Air travel packing list for families with young kids

Hubby asked me to write up a packing list while it is still fresh on our minds, coming off our two week stint through New England, so I thought I’d share it with you. We’re fairly efficient travelers, taking only what is “necessary” and replenishing or buying bulky items at our destination. Please add to [...]

Riding the Capital MetroRail (for fun)

(Updated: Since the time of this post, Cap MetroRail has added midday service to their schedule!) It’s no secret.  I have visions of retiring in a city with a well planned public transportation system, where I no longer have to get behind a wheel and drive.  Austin’s bus system was great when I was a [...]

Vacation Rental By Owner

We just came home from a few days vacation to visit the grandparents, and in the past I have always used Priceline bids to save money on the hotel. This trip, we decided to try something different. We booked a vacation home through VRBO.com (Vacation Rental By Owner).  The website lists vacation properties with photos, [...]

Vacationing with kids is no easy picnic.

Oh, how I sometimes long for the day when hubby and I would (and could) plan a road trip to places off the beaten path.  We weren’t creature comfort travelers.  We’d find a clean, cheap motel, park it for the night, and drive another 12 hours the next day until we reached our destination in [...]

The Exotic Resort Zoo (Johnson City, TX)

The Exotic Resort Zoo is located in Johnson City, about an hour outside of Austin, and is 137 acres dedicated to protecting endangered species.  This is another fantastic day trip from Austin for families who love animals, up close and personal.  A couple of weekends ago when it was all too windy and cold, our family [...]

Day trip from Austin: Cameron Park Zoo (Waco, TX)

As much as we love the Austin Zoo for its mission as an animal sanctuary and the San Antonio Zoo, our children have picked the Cameron Park Zoo as their clear favorite. Depending upon where in the Austin area that you live, Cameron Park Zoo is likely no more than a 2 hour drive so [...]

Austin Duck Adventures

A month of thanks giving: I am thankful that I am living and raising my family in the friendliest place in the US.  I don’t care what anyone else says.  No one is friendlier than a Texan. We had family visiting Austin for the first time so we joined them on the Austin Duck Adventures. [...]

Packing Tips for Short Road Trips with Kids

We have just returned from two weekend trips in the past two weeks, and I never cease to be amazed at all the “stuff” that goes with us.  It isn’t like we are traveling to third world countries without drug stores, grocery stores, etc. if we forget something, but it is just easier to pack [...]

Cedar Park Center, central Texas’s newest entertainment center

Battle of the Stars With news that Tom Hicks would be bringing his sports interests to Central Texas for the last few years in the form of an affiliate for his Dallas Stars, it became evident that the Austin area needed a new venue for the hockey team. For years before, the Travis County Expo [...]

Day trip from Austin: Sea World (San Antonio)

Anywhere that is under a 2.5 hours drive from home is how we define the radius for day trips.  Because we are watching our pennies more closely these days, we are taking more day trips and fewer extended trips that require air travel, hotels, and car rentals.  On a whim over Labor Day, we decided [...]

Next Page »