A day in Grapevine

In need of an escape from the day-to-day grind of being the spiritual adviser to millions, I traveled to Grapevine over the weekend. It's a suburb not too far from my own that's known for its wineries and its old Main Street (above). Our first stop was the British Emporium, a shop on Main Street. It's filled with British food, gifts, magazines and newspapers, and there' s a corner dedicated to ugly English teapots. My date, an English bulldog, was thrilled to find some Hula Hoops potato rings, which she had enjoyed putting on her toes as a puppy in the U.K.

After loading up on Hula Hoops, Cadburys and scones, we wandered down Main Street, browsing the other stores. We soon came upon a doghouse from the mid 1800s. Seeing how canines lived 150 years ago made me grateful for the amenities I have as a modern-day pug.

But we were quickly reminded that conditions have not improved across the board. Sadly, we canines are still the victims of discrimination.

Hungry and thirsty and prohibited from drinking the water on Main Street, we decided to go to the Gaylord Texan resort and hotel, a new spot on Grapevine Lake that we had been wanting to visit. Imagine Las Vegas without the gambling. The Texan includes replicas of the Alamo (above), the Texas Hill Country and the San Antonio Riverwalk, as well as a stuffed steer with a disturbing stare. This is all under a massive glass roof.

We dined at the Riverwalk Cafe, which is reminiscent of a Vegas-style buffet. If you have a pug-like appetite, you can't go wrong with all-you-can-eat.