http://mywisewife.com/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:15:18 -0700 Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management en-gb http://mywisewife.com/texas-austin-mckinney-falls-state-park.html



As the name calls, the focal point of the park is McKinney Falls. Although this is the shortest traveled state park from home, we decided to spend a full day at McKinney Park in order to put our newly bought mobile gas stove for good use. Weather was cold in winter, wind chilled on average reaching 50 plus degree Fahrenheit, so guess it would be great to have a 'steamboat' (or hot pot) picnic for lunch to welcome New Year 2010!
]]> frontpage Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-prairie-lights-drive-through-millions-of-christmas-lights.html



For us, the last Christmas was an unforgettable experience. Our plan on Christmas eve was to see millions of lights at Prairie Lights, which was held at Lynn Creek Park by Joe Pool Lake, south of Grand Prairie Downtown on Lake Ridge Parkway. It turned out that God had a better plan for us, snowing the whole afternoon and below freezing temperature at night and we had a wonderful white Christmas on the following morning!
]]> frontpage Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-grand-prairie-cedar-hill-state-park.html



Encompassed an area of 1,826 acre of nature preserve on the east of Joe Pool Lake, this park features 10-lane boat ramps giving access to the water. Tonnes of picnic tables ranging from shade shelter or open outdoor are provided within the park, majority overlooking the scenic view of Joe Pool Lake. More than 300 campsites are developed in the wood, with basic facilities such as water, electricity, rest room and hot shower. If you are interested for primitive camping, there easily 30 sites to choose from.
]]> frontpage Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-dallas-attraction-pioneer-plaza-world-largest-bronze-sculptures.html






To commemorate the legacy of 19th century cattle drive that passed via Dallas, a 4.2 acre plaza was built with a herd of Texas longhorn steers and cowboys on horseback sculptures. Each bronze steer is taller than me, about six-feet high and so does the cowboy, perhaps double of my size. A dramatic feature composed by the designer is amazingly whereby the real scene of cattle drive was mimicked, descending an artificial ridge then crossing the stream in a park with one cowboy driving a stubborn steer and another cowboy watching attentively on top of the hill.
]]> frontpage Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-dallas-attraction-john-fitzgerald-kennedy-memorial-plaza-jfk-cenotaph.html

Erected in 1970 and entirely funded by Dallas citizens, the monument is a simple roofless room with 4 walls of 30 feet high and 50 feet wide. There are two narrow openings facing north and south. Ornamented with identical circles that runs from bottom to top at each corner, the monument does resemble a mammoth LEGO block in a way.




Once we entered into the white square, we were greeted by a low-hewn granite square carved with the name John Fitzgerald Kennedy in gold. Only that and nothing else.
]]> frontpage Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-dallas-attraction-west-end-historic-district-old-red-museum.html


Serving as the symbol of Dallas's heritage, Old Red Museum was built in 1892 and today it is dedicated to educate visitors about the journey of its past including the political, economics, social and cultural aspects of Dallas County area. The history of Dallas is showcased here with exhibits, galleries, artifacts and mini theaters.
]]> frontpage Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-dallas-attraction-the-sixth-floor-museum-texas-school-book-depository.html


Precisely, the address of this building is 411 Elm Street. This land was originally owned by John Neely Bryan. In 1894, Rock Island Plow company purchased the site and constructed a five-story building four years later. In 1901, lighting stuck and burned almost to the ground resulted it to be rebuilt in 1903. Erected in Romanesque Revival Style, the building was expanded to seven stories like what we see today.
]]> frontpage Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-dallas-attraction-dealey-plaza-jfk-assasination-site.html

Nestled on the western edge of Dallas Downtown by a grassy knoll near a triple underpass and a railroad bridge atop, there is a small urban park called Dealey Plaza. When I first learned about the name of this place, the first impression I had was a four-wall confined building since it was named a 'plaza'. Guess this is the implication of too much feed from shopping malls context in the concrete jungles.





Standing in-between Commerce Street and Elm Street, the open-air plaza is separated half by the one-way Main Street. Looking towards south gives a good view of Reunion Tower - the iconic landmark of Dallas whilst the opposite is the historic building of Old Red Museum.

On the same ground,  there is a bronze statue of George Bannerman Dealey. He was a well-known civic leader and formerly a publisher of The Dallas Morning News. Many of us mistakenly refer Dealey Plaza and the statue were built in honor of President John F. Kennedy since Dealey Plaza is typically cited as the venue where JFK was shot. On contrary, this square has been around since 1940.
]]> frontpage Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-dallas-attraction-reunion-tower.html
Located at Reunion District in Dallas Downtown, Reunion Tower was completed in 1978 with 50-story as part of urban redevelopment project. In 2000, Reunion Tower is linked to Hyatt Regency Dallas, after the structure was extended to accommodate an upscale hotel.

The architecture of the tower is supported by a central cylindrical shaft and the dome consists of three floors. The tower has undergone a major renovation since November 2007.

]]> frontpage Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 -0700 http://mywisewife.com/texas-arlington-dallas-cowboys-football-stadium.html
Since we were visiting Arlington on last Christmas, guess it is worth to wander at the new home to the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, that was just completed in May last year (2009) and costed $1.1 billion dollar!

Even from afar, one can't miss this stadium. Silver shining walls of a dome shape, Cowboy Stadium was built with a retractable roof located on Randol Mill Rd not too far from Texas Rangers Ballpark and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor.
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