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My 7 Super Travel Shots

Today, I’m participating in Hostelbooker’s 7 Super Shots game. Here’s how it works: I was tagged by Wandering Educators (thank you!), and now I get the chance to share my seven favorite travel photos for each of the pre-determined categories. Then, I have the opportunity to tag five other bloggers who I think will have some spectacular travel photos to share.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane:

A Photo That Takes My Breath Away:

Hyatt Regency--Maui. Spa

When we went to Maui a couple years ago, I took a little time to myself and went to the spa for a pedicure. The view was incredible from the open-air relaxation room at the Hyatt Regency.

A Photo That Makes Me Dream:

Open Road, West Texas

I love the idea of road trips. I mean, I love the road trips themselves, but it’s the idea of them that really inspires me. This photo was taken in West Texas, on a very lonely road. Many parts of West Texas are so untravelled that you can drive for many miles without seeing another car. Something about all that open space really fascinates me, and I love the memories this photo brings back.

A Photo That Makes Me Think:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington

My daughter and niece were very respectful as we watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. I think they understood that this was a time and place for quiet voices, and I was really proud of them. Because my daughter is a military brat, we’ve had to explain some concepts to her that other kids her age might not be familiar with. We’ve talked about deployment, terrorism, and the people who want to cause others harm. We’ve even talked about death a little, mostly in the context of family members who have passed away. It can be challenging to find a balance between honesty and protection; I hope we’re doing things right.

A Photo That Makes Me Smile:

Two girls at in the Smokies. TN.

We’re fortunate to be able to go on the occasional girls getaway with other mom/daughter friends. Last summer, my daughter and I went to Great Smoky Mountain National Park with our good friends from Ohio. I love this photo of the girls laughing, probably at the expense of their mothers.

A Photo That Makes My Mouth Water:

Ubuntu restaurant. Napa, CA

The vegetarian restaurant Ubuntu in Napa features some very unusual dishes. This beautiful salad, complete with edible flowers, was as delicious as it was beatuiful.

A Photo That Tells a Story:

.

See those people on the lift in front of me? Those were my friends and I should have been on the lift with them. But somehow I totally messed things up when I was trying to get on the lift, and I ended up on a four-person lift all by myself. Nothing screams “beginner” like the chick in the rented helmet who can’t properly board the lift. Oops.

A Photo I’m Proud of:

Bright (A flower at the SA Botanical Garden)

I love this photo of a vibrant flower at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

I can’t wait to see seven travel photos from these fantastic bloggers:

Go Explore Nature
Family and Life in Las Vegas
Oh Mah Deehness!
I Backpack Canada
FlutieMcD

Our Last San Antonio Adventure: A Stay at the Omni La Mansión del Rio

I had been wanting to stay at the Omni La Mansión del Rio ever since we first enjoyed brunch there. The food and service were always excellent, so I had a feeling a stay at this river walk hotel would be just as wonderful.

When we started looking for a San Antonio hotel, I did a fair amount of research considering we’d lived in the area for almost three years. I was surprised how reasonable the rates at the Omni La Mansión del Rio were compared to other nearby hotels.

Our stay started off with the same kind of excellent service that we’d experienced when we’d gone to the Omni for brunch. The moment my daughter stepped out of the car, she received an Omni kids pack that included a magnifying glass, frisbee, and some small toys in a cute little backpack. She was thrilled…which meant I was thrilled too.

There were several things I liked about our stay at the Omni:

Location: Sure, the riverwalk might be a little touristy, but it really is pleasant when it isn’t too crowded. Plus, a riverwalk hotel allows you to be within easy walking distance of restaurants, bars, shops, and the lauching point for the river cruises.

Outstanding Food: As I said, I love brunch at the Omni La Mansión del Rio, but during our stay we got to experience dinner there instead. The service was impeccable. Although everything was wonderful, the appetizer is what really stood out to me. It consisted of three cheese puffs accompanied by sweet bell pepper coulis: one filled with zucchini and mint, the second with gruyère and comté, and the third with brie and sun dried tomato.

Cozy Room: I loved the room’s unique design. It definitely had a San Antonio flare that you don’t find at all hotels. It was warm and inviting, not stuffy or pretentious. Take a look:

Room Service Coffee: One thing I like about Omni hotels in general is that members of their select guest program (you can sign up for free when you make your reservation) receive complimentary morning beverages like coffee or juice. I’m hopelessly addicted to caffeine, so I like being able to have a coffee delivered to my room first thing instead of having to leave the hotel in search of a Starbucks.

Even though we liked this hotel, it might not work for every family. The rooms were descent-sized, but not huge. I could see this being a problem for larger families. Although the room could sleep four people, I think a family of four or more would feel confined in a standard room. Also, the pool is very peaceful and pleasant…perfect for those travelling without kids. However, the pool area didn’t have the kid-friendly vibe that you find at many hotels and resorts these days.

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay.

Note: All opinions are my own. I was not asked to write this post, nor was I compensated in any way.

Holiday Round-Up: Our Favorite Christmas Adventures

Merry Christmas, Alamo!With Christmas quickly approaching, I started looking back at past holiday-themed posts here on Wandering Off. This is such a fun time of year for families with the colorful lights, special Christmas treats, visits to see Santa, and of course holiday travel.

Here’s a quick collection of past holiday posts:

General Travel:

Holiday Travel with Kids: Helpful Resources to Keep You Merry and Bright

In Texas:

Holidays in the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

The Westin La Cantera Brings Winter to San Antonio

Texas Photo: Fredericksburg’s Christmas Pyramid

Red and Gruene

Free Holiday Light Displays in San Antonio

Elsewhere:

Tips for Visiting the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village

Christmas in July: A Holiday-Themed Hotel in Pigeon Forge

Now I’m turning it over to you: what is your favorite Christmas adventure that you’ve enjoyed with your kids?

Travel Mementos

We’re going through boxes this week as we prepare to move to Las Vegas. I’ve come across all kinds of items I’d forgotten about, and many of them have to do with travel.

I found the ring that I bought in Rome when I was 21 years old. I’m now wearing it on a daily basis after neglecting it for several years.

Ring from Rome trip.

I found the complimentary luggage tag that we were given at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo when we travelled there in 2004.

Luggage tag

I found the black bear toy that I bought for my daughter when we went to the Smokies this summer, and I found my favorite pair of jeans that have travelled with me countless times and are tattered to the point that they aren’t acceptable to wear in public.

Black bear toy from Smoky Mountain NP

worn out jeans

And then there’s the scorpion lollypop that I bought in Marfa, Texas. Yes, that’s a real scorpion in there. No, I don’t plan on eating it.

scorpion lollypop

We’ve never spent much money on souvenirs because it’s the little things–the complimentary luggage tags, the receipts written in German, the $10 t-shirts–that have always brought back the fondest memories.

What kinds of souvenirs do you collect when you travel?

Stingrays Up-Close Tour at Sea World San Antonio

The Stingrays Up-Close Tour at Sea World San Antonio offers visitors the opportunity to feed and touch stingrays, touch a shark, and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the park. Although it’s rare to feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth at an amusement park these days, we did feel like the cost of this add-on was reasonable. (The tour is $10/adult and $8/child, not including the general admission park ticket.)

First, we got to learn about stingrays, watch them swim, touch them, and feed them fish. My four-year-old daughter had a little trouble holding the fish properly so that the stingrays would take it from her hands. Overall, it was a really cool experience, even for adults!

Stingrays. Sea World San Antonio.

Next, our tour group went over to the tank that houses the white-spotted bamboo sharks. My daughter has become really fascinated by sharks, so she was excited and nervous for this portion of the tour. After my husband and I both touched the shark, E. found the courage to give it a try. (Notice her grip on my husband’s neck in the second picture below!)

Touching a white-spotted bamboo shark. Sea World San Antonio

Touching a white-spotted bamboo shark. Sea World San Antonio

I was really proud of E. for being brave. I’m sure the thought of touching a small shark doesn’t seem scary to many people, but I was glad E. tried something new.

The description of the Stingrays Up-Close Tour did not include our next two stops on the tour, so it was a pleasant surprise that we got to stop by the dolphin pool on our way out, as well as get a peek at a species of sea lion that is endangered. (The sea lions are being housed at Sea World at the request of the government, according to our tour guide.) These little extras–a few minutes watching the dolphins and sea lions–made the tour worth the money, in my mind.

The entire tour lasted 60 minutes. This seemed like the perfect amount of time for kids to stay engaged in an activity and allowed us plenty of time to enjoy some of the rides and other attractions at Sea World before we left.

Note: All opinions are my own. Tour prices and other details should be verified with the park before you head out.

Concluding Our Time in Texas: A Collection of the Best Experiences

Big Bend

Our two years in Texas are coming to a close. I started this blog the summer we moved here, and it has been fun going through previous posts to bring you this: the ultimate Texas round-up post. (Wandering Off will continue from Las Vegas. I’ll try my best to blog during the move, so stay tuned!)

Here we go: these are our best, weirdest, most memorable Texas moments…

Best Nature Memories:

Enchanted Rock: my daughter and I climbed a 400-foot pink rock.

Balmorhea State Park: I’ll never forget swimming in the world’s largest spring-fed pool with my daughter…and practically having the place to ourselves because we went on a Monday!

Pedernales Falls: Like Balmorhea, we felt like the only people there when we visited on a weekday in winter.

Best Big City Adventures:

Houston: a fabulous, family-friendly city. Underrated, in my opinion.

Ice cream in front of the Alamo: one of our favorite family traditions here in San Antonio.

Foodie Favorites:

Tre Trattoria: I love their pan-seared gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce.

Las Canarias: a great place for a special-occasion Sunday brunch. Oustanding food, but my daughter wasn’t so sure about the music.

Art Adventures:

Byzantine Fresco Chapel (Houston): a peaceful spot to see beautiful Byzantine frescoes right here in Texas.

Prada Marfa: a modern art installation located in the middle of nowhere. Try not to be abducted by aliens.

Weird Stuff:

The moment I realized I had become an honorary Texan.
Our run-in with the weirdest mascot in all of sports.
Our run-in with a ridiculously ugly duck.

Thank you so much for reading Wandering Off and for your thoughtful comments. I can’t wait to start this new chapter of our lives in Nevada, but I will miss this wonderful place that we’re leaving behind.

Happy trails!

Moving, Motivation, and the Post That Should Have Been

Sweet Berry Farm. Marble Falls, TX

Last week, we visited Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls, Texas. We bought a pumpkin, completed the corn maze, ate homemade ice cream, and fed some feisty goats.

That was how I was going to start my post on our outing to a pumpkin patch. But to be honest, I’m not feeling it right now. This is probably one of those things I’m not supposed to admit.

I’m sure if I do a google search for “blogging tips,” I’m not going to find, “Admit to your readers that you’re tired and are so bogged down in the logistics of moving that you just don’t have the motivation to write about your perfectly lovely day-trip to Marble Falls.”

But it’s true. I’m so fixated on organzing, packing, and finding kid-friendly/pet-friendly hotels along our route to Las Vegas that I’ve been staying up way too late and drinking way too much coffee the next morning.

So, you’ll just have to trust me that we had an outstanding time at Sweet Berry Farm. Don’t believe me? Go check it out for yourself! Sweet Berry Farm is located in Marble Falls, which is about 90 minutes away from San Antonio. Bring cash, sunscreen, and an empty backseat so that you have room to haul your pumpkins home.

p.s. Never fear! I’ll be back on my game later this week. I’ve got a great post coming up…a round-up of my favorite Texas adventures, two years in the making. Stay tuned.

15 Family-Friendly Adventures to Enjoy Before Halloween

Whether you’re travelling this fall or just sticking around your hometown, here are fifteen adventures that you and your kids can try.

1. Visit a historic cemetery. (We’ve explored cemeteries in Boston and Castroville.)

2. Pick out your pumpkin at a pumpkin patch.

3. Go apple picking.

4. Ride a pony.

5. Take a hike at a local park or nature center.

6. Bundle up (depending on where you live) and have a fall picnic.

7. Act like a tourist and take a carriage ride through downtown.

8. Go to the playground on a weekday.

9. Take a day-trip to a nearby town that you haven’t visited before.

10. Go to a state park and check out the fall leaves.

11. Go to a cave or other geological site. If you live in Texas, consider one of the state’s many caves or go the other direction and climb Enchanted Rock.

12. Visit a locally-owned coffee shop and have a hot chocolate.

13. If you live in Texas, consider attending the Texas Book Festival in Austin.

14. Visit the zoo or other nearby-attractions before they close for the winter.

15. Go to a football game. Bring a blanket.

On the Trail, Cibolo Nature Center

Happy Fall!

Around Town

An instagram summary of my weekend:

Sea World San Antonio. Azul

Guenther House. San Antonio, TX

Reflection in the river. San Antonio, TX

The river at work. San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, TX. By the river.

If you’d like to follow me on instagram, search for wanderingoff.

The Sweet and Spicy “Inferno” Cupcake

Not long ago, I wrote about a local cupcake shop called Cupcake Couture. I wouldn’t normally write about their delicious baked goods again so soon, but I had to share this.

Inferno Chocolate cupcake from Cupcake Couture. San Antonio, TX

It is the “Inferno Chocolate” cupcake, which consists of habanero chocolate cake and a raspberry cream cheese frosting. The sweetness of the raspberry frosting really complimented the spiciness of the cake.

Something about the unusual combination of habanero and chocolate reminded me of the Vosges milk chocolate bacon bar that I tried a few months ago. Bacon…chocolate…two of my favorite foods on earth. How can you go wrong with that?

If you try an Inferno cupcake, just make sure that you order a glass of water to go with it. Then come back and leave a comment telling me what you think! Too spicy, too tame, or just right?

Happy Wednesday! Thanks for reading Wandering Off.

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