Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
VRBO-Hot Springs Lake Home on Lake Hamilton
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OMG! Let me tell you about the best girls trip I've ever experienced. For my 40th birthday my girls and I headed off to Hot Springs for a stay at the most perfect VRBO. You can check it out at the link above or head over to their Instagram @hotspringslakehome.
We were obsessed with this perfect and quaint little lake house. From the minute we arrived, we were completely taken back by its beauty. Upon arriving at this cozy little cabin located directly on Lake Hamilton, I recall stepping out of the car, sunshine beaming down over a backdrop of calm waters. This home was extremely well kept, clean and fully stocked. Yes, I said fully stocked! There is absolutely no need to bring towels, hand soap, toilet paper or dishes. It's well appointed including 3 different coffee pot options, and even a washer and dryer, which I love because I was able to toss all of my wrinkled clothes in there instead of having to pull out a steamer. SCORE! Hot Springs Lake Home is 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, sleeps 6 people and is ideal for families as well.
One of the best parts of the stay was the view. There is a sliding glass door on the 2nd floor living room area that takes you out onto the deck. On several occasions we would find ourselves lounging there in the mornings for coffee, mimosas and a Bloody Mary or two. What a beautiful and relaxing site it is! One morning we even went down to the private dock to have our coffee and feed the ducks!
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Things to do while visiting @hotspringslakehome
I feel very lucky to have visited Hot Springs, Arkansas prior to this trip so I knew somewhat what to expect and truly have seen so much beauty there. This visit was in the thick of COVID-19 so many of the businesses & activities were still shut down, such as Bath Houses, shops, and restaurants . We literally arrived on day 1 of Phase 1 in this beautiful little town but we were welcomed by all the locals. If you have the opportunity to visit they have several must sees just to name a few:
Buckstaff Bathhouse- Full service spa with mineral baths, massages, manicure, pedicures and facials. The Buckstaff Bathhouse was originally built in 1911.
Quapaw Baths & Spa- A historic Spanish Colonial Revival-style building with spa services, thermal pools and steam caves located in Hot Springs National Park
There is so much to experience you will wish you had more time. Here are some additional options:
Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic- A magic show that is suitable for the entire family with magic, comedy and music.
The Gangster Museum of America- If you are into the history of gangsters you will find this so interesting. My husband and I visited the museum on our last trip and he thought this was really cool with some great insights. Back in the day Hot Springs, Arkansas was known for more than just their mineral waters but also casinos for craps & cards and Las Vegas style gambling before Las Vegas was around, not to mention a secluded hideout for the most wanted such as Al Capone, Bugs Moran, and other famous mobsters. You will dig deep in this museum and even see some of their hide-outs.
Alligator Farm- The farm has more than 300 gators and a petting zoo. You can get more information by calling 501-623-6172.
Magic Springs/Crystal Falls- This is a water park and amusement park all rolled into one. Their are more than 80 attractions that are perfect while on a family trip. We actually dropped the teenage boys off here while mom & dad went and did their own exploring.
For those who love nature this is the perfect place to fill your soul with beauty of God's creations. There are so many state parks to visit however we went to the one closest to us to take a hike.
Hot Springs National Park- From the minute you enter the park you are in awe of the beauty around you. We entered and immediately saw a spring that we couldn't help but dip our hands into. The visitor center was still closed due to COVID-19 however the park was open. As you enter there is a map that tells you the names of the different trails from moderate to hard, etc... We hiked our way up and will forever have these memories in our hearts. My girls and I had the best time and even had a Dirty Dancing moment pretending to be Baby as we laughed, sung and danced on the perfect log!
Buckstaff Bathhouse- Full service spa with mineral baths, massages, manicure, pedicures and facials. The Buckstaff Bathhouse was originally built in 1911.
Quapaw Baths & Spa- A historic Spanish Colonial Revival-style building with spa services, thermal pools and steam caves located in Hot Springs National Park
There is so much to experience you will wish you had more time. Here are some additional options:
Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic- A magic show that is suitable for the entire family with magic, comedy and music.
The Gangster Museum of America- If you are into the history of gangsters you will find this so interesting. My husband and I visited the museum on our last trip and he thought this was really cool with some great insights. Back in the day Hot Springs, Arkansas was known for more than just their mineral waters but also casinos for craps & cards and Las Vegas style gambling before Las Vegas was around, not to mention a secluded hideout for the most wanted such as Al Capone, Bugs Moran, and other famous mobsters. You will dig deep in this museum and even see some of their hide-outs.
Alligator Farm- The farm has more than 300 gators and a petting zoo. You can get more information by calling 501-623-6172.
Magic Springs/Crystal Falls- This is a water park and amusement park all rolled into one. Their are more than 80 attractions that are perfect while on a family trip. We actually dropped the teenage boys off here while mom & dad went and did their own exploring.
For those who love nature this is the perfect place to fill your soul with beauty of God's creations. There are so many state parks to visit however we went to the one closest to us to take a hike.
Hot Springs National Park- From the minute you enter the park you are in awe of the beauty around you. We entered and immediately saw a spring that we couldn't help but dip our hands into. The visitor center was still closed due to COVID-19 however the park was open. As you enter there is a map that tells you the names of the different trails from moderate to hard, etc... We hiked our way up and will forever have these memories in our hearts. My girls and I had the best time and even had a Dirty Dancing moment pretending to be Baby as we laughed, sung and danced on the perfect log!
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Captain Jack's Lake Cruise- if you are a water baby then this is for you. We wanted to take a boat ride but all the boat rental companies meant one of us would have to drive the boat. Are you kidding? No way Jose, we wanted to drink it up on the water and let loose so one of us driving was out of the question. To our surprise we found Captain Jack. He was affordable, fun to ride with, very knowledgable about Lake Hamilton. If you stay at the VBRO we stayed at he can pick you up from the dock as a bonus. $35 a person is what he charges and it was totally worth it!
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I hope this little travel guide to Hot Springs, Arkansas I put together for you has been helpful. I must say that the lake home we stayed at was the perfect location to everything. What a blessing! If you ever decide to travel to Hot Springs, I hope you look into this lake home. You will not be disappointed!
Texas Travel
Oh let me count the ways as to why Texas is such a great state. If only I would have started writing about these journeys much sooner. There is so much charm about Texas, you know that good ol' southern feel. You can find this from the food, to the people, farmers markets, festivals, wineries all the way to the bluebonnets.
1. Mommy/Daughter Trip to Gruene/New Braunfels
New Braunfels, TX
Traveling during COVID we weren’t sure if there would be much going on. Considering the pandemic is closer to the end stages (hopefully). Things are opening back up in stages but there was plenty to do.
We stayed at the Gruene Mansion Inn during this time. It was the perfect decision. I would say the only thing that has changed is that they are not serving breakfast during this time & there is no housekeeping. However, they did their best to accommodate us in other ways and if we needed anything they were only a phone call away. We loved this place. I told them I really wanted to have a tea party for my daughter in the room and they were sure to set up a tray with a tea pot , cups, tea, & all the fixings, etc. They even put some macaroons on the tray and my daughter was thrilled. We had enough tea to hv a tea party every day of our stay. Also they provided an electric pot to heat up the water so it was so easy. I live that they had a keurig in the rooms too with mugs, coffee and fresh cream in the refrigerator. My mornings were perfect. We stayed in the Carriage House and I could walk out side in the mornings sit in the rocking chair and enjoy my coffee. Then, at night it was even better to come back to the cottage step on the patio and enjoy live music and a glass of wine. It was absolutely perfect and O wouldn’t hv wanted anything else. The room had a queen size bed and also another hideaway bed if needed. It could definitely accommodate a full size family as well or even a girls trip. We also enjoyed walking around the property in the mornings and seeing the beautiful scenery that over looks the river. Let me tell you there are so many great features about this location that we appreciated. We were walking distance to so many great things from restaurants, to antique stores, boutiques, & my personal favorites were the wine bar & Gruene Hall.
We stayed at the Gruene Mansion Inn during this time. It was the perfect decision. I would say the only thing that has changed is that they are not serving breakfast during this time & there is no housekeeping. However, they did their best to accommodate us in other ways and if we needed anything they were only a phone call away. We loved this place. I told them I really wanted to have a tea party for my daughter in the room and they were sure to set up a tray with a tea pot , cups, tea, & all the fixings, etc. They even put some macaroons on the tray and my daughter was thrilled. We had enough tea to hv a tea party every day of our stay. Also they provided an electric pot to heat up the water so it was so easy. I live that they had a keurig in the rooms too with mugs, coffee and fresh cream in the refrigerator. My mornings were perfect. We stayed in the Carriage House and I could walk out side in the mornings sit in the rocking chair and enjoy my coffee. Then, at night it was even better to come back to the cottage step on the patio and enjoy live music and a glass of wine. It was absolutely perfect and O wouldn’t hv wanted anything else. The room had a queen size bed and also another hideaway bed if needed. It could definitely accommodate a full size family as well or even a girls trip. We also enjoyed walking around the property in the mornings and seeing the beautiful scenery that over looks the river. Let me tell you there are so many great features about this location that we appreciated. We were walking distance to so many great things from restaurants, to antique stores, boutiques, & my personal favorites were the wine bar & Gruene Hall.
LANDA FALLS PARK- we really enjoyed this park from places to play and trails to hike. If you drive down to the vet back of the park there is a swimming area where you can actually get into the river. The water was so cold but we did it and I would highly recommend water shoes.
Gruen Hall- Gruene Hall is also literally right next door. How fun is that? So you can go right next door to hear all of your favorite Texas Country artist concerts. (A Texas Historic Site for Sure) this is also kid friendly so that’s a huge plus. If you have too many to drink, have no fear you can walk right back to your room because there is no driving needed.
MCADOOS- Seafood Restaurant-$$$$ in down town New Braunfels was my favorite dinner spot we visited. Everything was absolutely delicious. The restaurant was gorgeous and the bar was even fantastic.
Boutique Shopping- there are so many great boutiques in Gruene and some are walking distance from the Gruene Mansion Inn. However, if you hop in the car and drive to there little uptown area there is my favorite girly girl boutique called Texas Heart Company you will definitely want to check them out. Also while in uptown there are many other shops, wine bar, cigar lounge, etc...
There is seriously so much to do while in New Braunfels/Gruene but another favorite that we explored was:
Natural Bridge Caverns - trust me when I say this is a must see from the Caverns with the new LED lighting system, to the Twisted Trails- zip rail and rope course ( a favorite for sure), they even hv a tot spot for the little ones, to the mining & much more... You need to experience this.
If you would like to know more about Natural Bridge Caverns new lighting system click below :
NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS UNVEILS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR TECHNOLOGY EXPANSION TO ENHANCE POPULAR “DISCOVERY” TOUR
NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS UNVEILS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR TECHNOLOGY EXPANSION TO ENHANCE POPULAR “DISCOVERY” TOUR
Ft. Worth TX
Where to stay:
Right in the middle of Sundance Square in Ft. Worth is The Worthington Renaissance Hotel. This hotel is decked from head to toe country chic decor. It’s elegance is beautiful and you are walking distance to so much.
Places you must try when in town
They have locations in Houston & Ft. Worth, they are an award winning Texas-based upscale steakhouse & butcher shop. This is a must have when looking for fine dining in Ft. Worth.
Houston, TX
Stay-cation
Trip 1: Modern B&B
Sometimes we just need a short getaway, but you don't have to even leave your hometown to feel like it's a vacay. You can always find something to do or places to go that you have never been before. We usually stay in a hotel but having a staycation we decided to try a local Bed & Breakfast. What a good choice that was, we really enjoyed our stay, This B&B definitely had a modern vibe just like its name. We were in the heart of Houston next to the museum district with so many places to visit and great food and of course night life.
After having breakfast at the B&B we did some local shopping etc... It wasn’t quite time for lunch but what I love about HOUSTON is you can always find something healthy. Right down the road we stopped at this cute little shop for my green juice fix called Green Fork & Straw it’s a fresh blend bar where you can also find cleanses, whole 30 food options, etc.. so glad we stopped by.
While visiting Houston I must tell you we also found the food truck everyone’s been raving about. Y’all...there is nothing healthy about this but goodness it’s soooo worth it. Mico’s Hot Chicken, literally this is the best food truck I’ve ever been too. Now I will say I Think all of HOUSTON agrees because the line was about an hour long, so be prepared. However, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Now for some fun.....The Present Company will never disappoint this unique restraint/bar is the perfect hangout. If your hungry they have a great brunch menu, all the way to dinner. I’m not sure what time the kitchen closes. However, this is a bar type atmosphere so don’t come here just to eat bc this is also the perfect place to drink. From the outside to the inside they hv the perfect patio with bright colors and greenery and the inside upstairs and down they hv chandeliers cool seating and again lights and perfect insta photo spots. We love it here
Galveston
Trip 1: Moody Gardens Hotel
We decided to do a 1 night stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel with our children. My husband works out of town so we didn't have a lot of time to take a full weekend stay but we wanted to have a little summer fun with the kiddos. Let me first say how impressed I was with the price of this hotel. It averages $150-$175 a night and for all that they offer it is totally worth it.
1. You can just enjoy yourself by staying at the hotel which is what we did the first day. - The pool is great for adults with a swim up bar but also they have different activities for the kids thru out the day. The day that we were there they offered face painting, snow cones, cotton candy, smore's, popcorn with toppings, & a movie by the pool, this was all included in your stay. They even had yoga in the morning , pool tables, spa and a gym.
2. The second day my husband wanted to go on a fishing trip with the kids so he hired a fishing guide who took them out on the boat from the marina and they enjoyed a full day of fishing. However, there is also so many activities at Moody Gardens that you can enjoy. You can purchase one activity all the way to an inclusive package from the IMAX to Palm Beach there are so many options. Not to mention, across the street is Schlitterbahn if that is something you would want to do with your family.
3. In the hotel they do have a restaurant that offers breakfast off the menu or from the Buffett, lunch and dinner. They also have a Pizzeria on the premises along with an ice cream shop and a full bar.
4. Also, I need to mention we have a big family but we had four children with us. They arranged for us to have 2 queen beds and they brought in a crib for my two year old and offered a blow up mattress if we needed. There is nothing better than a hotel who tries to fully accommodate families of all sizes.
We wish we had had more time to spend here. We definitely plan on coming back in the future.
1. You can just enjoy yourself by staying at the hotel which is what we did the first day. - The pool is great for adults with a swim up bar but also they have different activities for the kids thru out the day. The day that we were there they offered face painting, snow cones, cotton candy, smore's, popcorn with toppings, & a movie by the pool, this was all included in your stay. They even had yoga in the morning , pool tables, spa and a gym.
2. The second day my husband wanted to go on a fishing trip with the kids so he hired a fishing guide who took them out on the boat from the marina and they enjoyed a full day of fishing. However, there is also so many activities at Moody Gardens that you can enjoy. You can purchase one activity all the way to an inclusive package from the IMAX to Palm Beach there are so many options. Not to mention, across the street is Schlitterbahn if that is something you would want to do with your family.
3. In the hotel they do have a restaurant that offers breakfast off the menu or from the Buffett, lunch and dinner. They also have a Pizzeria on the premises along with an ice cream shop and a full bar.
4. Also, I need to mention we have a big family but we had four children with us. They arranged for us to have 2 queen beds and they brought in a crib for my two year old and offered a blow up mattress if we needed. There is nothing better than a hotel who tries to fully accommodate families of all sizes.
We wish we had had more time to spend here. We definitely plan on coming back in the future.
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Ignore our messy room we had 2 adults and 4 kids, its kinda hard to keep neat.
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Austin
coming soon
Dallas
coming soon
San Antonio
1. Trip 1 -Stayed at the Menger Hotel
You will not be disappointed
San Antonio is one of the cities that you just can't do it all in one trip. As I keep traveling here I will continue to add to this section and share different places. San Antonio has so much history, structure, architecture, depth, culture and charm. They stay true to their roots.
Trip 1: Mom Camp
As many of you know my husbands ex-wife Stacey and I have became dear friends. We finally decided mom camp was way over due since we have already had sleep overs why not have a getaway together too. I laugh at this because who would have ever thought. San Antonio is the perfect destination from Houston because its only a 3 1/2 hour trip with a Bucee's on the way ( bonus, we all love Bucee's) unless you take the scenic route by mistake like we did through the towns.
We found a great deal staying at The Historic Menger Hotel, which we were super excited about because this is the oldest hotel in San Antonio from the pioneer days. This hotel radiates elegance and a victorian feel. You will not be disappointed and the coffee is great. It was to cold so we were not able to enjoy the pool but it looked beautiful.
San Antonio is one of the cities that you just can't do it all in one trip. As I keep traveling here I will continue to add to this section and share different places. San Antonio has so much history, structure, architecture, depth, culture and charm. They stay true to their roots.
Trip 1: Mom Camp
As many of you know my husbands ex-wife Stacey and I have became dear friends. We finally decided mom camp was way over due since we have already had sleep overs why not have a getaway together too. I laugh at this because who would have ever thought. San Antonio is the perfect destination from Houston because its only a 3 1/2 hour trip with a Bucee's on the way ( bonus, we all love Bucee's) unless you take the scenic route by mistake like we did through the towns.
We found a great deal staying at The Historic Menger Hotel, which we were super excited about because this is the oldest hotel in San Antonio from the pioneer days. This hotel radiates elegance and a victorian feel. You will not be disappointed and the coffee is great. It was to cold so we were not able to enjoy the pool but it looked beautiful.
Things to do:
We rented a little scooter called Bird to get around town and this was so much fun.
1. We visited the Historic Market Square- a 3 block plaza, where you can get the best Michelada’s and some authentic Mexican food along with some great shopping and neat souvenirs. They had live music in the middle of the market where you can dance or just stand around and watch the entertainment. Oh don’t forget to take your picture with Elvis.
We rented a little scooter called Bird to get around town and this was so much fun.
1. We visited the Historic Market Square- a 3 block plaza, where you can get the best Michelada’s and some authentic Mexican food along with some great shopping and neat souvenirs. They had live music in the middle of the market where you can dance or just stand around and watch the entertainment. Oh don’t forget to take your picture with Elvis.
2. The classic Alamo- where you can take an actual battlefield tour representing the Battle of the SanJacinto during the Texas Revolutionary War that was held during the 1830’s. The first Saturday of the month you can see how they bring the Alamo back to life with costumes and re-enactments. You can also just go to the building for the great Alamo picture.
3. The Riverwalk- my favorite spot in San Antonio. The beauty down this strip has so much from hotels, to restaurants, bars, and shops. During the day it’s peaceful with the perfect brunch spots, etc.. At night it’s lit up and can be a romantic feel all the way to a party on the strip depending on what you are looking for. They have boat rides and dinner on the boat as well. You can book these online before your visit. During the holidays you may even catch a boat parade. You will always find something fun to do at The Riverwalk.
4. Visit a surrounding town like Helotes
We went to John T. Floore’s country store where if you check the schedule you can find a concert. They have so many artist who have played here even the great Willie Nelson.
The day we went they had a market outside where local vendors set up selling, makeup, clothes , natural soaps, antiques, etc. while shopping we stopped at the local Helotes winery, can’t go wrong they even have slushed wine in the summer months.
There are other surrounding towns to visit such as San Marcos, etc.. Next time I visit I will bring you more.
We went to John T. Floore’s country store where if you check the schedule you can find a concert. They have so many artist who have played here even the great Willie Nelson.
The day we went they had a market outside where local vendors set up selling, makeup, clothes , natural soaps, antiques, etc. while shopping we stopped at the local Helotes winery, can’t go wrong they even have slushed wine in the summer months.
There are other surrounding towns to visit such as San Marcos, etc.. Next time I visit I will bring you more.
As you can see there is so much to do in the great town of San Antonio.
