of year, and after dark, the light display during the month of December is just amazing.
One note--if you bring your dog(s), be prepared for the fact that it seemed like more food hit the ground than made it to people's mouths the day before. We had to constantly make sure none of that food was making its way into our pups' mouths.
If you've never been, the drive to Natchitoches is definitely worth it. Just don't forget to visit Lasyone's and get a meat pie!
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http://www.christmasfestival.com/
Also, the good hotels book up, so if you don't live in reasonable driving distance, make your reservations early!
South Toledo Bend State Park
My husband & I love to camp. Or rather we like the idea of camping. We've gone camping. We think it's fun. But to say we love it, I think, implies that we do it all the time. We don't.
My first camping trip ever took place when my husband & I were dating. This was back in the late 1990s. He suggested it, and I readily agreed. After all, this was something we could do and bring my beloved dog Molly. So we went. My first camping trip ever was in Kisatchie National Forest. I have absolutely no idea where we went, and this forest is massive. It takes up a very large area in the center of Louisiana. All I know is that when he brought up the idea of camping, I thought we were going to be "roughing it". And then we got there, picked our site (within walking distance of bathrooms containing flush toilets and hot showers). The site itself had running water and an electrical outlet. And I, naive as I was, hadn't even thought to bring my blow drier. :)
My first experience with camping was that, although fun during the day...once the sun went down, it was kind of boring. So, on our next expedition, I was more prepared. Right after we got married, we took our doberman pinscher to Arkansas. We went to Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. I remember just knowing we wanted to go camping in Arkansas. We went to Hot Springs first--there's a national park there. And there were campsites, but it was pretty much camping in a parking lot, so we searched on. I can't remember exactly where we camped, but after staying a couple days, we decided to explore some more. We went in May, probably the beginning of the peak season, and most other places were full. Eventually, we'd like to go back up to Arkansas and explore a little more.
The next year, our family had grown to include a golden retriever, and it was with him and our dobie that we went on our road trip. We went to Tennessee and North Carolina via Florida. Yes. I told my dear husband we could go camping again, but I wanted to see a beach on the way. For the record, most of Florida was very dog un-friendly at the time. I've heard the exception is the Keys, but don't take my word on it. All I know is that dogs are allowed pretty much anywhere (except in buildings) in any state park in Louisiana. In Florida, we went to Blackwater River State Park, and our campground was pretty much the only one that allowed dogs. We drove up through Alabama and Georgia to get to Tennessee. We stayed in a campground in Tennessee National Forest. A special note here...if you get a flat while camping, ask the park rangers where to go. That's what we did, and the place was very fair and did an awesome job.
After a couple days in Tennessee, we headed east to Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. Our road trip was at the end of April/Beginning of May. We were completely unprepared for how cold it was up in the mountains. It was still beautiful, and when you hike with two large dogs, people tend to let you have spots to yourself for awhile. :)
Now....our road trip & last camping experience was two years after we got married. This weekend's camping trip was to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and was our three-year-old daughter's introduction to camping. This time, we brought our young dogs, a border collie and a miniature Australian shepherd. It was their introduction to this sleeping in a tent experience we call camping, also. We had to retired our golden retriever from hiking activities after the last time we brought him to Port Hudson and wore him out. And to be honest, I don't think our dobie really likes the outdoors much.
To prepare our daughter, we slept on the back porch once. She was thoroughly intrigue at the idea of "sleeping outside." For years I'd heard friends and family talk about going to Toledo Bend, so I was pretty curious about it. I did a bit of research, and we decided to check it out. Now, in my research, I discovered that South Toledo Bend State Park is very popular, especially the cabins. Unfortunately, most cabins don't allow any animals except (according to the website) seeing-eye dogs (which, really, cannot be ADA compliant. They should have to accept ANY service animals, whether for the blind or physically impared, but I'll have to check that out later). And we tent camp, anyway, which is why we tend to camp when it's not particularly hot or cold. In Louisiana, this window is small, so it's no wonder we haven't been in several years.
We arrived at the State Park at 4:10. We were greeted by a friendly employee who let us know that they were pretty empty and we could pick our campsite. Okay, here's the good info--if you're tent (not primitive) or RV camping at this state park, the best views are at sites 35 & 37--no contest. The only conundrum is whether you want a view or to be close to the bathroom/hot showers. It's a good walk or a short drive from the sites with the best views. These premium sites cost $2/night more than the improved sites. Now, another insider tip--you can reserve a spot online through www.ReserveAmerica.com. They will charge you a $6 reservation fee, so we didn't do it. When we got here, we were still charged the $6 fee, but they called it processing or something like that. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I can understand a fee for reserving a spot, especially one with a great view...but if you're going to be charged that anyway, why not state that somewhere on the state parks website?
The weather was absolutely perfect camping weather as far as we were concerned. After setting up our tent and building a fire, we cooked hot dogs and chili. Then we turned in for an early night. This morning we got up early, cooked breakfast on the open flame again--somehow it tastes better that way. And after nice hot showers, we went off on our adventure. We started at the visitor's center. It was unmanned, but still very interesting. Of course, dogs are not allowed in any buildings, so we had to take turns going in with our daughter. She seemed most intrigued by the food chain exhibit, as it had a wheel she could turn. Then, because we saw a sign that said Bald Eagle Nest trail, that's where we went. We didn't find a bald eagle's nest, though this area is supposed to be a nesting area for our national bird. However, we did stumble upon a pretty private, pretty rugged beach. The trail was fairly easy to traverse, even for our daughter. After we did the trail, we did a little exploring outside of the state park.
One of the places we went to, because frankly, we were intrigued by the sign, was Bass Haven Resort. We did not get out of our vehicle here. To call it a resort is an exaggeration. Unless your definition of a resort is a bunch of rundown trailers all grouped together. Now, the people may have been nice. It may have been dirt cheap. I don't know. All I know is it's not my idea of a resort. Or of a haven, for that matter.
Before heading back to our campsite for the night, we visited another state park. Hodges Gardens State Park is a relatively new state park. I'd been to it before it became a part of the state park system. Apparently way back when they had quite the Christmas light display, and this year they were bringing it back. It was worth the $1/person we paid to get in. Our daughter enjoyed the lights. We were able to bring the dogs. They are planning on expanding the lights over the next four years, according to a news article I read on the subject which made us want to go. Maybe we'll check it out again in four years.
The Louisiana State Parks system needs some updating. This summer we went to Fort Pike State Park in Florida and were told our entrance fee was good for the next 7 days at any Florida State Park. So...maybe Louisiana should adopt this policy.
Also, there is an iPhone app for the Louisiana State Parks system. It is a paid app that I downloaded last year. We visit state parks fairly often, and it does have some good qualities. Is it worth the download? Well, most Louisiana State Parks have wireless internet now, at least in some parts...and that's good because otherwise there's basically no cell service. There is an alert feature on the app. But what are the odds you're going to be in a wifi area when you need assistance? Also, the Christmas lights event was not on the events page. What I've discovered is that if a state park has a Facebook page, that's where the most current and reliable information will be found. Not on the app. Not at http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/#maincontent. And that's kind of sad, in my opinion. The paid app should, at the very least, be up to date on all events going on at every state park.
One of the more memorable parts of this trip was seeing a black squirrel, a very interesting-looking animal. We also drove across the Toledo Bend Dam, which was pretty intresting.
All in all we had a wonderful experience getting back in touch with nature, and I do thoroughly recommend this state park. Though if you do take your dog(s), remember they have to be on-leash or crated at all times. The leash cannot be longer than 6' (no flexi-leads). And I would also recommend treating them wih a type of flea/tick prevention, as the area is known for being high in tick population.
My first camping trip ever took place when my husband & I were dating. This was back in the late 1990s. He suggested it, and I readily agreed. After all, this was something we could do and bring my beloved dog Molly. So we went. My first camping trip ever was in Kisatchie National Forest. I have absolutely no idea where we went, and this forest is massive. It takes up a very large area in the center of Louisiana. All I know is that when he brought up the idea of camping, I thought we were going to be "roughing it". And then we got there, picked our site (within walking distance of bathrooms containing flush toilets and hot showers). The site itself had running water and an electrical outlet. And I, naive as I was, hadn't even thought to bring my blow drier. :)
My first experience with camping was that, although fun during the day...once the sun went down, it was kind of boring. So, on our next expedition, I was more prepared. Right after we got married, we took our doberman pinscher to Arkansas. We went to Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. I remember just knowing we wanted to go camping in Arkansas. We went to Hot Springs first--there's a national park there. And there were campsites, but it was pretty much camping in a parking lot, so we searched on. I can't remember exactly where we camped, but after staying a couple days, we decided to explore some more. We went in May, probably the beginning of the peak season, and most other places were full. Eventually, we'd like to go back up to Arkansas and explore a little more.
The next year, our family had grown to include a golden retriever, and it was with him and our dobie that we went on our road trip. We went to Tennessee and North Carolina via Florida. Yes. I told my dear husband we could go camping again, but I wanted to see a beach on the way. For the record, most of Florida was very dog un-friendly at the time. I've heard the exception is the Keys, but don't take my word on it. All I know is that dogs are allowed pretty much anywhere (except in buildings) in any state park in Louisiana. In Florida, we went to Blackwater River State Park, and our campground was pretty much the only one that allowed dogs. We drove up through Alabama and Georgia to get to Tennessee. We stayed in a campground in Tennessee National Forest. A special note here...if you get a flat while camping, ask the park rangers where to go. That's what we did, and the place was very fair and did an awesome job.
After a couple days in Tennessee, we headed east to Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. Our road trip was at the end of April/Beginning of May. We were completely unprepared for how cold it was up in the mountains. It was still beautiful, and when you hike with two large dogs, people tend to let you have spots to yourself for awhile. :)
Now....our road trip & last camping experience was two years after we got married. This weekend's camping trip was to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and was our three-year-old daughter's introduction to camping. This time, we brought our young dogs, a border collie and a miniature Australian shepherd. It was their introduction to this sleeping in a tent experience we call camping, also. We had to retired our golden retriever from hiking activities after the last time we brought him to Port Hudson and wore him out. And to be honest, I don't think our dobie really likes the outdoors much.
To prepare our daughter, we slept on the back porch once. She was thoroughly intrigue at the idea of "sleeping outside." For years I'd heard friends and family talk about going to Toledo Bend, so I was pretty curious about it. I did a bit of research, and we decided to check it out. Now, in my research, I discovered that South Toledo Bend State Park is very popular, especially the cabins. Unfortunately, most cabins don't allow any animals except (according to the website) seeing-eye dogs (which, really, cannot be ADA compliant. They should have to accept ANY service animals, whether for the blind or physically impared, but I'll have to check that out later). And we tent camp, anyway, which is why we tend to camp when it's not particularly hot or cold. In Louisiana, this window is small, so it's no wonder we haven't been in several years.
We arrived at the State Park at 4:10. We were greeted by a friendly employee who let us know that they were pretty empty and we could pick our campsite. Okay, here's the good info--if you're tent (not primitive) or RV camping at this state park, the best views are at sites 35 & 37--no contest. The only conundrum is whether you want a view or to be close to the bathroom/hot showers. It's a good walk or a short drive from the sites with the best views. These premium sites cost $2/night more than the improved sites. Now, another insider tip--you can reserve a spot online through www.ReserveAmerica.com. They will charge you a $6 reservation fee, so we didn't do it. When we got here, we were still charged the $6 fee, but they called it processing or something like that. It kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I can understand a fee for reserving a spot, especially one with a great view...but if you're going to be charged that anyway, why not state that somewhere on the state parks website?
The weather was absolutely perfect camping weather as far as we were concerned. After setting up our tent and building a fire, we cooked hot dogs and chili. Then we turned in for an early night. This morning we got up early, cooked breakfast on the open flame again--somehow it tastes better that way. And after nice hot showers, we went off on our adventure. We started at the visitor's center. It was unmanned, but still very interesting. Of course, dogs are not allowed in any buildings, so we had to take turns going in with our daughter. She seemed most intrigued by the food chain exhibit, as it had a wheel she could turn. Then, because we saw a sign that said Bald Eagle Nest trail, that's where we went. We didn't find a bald eagle's nest, though this area is supposed to be a nesting area for our national bird. However, we did stumble upon a pretty private, pretty rugged beach. The trail was fairly easy to traverse, even for our daughter. After we did the trail, we did a little exploring outside of the state park.
One of the places we went to, because frankly, we were intrigued by the sign, was Bass Haven Resort. We did not get out of our vehicle here. To call it a resort is an exaggeration. Unless your definition of a resort is a bunch of rundown trailers all grouped together. Now, the people may have been nice. It may have been dirt cheap. I don't know. All I know is it's not my idea of a resort. Or of a haven, for that matter.
Before heading back to our campsite for the night, we visited another state park. Hodges Gardens State Park is a relatively new state park. I'd been to it before it became a part of the state park system. Apparently way back when they had quite the Christmas light display, and this year they were bringing it back. It was worth the $1/person we paid to get in. Our daughter enjoyed the lights. We were able to bring the dogs. They are planning on expanding the lights over the next four years, according to a news article I read on the subject which made us want to go. Maybe we'll check it out again in four years.
The Louisiana State Parks system needs some updating. This summer we went to Fort Pike State Park in Florida and were told our entrance fee was good for the next 7 days at any Florida State Park. So...maybe Louisiana should adopt this policy.
Also, there is an iPhone app for the Louisiana State Parks system. It is a paid app that I downloaded last year. We visit state parks fairly often, and it does have some good qualities. Is it worth the download? Well, most Louisiana State Parks have wireless internet now, at least in some parts...and that's good because otherwise there's basically no cell service. There is an alert feature on the app. But what are the odds you're going to be in a wifi area when you need assistance? Also, the Christmas lights event was not on the events page. What I've discovered is that if a state park has a Facebook page, that's where the most current and reliable information will be found. Not on the app. Not at http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/#maincontent. And that's kind of sad, in my opinion. The paid app should, at the very least, be up to date on all events going on at every state park.
All in all we had a wonderful experience getting back in touch with nature, and I do thoroughly recommend this state park. Though if you do take your dog(s), remember they have to be on-leash or crated at all times. The leash cannot be longer than 6' (no flexi-leads). And I would also recommend treating them wih a type of flea/tick prevention, as the area is known for being high in tick population.
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