Hit the road in March to enjoy wildflower season across the state.
Ranch Roads 335, 336 and 337 outside Leakey in the western Hill Country offer an exciting ride on two or four wheels. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
A crazy race. THE Texas Hill Countryroughly defined as the area west of Austinin the north of UvaldeSouth of Bradyand east of Springs, enjoys a well-deserved reputation for its unique beauty and scenic highways. Spring wildflower season explodes along the roads from March to June.
As you explore the back roads, you'll discover eclectic art exhibits on ranchers' doorsteps, fields of bluebonnets, and scenic views. West of Kerville the roads move and twist like a rodeo bronco.
Known as the Twisted Sistersthree roads from the ranch to the market outside Leak (pronounced “Lake-y” by locals) are recognized as one of the best rides in Texas by motorcyclists, but the roads are also good by car (preferably a convertible).
The 100 mile loop using Ranch Roads 335, 336 and 337 can easily take four hours or more as you maneuver hairpin turns, left doglegs and tight U-turns. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. A 15-mile stretch alone has about 65 curves. The limestone cliffs slope down to the black two-lane roof that disappears around a bend. Cell phone service is almost non-existent here, so it's not a place to have car problems.
If you want to taste the Twisted Sisters without wasting time, travel the 37 miles of RR337 between Medina and Leakey. The scenic route features a full range of climbs, descents, twists and turns.
Travel notes:
Clang-clang does the cart. Take a tram ride Victoria on the occasion of the city's 200th anniversary. THE visits once a month start with a walk through 1892 Victoria County Courthouse before boarding a replica of an old-fashioned tram for a ride through the historic district. Onboard guides share stories and insights along the way. The next tour will take place on Saturday March 9and ends with lunch in the historic center PumpHouse Riverfront Restaurant and Bar. Tickets are $35, or you can take the free self-guided tour “Driving Tour of Old Victoria.”
Several area parks, such as Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, are known for their fields of bluebonnets. (Photo courtesy of LCRA Parcs)
Wildflower Reports. The height of wildflower season In Texas, the period is from March to May, but much depends on the weather. This could be a banner year for buds. To see where the flowers are in real time, try these websites:
The total solar eclipse will cross Texas starting at 1:30 p.m. CDT. (Illustration courtesy of NASA)
Curfew. If you haven't booked to stay somewhere memorable for the Total solar eclipse on Monday April 8, you better get going. Spots sell out quickly and tourists expect massive crowds. Texas being in the totality zone two eclipses in eight months is pretty cool. If you missed the annular eclipse in October, you'll now want to prepare to brag about the solar eclipse. First, and most importantly, get yourself a pair of eclipse spectators. Cheap paper filter glasses are essential. The moon will begin to block the sun just after noon and totality will begin at 1:30 p.m. CDT near Eagle Pass and move northeast across the state. The totality will last from a few seconds to about 4.5 minutes depending on where you are in relation to the path. Austin, at the southern edge of the approximately 100-mile-wide path, will experience approximately 1 minute and 46 seconds of total solar eclipse at 1:36 p.m. CDT. THE center of the path with the longest totality times will intersect near Kerrville, FredericksburgLlano, Gatesville, Waco, Terrell, Sulfur Springs and Clarksville. The next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States will occur on August 23, 2044.
Make your reservations to sail the tall ship Elissa from Galveston in April. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
Welcome aboard! Join a one-of-a-kind outdoor adventure aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISA. This year the Official Tall Ship of Texas returns to the waters of Gulf of Mexico for its annual day sailing series, April 5-19. As one of the oldest and longest continuously sailing ships in the world, annual daily sails keep her where she works best, with sails extended, cruising the waters of the Gulf. Tickets start at $300, but the experience is priceless.
Other March events:
Navigate to a region: Big turn | Gulf Coast | the landscape with hills | Sleeve | Pine wood | Meadows and lakes | South Texas
LARGE ELBOW
Take a tour of Seminole Canyon State Park and the surrounding area to see some of the best rock art sites in the world. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
Shumla Treks to Rock Art Sites
March 17, 23 and 24, Comstock, shumla.org/shumlatreks
GULF COAST
Sea Turtle Saturday
March 2, Galveston, www.galvestonnaturetourism.org/event-sea-turtle-saturday
Fulton Oyster Festival
March 7-10, Rockport, fultonoysterfest.org
Old Victoria Bicentennial Tram Tours
March 9, Victoria, www.explorevictoriatexas.com
St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 16, Surfside Beach, www.beachblarney.com
Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta
March 23, Houston, buffalobayou.org
Brewing on the Bayou
March 23, Jackson Lake, www.gcbo.org
Bayou City Art Festival
March 23 and 24, Houston, www.bayoucityartfestival.com
THE LANDSCAPE WITH HILLS
Established in 1851, Fort McKavett saw its role as a frontier fort and was restored beginning in 1961. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
Archaeological exhibit at Fort McKavett State Historic Site
March 1-31, Fort McKavett, www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/fort-mckavett
SXSW Film, Music and Interaction Conference and Festival
March 8-16, Austin, www.sxsw.com
Rodeo Austin
March 8-23, Austin, www.rodeoaustin.com
Folkfest Second Saturday
March 9, New Braunfels, www.texashandmadefurniture.com
Art market at the art square
March 11, San Marcos, www.artsquaredmarket.com
Spring Break Living History Week
March 11-16, Fredericksburg, www.pioneermuseum.org
Texas Country Music Festival
March 14-23, Brady, hillbillyhits.com
Cooking Llano River Carts
March 15-16, Llano, www.llanochuckwagoncookoff.com
Wildflower Celebration
March 15-April 30, Fredericksburg, www.wildseedfarms.com
Enjoy music and entertainment around the old Luckenbach store. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
Market days
March 16, Blanco, www.historicblanco.org/market-day
Spring Equinox Concert in the Cave
March 16, Boerne, www.grottesansnom.com
Gillespie County Historic Schools Open House
March 9 and 30, Fredericksburg, historicalschools.org
Mud Dauber Festival and Chili Cook-off
March 16, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com
Windsync wind quintet in concert
March 17, Fredericksburg, www.fredericksburgmusicclub.com
Dripping Springs Brewers Festival
March 23, Dripping Springs, www.destinationdrippingsprings.com
Hill Country Indian Artifact Exhibit
March 23, Fredericksburg, hillcountryindianartifacts.com
Dinosaur Day
March 23, New Braunfels, www.theheritagemuseum.com
Visit to the Doeppenschmidt-Weidner Ranch
March 23, spring branch, tpwd.texas.gov
God bless the grapes and the good things that come from them. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
Blessing of the Vines: Celebration of the Estate
March 24, Stonewall, www.visit.kuhlmancellars.com/blessing-vines
Wine and wildflower trip
March 25-April 19, Hill Country, texashhillcountrywineries.org
Violin Festival
March 30-31, Llano, www.llanofiddlefest.com
SLEEVE
Outlaw and Legends Music Festival
March 29 and 30, Abilene, horslawsandlegends.com
PINE WOOD
East Texas celebrates the dogwood bloom. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)
Early Music and Dulcimer Festival
March 21-23, Palestine, oldpalmusic.com
Herb festival
March 23, Huntsville, www.texasthymeunit.org
Stained glass visits
March 23 and 30, Palestine, www.visitpalestine.com
Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration
March 22-April 7, Palestine, www.visitpalestine.com
MEADOWS AND LAKES
60th anniversary of Lake Bastrop
March 2, Bastrop, tpwd.texas.gov
Return to the days of kings and queens at Sherwood Forest Faire.
Sherwood Forest Fair
March 2-April 21, McDade, www.sherwoodforestfaire.com
The Farm Street Opry in concert
March 7-June 6, Bastrop, www.farmstreetopry.com
Texas Steel Guitar Jamboree
March 7-10, Irving, texassteelguitar.org/jam.html
Texas Rangers Day
March 9, Burton, www.burtonheritagesociety.org/celebrate
Spring Festival and sale of native plants
March 9, Lockhart, tpwd.texas.gov
Rajun' Cajun Throwdown
March 9, Luling, www.lulingmainstreet.com/RajunCajun.php
Spring Antiques Show
March 14-31, Round Top, www.exploreroundtop.com
Texas Pinball Festival
March 15-17, Frisco, texaspinball.com/tpf
St. Patrick's Day
March 17, Séguin, www.johnnypicklesdistillery.com
Dallas Arboretum Food and Wine Festival
March 21, Dallas, www.dallasarboretum.org
Gaze at the People: Photographs by RC Hickman from Black Dallas, 1949-1961
March 29-May 18, Irving, www.irvingartscenter.com
SOUTH TEXAS
Return of Travis' letter to the Alamo
From March 1 to 24, San Antonio, www.thealamo.org/visit/return-of-the-travis-letter
Southwest Experience
March 2, Hebbronville, www.eventbrite.com/e/southwest-experience-tickets-693285053257
Anhalt Cajun Festival
March 16, spring branch, anhalthall.com
Gerald McLeod has been traveling throughout Texas and beyond for his “Day Trips” column for more than 25 years. Keep up to date with his travels on his archive page and follow him Facebook.
