National Waters Edge

Finally the Ranch itself

by keeweechic

You can see the actually homestead – a little smaller than you would have imagined – by driving further on down the road from the main visitors entrance. To view the homestead you actually have to take a tour from the Visitors Centre. There are several items of memorabilia you can recognise from the series including Lucy’s wedding dress and Jock’s Lincoln Continental. A guided tram tour drives you around the ranch grounds and stops at Miss Ellie’s Deli and shop. I had just missed one tour and I wasn’t that much of a fan. Just seeing the Ranch was enough for me.

Abuelo's Bar

by keeweechic

To the right of the entry into the restaurant is the bar area - all in keeping with the theme of the rest of the restaurant. There is a small outdoor patio area also. Abuelo's has a large selection of domestic and imported beer, as well as an extensive wine list. They have specialties like La Grandeza Top Shelf Margarita - made with Sauza Conmemorativo and Grand Marnier, and Cointreau. On the rocks or frozen. Island Margarita - a frozen combination of coconut, pineapple and mango margarita. Made with Tres Generaciones Plata tequila. Sangria Roja - an Almaden Burgandy wine marinated with fresh fruit, Presidente Brandy, Herim Walker Triple, Sec & Peach Schnapps, plus several more.

Balloon Capitol of Texas

by DEBBBEDB

Plano's nickname is the Balloon Capital of Texas because each September it hosts balloon races. There is one daily newspaper, the Plano Daily Star Courier, and one radio station. In 2000 Plano had 7,726 businesses and 222,030 inhabitants. It also has corporate headquarters for a number of corporations including the one that my husband works for.

According to the Handbook of Texas, in 1852 the town considered Forman (for one of the early settlers) and Fillmore (for President Millard Fillmore), as possible names, but they were not approved as names. Dr. Henry Dye suggested Plano, Spanish for "flat," because he thought it meant "plain".