One of our first park visits included a trip up a severe spiral staircase to a scenic overlook. I like scenic overlooks. I hate spiral staircases. Don't you?
We went to see Longhorn Caverns.
It was exhausting. Nathan took a break inside an exhibit.
We stopped by one attraction that is rather off the beaten path. It was totally a disappointment...but isn't the sign great??
A sign at the Lyndon B. Johnson homestead. It just cracked me up.
Nick really enjoyed hill country and decided to purchase a house. JUST KIDDING! Some wealthy fellow discovered plans to an un-built castle while vacationing in Europe. He headed back to Texas, bought some land, and built that place.
Nia eating a frozen treat.
Yes, we brought the dog. She turned out to be a rather hearty camping companion.
Playing downstream in Pedernales Falls. Nia loved it!
Nathan enjoyed running up the steep terrain.
Pedernales Falls are beautiful and feature some amazing landscape.
One of our favorite places was the Sauer-Beckman farm. This is a living history farm...very interactive. Nathan adored the place! Watching a milking:
Feeding the chickens:
and the baby chickens:
I just thought this picture was funny...the two backsides!
Nia takes it all in with a smile.
I had Nick snap a picture of this. It was just somehow so perfect!
Nathan and Boo on an old-time wagon.
Observing the cow.
Then...we went to Sea World. We purchased season pass tickets (for like $7 more than a 1 day pass) and went three days in a row! We'll probably head back later in the year. Nathan's silhouette and an aquarium:
Happiness!
Just loungin' around.
Nick rode the coasters.
We did our part to remember the Alamo.
We were given an opportunity to 'meet' some penguins. Nathan was suspicious at first, but he warmed up quite nicely.
The Sea World play structure!
Nick and Nathan on a kiddie ride. I was surprised that Nathan enjoyed himself so much!
Queen was a little disgusted that she didn't meet the height regulations. Her rule is: if Daddy does it, so does she!
Nathan and Daddy on their second ride.
The dolphin show: Viva!
Meet Shamu!
We went to a show called Waggin' Tales. This featured rescued animals (dogs, cats, ducks, a pig, a pony, and a skunk) who had been fabulously trained to do the most incredible things. Below is on of the most impressive showings: the jump-roping dog!
Seamore and Clyde. This show was genuinely clever.
Some people come to Sea World to see Shamu. Others:
Nick went on a water ride. And guess who went with him??
Nathan and Daddy emerge...if not victorious, then at least alive....from the water ride!
Nathan loved the duck pond! Here he is throwing duck kibble into the pond.
We spent some time at the dolphin pool. The dolphins are incredibly friendly. They are obviously acclimated to their spectator-filled environment. We even got to feed them some fish!
Nathan being 'constructive' during a rest. He was making piles and counting them.
Shamu...again. Nathan just does not get tired of this!
Nathan figured out how the sign the trainers use to indicate Shamu should splash the audience. Here he shows the conservative version while working on a soda.
Nick took Nathan to a 'Penguin Encounter.' They were able to meet this little guy up close! He is a warm-climate penguin. I want one.
The Seamore and Clyde show ranked highest on my list of favorite shows. I think Nick preferred it as well. Sea Lions manage to be really entertaining and funny. I think it is the whiskers. If Shamu had whiskers, we would like him more. The next two pictures were from our second viewing of Seamore and Clyde. The next two pictures feature neither of the aforementioned. This is the walrus. He can blow kisses. He can give real kisses.
He can also do sit-ups.
Shamu was, by far, Nathan's favorite! We saw the Shamu show four times. Nathan was equally awed by each performance. By the time we viewed the third show, Nick and I were able to narrate the entire performance. At the last show we were asked to fill in for the trainers. We declined.
The final stop on our trip was a State Historical Site near LaGrange, TX. It was about halfway between San Antonio and Houston and was an ideal place to stretch our legs! The site hosted a monument to one of the many 'unforgettable' battles between the Mexicans and the Texans. I'd tell you more about that, but suffice it to say: the battles are numerous, bloody, include a lot of men with the first name 'John', and eventually led to the independance of Texas.
Happiness!
Just loungin' around.
Nick rode the coasters.
We did our part to remember the Alamo.
We were given an opportunity to 'meet' some penguins. Nathan was suspicious at first, but he warmed up quite nicely.
The Sea World play structure!
Nick and Nathan on a kiddie ride. I was surprised that Nathan enjoyed himself so much!
Queen was a little disgusted that she didn't meet the height regulations. Her rule is: if Daddy does it, so does she!
Nathan and Daddy on their second ride.
The dolphin show: Viva!
Meet Shamu!
We went to a show called Waggin' Tales. This featured rescued animals (dogs, cats, ducks, a pig, a pony, and a skunk) who had been fabulously trained to do the most incredible things. Below is on of the most impressive showings: the jump-roping dog!
Seamore and Clyde. This show was genuinely clever.
Some people come to Sea World to see Shamu. Others:
Nick went on a water ride. And guess who went with him??
Nathan and Daddy emerge...if not victorious, then at least alive....from the water ride!
Nathan loved the duck pond! Here he is throwing duck kibble into the pond.
We spent some time at the dolphin pool. The dolphins are incredibly friendly. They are obviously acclimated to their spectator-filled environment. We even got to feed them some fish!
Nathan being 'constructive' during a rest. He was making piles and counting them.
Shamu...again. Nathan just does not get tired of this!
Nathan figured out how the sign the trainers use to indicate Shamu should splash the audience. Here he shows the conservative version while working on a soda.
Nick took Nathan to a 'Penguin Encounter.' They were able to meet this little guy up close! He is a warm-climate penguin. I want one.
The Seamore and Clyde show ranked highest on my list of favorite shows. I think Nick preferred it as well. Sea Lions manage to be really entertaining and funny. I think it is the whiskers. If Shamu had whiskers, we would like him more. The next two pictures were from our second viewing of Seamore and Clyde. The next two pictures feature neither of the aforementioned. This is the walrus. He can blow kisses. He can give real kisses.
He can also do sit-ups.
Shamu was, by far, Nathan's favorite! We saw the Shamu show four times. Nathan was equally awed by each performance. By the time we viewed the third show, Nick and I were able to narrate the entire performance. At the last show we were asked to fill in for the trainers. We declined.
The final stop on our trip was a State Historical Site near LaGrange, TX. It was about halfway between San Antonio and Houston and was an ideal place to stretch our legs! The site hosted a monument to one of the many 'unforgettable' battles between the Mexicans and the Texans. I'd tell you more about that, but suffice it to say: the battles are numerous, bloody, include a lot of men with the first name 'John', and eventually led to the independance of Texas. The site also hosted the remains of a homestead and brewery. The actual brewery could barely be called a 'remain.' What was left was quite minimal (see bottom picture). The house was magnificent! It was an absolute monstrosity! I would have liked to see inside, but there weren't any tours going on while we were there.
The brewery. Reminds me of Aztec ruins or something. So much for preservation efforts!
And that concluded our trip. Last night I slept on my bed!! My real, soft, fabulous bed! And this morning I walked only 20 feet to the bathroom. Am I in heaven or what??
The brewery. Reminds me of Aztec ruins or something. So much for preservation efforts!
And that concluded our trip. Last night I slept on my bed!! My real, soft, fabulous bed! And this morning I walked only 20 feet to the bathroom. Am I in heaven or what??
3 comments:
Sounds like a wonderful camping trip!!
Love the pictures. They are great.
Fabulous pictures you guys. What a great week of memories! Life doesn't get any better ... well, except the bathroom thing ... and the tent thing.
Wow! What a great trip! Looks like a blast! Wish I would have known you all were so close- we could have tried to hook up while you were this way! Great pictures Nick!
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