The Cow Pizza & Spaghetti House
Interested in straying a bit from the hustle and bustle of Wanaka? The Cow Pizza & Spaghetti house has the perfect location for just that! Bonuses included, there are other shops and restaurant options if you are wanting to make a real night out of it! Please note
Water Bar Wanaka
Lake Wanaka is a huge draw for this area and for good reason! It's gorgeous and there are so many activities and places to go around the lake. One of the things we look for in a restaurant most is the view! If you're in an area
The Rabbit Hole
If you find yourself driving through Cardrona, New Zealand, in the morning, stop at The Rabbit Hole for a good cup a coffee! It is the perfect place to stop during the drive from Wanaka to Queenstown or vice versa. The Rabbit Hole isn't your usual coffee
Where to Find the Best Austin Plant Shops
In the summer of 2019, I visited more than 20 locations to bring you the best Austin plant shops for all of your plant needs. Here are the top spots in and around Austin for the best plants, photo ops and generally pleasant strolls through the foliage!
Where to Stay: A Wanaka Airbnb Review
Wanaka is a beautiful town on the South Island of New Zealand. It's gorgeous blue lake is just one of the draws to the area and a site many like to see from their Airbnb. There are tons of options when it comes to choosing a Wanaka
Wanaka Restaurants to Try
Visiting the South Island of New Zealand and wondering what all you can add to your itinerary? Well if you are wandering north of Queenstown, here are three Wanaka restaurants to get you through breakfast, lunch and dinner! The Rabbit Hole Now this first one is neither a Wanaka
Things to do in Sundance Square, Fort Worth
Growing up just south of Fort Worth, my friends and I hit up the "big city" every chance we got and especially for special occasions. Being one of the most walkable districts in Fort Worth, there are tons of different things to do in Sundance Square. Below
The Best Dallas Nurseries to Visit
Last summer my freelance marketing life took me on several road trips around Texas and Oklahoma. We were looking for super cute nurseries that were also the best in the business. I've rounded up five amazing Dallas nurseries that I visited in June and July 2019, for
Things To Do In Clearfork, Fort Worth
Clearfork is a great place to consider if you are looking for a new restaurant to try and is one of the “newer” districts in Fort Worth. Also good news, they have parking garages and street parking, so you know you’ll find a place to park. They
El Toro Mexican Restaurant in Clute, Texas
Is it even a real family vacation in Texas without some good Tex-Mex? El Toro Mexican Restaurant, which has several locations in Texas, delivered just that! The Food Travel Tip #29: Cup Over Bowl If you’re a tortillas soup lover like me, let me help you out. Order the cup,
How to Use an Incineration Toilet
I remember my first time using an incineration toilet, I was excited yet nervous. I can't believe I just typed those words. In May 2019, I stayed at Geronimo Creek Retreat in a glamping cabin and the half bath that came with the cabin was an incineration
Geronimo Creek Retreat Glamping
If you are searching for a glamping spot near San Antonio or Austin, Texas, Geronimo Creek Retreat is a great option! It would be perfect for a girls weekend, couple's getaway, family vacation or any other type of trip. Best of all, all of their accommodations are
The Port Cafe: Breakfast & Tex-Mex
Looking for a hometown-feel diner where you can find all your usual breakfast favorites? The Port Cafe in Freeport, Texas, brings you all that and more! Being a little Southern and in Texas, you can expect to finds some great Mexican inspired breakfast items on their menu
Cleburne Restaurants Open During Coronavirus
What a weird time in life we are all experiencing. I'm in a Facebook group for travel bloggers and someone came up with this idea of putting together lists of local eateries still offering carry-out and/or delivery. I've seen so many of my friends sharing places that
Unique Accommodations Near Auckland
Are you looking for a glamping retreat with a killer view of the ocean? What about a cabin set in the rainforest? Or, how about a tiny house set atop a cliff? If you're looking for any unique accommodations near Auckland, I've compiled a list of my
A Portable Blender: December’s Top Seller
As you may have read in Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Travelers, I had a portable blender on my "to buy" list for Christmas for one of my sisters. It seems others also had their eyes on a portable blender as it was the top seller for
Places to Eat in Iceland
I was able to sample a wide range of foods during my four day trip to Iceland. But before I went, I made sure to ask friends on Instagram what places to eat in Iceland they would recommend! I received a lot of suggestions and they were
Air New Zealand Booking Tips
Wether you're looking to book a flight with Air New Zealand internationally or domestically, I've got Air New Zealand booking tips for you. If any Kiwis have stumbled upon my blog, I'd love to know if you found these tips helpful and any tips you would add
Texan Travels Blogs: What to Expect in 2020
Happy New Year! If you're subscribed to my newsletter you may be receiving a summary of this post (and if you're not click here, I only email about once a quarter). Both to keep me accountable and to let you know what content is coming down the
How to Win The Content Planner and a Cash Prize!
UPDATE: This post was originally scheduled to go live 12/15/19, the Sunday after The Content Planner *officially* went on sale. Within eight minutes of the 2019 Private Pre-Sale, the Midnight Black planners were sold out. Then 12/11/2019, a low inventory alert was sent out for the Powder
Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Travelers: 40 Gifts Under $40
Are you having a Secret Santa party at work or with a group of friends? Well if the person you've drawn loves to travel, I've got the perfect gift idea for you! Here's a list of 40 Secret Santa gift ideas under $40. This list would also be
Skinny Leg Snow Pants: November’s Top Seller
As you may have read in My Iceland Packing List for Winter, I had the hardest time finding pants for my trip to Iceland. Mainly because I’m picky. I wanted some that fit more like skinny jeans, or at least some that weren’t so wide at the
Places to Eat in San Francisco
Reviews are so helpful when you're looking for a new place to try for dinner. But sometimes hopping from review to review gets tiring. Here is a selection of great places to eat in San Francisco with a little review of each! Now all you have to
A Random Collection of Things to Do in Denver, Colorado
Looking for some fun and interesting things to do in Denver, Colorado? You've come to the right place! Listed below is a collection of restaurants, bars, art and interesting city stops. If you're needing a place to stay in Denver, click here to view my suggestion near the
Top 5 Things to Do in Oklahoma City
This past weekend I had my 10-year high school reunion and found out one of my dearest friends moved to Oklahoma City this summer. We got to talking about a great restaurant there and it made me want to write a post about my favorite things to
The Best Austin Nurseries & Garden Centers
Since I am technically a freelance marketing consultant, sometimes my job throws me curveballs. But sometimes those curveballs come in the form of last minute trips around Texas! This summer I visited the best Austin nurseries you could hit up for plants, photo ops and pleasant afternoons. These
Iceland Budget for Four Days
This is a blog post I've been meaning to get together, but like so many others, it just hasn't come together. I have a similar blog post sitting in my drafts from my trip to San Francisco and maybe one day that will get done too. So
International Flight Scare: A Long Short Story
Our trip to Iceland started just as it should have, except it didn't. We woke up in Houston to find there was a major ice storm in Boston and it had delayed our flight to New York. As our original flight time of 11am crept closer, our
My Iceland Packing List for Winter
I'd just like to preface this post about my Iceland packing list for winter with the fact I started this way back in February 2019, worked on it again in March and am just now finalizing and posting in August! I've spent the last few months slowly buying
Girls Weekend: Fredericksburg Wine Tour
The first post of what I'm sure will be many in my "Girls Weekend" blog series! What could be a better topic to cover than a Fredericksburg wine tour? You can easily turn a visit to Fredericksburg into a weekend or day trip! Quick & Dirty: The Highlights If
Café Bustelo in Houston: A Pop Up Coffee Shop
Run, don't walk, to Café Bustelo in Houston, the latest pop-up coffee shop in Montrose! Here's the most important thing: If you want to try Café Bustelo's espresso-style coffee, you must get there by May 25, 2019! Café Bustelo in Houston: Parking & Lines If you've read about Café Bustelo's pop-up
A Great (and Quiet) Denver Airport Hotel
If you're looking for a hotel near the Denver airport, I've got you covered! This Courtyard by Marriott is only a 15 minute drive to the airport. And that means this Denver airport hotel is far enough away where the planes flying overhead won't disturb you! Please note
Top 5 Things To Do in Verona, Italy
Planning a trip and looking for fun things to do in Verona, Italy? Well you've certainly picked a great location, so here's a list of the top 5 things to do in Verona, Italy, to help flesh out your itinerary! Casa di Giulietta When we first arrived in Verona, we
2018 Year End Instagram Blog Review
Happy last day of 2018! I thought I would finish up the year with an Instagram blog review. Below you'll find my most popular photos from my "first year" of blogging on Instagram. Instagram Review: Top 9 by Impressions #1: Fishermans Wharf of San Francisco at Night Coming in with
10 Iconic San Francisco Landmarks
Are you planning a trip to San Francisco and wondering what you should see? Here is a list of some of the most iconic San Francisco landmarks to help you make your itinerary! But if you'd like to take a downloadable (and printable!) copy of this list,
Amazon Best Selling Travel Accessories
Looking for a last minute Christmas idea? How about one of the top selling travel accessories from Amazon! Please note some of the links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking
San Francisco Restaurants with the Best Views
If you are looking for San Francisco restaurants with the best views, you've come to the right place! San Francisco is known for having some iconic views and what better way to observe them than sitting in a restaurant drinking wine from Napa Valley?! Alioto's Restaurant The oldest of
3 San Francisco Hotels Under $200
Bloomberg Business reported in 2015 that the average hotel night stay in San Francisco was just under $400. After reading that number I got scared when I went to look for hotels for our Labor Day weekend stay. Holiday rates are always more! I found three San
Top Two Wineries to Visit in Napa Valley
Sometimes less is more. And with so many winery options in Napa Valley, sometimes it's nice to have them selected for you! Here are my recommendations for the top two wineries you should visit on your trip to Napa Valley! Napa Valley: Domaine Carneros If you're wanting to visit
A Morning in Muir Woods, San Francisco
If you enjoy being in the great outdoors and hiking, I highly suggest you visit Muir Woods just north of San Francisco! Before you go, be sure you have properly prepared for your trip as you do have to make parking reservations. I've included a couple of
Texas Gulf Coast Adventure
Summer 2018, the time of my Texas Gulf Coast adventure with 30+ members of my family! I've just recently wrapped up sharing some of my photos from the trip on Instagram, and wanted to share some of those here too, in case you haven't seen them. But
The Best Travel Gifts: 8 Gifts Under $25
Looking for the best travel gifts for your globe trotter? If you know someone who loves to travel and they don't already have these items, I promise they'll love them! And if they don't, send me a message and I'll send you my mailing address to send
Houston Hotspots for a Bright White Feed
Are you searching for a great place in Houston to up your Instagram aesthetic? Visit one of these Houston hotspots to assist you in curating a bright white feed! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj0-MKWBoM4/ Café Poêtes A french inspired café, you'll definitely want to pretend to be Belle on their bookcase ladder. Sadly, I don't
Grayton Beach in Florida
For anyone reading my blog who is not following me on Instagram, here's a look at some of my favorite pictures from my 2017 family trip to Grayton Beach in Florida! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jac • Blogger • Houston, Texas (@texantravels) on Aug
DIY: Pumpkin Centerpiece
A version of this DIY: Pumpkin Centerpiece post originally appeared on MitoGrow's blog at www.mitogrow.com/single-post/DIY-Pumpkin-Centerpiece. Are you wanting to create a custom fall centerpiece, but don't know where to start? How about looking to your garden or local nursery! If you grew pumpkins in your summer garden or are
Grotto: A Hit and a Miss
I hope you've arrived here after reading my harrowing story about securing our reservation at Grotto for our party of 25. If not, click here to read it and then come back! Also, if you're looking to try Grotto on a Tuesday during the summer, call! Chances
Matthews, Party of 25: Fine Dining Reservation
Have you ever tried to make a fine dining reservation for two, day of, on a holiday? If you have, then image trying to make a reservation for 25 day of, but just in the summer in a beach tourist town. If you're thinking this sounds easy,
Food in Freeport: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Looking for food in the Freeport area and wondering what in these small towns is worth trying? Look no further, here are three places to give you an option for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Breakfast 1. The Port Cafe in Freeport I had a difficult time finding an online menu
Cornelius Nursery Pumpkin Fest
This weekend (09/29/18) I attended the Cornelius Nursery Annual Pumpkin Fest. If you missed it this year, it's definitely an event you should consider taking your kids to next year! Travel Tip #15: Go Earlier in the Day This tip is great for multiple reasons: The earlier you go,
Dinner at Willie G’s in Galveston
Atmosphere Willie G's Seafood & Steaks is a nicer restaurant, but one you can still wear shorts to. If you are searching for a finer dining option in Galveston and have exhausted the same list of restaurants (link with list coming soon) that I did, call Willie G's!
Lunch at the Gypsy Joynt
If you walk into the Gypsy Joynt and are surprised by their eclectic decor, what could you have possibly been expecting from a place called the Gypsy Joynt? Atmosphere There is so much to look at inside, and my only negative comment I can say would be that it
Farley Girls: Best Brunch in Galveston
Update: It is with the utmost sadness that I share Farley Girls Cafe has changed ownership, menus and name. They are now known as Buck's and still have some of the same menu items, but I have yet to go try out the "new" place. Yup, you
Ahh, Coffee – Ahh, No
Occasionally described as a "hipster hotspot," Ahh, Coffee, was definitely that. But it did not leave me saying "ahh" in the good way. Also, sorry for no pictures! The lighting was pretty poor in the back where we were sitting! My coworker Arianna, a local coffee expert, enticed
The Place to Eat in Surfside Beach: Sugar Skull Rolling Cafe
UPDATE: The Sugar Skull Rolling Cafe has moved to Prescott, Arizona. To see my recommendations for other places to eat in the Freeport area, click here. To see my recommendations for Galveston, click here. I have regrets, such big regrets. When I first looked up places to eat
Multi-Family Vacation Planning on the Texas Coast
Are you searching for a great place to take your family on vacation to the Gulf Coast in Texas? Or are you undertaking a vacation more daunting, like a multi-family vacation? Well I have a great place for you to put on your list to check out
Eating Local Foods in Upper Kirby
I had never heard of Local Foods before my coworker and I were looking for a place to eat one day. We started Googling and searching Instagram for a fun looking lunch spot and I came across a pretty night picture of Local Foods in Upper Kirby. Travel
Murals & Shakes at FM Kitchen and Bar
When you look up FM Kitchen and Bar (hereon referred to as FM) on Instagram you see a lot of pictures of their cute mural walls, most notably the splatter painted wall by Mr D 1987, and their shakes! However, when you pull up for a late lunch,
Late Lunch at Tiny Boxwoods
You know when you see a place on Instagram and you're like "OMG, I have to go there!" Well this was my coworkers reaction to Tiny Boxwoods. Technically, I had already been there. Disclaimer: I will never be able to be a food critic or food photographer and
Disney, the Outtakes
Click through to see these girls all grown up! You may have noticed some of my Instagram posts for Disney alluded to stories not related to Disney
The Road to Disney
Are you a family with teenagers and younger kids, wondering how the two groups will like and remember a family trip to Walt Disney World? Ten years later, here's our family's take on it: The Parents Mom, age 35 Parents certainly have a different take on Disney world, and my
Lake Garda, Italy
As I sat down to write my first blog post in five years (almost to the day), I had to decide what trip or location I wanted to write about. SO, I decided on what was probably my favorite place that I visited when I went to
Dessert Gallery, Post Oak
Update (06/18/13): Apparently due to rising rent, Dessert Gallery on Post Oak has been closed. You can still check them out at their Kirby Drive location, though! Update (06/9/18): This post was moved here from its original place on my free Wordpress.com account. True to its name, Dessert
Potato Shack
Update (06/9/18): This post was moved here from its original place on my free Wordpress.com account. Known as “the original meal in a peel,” Potato Shack offers a variety of potatoes and other inexpensive food items. Conveniently located in Bryan, on Northgate and South Wellborn, Potato Shack is easily
