I LOVE to travel. I could go somewhere weekly, even if it’s just for a drive on a great Texas road for no particular reason. My husband and I have done that pretty often throughout our marriage. Camera in hand, I snap photos as we take in the wonderful scenery across the state. In fact, I’ve taken more than 50,000 photos of the wonderful Lone Star State since I got my Nikon in 2012.
That desire to hit the road is even more compelling now due to the COVID pandemic when travel has not been as available to people. Of course, sometimes I want to travel but I have other things that get in the way like work and bills, a common challenge for a lot of people I know. I’m fortunate to work in a beautiful city, San Angelo, that offers a great escape to visitors. Like most people, we all want to get away when we can to see other places.
As I shared in my last post, I decided to take a virtual trip through the Texas Lakes Trail Region. While a virtual tour may not seem very exciting to some, I enjoyed it, as I got to really think about the places I like in the region and share them, as well as learn from others when I posted it on my social media channels including Facebook and Instagram.
I even brought a couple of quest makers along with me on this virtual trip, my friends Sarah and Jill.
So with friends in our virtual vehicle, a matador red Convertible ’57 Chevy Bel Air, we hit the road. I know what you’re thinking. Do you have a matador red Convertible ’57 Chevy Bel Air? No. But it’s my virtual tour and I can choose whatever virtual vehicle I want. 🙂
We started our tour in the furthest northwestern tip of the region in the community of Vernon, the birthplace of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Roy Orbison? Do you have a favorite Roy Orbison song? Here’s mine.
Wichita Falls was our next stop. If you followed Debra, Morgan, and I on our Texas Perimeter Tour, you’ll remember we stopped in Wichita Falls to see the World’s Littlest Skyscraper. Because we were virtually traveling and if we were really traveling, we know we’d stop to get coffee along the way, we looked for coffee options in Wichita Falls. We found The Duck Coffee Company, a business in town that also offered canned lattes for the road. Nice perk. Coffee in virtual hands, we stopped at the falls to catch a glimpse of the communities namesake.
When you’re in Gainesville, check out the Frank Buck Zoo. If you need a break, stop at the Texas Travel Information Center – Gainesville to learn more great things to do in Texas.
Did you know not only is Nocona the Classic Car Capital of Texas, it’s also the home to Nokona Gloves? Check out Nolan Ryan’s story about his glove.
I love a good piece of trivia. Did you know Visit Bonham is home to the Sam Rayburn Museum and Fort Inglish Village? We’re discovering lots of rich history along our virtual tour of the Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Lakes Trail Region.
When nature calls during your travels, you can only hope you’ll be near Sulphur Springs. The mirrored bathroom is quite something. We were told when you visit Sulphur Springs, you’re encouraged to “do your business downtown.” Too funny!
Even though it was a virtual tour for us, the State Fair of Texas’ BIG TEX FAIR FOOD DRIVE-THRU in Visit Dallas was finishing up last week. Hoping we can attend next year in person. Anybody else want a Fletcher’s Corndog?
Home to Canton Trade Days, the World’s Largest Flea Market, Canton is another stop on our virtual tour of the Texas Lakes Trail Region. First Monday Trade Days is coming up soon. Have you ever been?
The Acton Cemetery is Texas’ smallest historic site. It’s located a few miles outside Granbury. David Crockett’s second wife, Elizabeth Patton Crockett is buried in this historic cemetery.
Day two of our virtual tour of the Texas Lakes Trail Region began with a stop in Corsicana at Collin Street Bakery, selling fruitcakes since 1896. It’s delicious and should be on your holiday gift list. I actually have one in my fridge right now.
Have you visited the Roadside America Museum in Hillsboro? Excellent place to visit.
Always a wonderful place to visit, especially with kids is Fossil Rim Wildlife Park in Glen Rose. I found this great video from Time With The Limes of their trip to the park. Check it out here.
We were saddened that it wasn’t peach season on our virtual tour of the Texas Lakes Trail Region.
With any luck, next year we’ll get to the Parker County Peach Festival in Weatherford in person. Yum!
Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to all of the cities and towns in the region, but Sarah, Jill, and I had fun exploring this great area of Texas, even if it was just virtually. With any luck in the near future, we can visit the Lakes Trail Region and more of the great, big state of Texas.
I hope to see you on the road in the future, as you explore Texas and learn just how big Texas is.
Until next time from Texas … safe travels!
4 Comments Add yours