As you already know, my family has a lot of kids -- five of our own and always at least one additional kid who is staying with us for one reason or another.
Having at least five kids in our home often makes it hard to go to many "cool" vacation spots.
I mean, more kids = more $$ spent, and I am way too frugal to be able to enjoy myself if I know it's breaking the bank! (I know I need to work on this!)
Anyway, last year three of the six kids living with us graduated high school and flew the coop! This meant that (for now) we only have THREE kids at home!
I know! I KNOW! You are asking yourself "What does she do with all that free time?" Right? Well I'll be sure to let ya know as soon as I find some of that "Free Time!"
We decided to take advantage of our temporary smaller family size and do something cool! We went to Moody Gardens in Galveston.
It has been years since we visited this fun family spot.
I had almost forgotten how much fun it was!
I mean, there is something for everyone!
Look at all there is to enjoy!
I loved the "Bodies Reviled" Exhibition!
Hubby and the 8-year-old Little-Foreman-in-Pink were not as impressed seeing bodies uncovered. But I think it's super-cool! Look!
Yep! those are REAL HUMAN Bodies! Way cool!
The Little-Foreman-in-Pink loved the Rain Forest Pyramid!
It is SO great knowing that you can visit a real rainforest less than an hour away from Houston! The Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid holds over 1,000 species of exotic plants and animals from the rainforests of Africa, Asia and the Americas that populate the multi-level 10-story glass pyramid.
Look at just a few of the many many things that were on display!
The kids all LOVED the animals!
They were all so healthy and lively! I was VERY impressed!
And get this!
Now they have PENGUINS!
YAY!
There is SO much to do and see at Moody Gardens! I am so glad we took the time to go somewhere so wonderful right in our own back yard! You should come explore our backyard too!
Texas ROCKS!
$100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway
Travel Texas and BlogHer are sponsoring a great giveaway to one lucky reader. Please leave a comment telling me where you'd like to visit in Texas. You can request a free Texas Travel Guide from the TravelTex.com website where you can get lots of great ideas!
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 5/1/2012-6/1/2012.
Be sure to visit the Discover Texas page on BlogHer.com where you can read about other bloggers' adventures and find more chances to win!
UPDATE!!!
The randomly selected winner is......
Tiffany W!!!
Watch your e-mail in box for details!!
UPDATE!!!
The randomly selected winner is......
Tiffany W!!!
Watch your e-mail in box for details!!
95 amazing comments. Talk To Me!!:
I would love to take a fun family trip to either San Antonio or Galveston.
Sounds like y'all had a great time! My parents visited San Antonio for vacation when I was younger (I stayed with family) and after seeing their pictures I've always wanted to visit.
I want to visit this place! Moody Gardens in Galveston or Dallas to visit friends!
I would love to visit San Antonio and the River Walk!
jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
I tweeted too
https://twitter.com/#!/jrwarfield/status/199179773128355840
jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
I'd love to visit Austin. I've heard good things.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
tweet:
https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/199492595620118528
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
I really wish that some day a visit Austin.
I twitted
https://twitter.com/#!/JoyfulAbode/status/199492266522456065
I would like to visit San Antonio
elena150980@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/199522390034755584
elena150980@yahoo.com
i would like to visit austin to see the parks :)
vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/199557875763396609
vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
I would love to visit Dallas and/or Houston and Galveston. 17 years ago, my husband was able to take me on a business trip with him to Dallas and we fell in love with the beauty and the friendliness of Texas. I've always wanted to return for a family vacation, but we also have 5 children and face the same vacation $$ issues and never got the opportunity to take that vacation before my husband passed away unexpectedly 3 yrs ago. Since then, I've reconnected with friends in Dallas and have new ones in the Houston area. They all have invited us to visit. I'd love to be able to take them up on their offers! :)
I'd love to go to Dallas- I have family there!
family74014 at gmail dot com
I'd like to visit Houston.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/200012984922279938
My kids would love the animals too! We just moved to DFW and we have been wanting to check out San Antonio and the Ft. Worth zoo
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/SweepsMama/status/200022105553768450
I'd love to visit the Big Bend country ...and the hill country and little historical towns. I would like to see the country rather than the cities.
https://twitter.com/#!/rusthawk/status/200091896389959680
I would like to visit Dallas.
rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com
i want to visit San Antonio
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/200271573951840256
thepryfamily@gmail.com
I really want to visit Austin!
dmarie824 at aol dot com
Tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/dmarie824/status/200339292508266498
id like to travel to san antonio! scg00387 at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/200417283049390080 scg00387 at yahoo dot com
i want to visit san antonio! i so many good things about texas! Thanks for a super giveaway!
My email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/anashct3/status/200544093607165953
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Moody Gardens is a neat place. Great post. I've only lived in Texas for 12 years. There's so much of this state I've never ventured to.
I would love to visit Austin for amazing food, great music and a great time!
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/201012436940242944
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
I seriously have to visit Austin. So much great food and culture!
[mckinneymommas at yahoo dot com]
THE Centennial Museum & Chihuahuan Desert Gardens IN EL PASO! THANKS FOR THE CHANCE!
kytah00@yahoo.com
2ND ENTRY TWEET! https://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/201500225368629248
I'd like to visit San Antonio.
merleandtina@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/202045709413916672
merleandtina@yahoo.com
Houston
karinaroselee at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/#!/karinaroselee/status/202094104597905408
karinaroselee at gmail dot com
i have family in Texas i wanna come and visit
freebiel0ve@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/#!/akronugurl/status/202105679878696960
freebiel0ve@yahoo.com
I would go to Houston
i tweeted - https://twitter.com/#!/onitnaram/status/202915310985162752
San Antonio River Walk -- I've heatd so many great things about it.
I would love to visit Big Bend.
I would love to visit San Antonio!
Thanks for a chance to win and have a great day!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
Every part of Texas I've been to has been beautiful, but I'd love to visit Houston next.
chainmail (at)iwon (dot) com
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/The_Sunshyn/status/203694750732259328
chainmail (at)iwon (dot) com
Would love to go back to Austin and San Antonio.
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
I'd like to tour the Hill Country. Loved your fun review
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/BBirdie2/status/203985197211992064
Austin, of course. I've heard great things about it, and it supposedly has the most bloggers per capita of any other US city.
South Padre Island, i didn't even realize texas had any islands until i saw it online
thismomwins@gmail.com
Austin! I've heard it's fabulous. So I want to visit.
Here's where you can find my tweet.
https://twitter.com/#!/fugeecat
i'd love to visit San Antonio again - its been quite some time since I've been there
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
i tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/204755054652166145
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
Corpus Christi
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/204787858567987200
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/204959289033494528
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
I'd like to visit fort worth, i want to visit the gardens and the zoo, and go shopping. Thanks for the giveaway.
songyueyu at gmail
tweet: https://twitter.com/syytta/status/205567115955146752
songyueyu at gmail
I would love to visit the NASA in Clear Lake.
tweet https://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/205833367479009280
We would like to visit the Dallas Aquarium. So much fun!! We would also like to take the kids to the river walk in San Antonio and the kids museum there.
tweet https://twitter.com/thismomwins2/status/206476515981017088
thismomwins@gmail.com
I'd love to visit Austin!
deeg131 at gmail dot com
tweeted http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/206836405442314242
deeg131 at gmail dot com
I'd like to visit Fredericksberg. I need some relaxation in my life and after a number of drive through visits I still haven't spent any time there.
I would like to visit Houston the biggest city in Texas and visit the 1940 Air Terminal Museum as well as the Bayou Bend Collection of the Fine Arts: 28-room Latin Colonial Structure.
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I tweeted about this giveaway: https://twitter.com/ctong2/status/206989234245091328
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I grew up in Austin and remember going to Galveston as a kid. So much fun. Actually living in Rochester, New York now, but heading to Austin tomorrow for a quick visit. Can't wait!
EVERYTHING {San Anton ...io} ...
jig away my dear, jig away!!!
Anywhere in Texas hill country would make me happy. Of course I'd love to head south and hit the beaches.
willitara [at] gmail [dot] com
I'd love to visit Austin. My husband raves about the city, and I've always heard such great things!
niftyfoodie at gmail dot com
The Alamo for sure. My husband is a history-buff and has said for years we have to visit. I'd love to see all the artifacts people have found.
shel704 at aol dot com
https://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/207363529349660674
shel704 at aol dot com
Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area sounds like heaven to me! Check out this info:
There is no electricity, concession, or drinking water on the island. All visitors are required to bring all necessary supplies with them.
All interior access is via hiking, biking, or TPWD vehicles during scheduled hunts or tours. No private motorized vehicles!
Special Note: Persons can continue to utilize the Sunday Beach area, accessed via boat from either the Gulf or Pass Cavallo, for camping, beach combing, fishing, and bird watching. There are no fees, permits, or restrictions on the use of this area.
LOVE IT!!!!!
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/207492024247648257
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
I would like to visit Houston. My niece lives there so it would be a great place to start.
MCantu1019 at aol dot com
I've always wanted to visit Austin, TX
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/MsCarolsueA/status/208129081286475776
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I want to goto San Antonio, we have friends there and they say there is a lot to do! I want to check out some of their local restaurant. sweepmorey at gmail dot com
tweeted https://twitter.com/mommysdizzy/status/208317587203952640
I would love to visit the Dallas Fort Worth area and check out a Cowboys game!
jfong1130 at yahoo dot com
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/jfong1130/status/208406608642973696
jfong1130 at yahoo dot com
I love the beach so would love to visit Galveston.
mybeachylife at gmail dot com
The "Bodies Reviled" exhibition looks neat! My kids would love that! :) I’d really like to take a trip to Galveston someday.
westiemks5@yahoo.com
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/Pixel_Berry_Pie/status/208661623190208513
westiemks5@yahoo.com
I’d like to visit Austin, Texas to attend the SXSW festival.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
https://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/208682541765500928
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
I remember seeing "Body Worlds," a similar exhibit, at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry a few years ago. I was never the same! Are there museums in your area?
a78gcok9h
Feel free to visit my blog ... halogen oven
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