NOVEMBER 2013
SUNRAYS | 21
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
wraparound thrilling fun ride.
The Thursday Thanksgiving main course is not only roast
turkey, but also glazed ham, prime rib, crusted mahi-mahi
and pasta. Add appetizers, salads, vegetables, desserts, coffee
and tea for a meal fit for all.
Thursday night welcomes in the holiday season with the Christ-
mas Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens. Stroll through acres
of holiday displays to the sound of vocal and bell choirs before
retiring at the end of a beautiful Thanksgiving Day.
Friday we begin with the movie,
The Great Storm
, which
documents the disaster of 1800. Lunch will be on your own
at Bubba Gump’s. In the afternoon we tour Moody Mansion
and Bishop’s Palace―two of the Broadway beauties that made
Galveston famous.
Saturday morning we have a sightseeing tour of Galveston be-
fore strolling The Strand for some shopping and lunch on your
own. Mid-afternoon we head for home and arrive around 7 p.m.
Ticket cost includes transportation, four breakfasts, Thanks-
giving buffet, and admission into all sights.
Volunteer Trip Leader: Judy Schlobohm
The Nutcracker ICE Sculptures at the
Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine
Tuesday, December 3, $48 pp
Depart SCPL 12 noon; Return 10 p.m.
Let’s join Clara and her Nut-
cracker Prince for a magical adventure in
more than two million pounds of hand-carved
ice sculptures and scenes from the classical
ballet. Forty ice carvers from China spend a
month of 12-hour shifts inside a 9 degree freezer transforming
the ice into a winter wonderland.
The resort features an indoor garden with 1.5 million twinkling
lights, 12,000 ornaments and a 52 foot tall rotating Christmas
tree. Last year, due to the sunlight, we could not experience
the true beauty of the lights inside the resort. But this year,
I’ve arranged the trip so we will be able to experience the
thousands of gorgeous lights from dusk until we depart.
Dinner will be on your own. You can choose from Mexican,
BBQ, Italian, steak, or just grab a cup of coffee and sandwich.
You must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. All guests are
provided with a parka to fit over your clothing, but with the
temperature at 9 degrees bring your own gloves, a hat and
a thick scarf to cover your neck – a turtleneck really helps.
There is a lot of walking and some stairs on this trip. On the
way back, we’ll stop at Collin Street Bakery and in Waco.
Ticket cost includes transportation and entrance to the ICE
Sculptures. Deadline to purchase tickets is November 29.
Volunteer Trip Leader: Ellen Mire
Purchase your tickets for CA Sponsored Outings at
or at the Member Services Office.
Tickets for activities listed for the first time will be available
Friday, November 1, at 8 a.m.
OUTINGS
Grilled Tilapia topped with toasted hazelnuts; Mixed Seafood
Grill, a skewer of assorted char-grilled seafood served with
dirty rice; Pasta Mardi Gras, linguine tossed with crawfish,
andouille sausage and crimini mushrooms in marinara sauce;
or Crispy Chicken Tenderloin Fingers with French fries. For
dessert choose vanilla cheesecake with fresh strawberries or
key lime pie in a graham cracker pecan crust. A cash bar will
be available with ample time for a beverage of your choice.
Coffee, tea, gratuity and tax are included.
After dinner we will board our motor coach and go to Esther’s
Follies in downtown Austin. This show is a mix of current event
skits, amazing magic, great music and incredible costumes –
all with a Texas-size sense of humor.
If you’ve already been to Esther’s Follies, join us again! The
material is always fresh, funnier than you remember and
provides an evening of true entertainment. First-timers, you
haven’t seen anything until you experience Esther’s Follies,
the “talk of the town.” Ticket cost includes transportation,
dinner, and great seats for Esther’s Follies.
Volunteer Trip Leader: Anita Reed
Galveston Island Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 26 – Saturday, November 30
Depart THE OAKS November 26,8 a.m.;
Return November 30, 7 p.m.
Double occupancy, $588 pp; Single occupancy, $790 pp
Welcome to the
luxurious Moody Gardens Hotel and Spa for
your four-night stay and fabulous Thanksgiv-
ing buffet. Enjoy two days of unlimited access
to world famous Moody Gardens and all the
sights of Galveston Island.
Upon arrival in Galveston, we will lunch at Fisherman’s
Wharf. Then it is on to a self-guided tour of Texas Seaport
Museum and Ellisa sailing ship. After checking into the Moody
Gardens Hotel, enjoy dinner on your own at Rainforest Cafe.
Each morning you will have a voucher for the hotel breakfast
buffet. Lunch and dinners on Wednesday and Thursday are
on your own at one of the hotel restaurants or at the Moody
Gardens restaurant or snack area.
Wednesday and Thursday offer unlimited access to Moody
Gardens to explore their wonders at your own pace. Visit the
fabulous Aquarium Pyramid and see the four oceans of the
world. See the Penguin Encounter and the Shark in Depth
exhibits as you stroll through this underwater paradise. The
newly renovated Rainforest Pyramid includes a canopy walk,
a journey through the cloud forests, and a walk on the rain for-
est floor. There are butterflies, tropical birds, orchids, violets,
turtles, an anaconda and bromeliads. Celebrate the mysteries
of science in the Discovery Museum or embark on a paddle-
wheel boat cruise. See the IMAX movies or partake of the 3-D
