Barton Springs--A Jewel of a Pool with Burgers and Treats

The Carful of Kids love the pool, they love a natural pool even better. It's been hot in Austin lately so we want to take a dip in the legendary Barton Springs Pool to cool off but first, the kids are hungry and I know a great place nearby.

We head to 1624 Barton Springs Road to an Austin original--Shady Grove. Nestled in a grove of pecan trees since 1992, it has become an Austin icon. It is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Queso makes everything better!

Shady Grove serves family-friendly fare for kids and adults and should not be missed. The carful of kids grab a small queso to start and follow-up with a round of burgers for the table, complete with fries and onion rings.

I have been on a burger quest lately and the Shady Grove Burger is a serious contender. With a juicy patty in-between sizable toasted buns with all the fixings like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles with the mustard and mayonnaise on the side--it's a mouthful and so worth it. The onion rings and french fries are cut on-site to accompany the burger perfectly.

The menu features classic dishes like Chicken Fried Steak, Frito Pies, Chili Dogs and for the vegetarians--a Hippie Sandwich along with a selection of salads and sandwiches. The best seating is outside and even on the hottest of days, it's pleasant with the shade of the pecan trees and abundant fans.

A Burger and a Beer with a side of Frings.

Barton Springs Pool (2201 Barton Springs Rd.) is located in the center of the Austin action in Zilker Park.  It is open year-round from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. is unguarded swim for the lap swimmers. Admission is charged from late April until October 31; the admission for adults is $ 4, juniors--ages 12 to 17 is $ 3, children under 12 is $ 2 and babies are free. It is closed on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for cleaning and during flash flood events.

Barton Springs Pool is three acres in size and fed by the Main Barton Springs; it's on the channel of Barton Creek. The water temperature ranges from 68F to 72F and the depth is anywhere from 0 to 18 feet. It has a more rustic feel than its neighbor 2.5 miles away Deep Eddy Pool.

The Indians of the area originally discovered Barton Springs, then Spanish explorers built a temporary mission nearby in the 17th century. It was named in 1837 by William Barton who settled and developed the area. The last private owner, Andrew Zilker gifted the area to the City of Austin.

Barton Springs Pool has lights for night swimming.

The City of Austin increased the size of the pool by damming the springs and building sidewalks during the 1920s. A bathhouse modeled after the Deep Eddy Pool Bathhouse, complete with a courtyard, was built in the 1940s.

Barton Springs Pool is home to the Barton Springs Salamander you can learn about them and the aquifer that supplies the water to the springs at Splash!, a free exhibit located next to the pool. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m., this exhibit is geared towards school-aged kids.

The carful of kids paddle around and the oldest son waits in line for his turn at the diving board. The carful of kids enjoy the late afternoon and before too long it's dark.

The carful of kids load up and decide it's time for ice cream, well frozen custard to be exact. Sandy's Frozen Custard and Root Beer at 603 Barton Springs Rd. is a drive-thru serving up burgers, corndogs, fries and along with their frozen custard concoctions for over a generation.

The kids order a root beer float a piece and I go for the old stand by--vanilla custard in a cone. My cone of custard has the same taste and mouth feel as the homemade ice cream that my mom used to make back in the 80s. YUM!

Sandy's is a busy place and it's well worth the wait to get through the drive-thru on a busy summer night. Sandy's has a walk-up window and picnic tables if you would prefer to eat there.

Know before you go: During the summer, the Zilker Hillside Theater hosts an evening summer musical from Thursday to Sunday that is a well attended Austin tradition. Parking at Zilker Park is congested during the weekends and there is a $ 5 charge to park.

Topless sunbathing is permitted in Austin and sometimes there are topless sunbathers at Barton Springs Pool. As a Mom of two boys, it has been my experience that they are fairly discreet and lay out on the hillside farthest away from the family area near the shallow end.

Water shoes are recommended because the bottom of the pool is slippery.

Food and coolers are prohibited but you can bring in resealable drinks in plastic containers.

Deep Eddy Pool--an Oasis in the Heart of Austin

At Deep Eddy next to the Lap Lanes

The Carful of Kids live around Austin, Texas, and we love the city: it's a fabulous place and everyone we meet on our travels LOVES Austin. But if there is one thing that I could change about ATX it would be the sizzling summers. That's not going to happen so we like to hang out in the water, preferably a natural pool.

At the edge of the wading pool, waiting to go in.

The Austin area is home to several natural pools and swimming holes, everyone has their favorite. There is the popular one--Barton Springs Pool, it's awesome and everyone visiting Austin is there right now.

The carful of kid's favorite is more a locals hangout, Deep Eddy Pool (401 Deep Eddy Avenue, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., March 14 to October 31 for the wading pool, year-round for the lap pool). The admission for adults is $ 4, juniors--ages 12 to 17 is $ 3, children under 12 is $ 2 and babies are free.

What I love about Deep Eddy Pool is the old Austin vibe and of course the beautiful fresh water. Thanks to a recent remodel to the pool, it has a zero-entry wading pool, great for the kids.

The zero-entry wading pool, great for all kids.

Deep Eddy Pool is the oldest swimming pool in Texas. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and it was named after the large boulder on the Colorado River that runs through Austin. The boulder was responsible for creating an eddy that early residents used to swim in.

The beautiful mosaic was added in a recent remodel.

In 1915, A. J. Eiler, Sr. bought the land on the Colorado River next to the boulder and constructed a pool with a 35-foot deep hand-dug well that supplies the fresh water to the pool. A few years later a resort was established at Deep Eddy Pool.

Families and Lap Swimmers swim in peace, side-by-side.

In 1935, the City of Austin bought the property but a flood destroyed the property just two weeks later. A bathhouse was constructed by the Works Progress Administration during the Depression, it's still in use today after a recent restoration.

The water at Deep Eddy Pool is the draw for most swimmers because it isn't treated with chlorine, fresh water is pumped into the pool every other day. The temperature ranges from 65F to 75F, it takes a couple of minutes to adjust but quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

Because it's Texas.

Deep Eddy Pool hosts movie nights throughout the summer. There is a concession stand and a few picnic tables, though food is not allowed next to the pool. There is plenty of grass around the pool for spreading out your beach towels.

If you are headed to Austin in the summer and need to cool down for a bit, stop by Deep Eddy Pool. You can make it a day or stay a few hours, it's one of the unique features of ATX that locals and visitors alike love.

Up Next: Another Austin Swimming Hole

Mamma needs a ME Weekend.

Don't tell anyone but hauling my Carful of Kids to 46 states across this continent is well--it's exhausting. This road tripping mamma needs a break, the kids are at their grandparents' for the weekend doing whatever they do at Grandma's that keeps them clambering for more.

I penciled in a little ME time before I headed out on the annual summer road trip and I'm taking it now that I'm back. In a matter of days the carful of kids will be back in school and that means games, homework, school projects, practices--I'm getting tired just thinking about it.

My husband wants a little weekend away, just him and I, *wink, wink* but that sounds like a little too much expectation. Sorry baby, don't you have to work? I say, trying to save my sanity and my weekend away. Love him too but...

I love being a wife and mother, don't get me wrong. It's the greatest job ever but sometimes us Moms need a break to keep it going. I don't know about you, but it seems impossible to spend time or money on ourselves. Something or someone always needs something.

So I decide to arrange a weekend away. I need to decompress by hiding in a nice hotel and enjoy sometime by myself. No needs to be met except my own. Sounds like heaven. Where do I begin?

I spend a lot of time researching for road trips and vacations for the Carful of Kids so I know some secrets. First, let's talk about reality vs. expectation.

I know what you're thinking, head to the beach. Get that great picture of your newly painted toes with blue water and sugar white sand in the background. You know the shot, it's all over social media these days.

What that shot doesn't show you is the mom with her toddler melting down next to you because she is tired, hungry and there is sand in her bathing suit. Or the couple that won't stop bickering because she forgot to pack his favorite vacation shirt--you know, the tacky one.

There is no way that you can ignore them and escape into your utterly decadent novel that should have a warning label stamped on it.

Did I mention the crowds at the beach? And with the crowds, come the peak prices.

Nope. No beach--not this month and by the time the prices come down, it will be sweater weather. By that time, we'll be in the Mom trenches again, making cupcakes and practicing spelling words.

How about a city that relies on the convention trade? Think about it for a moment--these cities have lots of rooms to fill and lots of restaurants nearby. The conventions cool down in the summer months so...

I log into my favorite hotel consolidator and hope to find some deals. I live near Austin, Texas, so I type in San Antonio River Walk. I hit the jackpot--a four and half star room for under $ 100. I hit Book It and don't look back, after all it's basically the price of a nice dinner on date night.

Great. Can't wait. I pack up a bag with make me feel cute clothes and head out early. What am I going to do with myself on a weekend away?

I have to stop and think for a moment. I am so used to shuffling kids around that I really don't remember what I used to do when it was just me. You know, before the hubs and kids ate my world.

I love a great art museum so I aim the SUV in that direction first. I decide to visit the McNay Art Museum (6000 North New Braunfels Avenue), it's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closed Monday, the admission for adults is $ 10 and kids 12 and under are free.

The McNay Art Museum is named after Marion Koogler McNay; she generously gifted 700 works of art, her 24-room house and its 23 acres of land along with an endowment to fund what would be the first Modern Art Museum in Texas upon her death in 1950. Since opening its doors in 1954, the McNay now comprises 20,000 works of art from the Medieval and Renaissance through today.

The art collection at the McNay is impressive, with works from Picasso, Van Gogh and Gauguin among others. The sculpture at the McNay is just as impressive including works by Giacometti and Robert Indiana. The theater arts library should not be missed.

The McNay Museum building is just as majestic as the art that resides in it. Designed by the father and son team, Atlee and Robert Ayers, the 24-room mansion is in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It features an outdoor courtyard and numerous period details of the era. If you love wrought iron and Santa Barbara tiles, you must tour this museum.

After a few hours of strolling around the art museum and its grounds, enjoying the Old Masters and contemporary artists, I realize that I'm hungry. Instead of the standby, the San Antonio River Walk, I drive over to the Southland neighborhood instead--the Downtown Arts area and the King William Historic District.

I need some Tex-Mex to refill my tank, I just got back from a road trip to Canada and I'm running on empty. It's as vital to a Texan as gas is to our trucks and everyone knows the best place for Tex-Mex is San Antonio.

There are lots of places and I have been to most of them over the years but I want to try out a new place. I head over to Tito's Mexican Restaurant (955 South Alamo Street), open breakfast to dinner, seven days a week, to try them out.

Tito's is a locals place that has your classics--I order the Poblano Cream Enchiladas and a Titorita on the rocks to wash them down. The chicken in the enchiladas is tender and juicy, the sauce is creamy yet earthy thanks to the poblanos. The Titorita, house margarita, is tart and tangy; hits the spot on a hot August afternoon.

Nothing satisfies a Texan like a good plate of Tex-Mex with a margarita but I need a little walk before I head over to my hotel. Since I live in a 90 year-old house, I have walk through the King William neighborhood that sits behind Tito's to wander and admire the grand dames of another era.

One of the beautiful homes in King William Historic District.

King William Historic District, Texas' first historic district, is a 25-block residential area that was settled by prosperous German immigrants in the late 1800s. If you are a fan of old houses, this is the place to explore, it is full of Victorians of every shape and variety.

I happily walk up and down the streets then I walk along the San Antonio River Walk that runs along the King William Historic District. This is quiet residential neighborhood and I pass residents sitting on their porches.

It is about time to check in to my room at the Hilton Palacio del Rio, originally opened in 1968 for the World's Fair. It is a bit of a construction marvel because the 500 room, 21-story hotel was built with modular rooms that had the plumbing, lighting and even the furnishings set when they were hoisted in place with a crane.

My Hotel

The Hilton Palacio del Rio is centrally located on the San Antonio River Walk and is across the street from the Convention Center and Hemisphere Plaza.  The hotel has been completely renovated and it has every amenity you would expect from a four and a half star property.

I slide my key card and then open my door slowly, it's my favorite part of staying at hotels. I take a moment and enjoy the view of my perfectly made hotel bed.

I set my stuff down and think, what now? I guess I could do to a bar and get a cocktail, but why? I really just want to sit in the chair and read my fluffy fiction while I relax in the most decadent way possible at this moment.

But I do want something, like a Chai Latte from the Starbuck's in the lobby. So I grab the purse and head downstairs. When I return I take my book outside on my balcony to enjoy the city lights and read.

The view from my bed is amazing, I have the Tower of the Americas right outside so I opt to keep the drapes open so I can see it if I wake up in the night.

It's incredibly luxurious to sleep until you decide to get up for me. It happens so rarely in my life I love to savor every moment. But eventually the Starbuck's downstairs calls me and I must obey.

After my Chai Latte, I notice that I am hungry. I decide to walk the six blocks back to the Southland neighborhood for a little brunch at Madhatter's Tea House and Cafe (320 Beauregard Street), open for Sunday Brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is an easy 15-minute walk through the deserted Sunday morning streets.

Madhatter's is a San Antonio institution, they have been hosting bridal and baby showers for as long as I can remember. I get there early because I know there will be a crowd if I wait. I order the Honey Ham Eggs Benedict with a Mimosa to go with it because I'm at Sunday Brunch and it's a celebration.

Both are great and hit the spot but the crowd seems to be thickening and it's time to move on. It's San Antonio so I decide to check in on the Alamo. I love the Alamo and I have to walk by every time I visit San Antonio.

I walk along the River Walk as I make my way back to my hotel enjoying the sights and sounds of this favorite river. I never get enough of the San Antonio River Walk.

When I get back to my hotel, I request a late check out because I don't want my weekend to end. The Carful of Kids have to be picked up from Grandma's house and those school supplies aren't labeling themselves.

Gunning for a Great Weekend in Waco

Museum Day!

The carful of kids are in Waco for the weekend so far we have visited the Cameron Park Zoo and the Dr. Pepper Museum. We toured the newest National Monument in the National Park System--Waco Mammoth National Monument then walked across the Waco Suspension Bridge all the while eating at three different burger joints. It's a new day and still more sights to see.

Sunday Morning--The carful of kids sleep well after a day of non-stop activity, to get them moving I remind them of our first stop. We load up at the free breakfast buffet before we check out of the hotel.

We are not to old to dress up.

I know what my boys love and when I found the next museum online, I knew they would love it. They are all about the Old West and guns, this place has both.

It's a quick drive to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum (100 Texas Ranger Trail), they are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $ 7 and for the kids 6 to 12, it's $ 3.

The Texas Rangers are the oldest state law enforcement agency in the U.S. They were unofficially created by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 to protect the early settlers from Indian raids and they served as surveyors to settle property disputes.

Guns, lots of guns.

In 1881, the Indian Wars ended and the role of the Texas Rangers changed, becoming a law enforcement agency. They have statewide jurisdiction and their duties range from investigating crime, controlling riots and protecting the governor.

Throughout their history the Texas Rangers have tracked down such notorious outlaws as John Wesley Hardin, Sam Bass and Bonnie and Clyde. This museum is a great tribute to the unique law enforcement agency and those interested in Texas History will enjoy it.

The carful of kids, especially my boys, love guns from every era and every size. They decide to count all the different guns and the unofficial count is 279. This includes the Colt revolver that kids can assemble themselves.

Is it time to go already?

The carful of kids even watch the entire 45-minute documentary that plays in the auditorium. After a couple of hours exploring the Texas Rangers Museum, the carful of kids need to move on.

Though this museum is geared towards adults, especially men of all ages, my boys love it. I even see a troop of Boy Scouts touring it when we are here. It's not the best for families with small children due to the subject matter.

Sunday Afternoon--The carful of kids stop for a quick bite to eat before heading over to the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor University Campus. It's part natural history museum, children's discovery center and outdoor historic village all in one facility.

The Wind Machine at 78 mph!

The Mayborn Museum (1300 South University Parks) is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The admission for adults is $ 6 and for children 18 months to 12 years, the admission is $ 4.

The Mayborn Museum features a traveling exhibit entitled Shipwrecked that showcases the cargo that the Odyssey Marine Explorer has discovered in recent years. The exhibition also includes a pair of wind machines that you step into to experience hurricane force winds (74 mph)--the carful of kids love this and do it multiple times.

Using a hand pump for water

The natural history part of the Mayborn Museum features interesting skeletons and life-sized walk-through dioramas. They even have a casting of the Waco Mammoth Site that the carful of kids visited on our first day.

Ringing the church bells

The outdoor historic village includes a one-room school house, a church, an office, a general store, and the planter's house along with a cook's house. All the buildings are furnished and some are open so you can experience life 100 years ago. Even in the afternoon heat, the carful of kids run from building to building exploring.

After we complete the first floor, we head up to the children's discovery center. Since my kids are school-aged I let them walk around and discover at their own pace. There are several benches in the hallway in between the open-concept themed rooms, I take a few moments to rest my feet.

Playing with bubbles.

The carful of kids run from room to room doing experiments and I finally have to tear them away because it's closing time. The carful of kids spend over two hours at the museum.

The Mayborn Museum is a great place for families of all ages even the smallest of kids will enjoy the children's discovery center.

It's late in the day and the weekend is almost over so time to load up in the SUV and head home. Our weekend in Waco has been fun and I encourage you to check out Waco on your next free weekend.

Waco in a Weekend

Branding of the Brazos

The carful of kids have the opportunity to explore Waco, Texas, for the weekend and jump at the chance. Though we have driven through Waco many times, we have yet to give it a full weekend. Thanks to the Hubs, who has some business there, the carful of kids have the opportunity to explore.

Friday Night--After driving in from Austin, the carful of kids stop for some dinner at Health Camp (2601 Circle Road) on the Waco Traffic Circle--it's an easy exit from I-35 headed North and the carful of kids have stopped here for years. They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. We grab some hamburgers, fries, onion rings and a chocolate shake to share, we're trying to be healthy.

The Carful of Kids check out the Waco Suspension Bridge

After our quick eats, the carful of kids head over to the first suspension bridge built east of the Mississippi River. It is located in the Indian Spring Park along University Parks Drive between Washington and Franklin Avenues. The bridge and the surrounding park are free and along with the street parking.

The Waco Suspension Bridge was completed in 1869 with 3 million bricks. It is a single span bridge that spans 475 feet over the Brazos River. It was conceived as a toll bridge to make getting cattle to market safer as this is part of the Chisholm Trail. The legendary trail that cowboys herded cattle from South Texas to Abilene, Kansas, for transportation to the East Coast.

The carful of kids race across the bridge and back before stopping to look at the Branding of the Brazos sculpture, a life-sized bronze depicting the epic journey that cowboys and their cattle took along the Chisholm Trail. This public art display is a favorite for my boys because they love the sense of adventure that a cowboy's life conjures up.

The day is fading and I promised the kids some pool time and I need to sit in the poolside lounge chair reading my book. We have the pool to ourselves for two minutes before a family of four shows up.

I think the level of the pool is down six inches after all the cannonballs but I read on. The other Mom and myself unite and we pull the kids out at 10 p.m. and head back up to the room. The spell of pool works its magic and the kids are asleep in their bed before I finish my shower--great, we have a packed day tomorrow.

Saturday Morning--The carful of kids head over to the Cameron Park Zoo after the free hotel breakfast. It's summer in Texas which means the animals are smarter than the humans and they'll be hiding in the shade before too long.

We're excited to visit the zoo so the carful of kids pull into the parking lot at 8:45 a.m. and it's a pleasant 84 degrees outside. I figure we can see the majority of the zoo in two hours before it gets above 90 degrees.

Cameron Park Zoo (1701 North 4th Street) is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the adult admission is $ 9, for the kids 4 to 12 it's $ 6 and free for 3 and under. The parking is free and abundant; the zoo is easy to find even if you're from out-of-town.

My carful of kids are school-aged and love animals so this zoo is a great place for them. This is also a great zoo for families with young children in strollers. All the exhibits are easy to get to with wide paths and gentle inclines.

I give my oldest son the map and he leads the way. The map is full of pictograms so kids can read it alone and the zoo is laid out in a large circle--nothing to be missed.

The zoo has three main sections, an Asian Forest, an African Savanna and the Brazos River Country which the kids like the best. The Brazos River bisects Waco and the animals in this section of the zoo are native to this area of Texas.

Dr. Pepper Delivery Truck

We spend time in each exhibit and a little extra time in the reptile house before the carful of kids are at the entrance again. It's a leisurely walk that everyone enjoys and we finish up in under two hours. Nice since the temperatures are on the rise.

The carful of kids need a break so we head over to the Dr. Pepper Museum and Soda Fountain (300 South 5th Street). It is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4:15 p.m., though the soda fountain is open until 5 p.m. Admission for adults is $ 8 and for kids, it's $ 5.

Time for a treat at the soda fountain

This museum is dedicated to the history of Dr. Pepper through the years and encompasses three floors. There is a replica of the manufacturing room from the beginning and lots of nostalgic Dr. Pepper items; you can even watch commercials through the decades.

The carful of kids like the old Dr. Pepper delivery trucks the best. We walk through all three floors before finding our way to the antique soda fountain.

The carful of kids are amazed to learn this is how you had a soda over 50 years ago. We step up to the counter and order a Dr. Pepper and a Dr. Pepper Ice Cream Float. Yum.

This tour didn't take long but if you are short on time, skip the tour and visit the soda fountain instead. There is no charge to enter the soda fountain and the treats are reasonably priced--the carful of kids really enjoy it.

Saturday Afternoon--It's getting close to lunch and I want to catch a hamburger joint that comes well recommended before they close--Dubl R Old Fashioned Hamburgers (1810 Herring Avenue). They are open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Sundays.

I pull into the gravel driveway to park and the first thing that I notice is the grill exhaust, it makes my mouth water. This is a locals place and not recommended for the people of the world that cringe at joints and dives.

Dubl R Old Fashioned Hamburgers is where you would have eaten a hamburger on Saturday a generation ago. I open the door and spy a counter filled with neighbors chatting while the kids watch the grill cook make their burgers.

Sitting at the counter watching the grill

The carful of kids get hamburgers to go around with a side of fries and onion rings. Since we are in Waco, we fill up our cups with Dr. Pepper. This will be my second of the day and I can't tell you the last time that I have had two Dr. Pepper's in one day.

They bring the burgers to our table in the red baskets that kids love and I take a moment to smell it. It looks like your typical grilled Texas hamburger with buttered and toasted buns that hold the patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, mustard and mayonnaise together but it is not.

Not much left

I open my mouth big and take my first bite then I set the burger back in the red basket and look at my oldest boy and say, "now that's a good burger". He agrees as he eats his in five bites.

The french fries and onion rings are a great accompaniment to the burger and then to wash it down with a Dr. Pepper. It really just doesn't get any better on a hot Saturday August afternoon in Texas. It is that good.

I would have eaten another hamburger but the Dubl R was calling it a day and cleaning the grill by the time we finished. We said our goodbyes and head to the SUV for our next destination.

The Waco Mammoth National Monument (6220 Steinbeck Bend Drive) is the newest national monument as proclaimed by President Obama on July 10, 2015. The carful of kids couldn't wait to get back from our Rocky Mountain RoundUp Road trip to visit it.

Waco Mammoth National Monument is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last tour of the day departs at 4:10 p.m. It is accessible via guided tour only and the National Park Service Pass does not cover tours. Adult admission is $ 5 and admission for kids 4 to 12 is $ 3 and 3 and under are free. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

The first mammoth bone was discovered in 1978 by a couple of young men out fossil hunting. After the pair dug up the large bone, they took it to Baylor University for identification.

Baylor University staff identified it as the femur bone of a Columbian Mammoth from the Ice Age. Columbian Mammoths, named after Christopher Columbus, inhabited the more temperate areas of North America including Alaska all the way to Costa Rica. Columbian Mammoths, with heights that reach 13 feet tall and weights exceeding 9 tons, are larger and less furry than their distant relatives the Wholly Mammoth.

Baylor University dispatched groups of volunteers and excavation began that would take over 20 years. In all, the group discovered a nursery herd of 19 mammoths that were killed at the same time between 65,000 and 72,000 years ago in what appears to be a flash flood. Other floods occurred in the same spot at different times killing and covering an additional six mammoths, a Western camel, a dwarf antelope, an American alligator, a giant tortoise and the tooth of a Saber Toothed cat.

The dig area is now protected from the elements in an climate-controlled building; the Waco Mammoth National Monument leads 45-minute long tours along an elevated platform over the dig site. There are six of the mammoths still intact and the rest of the mammoths discovered are housed at Baylor University.

Since this is the newest National Monument, they don't have a Junior Ranger Badge yet but one is in the works according to park staff. This is a great stop for school-aged kids and any kid that loves dinosaurs.

After learning about mammoths, the carful of kids are hungry again and we are on the hunt for another burger joint. Since we are north and west of Waco, we head over to Dave's Burger Barn (600 North Patricia Street in Lacy-Lakeview).

My third burger of our Waco Weekend

Dave's Burger Barn is home to the Zipper Ripper Challenge, a five patty bacon-cheeseburger that one must eat in 12 minutes to get their photo posted on the wall. The carful of kids didn't take the challenge, instead we order burgers with a side of homemade chips.

This location is convenient to the Waco Mammoth National Monument but a little far from Waco itself. They have a full kids' menu though it lacks the authentic atmosphere of Dubl R Old Fashioned Hamburgers. Dave's Burger Barn serves a solid burger and it's great for families.

The carful of kids refuel and head back to the hotel for a little pool time. We have another full day planned in Waco.

Up next: Wrap-Up to our Waco Weekend