Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum

We are at Medina Lake near San Antonio, TX now & my computer is very very slow here... It takes hours just to open a blog and comment.... so I haven't forgotten you all I'm just so slow. Please be patient with me... I know it'll get better!

If you visit Austin be sure to find time to tour the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. It's located near the campus of the University of Texas and there is no charge for admission. We visited it and it was very emotional for us as we remembered an era of so much tragedy & war... and yet some of the best days of our lives. What a mix of feelings!

picture on the right is the fountain & Texas Longhorn Stadium

Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States (1963-1969). And what an eventful period it was: the Cuban missile crisis, the assassination of John F. and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr, the Vietnam war, the Black Civil Rights Movement, the creation of government funding for welfare, NASA, social security, education funding..... It was a busy the time period was when LBJ was in the White House. The exhibition also moves away from politics to help you discover the Swinging Sixties era through music, fashion, books, etc. Remember Twiggy, The Beatles and the British invasion of music???

The museum contains a replica of LBJ's White House Oval Office as it was during his terms as President. Many exhibits related to his policy while in the White House as well as other interesting items like one of his limousines from his Presidency on display as well as an animatronic LBJ decked out in Western wear trading folksy and funny stories of which Johnson was well known for.

The Oval Office as it was in the 60's

The archives and Presidential seal

Johnson's limousine & Car given to him from Henry Ford II

In addition, a gallery highlighting the First Lady's life from the Johnson's first date to their adventure in politics is nicely organized on the top floor. Also featured is one of her ball gowns and a nod to The Lady Bird Special, her contribution to LBJ's Presidential campaign. Each First Lady has the privilege of choosing the pattern of china they will be using in the White House.

Lady Bird choice was a Texas Wildflower design.

This was a very memorable & emotional visit... I highly recommend it !

Until Later... Have FUN, Travel Safe & Enjoy Everyday!

The Capital of Texas

We love going to visit the State Capital Buildings in the states that we visit. So being in Austin it was a must do for us to go see the Texas Capitol building. We wanted to do the tour of the capital but because we had already did so much that day my knee just wouldn't permit it... We will do it next visit. The slogan states that "everything is bigger in Texas," and if you look at the Capitol, the phrase rings true. Standing a stately 309 feet and modeled after the nation's Capitol in Washington D.C., this is the nation's tallest. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers and constructed of red granite, the Capitol took more than seven years to complete. It was finished in 1888, at a total cost of more than three million dollars, an extravagant price even by today's standards. During the dedication, Temple Houston, son of Sam Houston, had this to say about the structure: "This building fires the heart and excites reflections in the minds of all... the architecture of a civilization is its most enduring feature, and by this structure shall Texas transmit herself to posterity..."

Picture on left is a view from the University of Texas campus

In 1983, a fire almost destroyed the building. The State Preservation Board was then formed to help preserve, maintain, and restore the Capitol and its grounds. In 1990, a project began to expand the building, and by 1993, 667,000 square feet had been added. Over the years, many more improvements have been made to the Capitol.

Inside the dome

The Capitol Visitors Center is located in the General Land Office Building, which was built in 1856, making it Texas’ oldest state office building. It is located at the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds and for all you budget minded people the admission is free. It contains a gift shop and many exhibits, including photos, videos, artifacts. We missed going into this too but I am not worried because we plan on coming back to Austin next year on the way to the west coast...

The Texas Governor's Mansion has been the home of every Texas governor since 1856. It is the fourth-oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the United States. The building is an important example of Greek Revival architecture and contains one of the nation's finest collections of early 19th century furniture. Sadly in June 2008 it was damaged badly by fire and still today not renovated. We couldn't even see it because of all the construction. But I wanted you all to see it so I am posting a before and after picture I got from the Internet.

Until Later... Have FUN, Travel Safe & Enjoy Everyday!

Oak Forrest RV Park in Austin, Texas

We arrived at Oak Forrest RV park (which is located on the outskirts of Austin) yesterday afternoon around 2 pm .. We didn't know what to expect but we did know it is a Passport America park and we don't expect much from them... This park is definitely the exception! We pulled into a beautifully landscaped park with a check-in office that was more then welcoming...

Once inside the charming man sitting behind the desk check us in. After a ton of questions from my husband and me snooping around the office gathering maps and brochures... also a cute little gift shop that I had to browse we finally were on our way to our site. Not to far to go since we had site #1 which is right across from the pool, hot tub, work out room, laundry and beautiful shower area.

The sites are 30/50 amp, W/E, cable TV, cement pad and grass on both sides of the coach... Of course being winter it is kind of brownish. All in all we felt this is a great deal at $22.00 a night (passport price) and we'll be here 3 nights.

Here is a carving of a coyote that someone did on an old tree that had died... Amazing the talent that people have and what a great idea for a dead tree...

Just click on pics to get a better view

There are so many things to see & do while in Austin but since we are here only 2 full days here is what I want to do:

• Johnson’s Presidential Library
• State Capitol
• University of Texas

Until Later... Have FUN, Travel Safe & Enjoy Everyday!