Texan Institutions You Must Visit to Call Yourself a Texan

If you measure distance in hours not miles, you are definitely from Texas. This state spans 660 miles wide — a full 40% of the lower 48 — and in that space there’s plenty of room for variety. Here are the key sites, sights, and zeitgeists that make for the true Texas experience — and all the ways that people from here love to enjoy their native soil: taking in history, savoring local cuisine, raising a glass, buying things that only Texas does so well, and letting nature’s glory wash over us. So forget the Alamo (*gasp*), these are the locations that every real Texan knows must be paid pilgrimage.

To read this full travel article on all things Texas, visit Thrillist.

It’s no travel secret that Cabo is one of the best vacation destinations, especially from Houston, just a 2.5-hour flight out of the recently renovated Houston Hobby Airport or Bush Intercontinental.  For starters, the airport is clean and efficient; the flights are direct and affordable (thanks to Southwest, United and Spirit), and the weather and beaches are perfect.

But once you’ve decided on Cabo as your beach destination, where to stay becomes tricky with 60+ hotel and resort options, each promising prettier beach views and tastier cocktails than the last. Pending your travel style, we’ve narrowed down our list to two of the best Cabo resorts. If you want to vacation like Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Jessica Simpson or Jessica Alba, read on.

Are you a traveler who appreciates tiny details and the utmost luxury available —think butlers and a 3:1 staff to guest ratio where everyone knows your name? Could you spend hours upon hours on a comfortable lounge chair, with mister bottles, complimentary foot rubs and a good book? If so, the One&Only Palmilla is for you.

Are you someone who needs constant movement and music during your beach getaway? Do you need interaction with other guests and a night scene? If so, check out The Cape, where they welcome you with a bottle of tequila in your room.

One&Only Palmilla: Ultimate luxury

The kind of luxury and attention to detail guests get at One&Only is stuff dreams are made of. Even at full occupancy, there are about three employees to every guest, which means you’ll get excellent service around the clock. Service so supreme, even Jennifer Aniston and Eva Longoria vacation here.

One&Only Palmilla is considered the creator of the Los Cabos mystique—the resort

originally opened in 1956 as an exotic spot for Hollywood celebrities to hide was only accessible by private plane or yacht. The iconic resort reopened in 2015 after a full renovation after Hurricane Odile, and the luxurious touches are everywhere.

If you opt for transportation service from the airport to One&Only, the full-size and supremely clean SUV even comes with Wi-Fi – another hint of detail. You might not think that’s a big deal, but the drive in is pretty boring (just 20 minutes), so being able to check emails and send “landed safe” texts before you arrive to the resort is key. So then you can bask in paradise.

One&Only has Pelican Beach — one of the only swimmable beaches in Cabo. You’ll also be greeted with a beach concierge, free bottled water and misting bottles and top-notch service. Two free-form pools offer breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez.

For ultimate relaxation, spend an afternoon at the Vista Pool, the adult-only infinity-edge pool where a pool concierge comes by to clean your sunglasses and even offer complimentary foot massages. Add a signature Serrano Margarita to your afternoon and you’re officially on vacation mode, partying like a celebrity.

The top five suites come with a dedicated butler and your own iPhone to stay in touch with him throughout your stay as well as your own personal golf cart and driver.

Guests in any of the oceanfront suites or private villas enjoy a taste of a signature tequila  — Atalaje Reposado — made exclusively for the hotel and served in a terra cotta carafe with shot glasses and fresh limes and sea salt, just one of the many amenities your butler provides.

SEARED, the brand-new on-site steakhouse, offers such items as Kobe Tomahawk, grass fed New York Strip and Porterhouse, all displayed in a glass-walled meat cellar with a dry-edge curing room. The menu from noted chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten wows guests with unique dishes along with an extensive wine list, including local favorites and a dedicated wine sommelier to help find your new favorite.

The 22,000-square-foot spa offers a sense of seclusion with signature treatments in a private villa. You’ll need the relaxing afternoon after partaking in an afternoon of surf lessons with TropicSurf, the pioneer of “luxury surfing” – the same safe place where Matt Stafford and a few other NFL big names recently took lessons.

Another add-on luxury service is the 95-foot, four-cabin, luxury Catari Yacht. An on board culinary team is available to prepare tailored menus accompanied by the perfect margarita.

Upon departure, there are at least five staff sending you off. But as you drive away, you can’t help feel you were just voted off the island in some luxurious reality show, knowing others are still enjoying the best vacation you ever had. You will return, you repeat over and over.

The Cape, a Thompson Hotel: Trendy, sleek, and modern

The Cape is so modern that it graced the cover of Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List” May 2016 issue.  The coveted property is situated in front of The Golden Arch, the distinctive Cabo landmark in a rock formation that erupts from the sea at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

The resort is a sophisticated and new way to experience Cabo, taking in all the views, especially from the rooftop lounge and garden, which offers two open-air bars and is the only rooftop lounge in the area. The luxury hotel has two pools, but the one “to be seen at” is the infinity pool, which includes a swim-up bar and complimentary (first-come, first-served) cabanas with perfect views of Monuments Beach, the world-renowned surfers’ paradise.

Manta, the on-site restaurant, offers a diverse array of chef-driven food and beverage destinations (think homemade tortillas and locally sourced seafood) overseen by the award-winning executive chef Enrique Olvera, who studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.

Guest rooms offer beachfront terraces with beautifully decorated hanging daybeds, making it the perfect spot to sip your morning coffee or partake in a few tequila shots before getting the night started. Speaking of tequila, all guests are welcomed with a custom tequila amenity, a 750ml hand-etched crystal bottle of Realeza Mexicana 100 percent blue agave tequila, produced and bottled exclusively for The Cape.

With the open-air lobby, checkout becomes a sad day looking down at all the beach and pool lovers still soaking up the sun (and tequila) in their personal cabanas. As you leave the resort, you’ll wonder why you didn’t book a longer stay.

This article originally ran in the travel section of Houston’s Culture Map. 

The ultimate guide for fun, frolic and wine in and around Fredericksburg, pack your bags

There are so many great places in Texas to stop for a long weekend, an overnight visit, or an extended stay. Too many to count, really. But Fredericksburg is one of those towns that is a must-visit on any Texans list of travels.

Located about 240 miles west of Houston (70 miles north of San Antonio) sits the town most known for hosting great bachelorette parties and romantic weekends, mostly thanks to Wine Road 290. This luscious route has 15 Texas wineries along the famed highway and Fredericksburg alone has 45 wineries, and it is the #2 wine destination in all of America. If #1 is in California, you’ll see that makes Fredericksburg #1 in the entire state.

If you’re thinking your significant other or travel companion isn’t into wine, so this trip is out of question, think again. With places like Hye and unique varieties like a whiskey chardonnay at Six Cellar Shooters, it truly has something for everyone. If you’re still not sold, check out the Texas Hill Country Beer Trail, which is packed with independent breweries (more than 20) offering unique tasting rooms, sample flights and growlers to take home.

A favorite is Fat Ass Ranch Winery, which usually has live music, a taco truck and offers frozen sangria and peach sweet tea (infused with wine, perfect for summertime). If you’re a red wine drinker, check out the Texas Red, which is a blend of six Texas grapes. (If you do a tasting, it’s on both the standard and dry tasting menu, so you won’t miss it.) According to many, the cabernet tastes like steak. The winery has a fun outdoor area with adorable seating and horseshoes to keep you entertained.

Another great winery is Hilmy, which is considered a working farm, where they use all their animals to prevent using pesticides. They give much bigger tasting pours than most other wineries and are extremely informative not only on wine but also with tips on where to hang out while in town. If you’re new to wine, this is an incredibly educational tasting, just ask for Ace.

Since we’re on the topic of adult beverages, you should know that “Sidewalk Consumption” is legal in Fredericksburg (specifically Main Street). Many of the tasting rooms and local spots even offer a “to go” cup, so you can bounce around to different venues and shops and not feel stuck in the same place.

Let Them Do the Driving

If you plan to hit up the wineries further away (which you most definitely should), use caution driving. Majesty Wine Tours is a locally owned and operated service that will take you and your group to a few of the best wineries, get you there safely, provide insight into the area and even give you a snack during your afternoon. It’s the perfect combination of “let’s make new best friends” and having solo time you can spend with your wine tasting buddy. Scout out a few of your favorites, then come back the next day for more.

Back in town, El Milagro is a great place to hang after dinner on Friday (though they do serve food) with live music and great margaritas and wine. It’s outdoor and usually has a cool breeze and is super casual. It gets pretty crowded, so be prepared to share your table.

Luckenbach is an absolute must while in the area. Missing this spot would be like traveling all the way to Paris for the first time and not stopping for a quick glance at the Eiffel Tower. It’s unheard of. The Dance Hall/Bar/General Store has live music daily. We got to catch our favorite Texas country star Bart Crow Band. And you never know who’ll show up. (Pro tip: They don’t have Uber in Fredericksburg, but Majesty Tours will get you there and back for $15 per person).

Another can’t miss are the peaches during the summertime. Summer in the Texas Hill Country means peach season with a plethora of bountiful peach orchards anxiously awaiting pickers. You’ll see many popular roadside stands throughout the summer and won’t be able to resist the temptation.

Where to Stay

Fredericksburg is home to more than 900 guesthouses and Bed & Breakfast places. B&B complexes have become popular in the area, some of the most popular include Sugarberry Inn, Hoffman Haus, Splendid Inn, Blacksmith Quarters, and Cotton Gin Village. And the “Sunday House” style cottages are unique to Fredericksburg: Sunday Haus Cottages at the Fredericksburg Herb Farm, Metzger Sunday House. The 1894 Private Pullman Palace Car is definitely a unique place to stay!

If you’re looking for something slightly more traditional, check out the Inn on Barons Creek, which is just blocks from Main Street, so you can easily park your car and walk around. The Inn also has a spa, a heated pool and a full breakfast bar, complimentary for guests.

Get Outdoors (Yes, even in the summertime) 

A huge attraction while in the area is Enchanted Rock, a state natural area with breath-taking views — although it’s a tough climb. Go early (take water!), because it gets so full that they often stop allowing people up at a certain time. It’s a short but magnificent trek up the rock’s summit, providing some of the most beautiful views of Texas Hill Country. Take your camera.

Also check out Lyndon B. Johnson’s State Park, offering a variety of activities (hint: you should pack a picnic!). You can fish or wade in the Pedernales River, go on a hike or take a guided tour. Any area of the Pedernales River is a good time and sort of a hidden gem.

A weekend in Fredericksburg will re-ignite the passion you have for all things Texas, guaranteed.

This article originally ran in the travel section of Culture Map. 

Everything you need to know about arranging the perfect Belize vacation

If there were ever a destination that was trending, especially from Houston, Belize would be that spot right now. And for good reason.

Belize is just a quick 2.5-hour flight from Houston, out of either airport. (If you’ve seen the new Southwest billboards scattered around Houston encouraging international travel out of the newly remodeled Houston Hobby Airport, you know how easy it is to get to Belize now.) Everything is fairly affordable, making it one of the hotspots for Houston travelers, especially for a quick weekend getaway.

Belize lies on the east coast of Central America in the heart of the Caribbean Basin, and is one of those destinations that requires a little extra work, but it’s worth it. There aren’t hotel chains and all-inclusive resorts to help make the booking and logistical stuff easier, but rest assured that’s a good thing. Although it’s becoming more Americanized every day, there is still much of Belize that remains authentic, giving you the best of both worlds, literally. It also happens to be the only country in Central America where English is the official language, so travelers weary of language barriers can flourish here.

As someone who has traveled to Belize quite a few times, I’ve learned several common misconceptions about Belize. And I have a few tips for the savvy traveler.

For starters, as quick, easy and cheap as the ads make it sound, getting to destinations beyond

Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE), which is where you’ll fly directly to from Houston, will cost a little more money and time (not just the 2.5-hour flight advertised). Upon reaching BZE, most travelers venture on to various destinations such as Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) or Caye Caulker by way of a small prop plane by way of Maya Island Air or Tropic Air (which offer excellent views of the beautiful water).

Pretty much anywhere you travel in Belize, you’ll want to – no scratch that – need to, be on the water. Being on an island is great and wonderful but finding yourself in your hotel pool staring into the crystal clear water just yards away will make you wish you did more research before booking your flight on a mobile app the night before. My vote is for Ambergris Caye in San Pedro.

Many traveling to Belize assume it’s a lot like Cozumel or Punta Cana with amazing infinity pools overlooking white sandy beaches and easy access to the water, but that isn’t the case.

Take San Pedro for instance. There are some very nice hotels (nicer ones include Victoria House and The Phoenix), but they aren’t built for guests to spend their entire vacation on their small private sectioned off beaches and tiled pools. Although beautiful and relaxing (and some far from all the action, like Matachica), your pools won’t offer swim-up bars and partying guests. In fact, most of the resorts have a limited number of chairs and hammocks specifically for guests, since it’s an island meant to be seen on the water.

Keeping costs down

As affordable as the flights may be, costs quickly add up booking a few water activities during your stay. I spoke with a few locals and business owners, and the best way to get the most affordable cost is to negotiate all your activities up front. Again, this is why just getting there and going with the flow isn’t necessarily the best option for this particular destination.

For example, I worked out a three-day deal with Belize Parasail (located on Fido’s Dock, which is a great meeting spot for friends or to grab a drink and late lunch). Booking it all together and being up for various adventures really got the price down. One day we went fishing and then took the boat to a private island where the captain cooked the fish we caught while we frolicked around in the beautiful blue ocean. Another day we went parasailing, and another day we went wakeboarding. (Belize Parasail is the only place to offer wakeboarding in the area). Booking them all with the same outlet helped keep it affordable, plus you get the luxury of getting to know the staff, which is key to spending a good week in Belize.

Pretty much all of San Pedro is walkable, so you won’t need a rental car. Taxis are very affordable (and negotiable) and will usually run about $5 – $10, and many get around San Pedro by way of water taxi.

A few tips:

·      Speaking of tips, it is customary to tip your captains and guides during your adventure. Most say either $20 or 20% of the trip is sufficient, but the people are so nice, they will appreciate any monetary acknowledgement. This has become a common question for travel etiquette.

·      Don’t get sticker shock. About 95% of the prices you see will be in Belize and two Belize dollars equal one U.S. dollar.

·      Bring cash. Every place in Belize requires the tab be at least 25 Belize dollars to use a credit card, so for a quick drink or snack, you’ll want cash. They also take U.S. dollars so no need to convert, but make sure to convert or use your Belize money before getting to the airport. I’ve yet to find a place that will change Belize money back to the dollar.

·      Go during lobster season, which typically runs February through July. I haven’t been yet, but that’s all I hear anyone talk about is how amazing lobster season in Belize is.

·      Keep it casual. Belize is a super casual and comfortable spot. You’ll rarely see girls in heels and guys in anything other than a T-shirt or polo and shorts.

·      Like all island destinations, be prepared. Temperatures can drop, rain can fall and wind can pick up – for days at a time.

My preferred itinerary in a nutshell:

Fly Southwest from Houston Hobby Airport to BZE.

Take Maya Island Air to San Pedro/Ambergris Caye.

Stay at The Phoenix Hotel (ranges $325 – $525).

Massage on the beach (in a little hut, with certified therapists) and forego the typical spa scene.

Book an all day private trip (ask for the “everything package”) with Belize Parasail, on Fido’s Dock.

Take a day trip via water taxi (many hotels and resorts offer private water taxis) to Caye Caulker.

Eat (Blue Water Hotel), drink (Palapa Bar & Truck Stop) and relax (everywhere).

Bonus: Although airfare at Southwest and Maya Island Air is non-refundable, tickets can be reused (Southwest up to a year and Maya Island up to six months), without any penalties or change fees, so travelers don’t have to feel locked into particular dates if plans change.

This article originally ran in the travel section of Culture Map.