Fort Worth, Texas Even though Don and I live in Texas, we decided to have a Texas-style Notable Night. Staying at the Stockyards Hotel was a good way to soak up some of the cowboy history of Fort Worth... and a good excuse to wear our cowboy boots. Built in 1907 I can only imagine the characters who ate, drank and slept in this hotel when it opened in 1907. By the time the hotel was completed, the Fort Worth Stockyards had already been bustling with cowboys and cattle for a couple of decades. Cowboys Today I was pretty delighted to step inside the lobby and see a few cowboy hats and boots. These were not employee costumes. There just happen to be a lot of boot & hat wearing people in Fort Worth. Quiet in the Lobby The sofas and cowhide chairs weren't getting too much use at 3:30 on a Thursday afternoon. But the lobby area got busier a few hours later. The whole hotel got a spiffy makeover in the 1990's, I believe. The burgundy suede walls probably weren't there when Bonnie and Clyde stayed in 1933. We could have stayed in Bonnie & Clyde's actual room, but there was a price hike for that privilege. Elevator or Stairs? The elevator was actually pretty spacious for an old hotel. It even had an awesome crank, that was used by an elevator attendant, back in the day. Since we were on the second floor, we took the stairs most of the time. I was amused by the longhorn images on the carpet. I made sure to say hello to the large portrait of Will Rogers, on the landing. Rockers We didn't get a chance to sit-a-spell on these rockers on the second floor. They were near a curious atrium, with a skylight. I know there was a "new" addition in 1913. I'm guessing we were looking at the exposed walls, where the original and newer buildings connected. Our Western Room #203 We may not have had the Bonnie and Clyde Room, but we did ask for a Western Style Room, (there was a choice) facing Exchange Avenue. The light shining through the shutters looked a little like bullet holes... Some Surprises It's always fun to find something in your hotel room that you've never had in any other hotel. I am pretty sure I've never had a boot removing tool in my hotel room! I'm also sure there's a better name for that tool. I've seen a lot of western style lamps in my time, but I did appreciate the nice wall and table lamps in our room. A sturdy, horseshoe & spur combo, with rawhide shades! Also, the thick, diner style mugs were nice. We filled them at the coffee bar in the lobby. Cowboy Bed The luxury pillows kind of hid the cowhide headboard. A furry headboard might be a first for us. Lots of Wood The wooden tank with pull chain, was not original and that's probably a good thing. The large wardrobe that held the TV was a nice touch. (I appreciate being able to hide the TV) The wooden rocker was kind of sweet... with a nice hanging lamp, or lace filtered window light, for reading. The View I didn't get a photo of our exact view, but our 2 windows looked down on the White Elephant Saloon, across the brick street. There was always a little activity to amuse me, especially the saloon guests on horseback. Our Own Saloon Just off the lobby was the hotel's saloon, Booger Red's. I'm not sure who he was, but he had a strange name. The Buffalo Butt Beer, advertised on the mirror, also had an odd name. I'm guessing that happens to be a buffalo's behind, sticking out from the mirror. From Floor to Ceiling They had a lot to look at on the walls and hanging from the ceiling at Booger Red's. But I kind of liked the well-worn floor. Luckily the old wood was charming and not disgusting. Saloon floors probably aren't known for being very clean. Beasts and Saddles The Stockyards attract a lot of tourists, but locals come too. You can tell the locals because they don't snap pictures of the mounted longhorn or the saddle barstools. Don and I have eaten lunch in this bar before, but I still stared at everything like a first time tourist. Afternoon Entertainment If you're going to stay in the Stockyards, it's ridiculous not to take advantage of the perks. Don and I enjoyed the afternoon Cattle Drive, coming down Exchange street at 4:30. Fort Worth's stockyards are the last standing stockyards in the U.S., after all! Evening Entertainment Later in the evening, we made it over to Billy Bob's, which claims to be the "World's Largest Honky Tonk," at 100,00 square feet. We enjoyed some beer and joined a free line dance class. If it had been Saturday, we could have watched some live bull riding, in their indoor arena. Back at the Hotel We ended the evening with a late dinner at the hotel's H3 Ranch Restaurant. I was pretty thrilled when the hostess steered us towards the booth, below 3 buffalo heads. It's kind of sad that we didn't have bigger appetites, since the restaurant gets such good reviews for their steak. But the meal of tacos, salad and soup was perfect. We had to wait a while for a fresh loaf of bread, but it was piping hot and worth it. Morning Luckily we slept well in our cowboy room. If it had been a weekend, I'm sure the street below would have been louder. I rose early and snuck out to walk on the brick streets before the area got lively. I didn't get out early enough to avoid the delivery trucks, though. It was Friday, of Labor Day Weekend and the shops and saloons were getting geared up. What's Notable? I'm so glad we finally had a night at the Stockyards Hotel. I've always been curious. But my memories will actually be more about the wandering, than the hotel itself. From the man who does boot shines on the corner... to the young guy who will let you sit on his longhorn for $5... to the man in the White Elephant Saloon, who claims to be Wild Bill Hickcock... we met some curious souls! Staying at the comfy, hotel gave us the time to explore. I'm good with that!
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More Than a Steakhouse It was the Big Texan Steak Ranch (and it's very fine sign) that lured us. The "Steak Ranch" This is the steakhouse where Don and I stopped for lunch, a year ago. It's been attracting tourists, traveling Route 66 (and then I-40) since 1960. Of course the big yellow building is usually surrounded by cars. But when you're a motel guest, you can lay eyes on this peaceful image... if you rise at dawn. "Charm of the Old West" Don and I grinned when we spotted the motel a year ago. "We'll just have to stay here someday." Last June we had a chance to book a night, when we planned our drive to Oregon. We weren't fooled by the Disney-bright facade, or the website's words about old west charm. For less than $80. we geared ourselves up for a motel-kind-of-overnight. Longhorn Limo When we arrived, we were in for plenty of motel surprises. I've never stayed at a motel with a fleet of limos, sporting longhorn hood ornaments! I've also never stayed at a motel with "branded" sidewalks! Evidently the limos do quite a bit of airport shuttling. Big Texan attracts a lot of visitors from other countries. Tour groups of Australians arrive on Wednesdays and a few guests were speaking German, when we checked in. Room 107 Our room was just steps from the office. And of course parking was right in front of the door. Gotta love that about motels! If guests forget their room numbers like I often do, they can help spot their room by the surrounding door decor! I would have preferred the pink teardrop motif! Plywood Walls and Saloon Doors! Our room definitely had the musty smell, that most older motels have. But I was willing to ignore that, to enjoy the fine features of our room. I had to chuckle at the walls. We've had motels with knotty pine, but this plywood-look was unique. The saloon doors were a hoot. They actually led to a good-sized dressing area and a nicely updated bathroom. The clunky swingers would have driven me crazy if we'd stayed longer. But they were pretty fun and inspired me to dress the part for dinner. Texas Beds and Horse Lamp The lone star headboards looked pretty Texan. The spreads and shams had a lot going on, with faux suede and pillow tassels. Mural and TV The flatscreen-tv-world never works with themed decor. This TV looked pretty silly, next to the windmill and cattle drive. If only we'd had a chance to search for an old western movie channel, we might have made the TV fit the scene! Room With a View We did have a nice little western table set, beneath the window. And our view of the Big Moo Statue, was framed by our plywood shutters. We've never had a motel view like that. Cooling Off We knew there was a Texas shaped pool and we expected it to be full of families. Don made drinks and we were determined to enjoy our first TX-Pool, no matter the crowds. But we had it to ourselves. Behind Don Towards the rear of the complex was a whole different style of motel building. The bell and balcony and pink stucco, looked like an old building in Mexico. The murals were pretty festive, as well. Taking in the Scene As we lounged, we took in the oddity of it all. The parking lot began to fill and then I grew giddy, with the arrival of some important guests! I eyed the truck and trailer, parked in front of the office! Another First This was our first motel experience that included horse guests. I remembered seeing the sign a year ago. When I called a month before to book a room, I inquired. "Oh yes." the woman on the phone answered. "We're expecting 2 horses." In the Way Back Before hitting the pool, I had already checked the stables, back behind the pink building. I was disappointed to find the stalls empty. However, I did see plenty of semitrailers and buses in the massive lot, nearby. Watching At one point, I noticed a truck and trailer pulling away from the office. I grabbed my camera and waited near the horse hotel, for the show. Girls and Horses A mom and 2 teens had been traveling 24 hours from Big Sky, Montana. They were exhausted but worked efficiently, moving the horses out and into their stalls. The fact that the one of the horses had won third place in a 3-day horse show, kept their spirits up. They were a tired, but happy bunch. Over at the Steak Ranch Our Big Texan dining experience in 2017 was just a quick lunch on the road. Don and I were determined to make use of our motel stay and take in all that was offered at the Ranch House, next door. We headed over, giving Big Moo a big wave. Beer and Tunes Don and I skipped the arcade and gift shop and headed for leather bar stools. We hardly fit the bar scene in our shorts, but the cowboy hat crowd accepted us, just fine. The strolling musicians were fun. We requested a Hank Williams song. We didn't sing along, but smiled, applauded and tipped. At the bar we chatted with a couple who had been RV-ing for 2 years. Frank, who sported a foot long beard, shared stories of fighting fires at Mount St. Helen's... which was interesting to think about, when we visited the famous volcano a week later. More New Friends We had another fun chat with Ed, who was on pup duty in this photo. He talked with enthusiasm about his life in the marines and motor-cycling across the states. We didn't have tons in common with Ed, but we did share an appreciation for road travel and the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup. He had a touching story about meeting Navajo Code Talkers at the old hotel. A sweet story for sure. The Patio Before thinking about dinner, we gave ourselves a little time to explore the enclosed patio area. I did my proper posing in a giant rocker and Don checked out the red stage coach. Then we figured we'd put on our western clothes and head to dinner. The Dining Room There was no western dress code requirement, but Don and I are firm believers that costumes and props raise all dining and hotel adventures. We dressed (a bit) for dinner. Beer & Bolo Don looked pretty spiffy sitting in our cozy booth, wearing his horse-covered shirt and bolo tie. We never take a good view for granted and our window looked right out at Big Moo. Sometimes a good view is worthy of a toast... especially when you're drinking Whoop Your Donkey beer. The beer's name is a little mean, but it was kind of fun that it was made at the on-site brewery. The 72-Ounce Steak Challenge I claimed that Don and I were eager for the whole Big Texan experience... but actually we weren't. We aren't huge eaters, so eating a 72-ounce steak, plus potato, sides, bread and drink in an hour, was not a challenge were excited about. We did get to watch a dapper young guy in a cowboy hat complete the task in 36 minutes. He stood on the raised platform while a bell rang and the dining room applauded. Another guy in a ball cap remained at the table, while the glowing timer counted seconds, beside him. He gave up with 5 minutes to go. Pepper Challenge? Don could have shown off his own manly eating abilities with this "too pretty to eat" jalapeno. It had a very cute Texas flag stuck in it. All I ordered was stuffed baked potato for dinner, but my (too small) western belt was cutting into my pig-out abilities. Or maybe it was the stories our server told us about all the different food challenges she's witnessed. I was stuffed before I started. Good Night Big Tex It was a treat to stroll back to our funny little room. It was actually a pretty quiet night, despite being close to the freeway. An Added Adventure We totally took advantage of our motel location, to get up before sunrise and drive 10 minutes to enjoy a crazy "Cadillac Ranch" photo op! This crazy thing is worth Googling or visiting. And in July, a sunrise visit is your best bet if you don't want to inhale the fumes from spray paint artists. What's Notable? Pretty much anyone, even a vegan, could have a fun time enjoying the nutty atmosphere of Big Texan Ranch House. But honestly, I'm having a hard time thinking of any friends who would have a blast, staying at Big Texan Motel. It's not something I would recommend to all. But if you have a friend or a spouse who is willing to Play Big Texan, then go for it! Horses, Texas pool, saloon doors, steak challenges! We had a ton of fun for $79.00!
Way Out in West Texas! There's not much in Van Horn besides motels and gas stations, but the town is a good stopping point for travelers in West Texas. Don and I saw Taylor's when we were in town once before, staying at the iconic El Capitan. Taylor's was just one of the many dated motels that line the highway, but Don noticed it had a little hidden charm. When planning a recent road trip to California, Don looked up reviews for the old motel. He was delighted with all the positive write ups, but I was skeptical. There was no website and no way to find prices or book on line. But Don made an old fashioned phone call and seemed pleased. "I made a reservation for under $40.00!" "Hmm." I thought. Motel on the Highway I love a retro motor court, but we might have missed this one on the old Highway 80. It doesn't have an old neon sign to catch your eye. The covered entrance in the center of the u-shaped complex looked very much like what you see on chain hotels. But we could see little garages between units and hints of the old Spanish style motor court, as we pulled in. Checking In We pulled in, under the motel's original stucco and stone cover. We buzzed the buzzer and Jose opened up the office to check us in. He was pleasant and soft spoken, answering all our questions about the hotel's history. He even pulled out some photos and news clippings, that explained how the 18-unit motor court was moved in the 1930's... and how the latest renovations began over 10 years ago. Don had a few things he was curious about and he just kept asking questions. Recent History Don asked if there was any more news about the border patrol agent, who was mysteriously murdered in the area last year. For a less eerie subject, Don wanted to know what Jose knew about Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and his space tourism project, Blue Origin. Jose actually knew plenty. He knew the patrolman who died and he'd been invited to watch a rocket launch at B.O., not far from Van Horn. It turns out, our very humble host was the owner of the motel. He said he loved living in the quiet town and meeting the interesting people who choose to stay at his motel. And no, he has no desire to go up in one of those rockets. Photo from the 1930's Jose showed us this photo of the hotel, when it re-opened in its new spot, more than 80 years ago. The photo makes me crave more photos. I want to see the cars and the people and what the rooms looked like. It was funny to see the covered carport in front of the office. That style looks so much like today. Face Lift For over 10 years, Jose and family have worked to restore the units. You can see the new metal roof and the tidy bushes. Here's a view of our unit, beside the garage. The garage dividing units, meant our 2-room space was completely quiet. I could have sung opera in the shower and bothered no one! Road Trip Luxury Our neighbors had requested to use the garage, but we were happy to park right in front of our little motel home. It was the first night of a road trip and we were still organizing a lot of car stuff. Parking right in front of our door was a treat. Clean and Comfy It really was a pleasant surprise to find 2 tidy little rooms with fresh paint and comfy linens. The price of our motel stay was about the same that we pay for a night's parking at an Austin hotel! Room Two We hardly needed another room, but it came in handy since we wanted to shuffle some of our packing around. I kind of wondered if there was knotty pine under the lower half of the painted wall. I loved imagining the motel, back in the day. Extras I love some pink in my motel bathroom! The mosaic floor and pink wall tile was pretty fun. I love vintage, but I was happy having a new toilet! The sitting area in the first room was another handy perk. We also had a microwave and refrigerator, across from a spacious sink area. I hardly cared if we had a TV, but the cable included the Turner Classic Movie. Vintage movies in a retro motel! Window View We had a few views actually. We could see the motel office and highway, out the front windows. When I slid open the frosted bathroom window, I could see some open land and train tracks. Luckily trains don't bother us. There were a few guest units that backed onto the tracks. They might have had more of an issue. Morning I like to rise early when we're on the road, just to see what's going on before the town is awake. Looking both ways on Broadway (Old Highway 80) things looked pretty quiet. I imagine back before nearby I-10 was put in, Broadway must have been a lot more hopping. Hints of the Past I wandered to the opposite side of the motel and studied this cute little building with its Spanish style stucco and original wood windows. I half expected to see a tumbleweed roll on by, like in a scene from an old western movie. What's Notable? It's easy to miss! It doesn't jump out at you on the internet, or when you drive by. Even when we pulled up, I wasn't quite sure. But once we met Jose and he warmed up, I was totally comfortable with our roadside motel. When we checked out the next morning, we made sure to tell Jose how pleased we were with every detail. It's clear that the work has been gradual and steady. Jose's family has worked hard over the years to make their motel feel comfortable, safe and homey! I'm so glad we could give them our business.
Out West in Slaton, Texas It was the last night of a 3-week trip, when Don and I arrived. We were already pretty drained and the 102 degree temps didn't help. But the sight of the pink caboose (being restored) and the old Harvey House, cheered us right up. Built by Fred Harvey Company in 1912 This beautiful piece of history sits on the outskirts of town, beside the railroad tracks. It's lucky to be here at all, since it was marked for demolition in the late 1980's. It took some determined citizens nearly 2 decades to preserve and restore the building. Active Tracks The heat and gusting winds kept us from enjoying a little train-watching from the outdoor benches. But we could still hear and view the trains from inside. Downstairs Today the first floor houses museum exhibits, spotlighting the intriguing history of historic Harvey hotels and dining rooms that served travelers 100 years ago. The spacious first floor originally housed the dining room, where train travelers were efficiently served quality meals. The Harvey Girls, in their traditional black and white uniforms were paid a dollar a day, plus tips. They lived upstairs. Touring With Jessica When we arrived, we were greeted by our young host, Jessica. She gave us a tour and answered questions with the detail of an enthused history geek, twice her age. I mean that as a huge compliment. It's hard to find young people who care much about train history... and that shows my age. Details Jessica pointed out the stained glass and light fixtures that had been meticulously copied to match the originals. Apologies Jessica pointed out the old chairs with lion heads and she apologized about the heat. Standing fans whirred away, but gave little relief. She said the a.c. downstairs had temporary issues, but the rooms upstairs were nice and cool. Reading Material There were tons of books to browse through and even the magazines hanging from the "news stand" looked intriguing. But Don and I were behaving like weary travelers for a change. We were too lazy to study up on the history that we love. Rose But when Jessica started talking about Rose, I perked up. Rose was one of the Harvey Girls who began serving in the Slaton dining room in the 1930's. Although she passed away a few years ago, she still lived in Slaton when renovations began. When remodeling was complete, Rose shared her stories and modeled a recreated uniform for events. I studied the framed photo with her adorable smile. How I would have loved talking with her. Roller Skating Jessica told us that Rose shared stories about the Harvey Girls roller skating in the basement. I've read about the strict rules that the Harvey Girls were expected to follow. I loved picturing them giggling and blowing off steam in the basement. It reminded me of my own childhood memories, skating on cold winter days, in the basement of my Iowa home. I was pretty giddy when Jessica took us down the stairs to have a peek. Sleeping Quarters Jessica eventually took us up the stairway to our room. I loved studying the worn ridges on the steps. I could picture the H-Girls heading up these stairs with aching feet... swapping stories about their customer encounters. Common Area At the top of the stairs there was a comfortable common area, with games. TV, fridge and coffee maker. After being on the road, we were excited to spread out and have the place to ourselves... until Jessica mentioned that a family had booked the other 3 rooms. She said there were 4 siblings in town with a couple spouses. They were coming back for the high school reunion of one of the sibs. "Oh great." I moped internally. I wasn't up for sharing the place with some "family reunion gang". Zuni Room There were 4 bedrooms upstairs, with their own character and style. I was glad our "Zuni Room" was one that had its own bath. Sharing the common room and a bathroom with the mystery family, would have been extra weird. Extra Bed We had plenty of space in our 2-room suite. There was an extra room with bed and 2 separate sink areas. I wonder how much space each Harvey Girl had to herself? Windows I love a memorable view and we had a number of windows that looked over the rail yard. This window in the common room, had a view overlooking the tracks. I was actually looking forward to hearing the trains at night. That seemed like part of the package. Wandering in Slaton Don and I love our small town stays, when we can explore on foot. By the time we headed down the road in search of the "downtown" and dinner, the hot wind was blinding. My photo doesn't seem to capture the heat or the dust that blasted our faces. I was amused, but Don was too busy guarding his contacts to enjoy the drama. Where is Everyone? Maybe the dust storm was keeping everyone inside. But most of the doors and windows were boarded up. Dogs and Chickens We walked along a divided street, that might have been bustling back in the day, when train travel was at its peak. A few dogs and chickens greeted us. A couple dogs barked and yapped, but most seemed too hot and tired to be bothered. No Dinner We hit the town square just as the shops were closing up. We gave up on finding an open restaurant and headed back to the Harvey House. A Good Sunset Temperatures lowered a bit, along with the sun. The winds however, made it impossible to sit out and enjoy the sunset. We let the gusts blow us towards the hotel. Jessica's car was the only one in the lot when we returned. We were hopeful we'd have the hotel to ourselves a while. Peaceful Hotel Don and I grabbed some wine and food from our car and hoped we could spread out in the common area. We were content, not socializing and making small talk. But after a bit, we heard the laughter downstairs. The family had returned. The gang greeted us before we had a chance to hide away in our room. Next thing we knew, a couple hours had flown by and we were laughing and sharing food and swapping stories with these people we'd hoped to avoid. We seemed to connect with all 6 of these new friends, talking about every subject possible from bicycling to poetry, to immigration and Frank Lloyd Wright. By the time we all said good-night and shut our doors, I was wanting to be adopted by their family. What a hoot. Morning Carol, our overnight host prepared a buffet breakfast and we joined our new friends at the round table. First we talked about the huge thunderstorm that had kept many of us awake. Then we talked about Blues music and turquoise jewelry. The sibs talked about living in Slaton... their dad working for the railroad and how their parents encouraged their noise and music in the house. More Stories I never guessed how much we would end up having in common with these wonderful folks. We lingered long over coffee, until it was nearly check out time. I kind of wished we could stay another night and "crash" the high school reunion, along with the other 3 siblings. It hadn't taken long for this family and the funny little town to grow on us. Good-Byes After we grabbed our bags, there were lots of good-byes and exchanges of numbers. I slowed down our exit even more by getting Carol's granddaughter to pose for me, with my traveling, Little Bear. Then we were off, on a cool and sunny morning. That's Notable? Don and I would have been thrilled to just stay in a hotel associated with Harvey House history. That was what drew us to the small town. But getting to share our experience with people who had memories of the landmark building, made it extra memorable. It would have been a fun stay, without any people encounters. But our gracious hosts and the delightful family became the icing on the cake!
My 60th Birthday Trip My sister went to Tahiti for her 60th birthday. In April, I turned 60 and went to the Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City, Texas! That sounds like I'm asking for sympathy. But in truth I used the excuse of a birthday to say, "Hey, Don! I know this is nuts, but I want to stay at this place." We've driven by it a million times and it was time to investigate. Safari Cabins This scene looks pretty lame when you think of African safari excursions... sleeping in lamp-lit tents, pitched in the expansive grasslands of Kenya or Zambia. And yes, my sister has experienced that as well and I'm just a little jealous. But this place was a hoot and Don and I made a spontaneous decision to just go for a night. Our Cabin This funny little 2-bedroom cabin with a tree growing out of the deck, was our home for the night. It totally cracked me up that our cabin was surrounded by 137 acres of critter inhabited land. Evidently 700 animals, (over 50 species) could mosey up to the fence and have a look at us, sitting on our porch! Our Friends These are our buddies who followed our tram. The guided tram tour price was $16. per adult. Since our $130. cabin included the tour, we really paid less than 100 bucks for our cabin. The whole experience was totally worth it, at least for this happy birthday gal! Living in Harmony It was so fun seeing the zebras and deer and camels and ostriches, all hanging out. Nothing like a good feast (or thrown feed) to bring a gang together! The Favorite I can't claim that Gomar is just my favorite. Don and I had to share the love of this charmer, who delighted a couple other families who joined us on the tram. He is known as the kissing camel and I'm afraid Don wasn't fast enough with the camera to catch my big kiss. Don and His Buddy We were glad we purchased a bucket of feed before boarding the tram. We did make a few extra friends with our offerings. Don especially loved this sweet buffalo! More Followers It was a cloudy Monday morning when we made the quick decision to rent a cabin and take a tour. I have no idea how busy the "zoo" is on weekends and summer, but our tram was the only vehicle traveling the land. It was nice to see animals with interest! They happily followed our small group, since we had no competition. The sweet beasts didn't seem frantic to rush towards us for handouts. If they had, I'd have worried over them getting fed enough. They just seemed pleased to see us as they followed along. The pleasant temps made our 45 minute tram ride enjoyable. Our guide gave us lots of info, but mostly we all just enjoyed the numerous stops, when we got to lean over the railing and do some patting and feeding. What a treat, that the predicted rains held off until our tour was done! More Space Than Needed Our little cabin had some dated furniture, but it was clean and the cedar and antler decor was fitting. (Gotta love an antler towel rack) There were 2 rooms to choose from and we picked the one with the a.c. unit, that hummed us to sleep. There was a fridge and coffee maker and windows looking out over the pool and porch. The Pool Had it been summer, we might not have enjoyed having a pool so close. This is a "resort" that attracts families, of course. But the pool was quiet and Don and I found a couple of lounge chairs on the pool deck to relax with some wine, while we watched the sun peek out of the clouds... and set, just over the kangaroos. Our View Don and I have had many memorable happy hours, at our unusual accommodations over the years. This one will go down as one of the oddest. I mean odd in a good way. We've never had a chance to sip wine on a porch or veranda, while being entertained by kangaroos! Other Beasts at the Cabins The cabin guests had their own petting zoo area and I fell in love with the donkey. Don was fond of the kangaroo that seemed to communicate through the fence. While we were visiting the kangaroo, we were lucky enough to meet Marilyn who started this zoo with her husband nearly 30 years ago. She chatted with between a few chores and told us how the friendly little kangaroo had been raised in their home. She said she was very tempted to get some adult diapers and bring her back in the home. We spent a lot of time hearing how the couple from Louisiana started this Texas Hill Country zoo, years ago. Morning Don and I slept well with rain pouring down on the metal roof. It stopped enough in the morning for me to have a quick visit with a few animals. Then I sat on the porch, drinking coffee, while the rain gushed some more. In the distance, I could see some buffalo pushing through the sheets of rain. What's Notable? I slept in a zoo. Well, actually I did that once before, with Girl Scouts in Omaha, Nebraska. But this was a different kind of fun. I was afraid it would be hokey or that I'd worry about animal treatment. But it seemed pretty much like a win-win for all involved... guests, owners and animals. Mostly, I'm going to remember, I got kissed by a camel!
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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