Sam Houston Boat Tour - Houston, Texas

On a recent, overcast day, the Dining Companion and I took a tour of the Houston Shipping Channel. The Port of Houston Authority offers a free 90 minute tour aboard the M/V Sam Houston. The tour embarks from the ports Sam Houston Pavilion.

The tour is free of charge and is boarded on a first come first served basis. The day we were there was rainy and overcast so the crowd was small.

We boarded and got under way.

We passed cargo ships from all over the world.

The orange craft at the back of the ship is an escape pod for the crew

Hundreds of tons of cargo pass in and out of the Houston shipping channel every year. Once the cargo arrives at the port is is off-loaded and distributed to destinations all over the country.

There are many cargo handling businesses and warehouses located all over the port.

I don't know about you, but I find the workings of places like this fascinating. It's interesting to get an up close look at how some of the goods we use everyday make their way to us. Several large retailers have warehouses located at the Port of Houston. From these locations they can distribute their inventory to stores located throughout America.

The inside of the ship is comfortable with plenty of seating. Nice on a rainy day like we had.

Large screens show the view from the front of the boat

There are interesting activities like this available to the public all over. Get out there and take advantage of the ones near you.

Happy travels!

Hearst Castle - San Simeon, California

  

Recently the Dining Companion's hermana and I took a drive along the West Coast from California to Washington. One of the first stops on our tour up the coast was Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA. Hearst Castle was build by William Randolph Hearst on land that his family owned. As a child and young adult he spent time camping on the land but as he got older Hearst decided that he no longer wished to sleep in a tent. Having decided that, he went on to build a cottage on the land so he no longer needed to camp. Hearst Castle is that cottage.

We parked the car and made our way to the ticket window and got in line for our tour. The first part of the tour is a 15 minute bus ride along a winding road that makes it way up to the house. Along the way a guide gives a history of the grounds and the surrounding area. Part of the land is a working ranch.

If you look closely you'll notice not just cattle but zebras as well

Another tour bus making its way up the mountain

As the bus makes its way towards the top you catch glimpses of the house.
The "castle" really is amazing.

 

A grand entrance

We took the Grand Rooms Tour. The highlights included the Assembly Room, Refectory, Billiard Room, Theater, Gardens, Neptune Pool and Roman Pool.

The tapestries hanging in the house are hundreds of years old

Ornately carved ceilings brought from Europe

 

The dining table is all set for a casual meal at the cottage

As lovely as the interior is the grounds are even more spectacular.

The last area we toured was the pool. The pool room as well as the whole pool are covered with intricate mosaic tile designs.

 

The history of Hearst Castle is interesting. If you're traveling in the area it would be worth it to make time for a tour. We both enjoyed the tour but the road was calling. Time to see where it would take us next.

Happy travels!