Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1 – Dallas – Southfork Ranch Dinner & Tour

On arrive in Dallas you check into your local hotel for a two night stay.

This evening, once you’ve freshened up, you have a chance to relive the exciting moments from the “Dallas” TV Series there is an exciting array of memorabilia here see the gun that shot J.R., Lucy’s Wedding Dress, the “Dallas” Family Tree, and Jock’s Lincoln Continental. You’ll also see inside the home, including J.R.’s bedroom. This is a chance to remember the Love, the Wars and never ending drama of the Ewing Family.  Afterwards a highlight dinner is included. The group leader will be able to choose from The Ewing Barbecue, Lucy’s Country Craving, or J.R.’s Steak Dinner. (D)

Day 2 – Dallas City Tour – Sixth Floor Museum – Dallas Heritage Village – Love & War in Texas

After breakfast you discover the City of Dallas. With construction of railroads, in the 1860’s Dallas became a business and trading center, and was booming by the end of the 19th century, when it began to evolve into an industrial city, attracting workers from Texas, the South and the Midwest. Today it makes up one-fifth of the urbanized area known as the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, in which one quarter of all Texans live.

Visit the Texas Book Depository’s Sixth Floor Museum, chronicling the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy.  Examine the life, death and legacy of President John F. Kennedy through artifacts, photographs, documentary films, areas where evidence was found, eyewitness accounts and interactive educational programming on both the sixth and seventh floors.

Then you will see the John F Kennedy Memorial. The Memorial was dedicated in June 1970, and was envisioned by architect Philip Johnson as an open tomb or cenotaph. The plain white walls appear to be free-floating, capturing the feeling of loss felt around the world following Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963.

This afternoon, visit the Dallas Heritage Museum, home to the largest and finest collection of 19th century pioneer and Victorian homes and commercial buildings in Texas.  While there, you will take part in the program “A Day in the Life.” If you lived during the nineteenth century, what would a typical day be like?

Focusing on the historic homes of Dallas Heritage Village, we’ll explore daily life during the 19th century. From the frontier living of the Miller family to the cutting edge technology featured in the Sullivan House, discover the dramatic changes in daily life that occurred in North Texas between 1850 and 1900.  Dinner is included tonight at Love & War in Texas. The restaurant’s concept was created to promote Texas, Texans, Texas food and Texas Heritage. You will not find any “smoked salmon” or “Alaskan snow crab” on the menu. Only fresh Texas Gulf seafood, Texas produce and Texas grown meats… all cooked into authentic Texas recipes and a collection of Texas Beers. (B,D)

Day 3 – Houston – Space Center – Kemah Boardwalk

This morning, you will head to Houston to tour the Space Center the official Visitors Center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Here you can experience space — from its dramatic history and exciting present to its compelling future. Space Center Houston is the only place on Earth that gives you an out-of-this-world journey through human adventures into space.  There are unparalleled exhibits, attractions, special presentations and hands-on activities that tell the story of NASA’s manned space flight program.

Then check into your suburban Houston hotel for an overnight stay.  Enjoy dinner tonight at the Lighthouse Buffet with brightly decorated nautical themes, and spectacular water front views. Enjoy fresh-made traditional, ethnic and innovative comfort foods!

You will have a free evening at the Kemah Boardwalk. Enjoy amusement rides, shopping, midway games, live entertainment and weekend festivals. Brave the Bullet rollercoaster, ride the train or Ferris wheel and take a 140 feet plunge on the Drop Zone.(B,D)

Day 4 -Houston City Tour – San Antonio – Dinner Cruise 

This morning, take a guided city tour of Houston. See historic buildings, sculpture, art, parks, and more.  Visit the Bayou Bend at the Museum of Fine Art. Bayou Bend is the MFAH house museum for American decorative arts and paintings.  Displayed in the former home of Houston civic leader and philanthropist Ima Hogg (1882–1975), the collection is one of the finest showcases of American furnishings, silver, ceramics, and paintings in the world. The house is situated on 14 acres of organically maintained gardens in Houston’s historic River Oaks neighborhood.

Then you head to San Antonio for a two night stay.  The highlight of the day will be a Dinner Cruise on a colorful barge floating along the San Antonio River Walk. Enjoy Southwestern Texican Cuisine, including Mexican Plates and Down Home Southern Favorites you can enjoy while experiencing a historical narrative tour from your Dining Boat Pilot. (B,D)

Day 5 – San Antonio Sightseeing – Alamo – Texas Ranger Museum 

Today you begin a full day of sightseeing with a local guide and focus on the history of San Antonio. Next stop is the Historic Alamo the sight of the famous losing battle that helped secure Texas’ independence from Mexico. In 1836, the Alamo became an inspiration and a motivation for liberty during the Texas Revolution. For 13 days in 1836, close to 200 Texas defenders held the Alamo from over one thousand of General Santa Anna’s troops from Mexico. The most famous of the defenders, William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett, died fighting overwhelming odds for freedom.

While here you will also see the IMAX movie “The Price of Freedom”. The heroism of the 189 Texans and settlers who defended the besieged Alamo fort for 13 days against the Mexican army of General Santa Anna is recreated in ALAMO: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM.

The afternoon features a visit to the Texas Ranger Museum which and honors the incredible history of the world’s most famous law enforcement agency and the Buckhorn Museum which features wildlife from all over the world; including fish from the seven seas, animals from every continent and strange animal oddities which have been collected for over 100 years!

Tonight, enjoy a free evening on the River Walk. Winding through the city center, the River Walk includes the city’s cultural hot spots, historic sites and other attractions. So go for a stroll along the River Walk, dine on Classic Tex-Mex, or visit the King William Historic District. (B)

Day 6 – Austin – LBJ Library

This morning head to Austin, TX. Your first stop is a tour the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library, one of thirteen Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. It houses 45 million pages of historical documents which include the papers from the entire public career of Lyndon Baines Johnson and those of his close associates. President Johnson insisted that the Library that bears his name tell future generations the story of this rich period of history “with the bark off.”

Then you will some free time for lunch on own in Austin. You will want to head to South Congress Ave or 2nd Street which are both filled with an array of eclectic shops, restaurants, boutiques, antiques, music venues and galleries.

Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant. (B)

Day 7 – Grapevine – Wine Tasting – Grapevine Vintage Railroad – Fort Worth Stock Yards – Cattle Drive

This morning you will tour some of Grapevine’s acclaimed wineries. During the tours you will learn the history of wine-making in North Texas.  Then you will get to sample the wines.

Next, you will have free time for lunch on own and shopping in Historic Downtown Grapevine home to one-of-a-kind shops, live entertainment venues, restaurants and art galleries.

Then at the stroke of Noon, gather on Main Street at the Grapevine Glockenspiel Clock Tower and see the two larger-than-life, 9-foot tall Glockenspiel characters, known as the Would-Be Train Robbers. Approximately 75 feet above ground, these figures emerge from the Tower each day to commence what each believes to be the perfect heist. Just as glockenspiels in Europe are rooted in history, Grapevine’s Clock Tower figures reflect the Western lore that many visitors from outside Texas find interesting and entertaining.

Next, you take a ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad where you will travel along the historic Cotton Belt Route Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards. You will take a step back in time and experience train travel as it was in the glory days of the expanding West. Pull into the Fort Worth Stockyards Station and you are right in the middle of the Stockyards National Historic District where the Old West comes alive.

You will then have some time to explore the Fort Worth Stockyards. You may want to take a historic Walking Tour, visit the Texas Trail of Fame, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, browse over 25 unique shops including an art gallery, sports store and great restaurants that offer anything from ribs to enchiladas. You will also see the famous Cattle Drive that travels through the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.

Tonight enjoy dinner, live music and dancing at Billy Bob’s Texas “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk.” Located in the Historic Stockyards, Billy Bob’s is a unique entertainment facility. Return to Grapevine for the evening. (B,D)

Day 8 – Depart 

After breakfast, depart for home. (B)

Tour Map