Because of the pandemic, every trip and cruise I had scheduled got cancelled for the rest of 2020. It has been at least 6 months since I’ve travelled outside of the Houston area. So we felt like a long weekend in Fredericksburg would make up for some of the experiences we’ve missed out on this […]
road trip
Packing Light: My Toiletry Kit
A short road trip with a good friend and late night wine fueled girls cruise planning prompted me to share not only packing light in general (you know I never check a bag) but more specifically, my toiletry kit. It’s small, packed with ALL the necessities, fits ridiculously well in between shoes in a carry-on […]
How I Pack My VinGardeValise DIY Inserts
Usually when we take road trips to Texas wineries, at some point we have to ask for a box to keep our bottles from rolling around the trunk or floorboard. But now that I have a VinGardeValise Petite wine suitcase (holds 8 bottles), which has been great for transport and to keep the wine pseudo-insulated from the Texas […]
A Return to Big Bend National Park: Lodge Edition
My husband’s favorite place to visit is Big Bend National Park in West Texas. Following a Jeep upgrade to the current year’s model (2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK Willys Wheeler), he wanted to christen it in the park. So earlier this month (January), we drove the 12 hours (yeah) from Houston to Big Bend for […]
These Are a Few of My Favorite San Antonio Things
Fun fact: San Antonio, Texas is my most visited city. I lived there as a child and consider it my second home, so I visit quite often. I love the culture, the history, and even the tourist traps. These are a few of my favorite things… What I Like to Do My […]
A Visit to Spicewood Vineyards
A road trip in Texas would not be complete without a stop at a winery. So on our way back to Houston from Brownwood after a weekend teaching geology for TPWD Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program, we stopped at Spicewood Vineyards near Austin for a visit. It had been years since I had visited this location, […]
My Week with Harvey: A Survivor’s Story
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey is the storm Houstonians will talk about for years to come. As a lifelong resident of the Texas Gulf Coast (born in Galveston, actually), I had come to realize at an early age that hurricane season is just a part of our history and our culture. I remember watching my grandmother’s corn […]
How I Pack My VinGardeValise Wine Suitcase
I’ve had the VinGardeValise wine suitcases on my wishlist for a very long time. I regret not buying one before our trip to Tuscany. And I really regret not buying it before our trip to Cava country in Spain. So when we got home from Spain in April, I ordered the VinGardeValise Petite wine suitcase […]
I’ve Run Everywhere, Man: Vacation Running
I would’ve never considered running on vacation…but gelato happens, so I suppose one must find a balance. I’ve been a runner for about two years. Even though I love my city (Houston), I travel as much as possible. Staying trained for races is what led me to run that one time in London, which opened up […]
Visiting Oak Alley Plantation near New Orleans
Usually when I visit New Orleans (read about highlights here), I drive there from Houston. An easy detour on the way there or back is a stop at one of Louisiana’s iconic plantations, Oak Alley Plantation. This antebellum plantation, featured in Interview with a Vampire, is as lovely in person as it was on film. […]