Answers To Go - Nov. 15, 2009 » Columns » San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Columns

November 14, 2009

Answers To Go - Nov. 15, 2009

Traveling in Texas: Author Kimball has the inside track

By Susan Smith The San Marcos Record Sat Nov 14, 2009, 11:10 AM CST

Each week hundreds of people call or visit the San Marcos Public Library to find information. "Answers•To•Go" highlights recently received questions. Please visit the library at 625 East Hopkins, call 393-8200 for information over the phone, or e-mail us through our web-page at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/library.htm.

Q. I’m planning to take the kids to Big Bend for the long Thanksgiving weekend. My friend said her kids loved a ghost town there, but she couldn’t remember exactly where it was. Could you help me find it?

A. Some folks think of the start of fall as football season. For me, the onset of cool weather brings hiking season!

Let’s start with Allan Kimball’s “Fun with the Family, Texas.” I think his section on Big Bend’s scenic drives has the information you’re looking for: “Farm Road 170 from Presidio to Lajitas is known as El Camino del Rio, the River Road, and it’s one of the most scenic drives in Texas.

“The road runs alongside the Rio Grande for several miles, with mountains looming up on both sides. One of the interesting places along the drive is at Contrabando Creek on the south side of the road on the banks of the Rio Grande. It’s easy to miss, so keep an eye peeled.

“This movie site is a complete border town of authentic looking, 1880s-era ruins. Many films —including the TV miniseries “Streets of Laredo” — were shot here. This is an absolutely wonderful place for photos of children.”

Since Kimball said it was easy to miss the turn-off, I called Big Bend State Park for more details. The ranger estimated that the movie set is about five miles west of Lajitas.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there are a number of ghost towns in that region. Another possibility is the remains of an abandoned mining town at Terlingua. I expect there are others.

Kimball’s newest book, “Who is Mother Neff and Why Is She a State Park?” might be just the thing for under the Christmas tree. You can plan your next outings and learn the history of Texas state parks’ names.

You can pick up a copy at the library when Kimball joins 42 other writers at the public library’s Texas Author Day on Sunday, Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. Our authors cover the full spectrum of books for children and adults.

Text Only

Columns

A Word About Recycling - Jan. 22, 2012
Not-so-good news. Some of you may have seen an article on this, but we did not.

January 22, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 22, 2012
January 22, 2012
A Word About Recycling - Jan. 15, 2012
A few items, concerning other countries, contained in a recent Resource Recycling eNewsletter we found interesting.

January 15, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 15, 2012
What will Heaven be like? This age-old question has been answered in many ways. Heaven has been made the butt of thousands of jokes. These usually begin with three people approaching those pearly gates and having a conversation with Peter, the apostle and holder of the keys to the blessed land.

January 15, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 8, 2012
A whole week has passed since the New Year began. Hold up your hand if you have already broken one or more of your resolutions. Okay. you can put your hands down now.

January 8, 2012
A Word About Recycling - Jan. 8, 2012
As we go forth in this new year, here's a couple of items from Resource Recycling pertaining to Texas towns...

January 8, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 1, 2012
As I began thinking about today’s essay I sensed a presence of the ghost of New Years past. I’m at the age of “if I make it ‘til …” So, if I make it ‘til Sunday I will have been around for 80 changes of the calendar.

January 1, 2012
Life's Like That - Dec. 25, 2011
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Geseende kersfees, Gezur Krislinjin, Bon Nadali un Bon Any Nou, Joyeux Noel these words ring out all around the world today …

December 25, 2011
A Word About Recycling - Dec. 18, 2011
With Christmas coming soon, one of the pictures we have in our minds of Santa is the one which Coca-Cola had early on in their ads. Thus this item in the Resource Recycling eNewsletter caught our eye,

December 18, 2011
Life's Like That - Dec. 18, 2011
Christmas time is a good time to give thought to the veteran next door, or he or she may be living in your house.

December 18, 2011
More Columns Headlines

Columns

Search Results