travel – Page 9 – Joe Alexander

Fort Worth Stockyards

The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is packed with restaurants, shops, drinking establishments, world famous country music honky tonk Billy Bob’s Texas and, of course, the stockyards and their resident herd.

Official site: www.fortworthstockyards.org

Official site: billybobstexas.com

The Fort Worth Stockyards district. - photo by Joe Alexander — Fort Worth Stockyards

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Fort Worth

You can’t have a first-class road trip if you don’t eat right.

My first stop was Fort Worth and legendary Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que.

Located next to Billy Bob’s Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards area, Cooper’s has been serving Texas Style barbeque since 1962.

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Fort Worth, Texas. - photo by Joe Alexander — Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

Port Isabel Lighthouse

The old Port Isabel Lighthouse on the lower gulf coast of Texas is 57 feet tall and was built in 1852.

Texas Highway 100 passes nearby as it becomes the Queen Isabella Causeway from Port Isabel to South Padre Island.

Port Isabel Lighthouse on the lower gulf coast of Texas. - photo by Joe Alexander — Port Isabel Lighthouse

Neighborhood around the Port Isabel Lighthouse on the lower gulf coast of Texas. - photo by Joe Alexander — Port Isabel Lighthouse

SandCastle Village at South Padre Island

SandCastle Village is just off Padre Boulevard on the Laguna Madre side of South Padre Island, Texas, on West Ling Street.

Food and nightlife in South Padre Island, Texas

Long Board Bar & Grill at South Padre Island, Texas in June, 2022. - photo by Joe Alexander — Long Board Bar & Grill at South Padre Island, Texas in June, 2022. – photo by Joe Alexander

There are plenty of shops, restaurants and hotels along Padre Boulevard – the main thoroughfare running north and south through the island.

There are popular waterfront bars on the Laguna Madre side of the island.

South Padre Island, Texas in June, 2022. - photo by Joe Alexander — South Padre Island

Beach life at South Padre Island, Texas

The beach was filled with families on a hazy, cloudy weekday afternoon in June. - photo by Joe Alexander — The beach was filled with families on a hazy, cloudy weekday afternoon in June. – photo by Joe Alexander

South Padre Island is a barrier island on Texas’ lower coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

The gulf side of the island is lined with hotels and condos that face the wide beach and the waves.

Beach flowers at South Padre Island, Texas

Beach flowers at South Padre Island. - photo by Joe Alexander — Beach flowers at South Padre Island. – photo by Joe Alexander

The dunes on the gulf side of South Padre Island are covered with the usual dark green beach vegetation. In late June, there are purple and white flowers to liven things up.

Pelicans at South Padre Island, Texas

Coming in for a landing. Brown pelicans are common at South Padre Island, Texas. - photo by Joe Alexander — Coming in for a landing. Brown pelicans are common at South Padre Island, Texas. – photo by Joe Alexander

Brown pelicans are found all along Texas’ lower coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

You can see them at South Padre Island flying over the water or perched on poles in the Laguna Madre.

Brown pelicans are common at South Padre Island, Texas. - photo by Joe Alexander — South Padre Island pelicans

View of Queen Isabella Causeway from Port Isabel, Texas

View of the Queen Isabella Causeway looking toward South Padre Island from the area near the Port Isabel Lighthouse on a cloudy morning in June. - photo by Joe Alexander — View of the Queen Isabella Causeway looking toward South Padre Island from the area near the Port Isabel Lighthouse on a cloudy morning in June. – photo by Joe Alexander

The Queen Isabella Causeway crosses the Laguna Madre from Port Isabel to South Padre Island along Texas’ lower coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas Highway 100 East runs through Port Isabel to the Causeway and becomes Padre Boulevard on South Padre Island.

Queen Isabella Causeway near the Port Isabel Lighthouse. - photo by Joe Alexander — Queen Isabella Causeway

Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Just a block away from the main strip of restaurants, bars and shops in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, is Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. A few statues outside of the museum will give you just a taste of what awaits inside.

Official website: scottsdalemuseumwest.org

Story on the museum: thetravellingfool.com