— Sometimes you do not have to travel far to run into unexpected beauty and tranquility. I often go to the Northeast Metropolitan Park to start some of my most scenic bike rides. This pond is close to several soccer … Read More

— Tucked in north Austin in Wells Branch, the Mills Pond Recreation Area is a beauty at any time throughout the year, and especially in the fall, when the multi-colored trees paint a vibrant landscape around this lovely pond. The … Read More

— October 12 is known in Brazil as the day to celebrate that nation’s patron saint. The story of Our Lady of Aparecida (in Portuguese, Nossa Senhora Aparecida) goes back to October 1717 when three fishermen, after being unsuccessful in … Read More

— I first heard about the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory while watching a weekly TV show from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. I would probably call the observatory an odd combination generating a world of good. Hornsby Bend is … Read More

— Just last November 2018 this was the scene at the Southern Walnut Creek Hike and Bike trail. Fall colors were all over the trail. As we begin Fall 2019, I wonder where we will have a beautiful display of … Read More

— Back in 2012 we spent a few weeks in Italy. Although we enjoyed every city we visited, there was just something very special about Assisi. We cannot pinpoint what it was. There was the Basilica, Rocca Maggiori, and the … Read More

In 2018, we spent a month in Portugal traveling all over the country. One of our stops was the city of Évora. We stayed right in the middle of the historical city center and parked our rental car near the … Read More

— With the extremely hot temperatures we are having in Austin this summer, we have been making sure our backyard has ample water for wildlife. We have noticed an increased number of animals taking a break from the heat under … Read More

— Whenever I bike the Southern Walnut Creek Hike & Bike trail in Austin, I know that besides tranquility, I can often run into beautiful scenery, whether it’s wildlife and/or wildflowers. If you ride the entire trail, you will cover … Read More

— Just under 2 miles (3.2 km) from our house, the Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park is a heavily used park in north Austin. The park is 293 acres of biking/hiking trails, playground, sports fields, and a swimming pool. There are … Read More

— In 2008 we had an adventurous vacation in the beautiful country of El Salvador. With a native friend preparing the itinerary for us, we were blessed with a most perfect vacation. Everything worked out well without a glitch. One … Read More

— Austin artist Raúl Valdez has been making murals in Austin, Central Texas, and beyond since 1975. So, when the Steve Hicks School of Social Work on the UT Austin campus was moving to its location on San Jacinto Boulevard, … Read More