Tag: Moody Gardens (Page 5 of 6)

Moody Gardens Giving Back: Festival of Lights Food Drive

November 19, 2012 / Moody Gardens

Do you love charity and the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights? You’re in luck! Every Friday night, if you bring a non-perishable food item, you can get 2 for the price of 1 admission! Moody Gardens is teaming up with the Galveston County Food Bank to provide for those who have fallen on hard times this holiday season.

The Galveston County Food Bank is an interfaith community-based organization established to receive surplus food from generous institutions willing to provide for those less fortunate than themselves. Their program is called Gleanings From the Harvest, which is a food procurement and distribution network. It provides food to those who most need it; this includes the destitute and the families in Galveston County who are considered the “working poor”.

Moody Gardens loves charity and would like your help in feeding those in need around the Galveston area. Please consider stopping by our Festival of Lights Friday Food Drive to be a part of this great charity. We promise you won’t be disappointed! Not only will you feel like you’ve contributed to something great, but you’ll also be able to enjoy our famous Festival of Lights at a discounted rate!

Our Festival of Lights is a great Houston holiday event for those looking for a family weekend getaway in Texas. We offer more than 1 million lights within 100 sound-enhanced animated light displays. But that’s not all! We also offer live entertainment every night, a delicious Festival of Lights Buffet that you just can’t miss, and the area’s only outdoor ice skating rink. While you’re visiting, take a picture with Santa or watch a holiday film in one of our theaters. If you’ve visited Moody Gardens before, we’ve added something new this year! Enjoy snow tubing down the Arctic Slide. All of these attractions are open every night the Festival of Lights is open. Don’t forget, you can make a weekend of it! We offer one of the best family friendly hotels in Texas.

So put Moody Gardens Festival of Lights Friday Food Drive on your calendar. We promise you won’t be disappointed! For more information on our Holiday Events, visit us here.

Family Friendly Accommodations at Moody Gardens Hotel

November 8, 2012 / Moody Gardens

While the Moody Gardens Hotel is known for its spectacular rooms and amenities such as the spa and convention center, it is actually a wonderful place for kids to stay. The Moody Gardens hotel has a ton of activities and perks for the kids. Read on to learn more about our family friendly accommodations.

Kids Eat Free: Yep, you read that correctly, free! Everyday, with the purchase of an adult entrée at the Terrace Restaurant, your little one, under the age of 12, gets a free meal! The free meal includes anything off the kid’s menu or buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll have a well-fed family and a well-fed wallet.

Pools: The swimming pools are a great time for kids of every age! While parents relax amongst the lush gardens and waterfalls, the children are jumping in the water or grabbing afternoon treats from the poolside snack bar. Summer and holiday time call for special poolside fun such as face-painting clowns or a tropical bounce house. The outdoor Jacuzzi is enjoyable for everyone year around, so no matter what season you visit Moody Gardens Hotel be sure to bring your bathing suit!

Kid’s Crew: Kid’s Crew activities will keep your children busy and entertained throughout their visit. The activities include arts and crafts, a bounce house, kite flying, scavenger hunts, karaoke, Wii competitions, movie nights, clown face painting, and more. Kids can also play on the outdoor playground or test their logic skill with the Giant Chess Game. The best part is, all the Kid’s Crew activities are free for hotel guests! Activities are seasonal and change daily, so the fun is always different.

The Moody Gardens Hotel is the perfect place if you’re looking for family friendly hotels in Texas. Our family friendly hotel is sure to please every member of your family. Don’t forget to check out the Moody Gardens Attractions, such as the Aquarium Pyramid and the Rainforest Pyramid, while you’re here for more entertainment! We’re also offering a special holiday deal at the spa! Take time to relax while your kids are out having a great time.

The Holiday Experience at Moody Gardens

November 5, 2012 / Moody Gardens

Experience the holidays in a whole new way at Moody Gardens. Our unique seasonal activities provide the best holiday entertainment in the Galveston area. Join us this year for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve!

Thanksgiving: Join us Thanksgiving weekend for a shopping spectacular! The Home for the Holidays Gift Market features more than 100 of the region’s gift vendors for you to choose from. Their unique gifts include home décor, candles, craft foods, accessories and more. Get a head start with your Christmas shopping while experiencing Moody Gardens. Don’t miss out on the VIP lounge access to the Gift Market! For only $35 you can spend time in our lounge that overlooks the showroom floor and enjoy specialty holiday hors d’oevres, featured beverages, wines and hot cider. The Market is open November 23 from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., November 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and November 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00. Also, let us do all the cooking and cleaning this Thanksgiving! Join us for the Moody Garden’s Thanksgiving Day Buffet.

Christmas: The Festival of Lights is a holiday tradition for many families in the region. We throw one of the largest holiday extravaganzas in the area, with more than one million lights sparkling throughout Moody Gardens. The Festival of Lights is from November 10 to January 5. Enjoy ice skating, snow tubing, holiday films and hot cocoa along the trail. Also, don’t miss Moody Gardens presents a Magical Christmas Dinner and Show. This magical holiday experience is held in the Moody Gardens Convention Center December 14-17, 20-27. Get your tickets today.

New Year’s Eve: The best New Year’s Eve party is here at Midnight in the Gardens! Enjoy non-stop entertainment as you ring in 2013!

If you’re looking for family weekend getaways in Texas this holiday season, then look no further than Moody Gardens. Our holiday events in Galveston and holiday deals combine to create the perfect way to spend your season. Don’t miss out on our special Festival of Lights Arctic Package if you’re looking for a great deal on Christmas events in Texas.

Brewmasters Friday Night Pub Crawl

August 21, 2012 / Moody Gardens

Date: Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
Time: 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Price: $25 per person in advance
Location: Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center Lobby

Remember those bar hopping nights? Well now it’s an official event. Grab your buddies and hop on the bus. With a free 2012 t-shirt and koozie, the ride will take you to different places to purchase special feature selections at Pub Crawl Stops.

And if you want something to make you feel real special, then check out the Taste It First selections. That’s right, be the first to taste new brews from Cedar Creek, Fort Bend Brewing, No Label and Southern Star before they hit the store shelves. From the makers of Texas Backyard Blonde, Lawn Ranger Cream Ale, El Hefe and Pine Belt Pale, these guys are brewing up their next fan favorite!

BrewLicious Beer and Food Pairing

August 14, 2012 / Moody Gardens

Date: Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Price: $55 per person in advance
Location: Frances Anne Moody Ballroom at Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center

Let’s kick off the party with beer and food! The BrewLicious Beer and Food Pairing starts the Festival with more than 150 craft beers and plenty of scrumptious creations. This isn’t just an ordinary food pairing either. They’re taking it to the next level with personally invited professional chefs and featured restaurants.

Beat the Texas heat and head to the Poolside Terrace Crafty Parties. Live music and themed parties rock the deck as people try out the different craft selections. For tonight, Luther & The Healers jazz up the stage from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. As one of the longest running blues band, the band stuck together since 1991 and rocked more than 300 shows a year.

Tap into Texas’s Largest Craft Beer Festival with 400 featured brews

July 31, 2012 / Moody Gardens

According to Brewers Association records there are now almost 2,000 craft breweries in the United States and growing. In 2011, craft beer sales grew more than 13%. Join fellow craft beer lovers and supporters of this independent craft as they gather Labor Day weekend to sample more than 400 specialty and hard-to-find brews at the Third Annual BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival. This annual foam fete takes place at Moody Gardens Friday, August 31 through Sunday, September 2, 2012.

The three-day celebration will showcase two signature events: BrewLicious in the Ballroom and BrewHaHa Grand Tasting, both of which have VIP experiences, as well as the regular ticket. There are a host of related events like the BrewMasters PubCrawl and Texas Brewery Tasting Tours. Featured activities include: live music, beer and food pairing seminars and dinners featuring renowned chefs, educational events, and a slew of Brew Brains and industry experts including award-winning BrewMasters. Sunday, September 2 will feature a new event called Tex-E-Que which will feature a live concert.

“We’re fortunate to have multiple micro breweries right here in Houston and many others throughout the region, said event founder and organizer, Clifton McDerby, principal of Food & Vine Time Productions, Inc. “This event is dedicated to showcasing the voluminous and explosive industry that is craft and specialty brews and it just keeps getting bigger and better along with the craft beer industry,” added McDerby. “We started as the largest beer festival in the state and we plan to give Texans even more including the largest selection of Craft beers available at any Texas festival. Plus, we’ll continue to feature Taste it First at BrewMasters selections where we’ll be bringing to market beers that haven’t been tasted before since the brewers are holding off the beer’s release to showcase them first at BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival.”

Festivities begin on Friday, August 31 with BrewLicious in the Ballroom. Located at the Moody Gardens Hotel’s Francis Anne Moody Ballroom, this spectacular evening for suds sippers is for the serious beer and culinary enthusiast. BrewLicious in the Ballroom will feature renowned chefs showcasing unique food and beer pairing selections. BrewLicious in the Ballroom will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and tickets to the event are $55, with a VIP Premium Room upgrade ticket for $75 with early entry and premium craft selections.

Also on tap is the BrewMasters Pub Crawl Friday, August 31 at 8 p.m. Hop on board this festive party bus with a tour to some of Galveston’s coolest bars and meet featured Brew Brains at each stop.

Saturday, September 1st sample some of the best available brews in the world at the BrewHaHa Grand Tasting held in the Moody Gardens Expo Arena, featuring over 400 craft and specialty brews and more than 30 wines. Admission to BrewHaHa is $35 in advance, $40 at the door, $75 for a VIP ticket, or guests can purchase a VIP or general admission two-day Hopper Pass. The BrewHaHa Grand Tasting will run from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and includes access to multiple beer seminars on the Spec’s University Seminar Stage, a fun and educational experience for all who take pride in their beer and want to expand their knowledge of craft beers.

Sunday, September 2nd offers the new Tex-E-Que and concert. For a $10 cover charge, beer lovers get their pick of 400 selections for a flat price per bottle. Get them while they last and boot scoot the night away.

BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival is presented by Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods. Additional sponsors include Moody Gardens Hotel and Conference Center, GreatBrewers.com, Toasted Head Wine, and DeFalco’s Home Wine & Beer Supplies.

For more information on the BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival, visit www.brewmastersbeerfest.com or call 713-557-5732.

The Dark Knight Rises at Moody Gardens!

June 22, 2012 / Moody Gardens

Don’t miss the much anticipated conclusion to the Batman trilogy on the largest screen in Texas…the MG 3D Theater! Viewers can expect a high quality theater experience with a 15/70 IMAX® Projection as well as the only large format screen in the US with 11.1 Surround Sound Audio. Be the first to experience the seat-gripping action with a midnight showing on July 20 and 21. The Dark Knight Rises will play daily at 6:15pm and 9:15pm.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-PURCHASE TICKETS

“Who ‘nose’ when the Corpse Flower will bloom?” Contest

June 6, 2012 / Moody Gardens

UPDATE—WINNERS: Lucky 13…today has been declared official bloom date! Only guesses submitted by 2:00pm today June 13, 2012 will be taken in consideration. Email us at [email protected] if we reply to your comment with “WINNER” to claim your prize. Thank you all for your guesses!

Morticia, the Corpse Flower, looks like she’s ready for her bloom! But without a set blooming season, it’s hard to predict when the Corpse Flower will bloom. So who “nose” when the Corpse Flower will bloom and begin its silent and smelly flowering? The first 20 people to guess correctly will win a free ticket to the Rainforest Pyramid to see Morticia!

A Corpse Flower bloom occurs when the spadix, the long, French bread-like stem, emerges from the bud. At that point, the flower will grow four to six inches a day and the strong smell will start to roll in. The strong smell that is similar to rotting flesh attracts its pollinators, carrion beetles and sweat flies. It is considered the largest flowering plant in the world, often reaching heights of over 10 feet tall. Technically, it is the largest unbranched inflorescence, containing both male & female flowers.

The Corpse Flower grows from an underground tuber which can weigh up to 200 pounds. From this tuber, a large single leaf emerges resembling a small tree that can grow to more than 20 feet tall. During this vegetative state, the tuber gains its energy to produce the massive bloom. The plant then goes into a dormant period for approximately three months. The tuber will then either produce another leaf or a flower as it has at Moody Gardens.

Once fully unfurled, the flower will only last for a day or two. Then the flower collapses upon itself and withers away. The tuber will then go into a dormant period, resting and gaining energy, eventually sending up another tree trunk-like stalk, beginning the incredible process all over again!

The Corpse Flower is under threat of extinction in the wild due to illegal logging and the clearing of rain forest land for cultivation of oil palm plantations. It is our hope that interest in and appreciation of our Earth’s amazing plants and animals will lead to increased efforts at conserving the habitats of these and other rare species.

CONTEST RULES:

Use the information we’ve provided above as well as Morticia’s growth progress, which we update frequently on our Facebook & Twitter, to guess the exact date that she will bloom. Our horticultural exhibit manager, Donita Brannon, will declare the official bloom date. Here are the rules:

Leave your guess in the comments section of this post or tweet us your guess @Moody_Gardens with hashtag #MorticiaContest
Only one guess per person.
Contest open until flower starts to bloom
First 20 people to guess correctly will win two (2) tickets to the Rainforest Pyramid®
Only people who guess the EXACT date determined by our horticultural exhibit manager will win

While you’re at it, why not go ahead and like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Inc. Any comments that are inappropriate, offensive, spam or commercial in nature can be deleted by the page admin. Must be 18 years or older to win.

Save the Date: Bats Are Doin’ It

January 27, 2012 / Moody Gardens

Throughout 2012 Moody Gardens® will bring attention to an often overlooked, but important animal: the bat. The United Nations has declared 2012 as International Year of the Bat and Bat Conservation International (BCI) as an International Year of the Bat founding partner. Moody Gardens® will be participating throughout 2012 with opportunities for the public to get involved in the conservation mission. The International Year of the Bat campaign aims to raise global awareness about bats, bat conservation and the unique roles bats play in our environment.

The “Bat’s Are Doin’ It” fundraiser will bring attention to the ecological importance of bats such as eating their weight in harmful insects and pollinating many economically valuable crops including bananas and mangoes. Guests will leave with a new appreciation for this misunderstood animal species; which will assist BCI in their efforts to protect bats.

Enjoy a special evening celebrating the mysterious creatures with a tasty bat- themed food and drink menu. The night will include a cocktail party, special guest speaker James Eggers from Bat Conservation International and a tour of the Rainforest Pyramid®. This event will give you the chance to help save an often overlooked animal species while celebrating the special holiday.

SAVE THE DATE: Bats Are Doin’ It: A Fundraiser for Animal Lovers

• When: February 11th from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

• Where: Moody Gardens Visitors Center

• Price: $50 for a single ticket, $90 for two
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

• Included in the price: Heavy hors’ doeuvres and 2 drink tickets for specialty bat- themed drinks. Each attendee also receives a free “Bats Are Doin’ It” goody bag.

• Other Information: Raffle tickets can be purchased upon arrival to the event. Prices are $5 for 1 ticket or $10 for 3 tickets.Prizes will include various fabulous bat themed packages.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER

Proceeds raised for the event will be donated to the organization Bat Conservation International. This event is open to individuals who are 21 and above only.

Introducing Golf Tips

October 10, 2011 / Moody Gardens

Crisp mornings and breezy afternoons combine to create the perfect recipe for wonderful fall weather. No wonder this is considered peak golf season at the Moody Gardens Golf Course! With that in mind, we want to encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful weather by playing a little golf. As a special treat, we are starting a new feature called Golf Tips where Rick Christ, our head golf professional, will share some quick tips to improve your game. Rick has been playing golf for approximately 45 years. So, without further ado, here is our first Golf Tip:

Chip Shot: For any newbies, a chip shot is when you play right off the green and are trying to get the ball onto the green and as close to the hole as possible. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are faced with your next chip shot:

Use a 7 or 8 iron
Use very little body movement
Keep wrists straight

Watch the following video for more tips and to see Rick demonstrate a chip shot:

Don’t you just love the sound of the golf club hitting the ball?

Do you have suggestions for what the next Golf Tip should be? Don’t be shy, use the comments section below to leave us suggestions, questions or simply say hi. Thanks for reading/watching!