North Texas | 24inTX

ENNIS

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Ashley Landis.

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Whew! What a crazy spring!!! From SXSW to Fort Hood to President Obama to NBA Playoffs, I’ve been photographing everything I can put my eyes on for two months. I’ve enjoyed it immensely, but it’s time I get back to traveling on my own terms.

First stop, Ennis – the bluebonnet capitol of Texas.

Bluebonnets are my all-time favorite flower. Every spring I get giddy when I see them pop up on the sides of the highway, and I thumb through the pages of the wildflower edition of Texas Highways like a little kid looking at a new comic book. I can’t help it, I’m a Texas girl.

So when deciding where I should go for my first trip back from a longer-than-expected hiatus, my first Google search was “bluebonnets.”

CEDAR HILL STATE PARK

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Ashley Landis.

1 Reply

Cedar1634

I grew up north of Dallas and we’d go on family camping trips all over the state, but we always traveled outside of the metroplex. I guess that’s why I was surprised to learn that Cedar Hill State Park was only about an hour from where I went to elementary school.

I had to be in Dallas for work on Saturday, so I drove up a day early to enjoy the park.

I packed my camping gear and borrowed a kayak to paddle Joe Pool Lake, then drove north. When I got to the park, I was even more surprised to find out about a little gem called Penn Farm.

Cedar1735 Read more →

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Ashley Landis.

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How could I do a travel blog in Texas and not include the biggest Texan of them all?

Big Tex made his comeback this year after a horrific fire during the 2012 fair. I don’t know about you, but watching videos of Big Tex burning was like watching a family member in a car accident.

When I was a kid growing up in the Dallas area, we received free fair tickets at school and districts were closed on opening day for Fair Day. Big Tex was just as much an icon to me as fireworks on the 4th of July or turkey on Thanksgiving.

Don’t worry, Big Tex is back!

I recruited my my friend (and WFAA photojournalist) Taylor and uncle (and family fair expert) Jeff to help me with lots of fair food, fun and photography.