Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Missouri

The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.

Don't miss a tram ride to the top of the Arch for a stunning panoramic view of the St. Louis area.

See a screening of the film "Monument to the Dream" which details the construction of the Arch. Or take in a film at the Odyssey Theatre, which shows movies on its wide-screen, four-story tall screen.

The Museum of Westward Expansion highlights the people, places and events of the American west during the 1800s through an extensive collection of artifacts, mounted animal specimens, authentic Plains Indian tipi, and overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Make a stop at one of the museum shops for a wide selection of books, videos, posters, and educational materials.

The Historic Old Courthouse houses restored courtrooms, a History Channel film about the Dred Scott case, history galleries outlining the people, places and events contributing to St. Louis' role as Gateway to the West during the 1800s.

50 years ago, the Becky Thatcher and the Tom Sawyer were brought to the St. Louis riverfront to accommodate visitors and spectators wanting a closer look at the construction of the Gateway Arch. Today, the Gateway Arch Riverboats are the only riverboats on the St. Louis Riverfront. 

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Update: Rawhide Travel and Tours Holiday Tree

Our little tree has bloomed into spring. It is all dress up in spring colors and the Easter Bunny has gathered his eggs to help decorate our tree. 

Here are some fun facts about Easter and Spring:

The Easter Bunny (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare) originated among German Lutherans, the Easter Hare originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behaviour at the start of the season of Eastertide. The Easter Bunny is sometimes depicted with clothes. In legend, the creature carries colored eggs in his basket, candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children, and as such shows similarities to Santa Claus, as they both bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holiday. The custom was first mentioned in Georg Franck von Franckenau's De ovis paschalibus (About Easter Eggs) in 1682 referring to a German tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter Eggs for the children.

In America, the Easter Bunny was introduced by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of what they referred to the bunny as “Oschter Haws” was considered “childhood’s greatest pleasure” next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the Ester Haws would lay a nest of colored eggs.

The precise origin of the ancient custom of decorating eggs is not known, although evidently the blooming of many flowers in spring coincides with the use of the fertility symbol of eggs—and eggs boiled with some flowers change their color, bringing the spring into the homes. Many Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the blood of the sacrificed Christ (and, of the renewal of life in springtime). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long dead time of winter. The Ukrainian art of decorating eggs for Easter, known as pysanky, dates to ancient, pre-Christian times. Similar variants of this form of artwork is seen amongst other eastern European cultures.

Happy Easter from all of us at Rawhide Travel and Tours!

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

In the News: World's tallest observation wheel opens in Vegas

Riders are getting their first turns on a skyline-changing Las Vegas Strip observation wheel that's opening as the world's tallest.

A ceremony Monday at 11:30 a.m. PDT marked the completion of the 550-foot High Roller, built by Caesars Entertainment Corp. as part of its $550 million LINQ development at the heart of the Strip resort corridor.

The High Roller tops out at 550 feet making it the largest observation wheel in the world. The height tops the 443-foot London Eye and the 541-foot Singapore Flyer.

Parallel to Las Vegas Boulevard, the massive wheel lights the sky with more than 2,000 LED lights and serves as The LINQ's focal point. The ever-changing colors are such a beautiful display and creates nightly glorious light show. The lights turn on starting at dusk and stay on until early morning. Lights range from bright pink, turquoise, purple, green and white, as well as color combinations. If you’re not busy admiring the scenery, each cabin comes equipped with eight monitor screens playing video and music shows.

The High Roller features a gift shop at the base of the wheel, including everything from T-shirts, key chains and other fun souvenirs.

The Ferris wheel is located across from Caesars Palace, adjacent to Flamingo Las Vegas and The Quad Resort & Casino. Caesars also said each pod is equipped with air conditioning which should provide relief for summertime riders. Caesars expects between 4 million and 5 million riders within the first year of operation. The new attraction also will serve as the towering centerpiece of Caesar Entertainment’s LINQ project, the combination retail, restaurant and entertainment complex that first broke ground in 2011.

The Ferris-style wheel has 28 glass-enclosed and air-conditioned gondolas that can each hold up to 40 people. A full revolution takes 30 minutes. Tickets are $24.95 in the daytime and $34.95 at night.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Off The Beaten Path: Abergavenny, Wales

Abergavenny is a picturesque town situated in the South Eastern corner of Wales, Great Britain, only 20 miles from the English border. Abergavenny is steeped in history and enjoys an enviable position close to the industry of middle and western England whilst bathing in the beauty of the Brecon Beacons national park. The community in Abergavenny balances fervent nationalism with an open and friendly hospitality.

As if quietly enjoying the beauty of the area was not enough, there are plenty of sights to see and things to do in and around Abergavenny. Falconry and Craft Centres, a well equipped Leisure Centre, a number of impressive Castles & Antiquities and a whole lot more besides.

Fortifications abound in the Abergavenny area. Particularly good examples are at Raglan Castle, White Castle & Skenfrith to name a few . The abbey at Llanthony is a pleasure both to view and to travel to and Tintern Abbey in the Wye valley is also well worth the drive.

A Museum can be found within the grounds of the Castle with interesting exhibitions of Abergavennys past.

From above to below the ground, if you have an interest in mining, a visit to Big Pit in Blaenavon is a must. Open all year (restricted times in winter). While you are here you may also like to see the Steam Railway.

Raglan Castle
Even to this day, Raglan Castle is an impressive sight. It is un-like any other castle in Wales with angular not round towers. For the visitor there is plenty to explore ranging from dark, damp dungeons to steep spiral staircases and some great views of the surrounding countryside. Well preserved `coats of arms` and beautifully restored windows are also abound.

White Castle
First recorded in the 13th century, White Castle still packs a visual punch with the external structure pretty much intact. Accessed by a footbridge over the moat, this castle got it`s name from the white rendering which is still visible on parts of the exterior walls.

Abergavenny Museum is set in the grounds of a 'ruined' Norman Castle, where you can enjoy a picnic during the summer & a brisk walk on colder days. The keep along with most of the other castle buildings, was destroyed in the Civil War, between 1645 - 1646. In 1818, the present building - now the Museum - was constructed on top of the motte as a hunting lodge for the Marquess of Abergavenny.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Culinary Travel: Wales

Around every corner, experience the unexpected. You’ll stumble across cozy inns and restaurants, rustic fishing villages, mountain vistas and cliff-top trails.

Wales is home to 641 castles, more than any other country in Europe. You’re encouraged to visit them: climb towers, walk ancient walls and explore dungeons. This is the land of magic, myth and dragons.

Escape to a country full of breathtaking views, quaint towns, Celtic heritage and endless culture. Most of all, you’ll experience a friendly “croeso.” That’s Welsh for “welcome,” and you’ll feel it everywhere you go in Wales.

Here is a traditional recipe for a delicious tea time treat.

Welsh cakes

Ingredients
8oz (approx. 1 3/4 Cups) plain flour
4oz (1/2 Cup) butter
3oz ( approx. 1/3 Cup) caster sugar (May Use C&H Baking Sugar)
2oz (1/4 Cup) currants
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp mixed spice (pumpkin spice can be substituted or omit spices altogether)
1 egg
A pinch salt
A little milk to bind

Direction
Sift the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, mixed spice) together into a mixing bowl. Cut up the butter and rub into the flour. Stir in the sugar and fruit, pour in the egg and mix to form a dough, use a little milk if the mixture is a little dry. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about the thickness of a biscuit. Use a pastry cutter to cut out rounds. Cook the cakes on a greased bake stone or griddle until golden. The heat should not be too high, as the cakes will cook on the outside too quickly, and not in the middle. Once cooked sprinkle with caster sugar and serve with butter.

As an alternative you can try mixed dried fruit or tropical fruit. Some grated lemon or orange rind is also good. An unusual but delicious addition is 1 teaspoon of lavender flowers with some citrus zest. Add a little orange juice, zest and icing sugar to some soft butter to serve with the Welsh cakes.

If you have a taste for culinary travel, let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you plan your next vacation and all of your other reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas

After 10,000 years, the people of South Texas found their cultures, their very lives under attack. In the early 1700s Apache raided from the north, deadly diseases traveled from Mexico, and drought lingered. Survival lay in the missions. By entering a mission, they foreswore their traditional life to become Spanish, accepting a new religion and pledging fealty to a distant and unseen king.

The four mission churches within San Antonio Missions National Historical Park are active catholic parishes, and hold regular services. They are open to park visitors during park hours, except for special services, such as weddings and funerals.

Mission Concepción
This handsome stone church was dedicated in 1755, and appears very much as it did over two centuries ago. It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America. In its heyday, colorful geometric designs covered its surface, but the patterns have long since faded or been worn away. However, original frescos are still visible in several of the rooms.

Mission San José
Known as the "Queen of the Missions", this is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus. Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago.

The park's visitor center is located adjacent to this mission at 6701 San José Drive, San Antonio, Texas, 78214.

Mission San Juan Capistrano
Originally founded in 1716 in eastern Texas, Mission San Juan was transferred in 1731 to its present location. In 1756, the stone church, a friary, and a granary were completed. A larger church was begun, but was abandoned when half complete, the result of population decline.

San Juan was a self-sustaining community. Within the compound, Indian artisans produced iron tools, cloth, and prepared hides. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided melons, pumpkins, grapes, and peppers. Beyond the mission complex Indian farmers cultivated maize (corn), beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane in irrigated fields. Over 20 miles southeast of Mission San Juan was Rancho de Pataguilla, which, in 1762, reported 3,500 sheep and nearly as many cattle.

These products helped support not only the San Antonio missions, but also the local settlements and presidial garrisons in the area. By the mid 1700s, San Juan, with its rich farm and pasturelands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce. With its surplus, San Juan established a trade network stretching east to Louisiana and south to Coahuila, Mexico. This thriving economy helped the mission to survive epidemics and Indian attacks in its final years.

Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, Texas, this was the first mission in Texas. In 1731, the mission transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756.

Following government policy, Franciscan missionaries sought to make life within mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages and Spanish culture. In order to become Spanish citizens and productive inhabitants, Native Americans learned vocational skills. As plows, farm implements, and gear for horses, oxen, and mules fell into disrepair, blacksmithing skills soon became indispensable. Weaving skills were needed to help clothe the inhabitants. As buildings became more elaborate, mission occupants learned masonry and carpentry skills under the direction of craftsmen contracted by the missionaries.

After secularization, these vocational skills proved beneficial to post-colonial growth of San Antonio. The legacy of these Native American artisans is still evident throughout the city of San Antonio today.

Mission Portals connect San Antonio's four historic missions – Mission Concepción, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada – to the San Antonio River. These connections feature historic and artistic interpretations of the story of the missions and highlight their social and cultural importance to the area. This reinforces the importance of the river to the missions and encourages visitors to circulate between the Mission Riverwalk and the river. Project planners worked closely with the National Park Service to ensure that there would be a seamless transition between the Mission Riverwalk and the historic missions.

Mission Riverwalk  
Wending along side the San Antonio River, through old neighborhoods and farmlands, the Mission Hike and Bike Trail provides respite from the daily pressure and grind of city life. From Mission Concepción to Mission Espada, eight (8) miles of dedicated paved pathways are reserved for the hiker and biker. An easy walk or ride, it is suitable for even young members of the family.

The trail is not a loop, so the round-trip path is actually 16 miles. However, walkers and bikers can start at any of the four missions and travel to the next mission, making the round trip only six miles.

Water is available at each mission. Food is available near Missions Concepción and San José, but not near Missions San Juan and Espada, so plan accordingly. 

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Plan Your Next Vacation With Rawhide Travel and Tours

Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of “75 years of travel experience" provides amazing deals for your dream vacation with experienced, friendly travel experts.

Services offered include booking domestic and international air travel, hotel and resort reservations, car rental and cruises for individuals, corporate, group and incentive travel. Also tour packages of every type from a weekend getaway, to San Diego or Disneyland to involved and detailed vacations worldwide.

Plan your next great vacation with Rawhide Travel and Tours. Call today (602) 843-5100 or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com