BAY CITY

 Established in 1894; seat of Matagorda County. Today commercial center for farming, ranching, oil, and nuclear energy. Port on Colorado River Feeder Channel connecting with Intracoastal Canal; recreation on river includes boating, skiing, fishing and a 28-space RV park. On the bank of the Colorado River, park features 40 campsites with full-service RV hookups. Other facilities include jogging trail with a 10-station exercise course along the way, boat ramp, day pavilion, and fishing. Adjacent to park is Rio Grande Golf Course, a beautiful 18-hole Gary Player designed course.

Matagorda County Museum - Early clothing, books, Texas maps, furniture, paintings. Century-old carpentry tool collection, late 17th Century music, archives. Children's museum features exhibits and activities for kids. It's in the basement of the museum.

Travel Texas

HOUSTON

 Named after Sam Houston, general of Texas army that won independence from Mexico, and president of Republic of Texas. The city, largest in Texas and fourth largest in nation, has experienced phenomenal growth since a small riverboat landing was established on Buffalo Bayou by Allen brothers in August 1836. Today metropolis is industrial and financial hub for much of the state. It is one of nation's largest seaports, and headquarters of Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Major annual events include the Texaco Grand Prix in Oct.; Houston Industries' Power of Houston in Sept.; and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Feb.

 

 Astrodome Convention Center - Complex includes Astrodome, Astrohall and Astroarena. Superlatives are required to describe the Astrodome. An 18-story building would fit inside the Astrodome. It's world's first air-conditioned domed stadium for baseball and football, and also accommodates basketball, boxing, conventions, rodeos, and almost any other entertainment or sporting event.

Travel Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI

 City is major deep-water port and one of Texas' most popular seacoast playground cities. First settlement began as frontier trading post founded 1839; obscure settlement until about 1845 when accelerated growth began. Institutions of higher learning are Del Mar College and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Seawall, with steps to the water, was built in the late 1930s as part of a major landfill that created Shoreline Boulevard and the popular "T" head docks for pleasure boats.

 This view of the skyline of beautiful Corpus Christi, Texas shows some of the many features which attract more and more tourists every year.

Corpus Christi Beach, north of downtown over the bridge, is the site of the USS Lexington and Texas State Aquarium, and offers park areas, picnic tables, showers, and rest rooms. In keeping with the city's image of having glistening waterways, Corpus Christi's Water Garden sparkles for visitors who see, hear, and touch the garden's water. Some 150 fountains form nucleus of park, which is lighted at night.

 

Travel Texas

DALLAS

 First Anglo-American settler at site of present metropolis built a single cabin in 1841. By mid-1870s, Dallas had become a thriving business town and market center with cosmopolitan, urbane air unmatched anywhere on the frontier at the time. Southwest's largest banking center, leader in wholesale business, second in nation for insurance company home offices, third in the nation in terms of "million-dollar" companies, and number two in convention business. "If it doesn't sell in Dallas, it won't sell", say buyers who come to some 32 wholesale fashion and home furnishing markets each year. Citizens pursue culture with almost as much enthusiasm as business. An excellent climate where fair skies, predominantly year round, encourage outdoor activities, especially water sports. 

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

73rd Annual Convention, June 5-9, 1982

Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

Dallas, seventh largest city in the United States. Two million tourists visit annually. Attractions: biggest State Fair, Dallas Cowboys, Mesquite Rodeo, fine hotels, shops and restaurants. Financial, insurance and mercantile center with more than seven million square foot Dallas Market Center, largest in country. D/FW largest commercial airport in the nation, DALLAS ROTARY, First in Texas and 39th in ROTARY INTERNATIONAL.

Visit Dallas

Travel Texas

AUSTIN

 In 1839 five mounted scouts ranged over a broad area of wilderness seeking a site for a new capital city for the Republic of Texas. Location on north bank of Colorado River was chosen, where rich blacklands meet scenic hills. Name honors Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas". The city bills itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World". Austin has it all - blues, country/Western, reggae, jazz, conjunto, Tejano, swing and rock. Performed in various clubs around city and  at night spots along Sixth Street. Austin is home to  many computer chip makers and other computer industries. The city is home to nation's largest urban bat colony found under the Congress Ave. bridge during the summer.

CONGRESS AVENUE and the STATE CAPITOL

State Capitol Building, a massive, classic statehouse of famous Texas pink granite, dominates the 46 acre, park-like area. It was completed in 1888. The handsome building underwent major renovation during 1993-1994 when it was restored to original splendor. Striking state office buildings surround the Capitol. 

 

 

Visit Austin: Live Music Capital of the World 

Travel Texas

TEXAS

Texas is the second largest state in the U.S. at 268,001 square miles. Six flags flown over Texas: Spain, France, United Mexican States, Confederate States of America, the Republic of Texas and the United States of America, with eight changes of government.

It's not so exaggerated to think of Texas as a whole other country, 800 miles wide and nearly that far from north to south. Sunny seacoast to mile-high mountains; dense forests to cactus-studded desert; great cities and towns! Texas is derived from an Indian word, Tejas, which means friendship. Texas is sun land from the Gulf Coast to mile-high mountains, and in every season of the year.

 

 

 

San Antonio

In 1718 Spain established Mission San Antonio de Valero (later called the Alamo). Today's city name derives from those 18th-Century Spanish beginnings. San Antonio is colourfully accented by its multicultural heritage (Spanish Canary Islanders, Mexican, German and others). Riverwalk This tree-shaded path along the San Antonio River was built as a flood-control project during the Depression-era New Deal. Now a horseshoe-shaped, open-air promenade lined with shops, Riverwalk is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city.

 

 

Second to the Alamo, the Riverwalk is the most visited site in all of Texas. With its open air cafes, art galleries, and specialty shops, there is bound to be something for everyone to enjoy.

Visit San Antonio

 Travel Texas