Texas on Tour

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

2011-10-10T16:49:00.004-05:00

As Texas on Tour ascends from the 40th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, it’s safe to say it was a hit! Hundreds of balloons took flight over our Lone Star road show, providing a backdrop of radiant colors and shapes that could be seen from miles away. Spectators from all over the world started filing in at 5 a.m. to witness the largest international balloon event in the U.S.

International and domestic visitors alike were attracted to not only the balloons in the air, but also the balloon-like Discover Texas Dome on the ground. The Dome stood tall, leading spectators from the launch field straight to Texas. Once inside, consumers had a chance to check out a short film showcasing just a few of the cool vacations to be had in the Lone Star State. After that, the fun really began with a few rounds of Texas trivia and then the best part: the PRIZES!!

My friends, it’s time to lower the curtain on another stellar year on the road with Texas on Tour. From Atlanta to Seattle, a special thanks to all of the people and cities that showed Texas such great hospitality by allowing us – if only for a moment – to call your town home. Now it’s time for us to repay the favor, so make sure to plan your next vacation in Texas and come enjoy the Lone Star State the way
it was meant to be – with family and friends. Until we meet again; see you in Texas!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

2011-10-05T17:29:00.005-05:00

Once again, “The Greatest Show Off Earth” welcomes our Lone Star road show to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’m sad to say this is our last stop of the 2011 tour, but happy to admit, one of my favorites! Being our most consistently attended event, this year marks the fourth year Texas on Tour has brought great vacationing opportunities to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It is a perfect event to showcase Texas vacations and allow people from all over the world to experience the countless fun adventures to be had in Texas.

Some familiar and plenty of new faces, with their coffee in hand, lined up early before the morning balloon launch to enjoy their free virtual trip to Texas. Only at the International Balloon Fiesta can you fly over all of Texas in a hot air balloon!

One thing Texas on Tour brings to every stop along with the fun adventures is entertainment, and we most certainly saved the best for last. MilkDrive, an alternative-folk-progressive acoustic string band, has been attracting as much attention as the special-shaped balloons. They’ll be on our main stage until Sunday, so make sure you come and rock out to a real Austin, Texas, jam band!

Well, we’ve lifted off and the first weekend is a wrap. If you haven’t come to see us yet, there’s still time to enjoy a Texas vacation in New Mexico. We’re also getting close to awarding the free trip to Texas, so if you haven’t entered yet, there’s time left. Just come out and visit us at the International Balloon Fiesta or go to TexasonTour.com and click the star on the home page. Hope to see you out here!

Kansas State Fair

2011-09-21T09:17:00.009-05:00

It was our final state fair tour stop of the year, and it was one of the best. The people of Kansas really know how to have some Texas-style fun. It didn’t take fairgoers long to learn there’s no place like Texas.

Kansans got a chance to test their Texas IQ at our Texas or Not kiosk, and I have to admit, I was a little shocked so many had such high Texas IQs. Fairgoers were shown a series of 10 pictures on touch- screen monitors and had to determine whether that picture was in Texas or not. What was even more shocking – the question missed the most was the picture of Dodge City, Kansas!

People were pleased to learn about the array of vacationing opportunities in Texas, but vacation options weren’t the only thing we brought from Texas. The Marshall Ford Swing Band joined our road show for two weeks of western swing music. Normally a quartet, this time the dynamic duo, Greg and Kris, brought an element of good ol’ Texas tunes to the Kansas State Fair. My feet are still worn out from all of the dancing!

Well, folks, with 10 cities down and only one more to go, in what city will our Lone Star Tour end its six- month road trip? Go to TexasonTour.com and check out our schedule for the answer. Hopefully, we’ll see you on the 1st of October. Until we meet again, happy trails, my friends!

Kansas State Fair

2011-09-14T13:07:00.007-05:00

With not even a week to spare, our Texas road show headed south down I-35 and right on over to Route 50 to settle in for a wild ride at the Kansas State Fair. Loaded with “sheep thrills,” this fair is proving itself to be a perfect fit for Texas on Tour!

Positioned at that end of the midway in the shadow of the Ferris wheel, our virtual trip to the Lone Star State can easily be seen by all. But more important, it’s seeing the virtual Texas vacations that can be enjoyed right here at the fair. No strangers to a Texas adventure, Kansans were excited to have us back in their state, and if you don’t believe me, ask Karen Shelton from Wichita, who said, “My boss came here last year when y’all were at RiverFest and this was all she talked about!”

Come out and create your own unforgettable moments in the Texas Gulf Coast. You can let the kids run around on the beach without leaving the fair. You could even take a family picture with a Texas sand castle. The memories don’t stop there because you’ll still have time to watch the millions of bats that fly out from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin every night.

I could go on for days talking about all of the great vacation opportunities in Texas and the virtual adventures that can be had at the Kansas State Fair, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. We’ll be in town for another week, so there’s still time to enjoy a piece of Texas. Can’t wait to see you!

Minnesota State Fair

2011-09-07T12:36:00.010-05:00

The fireworks that lit up the sky to end an exciting two weeks said it best: the Minnesota State Fair was a blast! Minnesotans from all over the state came out for the second week of their annual “Get-Together” and another dose of Texas on Tour.

Fairgoers used their All-Access passes to return again and again, making sure to take advantage of every virtual vacation and adventure we had to offer. Some of the most popular adventures this week were the great vacations showcased in our Discover Texas Dome Theater. Cities like San Antonio gained even more fans once they learned about the Steel Eel roller coaster at SeaWorld and the great family fun to be had at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, which is a drive-through safari. South Padre Island offered fairgoers a different idea of what winter could be like with its beautiful beaches that can be enjoyed year-round.

People at the fair were drawn to our Lone Star stage as it rocked out to Texas tunes all week. BettySoo and Ryan Harkrider represented the “Live Music Capital of the World^®,” Austin, Texas, and kept everyone’s toes tapping.

With only two more stops to go, time is running out for you to take advantage of a free mini-vacation with Texas on Tour. Meet us at our next stop to sign up for your chance to win a Texas vacation – we’d love to have you in Texas! For more details and information on planning your next Lone Star State vacation, visit TravelTex.com. See you at our next stop!

Minnesota State Fair

2011-08-30T15:59:00.011-05:00

As Texas on Tour keeps rolling along, we find ourselves parked in the Land of 10,000 Lakes at “The Great Minnesota Get-Together.” The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the U.S., so we came prepared with tons of fun activities and virtual adventures for visitors to enjoy.

Kevin Fitzpatrick of Bandera, TX, was one of the special treats we brought to the fair this year. With his true Texas cowboy style and fancy trick roping, he made an exciting addition for the crowds to enjoy! He lassoed fairgoers and cowboy hopscotched the way a real cowboy should. People lined up all day long to experience being roped by a real cowboy!

Little surprise, our Ride the Texas Waterways virtual kayaking adventure was also very popular with fairgoers. Several said they had never experienced anything like it. You can look up, down, left, right, and even behind you, and still take in the Texas scenery like you were actually kayaking the waters of Texas. Minnesotans have an appreciation for places like Texas, where fun on the water is year-round.

With one week behind us, the fun continues on through Labor Day on September 5, so come on out and join us! For those who are already planning a Lone Star getaway, check out the Trip Planner tool at TravelTex.com. You can find activities, places and events for your trip to Texas. Hope to see you in Texas soon!

Iowa State Fair

2011-08-24T16:56:00.004-05:00

Our expectations were high as this was one of America’s top 10 state fairs, and Iowa did not disappoint us. With an average of more than 100,000 people a day at the fair, the fun never stopped at Texas on Tour. Fairgoers lined up from sunup to sundown, curious to see what kind of vacation opportunities Texas has to offer.

Our Gulf Coast beaches were extremely popular with the people of Iowa. With more than 90% of Iowa land devoted to agriculture, there isn’t much room for a beach; as a result, many Iowans chose our Texas beaches as their preferred vacation destination. Once they saw that we brought the beach to them, they were all in! Visitors were able to walk on the beach without even taking off their shoes.

After the fun in the sun, visitors to our green-screen room could choose from seven different great places in Texas to be instantly transported. From there, they could take a picture to capture the special moment.

Eight stops just aren’t enough for Texas on Tour, so we’re on to our next location. Will it be a festival in your area, or maybe your state fair? Stay tuned to TexasonTour.com to find out. If it’s not your town, don’t worry – we just added two more stops to our Lone Star State road trip. Check back with us later to find out where!

Iowa State Fair

2011-08-15T13:55:00.005-05:00

Four days down and the fun at the Iowa State Fair is just beginning! A lot of familiar faces came out this past week, excited to see Texas on Tour back in town since Texas’ stop in Iowa last year. They all were pleasantly surprised to find out there was so much more about Texas they hadn’t discovered yet.

In our Discover Texas Dome show, fairgoers learned about just a few of the vacation activities the Lone Star State has to offer – like surfing, zip-lining, driving through wild-animal parks and even kayaking through exciting rapids! With a state like Texas, there’s always something new to learn and do.

One thing I discovered about Iowans is that they love Texas almost as much as a native Texan like me. I saw so many people wearing Texas-related gear that I had to remind myself which state fair we were attending. Bill and Eleanor, both two huge University of Texas fans, walked into Texas on Tour full of pride, draped in Texas gear from head to toe.

Well, everyone, the fun doesn’t end this week in Iowa, so if you didn’t get a chance to visit our road show last week, you have until this Sunday to learn something new about Texas and create memorable moments at the fair. Who knows, you may even make a new friend or two. After all, the Texas state motto is “Friendship”! See you at the fair!

Ohio State Fair

2011-08-02T13:31:00.004-05:00

They say that everything is bigger in Texas, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the state of Ohio knows big too. From attractions like the famous butter cow to the mere size of the fairgrounds, you know the Ohio State Fair is no stranger to big, and if you’ve been following the Lone Star State road show, you know Texas on Tour brought some Texas-sized good times to this event.

Ohioans came out in droves to see this year’s newest addition to the fair: Texas on Tour. With more than a thousand visitors a day, Texas easily became one of the “must see” attractions at this year’s fair. Our team stayed busy keeping the fun going all day, with fairgoers spreading the word all across the fairgrounds of the great time they had in our footprint. From trivia to live performances to a chance to win a trip to Texas, it was five days of pure excitement!

Although the pig and piglets made out of 500 pounds of chocolate were a sight to behold, the sights and sounds of Texas impressed quite a few people too. People were pleasantly surprised to learn about the more than 600 miles of coastline along the sun-kissed Gulf Coast. On the virtual kayak simulator, Ohio fairgoers traveled through the rapids of the Big Bend Country canyons to Austin’s Lady Bird Lake and continued the journey to the serene Caddo Lake. These are just some of the adventures in store for visitors to a one-of-a-kind destination.

With just a couple more stops to go, there’s still a chance for you to enjoy true Southern hospitality, so don’t forget to take a look at where we’re headed next. And when you’re ready to plan your trip to Texas, check out TravelTex.com and use the Trip Planner tool to help you plan your Lone Star State vacation. Until we meet again, my friends!

Bite of Seattle

2011-07-19T15:06:00.005-05:00

Towered over by one of our country’s most impressive landmarks, the Space Needle, Texas on Tour was in good company at its sixth stop for the “Bite of Seattle” event. This weekend, however, the Space Needle wasn’t the only thing attracting Seattleites to Center Square. This year, our state’s road show stopped by to give this three-day festival a taste of Texas, and you better believe people loved it!

Three days just isn’t long enough to take in all of the great fun and adventure you can have in Texas, so we packed all we could in our virtual trip through the Lone Star State. Those who didn’t get enough made sure they didn’t walk away without requesting a Texas Travel Guide. If you didn’t get one, don’t worry – you can just order yours at TravelTex.com. It’s packed with places to go and things to see in Texas, and, best of all, it’s free!

Being no stranger to adventure, Seattleites lined up for our virtual kayaks – a unique opportunity to Ride the Texas Waterways! They couldn’t believe Texas had so much to offer on the water, and the more time they spent riding, the more time they wanted to spend in Texas. From rocking out to some live music to sporting some new Texas swag, good times were had by all who stopped by to visit Texas in Seattle.

Well, thanks for the good times, Seattle! As we head out to our next stop and leave the Emerald City behind, where do you suppose our Lone Star State tour will end up next? All you have to do is check our calendar to find out. Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. See you soon!

San Diego County Fair

2011-07-06T07:35:00.001-05:00

If you thought the first week of Texas on Tour at the San Diego County Fair was fun, last week couldn’t hold a candle to what was in store for week two.

Our Texas road show was filled with folks wanting to see Texas, and the Lone Star State did not disappoint whether people were riding the Texas waterways, discovering Texas in our dome theater or getting some sun on our Gulf Coast beaches. At every stop, people have been excited to learn about all there is to see and do in Texas.

With a week full of stars like The Beach Boys, Big Time Rush and REO Speedwagon, Texas had its own lone star shining bright on our main stage: Warren Hood from Austin, Texas, who brought the true meaning of fiddling to sunny San Diego! People surrounded our footprint just to listen to the sounds of Texas. With a sweet, southern, new-grass sound and a hint of the blues, San Diegans loved him and his music!

All that excitement led up to the grand finale on the Fourth of July, the day America declared its independence. Fireworks lit up the sky, and Texas on Tour at the San Diego County Fair ended with a bang!

Alright y’all, it’s time to head up the coast to our next stop. Let’s see who can make it there first! Check out TexasonTour.com to see where we’ll stop next. Can’t wait to see you there!

San Diego County Fair

2011-06-28T11:02:00.005-05:00

Can you smell the cotton candy or hear the screams of excitement coming from these g-force producing thrill rides? That’s right, folks, it’s that time of year again – the San Diego County Fair – and it was in full swing when Texas on Tour pulled into town to join the festivities.

This week we set up Texas on Tour on the same grounds that Seabiscuit won his famed race by a nose against Ligaroti back in 1938. A true sight to see, our 90’ by 60’ footprint stands out on the track like a thoroughbred stallion. And you better believe the fun hasn’t stopped since our arrival, with fairgoers, one after another, taking advantage of being able to kayak the waterways of Texas, see the Alamo and jam to live music straight from our state’s capital – all in one trip to Texas. Not to mention, it’s all at no charge. Just get your All Access Pass when you walk in and let the fun begin!

Our Green Screen room has been a popular stop for people visiting Texas at the fair. You can pick where you want to be while you’re there; maybe you want to be pictured outside of the Alamo, investigating a NASA space shuttle or even hiking in Palo Duro Canyon. Believe me, the fun never ends in that picture room. I bet you didn’t know Texas and San Diego had this in common too – stunning beaches! Just ask one of the many fairgoers like Janet from Le Mesa, who was surprised to see pictures of a beach so beautiful in Texas: “Oh my goodness, South Padre Island is beautiful!”

The surprises aren’t over yet, my southern California friends, because we’re still in town for another week. You have until the Fourth of July before we saddle up and move on to our next stop. Check out TravelTex.com and see where we’ll be next. And don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/TexasTourism or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/texastourism!

Time for me to buckle down and try this So-Cal treat, deep-fried Kool-Aid! See you at the fair!

Capitol Hill People’s Fair

2011-06-05T11:33:00.005-05:00

Texas on Tour made its debut at the 40th Annual Capitol Hill People's Fair, an event that has raised more than $1 million for the greater Capitol Hill Community and nonprofit organizations. With a cause like this, TOT had to climb up to the Mile High City to add to the culturally rich festivities. It’s hard to believe that a little less than a year ago we were here for the Taste of Colorado!

Denver really proved itself to be a city with a lot of Texas ties. In talking with fairgoers, you would have thought every other person knew someone from Texas or had already been there. This made tons of people believe they knew a thing or two about the Lone Star State. Well, our Texas or Not kiosk had something to say about that! The kiosk shows visitors a series of 10 pictures and gives them the option to choose whether it’s “Texas or Not.” Only a select few people were able to bask in the ray of Texas glory and walk away with a prize by scoring a perfect 10 out of 10. One by one, the attendees of the People’s Fair learned through pictures that Texas has much more than you’d expect.

Ryan Harkrider rocked the main stage and brought the cool feel of Austin to a festival known for its diversity – just like our state’s capital. People were pleasantly surprised to learn that Austin and Denver had a whole lot more in common. The locals quickly realized that Austin, filled with art, culture and great entertainment, would be a cool, fun-filled spot to visit.

Until we meet again in the next city, partner. Will it be yours? Go to TexasonTour.com and find out! I’ll give you a hint … it’s home to a famous county fair in Southern California. Be sure to check back this month to see more of Texas on Tour’s good times on the road!

Speed Street

2011-05-28T14:52:00.003-05:00

TRAVELERS, START YOUR ENGINES!

The green flag dropped and they were off … race fans of all ages flooded the streets of downtown Charlotte for the 2011 edition of the 600 Festival’s Food Lion Speed Street event. The Texas on Tour family felt right at home this past weekend, considering we have our own NASCAR track in Fort Worth, Texas – the Texas Motor Speedway.

This weekend’s winner at Texas on Tour was the Discover Texas Dome. We had visitors racing to raise their hands so they could answer trivia questions correctly and walk away with cool prizes! My favorite moment was when someone guessed the state capital was Houston! Even though the state capital is actually Austin, he still walked away with a fun prize – as did many of our other visitors!

It came as a surprise to a lot of people to also find out about some unexpected experiences in Texas. Not only are there great adventures to be had on the water, but also on land, in caves and even under water. For example, people were interested to learn the second largest canyon in the U.S., Palo Duro Canyon, can be found in Canyon, TX. Visitors were able to picture themselves at the Canyon and among other exciting places in the Lone Star State through the “Picture Yourself in Texas” green screen experience.

Well, it’s time to wave the checkered flag on another great event. We’re going to load up and burn out of here to our next stop! Will it be your city? All you have to do to find out is go to TexasonTour.com. I’ll give you a hint … it’s another state’s capitol.
Hope to see you soon!

Joint Service Open House

2011-05-22T09:43:00.007-05:00

Surrounded by some of the greatest war planes in our country’s history, Texas on Tour was rocking through its second stop and showed no signs of slowing down. With lines as long as jet streams, people from all over the region flocked to the 2011 Joint Service Open House in a salute to 100 years of naval aviation. Once every year in recognition of the US Military and supporting civilian personnel, Andrews Air Force Base opens its doors to the public and this year show goers received a nice surprise – A FREE TRIP TO TEXAS!

Over 200,000 people were shocked to see, hear, and even smell some of the great aspects of Texas right there on base. Ride the Texas Waterways was by far the most pleasant surprise of them all. As people’s faces lit up with every turn of the virtual reality kayaking adventure, the line grew more and more. Everyone had to see for themselves what was so exciting about this 360 degree trip down Texas’ waterways.

Texas on Tour’s live music stage also kept attendees entertained with Warren Hood. That guy can play the fiddle! At age 17 he won the Austin Youth Award and performed as a soloist with the Austin Symphony. If you missed him this time, you can still see him perform on our stage again at the San Diego County Fair.

Well Maryland, it's time for us to load up and head out, but for more information on exciting adventures in the Lone Star State, be sure to check out TravelTex.com.

It was a great weekend at the JSOH, but if you missed it don't worry. Our next stop is Speed Street in Charlotte, NC. From F-18’s and Thunderbirds to NASCAR show cars – see you there...Yeehaw!!!!!!

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

2011-04-17T13:06:00.004-05:00

Flowers are in bloom, birds are chirping and the dogwood trees are "barking." Springtime is in full swing, and so is the 2011 edition of Texas on Tour. This year's kickoff event was at the Dogwood Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. This annual event, in its 75th year, draws more than 200,000 people to beautiful Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta and is a favorite of locals.

Flocks of people had an unexpected surprise when they found Texas right in the middle of the meadow of the park. They were even more surprised when they discovered how much Texas has to offer from beaches to mountains, and nightlife to culture ... Texas has everything you could ever want in a vacation.

Our Discover Texas dome stood out like a lighthouse for festival goers, drawing them from all over the park to the sights and sounds of Texas on Tour. Speaking of the sounds of Texas ... BettySoo from Austin serenaded the crowds with her unique folk-rock style all weekend, and toes were tapping and lips were whistling her songs as people left.

Texas on Tour is back on the road for its fourth straight year, educating and entertaining people about the Lone Star State. This year's tour takes us from the Deep South to the Pacific Northwest and everywhere in between. Make sure to check out www.TexasOnTour.com to see where we've been but, more important, if we're coming to a city near you!

Arizona State Fair

2010-10-21T07:58:00.009-05:00

As we pulled into Phoenix for the Arizona State Fair, we knew we wanted to end this year’s tour across America with a bang, and that’s exactly what we plan to do! These folks in Arizona are wild about Texas and we’re happy to tell them all about it. We’re wrapping up our tour but there’s still a couple more days to come and check out Tje Austin on the entertainment stage and explore the waterways of Texas on our virtual kayaks! We’ll be here through Friday, so if you’re in the area come on out and say howdy!

As the sun is setting on Texas on Tour for this year, we look forward to what adventures lie ahead in 2011. We've had an awesome year full of many memories and many friends made along the way. If we didn't visit your city during the 2010 tour, perhaps we will be making a stop in 2011 somewhere near you.

Please check www.texasontour.com early next year to see our updated schedule and if we're close, come by and learn what Texas is all about. If you simply cannot wait until next year to see us again, go ahead and visit Texas for the real deal! You're always welcome!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

2010-10-02T14:09:00.000-05:00

At our stop at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Texas on Tour is proud to welcome one of our sponsors -- SeaWorld San Antonio, and their furry -- and not so furry -- friends. Representatives from SeaWorld have been entertaining, educating, and encouraging people to travel to Texas and make San Antonio their next vacation destination. Guests to Texas on Tour were surprised to see appearances made by a lemur, wallaby, alligator and boa constrictor! It's amazing how animals can bring smiles to the faces of everyone in attendance.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is well known for its incredible hot air balloons shaped like animals, but attendees never imagined that they would see real live animals at the Texas on Tour exhibit! For more information on how you can visit SeaWorld San Antonio check out www.seaworld.com.

Along with our friends from SeaWorld, we also have Tje Austin playing on the entertainment stage in the afternoons. So Texas on Tour is the place to be! Check out the video clip to see Tje singing a song from his latest album Xperience.

If you live in Albuquerque or are going to be in the area, check out Texas on Tour and SeaWorld at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta through Sunday, October 10th. If you can’t make it to Albuquerque, then I sure hope we get to see you at the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. I hate to say it folks, but that will be our final stop for the 2010 tour. So come out and visit us!

LA County Fair

2010-09-29T18:08:00.017-05:00

We had a fantastic time at the LA County Fair and the thing we will remember the most is the people we met during this event. The state motto of Texas is “Friendship” and we definitely made some new friends in Southern California. Guests enjoyed “Ride the Texas Waterways” in our virtual-reality kayaks since there aren’t many places to kayak in Pomona. With temperatures reaching well into the 100s, visitors said the only thing that would have made the kayaks better was if you actually got sprayed with real water to cool off. I guess they’ll just have to schedule a trip to Texas for the real thing!

At our LA County Fair stop, we were also introduced to Tje Austin – a musician from Austin. He treated fair-goers every night to a free show at the Texas on Tour Entertainment Stage. Tje is a talented young up-and-coming artist who performs original songs and puts his own unique spin on R&B classics. We had several visitors come back night after night just to catch Tje’s performances. Tje will be joining us for the remainder of our tour, so if you can make it out I strongly encourage it.

Well friends, another Texas on Tour event has wrapped up and now we are up, up, and away to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM. I really hope to see you there!

Taste of Colorado

2010-09-03T08:34:00.000-05:00

People flocked to the Taste of Colorado in Denver looking for fantastic food. Some of the finest restaurants in the Mile High City were featured with an estimated 500,000 people in attendance at this year's festival. Not only did they find great eats, they were also treated to a unique taste of Texas.

The Texas on Tour Discover Texas dome was a popular attraction, especially when the temperature went above 90 degrees outside. It's always a comfortable 70 degrees inside our larger-than-life dome, providing the perfect place to escape the summer heat. Even though we didn't have any food to offer, people still left us knowing more about the great state of Texas than when they entered. My favorite fact to share is that Texas has so many BBQ places that you could eat BBQ at a different spot every day of the year!

With Colorado just a short drive away from Texas, people were excited to learn that they could experience their very own taste of Texas, easy as pie! Texas on Tour will miss Colorado but, now we are heading west to the great LA County Fair in Pomona, CA. Hope to see you there!

Iowa State Fair

2010-09-01T17:42:00.008-05:00

The smell of funnel cakes, the screams coming from the midway rides, and the sight of fireworks in the warm summer sky can only mean one thing – a fair is underway.

The Iowa State Fair is in full swing and Texas on Tour was lucky enough to be part of this year’s festivities. Crowds close to 1 million visit this Iowa attraction every summer, and this year was no different. In fact, almost half of the state of Iowa attends the fair. Many of the fairgoers were in for quite the surprise when they realized Texas was here, and they were even more surprised that it didn't cost a thing to experience the exhibit. We had so many people ask how many tickets to they needed to get in. When we told them it was all free, they almost didn't believe us! Maybe what they say is true...the best things in life ARE free!

We have a little something for everyone at Texas on Tour no matter what your age. We had people from 9 to 90 take a step into Texas. We also saw many faces make repeat visits to our exhibit just because they had so much fun. We even had trivia contests and bean bag toss competitions throughout the day where fairgoers had the chance to take home a souvenir from Texas on Tour. At various points throughout the day, we even had more people than some of the carnival games! : ) Now it's time to say Bye-owa to Iowa and drive off into the sunset towards Denver, where we are looking forward to what Colorado is cooking up at the Taste of Colorado.

Justin Herman Plaza

2010-08-13T09:20:00.005-05:00

San Francisco marked the halfway point on our tour across the United States, educating and entertaining crowds with the sights and sounds of the Great State of Texas. The Golden State was happy to have Texas as their neighbor for a few days. We set up shop right in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district so lots of business men and women visited throughout the day. What a great way to spend their breaks from work with a quick trip to Texas. As soon as they stepped into our footprint they were magically transformed into the wide open plains and prairies of Texas. Our huge Dome Theater and Kayak Adventure allowed guests to leave behind the concrete jungle of San Francisco and escape to a much more tranquil place in Texas. We had tons of guests tell us that they never even knew Texas had water for kayaking. Boy are they wrong! With over 624 miles of coastline and nearly 200,000 miles of lakes and rivers, Texas is a kayakers dream. We noticed that quite a few workers spent 45 minutes or more of their 30 minute lunch breaks in Texas because they were enjoying it so much. Hopefully their bosses believed them when they told them they came back to work late because they were in Texas.

To top off our time in San Francisco, the Old 97's played to a packed crowd at 5pm right when everyone was getting off work. What a great way to relax and unwind after a stressful day of work! Next time these business professionals are planning their vacation we hope Texas is right at the top of their list. We are heading back east now to visit our friends in Des Moines, Iowa at the Iowa State Fair to spread the good news about Texas.

Chicago Navy Pier

2010-07-22T09:03:00.010-05:00

Texas on Tour blew into the "Windy City" and transformed Navy Pier into a slice of Texas. If you didn’t know, everything's bigger in Texas, and we went as big as we possibly could for Chi-Town. We brought in tons of sand which was transformed, over 4 days, into a spectacular life-sized sandcastle. The crowd watched in awe as the sand artists worked their magic. If the sandcastle wasn't enough to impress Chicago, 2008 World Champion Trick Roper Kevin Fitzpatrick and his son Will sure were. The dynamic duo from Bandera wowed crowds with rope tricks. Spectators really enjoyed the father-son team as they lassoed people over to the display to learn about Texas.

To top it all off we were treated to a visit by two of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders! Lines formed fast and the ladies stayed plenty busy signing autographs and taking photos with all the fans. It was truly an action-packed event and Texas on Tour made an impression and left a mark in the hearts and minds of Chicago. Texas on Tour heads west next and it’s sure to be a San Francisco treat!

South Street Seaport

2010-07-13T16:23:00.005-05:00

The Lone Star State took a bite of the Big Apple as Texas on Tour set up shop at the South Street Seaport in NYC. Our street team created an awesome pre-event buzz around Manhattan leading up to the event that got the city chatting and drove people in the thousands down to the Seaport to visit Texas and to take in a free concert by the Old 97's on July 4th. New Yorkers were treated to an Independence Day they will never forget - Texas style -- and the Old 97's supplied plenty of fireworks on the stage. Thousands of fans packed the Pier to listen to the sounds of this native Texas band as we celebrated the freedom of our fine country. Several groups of students, who were on summer vacation, came by to spend some time with us at Texas on Tour. In fact, a group of four college juniors told me that after coming through our interactive experience they made the decision to make South Padre Island, TX their Spring Break destination next year. The Texas sun has set on "the city that never sleeps" and it's time to travel to "the windy city" -- Chicago, IL. Texas on Tour will make Navy Pier our new backyard as we continue to travel the U.S. to share the love of Texas with the rest of the world.

CMA Festival

2010-06-24T10:49:00.006-05:00

The stars are big in Texas, but the stars that were performing at the CMA Fest in Nashville, TN were even bigger! Texas on Tour made its way to Music City for the biggest Country Music Festival in the world. When the sun set, the stars came out and performed to sold out crowds every night. This year CMA Festival set a record for the most people in attendance ever and 100% of the proceeds from the festival are always donated to worthy causes. This year 50% went to saving music in our schools program, and the other 50% went to flood relief in Nashville. Both very good causes and we were glad that Texas On Tour was a part of this great event.

Not only was the CMA Festival packed, but it was packed with people from all over the country as well as all over the world. They all wanted to know more about what Texas has to offer, which goes to show you that Texas has international appeal. When folks weren’t enjoying one of our many experiences, they were participating in one of our contests. The Texas on Tour team and I thoroughly enjoy challenging everyone on their knowledge of Texas trivia and the question that always stumps people is the fact that Texas only has one natural lake. Do you know which lake is the only natural lake in the state of Texas?

If you know the answer then I encourage you to visit us at our next stop: South Street Seaport in New York City. Heck -- I want you to stop by even if you don’t know the answer! Stay tuned for more from the road and check out our schedule so you can come experience all the sights and sounds from Texas on Tour right in your own backyard.

Wichita Riverfest

2010-05-25T16:30:00.005-05:00

Texas on Tour opened the curtains on the 2010 road show at Riverfest in Wichita, Kansas. People flock every year to Riverfest for good times and great music. At Texas on Tour we were able to supply them with both.

The smooth guitar riffs and vocals of Austin, Texas native Ryan Harkrider filled the air of downtown Wichita from our stage. Ryan brought his authentic Austin sound from the "Live Music Capital of the World" all the way to Riverfest. A fan named Cookie approached Ryan and she told him that she had written a song, but didn't have a melody to go with it. Ryan solved that problem quickly. In a matter of minutes Ryan had composed a song to fit her lyrics perfectly. After a short rehearsal, Cookie and Ryan were ready to perform.

With Cookie on the mic and Ryan backing her up on lead guitar. The song named "Going to Nashville" turned out to be a hit with everyone in attendance. A fitting title for the song considering Nashville is stop #2 on our trip throughout the U.S. spreading the good news about Texas and all it has to offer. Stay tuned to read more about the experiences from the road with Texas on Tour.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Part 2

2009-10-13T13:17:00.011-05:00

One special thing about the Balloon Fiesta is that you can walk around amongst the balloons, see them up close, and talk to the pilots and crew. You might go from spectator to participant when a crew member yells out for a helping hand. It’s like walking through a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors right there in the middle of the action at the most photographed event in the world.

It’s been so much fun meeting people from all over the world and visiting with the many fellow Texans here. One of them is Bruce Lavorgna from Austin, who pilots his own Texas flag-designed hot air balloon painting the sky above with red, white and blue. He has been ballooning at the AIBF since 1991 and makes us all proud by flying our Lone Star flag in a truly unique way. Thanks Bruce!

Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Texas on Tour 2009 is a wrap. We’ve traveled about 15,000 miles spreading Texas hospitality throughout the U.S. and making new friends along the way. Hopefully the little taste of Texas we offered was enough to make you hungry for more. We sincerely hope that you can visit Texas sometime soon and experience it for yourself. We’ll see you on the road again next year!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

2009-10-08T11:33:00.006-05:00

Whoosh! The sound of hot air balloon blowers can be heard shooting bright blue and yellow flames as the pilots prepare for their early morning flights just before daybreak. Waves of glowing hot air balloons drift up and into the morning sky. It’s the “dawn patrol” at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and Texas on Tour has a front row seat. What started as a small gathering of 13 balloons in 1972 has turned into the largest balloon event in the world attracting hundreds of thousands of people for a nine day fun fest of color and excitement.

I couldn’t think of a better place to wrap up the 2009 Texas on Tour road show. The event attracts approximately 900,000 guests and I am told 200,000 of those are from the neighboring Lone Star State, so we have plenty of fellow Texans to share in the conclusion of our successful journey across the U.S. promoting that special place we all know and love.

After experiencing “Ride the Texas Waterways,” “Texas or Not” trivia, the high tech “Discover Texas” dome theater, live SeaWorld San Antonio animal shows, the “Picture Yourself in Texas” green screen room, and live music from Texan Dan Dyer, it is no surprise folks want to learn more about a Texas vacation. It is proof there’s something for everyone in Texas!

I can’t tell you how excited I am about the week ahead. Yes, Texas on Tour only has a few more days of fun here at the Balloon Fiesta and it’s sure to be BIG fun. Stay tuned for one last post as Texas on Tour 2009 comes to an end. I’m sure we’ll go out with a bang!

L.A. County Fair

2009-09-23T09:04:00.006-05:00

Lights, camera, action! It’s showtime for Texas on Tour near Los Angeles, famous for its glitz, glamour, movie stars and the L.A. County Fair. Ahhhh, the scents of a nearby taco stand, candy apples and popcorn fill the Southern California air, and you can hear the carnival rides and games buzzing in the distance. The Fair is in full swing. The carnival atmosphere spills onto the Texas on Tour display as fair-goers flock to the various interactive elements of our exhibit. “There’s so much to do in Texas! It really is like a whole other country!” one visitor said after he and his family had their photo taken in the green screen room.

Carnival games are always a popular attraction at fairs so we decided to add one of our own at Texas on Tour - the Bean Bag Toss. It was a huge hit! Of course games of skill aren’t complete without prizes and ours was no different. Winners received their very own Texas on Tour T-shirt, a sought after prize by the many participants.

It’s also worth noting that the music of Dan Dyer is not just an accessory, but a staple to our show here in L.A. His improvisational melodies and antics captivate the Texas on Tour crowds here. He truly has a contagious Texas flare and charm that many people enjoy.

Colorado Balloon Classic

2009-09-08T11:57:00.006-05:00

Texas on Tour drove in for the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic over the Labor Day weekend and boy was it a hoot! It was amazing to see the Texas on Tour exhibit with all the colorful hot air balloons drifting off into the sky with the picturesque mountains in the background. What a scene!

The event started bright and early every morning at 6:00 a.m. The sun peaked out over the mountains and Texas on Tour came to life offering consumers a little Texas flair at daybreak. “I didn’t expect to visit Texas this morning!” a Colorado Springs native said as she enjoyed a virtual kayak trip on the “Ride the Texas Waterways” experience. We’re happy you got out of bed early to join us!

We were also happy to introduce Texan Dan Dyer to the Texas on Tour stage with his melodic, soulful music being the perfect soundtrack for this beautiful setting. We’re certainly delighted to have him on board with us for the remainder of the tour. He is quite a talent!

Yes, the Colorado Balloon Classic was yet another classic Texas on Tour affair and like one of those beautiful balloons it’s time for us to fly off to our next destination...the Los Angeles County Fair. Look out LA, Texas is on the way!

Illinois State Fair

2009-08-26T15:58:00.005-05:00

We loaded up our Texas on Tour footprint from Chicago’s Navy Pier and said goodbye to our newfound friends there. It was “on the road again,” as Texan Willie Nelson would say. Next stop…Springfield, home to the Illinois State Fair. Just when I think we can’t conceivably top the fun and excitement in one city, the next destination for the Texas on Tour road show is always a splendid experience in its own unique way. The Illinois State Fair was another such occurrence.

Now when I think of a State Fair I think about how they always have every kind of food you can possibly imagine fried on a stick. You know what I’m talking about…fried Twinkies on a stick, fried Butterfingers on a stick, fried grape soda pop with maple syrup and cottage cheese…on a stick.

Well, during our set-up on the Peoria Street section of the Fair we met Beverly Beckett, a warm, bubbly lady with a talent for baking and cooking who brought us her delicious chocolate ginger cake. The Texas on Tour team took it as a rewarding treat for all our hard work.

On Saturday, Beverly came back to visit us and received numerous high fives from the Texas on Tour team as she informed us that she had won 1st Place in the Fair’s highly competitive cooking contest for her “Minnesota Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.” We at Texas on Tour were so proud to share with her such an accomplishment. “I’ve got new friends in Texas” she told her daughter (whose boyfriend happens to be from Houston) over the phone. Yes Beverly, you do and we hope you come visit us in Texas sometime soon so we can return the hospitality!

Chicago Navy Pier

2009-08-21T14:42:00.012-05:00

The wonderful city of Chicago or “Chi-Town” (pronounced “shy town” ) was the backdrop for the latest installment of the 2009 Texas on Tour road show…and boy was it exciting! Now “Chi-Town” is considered by many to be one of the greatest sports cities in the country, but for a few fleeting moments Chicago Bears fans became Dallas Cowboys fans when they lined up to get their picture taken with Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders Megan Fox and Elizabeth Davis. I guess even die-hard Bears fans can appreciate the beauty that the Lone Star State has to offer… and I have video to prove it! Sorry Bears fans, but Elizabeth says the Cowboys are going all the way!

It was certainly a weekend for special guest appearances at Texas on Tour. Representatives from SeaWorld San Antonio brought several “Animal Ambassadors” to the delight of the crowd as they were able to get up close and personal with a lemur from Madagascar and even an albino python named “Mellow Yellow” just to name a few. It was literally a wild time at Texas on Tour!

The fun didn’t stop there, though. The Texas on Tour footprint situated in front of the famous Chicago Navy Pier area turned into Dancing with the Texans when one of our brand ambassadors lead a throng of visitors in a group dance routine of the “electric slide.” I, unfortunately, had to dismiss myself from the pack for fear of stepping on toes and disrupting the rhythm. No, I can’t dance.

Bringing a little taste of Texas to Chicago was fun all the way around. We met some interesting and amazing people. We had some good times and we made some new friends. That being said, listen up “Chi-Town”... don’t be shy…come down and visit us in Texas sometime soon!

EAA AirVenture

2009-08-03T18:41:00.004-05:00

Texas on Tour landed at EAA AirVenture, the Oshkosh, Wisconsin air show, which is the second largest air show in the world. It was amazing! It’s hard to believe, but the small Oshkosh airport is the busiest in the world for the one week during the show. The event brings an international audience, so we had people from all corners of the world come by and see us. Folks from Poland, Germany, Spain, England, Norway, and even Japan enjoyed our virtual Texas experience. “Viva la Texas!” I heard one visitor say after taking the 360 degree virtual reality kayaking trip. Texas on Tour was quite the melting pot this week!

Although we had many visitors from around the world, Texas was also well represented. We met many Texans who flew their own airplanes up for the show. At times it felt like we had a mini Texas reunion on site. Fellow Texans stopped by for a visit and a little taste of home. “Thanks for making us proud and representing our state with such style! They also said they learned some new Texas facts when they participated in the Texas Trivia contest in the Discover Texas dome theater. “I didn’t know that Texas had over 190,000 miles of rivers and streams.” It just goes to show, whether you’re from another part of the world or from Texas you can enjoy what Texas on Tour has to offer.

Texas on Tour also offered a unique spectacle on Friday morning. You might say we had a mustang stampede on the Texas on Tour ranch as seventy-five Ford mustangs made their way past our footprint to the large display area behind us. It was quite a sight to see so many vintage cars including a few Shelbys worth almost $200,000. Like true wranglers, we did our part to successfully round up the mustangs and get them corralled. It was yet another exciting start to a fun filled day at Texas on Tour!

Three Rivers Festival - Part 2

2009-07-22T12:39:00.001-05:00

Patricia Vonne and Rosie Flores brought their unique brand of music and entertainment to Texas on Tour’s stop at the Three Rivers Festival. Their stellar guitar riffs and soulful singing brought many patrons back for more. They signed autographs and even taught a few folks the Texas Two Step. Patricia and Rosie proved that rock and roll Texas style is here to stay. Cheers to all those who rocked out with us at Texas on Tour.

We joked with one family that came through that they were like the Griswolds from the National Lampoon's vacation movies as they took a 45-minute high tech virtual reality vacation through Texas on Tour. The father decided he was going to plan his next vacation to Texas after he and the family experienced the 360-degree virtual reality kayak trip. “That sealed the deal for us! We’re going to Texas!” he said. He did his best impression of the Chevy Chase character “Clark” as he ordered the Travel Guide at the “Texas or Not” kiosk and started to plan every last detail for their next family adventure!

Check back next week as we report from AirVenture Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI!

Three Rivers Festival

2009-07-15T10:14:00.020-05:00

Howdy folks, we are in Fort Wayne, and everyone is having a blast! We are set up at the Three Rivers Festival in downtown Fort Wayne. This is the second largest festival in the state and is known for its food alley area were you can buy everything from deep fried Twinkies to roasted corn and everything in between. I will be headed over there later this week to try some of these Fort Wayne favorites.

We have new musicians performing on tour with us for the next few weeks and they are Patricia Vonne and Rosie Flores directly from San Antonio, Texas. From the very first song they sang the crowd really enjoyed our new music. We had one fan that was enjoying herself so much she actually grabbed me and asked me to dance with her! Since the tour started I am becoming a pro at two-stepping, so I jumped right on in and had a blast with my dancing partner. I have to admit that I had a great time but I did step on her feet a few times - oops! We both had a good laugh and she said she would be back next week for another round of dancing.

The kayaks are a big hit with people of all ages and they just keep coming to try them out. We had a Yee-Haw contest this weekend and the winners were two small children about 5 years old. Who knew they could yell so loud!? Well I have to get back to work now but I will have more stories from Fort Wayne to share soon!

Summerfest Part 2

2009-07-05T19:58:00.006-05:00

We all know that Texas likes to do things in a BIG way, so it was no surprise that “Texas on Tour” made a stop at Summerfest – the biggest music festival in the world. Concerts of all kinds were happening across the vast festival grounds, but we at “Texas on Tour” had a concert all our own. With the tempting Texas tunes of Will Sexton and Charlie Faye guests kicked up their heels in front of our Dallas/ Forth Worth music stage. We even had several dance competitions where participants boogied down “Texas style” for a chance to win their very own “Texas on Tour” t-shirt. The music festival spirit spilled into other areas of our exhibit such as the “Discover Texas” dome theater where show hosts Ben Holt and Nick Vannucci appeared donning disco-fashioned cowboy hats to the amusement of the audience. Once again, “Texas on Tour” left its mark on a terrific event that is Summerfest. We look forward to putting on our dancing shoes…or should I say boots…next year! Stay tuned for our next stop…Fort Wayne, Indiana for the Three Rivers Festival!

Summerfest In Milwaukee

2009-06-28T18:11:00.000-05:00

Howdy everyone! We are working lakeside in downtown Milwaukee at Summerfest. Summerfest is the nation’s largest live music festival featuring artists ranging from Kid Rock to Stevie Wonder and everything in between. Bon Jovi was the opening act on Thursday night followed by KISS a few nights later. This music festival is huge, and I mean HUGE. Everywhere you turn there are music stages with live bands entertaining enormously, large crowds.

Our first day was on Thursday with the folks here in Milwaukee actually lining up outside the gates to enter the event. We started out so busy that we had people all over our exhibit anxious to see what we had to offer. Our first group of visitors to enter the Dome Theater had such a good time learning about Texas and playing the trivia contest that you could hear them laughing and having a great time from outside of the dome.

The Texas or Not kiosk has been a big hit with families competing against each other to get the highest score to win great prizes. On to riding the kayaks down the waterways of Texas. People here in Wisconsin have been very surprised of learning that Texas has so many different options when it comes to water activities. After riding the kayaks they have told me that they were unaware of so many things that they saw during the kayak ride.

One of the most frequently heard comments comes when our guests visit the next stop, The Gulf Coast area of our exhibit. So many people comment “That beautiful beach with the white sand is in Texas? I had no idea Texas had beaches like that!" We have had such a great time spreading information about Texas to the folks here in Wisconsin so far and have 7 more days in the festival remaining. Our featured Texas on Tour artists, Will Sexton and Charlie Faye have been a hit as well and have been signing many autographs! Well – time to head back to work, I will update you in a few days on the remaining week here at Summerfest. So long till next time!

Riverbend Festival

2009-06-16T08:58:00.006-05:00

Here we are in Chattanooga, TN at a 9-day show called Riverbend Festival. Riverbend is a big music festival that has something for everyone from the B-52's to the Commodores and everything in between. On opening day country music superstar Willie Nelson played so it was packed! We also brought our own musicians Will Sexton and Charlie Faye and they’ve been getting a great response from the crowd. Will has been signing his autograph onto the free music CD that visitors can win in the Dome Theater. When we tell people that Will is on the CD they can’t wait to listen to it in the car or at home.

Texas on Tour has had some good weather thus far in TN and we’re answering lots of questions about the beaches in Texas. Many people did not know how beautiful it is along the Gulf Coast of Texas. They are even more shocked when we tell them that Austin, Texas is the Live Music Capital of the World!

We sure are getting the message out that Texas is a wonderful place for a vacation and folks are very receptive, especially after they’ve walked through our exhibit. Well, lots of people to talk to, so I’m signing off... Stay tuned for more updates from Texas on Tour!

New York City, baby!

2009-06-05T16:14:00.009-05:00

On Wed., May 27, we arrived in New York City, ready to bring some Texas style to the Big Apple. Texas on Tour pulled up to South Street Seaport at 2am and there were still people hanging out and walking around! We spent about 12 hours setting the exhibit up with lots of curious people asking us about what will be taking place during our time here.

On Thursday, the kickoff of our event, we had a jam packed day with two Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, Kevin Fitzpatrick, the 2008 Champion Trick Roper, Wendell and Connie, our two-step dance instructors and representatives from SeaWorld San Antonio, one of our corporate sponsors. It was slightly rainy but that didn’t stop people from coming out to see what Texas has to offer. The cheerleaders were an absolute hit with the New Yorkers (even Giants’ fans) and the two-step dance lessons were so fun! I enjoyed dancing with two ladies who were from Queens and they had a blast too. Austin musicians Will Sexton and Charlie Faye performed on the entertainment stage and really drew a crowd.

Everyone on the team tried to get to bed fairly early on Thurs. night because Texas on Tour started at 5am on Friday with a live television news broadcast from the exhibit. Larry Hoff with CW11 PIX Morning News did a closing segment for their show, featuring animals from SeaWorld, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Kevin doing trick roping and music by Will and Charlie. I think this encouraged New Yorkers to come out to experience our exhibit and gather more information about a vacation to Texas. We were moving all over the place trying to accommodate the crowds that day. At about 7pm the nine-time Grammy-Award winning group Asleep At The Wheel took the main stage to help us close out the night. There were people crowding around the stage dancing and tapping their feet throughout the performance. What a feeling it was to see the entire experience come together.

Luckily on Saturday we didn’t need to be at the footprint until 9am (which is technically sleeping in), but still New Yorkers really came out in droves to experience Texas with enthusiasm and excitement. We had many, many contests today with trivia and the Yee Haw calling contest. The winner sounded like a cross between actor Joe Pesci and a Texas cowboy. This guy was a crowd favorite after his performance. Other crowd pleasers were SeaWorld’s American alligator named Katrina, a wallaby named Nurra and a Burmese python.

And placed about 15 ft from our exhibit was another very interesting activity taking shape... a sand castle was being built by Amazing Walter and his partner Matt. The castle stood about 10 ft high with a 10 sq ft base. It was huge and everyone who walked by took a picture with their phone or camera. By Sunset it was finished and looked amazing!

Overall it was a very busy week with a lot of New Yorkers being transported to Texas via "Texas on Tour".

Our next stop is Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Joint Services Open House

2009-05-18T15:25:00.001-05:00

Hello - my name is Keith and I am the tour manager of the Texas On Tour roadshow. The Texas On Tour team will consist of me and my two colleagues, Ben and Jeff. I am so excited about getting started and I invite everyone to join us throughout our travels right here on this blog. Check out the Texas on Tour Schedule to find out where we’ll be so you can visit us! You can also check out TravelTex.com/TexasOnTour to plan your own Texas vacation and register to win a free vacation to Texas. Make sure you visit the website often so you don’t miss anything over the next 6 months.

This past weekend was the first stop of our tour. We were a part of the Joint Services Open House (JSOH) event at Andrews Air Force Base, MD. I was really excited and ready to get to work to meet new people and really show off our high-tech elements, one of which is our interactive touch screen kiosk called "Texas or Not". At this fun spot, you have to choose from sets of two pictures and determine if it depicts Texas or Not. Most people guess wrong, even people who have lived in Texas! Many people do not know about the many different areas in Texas such as the canyons, lakes and beaches.

Another element is our virtual reality, 360-degree kayak experience. You get to sit in real kayaks and feel, smell and see 360 degrees around you during a “ride” down the Texas waterways. The people we met at the JSOH loved this. We had many visitors coming back each day to do it all over again.

The best part of our event was the Texas On Tour-sponsored AirFest Party open to the pilots and sponsors of the JSOH. There, Texas on Tour representatives Paige and Ali, were presented with commemorative coins from the commanding officer of the base, Colonel Steven M. Shepro. It was a very big honor and the team at Andrews Air Force Base made us all feel very welcome.

We were so busy this weekend even though we got light rain almost everyday. Our exhibit is totally free and we have lots of giveaways plus live music on our stage. People were amazed that everything was free. We had thousands of visitors to our exhibit this weekend at Andrews Air Force Base, despite some clouds. We are hoping for sunny days at our next stop, in New York City. I am looking forward to working in the Big Apple at South Street Seaport. Check back soon for details from NYC!