48 Hours: Fredericksburg, Texas

Happy post Thanksgiving friends! I took a break last week to thoroughly enjoy all the time spent with family and also all the FOOD. We’ve now reached those few weeks in between Christmas and Thanksgiving and I have to say I’m so excited for all the festivities. Of course, those festivities look different this year (no huge holiday parties or office potlucks), but there is still so much to look forward to. I can’t wait for the tree decorating, cookie making, gift exchanges, and again, the FOOD. But for now, a brief blast from the past (aka 2 weeks ago) when I went continued my Texas explorations to Fredericksburg!

Going on a much needed 2 days girls trip to Fredericksburg was the best decision I’ve made all month! Right when I was starting to get burned out by work (its busy season for us auditors), taking a quick break and getting away to a place that was both relaxing and beautiful was perfect. Fredericksburg was also my 4th overnight trip, but 5th overall Texas trip and I’ve loved getting to see more of my home state. I never imagined that when I started making a list of places within Texas to visit that I would experience so many wonderful towns! If there is anything I’m grateful for in 2020, its that I was able to open myself up to a different type of travel. Travel shouldn’t always be about going to the flashiest or most exciting destination (although those are great too!). Sometimes its about finding somewhere underrated and discovering everything that is great about it and then sharing it with others so they can enjoy too! Fredericksburg was an amazing trip and I’m already starting a list of things I want to do on my next visit- I plan to visit again in the spring or summer when the fruits are ready for picking and the flowers are blooming so stay tuned. For now, check out where I stayed and what I did on my most recent Fredericksburg trip!

Where to Stay

Because we visited on a weekday instead of an insanely crowded weekend, we had our pick of adorable Airbnbs around town all at reasonable prices. After doing some research on Instagram, I realized that one of the highlights of Airbnbs in Fredericksburg is having a private hot tub and outdoor space to enjoy. I felt like this was super important in the current times because interacting with strangers or crowds in public is not something anyone wants to do. Our Airbnb checked every single box. There was the perfect little backyard complete with patio furniture and a smoking hot hot tub as well as cute furniture. The host was amazing- she even gave us little cookies and a small care package. The home, Silver Linings, is located one street behind Main Street, making it very convenient. We walked all along Main Street and definitely got our workout in for the day. There are a lot of homes like this one on Airbnb so I highly recommend checking them out before opting for a hotel- it just has more of a small town vibe!

What to Do and Eat

Auslander Restaurant

Fredericksburg is known as the German town in Texas so getting German food while here was a must on our list. There are several options on and around Main Street, including the fine dining (and very expensive) restaurant, Otto’s. We went with the highly recommended, Auslander Restaurant and was not disappointed. I had the schnitzel burger and fries as well as the apple strudel dessert and devoured everything within minutes. I’m usually not a big fan of German food (it can be very heavy), but was pleasantly surprised by Auslander’s flavorful and delicious food. A big bonus was that it was very reasonable priced and located right on Main Street. They offer takeout so we took our food back to our Airbnb to enjoy!

Caliche Cafe

Caliche was recommended to me via an influencer on Instagram and was one of the best parts of the trip. I filled up on a fantastic almond milk latte and maple pecan scone and fell in love with the white interiors. There is also an outdoor patio in the back perfect for enjoying your treats in a socially distanced environment. Caliche is located on Main Street and is one of many cute cafes on the street.

Main Street

I loved walking Main Street and peering into the many unique shops and cafes that lined the street. I’ve heard that Main Street can get extremely crowded on weekends, so if possible, definitely come on the weekdays because it was basically empty when we were there. Something I also discovered was that if you don’t have the time or don’t wish to drive all the way to the vineyards for on location wine tasting, almost all the major wineries have storefronts on Main Street for convenient tastings. We grabbed our Caliche coffee and spent a wonderful morning wandering the streets and exploring downtown Fredericksburg!

Woerner Warehouse

The sandwiches and salads and baked goods (all are made in house) here are delicious, but because the waitstaff and employees openly don’t wear masks (!!), I ended up getting the food to go and enjoying it back at our Airbnb. With Covid widespread everywhere in Texas, including Fredericksburg (another cafe in town was closed for the week due to a Covid breakout), I didn’t want to take any chances for exposure. The cafe is located inside a rustic home goods store with a soaring ceiling and tons of wooden dining tables (for after Covid dining!).

Wildseed Farms

Since we visited in November, most of the flowers were either dying or in the process of being replanted so we didn’t get to see any beautiful colorful blooms. But it was still an enjoyable experience exploring the walking trail that goes around the property and spotting the occasional yellow butterfly. Due to Covid, entrance to the walking trails is free! Also, if you have a green thumb, there are hundreds of different types of flower and vegetable seeds in their gift shop for purchase.

Das Peach Haus

This was one of my favorite places in Fredericksburg mainly because of the gorgeous lake and deliciously sweet peach wine. When I first walked through the nondescript brown shop of Das Peach Haus I had zero idea of the beauty that was out back. We were so lucky we came on a weekday because we literally had the entire place to ourselves and boy, was it an amazing place to experience alone. There are so many different sitting areas to just relax in and sip wine and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

Grape Creek Winery

I didn’t think any other winery would be able to compare to Das Peach Haus, but Grape Creek was a close match. The wine is nowhere as sweet, but there is such a big variety of wines that everyone will be able to find something they enjoy. A 3 glass tasting costs $25, although there is a $40 option that includes a tour of the vineyard. We passed on the tour this time because the timing was off, but the grounds looked beautiful so I will definitely be back. They also have another sister winery on site called Heath Sparkling Wines that we are saving for a future visit. Grape Creek is one of the top wineries in the area and can get crowded on weekends so make sure to arrive early. We were lucky again that it was a weekday and we didn’t have to wait at all for our tasting.

Tubby’s Icehouse

Tubby’s is owned by the same owners as Otto’s (the popular German restaurant), but specializes in American food. Since it was a Tuesday night, I knew I had to try the green curry shrimp taco (because Taco Tuesdays, duh!) and of course, my favorite chips and queso. While the queso was actually really tasty, the taco left much to be desired. Prices are more than reasonable though and Tubby’s is a great dinner spot. They offered curbside pickup so we placed our order in advance and brought it home to enjoy in our private backyard.

Enchanted Rock

I’ve been hearing about the Enchanted Rock hike since college, but have never had the opportunity to go. Entrance fees are $8 per person (advance reservations are a must due to limited capacity restrictions) and reservations, especially weekend ones, fill up extremely quickly so make sure to book well in advance. The hike up to the summit of Enchanted Rock is marked as challenging, but its actually not too bad at all because it is a relatively short ascent. The view at the top is alright, but it is so windy up there that we hurried through all our picture taking and began our descent within minutes. There are a few other trails in the park area, but none of them are as popular or well marked as the summit hike so we ended up leaving after just doing one trail.

Bonus- Austin, TX

If you’re driving from Houston like I was, passing Austin on the way to Fredericksburg is a necessity. We broke up our drive home by stopping in South Austin for coffee and food and turned a long tedious drive into a manageable one. The road that connects Enchanted Rock and Houston is Highway 71 so I wanted to choose food options near the highway to minimize additional driving. Luckily, my favorite coffee shop, Summer Moon, is located on South 1st and has the best coffee- the Autumn Moon latte and Matcha Moon lattes are a must try! Our original plan was to have bbq, but the bbq spot we wanted to eat at changed its hours due to Covid so we ended up discovering a new hipster hot spot and finding a hidden food truck gem, Spicy Boys. Spicy Boys is an Asian fusion truck and serves korean fried chicken wings and sandwiches. Their tater tots are delicious as well!

Fredericksburg was a Texas gem and I can’t wait for a return trip- post Covid I hope! As usual, let me know of any other Texas towns that are a must visit.

24 Hours: Conroe and Woodlands, Texas

I haven’t explored the surrounding Houston area in a while, so I thought a day trip would be in order. The pandemic has forced me to reevaluate several travel plans for the year (and it continues to do so because Covid cases have steadily been on the rise in Texas) and exploring close to home seemed to be a perfect way to quench my wanderlust while staying safe. This past weekend I drove an hour and a half to Conroe to enjoy the outdoors and all the activities that go along with the outdoors. Conroe is located north of Houston and is mostly known for their gigantic lake.

The Woodlands Lagree

I started my day at Woodlands Lagree I’m always on the lookout for different workout studios to experience and was very curious about lagree since I had never done it before. I got up super early (the class was at 8:30am!) to start my north Houston adventure day here and wow, the class kicked my butt. But it was a great workout (those always have to be tough right) with a very patient and helpful instructor and clean facilities (they provide ice cold bottled water as well). Bonus- the first class is free! Classes after that are $25 each, which isn’t unreasonable at all. I’ll be back!

Galavant Coffee

If you’re looking to support a local business, it doesn’t get any more local than Galavant. The coffee shop operates out of a local Conroe resident’s garage (!!) who grinds the coffee beans and makes the syrups himself. He literally sets up shop every morning and gets a ton of customers! Often times he’ll close early because supplies are low so keep an eye out on the Galavant Instagram for any business hours updates. There is a typical coffee menu along with a few seasonal drinks that occasionally make appearances. I had a Mexican vanilla latte and loved it! It was the perfect balance between being too sweet and not sweet enough.

Pie in the Sky

I first found out about Pie in the Sky at the annual Houston Nutcracker Market that benefits the Houston Ballet and is basically a variety of vendors coming together to sell their products. I was able to sample so many different pies there, but because only whole pies were sold at the Market and I was looking more for slices, I vowed to visit their physical store when I could. Pie in the Sky has a bright green building in Conroe and some of the most flavorful pies around town! I bought a slice of the buttermilk vanilla walnut pie and thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Kayaking with North Lake Conroe Paddling Company

Kayaking is one of my favorite activities, but there aren’t too many opportunities in Houston to kayak. Luckily, Lake Conroe is perfect for water activities and North Lake Conroe Paddling Company is one of the best year round rental companies. Rates are $30 for a 2 hour kayak rental, which is plenty of time to paddle around the huge lake. I loved how the lake wasn’t crowded and we didn’t really have to worry about being mowed down by fast moving motor boats. It really is a quiet and peaceful place- the perfect start to a morning!

Buldogies

Most unique hotdogs ever! When it comes to satisfying cravings, Buldogies is the perfect lunch spot. They have a variety of interesting hotdogs, loaded fries, and fried carnival food. We ordered the Sundance hotdog (I cant resist an egg on anything!), the sriracha fries, and the Chicago dog. I have to say the candied bacon was the best part of the food- I’m not sure how they make their bacon but it is beyond delicious. Buldogies is located near the south end of Lake Conroe.

Sam Houston National Forest

The main hike that Sam Houston National Forest is known for is the Lone Start Hiking Trail which actually spans the entire state of Texas and takes about 10 days to hike in entirety. We obviously didn’t do the entire hike, but instead picked a random trailhead at Stubblefield Lake to being a short 1 hour hike. I didn’t end up enjoying the trail too much as it isn’t well maintained and several parts of the trail was crowded by overgrown vegetation. The drive to the Lake was enjoyable though because of the changing leaves. Its one of the few places in Houston where the leaves actually change color!

Drinkabilitea

I was so surprised that the Woodlands would have bubble tea because there aren’t too many Asians living out there, but the tea at Drinkabilitea is so good. They have a typical bubble tea menu with milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies, and slushies, along with all types of bubbles. There is also a large space for people to sit and chat- all tables are socially distanced.

Day trips are really the best way to get out and explore, but still make it back to your own warm bed at night. I’m looking for other day trips around Houston so let me know of any ideas!

How to Spend a Sunday in the Houston Heights

I’ve been making my way around Houston as travel remains uncertain months after the pandemic started and I’ve discovered so many lovely aspects of the city. One of my favorite areas has become the Heights neighborhood just because of how walkable it is. I use to walk everywhere when I lived in New York (because subways are dirty and cabs are expensive…) and really miss the extra exercise, fresh air, and enjoyment that walking brings. Houstonians are all about their cars! And for good reason too- the city is just too large and spread apart to be commuting on foot. However, the Heights is an adorable area that has tons of food, shopping, and trails so its just an overall perfect place to be outdoors. I spent a wonderful Sunday exploring the area and wanted to share my adventures with all of you!

Workout/Yoga

I’ve been going to Duo Pilates and Coffee’s Duo Days at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company for the past few Sundays now and it is one of the best ways to start off the day. Tickets to the outdoor yoga pop up event are $10 on Eventbrite and comes with a ticket for free beer at the brewery (and it doesn’t need to be used that day!) as well as a Nothing Bundt Cake bundtlet. I know the Brewery is technically located in Sawyer Yards, but that neighbors the Heights so I’m including it just because it was a truly relaxing and fantastic experience. Other workout studios located in the Heights include: Cyclebar (your typical spin studio but the weights portion is done with a bar instead), Ride Indoor Cycling (my favorite Houston spin studio- they have the best music and the best instructors), and Define Body (there are several Define locations throughout Houston, but the Heights location is located on the second floor of the Heights Mercantile in a gorgeous sunny room).

Coffee

Coffee is a necessity for a Sunday morning! One of my personal favorites is located in Sawyer Yards area is Catalina Coffee- the coffee is very well brewed, but be prepared for a line that goes out their back door because they are very popular. Catalina also sells their own coffee beans (they will grind them for you if you ask) so you can bring their coffee home with you to enjoy on later days. I also enjoy A 2nd Cup because when you purchase a drink from them you’re also raising awareness for human trafficking issues in Houston. They have a huge warehouse space in the middle of the Heights and its great for studying and enjoying coffee with friends.

Brunch

There are a ton of brunch spots in the Heights, but one place I have been wanting to try for a while now is Postino’s. Known for their instagrammable bruschetta boards, Postino’s is a bright yellow wine bar and cafe located on Yale street. They have a $25 deal on weekday nights after 8pm for a bottle of wine and a brunschetta board (which includes 4 different options), but I prefer going for brunch where I can sit outside and enjoy the sunlight. Their food is delicious and so is their atmosphere! And for anyone wondering what I ordered as part of my board, here were my final picks: warm artichoke spread, burrata and bacon with tomatoes, fig and marscapone, and salmon and pesto spread. Other great brunch spots in the Heights include: Flower Child (the interiors are beautiful and the food is super healthy so what more can you really ask for from a brunch), Egghaus Gourmet (if you love egg sandwiches or LA’s trendy Eggslut, you’ll love this place), and Melange Creperie (brunch in a pink building located in the Heights Mercantile!).

Farmer’s Market

Every 2nd and 4th Sunday from 9-1pm, the Heights Mercantile hosts a farmer’s market that is filled with local goods and crafts. In time like these, it feels great to be able to support so many local vendors all in one location. Remember to bring your mask (it does get pretty crowded) and check out all the vendors!

Hike and Bike Trail

Although I haven’t explored huge portions of this trail yet, the White Oak Bayou Trail is a popular place to get your Sunday morning exercise. There are always a decent amount of people walking and biking so it feels completely safe and very enjoyable. Trail goes through the entire Heights neighborhood from south to north. The Heights Mercantile (where a lot of food and shopping is located) is located along the trail. It’s a great start to any Sunday!

Shopping

There are so many unique boutique stores as well as staple stores located around the Heights. One of my favorites to browse through is Favor the Kind, which sells an eclectic selection of gifts, candles, clothing, and accessories. It is expensive, but everything is made locally and there are a few very unique items in stock. Other stores that I always make a stop at include Aesop (yes their $40 exfoliating handsoap is 100% worth it) and Outdoor Voices (they have the best workout outfits!).

Dessert

No perfect day is ever complete without dessert! I love Cloud 10 Creamery for their delicious flavors (I’m eating peanut butter and jelly here) and creamy ice cream. But Fat Cat Creamery with their unique flavors is also popular and so is Jeni’s Ice Cream (which I had in Atlanta before and is the bomb). There are also amazing ice cream cookie sandwiches (with fresh made cookies) at Smoosh and freshly baked brownies and cakes at Red Dessert Dive. Both are next on my list!

It’s been odd not traveling as much as I use to, but I’m definitely enjoying checking out my own hometown!

11 Texas Weekend Trip Ideas

2020 has definitely cancelled a lot of travel plans and scaled down my vision for any traveling I plan to do in the future. Its not what I had in mind for the start of a new decade, but what can you do? When life throws you a huge curveball, you just have to regroup and roll with it! I’m lucky that I live in the big and spacious state of Texas and that there are so many interesting small towns and big cities for me to visit all within driving distance. And despite growing up in Texas, I have to say there are many places I have yet to see. So I thought I would make a list of Texas weekend trip ideas that I have already gone on this year or plan to go on early next year! I’m not seeing an end to this pandemic anytime soon and there is no way I can curb my wanderlust by not traveling so Texas travel it is.

Dripping Springs - Located about an hour outside of Austin, Dripping Springs is filled with local wineries, Pedernales Falls, and the Texas Olive Company. There’s plenty of opportunity to experience the outdoors while still having a taste of civilization. I’ve actually been to Dripping Springs twice for weddings and the scenery is truly beautiful. This past September I visited again (you can check out my adventures here) and toured a beautiful winery called Bell Springs and ate delicious food at Treaty Oaks Distillery.

Spicewood/Marble Falls - Spicewood is an outdoorsy trail filled area located about 40-50 minutes from Austin that has natural wonders such as Krause Springs and Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. There is also a gorgeous winery in the area, Flat Creek Vineyards, that offers prepackaged wine tastings (Covid safety measure), a full service restaurant, a breezy outdoor patio, and beautiful scenery. Spicewoods is often combined with Marble Falls, which is located about 30 minutes further north. I did a girls trip to Marble Falls this fall and had a blast. You can check out my adventures here! Spoiler- there’s more hiking, more food, and more wine involved.

Canyon Lake - The coolest Airbnb is located here, so I don’t think I’ll need any more convincing to visit Canyon Lake… Aside from that amazing Airbnb, there are tons of other unique places in the area to stay at including treehouse inspired cabins and waterfront homes. It sounds like the perfect place grab a bunch of friends to enjoy the great Texas outdoors while living in affordable luxury!

San Antonio - Everyone’s heard of the Alamo and the Riverwalk, but did you know that San Antonio also has the La Canterra Resort? The Resort has its own golf course, workout classes, walking trails, and spa treatments. It’s an ideal social distancing getaway and an opportunity for a cute staycation. And while you’re in town, why not check out the yummy Mexican food that is everywhere? Pearl District is a newly developed neighborhood that is filled to the brim with a variety of food and shopping options. Plus, there are world class museums, such as the McNay Art Museum (housed in a Spanish Revival style mansion) and the San Antonio Museum of Art, as well as outdoor activities like the San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio Botanical Gardens, and the Japanese Tea Gardens. There is obviously plenty to do and eat for everyone! Located only 3 hours from Houston and 2 hours from Austin, it definitely makes for a great weekend trip.

Fredericksburg - Filled with gorgeous vineyards and wineries as well the popular Enchanted Rock hike, Fredericksburg reads like the perfect girls weekend. To top it off, there are plenty of adorable Airbnb cottages surrounding the main street so even if crowds aren’t your thing and you want to continue social distancing, enjoying a cool Airbnb is still a great option here. Enchanted Rock is a state natural area that includes over 11 miles of hiking trails, including the most popular one to the summit of the rock for optimal viewing. Enchanted Rock does need advanced reservation though because there are capacity limits in place and it can get quite busy on the weekends. The most popular activity in Fredericksburg though is to tour the various wineries that surround the town. I have Das Peach Haus (check out its photos on Instagram because they are so pretty!), Grape Creek Vineyards, Pedernales Cellars, Fat Ass Ranch and Winery, and Fiesta Winery (also located in Marble Falls) all on my list. Although, I’m sure there are tons more out there!

Brenham/ Round Top - Home of the famous Blue Bell ice cream factory (with tons of free ice cream samples!) and the Round Top Antiques Fair (set for an October weekend), the towns of Brenham and Round Top would be the perfect day trip from Houston. It is only 2 hours away! There is also the most adorable bed and breakfast (The Frenchie Boutique Hotel) and an equally cute winery (Blue Mule) nearby that help set the scene for a fun trip. However, the biggest reason why people visit the area is for the bluebonnets in the spring! Texas’ state flower is in peak bloom come spring and the roads surrounding the towns is filled with them.

Corpus Christi - Imagine yourself sipping an iced latte on the balcony of your beachside Airbnb condo with the slight breeze and the smell of saltwater in the air. That image alone makes me want to head down to the Corpus Christi beach and spend a few days lounging in paradise. I recently heard about Lively Beach hotel, with its private beach access and spacious pool, and have been dying to book a reservation and experience the Corpus Christi beaches in paradise. In addition to the beaches, the town also has a Selena Museum (that is actually owned and operated by Selena’s family as this is their hometown), the South Texas Botanical Gardens, and cute coffee shops like, Hester’s Cafe.

Lufkin/Nacogdoches - Many people haven’t considered East Texas a real travel destination, but it does have a lot to offer! In short, its a great day trip for hiking and outdoor adventures that aren’t overflowing with visitors. I actually headed to Lufkin for a day trip earlier this summer- you can read about my adventures here.

Waco - Another random town I would have never been interested in before the pandemic, but now, after doing some research I’ve realized there are tons of fun activities in Waco! The biggest draw being the Magnolia Market, owned and operated by the famous couple Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame. I headed to Waco in October with my best friend and spent a glorious 2 days in the most unique Airbnb- check out our adventures here!

Fort Worth - It is often overshadowed by its neighboring city, Dallas, but Fort Worth should be a destination in its own right. With a little research, you’ll discover that the city has tons to offer. I spent 3 days in Fort Worth and discovered my share of world class museums (National Cowgirl Hall of Fame), outdoor experiences (Fort Worth Botanical Gardens), amazing food (Hatsuyaki Handroll Bar), and colleges (Texas Christian University). Check out my entire Fort Worth weekend here.

Marfa - Marfa has been on my list for a while now, but due to the distance (its almost 9 hours from Houston!) I still haven’t had a change to make the trip, Just the thought of eating the same Marfa Burrito that Matthew McConaughey ate and taking a photo in front of the iconic isolated Prada store (that isn’t actually a store…) makes me so excited. Other Marfa highlights include their mysterious green Marfa Lights and their unique art scene with art museums such as, the Chinati Foundation and the Ayn Foundation. The little town is also located less than an hour away from McDonald’s Observatory, which apparently is the place to stargaze.

I’ve heard of many other amazing small Texas towns that make fun little day trips and I’m hoping to check them all out as well! Let me know if any of yall have visited already:

• Ennis- Located an hour from Dallas and famous for its bluebonnet trail.

• Weatherford- There is an annual peach festival!

• Beaumont- Apparently, there is a giant fire hydrant located in the middle of town that was gifted in celebration of the 101 Dalmatians movie coming out.

• Farmesville- Hiking and anitiques make up this small town’s charm.

48 Hours: Marble Falls, Texas

Another week, another Texas trip! That’s how my life feels nowadays at least. Continuing my streak of Texas vacations by visiting Marble Falls, a small country town an hour northwest of Austin. It is often overlooked by its more popular hill country neighbors, Dripping Springs and Fredericksburg, but Marble Falls definitely has its own special points.

Accommodations

Although I usually prefer hotels when traveling during Covid just because hotel chains have a bigger responsibility when it comes to ensuring that rooms are clean, Marble Falls doesn’t have too many hotel options so we went for an Airbnb this time around. Our sweet Airbnb was located in basically the middle of nowhere on a tiny farm where a horse and a donkey also resided. It set the scene for the perfect girls trip and was a great homebase for us all weekend. The Airbnb was actually located right in the middle of all activities we wanted to do so we were able to make stops back at the house to freshen up, rest, and snack. While the wifi is iffy (it is the countryside after all), the fresh air and spacious grounds more than made up for it. The trip reminded of why Airbnb is such a great experience and business and how it offers so many unique opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be available.

Activities

Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge

This place is HUGE. There are so many different sections and hiking trails to choose from and so much space and land. We hiked all the trails at Doeskin Ranch trailhead, which took around 3 hours. There is a mixture of steep elevation gain and flat peaceful walks. The land is simply beautiful, but the best part was the lack of crowds. We came on a Friday afternoon (the refuge is only open Monday to Friday) and came across about 4 other people. Definitely a great social distancing opportunity. It didn’t even seem like we were in Texas! There is no entrance fee and plenty of parking available. All the trails are clearly mapped out and marked- don’t worry you won’t get lost!

Flat Creek Estate

Flat Creek is located about 10-20 minutes away from Balcones (depending on where your trail head is) and is a beautiful vineyard and winery with a full service restaurant included. In order to do the $15 wine tasting, bookings have to be made in advance so that the winery can properly prepare a safe tasting since the tasting cups are disinfected and prepackaged. The tasting includes 4 different types of wines- 2 reds, 1 white, and 1 rose. Guests are allowed to take their wine into the beautiful green vineyard and wander around their huge property. Beware- Flat Creek Estate is located in Spicewood, but their sister restaurant, Flat Creek Enoteca, is located in Marble Falls downtown. So if you’re wanting to try the Enoteca’s delicious pizzas, make sure to leave yourself enough time to drive 30 minutes between the properties.

Sweet Berry Farms

If you’re looking for an activity that screams FALL, this is it! Sweet Berry Farms is definitely the destination for all fall related activities and is no secret to the public because it is crowded and the two giant parking lots do fill up so make sure to come early (they open at 8am on Saturdays). There are plenty of pumpkin patches and pumpkin photo opportunities as well as cute little goat pens with feedings allowed and wildflower fields that allow for picking. Other activities included making your own scarecrow, painting pumpkins, and 3 corn mazes. I loved how festive and autumn-y the environment felt and felt like I was truly enjoying fall in Texas. The best part? Entrance to the farms is free, although tickets to the different activities are priced and sold separately. Sweet Berry Farms was located 5 minutes from our Airbnb (a true bonus) and one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Perissos Vineyard

After visiting Flat Creek the day before, my standards for Marble Falls wine was pretty high. But Perissos exceeded those expectations- the wine here is delicious! We accidentally came on Member Appreciation Day so there were quite a lot of people enjoying the wine an picknicking outdoors, but I loved how the tastings tents were all spread out around their property allowing for plenty of social distancing. Tastings are $18 for 6 wines (although we did get a 7th because it was a special event) and consists of 3 whites and 4 reds. Advanced bookings aren’t needed and there is also an option to buy a glass of wine indoors to take outdoors to drink. Perissos wines somehow achieved a level of sweetness that I find rare in Texas wines due to the extremely hot weather that permeates Texas. I loved walking around their vineyard just enjoying the autumn weather and the sweet wines!

Downtown Marble Falls and Downtown Burnet

I was slightly surprised by Marble Falls because it’s a bigger town than I was expecting. I saw tons of people everywhere and there was even a giant HEB. However, their downtown Main Street still had a small town vibe to it. Filled with cute boutiques and cafes (and free parking!), Main Street is so quaint that it makes you feel like you are in Hallmark movie. Stores do close early and usually aren’t open on Sundays so check opening times before going!

Burnet is a nearby small town located about 15 minutes away from Marble Falls. We came for ice cream because that was the only thing open on a Saturday night and just walked around the (empty) downtown peering into vintage stores. Their church is what I would have thought a small town Texas church would look like- so quaint and classic.

Kayaking on Lake Marble Falls

One of the highlights of this trip was renting kayaks from Just Yakin and having the entire Lake Marble Falls to ourselves as we paddled around. I’ve never seen a lake so empty before! During our one hour kayaking we came across only 1 speed boat- after that no other boaters or kayakers were around. I loved how serene the experience was, although we did get wet. Be prepared for strong waves! Kayak rentals from Just Yakin are $22/hour or $75 for an entire day. They deliver the kayaks to a specific boat ramp so advanced reservations are a must. Hourly rentals are only allowed for Lake Marble Falls. The other lake deliveries offered on their site (including Lake Buchanan) are day rentals only due to the distance. I highly recommend renting single kayaks so that picture taking is easier!

Inks Lake State Park

We headed to Inks Lake State Park for our last day in Marble Falls. The park is located about 30 minutes north of Marble Falls and is open to day visitors on an advanced reservation basis. Meaning that bookings get reserved way in advance and it is near impossible to snag a ticket if you aren’t a planner. We were only able to obtain the $6 per person reservation for a Sunday (weekends are very competitive). The Park isn’t the biggest in Texas, but there are still a few interesting hiking trails and a hidden swimming hole (Devi'l’s Waterhole) that can only be reached by a hike. Due to the capacity limits, there isn’t too many people, which allowed us ample space for hiking and enjoying a scenic picnic. There is plenty of room for parking and the bathrooms are extremely clean as well (important when you are outdoors). Inks Lake is the perfect place to spend a day outdoors away from the crowds!

Food

Wingman Brothers Smokehouse

Wingman BBQ was highly rated on Yelp and it was featured in Texas Monthly magazines so we were excited to give it a try. But sadly, the meat didn’t live up to the hype. I had the one meat plate (brisket), which came with two sides (I chose potato salad and mac and cheese). Everything, while decently priced, was extremely salty. There are so many barbecue places in Marble Falls (it is Texas after all) that I wouldn’t return to this place for more meat.

Numinous Coffee

Numinous is the most popular coffee shop in Marble Falls and wow, the coffee sure is well brewed! I see why everyone raves about it because the employees are so sweet and the coffees and baked good are delicious. My pumpkin spice latte and gluten free chocolate peanut butter cookie were to die for- I’ve never even had great gluten free pastries before and this one blew me away. Numinous also makes their syrups in house so they aren’t too sweet or bitter tasting. The coffee shop is located in a white house located in downtown Marble Falls. Definitely worth a stop!

Blue Bonnet Cafe

If you spot lines outside a tan and white building, you’ve most likely spotted the Blue Bonnet Cafe. The Blue Bonnet is the most popular brunch spot in Marble Falls and with capacity limits in place due to Covid, indoor dining isn’t possible without a decent wait. Instead, we opted for takeout and brought our omelets and hashbrowns and bacon to Lakeside Park (5 minute drive away) for an outdoor picnic. The food at the Cafe is typical brunch fare and tasted very ordinary to me, but the small town feel is what really made the place a gem.

Happy Scoops Ice Cream

Located in downtown Burnet, Happy Scoops is the ice cream shop of the area. They make their own ice cream on site and have the most delicious flavors. My whopper malt scoop made my night! While everything in Burnet does close early, Happy Scoops actually opens until around 9pm so it is the perfect after dinner treat.

I’m discovering so much of Texas that I never would have even considered visiting prior to Covid. This is my 4th Texas weekend trip and I’m loving my home state even more with every new adventure. Let me know if you guys have any other Texas weekend trip ideas!

48 Hours: Waco, Texas

My best friend and I have been trying to visit Waco for months now, but every time we actually commit, it seems like the Covid cases spike again. It is now October and it seems like even if we are nervous about Covid, it isn’t possible anymore to put life on hold so we just decided to pick a few days to go. Waco is often overshadowed by its neighboring city, Dallas, which is only located about an hour and a half away, but thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines and their legion of Fixer Upper fans, Waco has really made it onto the map in recent years. Be prepared for a rural, but very quaint town! I’ve spent several weekends now exploring Texas and I’m so excited to be able to add another town onto my list.

Accommodations

The #1 reason why we wanted to visit Waco (besides Magnolia Market obviously) was getting to stay in these adorable mini container homes. I first spotted them on Airbnb and fell in love with their cute interior design and dreamy rooftop. The Airbnb owner actually has about 5 other tiny container homes on his property and renovated all of them with his sons. Although they vary in size (some are for 4 people while others like ours are meant for 2 people only), the homes all have wifi, air conditioning, murphy beds, tvs, and a beautiful rooftop deck. While we were in Waco to explore, we definitely wanted to spend a good chunk of time at our Airbnb as well because how often do you get to live in a container home? Unfortunately, the homes fill up super quickly (like months in advance) so we decided to stay Thursday to Saturday instead of the typical Friday to Sunday weekend trip. It worked out however, because both of us chose to work remotely on Friday, allowing us to spend more time in our container home! There homes on the property are spread out to where noise isn’t an issue, but not too spread out to the point where you feel like you are alone in the middle of rural Texas. The rooftop was our favorite part of the home- we did a workout class up there and enjoyed a lunch with views. But the Tuft and Needle mattress and the Hulu subscription were also amazing features as well. This tiny home was one of the best Airbnb experiences I’ve ever had!

Activities

Magnolia Market

Magnolia was CROWDED so get there as early as possible (as in before everything opens because lines do form and with Covid capacity restrictions, entry into buildings can take time. Construction and renovations was also going on when we were there so some parts were closed, but that just means I’ll have to go back when everything is complete. There are 3 areas that are currently open- Magnolia Press, Magnolia Market, and Silos Baking Company. Obviously, we went to all 3! Magnolia Press is the adorable green and gold coffee shop on their campus and served up a great, although sort of too sweet, snickerdoodle latte. Like its two counterparts, there are various Instagrammable photo opportunities located inside and outside of the building. The coffee shop opened first so after grabbing our caffeinated drinks, we headed towards the bakery to wait in line for opening time. The line wrapped around the corner, but moved reasonably efficiently. I got an assortment of cupcakes and cookies and boy, were they delicious! Highly recommend the nuts and bolts cupcake as well as the Silos cookie. Last, we stopped next door at Magnolia Market where customers and fans can stock up on Chip and Joanna Gaines merchandise. Everything is quite expensive though so I only bought my staple souvenirs- a Magnolia themed postcard and a cute wooden magnet. The Magnolia experience is definitely built for fans of Fixer Upper and the Gaines- it is mainly photo taking, shopping, and eating- but it makes for the perfect addition to a girls trip!

Cameron Park

Cameron Park is a huge green area located alongside the Brazos River with a ton of trails, including ones that have serious elevation. There are a few trailhead options and plenty of parking available. The trails are a mixture of shaded and unshaded, but all were interesting to hike and had sufficient signage up. Our favorite was the River Trail where we could walk along the beautiful Brazos River (something so very Texas) and also immerse ourselves in the trees. The trails aren’t too crowded, which made for a great social distancing outing.

Dr Pepper Museum

All Dr. Pepper lovers must visit this museum at least once. The museum is housed in a 3 story building and filled with paraphernalia and interesting facts about the brand and all their products. I didn’t even know that Dr. Pepper was created in Waco! Its located at the very location where Dr. Pepper was first served to the public, the Old Corner Drugstore. There is even a replica of the original store front inside the museum. Facts on how soda is created and bottled as well as historical information on the development of soda drinks is what makes up the bulk of the information provided. The museum takes about an hour to wander through and ends in the soda fountain where all ticketholders can receive a free 10 oz soda drink.

Baylor University

I stopped here very quickly on my drive back to Houston and thoroughly enjoyed walking the peaceful university grounds. There were students scattered around the campus studying outside, eating, and basically just reminding me of my own college days. It was so nostalgic (even though I’m a proud Longhorn)! There is a free visitor parking lot located towards the middle of campus that doesn’t require a parking permit, which definitely made visiting and touring the campus a lot easier. UT could definitely learn something from this!

Waco Suspension Bridge

Located along the Brazos River, the Suspension Bridge is a pedestrian only bridge that lets you look over the beautiful river in peace. I was a little confused on the name Suspension Bridge though because it wasn’t necessarily a typical “suspension” bridge and was basically just a normal pedestrian bridge. The bridge isn’t too far of a walk from Magnolia Market or the Dr. Pepper museum so its a fun detour to stop at.

Waco Farmer’s Market

The farmer’s market was a nice detour for a cheesy and cheap quesadilla, but is very small. I’m guessing due to Covid, many vendors did not want to serve food at the market so there is only about a dozen tents set up for buying produce, baked goods, and ready made food. We were already in the area with plans to visit Magnolia Market, the Bridge, and the Dr. Pepper Museum, so stopping at the farmer’s market wasn’t out of the way for us. However, I wouldn’t have made a special stop here.

Food

Shorty’s Pizza Stack

The popular and unique food item to try here is the pizza pillow, which is a square shaped pizza dough with the cheese, toppings, and sauce wrapped inside. I would have to say this is a pass- probably one of the worst pizza/ pizza creations I’ve ever tasted. The dough was very chewy and dough and the filling was too heavy, making the whole thing taste soggy. There was also no real flavor besides only tasting the dough. A definite pass.

Franklin Ave Mac House

The mac and cheese here wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing mac and cheese either. I chose the Big Jim’s mac and cheese with gouda and bacon and thought it was a decent snack. The cheese wasn’t too liquidy or oily and there was a decent amount of bacon included. The Mac House is located in a shopping plaza parking lot in a little wooden house- it can be easy to miss to keep your eye out for their sign!

Teriyaki Park

Fried sushi! I have been wanting to try fried sushi for the longest time and it is actually so hard to find (although should it be in Texas where we fry literally everything). The sushi was so yummy here I actually stopped by twice to try two different fried rolls. The Waco roll and the California roll both come fried (and are huge). Teriyaki Park was a surprise for us after tasting some mediocre food and is a true hidden gem in Waco.

Cajun Craft

Another hidden food gem in Waco! The cajun food here was spot on- both my friend and I agreed. I loved my boudin balls so much- they were perfectly fried and crispy on the outside with delicious rice jambalaya on the inside. My only regret was that I didn’t order more food from here…. Highly recommend!

Dos Mundos

Like Shorty’s, this baked potato spot can also be a pass. I love baked potatoes and was looking forward to trying a restaurant that specialized in baked potatoes with a variety of different toppings. But not only was the potato overpriced (a small is $10!), the toppings didn’t actually add much flavor or uniqueness to the potato.

1102 Bubble Tea

No vacation is ever complete without a bubble tea drink! As you probably know, I always attempt to find and taste bubble tea in every city that I visit. 1102 is a chain the the Dallas area with about 3-4 other locations and there is a reason why they are successful. Their tea is really good! They also have a few unique and Instagrammable options like a flower pot milk tea and a cereal inspired drink. I went for a classic black milk tea with bubbles, but definitely plan to be more adventurous next time I come across their cafe.

Bittersweet Waco

Go here as fast as you can! The cookies here are the best! There are so many unique and mouthwatering combinations of flavors- snickerdoodle cookie butter, birthday cake cream cheese, peanut butter chocolate, nutella oreo, oreo caramel, and so much more. My friend and I had a hard time just choosing one cookie ($4.5) so we decided to buy half a dozen cookies ($20). The cookies are given to you in individual plastic bags and are meant to be heated up at home (or in the store) prior to eating. I thought this was smart because had the employee heated up the cookie for us at the store, they would have cooled down by the time we brought them back to our Airbnb to enjoy after dinner. The cookies are so soft and full of rich flavor- I’m dreaming of the day I can return to Waco and try more!

Exploring small towns is the best! It’s also perfect for these crazy times when being around too many people can make a girl nervous. What other small towns would be perfect to visit?

48 Hours: Dripping Springs, Texas

I continued my Texas explorations this past weekend with a trip to Dripping Springs, Texas. Dripping Springs is located about 45 minutes away from Austin and is an extremely popular spot for outdoor weddings because of its gorgeous rolling hills and ample space. Despite having been to 2 weddings there over the past year, I’ve actually never taken the time to explore the area. Because it is so close to Austin, I feel like many people consider Drippings Springs just a day or half day trip. But after doing some research, I discovered that there are so many things to do- I didn’t even have time for them all! And don’t worry, masks were taken very seriously by all establishments we ventured into and all people we met and interacted with all had masks on. This was definitely a huge relief for us because I had heard stories of smaller Texas towns being adamantly anti-mask, despite the government mask mandate.

Accommodations

We made the decision to reside in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Austin because Dripping Springs actually only has one hotel (Holiday Inn Express) and as a result, the hotel prices are exorbitant. Since we had our car anyways, we figured it wouldn’t make a big difference needing to drive the extra 30 minutes to Dripping Springs in the mornings. We stayed at a Hamptons Inn and thanks to a deal on Expedia, the overall cost was only $206 for 2 nights for a 2 double bed room. Highly recommend this hotel if you’re looking to visit Drippings Springs!

Activities

Reimer’s Ranch

Our original plan was to hike the Pedernales Falls State Park, but due to Covid, the State Park only allows entrance by reservation and despite checking the reservations website 2 weeks in advance, all spots for the entire weekend had been booked up. So instead we decided to get up early and visit the Milton Reimer’s Ranch, which allows entrance through first come first serve. It does close when capacity is reached, so getting there as soon as it opened in the morning was key. Before coming to Drippings Springs, I hadn’t ever heard of the Ranch so I wasn’t expecting too much, but it proved to be a pleasant surprise. There was a large beach area along the shoreline of the Pedernales River, which allowed for fishing and lounging and was basically the most perfect social distancing outdoor opportunity. There was only a handful of people on the beach and just being able to take in the surrounding natural beauty in peace was a blessing. The Ranch also has tons of rock climbing spots and both paved and primitive trails. It is definitely a bird watcher’s paradise because we saw many bright red cardinals flying among the trees.

Alice’s Restaurant @ Treaty Oak Distillery

So many websites recommended Alice’s Restaurant to us as top notch farm to table food. It is located on the property of Treaty Oak Distillery and offers a variety of meats, sandwiches, salads, and dips. Since it is on the grounds of a distilling company, there is a great variety of alcoholic beverages on the menu. My Treaty Oak punch was a mixture of bourbon and fruits and ended up being a delicious match with my food. My friend and I shared the cold dip trio (the pimento cheese and chicken salad dips were amazing) and the two meat plate of pork ribs and brisket (the portions were small, but still tasted pretty good). We were served outdoors under a huge tree so social distancing was preserved and we could take off our masks and enjoy our food without feeling like we would be bombarded by people. I would suggest coming as soon as the place opens because it does fill up fast!

Frios Pops

My friend and I found Frios coincidentally when we missed a turn for Treaty Oaks and was attempting to find the right road again. We pulled into a small retail center to make a uturn and saw the inside of Frios by chance and knew we had to make a pit stop for dessert after our lunch. Located inside a former car repair garage, Frios has the cutest interiors. The popsicles are sold inside of a little blue truck and there is fake grass, picnic tables, lawn chairs, and even an adorable floral photo spot. It’s clear the owners have instilled so much love and care into decorating the place! And a bonus? All of the popsicles are handcrafted ad use only fresh ingredients.

Bell Springs Winery

I’m not a big fan of Texas wine (it is too dry and bitter for my major sweet tooth), but I do love the open outdoor space, the live music, and the fresh air. Currently the winery only allows tastings with an advance reservation and the $20 reservation allows you to sample 3 different wines (red or white) and also take away a cheese and crackers plate. Without a reservation, no food can be served (but you can bring your own picnic!) and wine can only be purchased by the bottle or glass. Luckily, I was able to make an advance reservation via their website so we enjoyed a sunny afternoon on their patio sharing 3 glasses of generously poured white white and a platter of fruit, cheese, meat, and crackers. The winery property is huge and there are tons of shady areas under trees, so I would love to come back and picnic.

Mazama Coffee

On our last morning in Dripping Springs, we walked around Main Street and stumbled into Mazama Coffee for delicious iced pumpkin spiced lattes. Beware, due to its immense popularity the lines here are long, but you can also place advance online orders, which I would definitely opt for next time. Mazama also sells some mouthwatering pastries like homemade berry pop tarts, croissants, scones, and cinnamon rolls as well as their own coffee beans and branded merchandise. The back patio is spacious and a great place to start off your morning.

Texas Hill Country Olive Company

Our last stop in Dripping Springs was the Olive Company, which I had been dying to tour. Tours book up quickly due to lowered capacity limits so make sure you make your reservations in advance. Our tour guide took us around the olive orchard and provided so many interesting facts about olive and olive oil production. I learned that it is extremely difficult to product pure extra virgin olive oil and as a result, a lot of foreign extra virgin olive oil brands mix in other oils to boost their supply. On the other hand, domestic EVOO brands are always purely extra virgin due to FDA label disclosure requirements. After the tour, we wandered around their property and came across their chicken coop and their herb and vegetable garden as well as lots and lots of olives. Their gift shop is stocked with their own olive oils (of which I stocked up on) and their cafe serves farm to table dishes. Visiting the Texas Hill Country Olive Company was my favorite part of the trip. I loved learning about something new (olives!) and getting to experience such a beautiful area of the Texas hill country.

Salt Lick BBQ

No trip to Drippings Springs can be complete without a meal at the famous Salt Lick BBQ. I had heard about Salt Lick since my college years, but had never had the opportunity to try it. Although, I did feel like ultimately the meat didn’t live up to the hype (there are just too many better barbecue places in Austin), the atmosphere was really nice. There is a giant picnic area shaded with large trees and fantastic live music. The line for the food was long, but once your order is places, it only takes about 10 minutes to get your food. I went for the pork ribs and brisket plate and while the meat was better than Alice’s, it also wasn’t the greatest. The meat was a little too tough for my tastes. Salt Lick is a staple of Dripping Springs and the perfect depiction of everything Texas so I recommend that everyone come here at least once!

Dripping Springs was such a wonderful little town and the perfect weekend trip. If you guys have any other weekend trip ideas, let me know!

3 Days: Fort Worth, Texas

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic started and plane travel suddenly became way too scary, I’ve been brainstorming ways I could still travel, but remain safe and Covid free. Eventually I realized that this year would be a great time to work on my driving skills and explore my home state of Texas. Even though I’ve lived in Texas for the majority of my life, aside from Houston, Austin, and Dallas and most recently Big Bend National Park, I’ve never bothered to explore anything else when Texas really has a lot to offer. While there may not be enough in each town for a 1-2 week vacation, these places are perfect for weekend trips. I’ve truly missed being a weekend vacationer, which is something I always did when I lived on the East Coast, so to get back to that makes me feel like I’m returning to my travel roots. Before travel became a fancy Instagram activity, it was just an activity for the adventurous and the curious. I started researching everything about Texas (and learned a lot!) and planned out a few trips to areas I’ve never been to. First stop, Fort Worth!

Side Note- I did not go to the Fort Worth Stockyards this time because I knew it would be too crowded and social distancing would be hard to achieve. Plus, I’ve already been there once on a high school orchestra trip and remembered that watching cattle run around wasn’t that exciting. This trip was more about exploring what other activities Fort Worth has to offer.

Magnolia Ave

Our first stop of the day was grabbing coffee at the popular coffee shop, Craftworks. They’re currently offering the mint julep latte, which I first tasted in San Francisco, and is an amazing cup of caffeine. Since we were on Magnolia Ave bright and early, many of the boutique shops and trendy food spots (like Melt Ice Cream) was still closed, but it was still nice walking around and window shopping without the usual crowd of people. I also stopped in the Stir Crazy Baked Goods dessert shop and picked up 2 delicious mini pies. The pies are tiny in size, but packed with tons of flavor.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

One of the main highlights of our trip, the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens is filled with serene pathways, beautifully cultivated flower gardens, plenty of benches, and lots of information on horticulture. I wasn’t sure what to expect because New York had two amazing botanical gardens, but the Fort Worth one holds its own. There is a gorgeous Japanese garden in the back that has bamboos and Asian inspired architecture and unique walkways- that was my favorite area of the Garden! I also thoroughly enjoyed the forest boardwalk and the wide open spaces where people could relax and read. Definitely wear some comfortable walking shoes and arrive early because the Garden did get crowded as we were leaving and a peaceful Garden is a much better experience.

Hatsuyaki Hand Roll Bar

Located only about a 5 minute drive from the Botanic Gardens in a small shopping plaza, Hatsuyaki is a highly rated hand roll and omakase sushi bar. We were still a little uncomfortable with indoor dining, especially because sushi bars are always a tight fit so we pre-ordered our handrolls to go in advance (orders take about 30 minutes to be ready). Hatsuyaki has several set menu options available- we chose the 5 hand roll set for $20 because it included the lobster which is my favorite. All sets pretty much include scallop, crab, and salmon. If you’re looking for a filling, but not too heavy lunch option, I highly recommend sushi here!

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

Texas afternoons are usually too hot for it to be bearable to be outside so I knew I wanted to spend it indoors at the many museums Fort Worth offers. I had a hard time deciding between the Kimbell Museum of Art (which is free) and the National Cowgirl Museum. Eventually, we went with the latter because it was something unique to Fort Worth, while art museums are in every city. How often can you learn about the American cowgirl? The two story museum has exhibits on the history of cowgirls in America and shines a spotlight on several famous American cowgirls. I remember reading about Annie Oakley in fourth grade so it was interesting getting to learn more about her and her time as part of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and seeing her original shooting rifle. The best part was hearing that everyone’s favorite Toy Story character, Jessie, had recently been inducted into the Hall of Fame!

Texas Christian University

I’ve always been fascinated by the different universities around our country and love visiting them whenever I can. Texas Christian University is a small private university in Fort Worth that is known for its purple horned frog mascot and its luxurious campus. Can you believe they have several beach volleyball courts just for student use? Although, I’m a proud UT Austin alum (go Longorns!), I have to admit seeing the TCU campus did make me a little green with envy.

Fruitealicious

I wasn’t too excited to try bubble tea in Fort Worth just because in my experience, the tea isn’t as good when the Asian population of the town isn’t that high. However, Fruitealicious was a great surprise! The milk teas were not powdery, the tapioca was cooked just right, and the slushies were very refreshing (yes we did go there twice). It is located on the edge of the TCU campus and has free parking in the neighboring parking garage.

Mash’d

I first heard about Mash’d on one of my favorite food shows, Diners, Drive In’s, and Dives with Guy Fieri, and have had it on my list of food to try in Fort Worth whenever I visited. Sadly, due to the pandemic, we decided not to participate in indoor dining and instead ordered our food to go. I definitely think that there is a difference in quality of food between dining in and taking out because the food just isn’t as fresh when you’ve waited 15 minutes to eat it while you drove back to your house. However, the deep dish meat pizza and mashed potatoes were still amazing! Mash’d is your typical American restaurant with plenty of pizzas, appetizers, pastas, and salads on the menu.

Trinity Trails

We woke up early Sunday morning to experience the Trinity Trails before it got too hot or crowded. Trinity Trails is a collection of over 100 miles of paths across Fort Worth that promote outdoor activities, such as walking or bike riding. Although there are many trail heads, we started at the Trinity Park one so we could explore the Park as well. Trinity Park is a giant green space that has plenty of walking trails as well. Eventually, the trails lead back out to the Trinity River where you can experience the natural beauty of Fort Worth, while enjoying fresh air and people watch. It is also a perfect social distancing activity because there is so much open space that it isn’t hard to stay away from others. My mom and I enjoyed just meandering along the walkways and having a view that included downtown Fort Worth as well as the River.

Gemelle

I discovered this restaurant by the acclaimed chef, Tim Love, on the VisitFortWorth instagram page and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We opted for outdoor dining on the restaurant’s back patio and had the best view of the spacious Gemelle garden complete with cabanas, a bright orange aperol spritz bar, and an herb garden. The icing on the cake was definitely the live music that occurs every Sunday. Along with the slight breeze and the delicious food (highly recommend the pizzas and pasta), everything was just perfect. Gemelle also does contact tracing for guests so upon entry you will be asked to sanitize your hands and list your email address. I felt super safe that the restaurant was taking this added step of precaution (and thankfully I was not contacted about any Covid cases after dining). Tim Love lived up to the hype of his food- I can’t wait to try some more of his food!

Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge

After lunch we headed to the Fort Worth Nature Center to walk off all the carbs we ingested. And boy, we did a lot of hiking here. The trails start out relatively flat but then the sudden elevation gain surprises you and before you know it, you’re drenched in sweat but also at the end of a great workout. Even if the more intense hikes aren’t your speed, there are several other easier trails. There is even one that loops around an island at the end of the Nature Center. The island is surrounded by so many beautiful lily pads, but wear a hat because there isn’t too much shade. Because of Covid, reservations to the Nature Center need to be made in advanced on their website. Entry is $5 per person and has to be paid on the website.

Fort Worth Water Gardens

I knew that the Fort Worth Water Gardens were going to be very touristy, but still wanted to make a stop because it’s basically an icon of Fort Worth. Located in downtown, the Water Gardens include 3 large pools of water and a man made “mountain”. Although due to Covid, the largest pool of water was shut off. The other two included one where you could sit on the edge and soak your feet in the warm waters. We chose not to do that because there were simply too many people in the area and instead decided to walk around and see everything. The Water Gardens take about 10-15 minutes to explore and even though it is free, the street parking around the Gardens does cost money. Bonus tip- come on Sundays when the parking meters don’t charge for parking!

As I continue exploring Texas, I’m always looking for new places to travel on the weekends. Let me know if any Texas weekend getaway ideas!

6 Days: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

After 2 days at Pensacola Beach, my family continued our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I thought this Park was unique because not only are there no entrance fees collected, there are no cabins or hotels inside the Park. The only accommodation within the Park is camping. Camping in the summer heat is definitely not my thing though so we opted to stay in the surrounding towns that offered ease of access into the Park.

Where We Stayed

Whittier, North Carolina - The Smoky Mountains spans both Tennessee and North Carolina so we decided to spend a few days in both states. Whittier is your typical little country town and is located within 30 minutes of several amazing hikes and within 10 minutes of Cherokee, North Carolina. My family rented the most adorable cabin up on a hill. The cabin faced the river and had a porch swing and a gazebo. We spent both nights gazing out over the calm waters and enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee - It is CROWDED in Gatlinburg. Be prepared for the ultimate tourist town! There is one main street in Gatlinburg lined with cheesy gift shops, classic restaurants, and touristy attractions such as a Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Surrounding the main street, there are several different condos, home rentals, and hotels. We stayed in the Laurel Inn Condominiums so that we could have multiple bedrooms and a kitchen for cooking. The pool was a nice perk as well!

Where We Ate

Our family chose to bring our own food and cook in our condo for most of our meals because food in the area was expensive and to be honest, nothing amazing. It is a tourist hot spot after all. But, we did eat out for 2 meals just to experience the local cuisine!

Bones BBQ - The BBQ at Bones doesn’t compare to any Texas barbecue spot I’ve eaten at, but for food in a tourist town it isn’t bad at all. They have 4 sauces (BBQ, Vinegar, Mustard, Bourbon BBQ) that are fantastic and a great complement for their meat. We ordered the pork special, which included the pork ribs, pulled pork, and pork sausage as well as the chopped brisket. The meat is nothing special, but still makes for a yummy lunch.

Slice Pizza Bakery - Stop by Slice if you want a large (and I mean large) slice of pizza that costs $7. Its overpriced, but it hits the spot when you just want a cheesy, hot, garlicky slice of pizza.

What We Did

Big Creek Expeditions White Water Rafting - Get ready for a wet 1.5 hour adventure on the upper Pigeon River. This white water rafting experience allows you to experience both Class 3 and Class 4 rapids as well as the calmer Class 1 and Class 2 rapids. While this adventure doesn’t compare to my white water rafting trips in Costa Rica, it was awesome having our own boat with a private guide and making memories with my sisters. We got soaked within the first minutes of starting the trip and it got more and more wet as we went. Big Creek Expeditions is located about 45 minutes from Gatlinburg and costs $35 per person.

Climbworks Ziplining - Such an amazing experience! Climbworks has two zipling options- treetop and mountain top. The tree top option has 9 zipline and takes place lower among the trees. However, due to Covid-19, this options was unavailable because social distancing isn’t possible on those platforms. So we did the mountain top zipline, which was 5 ziplines, soars over the the trees, and provides the best 360 view of the Smoky Mountains. Skip the observation decks and go with this zipline instead! It’s a perfect combination of adventure and scenery. Our zipline adventure began and ended with a 10 minute ATV ride up the mountain- this was my first time in an ATV and it was so fun! We made our way across 5 different ziplines of varying lengths, walked 2 suspension bridges, and belayed our way down a high platform. The service is impeccable- highly recommend! Climbworks is located 20 minutes from Gatlinburg and costs about $100 per person.

Smokemont Horse Back Riding - There are several horseback riding options in the Smoky Mountain area, but Smokemont is located a 5 minute drive from Cherokee, NC which makes it an ideal stop after a morning of hiking the trails in the area. Trail rides last about 1 hour and cost $35 per person. The trail usually includes crossing the river, but due to the height of the river that day, we missed out on that portion and instead had a beautiful trail ride in the mountains. The horses are calm and stable, although they walked a bit slow in my opinon, but safety first right?

Clingman’s Dome - The Dome is a free 360 viewing platform that is reached by a 30 minute uphill walk on a paved road. It is crowded here due to the ease of accessibility so arrive early. It is one of the main attractions of the Smoky Mountains National Park and is worth a quick stopover. Although, I thought the views from our ziplining adventure was way better, the Clingman’s Dome views are pretty amazing as well. And its free!

Chimney Top Hike - Water is a necessity on this hike. The trail goes straight up the side of the mountain on several flights of stairs. It’s basically an extreme version of the Stairmaster. You’ll get a great workout, but yes it is tiring and can be difficult for some. The views at the top are worth the trek though! The trail is 3.3 miles roundtrip, but gains an elevation of about 1400 feet. The original peak of the mountain are now closed from access due to a wildfire in 2016. So the new viewing area and the end of the hike is actually a quarter mile below the original summit. Our zipline guides told us that locals frequently jump the gate the blocks the pathway to the summit, but in my opinion, the summit is blocked for a reason… its dangerous.

Laurel Falls Hike - This was probably the easiest hike we did on the trip. The trail is about 2 miles roundtrip and there is little elevation gain. The hike culminates in a waterfall that has an upper and lower section that is split by the trail. Laurel Falls is extremely popular with visitors so you know what that means- limited parking and crowds. Come early!

Alum Cave Hike - Beware, this hike gets packed fast. As in the parking lot is completely filled and the overflow parking on the side of the road is packed before noon. So if this hike is on your list, make sure to arrive as early as possible! It is a moderately steep in and out hike and the cave is located about 3 miles in. This is where we decided to turn back, but the hike actually continues up further and includes a teahouse stop in the mountains. The Cave is the perfect stop to have lunch so be sure to pack a sandwich and snacks!

Appalachian Trail/Charlie’s Bunion Hike - Charlie’s Bunion was probably the least crowded hike on our trip, which wasn’t surprising considering the hike is 10 miles roundtrip. Definitely not for the faint hearted! My legs were so sore after this hike. Our family took about 5 hours to complete the hike, although we did stop several times including once for lunch. Charlie’s Bunion is part of the famous Appalachian Trail that actually extends from the Carolinas to Maine. Kudos to whoever can complete that entire trail! Because of the length of the Appalachian Trail, there are actually shelters along the route for hikers to sleep under. We were able to check out one of these shelters along our hike and it was cool getting a glimpse of what these hikers endure to achieve their goal.

Cades Cove Loop Road Scenic Drive

Scenic drives always seem like a huge usage of gas to me and with all the starting and stopping of cars, kind of a nuisance. But the Cades Cove drive was actually really interesting and involved even a little history. There are so many stopping points on the side of the road that you can pull over and just enjoy the scenery at. I saw families having entire picnics on the side of the road, all while staring out at the clear blue skies and rolling green mountains. We also stopped at a few historical churches that had been used by worshippers who lived among the mountains. Overall, it was a really great few hours to just drive slowly and enjoy nature’s beauty.

Explore Gatlinburg Main Street

Gatlinburg is the ultimate tourist town. There’s the obvious observation tower(s), the kitschy mini theme park, the obligatory Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, and tons of mediocre restaurants. If being the classic tourist is your speed, then spending your vacation in town will definitely delight you. Personally, after an hour and a half of wandering around amidst the crowds of (unmasked) people and buying my standard vacation souvenirs (magnet and postcard of course!), I had had enough.

Our family has been to so many National Parks now over the years- The Smoky Mountains was a great one! Let me know in the comments if you guys have any other National Park suggestions!

2 Days: Pensacola Beach, Florida

If I could sum up our vacation in a single statement it would be: Traveling during a pandemic is so different. I would even say that it has been a stressful experience. Hence, my vow to only take mini trips for the rest of the year… Being cognizant of not getting to close to other people, ensuring that I constantly washed my hands after touching anything, and confirming that everything is clean definitely takes a toll on your enjoyment of your vacation. But that’s not to say that this past week’s trip wasn’t great! My family drove 8 hours to Pensacola Beach, which was actually only our midpoint stopover on our continued journey to the Great Smoky Mountains, and spent 2 days enjoying the sunshine on our beach front hotel. While I’m not sure I would want to travel to Florida again during the pandemic (Floridians do not understand the concept of social distancing), it was nice to get out of our normal routine and soak up some Vitamin D.

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach was not as crowded as many other beaches in Florida (have you seen the photos of Miami Beach?!?!) and they attempted to space umbrellas 6 feet apart. We went pretty early in the morning (think 6:30am) to enjoy the sunrise and the absence of people. The waves are strong, the sand soft, and the shoreline filled with pretty white seashells. A dreamy beach if you ask me!

Gulf Islands National Seashore

It costs $25 per vehicle per day to enter, but once you pay you’ll discover lots of empty shoreline and beaches. Perfect for a day outdoors and social distancing! The whole park is around 7 miles and towards the end of it there is a huge fort, Fort Pickens, where you’re able to explore the ruins. I saw people biking around and wished I had brought my bike as well!

Red Fish, Blue Fish

Probably some of the worst food I’ve ever had…. and that is saying a lot because I’m constantly eating out! I guess there isn’t much to be expected when it comes to tourist towns, but I was still shocked at the poor quality of food served at Red Fish, Blue Fish. The gumbo had a watery taste to it and the seafood was flavorless. On top of this, the restaurant forgot half our takeout order and we had to make two trips… If you find yourself in Pensacola, I strongly recommend skipping this restaurant!

Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach

We stayed at the Hampton Inn on Pensacola Beach and had a cute little balcony that faced the beautiful sparkling ocean. It was so nice waking up every morning to the sound of seagulls, the salty smell of the ocean, and lots of sunshine. While we spent the mornings out on the beach, once the beach became crowded in the afternoon we would head back to our hotel balcony to spend the rest of the day social distancing from the crowd. It was the perfect way to enjoy the beach while remaining safe from a distance. Hampton Inn also provided free breakfast, but instead of their typical breakfast buffet, their employees prepackaged breakfast items into brown paper bags for people to take. It was a very streamlined process, which was much appreciated. Overall, my family really enjoyed this hotel!

It was definitely a unique experience traveling during the pandemic… Let me know if you have any other ideas and tips on how to travel safely during this time. Stay safe yall!

A Day in Spring, Texas

In continuation of my goal of finding little day and weekend trips around Texas that are within driveable distance of Houston, I discovered that Spring, Texas, a suburb I once had only vaguely heard about, actually had a decent amount of interesting food and activities. Spring is located in North Houston and is a hidden gem!

What We Did

Atkinson Farms - Our original plan included strawberry and blackberry picking at this farm, but unfortunately, when we arrived here we realized that fruit picking season was over. There was only the option to shop from their tiny produce stand so we peeked in to see all the fresh fruits and veggies and made plans to come back next year. But earlier of course, so we can make it in time for strawberry season!

Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center - There are plenty of trails (and shade) at the Nature Center and it was a great break from being indoors all week. We actually took our food here for a picnic prior to setting out on our trail walk- there are water fountains and clean restrooms so don’t worry! The main trail here is the Wetland Loop, which is a 1 mile loop around the main area of the Nature Center. The other trails available (there are about 7 others) are offshoots of the Wetland Loop so its possible to make several detours along the way. We also walked part of the Peckinpaugh Path to an overlook and also walked the popular path around Bluegill Pond. Its not the best trails I’ve ever seen, but it still makes for a nice day outdoors.

What We Ate

The Boba Shop - This adorable bubble tea cafe is filled with cute decorations and a lengthy menu of all kinds of bubble tea drinks and plenty of different fruit flavors to choose from. We picked up our drinks to go and drank them on our walk in Spring Creek- it was such a refreshing experience!

Luliet Creamery and Bake Shop - Located across the street from The Boba Shop and Q-Shi, Luliet is the cutest (and best smelling) little bakery ever. When you enter you’ll not only be inundated with the smell of freshly baked pastries, but you also be greeted with a display filled with beautiful and tasty cupcakes. The flavors change, but on the day we were there we had a hard time choosing between flavors like creme brulee, chocolate chocolate with a chocolate chip cookie, birthday cake, churro, and so much more. We decided on the red velvet and the cookie dough cupcakes and boy were they DELICIOUS. I actually haven’t been this blown away by cupcake since moving back from New York. Luliet is definitely the ultimate hidden find and I only wish it were closer to me because I need to be there every day!

Q-Shi Bbq and Sushi - If you can’t decide between barbecue or sushi for lunch, then Q-shi is the best choice because it has both! It has also been featured in Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives TV show so the menu has several Guy recommended options. We went with the Bbq kimchi fries (they sure were generous with the meat portion!), the surf and turf sushi roll (there is a brisket on top and fried shrimp inside the roll!), and the crunchy shrimp roll. Everything was delicious and satisfied our cravings for meat, cheese, spicy foods, rice, and fried foods so what more can you really ask for in a meal?

Spring is the perfect day trip if you’re a Houston resident and just want to escape your house for a few hours. There are actually a few wineries around town as well, but since I was with my underage sister we didn’t end up making a stop. The famous barbecue, Corkscrew, is also located here, so I will definitely need to make a second trip!

A Day in Lufkin, Texas

I’ve spent the past few weeks wracking my brain for easy day trips and weekend trips I can take since flying continues to be out of the question due to the pandemic. I just don’t want to be stuck on a plane in close quarters with someone, ya know? Plus, having to wear my mask for 3+ hours does not sound that appealing to me. So driving it is! Despite living in Texas basically my entire life, I’ve actually never really explored the state (until recently of course). So I feel like I have a lot of catch up to do. It feels like such a shame that I’ve been to so many international destinations, but have no idea what is in my own backyard. I’ve decided not to let the lack of flights disappoint me and to really see what else is out there in Texas for me to explore and learn from.

My little sister is in Physicians Assistant school and has been doing monthly rotations where she switches up which hospital she works in. This month she’s in Lufkin and after seeing that it was only a 2 hour drive from Houston, I decided to make a day trip out of it and explore my first East Texas town. So, here it is- 24 hours in Lufkin, Texas!

What We Did

Downtown Lufkin - Lufkin’s downtown basically consisted of 1 main street, filled with boutique stores, small restaurants and cafes, and a few salons. It was definitely a huge difference from the big city centers I’ve visited over the past few years, but turned out to be such a charming experience. We were able to get free street parking right on the main street (how often does that happen usually in any downtown?) and didn’t have to wade through crowds to take pictures of the primary photo opps (aka the Lufkin sign and the Coco-Cola mural).

Angelina College Forest Fitness Trail - This trail is located behind the Angelina College gym and is served by a huge (and empty) free parking lot. I guess the students use the Forest Trail as exercise, which is pretty amazing if you ask me. The trailhead is concealed by numerous trees, but it’s right next to a giant gazebo so you can’t miss it. The trail itself is completely shaded with tons of trees, it is a forest after all, so don’t worry about hiking here even during the middle of the day. While the trail is visible, it isn’t the most well maintained so definitely pay attention where you are walking and notice the various markers on the hike so you don’t get lost. It is a loop trail, but there are little detours available to see other random areas. This trail is only about 1 mile and takes around 30 minutes to complete- another great road trip pit stop.

Kiwanis Park - We originally came to the Park to hike the Azalea trail, but it turned out to just be a loop around the park. Lukin residents must love outdoor exercise because there are signs all over park with information on different types of exercises you can complete. There is a mini skateboarding ramp, tennis courts, a playground, picnic tables, and plenty of space. Sometimes it really is just nice to get away from the noise of city life and just to enjoy the peacefulness that is nature.

Stephen F Austin Arboretum Trail - My sister found out that the college town of Nacogdoches was only 30 minutes away from Lufkin so we headed to Stephen F Austin University to explore the huge Arboretum Trail that is located on its campus. And it was definitely huge… The trail starts off with a garden and a green house, but then expands into bridges and long walkways, and eventually crosses (you literally need to cross a road) into a large forested area with a lot of mini trails and offshoots. We only had about an hour and a half to spend walking the trails, but I imagine that I could have spent half a day here. This was by far one of the best parts of my day trip!

What We Ate

Standpipe Coffee - Located in downtown Lufkin on a corner, Standpipe serves all sorts of delicious caffeinated drinks (check out my blackberry latte below) and a variety of unique scones. The Lufkin famous Coco-Cola mural is located in here and ready for your photos. On a normal day, I would have loved to crack open a book in its warehouse like environment, but since Covid is still going strong in Texas, Standpipe is limited to only to go orders currently. If you’re on a road trip, Standpipe is the perfect pit stop!

Skyline Burritos - Surprisingly, Skyline Burritos appeared to be the most modern building in Lufkin. It’s located next to a gas station on a road leading to downtown Lufkin in a shiny white store front. Due to Covid, customers aren’t allowed to enter the store and employees come to each car to take orders and deliver food- a pretty awesome situation if you ask me. The menu allows you to build your own burrito, taco salad (what I chose), bowl, or nachos and top it with a variety of toppings such as guacomole (no extra charge!), spicy ranch, queso, veggies, etc… It’s basically Chipotle but tons better. And in a tiny country town, it was a pleasant surprise!

Chilly Fillmore’s Frozen Yogurt - We stopped for a frozen treat on our way back from Nacogdoches to Lufkin sweating so much under the hot Texas sun. Sadly, Chilly’s wasn’t anything too special, if anything, it didn’t have the large variety of frozen yogurt flavors like Menchie’s or Orangeleaf. But, it was still a much needed relief from the outdoors. They have the usual popping boba, candy, and fruit toppings so it’s a perfect way to relax after a day of hiking.

I’m still on the search for the best Texas weekend and day trips- stay tuned!

48 Hours in Austin During the Quaratine

Travel won’t look the same for the remainder of the year, but I didn’t want the virus to completely change who I was either. Travel is a part of me- it’s something I define myself by. Instead, I wanted to find a new way to travel safely. Flying on planes where it is basically impossible to social distance isn’t currently where I want to be so I started to brainstorm potential road trips I could take. I decided to start small and drive somewhere that was familiar to me and wasn’t too far so I wouldn’t have to stop and use public restrooms. After 3 months of self isolation in Houston, I decided to take a quick weekend trip up to Austin to spend time with a friend who lived alone. However, crowds still aren’t my thing so most of my Austin weekend trip was spent Netflixing on the couch, working out, and choosing takeout food from my favorite restaurants.

What I Did

Discovering Netflix Shows - I watched the entire first season of the Mindy Kaling produced show, Never Have I Ever, and have seriously never laughed harder in my life. The show revolves around an Indian American high school girl who is navigating friendship, first love, popularity, grief, and family issues. On top of being hilarious, it is so relatable and really took me back to my high school years. The cast is one of the most diverse casts I’ve seen- there will be someone on the show who you identify with. I definitely recommend it!

Orangetheory - Ever since my Orangetheory Fitness membership was put on pause due to Covid-19, I’ve really struggled to stay in shape and exercise. I’m one of those people who needs a trainer and other individuals there to stay motivated so working out at home when I can basically quit anytime with no shame really doesn’t help. So when Orangetheory finally reopened, I booked 2 classes for the South Austin location to take with my friend. I was nervous at first on what measures the gym was taking to keep clients safe, but South Austin actually put out Youtube video showing all their precautionary measures, which really reassured me. Classes were capped at 12 people so that we could be spread apart and our temperatures were taken before we were allowed to enter the facilities. I chose to take the earliest class of the day so I would be the first to use the equipment and wiped everything down before using it. It was so good to get back into the gym!

What I Ate

Terry Black’s BBQ - I’ve been craving good bbq for months now and was really looking forward to Terry Black’s. It didn’t disappoint! The brisket was so tender and the jalapeno cheddar sausage so delicious. But the one thing that really made it stand out to me was the amazing sides- we went for mac and cheese and creamy corn. They really topped off the meal!

Maudie Too’s - Not the best tex mex I’ve had, but still a solid choice. My shrimp quesadilla was flavorful and the queso and chips quenched my constant thirst for queso. We went to the Maudie Too’s location on South Lamar (it is just around the corner from Terry Black’s actually) and they do curbside pickup as well as 50% capacity dining.

Teal’s Coffee - The cutest little coffee and breakfast truck in South Austin! Teal’s is located in a parking lot (it is easy to miss so keep your eyes pealed for a little red truck). They have the classic caffeinated drinks, but sometimes also brings in seasonal flavors as well. I ordered the blackberry honey latte and loved the fruity taste of the drink. Their freshly made kolaches was also the perfect way to start my day!

Gus’ Fried Chicken - I’ve been waiting to try the fried chicken at Gus for months now because I’ve heard so much about it. There are so many Gus fans out there! Well, 4 pieces of crispy spicy fried chicken and a bowl of mac and cheese later, I have to say I know what all the type is about now. I went to the downtown Austin location, but for those of you who live in Houston, there is a location in Montrose as well!

Sprinkles Cupcakes - I’ve missed Sprinkles a lot ever since moving back from New York. I actually use to live within walking distance of a Sprinkles cupcake shop and would stop by all the time to get a sweet treat. The Sprinkles location in Houston is about a 30 minute drive from me and is located in a crowded shopping plaza so I don’t make it out there quite as often anymore. So when I stopped by the Domain for coffee (see below), I couldn’t pass by the opportunity for cupcakes. Luckily, my favorite flavor, Strawberry Shortcake, was in stock! I recommend that flavor- it is life changing.

Coffee & Crisp - I saw a picture of the lattes here on Instagram and made my friend take me here for our second coffee of the day. The space is so adorable and aesthetically pleasing and the oat milk latte I drank was so refreshing!

It definitely wasn’t my usual Austin weekend, but it was nice to just get away for a few days, support some local restaurants, exercise in a safe environment, and hang out with my friend. Vacationing won’t be the same for a while, my that doesn’t mean travel is dead. It’s just going to be in your surroundings!

Postcards from the English Countryside

2 months of self isolation and staying at home later and…. I’m still at home. Yup, everything is still the same regarding the pandemic that has drastically changed how we live our daily lives. Just a few months ago the world was literally my oyster. I was pondering where next to travel to and planning long term international trips. Now all those plans are up in air as the uncertainty over the future of travel continues. Many countries have closed their borders to non citizens and air travel now makes me nervous because of the close proximity to other passengers. There won’t be any new trips for while, but I’m digging out a few blog posts about past trips that didn’t make the blog and doing some editing to improve the content. Writing on Toast and Travel has been a nice outlet for me as the days go by and I hope it does the same for you! I went to the English countryside on 2 day trips during my first London trip in 2018 and was amazed by the peacefulness and beauty that I saw. Sharing my trip below!

A big bustling city with tons of people and loud traffic can get tiring for some people who may actually want to relax on their vacation. Thankfully, the English countryside is just as mesmerizing as the city and is full of many beautiful towns with tons of things to see, do, and eat. I knew before going to London that I didn't want to spend an entire week in the city so I did extensive research on what the popular spots in U.K. We chose to take a Viator tour just because of our time limitations, but next time I definitely plan to choose a town and spend a day or two just lying back and sipping a drink. And don't worry about getting to any of these places- U.K public transportation is much better than America's. The trains and buses can get you from town to town very quickly.

Lacock

Lacock is known for being an adorable countryside town that was the filming site for the original version of the movie, Pride and Prejudice. I felt like I was entering a completely different world when our bus pulled into the quaint little town. Our tour was basically the only one visiting Lacock, so it didn't feel touristy at all. Instead, we were able to explore the alleys by foot without seeing too many people. I loved the bakery, Lacock Bakery, a recommendation I actually got from the Youtuber Zoella's videos. The pastries and sandwiches are all homemade and the bakery also sells homemade honey and jam. There weren't too many restaurants in Lacock, so grabbing a few pastries here was a great alternative for lunch. I would recommend only spending around 2-3 hours in the town because other than strolling, visiting a few local shops, and taking the most beautiful pictures, there isn't much else to do. 

Bath

The town of Bath used to be a spa for the Romans and was granted a World Heritage Site in 1987. Naturally, the most popular attraction is the Roman Baths- although just to note people can't actually use the baths anymore because as you can see in the picture below, the water is disgusting. I was honestly amazed that the structures were still standing because everything looked so old. Be prepared to battle the crowds because every tour company in the area brings their clients here. In addition to viewing the baths and ruins, there is a museum onsite that explains the history behind the structures as well as a drinking fountain that lets visitors taste the actual water that is provided by the natural springs. Don't worry- this fountain's water is clean and safe for drinking!

Stonehenge

If you have the option to join an early morning tour to view Stonehenge from inside the circle, I strongly recommend it. It's literally a once in a lifetime experience and to be honest, who knows how long these rocks will continue standing? They were formed by nature's wonders around 3000-2000 BC and they could be destroyed at any moment by any number of natural disasters. Although we had to meet up with the tour bus at 5am, it was well worth the lack of sleep. There was no other group at the site so we had the whole place to ourselves to take as many photos as we wished. If you don't wish to spend too much money, viewing the stones from outside the circle (and thus much further away) can be done starting at 9am and for a lower price of around $20.

Oxford

Next stop, Oxford University! Oxford is actually the second oldest university in the world and has been teaching students since 1096. I wonder how current students feel to be going to school with so much history and greatness and I wish I had the brains to be a student! Our tour guide told us that the academic curriculum at Oxford is so rigorous that undergraduate students are able to apply for a masters degree after around 3 years of work experience. No further studies are needed because the schools considers their bachelors program to operate at a masters level. Definitely the best tuition deal! The town reminds me of some romantic old town in the movies and I can't imagine having the opportunity to attend classes in these beautiful surroundings.

Stratford Upon Avon

I've always considered Shakespeare's plays to be so hard to understand due to its usage of old English, but I was still excited to see where the famous author had grown up. Stratford Upon Avon is another gorgeous countryside town and is home to William Shakespeare. We stopped here on our way back to London and while the town is packed with tourists, its a good place for a quick 1-2 trip just to explore Shakespeare's old home. We also toured Shakespeare's theater, The Globe, back in London so it was nice to go full circle and see the location where many of those plays performed in The Globe came from.

On my second trip to London I visited Brighton and Cambridge- more on that in a later post!

Postcards from Bruges and Ghent

Keeping in line with the previous Luxembourg post, I thought I would share a few more photos from my travels in Europe during Summer 2018 while I spend a few weeks enjoying being home in NYC. As mentioned in my previous post, I spent two weeks in June working and living in Brussels. By the first weekend in Belgium, I was dying to get out of Brussels. I felt like I had done everything and I needed a break from the city where my work was located (just being honest!). A lot of my coworkers had raved about Bruges beauty so I was excited to see it for myself if it was actually that beautiful. Spoiler alert- it was! I chose to take a day trip by myself to Bruges early on a Saturday morning. The train system in Brussels isn’t hard to figure out at all- there are trains heading to Bruges basically every hour. A bonus is that if you are under 26 you qualify for a “Youth” ticket, thus being able to save a few dollars. I described Luxembourg as Yellow, but I would use the word Water to describe Bruges. The city is definitely defined by its many canals snaking around and the canals contribute to the city’s beauty in a big way. I bought a $8 canal cruise ticket and spent a part of the day drifting along the canals and seeing Bruges in a different way.

Ghent is only 30 min away from Bruges (the midpoint between Bruges and Brussels actually) so I figured it wouldn't hurt to stop by and walk around the town. As I was sitting on the train I overheard another tourist discussing kayaking in Ghent. I love kayaking so that immediately piqued my interest and I googled how I could see the city by kayaking through one of their canals. Turns out people make reservations at the ______ Hostel for kayaking weeks in advance, but since I was just one person and was willing to kayak for less than the normal two hours, I was able to rent a kayak for $16. While it was a little scary sharing the sometimes narrow canal with larger ships and motorized boats, I enjoyed the chance to see Ghent in a different way.

7 Days: South Carolina (Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston)

3 cities in 7 days! Back in August, I took advantage of my unemployment (or should I say funemployment) status and explored a bit more of America before I had to start saving those precious PTO/vacation days again (ugh my life now). My sorority little lives in South Carolina and that coupled with the fact that our sorority national convention was in Myrtle Beach this year helped me decide to spend a week on the southern east coast of the U.S. Ever since visiting Savannah, Georgia 2 years ago, I’ve been craving for the same type of laid back Southern lifestyle so Charleston had been on my list for a while now. There is something about the South (maybe its that Southern charm that everyone talks about) that just calms me down and allows me to throughly enjoy the slower pace of life.

Greenville

When I first landed at the Greenville international airport, I was very confused as to why it was even called an international airport because it seemed like all the flights were either coming from Atlanta, Dallas, or Charlotte. Can someone please explain to me why these tiny airports that contain mainly domestic flights have misleading names? The Austin airport is another example! I didn’t have too much time in Greenville- just enough to pick up the car and begin driving to Myrtle Beach. But I did manage to squeeze in time to pick up a delicious honey latte from Barista Alley! I wish I had more time to sit and enjoy the cafe though because Barista Alley was a huge light filled space with comfy couches and tons of tables for working.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

The Beach was a slight disappointment, mainly because it appeared to be similar to any other beach I had been to. There wasn’t anything special about it that made it seem like it was worth the trip. Harsh criticism I know! I guess with a name that included the word, Boardwalk, I was expecting something out of the 1900s where vintage looking stores would have their doors open welcoming customers and hot dog carts and cotton candy stands would be set up serving happy children. However, if I could use one word to describe Myrtle Beach it would be grungy. The beach itself is similar to what you would find at the dying Coney Island beach aka brown murky waters and minimal sand. The Boardwalk has some cheap stores selling the same souvenirs over and over again as well as the constant offerings for airbrush tattoos and hair braiding. Even the hotels lining the beach didn’t appear to be amazing destinations. Still, if your feet crave the soft touch of sand, take a walk along the waters and soak in the sun!

Broadway on the Beach

Where the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk lost at, Broadway at the Beach won at. After arriving here, I realized why the Boardwalk was so empty and why Broadway on the Beach was so popular. The attractions and environment just felt more clean and well maintained. There are tons of fun rides, tasty desserts, and interesting shops for the average tourist to wander around and explore. All of it surrounds a spacious lake where water activities are plentiful. I can’t forget to mention there is a Simpsons themed Krazy Mart at the entrance!

Croissants Bakery

I’m usually a poor receiver of slow service at a restaurant, but the French vibes and cute decor at Croissants really created a warm ambience that outshone the slower service. The Bakery also gets extra points for visual presentation of their delicious food. When my chicken and waffle dish came out (with the waffle on a stick!), I was definitely the envy of everyone who had ordered something else. Their waffles were exact replicas of the Belgian waffles I had in Brussels- eating them brought me back to my European adventure last May.

Chestnut Hill Restaurant

What Myrtle Beach lacked in activities, it definitely made up for in food options. Chestnut Hill was another great find- the food here was outstanding! From the starter biscuits and cornbread to the fried seafood platter piled high with crispy scallops and shrimp and crab cakes to the fruit cake parfait, I throughly enjoyed every single bite. The food was truly high quality and well made.

Charleston

Angel Oak Tree

Unfortunately the weather was so bad the day we drove to the Angel Oak tree and we were unable to enter into the site and take pictures amongst the tree’s giant branches. The best we were able to do was cleverly angle our phones between the barbed wire fence holes and snap a photo of the awe inspiring tree. However, I came back on my last day and managed to enter the mystical tree site! But, everyone else and their mother was also there so I reverted back to the serene photo I took on my rainy day trip there.

Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia is filled with educational opportunities about the Civil War, peaceful gardens, and yes tons of mosquitos. The Plantation is located on 65 acres of land and walking around the site is taxing and hot so be prepared with good walking shoes and mosquito repellant! Despite the influx of heat and bugs, the walk is worth it because the the gardens are beautiful. For me, they epitomized the Southern lifestyle.

Downtown Charleston

Downtown Charleston is filled with adorable colonial looking homes (that probably cost millions) and provide a nice walk through town if you’re trying to burn off those calories earned from eating all that Southern food. Rainbow Row is the famous street lined with colorful houses that are currently all over Instagram. I have to say though, Instagram definitely makes the Row look prettier than it is because I was underwhelmed by the glamour of it all. Charleston City Market was one of the highlights of the trip- come hungry for the delicious biscuits and be ready to drop some cash for cute paintings and souvenirs!

Charleston Tea Plantation

The only tea plantation in America is located in Charleston and as a addicted tea drinker, I knew I had to make a quick stop to see how tea is created. Did you know that black tea and green tea are actually created from the same tea leaves? The only difference is that one is dried for a longer period of time than the other. The leaves are harvested using the machine in the picture below and streamlines the process of making tea. The Plantation offers a free factory tour where visitors can glance through windows to see the well laid out procedures. For a 1 hour Plantation tour, you’ll have to shell out $14 and come at times the tours are available. I opted just to do the free tour since we were short on time and still loved it!

Food

The food in Charleston is unreal. I was impressed by every single thing I ate. Towards the end of my trip, however, I started feeling like maybe I had indulged too much and needed a serious detox upon heading home. Still, no regrets! I loved the bubble tea at Tapio (located in the middle of downtown Charleston) and the coffee at Broom Wagon (they serve waffles too!). Junction Kitchen is a little out of the way (unless you happen to be driving towards the airport like we were), but its an ideal spot for Southern brunch- I had the buzzed doughnut which was a tiny sandwich consisting of coffee flavored bacon, mocha dipped doughnut, hashbrowns, and an over easy egg. If you’re looking for solid Southern bbq, Swig & Swine in the West Ashley area is a can’t miss! I loved the giant rack of pork ribs and the cheesy mac and cheese- my mouth is watering just thinking about all the delicious food…

Have you been to Charleston? What were your favorite spots?

How to Organize a Trip to Europe (When You've Never Been)

How to Choose Where to Go

Europe can be overwhelming at first glance because there are just too many amazing countries to choose from and you’ll want to visit them all. And you will. Eventually. But depending on your budget and time constraints (aka a full time job), you won’t be able to see every amazing sight in Europe all in one go. So the toughest question then becomes where should you go first? For my first Europe trip, I visited my sister who was studying abroad in Prague and for many others the answer is similar. They want to maintain some familiarity and visit someone they know. Someone who may know the language or the streets and can help guide them around this foreign continent (plus potential free housing doesn’t hurt). But what if you don’t know a single soul in Europe? Then I would suggest going where your main interests lie. Do you like the big city life? London is the epitome of a big city. There are bright lights, busy streets, rampant subway lines, and lots to do and see. The food isn’t outstanding and the prices aren’t cheap, but the plentiful tourist attractions, convenient public transportation, and usage of the English language makes London the perfect gateway to Europe. But maybe the big city isn’t for you, maybe you prefer a vacation surrounded by nature. Although I haven’t been yet, Ireland appears to have some of the greenest spaces on the continent. There are rolling hills, sparkling lakes, magnificent mountains and rocks, and fresh air is everywhere. If you’re a major fan of museums and history, Paris might be more your speed. You can’t walk more than a few steps in the French capital without coming across some sort of museum. There are museums about French history, French royals, French art, and best of all, French fashion. A whole day can be spent just leisurely walking around exploring all that French museums have to offer (except if you want to see the Mona Lisa, you’ll have to make a mad dash for it as early as possible). And if you just want some peace and quiet in Europe, then definitely head for Southern Spain, where the tourist crowds are much lighter, but the beauty is still present. There are so many tiny towns like, Frigiliana, where the pretty white walls and spring flowers haven’t yet been discovered by the masses. You’ll be able to spend your days wandering the local streets without being cursed at by the stressed out local or pushed around by the tour bus crowds. As you can see, Europe has so many options when it comes to building the perfect first trip. What makes it so much better than other continents is the presence of its reliable and efficient train system. Cross country trains and cheap airfare will allow you to zoom off to your next destination without the headache that American travel typically provides. So in summary- my top tips for choosing where to go? Really think about what you are interested in getting out of the trip and what your travel goals are. Then do some research on where everything is located so that you can hit up more than 1 destination if you wish.

How to Choose What to Do

My favorite part in planning a trip is always checking out the different activities I can do. Travel is all about experiences these days so I like to check out Airbnb for locally hosted experiences like a cooking class or a walking tour. Viator is a great website for booking day trips to nearby towns (that otherwise aren’t readily accessible) because the tours usually include transportation and a guide. When I was in Vienna, I wanted to check out the Austrian countryside between Vienna and Salzburg, and thanks to a small group tour I booked on Viator I was able to do so. Viator also sells skip the line passes to popular attractions and tours of the city you’re in. If you’re into main stream attractions, check out a combo pass like the Paris Pass or the London Pass that will let you pay one set fee for a number of days and include the admission prices of several popular attractions. The Paris Pass was worth it for me because it let us skip the long lines at the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. It also included a transportation card! Anywhere you go in Europe, there will be tons of things to do. It will be hard not to get overwhelmed. The trick is to see what that city or area is known for (eating tapas in Spain is a must!) and making sure that you fit those activities into your itinerary. All it takes is some research and advanced planning!

How to Choose Where to Stay

The three options that revolve around a person’s head when it comes to vacation lodging is usually: hotels versus Airbnb versus hostel. One option isn’t always cheaper than the other and even if it was, it isn’t always the best option. Some things to consider when choosing your lodging is: price, location, distance to public transportation, safety, cleanliness,space, and privacy. My top factor is location because I never want to spend most of my precious vacation time commuting from far away. If that means paying a little more or lowering my standard from 4 star hotel to a hostel then so be it. I also want to easily get around town without having to walk for miles or have to shell out a lot for an Uber so having public transportation nearby is also pretty important. Usually when I find a lodging contender, I search it up on Google Maps to see where its located and what else is nearby. Airbnb doesn’t let you view the exact address, but gives you a general idea of the neighborhood of where it is located. Choosing the right lodging also depends on your travel itinerary. Are you the type of person who likes to start slow in the day or take afternoon naps? It might be better to choose a more comfortable option then if that’s the case since you’ll most likely be spending more time at your lodging than the traveler who loves to be out and about all day and only uses their lodging to sleep. If you don’t mind not having complete privacy and would rather save a few bucks, then a hostel could be the better option. During my solo Madrid trip last year I stayed in a 8 female dorm room in a centrally located hostel and paid only $86 for 3 nights while having the added luxury of being close enough to everything by walking. Europe is known for its hostels so checking one out was always on my list. Airbnbs are best for if your group is rather large (more than 4 people), if you want the use of a kitchen, or if prefer living like a local for a few days. Some of the best neighborhoods (like San Diego’s North Park) do not have hotels so Airbnb will allow you to really experience what it’s like to live in a particular country. The websites I use for searching lodging options include Expedia, Priceline, Hostelworld, and of course, Airbnb. Always compare prices and think about what your top priorities are.

The Packing List

Well you’ve made all your Europe plans and now you’re almost ready to go! Just one last hurdle to cross- what to pack? The most obvious thing to do first is to check the weather of where you’ll be going. If rain is in the forecast, bring a raincoat or umbrella. Nothing is worse than getting drenched and not having anywhere nearby to dry off. If its wintertime, then staying warm should be the ultimate priority. Packing good walking shoes that don’t give your feet blisters is also important! Check out my go to packing list below.

1. Toiletries (contact solution, extra contacts, toothbrush with case so it doesn’t get dirty, makeup remover- I’ve forgotten this so many times and it is annoying to have to rub your face with water!, face wash)

2. Glasses (if you need them)- You don’t want to be blind in case your contacts don’t work out!

3. Feminine products- It was so hard finding these when I visited Spain so I learned a huge lesson and pack some all the time now

4. Sweaters- Even in the height of summer I pack a sweater in case I’m walking around a heavily air conditioned museum or the airplane/train ride is cold.

5. Small backpack or side bag- So useful when it comes to exploring because I have space to carry a few must have items and any souvenirs I buy during the day.

6. Water bottle- Staying hydrated is so important when traveling! The cost of water also adds up so I always buy a gallon of water and use it to fill up my water bottle throughout the trip.

7. Sunscreen- Never go anywhere without applying! Sun safety is constantly overlooked by many, but protecting your skin from the sun (even if its winter) is very necessary if you plan on being outdoors a lot.

8. Towels- If you’re staying in a hostel or Airbnb that doesn’t have fresh towels, make sure to bring your own.

9. Power bank- Having the ability to charge your phone on the go is a must. You’ll be using your phone a lot throughout the day, whether its for GPS or photos or texting, so bringing a power bank will alleviate the stress of having your phone suddenly die.

10. Chargers- Don’t forget to pack the charging cords to everything that needs it (phone, laptop, Airpods, Fitbit, selfie stick, camera)

This is just the start of my go to packing list, so general advice would be to go through your trip itinerary and think about what is needed and make sure that gets put into your luggage. A well prepared traveler has more fun than the stressed out one who has to run around buying an expensive iPhone charger because they forgot theirs at home. I usually pack 2-3 days in advance of an international trip so it gives me time to consider what I really need and what I don’t need (overpacking isn’t great either!).

Hope my guide to planning a first time trip to Europe was helpful! Above all else, remember to MAKE MEMORIES!

72 Hours: San Diego

Simply put, San Diego is beautiful. The amount of sunshine the city gets is insane. I left a dreary Houston on a Thursday night to wake up in a light sunny San Diego. The city is filled with quirky coffee shops, sandy beaches, breezy palm trees, and a lot of outdoor activities. We stayed in the North Park neighborhood and instantly fell in love with its casual hipster vibe and walkable streets. That first day in San Diego I walked over 26,000 steps! All the walking was ultimately for the reward of being able to eat a lot- San Diego is a surprisingly food centric city. There were so many places we wanted to eat at so this trip was really a #foodcation!

Where We Stayed

North Park

I’ve follow the travel and lifestyle blogger, CestChristine, since her New York days so after she moved to San Diego and raved about the North Park neighborhood, I knew I wanted to stay there if I ever had the chance to visit the city. There aren’t any hotels in the area since its mainly a residential neighborhood so we chose a cute little Airbnb home as our base for the weekend. All the homes in North Park are so adorable and full of personality- some even have dreamy white picket fences! But the best part of being North Park residents for the weekend was the bounty of cafes, desserts, yoga studios, unique stores all within walking distance. For 3 days, I really felt like I was a San Diego local out for my morning coffee and a peaceful walk. And that’s one of the aspects I love the most about traveling- the ability to peek into how the locals live and to leave that mundane tourist life behind.

Where We Ate

Little Italy Farmers Market

I didn’t expect this Farmers Market to be as popular and crowded and so dang enjoyable as it turned out to be! The Market is located on a pedestrians only road in the heart of Little Italy and there are tons of produce stands, food stalls, and craft vendors lining the sides of the road. San Diegoans come out in full force with their pets and families to enjoy the sunny Saturdays. Parking is difficult so coming early is a good idea.

Liberty Public Market

Walking around indoor food markets is something I really enjoy doing in the various cities I visit. It provides the opportunity to taste more than one type of food without having to exert much effort. My original plan had been to eat meatball sliders at the nearby Soda and Swine, but after seeing (and smelling) everything at the Market I opted to taste arancini balls and a spam musubi sandwich as well. The Market is located near a naval base and is housed in brown adobe looking buildings. There are stores selling artwork nearby and even craft stores that offer the opportunity for an afternoon of creativity.

Underbelly Ramen

Don’t let the line out the door deter you from eating their delicious bowls of ramen! There is plenty of seating available at this North Park open concept restaurant, but first you have to get your order taken at the door so that’s where the bottleneck occurs. I went for the brisket ramen with a poached egg and short rib dumplings- so yummy! Underbelly prefers its patrons slurp the ramen broth so spoons are not allowed. Be prepared for a messy, but delicious foodie experience!

Morning Glory

This brunch spot is so aesthetically pleasing (think pink and loud) that the wait is usually 1-2 hours. We waited a total of 1.5 hours, but time went by fast because we walked the Farmers Market in the meantime. Reservations aren’t allowed here so make sure to come right when they open! The food is a mix of international fare and classic American staples- we ordered the bouncy Japanese souffle pancakes and the cheesy Georgian kachapuri (one of my favorite dishes when I lived in New York). Don’t miss out on the bathroom! It’s a large space covered in sparkling mirrors!

Communal Coffee and Kitchen

The perfect spot for a little coffee break in the mornings! Communal is located in a white corner building- look out for the Coffee + Flowers sign outside. There is plenty of tables and comfy chairs located around the cafe near its big sunny windows. My iced latte and herb cream cheese and tomato toast was the most ideal to start my San Diego vacation.

Lucha Libre Tacos

This Mexican boxing themed taco shop is so much fun and even better, offers the tastiest tacos! The taco shop is located on University Ave in the middle of North Park and is filled to the brim with pink walls, a boxing ring table (must be reserved), and a lot of boxing paraphernalia. Come here for a late night snack and cuteness overload!

Hammond’s Ice Cream

Located down the street from Lucha Libre, Hammonds is known for its unique ice cream flavor variety. There is ube and cream, brown sugar, peanut butter guava jelly, white chocolate macadamia nut, and so much more. My friend and I must have spent so long making a decision- thanks to the patient employee who waited for us slow pokes!

Nomad Donuts

Get the mango strawberry donut! The flavors were very vivid and the donut itself, so fluffy and chewy- literally the most perfect combination ever. Nomad Donuts is also located on University Ave in North Park (another reason why you should stay in the neighborhood when visiting), although its donuts are occasionally served at other cafes around the neighborhood.

Extraordinary Desserts

A very expensive and high end dessert cafe, but so worth it! It’s waiter service, but customers still have the option to peruse the pastry and cake counters like a bakery and then note down the dessert of their choice on a sheet of paper. The drink menu is a mile long and includes tea (hot/iced), coffee, lemonades, hot chocolate, and alcohol. My sparking kiwi lemonade and raspberry tarte were so delicious and filling (I had to eat slowly so it wouldn’t be too much sugar at once!) and re-energized me after a tiring day of walking around the city.

Cross Street Chicken

No vacation is complete without my fill of fried chicken! Especially Korean fried chicken. In Asiatown. Saturday night, my friend and I headed to Convoy area, which is known to be where the most amount of legitamite Asian food resides, to try the popular Cross Street Chicken. We were actually pretty full from the Korean hot dogs (see below), but still managed to eat their Garlic Honey and Soy Garlic chicken wings. Parking is terrible, but there isn’t a long wait for a table and the chicken is hot and cripsy- so worth it!

Myungran Hot Dogs

I’ve been wanting to try Korean hotdogs on a stick for the longest time, but they are so hard to come by in Houston. For those of you who don’t know, this popular Korean street snack is basically a fried corndog looking contraption filled with either a sausage or cheese or pretty much anything you want. The outer fried breading can contain pieces of french fries, ramen, squid ink, or anything really, It is essentially what cheesy dreams are made of. This outlet is located inside the HMart in Convoy and is the most popular out of all the food stalls- its a San Diego must!

It’s Boba Time

I love trying boba from cities that I travel to and San Diego is no different. It’s Boba Time is also located in Convoy in a little plaza and typically has a line forming inside its doors. There are several choices for drinks including milk tea, smoothies, fruit teas, etc…

Subterranean Coffee Boutique

My white mocha strawberry latte was delicious and just the right kick I needed to jump start my last day in San Diego. The popular (and I mean popular- check out their Yelp page) North Park cafe has a long list of specialty drinks for order and a spacious space for sitting down and enjoying on a Sunday morning. There is even a giant chess set!

Better Buzzed Coffee

I loved Better Buzzed. The cafe aesthetics, the coffee choices, the big open space- everything was perfect! A friend recommended the iced matcha latte with oatmilk to us and boy, it did not disappoint. One of the best matcha lattes I’ve had in a while! We loved the cafe so much we even went back on our last day for cookies and more coffee. The Hillcrest location is its headquarters and its most popular location- don’t miss out!

Cafe Madeline

In a last ditch attempt to explore more local neighborhoods, we finally ventured out of North Park to the South Park neighborhood for Sunday brunch. South Park is similar to North Park, but not as cute! However, Cafe Madeline with its red corner storefront and Parisian sidewalk cafe vibes was too adorable for us to resist. Our crepes (they serve paninis and croque madames as well) fully satisfied us and was a great last San Diego meal. We arrived before 9am and not long after, the lines of people started appearing.

Phil’s BBQ

No instagram quality photo available for my Phil’s BBQ meal, because I scarfed down the meat mid way through my flight from San Diego back to Houston. San Diego’s most famous barbecue has two locations and one of them is inside the airport at Terminal 2 near all the United gates. And even though I’m from Texas where bbq is abundant and top notch, I couldn’t resist Phil’s out of curiosity! While not as legitimate as Texas bbq which rely on the meat and smokiness to enhance its flavor, Phil’s sauces are truly mouthwatering and is what makes the meat’s flavor improve immensely.

What We Did

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

It’s probably clear from the lengthy What We Ate list above, that most of our activities involved some for of eating or drinking. However, we did squeeze in some exploring around all our food stops. Since San Diego isn’t a huge tourist town, I searched on Instagram for what we could do and where we could take some pictures. This Suspension Bridge came up and we decided to make a stop- turns out the Bridge is located in the middle of an affluent residential neighborhood and is a really random sight. It connects to parts of the neighborhood to each other and is surrounded by large homes and hiking trails. This whole trip I’ve felt that the city is really talented at combining nature into everything and this Suspension Bridge proved me right!

Old Town

Old Town San Diego invokes all those nostalgic feels. The buildings look like they appeared straight out of a Wild West movie, there are costumed workers walking around, and the combination of American and Mexican cultures was very apparent. While there isn’t too many activities to do here, it was nice to spend 2 hours simply wandering around the town, venturing into the buildings to learn more about San Diego’s history, and gazing at the Mexican inspired gift shops. There is a Wells Fargo (yes the bank) museum, the McCoy House Museum, and a museum showcasing what an old restaurant would have looked like.

Balboa Park

Originally, I thought that Balboa Park would be similar to New York’s Central Park. But I was wrong- it is so much bigger! I found that out the hard way when, in my attempt to watch from North Park to the Botanical Building inside Balboa, accidentally had to hike up the side of a hill using one of its many hiking trails. With the sun shining in full force, it was quite the interesting experience is all I can say. Balboa Park has so many things to do- I could have spent an entire day wandering around and visiting the Zoo and the museums. But since I was on a time crunch, I selected the Botanical Building (free entry) with its picturesque lily pond and the Japanese Friendship Garden ($12) to tour, Both are covered in beautiful flowers and other natural sights. I loved the peacefulness of the Japanese Garden, which was built in 1991 to celebrate the friendship between San Diego and the Japanese city, Yokohama. I also wandered around the Park and spotted the Museum of Man, Spanish Art Village, San Diego Zoo, and many more gorgeous surroundings. Be sure to bring sunscreen though because shade isn’t much of an option in many areas.

Sunset Cliffs

Come to the Cliffs around sunset to enjoy the full experience that the natural wonder provides. It’s truly one of the most gorgeous places ever. There is plenty of parking on the surrounding streets and the beauty of the Cliffs is only a short walk away. While there are set walking paths, people are allowed to venture closer to the edge of the Cliff for better pictures (be careful of loose rocks and sudden drops!). There were even people meandering down the cliffs to the beach below- we passed on this though since we weren’t dressed appropriately. Getting to view the sunset from the Cliffs was truly mesmerizing. Bonus- we witnessed a marriage proposal taking place!

La Jolla

La Jolla Cove is a must see for an trip to San Diego. It is located about 20 minutes from the city center, but feels like its some far off Caribbean beach town. The palm trees sway in the slight breeze, the bungalows are painted bright yellow, there are surfers everywhere towing their surfboards, and of course, the beach is covered in sparkling soft sand. We found a kayaking tour on Airbnb that let us explore the caves as well as paddle around the Pacific Ocean- we even saw a seal swimming in the water! Afterwards, we walked a bit further down the beach to Scripps Pier for a mini photoshoot (thank you Instagram for the inspiration). The Pier is off limits to non students, but beneath the Pier is where the beauty is. A little further along the coast is one of the #secretswings of La Jolla. Perched on a tree branch near the UCSD campus overlooking the La Jolla beach, the tiny swing was such a magical spot! It was a bit hard to find though and I’ve heard it moves around every now and then so be sure to search online for specific instructions before going.

Seaport Village

Seaport Village is a little tourist area near the San Diego Bay and has several gift shops and on the water dining options. There isn’t too much else to do besides eating and shopping (although sometimes that’s all you need for a good time), but the pedestrian only boardwalk along the waterfront is a nice stroll. There are lots of opportunities for beautiful photos as well!

San Diego felt like a true vacation- good food, good weather, and good memories. It was the perfect 72 hour break from reality! Although, I’m still kind of in shock over all the food we ate!

One Day in Lisbon: How to Spend a 9 Hour Layover in Lisbon

Many people asked me why I chose to go all the way to Europe for a 4 day weekend trip. To be honest, I found an amazing flight deal ($449!), which would have put me in the same price range as many domestic flights (ahem San Francisco/Miami). However, as part of this flight deal I had to leave Madrid at the crack of dawn on Monday and spend 9 hours on a layover in Lisbon. Traveling this way isn’t for everyone- while it did give me basically a bonus opportunity to visit a second city, the whole experience exhausted me completely. To preface, although my layover was 9 hours in totality (7-5pm) I obviously was not able to explore Lisbon for the entire 9 hours. Subtracting the time it took for me to de-plane, find the airport exit (for some reason I did not have to go through customs?), commute to and from downtown Lisbon via Uber, and arrive back 2 hours early to the airport for my connecting international flight- I had about 5 hours left. Now 5 hours may not seem like a lot, but to me it felt like forever. My legs actually ended up giving out because I was so exhausted from having such an early morning flight and then hiking up and down those steep Lisbon hills. Yes, Lisbon is STEEP so bring your sturdiest pair of walking shoes and prepare to have sore legs the next day. Because there wasn’t too much time in my layover I didn’t want to waste time figuring out public transportion so I mainly walked everywhere hence the sore legs. In my opinion, walking is by far the best way to explore a new city and find out new things the tour guide books didn’t tell you about before.

Pro Tip - The last thing anyone wants to do when exploring a city on their layover is to have to lug their carry on luggage around. It’s actually what prevents many people from taking advantage of their longer layovers. Most airports actually have a Left Luggage storage facility in one of their terminals where passengers can pay to store their bags for the day. The Lisbon airport had one of these storage facilities so I paid $10 to leave my 2 bags behind. Bags are tagged and customers are provided with a matching ticket to retrieve their bags later. I would suggest leaving any valuables (like passports) behind, but I’ve never had any issues with using the storage option. It made my explorations so much lighter!

Santa Justa Lift and City View

My Uber dropped me off right in front of the Lift just as it was opening so I was able to beat the crazy lines of tourists that usually wait in front. Another perk was that the viewing platform was basically empty this early and I had space to take pictures and fully snjoy the beauty of Lisbon. While it costs 5.30 Euros to ride the Lift up to the platform, there is another option to simply hike up the steps and cross a bridge to get to the same viewing platform and then pay for the platform separately. This would be a great alternative if the line had been extremely long, but since there weren’t too many people there yet I chose to get the full experience.

Manteigaria Egg Tarts

Words can’t even begin to describe how DELICIOUS these egg tarts or pasteis de natas are. I’ve had some pretty good egg tarts in the former Portugese colony, Macao, as well as in other parts of Asia, but Manteigaria tops the cake. The creaminess of the inside of the egg tart matches perfectly with the crispy shell. It wasn’t too sweet, yet sweet enough. There is even the option to add powdered sugar! While the most famous Portugese egg tarts are located at Pasteis de Belem, the bakery is in the Belem neighborhood and it isn’t feasible to go there on a layover trip (unless I wanted to spend my entire time in that area) so Manteigaria was an equally delicious alternative.

Comercio Plaza

It seems like every European city has a giant meeting square surrounded by colorful buildings. Madrid has Plaza Mayor, Brussels has Grand Place, and Lisbon has Comercio Plaza. I arrived at the Plaza pretty early in the morning (thank you 7am flight) so the Plaza wasn’t crowded at all and it was enjoyable walking around and just soaking in the fresh Lisbon air. The Plaza is located near the waterfront and you walk under the Rua Augusta Arch to reach it. The Arch actually doubles as a viewing platform so if you have 3 Euros its an extra way to see the city. Since I had already gone up the Elevator earlier, I decided to skip this Arch.

Chiado Shopping District

Zara, Mango, H&M, Pull & Bear- you name it and its located along Chiado. While not as grand as Madrid’s Gran Via or as busy as New York’s Fifth Avenue, Chiado is still a great spot to look for trendy clothing and pick up some Lisbon themed souvenirs. I walked by Chiado on my way to Rue de Bica de Duarte Belo so even if you don’t plan on buying anything it is still a convenient walking path.

Rue da Bica de Duarte Belo

Probably the most famous and most photographed street in all of Lisbon. Its on all the postcards and magnets so stopping here was definitely a must! While I chose to walk down the steps instead of paying for one of the iconic yellow trams (next time!), I throughly soaked in the classic-ness of Lisbon this street offered. I felt like I had been transported back to old Lisbon with its cobble stoned streets, its outdoor cafes located on random ledges, and its colorful (but mostly yellow) buildings.

Comoba Cafe

I had no idea what a charcoal latte was until I stopped in Comoba , but it was definitely an interesting drink choice so I went with it. The latte actually tasted like… charcoal. The taste can’t be described any other way. Comoba is an adorable white themed cafe that is the perfect spacious spot to chill with a coffee and a book. It is located at the bottom of Rue de Bica de Duarte Belo so if you’re walking down the street, treat yourself to a cold drink at the bottom!

Rue Nova do Carvalho

I had heard there was a pink painted street in Lisbon, so naturally the pink lover in me had to go and take a look. Rue Nova do Carvalho use to be a seedy area of Lisbon filled with sleazy bars and prostitutes walking the street, but the government made a huge effort to revitalize and clean up the area but filling it with trendy bars and cafes and of course, painting the street pink. The street is a 5 minute walk from the TIme Out Market.

Time Out Market

One of my favorite things to do in any new city is to eat a variety of local foods. The best way to do that is definitely to visit a food market so that everything is more easily accessible. I’ve been an avid reader of the Time Out online publication for a while now and when I found out they had their own market with tons of food stalls in Lisbon, I knew I had to make a stop to eat and enjoy. The Time Out Market is located in a beautifully renovated former warehouse and there are several Michelin starred chefs cooking here. Since I was by myself and on a time crunch I wasn’t able to go to every stall I wanted to, but I for sure made a dent!

9 hours in Lisbon was simply not enough! Where else should I visit the next time I’m here?

Toast and Travel's Travel Hacks

I’m pretty sure every travel blogger has a list of their own travel hacks and maybe some of the items on my list are nothing new. But these are the hacks I use on a regular basis to travel efficiently and travel affordably. I hope you find them useful!

Plan Ahead- I usually plan how I will allocate my vacation days around the beginning of the year so I don’t run out towards the end of the year. If there are so bigger international trips I want to go on throughout the year, I want to ensure I have enough days for them. Planning ahead also allows you to book the activities you want to do before they sell out. Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam books up months in advance and if you end up with no ticket there could be a 1-2 hour wait to enter!

Use a Travel Credit Card- I know every one has the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but as a Houstonian I’ve found that the United Airlines Mileage Plus Explorer card is much more useful. Houston is a United hub, which means that most of the direct flights that leave are from United Airlines. These are some of the most efficient and affordable flights so even though I’m not a huge fan of United, I always end up on these flights. However, United’s basic economy tickets don’t allow even a carry on bag and on a 3-4 day trip not having luggage just isn’t possible for me. With the Explorer credit card, I not only get to bring a carry on bag onboard the place, but I’m also allowed to check a bag for free and even have priority boarding (thus ensuring that my bag always has space in the overhead bins). My card also reimburses the Global Entry $100 fee (similar to the Reserve card) and has an annual fee of $95 (instead of the hefty $450 that the Reserve charges). Travel cards aren’t one size fits all so finding the right one for you requires research and thought on how you personally travel.

Hotel vs. Airbnb vs. Hostel- All 3 accommodations are viable options when it comes to affordable travel, but the key is doing your research well in advance. The best accommodations that give you the most bang for your buck obviously fill up first. Hotels are not always the most expensive choice. Sometimes based on location and amenities hotels just make the most sense because it will allow you to save on other things like, transportation. Hostels usually appear to be the most economical option, but be careful, sometimes they are just as pricey as Airbnbs and offer a lot less privacy and cleanliness. The best advice I have when selecting where to stay on your trip is to research and compare and prioritize what you’re looking for. For hostels, I used the Hostelworld website to find the one that best suited me. I read a lot of reviews and looked at the location of the hostel and really focused on the cleanliness and safety of the hostel.

Check Flight Prices Often- Flight prices are a mystery to me because they fluctuate so drastically. The same seat can cost $99 one day and $300 a few days later. So once you’ve chosen a destination and maybe even a date, constantly go online to websites like Travelocity or Google Flights to compare prices. Using travel deal sites like Scott’s Cheap Flights or Escape Houston is a good idea as well.

Exchange Money in the U.S- Unless you have a card that allows you to withdraw from any foreign atm without transaction fees, you’ll need to have cash ready upon arrival. The currency exchange counters at the airports usually have long lines and transaction fees as well. I always have around $200 already exchanged at my bank in the U.S so I’m prepared once I arrive and not stressed about how I’m going to pay for things like cabs or food. Some countries (like China) are cash based so having a credit card isn’t going to be too helpful. Your own bank is not going to charge you transaction fees so you can exchange freely. Try your best to use up any exchanged cash before returning home- having to exchange your money back to US dollars devalues your money even more.

If you have any other travel hacks or secrets, let me know! I love learning and testing out new things.