The year 2025 saw Fort Hood Sentinel staff visit, eat and explore their way across Central Texas and beyond.
Traveling Soldier, a column dedicated to our travels, allowed readers to join us on our adventures through a first-hand account of each distinct sight, sound, smell and taste.
An array of exciting and unique activities are within reach of the Fort Hood community, and there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Rhinory
Blake, a 4,100-pound southern white rhinoceros at Rhinory, takes a drink June 7, 2025, following an afternoon nap at Rhinory in Fredericksburg. Texas. Blake is the resident rhinoceros at the winery and an ambassador for conservation of his species.
Sentinel file photo by Heather Ashley, Sentinel Assistant Editor
Heather Ashley, Fort Hood Sentinel assistant editor, traveled to some unique venues such as the Rhinory in Texas Hill Country.
A 55-acre winery located about 12 miles west of downtown Fredericksburg on U.S. Highway 290, the Rhinory features wines from Texas and South Africa and a 4,100-pound southern white rhinoceros named Blake.
The back area of Rhinory in Fredericksburg, Texas, features a large covered patio seating area as well as several tables spread out across the yard area, all with clear views of Blake, the resident southern white rhinoceros. From the back, the entirety of Blake’s spacious pasture area can be viewed.
Sentinel file photo by Heather Ashley, Sentinel Assistant Editor
“It’s a winery with a mission — to aid efforts to protect and save Blake and his fellow rhinos, ensuring the species’ survival,” Ashley described.
Rhinory is located at 13112 E. U.S. 290 in Fredericksburg and is open 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Reservations are recommended for wine tastings on Friday and Saturday. For more information about Rhinory, their wines and their conservation efforts, visit rhinory.com, facebook.com/TheRhinory or instagram.com/therhinory. Blake also has his own Instagram page at instagram.com/blaketherhino.
Old Taylor High
The exterior of Old Taylor High in Taylor, Texas, is largely unchanged since 1923, when the building served as the town’s high school and later, middle school, before opening as retail space in 2019. The campus includes the former gymnasium that now houses restaurants.
Sentinel file photo by Heather Ashley, Sentinel Assistant Editor
Ashley’s quirky travels didn’t stop in the Texas Hill Country.
“After seeing a social media post about a former high school that had been converted into a shopping mall, I knew I had to check it out,” she said of Old Taylor High, a former high school and middle school now home to 17 retail spaces, including boutiques, vintage shops and spots serving adult beverages and eats, at Taylor.
The first-floor hallway inside the Shops at Old Taylor High in Taylor, Texas, retains the appearance of a school with classrooms now converted into retail and dining spaces. Lockers still line the halls throughout the building.
Sentinel file photo by Heather Ashley, Sentinel Assistant Editor
Built in 1923, the two-story orange brick building served as the high school until 1969. It served as Taylor Middle School from 1969 to 2001. Despite its transition to retail, the building has retained its school-building aesthetic, with lockers and glass-fronted display cases still lining the hallways.
The Shops at Old Taylor High, located at 410 W. 7th St., are open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit oldtaylorhigh.com.
Waco Downtown Farmers Market
Mama D’s stall set out samples of various pickles for attendees to try Nov. 15, 2025, at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market at Waco, Texas.
Sentinel file photo by Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Sentinel Editor
Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Sentinel editor, also had an interesting shopping experience at The Waco Downtown Farmers Market that featured local agricultural producers and vendors from within 150 miles of Waco.
“There was plenty to browse, from fresh produce to delicious-looking cinnamon rolls to handcrafted wooden toys,” Davis said. “There were also food trucks and coffee trucks for those looking to eat or drink while shopping the morning away, as well as live music to listen to.
The Spoonery allows customers to choose a spoon or fork on the spot to be made into a custom ring at its stall at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market in Waco, Texas. After careful deliberation, Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Sentinel editor, chose a spoon with a straight handle and flower design.
Sentinel file photo by Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Sentinel Editor
For more information about the Waco Downtown Farmers Market or to check out vendors and see events, visit wacodowntownfarmersmarket.org.
Sandbox VR
With the virtual reality experience Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Sentinel editor, and her friends chose at Sandbox VR in Austin, Texas, they were able to choose from eight different characters across four categories. She chose a female knight with a sword who could throw fireballs.
Sentinel file photo by Ayumi Davis, Fort Hood Sentinel Editor)
Davis diverted from vintage to virtual reality with a visit to Sandbox VR in Austin.
“A group of up to six people at about $50-60 a person can do virtual reality together and have 10 different experiences to choose from. You have to pick which game before you go, so we chose ‘Seekers of the Shard: Dragonfire,’ on account of my friend loving fantasy,” she said.
“Imagine you could be transported to a fantasy world where you fight dragons and goblins to save the kingdom or battle your way through a zombie apocalypse,” Davis described. “At Sandbox VR, friends and family can go on virtual adventures, all with the aid of technology.
“The graphics were pretty cool to see,” she added. “I was able to move my character pretty well (and was swinging my arm like crazy slashing goblins and throwing fireballs).”
For more information about Sandbox VR, visit sandboxvr.com.
PopStroke
Friends and the fiancée of Samantha Harms, command information chief, watch as their other friend moves to set up his putt at PopStroke in Austin, Texas. It took the group about two hours to make it through one of the 18-hole courses.
Sentinel file photo by Samantha Harms, Command Information Chief
Samantha Harms, command information chief, opted for a more traditional game during her visit to PopStroke, “Austin’s mini golf oasis.”
“When PopStroke opened just an hour down the road from Fort Hood, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to relive my golfing era,” she expressed.
Sand volleyball is one of the many activities patrons can utilize at PopStroke in Austin, Texas.
Sentinel file photo by Samantha Harms, Command Information Chief
The venue features two 18-hole putting courses with synthetic fairways, rough patches and unexpected turns, as well as three pickleball courses, two sand volleyball courts, a full-service restaurant, a plethora of TVs and jumbotrons, an ice cream parlor and an e-sport lounge, Harms described.
PopStroke has more than a dozen locations across the country. For more information about the Austin location, visit popstroke.com/venues/austin.
Texas White House Historical Park
Hereford cattle enjoy the shade at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Stonewall, Texas. Cattle can be found throughout the LBJ Ranch, just as they were in the 1950s and 1960s.
Sentinel file photo by Samantha Harms, Command Information Chief
In addition to golf, Harms also enjoys visiting historical locations.
She visited the Texas White House Historical Park at Stonewall, located two hours away from The Great Place. It has a visitor center and the home of President Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch which showcases his boyhood home, the Johnson settlement, Junction School, his birthplace, the family cemetery, his grandparents’ farmhouse, a show barn and more.
The reconstructed birthplace of President Lyndon B. Johnson stands tall as part of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Stonewall, Texas. The home closely resembles the original home, which was removed in the 1930s.
Sentinel file photo by Samantha Harms, Command Information Chief
“It’s easy to spend hours wandering around the different sites offered at the historical park, simply immersing yourself in the history of Johnson and his family,” Harms said. “As someone who grew up moving around in a military family, I personally love the idea of being so settled somewhere that it affords multiple generations to grow up on the same land. The Johnson family did just that — it is just one of the many things I admire about visiting the historical park.”
Visitors should note the Texas White House Complex is closed due to a rehabilitation project but the LBJ Ranch and Johnson City is well worth the visit while the complex is waiting to open again.
For more information about the park, visit nps.gov/lyjo.
Inner Space Cavern
Rock formations line the trail for the Adventure Tour at the Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown, Texas.
Sentinel file photo by Derika Upshaw, Fort Hood Public Affairs
History lessons continued during a visit to Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown.
Visitors can choose from three tours — Adventure Tour, Hidden Passages Tour and Wild Cave Tour. A new group runs about every 20 minutes, and the tour takes about an hour and 15 minutes to complete, explained Derika Upshaw, Fort Hood Public Affairs.
Formations of stalactites and stalagmites, cave formations created by mineral deposition that hang down and grow up, respectively, in Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown, Texas, are seen at the end of the Adventure Tour.
Sentinel file photo by Derika Upshaw, Fort Hood Public Affairs
“While in the cave, we learned about the different rock formations, the bones of various animals found there — such as mammoths and saber-tooth cats, which were originally from this area — and the explorations that have taken place since the cave was discovered during the construction of a highway above it around the 1960s,” Upshaw said.
“This is a great way for the children to have fun and still sneak in some learning during the summer as it pertains to science,” she added.
For more information about Inner Space Cavern, its tours and prices, visit innerspacecavern.com.
Cajun Crabs & Shrimp
The Crazy Fish plate features a whole fried tilapia, gumbo, rice and fries at Cajun Crabs & Shrimp in Killeen, Texas. The meal could be enough for two people.
Sentinel file photo by Derika Upshaw, Fort Hood Public Affairs
After venturing all the way to Georgetown, Upshaw stayed closer to home to enjoy a local seafood gem — Cajun Crabs & Shrimp, where “Fresh Catch Meets Fiery Cajun Flavors,” the website boasts.
“This place is a whole vibe, not only because it’s a great place to come with friends or coworkers, but for the families too,” Upshaw said.
Cajun Crabs & Shrimp served California seafood tacos filled with delicious coleslaw and fried catfish June 15, 2025, in Killeen, Texas.
Sentinel file photo by Derika Upshaw, Fort Hood Public Affairs
“The place has a beachy, crab shack ambience that makes you want to be at the beach. The menu feels like a tasty fusion between Creole and Mexican cuisine,” she described.
Visit ordercajuncrabsshrimp2.com/cajuncrabsshrimp3-ty5iaj for more information about Cajun Crabs & Shrimp.
Discovery Green
The motorized bumper boats at Kinder Lake in Discovery Green in Houston are designed for gentle collisions and major laughs.
Sentinel file photo by Janecze Wright, Fort Hood Public Affairs
As for me, I couldn’t stop raving about the food at Discovery Green.
Located about three hours from The Great Place, Discovery Green is a nearly 12-acre oasis in the heart of downtown Houston that caters to the diversity of its residents with a lake, promenade, fountain, dog runs, public art installations and tree-shaded walks that offer postcard views of downtown.
Gateway Fountain in Discovery Green in downtown Houston is a popular attraction for children and adults to enjoy sun-drenched days.
Sentinel file photo by Janecze Wright, Fort Hood Public Affairs
Tucked between soaring skyscrapers and the hum of city life, the space is where the young and young at heart unwind, and the soft roundness of water and greenery contrasts against the sharp angles of the concrete buildings all around.
It’s not just a park, but a living, breathing testament to what happens when the bustling city gives way to tranquility and green space becomes the soul of a city.
Discovery Green is a place where the city slows down, joy speeds up and every season brings its own kind of magic, and I look forward to visiting again.
Find out more about Discovery Green at discoverygreen.com.
Lake Austin Lights
Mozart’s Festival of Lights is the perfect complement to the Lake Austin Lights cruise in Austin, Texas.
Sentinel file photo by Janecze Wright, Fort Hood Public Affairs
To cap off a year full of extraordinary trips, I lit up the holidays with a Christmas-themed boat tour of Lake Austin courtesy of “the crown jewel of Austin Rental Boats Lake Austin Lights cruise.”
Thousands of lights created a stunning contrast to the ink black lake as we glided over the water, making our way past various holiday displays and passing other colorful boats.
Two nutcrackers stand guard on each side of the Lake Austin Lights tunnel in Austin, Texas. It was my favorite part of the cruise.
Sentinel file photo by Janecze Wright, Fort Hood Public Affairs
The breathtaking 80-foot Floating Tunnel of Lights culminated in a truly enchanting experience.
Evenings are the best time to see all the lights, and various time slots can be booked online.
Though Austin Lights is over for this holiday season, I would definitely suggest putting it on the holiday list for next season. Until then visit austinrentalboats.com to gain insight on other boat rental opportunities.
Call the company at 512-957-1444 to inquire about a military discount.