Iowa State Fair

Texas on Tour rolled into the American Heartland this weekend and returned to the Iowa State Fair.  If you're looking for us, just take a short ride on the SkyRide for a beautiful aerial view (and great photo opportunity!) of Texas on Tour. SkyRiders are always waving and letting us know they are going to land in Texas and visit us soon.

We must have made a great impression last year because many Iowans couldn't wait to find us and share stories from their Texas travels. Hawkeye State natives Steve and Tally Sue visited Texas on Tour last year and realized they had a perfect opportunity to swing through San Antonio after their son's graduation from Lackland Air Force Base. They loved the delicious and authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, visiting SeaWorld, and exploring the shops and restaurants along the River Walk.  

We LOVE hearing Texas travel stories like that of Steve and Tally Sue's.  To get started on your own Texas travel adventure, please visit TravelTex.com or come by the exhibit at the Iowa State Fair through Sunday, August 19th.  We hope to see you in Texas, or here at Texas on Tour, very soon!

Ohio State Fair

Texas on Tour shared the past 10 days with some fun-loving Ohioans. We reunited with some old friends and made a lot of new ones throughout our stay. 

It was great to welcome repeat visitors back to our home away from home. One of our long time pals, Scott T. from Columbus, Ohio, stopped by Texas on Tour for the second year in a row. After he came by last year, Scott decided that he needed to see gorgeous San Antonio for himself and planned a much needed vacation to the city. "If it wasn't for seeing Texas on Tour at the Ohio State Fair, I might not have had the chance to visit San Antonio's beautiful River Walk." We're so glad Scott took us up on some travel advice and that he'll be returning to Texas for another visit this fall.

Texas on Tour also welcomed a local judge from Ohio. When we asked her the verdict, she said Texas on Tour was the best exhibit she had seen at the Ohio State Fair! In 2013, she plans to accompany her daughter to the American Bar Association's mid-year meeting in Dallas. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to mix a little bit of business with pleasure, if you ask us! The mother-daughter duo has plans to spend their vacation exploring the NorthPark Center in Dallas and the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. With her FREE Texas Travel Guide in hand, she left the tour happy and excited to plan their getaway. 

Thank you Ohio for the hospitality; you are welcome to kick up your boots in Texas whenever you'd like! We are now off to share Texas on Tour with the great state of Iowa. Get ready Hawkeye State. Texas on Tour will be at the state fair from Friday, August 10th through Sunday, August 19th. 

See ya'll there!

Ohio State Fair

 

As Texas is known far and wide as the "Friendship State," we were pleased to receive the same warm welcome in Ohio. Sharing Texas with the Ohio State Fair gave us many great stories, and the fun isn't over yet! We will be digging our boots in here a little longer, so stop by until August 5th if you missed us this weekend!

Thousands of fair goers came this weekend to experience the state of Texas in their own backyard. The Hudsons, a family of five from Ohio, were thrilled to learn that the mini-vacation they experienced at Texas on Tour was completely free of charge. The fun performances, exciting virtual experiences, cool prizes, and live music were the perfect recipe for memorable family fun. Mr. Hudson even recognized several photos from Austin, TX where he periodically traveled to for business. The next visit to Austin is sure to be a family affair for this bunch!

We learned these Ohio fair-goers weren't shy to throw on their cowboy hats and show us their best two-step. Even if you're not a seasoned line dancer, we never turn down the chance to teach newcomers how it's done in Texas. There's always an adventure to be had inside Texas on Tour, and you'll have to see it to believe it!

 

California State Fair

We just want to start by giving a Lone Star State sized "thank you" to beautiful Sacramento! What an enthusiastic bunch of cowboys and cowgirls. Y'all are welcome in Texas anytime! Many of our Texas on Tour visitors dressed the part and sported their best cowboy and cowgirl hats and boots; they will fit right in during their next Texas getaway.

Geoff and Carol stopped by, as they’ve been contemplating a Texas vacation and wanted to learn more. Geoff is an avid recreational fisherman and had no idea Texas had so much to offer a fisherman like himself. After exploring the Texas waterways in the virtual kayaks, Geoff was impressed to see so much of Texas from a kayak. They started planning their vacation onsite!

Many memories were made at the California State Fair, including trips down the fair’s zip line. Visitors couldn’t stop talking about how fun it was and were ecstatic when they learned about zip lining and other high powered adventures to be had in Texas too. 

Before you start making plans, make sure you order a FREE Texas Travel Guide at TravelTex.com so you can be sure you know all the great destinations Texas has to offer. Happy trails, California, and get ready Ohio because we are riding into the Ohio State Fair on July 27th!

California State Fair

Texas on Tour is back again in California, this week in Sacramento, for the California State Fair. We’ve been roping in some local Californians this weekend to experience a slice of Texas and satisfy their craving for ideas on a  fun-filled Texas getaway!

Everyone that visits Texas on Tour is able to request a free travel guide packed with useful ideas on where to go and what to do while visiting Texas.  One of my favorite things to do when I'm in Texas is see live music.  Lucky for me, and everyone else who comes to Texas on Tour at the California State Fair, the Marshall Ford Swing Band is performing live on our entertainment stage.  This group’s tunes are reminiscent of the early days of swing music, where the bass kept the beat and the mandolin was a prominent fixture.  They really keep the mood upbeat and fun when they are playing!

Texas on Tour is a must-see destination at the California State Fair. Make sure to have your photo taken at the Texas on Tour gates to share your Texas visit with friends, and then come on in to have your photo taken in front of 1 of 7 different Texas scenes. Try the Alamo, Palo Duro Canyon, or even a Texas Longhorn.

We will be at the California State Fair through Sunday, July 22^nd , so make sure to check us out near the Kids Zone. Hope to see you soon!

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Texas on Tour rolled into the Mile High City this week to bring a little southern charm to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. The Discover Texas Dome fit in with the festival like a piece of art and made quite a statement against the Denver skyline, attracting visitors from far across the festival.

Some of the best moments on tour are spent sharing the joys of Texas with current residents of the cities we visit. However, those lively conversations are so much sweeter when Texas natives make an appearance to share stories from their home state.

Texas on Tour’s musical entertainers, 'Milk Drive,' brought the Texas sound with them this weekend as they 'drove' guests to do-si-do right there in the streets of Texas on Tour!

The hospitality of Denver was out-of-this-world, and our team couldn't have felt more welcome. We can't wait to return the favor when they visit for a true Texas vacation! 

Sacramento, start dusting off your cowboy hats and shining up your boots... We'll see y'all at the California State Fair on July 13^th!

Taste of Tacoma

Wow! Looking back, we can sum up our weekend at the Taste of Tacoma in two words. "Action packed."  

When you enter Texas on Tour, it is a newly implemented rule that everyone give us a bonafide southern "yeehaw!" Little did we know enthusiastic Tacoma, Washington would be the home to some of our best "yeehaws" to date! 

Austin natives The Marshall Ford Swing Band provided our soundtrack for the weekend, letting visitors kick up their boots to some authentic Texas tunes. The band drew crowds at the festival and found plenty of new fans that toe-tapped along to the upbeat swing music.

Inside the ropes of Texas on Tour, we watched many of our new friends also enjoy the trivia, virtual kayaking tour, winning prizes and other Texas on Tour experiences, making memories that transformed them into lifelong Lone Star State fans. We hope everyone makes a stop in to TravelTex.com and that we see you again in Texas soon! Maybe even at our next stop at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, July 6-8. See you there!

San Diego County Fair

We want to welcome everyone to Texas on Tour for our 2012 season!  Now in its 5th year, we have traveled all over the nation welcoming millions of festival and fairgoers to experience Texas for their next getaway or vacation.  Our first stop this 2012 season led us to lovely San Diego, California for the annual San Diego County Fair.

Throughout our week here, we welcomed many families to our event with true Texas hospitality. One of the memories that has stuck with us thus far is a young girl in a family of seven sharing her enjoyment of the “Picture Yourself in Texas” green screen experience. "Me and my mommy took funny pictures together," she said through giggles. "It was a lot of fun." The rest of the family felt the same way, telling us excitedly of the prizes they won as well as their virtual kayaking adventures.

As our time here in San Diego comes to a close, our team feels fortunate to have gotten to share the experience of traveling to Texas with so many people, while never leaving the fairgrounds. We've had the opportunity to intrigue and inspire people to visit this picturesque state, and we’re looking forward to all the invitations we have yet to extend on the 2012 tour!

While there might be a lot to learn about Texas, you can start by visiting TexasOnTour.com to find out when we are coming to a city near you or TravelTex.com to start planning your Texas getaway today! Next stop is the Taste of Tacoma, June 29-July 1. See you there!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

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

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!