Texas — big on history and things to do

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 15

Texas — big on history and things to do

| TUESDAY TRAVEL

The greatest advantage Americas Deep South offers visitors from afar is the speed and ease with which they can move from one colourful and legend-woven area to another. From New Orleans, for instance, it is less than an hour by air to the historic cities of Texas. Mississippi. Alabama, and Florida that feature so prominently in the story of the making of America.

Centre, the Astrodome covered sports stadium which can hold 66,000 people, and a central park said to be practically oozing with oil. the N.A.S.A. L.B.J. Space Centre is 40 km south-east of the centre city and visitors should allow half a day to make the trip. The flight training chambers and mission control centre are open to the public and admission is free. Astroworld, a 70-acre family entertainment park which almost equals Disneyland, is also worth a visit. Attractions include roller coasters an a loop ride called Greased Lightning. One of the advantages of Astroworld is the admission price which allows free access to all attractions.

About 300 km south-west of Houston is San Antonio, a much smaller but equally prosperous city retaining much of its Spanish heritage. It was there in 1836 that Texan troops and the Mexican army fought the Battle of the Alamo, a frontier fort and mission now preserved as a museum. Christchurch could learn a thing or two from San Antonio’s planners who three years ago transformed the Avon-like river that flows through the city into a delightful waterway plied by taxi barges and pedal craft and lined by sidewalk cafes, shops, and landscaped gardens. River rides are available only from March to October. Arizona, the other State on our itinerary, boasts the Grand Canyon,

the majesty of which can be experienced from a river raft or a trail ride, or for those like us with little time, from the comfort of a low-flying aircraft. Phoenix, the state’s largest city. 400 km south of the Canyon, sprawls across a barren landscape. While its year-round warmth draws many visitors from the northern states. Phoenix really has little to lure the New Zealand visitor. San Diego, on the other hand, is so accessible that even New Zealanders limited to 48 hours in Los Angeles often manage to spend half that time visiting the famed Sea World and San Diego Zoo, surely one of the best in the world.

An eight-hour train journey took us west across the Louisiana border to Houston, Texas* second largest city and home of the N.A.SA. Space