Austin

Since New Braunfels is halfway between San Antonio and Austin, we decided to drive to the Texas capital on Tuesday.

The stadium for the University of Texas was only a few blocks from our parking garage 

Their capitol building looks amazing

 

They have a museum on site that had some fascinating displays including how the building and property were acquired, a copy of the state seal, and this outfit and saddle to sit on and experience being a cowboy. 

Baylor adding to the fun

Ceci got her turn 

Elle posing as the monument that tops the capitol 

Mommy got a turn too

 

 

 

Inside the main building, there are 4 floors with a great circular atrium visible from all four floors 

This is the view up to the top of the dome

We just missed the House in session.  They were doing promotional pictures for whomever had just spoke 

The view across from the second floor

The floor of the atrium showing all of the countries that Texas has been a part of; France, Spain, Mexico, the Confederate States, and the ol' U. S. of A.  

Amazing touches all around the building.  These were the elevator doors 

Grami and Ceci from the viewin balcony of the Senate

Even the door hinges were spectacular

Elle looking over the House of Representatives.  It was a great day with beautiful sights and it made us want to visit Olympia soon.

South Padre Island

On Monday, we took a "quick" drive down to Corpus Christi and Padre Island.  After a nice breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we headed out to Mustang Island State Park.  It was a pretty windy day but we had a great time on the beach.
 

 

Tracy pointing out some cool shells on the beach

Nice hat picked up the day before

 

Baylor dipping his feet in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time

Feet in the sand

 

 

 

It was off to the public beach but by then, everyone was exhausted. 

We did have time to stop by a fun gift shop with a HUGE shark entrance

After lunch, it was a quick ferry trip that made all of us Washington natives laugh.  The trip took a total of about 5 minutes.  This view was sitting in the launch dock looking at the landing dock.  Not quite the 45-minute Bremerton ferry but an experience none the less. 

Gruene and Canyon Lake

On Sunday, we headed to a little town outside New Braunfels.  Gruene is a quaint little shopping town.

 

This bull was a little bit too big to fit in the luggage on the way home

For those of you familiar with the Bloggess here are a couple of mini Beyoncés

Then it was off to Canyon Lake Dam

 

 

The girls found a friend to play with

and then set him free

Alamo And The Riverwalk

After a missed day that you can read about here, we headed to downtown San Antonio and to the Alamo


The kids posing in front of the wide variety of cacti

Sophie pointing out the interesting facts about the Alamo

Tracy telling Soph about the importance of the Alamo

One of the many monuments to those that died 

the clan in good spirits leaving the Alamo on the way to the Riverwalk 

We were lucky enough to get the group of seats at the front of the tour boat.  Baylor and Mommy ready to go.

This was our tour guide.  He was hilarious and it was like a 30-minute comedy routine.  He must have been the best of the best because after our tour, he was giving a special tour for the show "Little People, Big World"

Some of the amazing views from our tour boat

 

 

After the tour, it was lunch along the river

Good spirits after lunch 

A quick pic with Forrest Gump (yes we see you Kimmie)

And then we traveled back in time to head back to the Alamo

Texas is very proud of their state and their country.  Flags everywhere and pride always on display