On any week night we may often be found joining several friends for pre-dinner drinks and conversation in the Pub at Meadowlark Hills. To us, the most satisfying feature of this evening routine is...
Outdoor Encounters
February 6, 2025
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More than 1 million visitors are expected to visit Grapevine, Texas, (population 50,981) during its annual Christmas Capital of Texas celebration, and the Meadowlark Travelers were 38 of that number on Dec. 6 and 7, ready to experience some Texas-size fun. In addition to tour leaders Becky Fitzgerald and Monte Spiller, our group was composed of residents, Passport members, and family members.
“The activities were great, the resort was certainly something special, and the stores and story of Grapevine were interesting,” wrote Marcia Stockham, Passport member, in a message this week to Fitzgerald and Spiller. “Thank you so much for allowing Passport members to join these trips. (I’m) looking forward to the next one.”
While rides on a vintage train, gingerbread cookie decorating, and opportunities to whisper Christmas wishes into Santa’s ear attracted families with small children, the sights Meadowlark Travelers saw generally had an educational or nostalgic component.
At Grapevine Main Station, reminiscent of grand railway stations of the 19th century, we ascended 150 feet to the deck of an observation tower for a 360-degree view of historic main street and the distant skylines of Dallas and Fort Worth. We also could watch as planes came and went from DFW airport.
Back on the ground, we entered Peace Circle, an art display with bronze sculptures, depicting an 1843 peace treaty negotiation between then President of the Texas Republic Sam Houston and 10 Native American Chiefs/leaders.
The vintage vignettes at the Hometown Christmas exhibit at Grapevine’s CVB headquarters provided picture-perfect moments, and the model trains delighted the kid in many of us.
Next, it was off to Gaylord Texan Resort, where we chilled out at ICE! Forty artisans from Harbin, China, used chainsaws and various chisels to carve the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from more than 2 million pounds of ice. Fortunately, attraction staff provided parkas for attendees — exhibit rooms are kept at 9 degrees!
Going and coming from Grapevine, we stopped in Oklahoma City, touring the Red Earth Art Center, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. At Red Earth, we listened as docents described ornaments on several TreeFest entries, decorated according to the history and culture of various native tribes that now call Oklahoma home.
At the art museum, we strolled past colorful blown glass created by famed glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. The exhibit celebrates his five-decade career and offered insight to the hows and whys of the featured pieces.
On the last day of the getaway, we returned to Oklahoma’s capital to view paintings, sculptures, artifacts, and more at the cowboy museum. The Travelers had free time to explore one or more galleries dedicated to cowboys, Indians, frontier soldiers, American rodeo, firearms, clothing, and more.
The Meadowlark Travelers program was started in 2004; the recent Happy Holiday Getaway was the 23rd adventure led by Meadowlark staff. If you have a destination suggestion, please contact Spiller or Fitzgerald.
On any week night we may often be found joining several friends for pre-dinner drinks and conversation in the Pub at Meadowlark Hills. To us, the most satisfying feature of this evening routine is...
2121 Meadowlark Road
Manhattan, KS 66502
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Call: 785.537.4610
Email: info@meadowlark.org
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