If you didn’t know that girlfriend travel is among the fastest growing segments in the tourism industry, you may not be in touch with your feminine side. And proof of this trend is found much closer to home than Las Vegas, the destination for many a bachelorette party: Lake Austin Spa Resort, it turns out, is where you need to be booking your next girlfriend escape. While you may need to take out a second mortgage or rob the kids’ college fund to go to one of its Urban Cowgirl retreats, it sure sounds like a blast. At this fabulous place, devoted to reminding you how to take care of yourself, you can do much more than indulge in some prickly-pear scrub treatments and take yoga classes beside the lovely lake. Starting this fall, you can book one of these three-night getaways that include two-step lessons, cowgirl cooking classes, a sangria-salsa reception with entertainment by Austin songbird Trish Murphy, a T-shirt art class by Bob Daddy-O Wade and Texas Hold ‘Em poker lessons. The first one is scheduled Nov. 1-4, followed by similar weekends on Jan. 31-Feb. 3, June 19-22, Aug. 21-24 and Nov. 20-23, 2008. Included are three healthful (and delectable) daily meals, a pair of Lucchese boots, lodging, unlimited fitness classes and more. Call 800/847-5637 or visit HERE

Spotted a few days ago in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (which I didn’t write, but wish I had): “In Texas, it’s OK to be Happy and Smiley. They’re both Texas cities, after all. Some people feel like they’re in Paradise because they are — in the Wise County town of Paradise, that is. Others find Comfort in Sweet Home. They’re both Texas cities, too. After all, it’s all about Friendship, especially in the East Texas town of the same name. Isn’t Texas a feel-good kind of place?” Some of my other favorite town names include Dublin and Shamrock, Lazbuddie and Lolita, Prosper and Progress, Muleshoe and Cut and Shoot. The all-time best name, of course, is Uncertain. But is anyone sure how that town got its name?

Hot dang – it’s time again for the Fort Griffin Fandangle, going on this and next weekend in the Midwest Texas town of Albany. At the heart of this, the 69th annual ‘do, is the 300-cast member Fandangle, known as Texas’ oldest outdoor musical – a pageant bringing together everything from saloon girls and Doc Holliday, cavalry soldiers and Native Americans, covered wagons and mounted cowboys, longhorn steers and pioneer families on a stage measuring an acre in size. But the whole of Fandangle encompasses so much more: There’s a parade at 6 p.m. June 28 and a 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. June 30; living history presentations take place daily at Fort Griffin State Park, home to the official longhorn herd; an 1870s military camp is set up on the Shackelford County Courthouse square daily; chuckwagon cook/cookbook author Bill Cauble will serve barbecue dinners nightly on the courthouse lawn; and the Ice House restaurant on the square will offer a cowboy breakfast June 23, 29 and 30. (Go HERE; or call 877-762-2525). Giddyup.

Pink is the new black this summer, or at least that’s the case at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Corpus Christi. From now until Labor Day, pink plastic flamingo yard ornaments dressed in hula skirts, straw hats, and other funky garb will be on display throughout the center’s lush gardens as part of a new exhibit called Flamingo Fandango. Prior to the exhibit, locals were invited to pick up a plastic feathered friend from the nature center, bring it home with them to decorate, and then drop back off dressed however they like. Several folks returned their birds looking like Hawaiian hula girls decked out in straw skirts, coconut-shell tops, and leis, while others gave a nod to Texas with birds spiffed up like cowboys. In other words, no two flamingos are the same. What’s more, awards will be given to flamingos in a number of categories, including the most original, the one that most resembles a celebrity, and the most patriotic. If you recall Dances with Dolphins, an outdoor exhibition of fiberglass dolphins installed throughout Corpus Christi several years back, this is somewhat similar, except with birds. It’s even spearheaded by the same group, Art for All, in conjunction with the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center.

Once you’ve taken in the rose-colored flock, make sure to browse through the nature center’s many greenhouses and lush gardens sprouting with roses, orchids, and fragrant plumeria. Much of its 180-acre grounds, which are part of Corpus Christi’s Oso Creek Greenbelt System, are protected wetlands, making the area a prime spot for bird watching, even if many of them are plastic.

The South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is at 8545 S. Staples St. in Corpus Christi. For more information on the nature center and Flamingo Fandango, call 361/852-2100 or visit HERE.

Recent wanderings out in near West Texas have turned up another great reason for me to hang my hat in Buffalo Gap. I was already plenty fond of Buffalo Gap Historic Village, which is barely 10 miles south of Abilene, one of the best places to explore life in pioneer Texas, and I’ve had my share of rather spectacular meals at Perini Ranch Steakhouse – if you’ve had cowboy cook Tom Perini’s smoked prime rib or his Sunday fried chicken, you know what I mean. But now Tom and wife Lisa have come up with an even better reason for me to stick around for a long weekend, other than to take a really long nap after one of the restaurant feasts: They’ve opened the Perini Ranch Guest Quarters, two fabulously appointed houses that sit less than a half-mile from the steakhouse. The showplace is their 1885 farmhouse, original to the ranch, which the pair painstakingly restored and transformed into a place I’d gladly call home. One of the two bedrooms sleeps three people, and the other has a queen for two. The bathrooms are simply gorgeous, and the comfy living room - complete with HD-TV and satellite - overlooks an expansive deck, which has a firepit. My friend, Barbara, and I just wanted to sit on rockers on the porch forever, gazing out at the rocking, rolling landscape in this topography called the Callahan Divide. The second, smaller Camp House has a kitchenette, comfy bedroom, a sleeping porch and pretty bathroom; it sleeps 3. (Book at 800/367-1721 or HERE ).

OK, if Dad loves some wine, you ought to be treating him to the Texas Reds Festival in the beautifully restored downtown Bryan on Saturday. It’s the first time for this party, and it looks to be a whole bunch of fun – even if you’re not a fan of the grape. The merriment includes everything from art and gifts booths, kiddo fun at the Children’s Museum, a steak cook-off, steak dinners to buy, music by the Bellamy Borthers and cooking demos. If you do enjoy a glass now and again, there’s plenty of tasting to be done, as well as a vintners’ luncheon. And let’s face it, this may be the only chance you’ll have to try all these wines in one place – featured wineries are Bruno & George Wines, Sour Lake; Chisholm Trail Winery, near Fredericksburg; Flat Creek Estate, near Austin; Haak Vineyard, Santa Fe (TX); La Bodega at DFW Airport; Llano Estacado, Lubbock; Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards, Pittsburg; Mandola Estate Winery, Bryan; Pleasant Hill, Brenham; and Purple Possum (I’m not making this up, I swear!), Navasota. The fair is free, but tastings and meals carry varying costs. (More info HERE.)

What are your favorite Texas wines and vineyards?

Texas vittles get a big howdy-do tomorrow in Colorado. That’s because the Texas Outlaw Party is the highlight (from our perspective, anyway) of this weekend’s hoity-toity Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Star honorees at the shindig are Austin’s David Bull (recently departed the Driskill Grill, working on projects for the Stoneleigh in Dallas and the St. Anthony in San Antonio) and Tyson Cole (of the celebrated Uchi); Dean Fearing of Dallas (opening his place at the Ritz Carlton soon); and Robert Del Grande (from the Roaring Fork in Austin and Scottsdale). Kicking off tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at an Aspen restaurant called Kenichi (doesn’t sound Texan, but neither does Uchi, and it’s unbelievably good), the seventh annual celebration is part of the 25-year-old culinary hoedown said to be the granddaddy of all such events in the nation. One of the party hosts is Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616 in Austin. While that’s going on, two Dallas chefs are grabbing headlines right now as they star in the new season of the reality cooking competition show on Bravo called Top Chef; they’re Tre Wilcox Abacus and Casey Thompson of Shinsei. Texas chefs who should be getting more national attention for their phenomenal work – from my point of view – include Jeff Blank of Hudson’s on the Bend , Austin; Monica Pope of t’afia, Houston; Sharon Hage of York Street, Dallas; and Lanny Lancarte II of Lanny’s Alta Cocina, Fort Worth.

Who are your favorite Texas chefs?

Going to Austin anytime soon? I’ve got a great new place downtown for you to stay, and it’s a lot cooler than you might think. A new concept of sorts, it’s actually two hotels in one – a conjoined Courtyard and Residence Inn, both from Marriott. Lower levels of the 12-story exterior are covered in native stone, and a circular drive with parking valets serves both sides. As you walk in, the Courtyard lobby and tower are to the right and the Residence Inn, to the left. I stayed in the Residence Inn side, which offers nifty little suites that serve extended-stay guests very nicely, especially with free wired and wireless high-speed internet access. The suites have fully-equipped kitchenettes, with granite countertops and smooth wood cabinetry, two-burner stove-top, dishwasher, disposal, microwave and full refrigerator with ice-maker. There’s a dining table, a big work desk, super-comfy queen bed, queen sleeper-sofa and a good bathroom with organic toiletries. Stays include a full breakfast, as well as happy hour (wine and beer) and snacks in the afternoon – all in a spacious café setting. Off the lobby, there’s a Starbucks and a sports bar called Champions, which offers a full menu, a couple dozen flat-screen TVs and plenty of Longhorn football memorabilia, naturally. Best of all, there’s loads of great downtown dining within a short walk from its 4th Street location, from Eddie V’s (seafood) to Lamberts Downtown Barbecue to the Driskill Grill.

If you’ve been through Huntsville, you’re well aware of Big Sam. He’s that 67-foot-tall likeness of Sam Houston overseeing his domain from a top a base of sunset granite. His creator was David Adickes, a Huntsville native, who’s also known for – among many works of art – his giant sculpture of a cellist, called the Virtuoso, in downtown Houston. Now Adickes makes an even more dramatic statement about his passion for music with his newest Houston landmark, The Fab Four. Christened last night, these are 36-foot-tall images of John, Paul, George and Ringo, circa Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, crafted from white cement over steel. The quartet stands on the lawn at the sculptor’s SculpturWorx Studio, found on Summer Street, near I-10 and Taylor – and it is pretty dang cool. Next up, Adickes plans to unveil more great, big sculptures on the freeway; these will be side-by-side busts of Washington, Lincoln, Houston and Austin. Due to its placement at a curve where traffic tends to back up, the artist will call this work “Mount Rushhour.” You go, Houston.

Lavender has been known throughout the ages for its medicinal qualities, as well as its ability to ward off evil spirits. During the Great Plague in 17th Century London, commoners would wrap chains of the herb around their wrists to prevent infection. Years later, during WWI, hospital personnel used mixtures of lavender oil as a disinfectant. There’s even mention in the Bible that Mary wrapped baby Jesus in a lavender-infused cloth for protection against evil. Fast forward to today, and lavender is still a common ingredient in ointments and lotions that help to calm nerves. But, little did I know, it also makes a mighty fine ingredient for spicing up grilled chicken, margaritas, and ice cream (yes, even ice cream).

Last summer, I took my first dip into the world of lavender when I went to the Blanco Lavender Festival. Through visits to area lavender farms, cooking demos, and vendors’ booths, I learned all there is to know about this sweet-smelling herb. I even had my first taste of lavender ice cream, which, if you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out. Fortunately, this weekend (June 9-10) marks the event’s third annual installment, which will be held at lavender farms throughout Blanco and neighboring Wimberley. There will be plenty of lavender ice cream to scoop up, along with other lavender-infused items such as soaps, lotions, sachets, and candles at booths set up around Blanco’s town square. Nine lavender farms, including Miller Creek Lavender, Hummingbird Farms, and Blanco River Lavender Company, will be open to the public for free tours. Visitors can even cut their own lavender blooms to bring home as souvenirs, or they can purchase a lavender plant to put in their garden. Also, on Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., Johnson City will host Lavender Evenings, an event featuring live music, dancing, refreshments, and, of course, lavender.

For more information on the Third Annual Blanco Lavender Festival and Lavender Evenings, call (830) 833-5101 or visit HERE.