Discovering my town series: Cottonwood Creek Trail, Allen

The city of Allen has some of the most beautiful trails in Collin County.
Cottonwood Creek Trail is a 7.5 mile trail that runs through wooded areas, parks, and residential neighborhoods.  Heading out from the northern end of the trail from Hwy 121, the trail takes you through towering trees lining Cottonwood Creek that evokes an East coast feel. It continues across busy Stacy Road and the terrain changes to the familiar Texas prairie landscape as it approaches the US-75 underpass.

Past US 75, the trail traverses through a small tract of wooded land before reaching an old unused railroad. This is a high point of the trail, especially for the photo buffs who will enjoy the vibrant graffiti backdrop on the posts and structure supporting the railroad. If you are athletically inclined, you can also climb up to the railway track for some cute albeit cliched pictures.

Cottonwood Creek trail continues from the abandoned railroad to take you to the Allen Stone Dam - a landmark site and a tribute to Allen's early history and growth. The Allen Stone Dam was constructed in 1874 by the Houston and Texas Central Railway Company to provide water supply to steam locomotives. Subsequently a larger dam was constructed near what is now Exchange Parkway to service more rail traffic and the old dam was submerged and forgotten. Flood waters eventually breached the higher dam and lowered the water level which revealed the old stone structure. The Dam is designated as a Texas State Archaeological landmark and listed on the National Register of historic places.

From Allen Station the trail takes on an urban path along soft ball fields, a skateboard park, and eventually ends at the Allen Heritage Village.

So, next time, when you have guests and are wondering how to entertain them don't forget that you can provide them with a a glimpse into our very own bit of local history and culture right here in Allen.

I used to be disappointed that there was not much to explore in the DFW area other than the Sixth Floor Museum and the Reunion Center.  But ever since I started scouting my city and the neighboring towns for nature trails, I began to discover a wealth of natural beauty, woodlands, pristine lakes and a whole new way to observe and experience the local history.

Graffiti at the railroad on Cottonwood Creek Trail

Abandoned railroad  - Cottonwood Creek trail

Old Stone Dam - Allen Water Station

Beautiful bridges across Cottonwood Creek

Monday Musings

Let's start the week with those positive energies that can uplift and make a tangible difference. I read somewhere that while our life may be fleeting, WE are powerful. So let's change the frequency with our thoughts and actions every minute of every day.

Vacation Series: Kalady and Vembanad, Kerala

Recent trips to India have involved some travel and discovering some interesting places. One such visit was a short but lovely trip to Kerala to spend 2 days by Lake Vembanad.

We began the trip by flying into Cochin. We hired a car to drive us to Vembanad which was less than a 2 hour drive. Before we left Cochin we stopped at Kalady, the birthplace of a spiritual guru, Adi Shankara. The serene temple on the banks of the Periyar river surrounded by lush, softly swaying palm trees and views of the beautiful Shankara bridge in the distance transports you to a different era.

Heading out of Kalady we stopped for lunch at an authentic Kerala cuisine place. The spread, served on a banana leaf was lip smacking good and should not be missed if you're ever in Kerala.

By late afternoon we reached our boutique hotel on the banks of Lake Vembanad. It was just amazing water views for miles and miles as far as your eyes could see.The Vemabanad house is a very charming home repurposed into a hotel and  built in the authentic Kerala architectural style. Clay tiled roofs, open sweeping verandahs, warm wooden beams on the ceiling of each room, and thoughtfully curated furniture and accessories that reflected the warmth and care of the hostess characterized this lovely home. The lush landscape was dotted with towering coconut trees and various flowering orchids and hibiscus, and meandering streams in the garden with charming benches, swings, and hammocks scattered throughout the property. We felt like we didn't need to go anywhere at all - this was enough and more.

Our first evening as spent visiting the famous Krishna temple in Alapuzha where we arrived just in time for the elaborate rituals that signify the evening Aarthi. The walls of the temple are lined with small niches that are lit up with oil lamps during festive days. Unfortunately that evening was not one of the festive days. 

Waking up to a glorious sunrise on the lake and drinking hot coffee on the verandah with loved ones was the one of the best moments of the trip.

No trip to Kerala is complete without cruising the backwaters and we headed to Alleppey to hop on to a shikara to tour the canals. A shikara is a comfortable water taxi,  with colorful upholstered seats to lounge in and a knowledgeable driver who took us through various canals. We were able to view many local scenes, people going about their chores and everyday life, as we rode past their houses on the edge of the canal. 

We came back to the city and visited a few looms where some exquisite Kerala sarees were being woven by master weavers, shopped for souvenirs and of course, we couldn't go back without getting loads of delicious plantain chips.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped briefly at Marari beach  - miles of sand lined with tall coconut trees and a peaceful, laid back vibe.

Our last evening of the vacation was spent relaxing at Vembanad House, catching the golden rays of sunset, and enjoying a delicious meal prepared by our hostess.

There's so much more to see and experience but that's for another time as it was time to head home the next day.

Scroll down for more pics of this little slice of heaven on earth.

Kerala Backwaters

Morning sunrise at Lake Vembanad

Views from Vembanad House

Cruising the backwaters on the shikara

Discovering your town: Towne Lake, McKinney

Another fabulous trail in the DFW area is Towne Lake in McKinney. The large lake attracts a few shorebirds like the great blue heron, night heron, snow geese and of course the mallard ducks. So if you're a birder this would be a great place to get those bird pictures.

Wilson Creek Nature Trail

One of the other neat features of this park is the Wilson Creek nature trail that also houses a small meditation garden. This short trail meanders through the woods and makes you feel like you are far away from civilization.

This park is actually part of a 102 acre Towne Lake Recreation area that houses basketball and volleyball courts and picnic areas. The 1.3 mile trail around the lake is paved and easy to traverse and for a birder like me, the shore birds that congregate here are a plus.

Towne Lake

Snow goose

Night Heron

If you are a resident in the DFW area, this is definitely a great place to enjoy the outdoors and get the much needed Vitamin N(ature).

Discovering my Town Series: Bethany Lakes Park, Allen

The city of Allen has a network of gorgeous trails and parks and Bethany Lakes is one of those gems - an oasis  in the middle of a busy town.
This is a 40 acre park with all the facilities like sports and picnic sites. But what I love about this place are the picturesque ponds, trails, the board walk, and the variety of birds that the foliage and the water body attracts.

A serene pond at sunset

The resident Great Blue heron

Snow Goose

Seagulls

Norther Shoveler

Ring Necked Duck

Widgeon

One of the best times to visit is during sunset. The beauty of the amazing Texas sunsets are magnified in this picturesque park. The trails are rather short but if you are looking to enjoy the great weather, the wildlife and take in the sunset then this is the perfect spot for you.

Monday Musings

As a society we are so used to and expect instant gratification in all things in life from getting the cute shoes right away to buying a house even if we have less than 20% to put down to expecting successes overnight. Any worth achieving takes time, effort, dedication and perseverance - it's a marathon not a sprint. 

Discovering my Town Series: Lakeside Park, Dallas

Lakeside Park is one of Dallas' secluded parks that will lift your spirits anytime of the year. The very first time we visited I was blown away by the beauty and the natural, rugged rocky setting of the place. In the springtime the park is gorgeous with blooming azaleas and rich greenery. It's an interesting lake - long, elongated body of water that is bordered by stately homes with manicured gardens on one side and a walking trail on the other. The topography of the place reminds me of the north east - rough hewn stone steps leading to the lake, pretty bridges, walking trails, quaint sculptures, an occasional egret - a totally picture perfect place and a must visit if you are in Dallas.

                      Bridge on top of Turtle Creek dam

                     The Cute Teddy Bear Park at Lakeside Park

                      Colorful azaleas in springtime

                                     Rough hewn steps along the trail

   Tranquil lake

         Quaint sculptures at Lakeside Park

Discovering your town: Austin, TX

Though technically Austin is not my hometown, it's not too far from our residence and it's definitely a fascinating place to explore.

The Hope Outdoor gallery is one of Austin's iconic and popular spot. It was situated in the heart of downtown Austin on a steep, stair stepped lot. It's fascinating to see the artistic expressions of so many.  In Jan 2019 it was decided to move the venue to a more accessible location.

Austin's Pennybacker bridge is a must-visit site. The arched suspension bridge stretches across the beautifu Colorado river. There is a short but steep hike to the top of the hill that is definitely worth the effort because the 360 degree views of the hills and the river are breathtaking.

There is no dearth of venues for outdoor adventure in Austin. Mount Bonnell is a great place to take a hike and take in some scenic views once you reach the peak. The steep steps leading up to the peak are flanked by majestic trees and beautiful foliage.

 You can spend hours taking in the gorgeous views from Mount Bonnell. On a clear day the Austin skyline can be seen in the distance.

If you love the outdoors you can be sure that you will not be disappointed in the hill country. You will be spending every  hour exploring trails, visiting parks, climbing hills and thoroughly enjoying the hill country landscape.

McKinney Falls State park in Austin was another interesting place to visit. The waterfalls cascade from limestone outcropping into tranquil swimming holes. The holes in the rocks and the trees growing out of the rocky outcrop gave this place a barren, Mad Max vibe. But once you reach the trail and walk through the woods, there is shade and a lot of neat picnic areas to relax and listen to the birds. Don't expect some sort of majestic falls but it maybe a good idea to visit after the rains when the pool and streams are full.

You cannot visit the capital of Texas without visiting the stunning Texas State Capitol. The tall majestic structure built of pink granite is a stunning visual to the Austin skyline. The architecture, the details, and the beauty in every nook and cranny has to be experienced. I could allot one whole day to visiting the Capitol and its immaculate grounds dotted with sculptures.

Texas Senate Chamber - That ceiling!

The rotunda at the Texas State Capitol

The devil is in the details! Beautiful stairwell with impeccable woodwork!

The Capitol dome's interior

 Terrazzo mosaic showing the seals of the six nations that ruled Texas 

Texas Rangers monument on the grounds of the Capitol

There's so much more in Austin and you need more than a few visits to enjoy all the beautiful sights. And no visit to Austin is complete without meandering through the UT Austin campus. But that will be another post.

 UT Austin - Clock tower