Day Trips
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., Sept. 20, 1996
For most visitors to Galveston Island, the 10-story glass Rainforest Pyramid glistening in the sun is the centerpiece of a 156-acre playground. The biosphere is surrounded by swimming pools, a riverboat paddle-wheel boat, and a 3-D IMAX theater.
You would have to travel to three continents to see all of the plants, birds, reptiles, and fish housed at the pyramid. The Moody Gardens has been so successful in raising plants and recreating the rainforest ecosystem that universities are using the facilities as laboratories.
The Gardens have found 16 different insects and bacteria that keep in balance the populations of damaging insects. The tarantula eats other insects and rodents, while the millipede is a soil-builder.
With a team of horticulturists searching the world's rainforests for interesting plants for the Gardens, they were bound to find some with healing properties. Once a plant has been identified as having disease-control possibilities, 10 to 12 years of study are required for each plant. By the time the study is complete, the plant could be extinct in the wild.
The Moody Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization based in Galveston, began the Gardens in 1993 as a part of Hope Therapy. The nationally recognized program offers animal and horticulture therapy to the physically and emotionally disabled.
Moody Gardens is open daily, year-round, 10am-10pm. The Colonel Paddlewheel Boat sails daily from Labor Day through Memorial Day. Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the park. Coin lockers are available for changing clothes. The entrance to the park is south of downtown off Seawall Boulevard. For more information, call 800/582-4673.
Coming up...
Texas Heritage Music Festival in Kerrville at Schreiner College began as a tribute to Jimmie Rodgers and has grown to include all forms of Texas music. Related events held at the Broken Spoke in Austin and Poor David's Pub in Dallas, Sept. 18-22. 210/896-3339.
The Republic of Texas Chilympiad in San Marcos promises a hot time at the world's largest chili cookoff with food by 500 cooks and an evening concert with Jerry Jeff Walker, Sept. 20-21. 512/396-5400 or http://www.axiom.net/chilympiad
Fall Festival at Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm, 11418 Sprinkle Cut Off Rd., showcases Austin's outdoor living history museum, noon-6pm, Sept. 21-22. 837-1215.
Coming up...
Texas State Fair welcomes visitors to Dallas, Sept. 29-Oct. 22. 214/565-9931 or http://www.texfair.com
Monarch Butterfly Watch runs September through October during the annual migration to Mexico of the butterfly. The Hill Country is on a major flyway with large clusters often observed during these months and then again Mar.-Apr. http://monarch.bio.ukans.edu