What’s Expected in New Braunfels
More than 400 snowbirds are expected to attend the 54th annual Winter Visitor Reception on February 7 from 2 to 4 pm at the New Braunfels Convention Center. The Convention and Visitors Bureau will provide free music, food, and drinks to visitors! Dust off those boots, come out to dance, mingle with fellow Winter Texans, and see which sponsors are participating in this year’s event. This complimentary event will also present door prizes. No RSVP is required.
While in town, be sure to visit the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch where the birth of a rare southern white rhinoceros was recently born. internationally recognized for their successful reticulated giraffe breeding program and the birth of twin giraffes in 2013, have found another breeding success with the rare birth of the robust female southern white rhino calf Truda. At birth, Truda weighed about 125 pounds. NBWR is one of 300 accredited zoological facilities in the United States and of those less than 30 have successfully bred southern white rhinos.
Total Solar Eclipse
Texas will be center stage for a total solar eclipse. On Monday, April 8, 2024, the moon will start to block the sun, causing a total eclipse of the sun that will begin at 1:30 pm near Del Rio, TX and trace a line northwest across the entire state. Get accurate Texas Eclipse Viewing Information to learn where to see the eclipse. You could See the Eclipse from a Texas State Park or visit the Hill Country Eclipse Portal to catch it in the Hill Country. The McDonald Observatory and the Texas Highways also have plenty of tools and resources to get you ready for the big event. Stay turned for the many amazing Texas destinations offering special events along the path of totality. Remember, the eclipse won’t last long, so plan extra things to do and see along its path for a memorable extended weekend getaway.
Hill Country
From the rolling green hills to the endless blue skies to the fresh peaches to the personality-filled stores, the Texas Hill Country is a great go-to getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you’re looking for a vacation that can either be filled with lots to do or be a space to relax, a Hill Country hiatus is perfect for you! First, visit Wildseed Farms, the nation’s largest working wildflower farm. View the beautiful rows of wild flowers before heading to Yee Haw Ranch Outfitters in Fredericksburg for souvenirs or a decorative handcrafted piece to complement your home. Hungry yet? Try lunch at Vaudeville right on Main Street. This basement bistro has incredible coffee, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, and more! Their ground-floor retail is filled with so many beautiful pieces, so you might as well shop some more!
The City Life
In Dallas, Moody Family Children’s Museum is Designed for children ages 5 and under. the Moody Family Children’s Museum invites little ones to dig for dinosaurs, explore a farmers market and mini Dallas skyline, admire terrarium animals, and create their own works of art. A 3D theater also shows a variety of science and nature films on a rotating basis, with some screenings bringing to life dinosaurs and going deep beneath the sea to explore that unique world.
In San Antonio, brace yourself for an extraordinary extraordinary adventure that will transport you to the heart of the wild. San Antonio Zoo proudly presents a sneak peek of its awe-inspiring savanna habitat expansion, promising an enthralling experience that will leave you amazed. Prepare to witness the savanna come alive with a harmonious habitat of species, just as it does in the landscapes of Africa. The newly expanded savanna combines the former elephant habitat with the existing giraffe savanna, resulting in a remarkable 126% increase in habitat space. The new and improved habitat showcases a diverse array of species, including reticulated giraffes, plains zebras, sitatungas, dama gazelles, ostriches, white storks, marabou storks and East African crowned cranes.
The Innovative Attraction in Houston, the Renowned experiential arts organization Meow Wolf, will open its fifth permanent installation in 2024 in Houston’s 5th Ward. The $42 million attraction is under construction in the former Moncrief-Lenoir Manufacturing Co. building on Lyons Avenue, not far from Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Santa Fe-based Meow Wolf has developed a significant following in recent years, drawing more than 750,000 visitors annually to its Denver attraction. The new 32,000-square-foot space in 5th Ward promises to offer “reality-bending” interactive art for all ages, mixing work from local artists as well as the company’s own talent.