
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called Rodeo Houston or abbreviated HLSR, is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It includes one of the richest regular-season professional rodeo events. It has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003.
Texas Agricultural & Sightseeing Tour
Tour Highlights:
Texas A & M – Agricultural College & ranch visits, Walking tour of the Stockyards Station, Fort Worth Herd Demonstration, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, Magnolia Market at the Silos, San Antonio sightseeing visits to the Alamo, Riverboat Cruise, lunch, Japanese Tea Gardens, Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Enjoy two wineries with tastings, BBQ lunch in Fredericksburg region, King Ranch visit, King Ranch Museum & King Ranch Saddle Shop, JD Hudgins Ranch – American Gray Brahmans, Fagan Ranch Brangus – Red & Black Brangus, Cotton Gin Museum of Texas, NASA Space Centre Private Tram Tour, Houston Stock Show
Meals: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch , D – Dinner
DAY 1: Feb 24th, 2022 Flight from Calgary to Houston (D)
International flight to Texas: Departs 8:45am Calgary to Houston Arrive:1:38 pm (4 hour flight time)
Arrive in Houston—meet coach driver and transfer to College Station
Check into hotel and freshen up after your flight
Time to relax before the Welcome Dinner
Overnight Houston
Day 2: Feb 25th, 2022 Houston (B, L, D)
Full day at Houston Stock Show
VIP Guided Tour to get your bearings of the show grounds, the group will have access to the international visitors area. After the tour you will have free time to explore the areas of the show you would to experience.
6pm: Coach will depart showgrounds for hotel, if you wish to stay on and take in the rodeo or concert please advise your tour manager, you will be responsible to make your own way back to the hotel.
Please note: If you wish to attend the rodeo & concert on your own, please check the website for concert lineup re-leased January 2019 www.rodeohouston.com/Tickets/Rodeo-Concert-Tickets
*Weekday rodeo performances start at 6:45 p.m. Concert entertainer performs at approximately 8:45 p.m. NRG Sta-dium gates open at 6 p.m.
Overnight Houston
Day 3: Feb 26th, 2022 Houston (B, D)
Full day at the Houston Stock Show, if you do not wish to go back to the show, please advise your tour manager.
Overnight: Houston.
Day 4: February 27th, 2022 Houston (B, L)
Enjoy a NASA Space Centre Private Tram Tour
On NASA Tram Tour, you will be guided through different JSC locations including Rocket Park, where one of only three of the remaining actual Saturn V rockets is displayed, along with other rockets that propelled space explora-tion.
Walk an elevated path through the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility where NASA astronauts train for current mis-sions and where scientists and engineers are developing the next generation of space exploration vehicles.
Visit the iconic Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control and enter the historic Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR) from which NASA led Gemini and Apollo missions, including the momentous first lunar landing mission as well as early space shuttle missions.
Free afternoon & evening to enjoy the uptown district near your hotel – the hotel is 1 block from Galleria Mall and shopping and restaurant district.
Overnight Houston
Day 5: February 28th, 2022 Houston (B)
Visit Official Cotton Gin Museum of Texas
Step back in time when cotton was king. The historic 1914 Burton Farmers Gin* is nestled in the heart of Burton, Texas – located on the same site where it was built over 100 years ago! Designated on June 19, 2009 as the Official Cotton Gin Museum of Texas, this historic cotton gin has been visited annually by thousands of visitors.
Lunch Stop: Lunch on your own
Afternoon visit to Cotton Farm or Cattle Ranch —to be confirmed
Please note: If you wish to attend the rodeo & concert on your own, please check the website for concert lineup released January 2019 www.rodeohouston.com/Tickets/Rodeo-Concert-Tickets
*Weekday rodeo performances start at 6:45 p.m. Concert entertainer performs at approximately 8:45 p.m. NRG Stadium gates open at 6 p.m.
Overnight Houston
Day 6: March 1st, 2022 Houston to Hungerford to Tivoli (B, D)
Morning visit to Fagan Ranch Brangus – Red & Black Brangus—to be confirmed
JD Hudgins Ranch – American Gray Brahmans
The J.D. Hudgins family has lived in the Hungerford, Texas area since 1839, when Joel Hudgins settled there. One of his sons, J.D., formed a partnership with his children in 1908 to raise Brahman cattle and farm. J.D. Hudgins, Inc., grew from that partnership, and today the J.D. Hudgins family operates almost 10,000 acres of land and runs more than 1,750 registered Brahman cows. In more than 100 years of operation, J.D. Hudgins, Inc., has sold American Gray Brahmans to 35 states of the United States and 43 countries of the world.
J.D. Hudgins, Inc., is unique in the purebred business in that the owners of the ranch are full time cow people who actively manage the ranch and cattle on a daily basis. The fifth and sixth generations of the J.D. Hudgins family are now actively managing the business.
Transfer to Corpus Christi
Group dinner
Overnight Corpus Christi
Day 7: March 2nd, 2022 Corpus Christi (B,D)
Transfer to King Ranch – Ranch Tour
See King Ranch Quarter Horses, Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle, our resident Longhorn herd and an abundance of wildlife on King Ranch. View South Texas brush clearing equipment, conceived and developed on King Ranch to clear mesquite and huisache from the pastures, as well as the Calera Pens and Camphouse, where at roundup time the cattle are vaccinated, branded and tagged.
Throughout your trip, your guide will explain the history and the modern day workings of the ranch. You’ll get the chance to see the Auction Arena, the horse cemetery, and the Colony—the home of the Kineños or King’s men. You will pass historic buildings that include Mrs. King’s carriage house, the Commissary with its lookout tower, and the grand home built in 1912 by Captain King’s widow, Henrietta.
Afternoon visit to King Ranch Museum & King Ranch Saddle Shop
Group dinner
Overnight Corpus Christi
Day 8: March 3rd, 2022 Corpus Christi (B)
Free Day to relax and explore Corpus Christi – hotel is located near shopping and waterfront district.
Optional tours of USS LEXINGTON please indicate on your booking form
Hard Hat Tours – 50 USD per person (3 to 4 hours) The tour includes areas from the 02 level to the 6th deck, lasting 3-4 hours. The tour will include climbing steep ladders, confined spaces, dimly lit or dark compartments. Guests will be provided with a hardhat and small flashlight. Guests should dress comfortably and wear rubber-soled shoes.
Dinner on your own this evening
Overnight Corpus Christi
Day 9: March 4th, 2022 San Antonio (B,L,D)
San Antonio sightseeing with local guide – visit the Alamo, Riverboat Cruise, lunch, Japanese Tea Gardens, Mis-sion Concepción, Mission San José
8:45am Meet in the hotel lobby
9:00 am – Tour guide meets group at Hotel
9:15 am – 10:00 am The Alamo
10:30 am – 11:30 am Go Rio River Cruise Private Tour
11:45 pm – 1:45 pm Lunch at El Mercado – Market Square
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Japanese Tea Garden
3:10 pm – 4:10 pm Mission San Jose
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm Mission Concepcion
5:00 pm – Transfer back to your hotel/ free time to relax and freshen up before group dinner on the river walk
7pm: Group dinner
Overnight: San Antonio
Day 10: March 5th, 2022 San Antonio/Day Tour to Fredericksberg (B,L)
Enjoy two wineries with tastings, BBQ lunch, free time in Fredericksburg with tour guide on hand for suggestions…
9:30: Depart San Antonio
10:45 to 12pm: Two winery visit
1:30: Lunch – Texas BBQ lunch
3pm: Visit Fredericksburg – Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers.
4:15: Depart Fredericksburg
5:30: Arrive in San Antonio
Dinner on your own, free evening to explore the San Antonio River Walk – restaurants and bars
Overnight San Antonio
Overnight Houston
Day 11: March 6th, 2022 San Antonio to Fort Worth
8:30am Depart San Antonio for Waco
10:00am Arrive in Waco – stop and visit Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
The TEXAS RANGER HALL OF FAME is a State memorial dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Texas Ranger ser-vice. The Hall of Fame commemorates 31 Texas Rangers who made significant contributions to the development of the service or gave their lives in the line of duty under extraordinary circumstances. Inductees are selected by a com-mittee of serving and retired Rangers.
11:30am Lunch stop & visit at Magnolia Market at the Silos- lunch on your own
1:30pm Depart for Fort Worth
5:30pm: Arrive in Fort Worth– check into hotel
Dinner on your own
Free time to explore Fort Worth
Overnight Houston
Day 12: March 7th, 2022 Fort Worth (B, D)
9am: Walking tour of the Stockyards Station
Located in Fort Worth’s National Historic District, the Ft. Worth Stockyards offer an authentic glimpse of the Ameri-can West. Blending past and present, enjoy uniquely western dining, shopping and entertainment surrounded by the region’s rich history. And with new elements coming in 2019, the future is bright for this iconic gem in the heart of Ft. Worth.
This guided tour takes visitors to historic locations throughout the Stockyards. A personal tour guide will escort you throughout the entire Stockyards, sharing historical facts and timeless stories along the way. The walking tours are a perfect way to get the lay of the land and plan your adventure at the Stockyards!
11:30am: Fort Worth Herd Demonstration
Get a glimpse into the past and Fort Worth’s rich western heritage with the world’s only twice daily cattle drive. In preserving its heritage as Cowtown, the City of Fort Worth has its own herd of 15 Texas Longhorns – one for each decade of Fort Worth’s 150-year history.
12pm: Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame honors those individuals who have shown excellence in competition, business and support of rodeo and western lifestyle in Texas. Our museum is located in Historic Barn A, in what was once the horse and mule barns of the Stockyards.
Guided tour will end at the Cowboy Hall of fame, take as long as you like to explore the Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Free afternoon to enjoy lunch on your own and to explore Stockyards Station area.
5pm: Meet coach and transfer back to hotel freshen up before a group dinner
7pm: Group Dinner
Overnight: Fort Worth
Day 13: March 8th, 2022 Fort Worth to College Station (B, L, D)
8am: Visit to Texas A & M – Agricultural College
Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, or AgLife Sciences for short, is one of ten colleges and schools that are part of Texas A&M University. Agriculture and the Life Sciences have been part of the university since its founding in 1876 as the “Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas.”
The College was formally recognized in 1911. A part of the land grant university system, the college offers more than 80 undergrad and grad degree programs across 14 departments. It is also one of the five organizations that comprise Texas A&M AgriLife.
To day enjoy a tour of Texas A&M University facilities, a beef farm close to the university , insight into current research projects and an overview of the cattle industry in Texas. The tour will also include a visit to iconic places such as Kyle Field & the Bush li-brary
Late afternoon transfer to Houston
Farewell dinner
Overnight Houston
Day 14: March 9th,2022 Houston (B)
Morning at leisure
11am Meet in the hotel lobby/check out
11:30am transfer to airport / Flight departs 2:15pm arrives in Calgary 5:30pm
End of tour
*Please call or email for pricing and availability*

For more information, please contact Lawrence Rowley
Lawrence@leadertours.ca / 1-844-370-7044 / 403-764-2044
www.leadertours.ca