A Coastal Getaway in Corpus Christi!

The famous sights of the "Texas Riviera" are the Selena Museum, the USS Lexington, the aquarium, the botanical gardens, and you just HAVE to eat at the two-story Whataburger.

However, since our family is so used to living close to the ocean (but it's five hours away from us now that we're stationed in Texas), we wanted to go a little deeper into "The Island" with this trip and spend as much time next to the water as possible.

What's Ahead:

• An affordable, pet-friendly, and waterfront Airbnb Recommendation that is a five minute walk from the beach
• Kid-Friendly Activities Unique to the island
• Island Restaurant Recommendations
• Stay tuned for my sample "Island" Travel Itinerary at the end!

Accommodations:

We stayed on "The Island" at Seaside Escape, a renovated, bottom-floor, pet-friendly two-bedroom condo. This condo has a spacious kitchen, updated appliances, and smart TVs in each room. It is located in Seaside Villas, which sits on Lake Padre and is about a five minute walk from Whitecap Beach (which is also pet-friendly). Whitecap Beach is one of the least crowded beaches on the island and is more of a locals' retreat.

The complex has its own pool, its own fishing dock, and your condo rental comes with its own boat slip if you have one to bring with you. There are also boat rentals, as well as golf cart rentals, easily accessible throughout the island. We've heard there is some good night fishing off the dock, and we had some luck surf fishing at the beach. 

We tried our hand at night fishing!

"Island" Tip #1 - Coming from the condo, there is a seawall that you have to descend down to get to Whitecap Beach. It is steep but climbable. However, if you walk further down the seawall, there is an access ramp you can use to get down.

Activities:

#1: North Padre Island Beach - I'm not sure if this is just foreign to me coming from the East Coast, but you can drive on this beach and back right up to the water!

North Padre Island Beach

#2: Red Dragon Pirate Cruises (Port Aransas) - I don't think you'll ever be able to beat sailing the seas with real pirates!

How to Secure Your Sailing Adventure:

• Everyone wants to do the sunset cruise, so try to book these 1-2 weeks in advance via their website. They also go out in the morning and again around lunchtime. 
• Make sure to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time to allow for check in. Parking is right in front of the office under the Red Dragon sign. You won't miss it because you can see the masts of the ship towering above the office, but parking is tight. There are three lanes between the chained-off area, and you have to pull all the way up and park directly behind one another. There are two tours that run out of the same office, so the pirate cruise desk is to the right when you first come through the door. They have a gift shop there too, so if you forgot sunscreen, don't worry about dodging traffic to get to CVS beforehand. No food or drink (this includes water bottles) can be taken aboard the ship. However, they do have a fully-stocked bar in the galley of the ship where you can purchase water and other beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). There are also "heads" (or bathrooms) on the ship that can be used while sailing. They are marine toilets though, so you cannot flush toilet paper down them. 
• The cruise is 2 1/2 hours full of wild stories and shenanigans, tons of piratical activities for the kiddos, fun pirate songs, and ALL the pirates. And don't think you adults are going to get out of it scot-free because they involve the parents too. I won't give away too much, but as it's easy to write this off as childish (we usually take more intimate cruises), I will say that it was worth it, and the kids had so much fun!

The Red Dragon!

I think most kids would love to be a pirate for the day!

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!

"Island" Tip #2 - If the Red Dragon is not right for you, you can take your pick on how to get out on the ocean from the Port Aransas City Marina, i.e. boat rentals, fishing charters, dolphin or sunset cruises, and/or sailing adventures. There is something for everyone!

Looking for dolphins!

Breathing in that salt air!

#3: Horseback Riding on the Beach - This is a Bucket List item for sure! I would book 1-2 weeks out on this one just to make sure you get a timeslot for your preferred date and time. We did the morning ride because the sunset ride is $20 extra (but worth it I'm sure). I think being on horseback is one of the best ways to experience the beach!

Riding the surf with Ringo!

Horseback Riding Tips for the Beach:

• This is a more advanced trail ride for the kiddos, so I would definitely have them on a horse a few times before taking them on this tour.
• Wear sunscreen, and if you wear a hat, make sure you have a way to secure it from blowing off (for cowboy hats, they will provide you twine with close pins at each end to attach one side to your hat and one side to your shirt).
• Wear waterproof shoes (I prefer boots), and my rule of thumb is to always cover your legs (I wear jeans) to avoid chaffing for you and the horse, but I've also seen people wear shorts and tank tops, so it's your preference.
• Be gentle when navigating your horse through the water, as the horse can feel where the sandbar is, and you don't want to cause an injury to yourself or the horse by jerking them off track.
• Respect beachgoers and never go in between them and the water. Also, keep an eye on your surroundings for anything that could spook your horse (such as a charging dog or a curious child running up to you). 

My kids are at home in the saddle, so they found this ride super exciting!

Riding through the water!

#4: All the Shops - When visiting the beach, we always try to stop by one or two of the awesome gift shops (which is why we ended up with hermit crabs in one of those "COVID-19 Splurge" purchases last year), but Corpus Christi has some of the coolest I've seen. From what is likely the biggest sandcastle in the world to a huge shark mouth you can walk through, these shops make for some awesome selfies!

Ocean Treasures Gift Shop

Roxy Quicksilver Reef Gift Shop

Restaurants:

The condo is right next to the Boathouse Bar & Grill. This place has an outdoor bar with live music, as well as a multilevel indoor restaurant with great views of the water. They are usually pretty packed in the Summer, so make sure you make a reservation in advance.

If you're heading out to Port Aransas for one of those cruises leaving from the City Marina, the Marina is the premier area to grab some grub. We ate at the Trout Street Bar & Grill, but there are so many great options that give wonderful views of the boats coming and going, as well as some of the freshest seafood on the island. Again, make sure you make your reservations at these in advance, especially if you have a sunset tour or something similar planned for the evening, because there is usually a one to two hour wait otherwise. If you're doing the sunset cruise on the Red Dragon, there is a restaurant right next door called Fins Grill & Icehouse, so you can assure you'll be there on time. 

Port Aransas City Marina from the Trout Street Bar & Grill

AND if you're a coffee fiend like my husband, there's also this really neat coffee shop made out of shipping containers near the condo called Island Joe's Coffee & Gallery.

Island Joe's

SAMPLE ITENERARY:

Friday -

• Begin the trek to Corpus Christi
• Once settled, pick up some healthy breakfast for two mornings and lunch fixings for your afternoon at the beach at a local supermarket
• Eat dinner at the Boathouse Bar & Grill
• Get in some night fishing at the dock or some night swimming in the pool

Saturday - 

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Head to the beach and spend the afternoon
• Head back to the condo around 2PM for some pool time
• Make sure you're dressed and ready to head out to dinner around 4PM
• Eat dinner at the Trout Street Bar & Grill or Fins Grill & Icehouse
• Make sure you're at the Red Dragon's office at least 15 minutes ahead of your 6:30PM sail time

Sunday -

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Check out of the Airbnb
• Check in for your 10AM horseback ride on the beach
• Hit up the gift shops on your way out of Corpus Christi
• Begin the trek back home

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

Have you ever been to the "Texas Riviera?" Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any Corpus Christi suggestions or tips in the comments below!

Living Large in Dallas - A Kid-Friendly Weekend of Relaxation!

Rooftop Dining at The Henry

My husband has been itching to visit a sauna since returning from Bavaria (a region of Germany) about four years ago, and I have been on the hunt for one ever since. Soon after moving to Texas, I found a spa with sauna about four hours away from us in Dallas!

I mean, where else would it be other than the "Big D"? Eighteen of the top wealth owners on Forbes's magazine's list of the richest billionaires live in Dallas, and buying a condo downtown will easily cost you a cool 3 mil. If any city in the U.S. would have an extremely lavish European-style spa, this would definitely be the place!

However, while stationed in Texas, we have no support system nearby, so that means no grandparents or aunts and uncles to watch the kiddos while mom and dad have some "us" time. Because of this, we have to get creative!

Parents are constantly stereotyped into where we can take our children. Whether it be Disney World, a beach with carnival rides, or state parks with camping and tubing, there are places we're "supposed" to take our kids that are acceptable and child-friendly. Well, we're about to break all those clichés with THIS post!

So how DO you take a relaxing spa trip with kids? Read on to find out!

The Roman Bath Sauna at Spa Castle

What's Ahead:

• An affordable and pet-friendly Airbnb Recommendation that is very close to Carrollton and Downtown Dallas
• A Kid-Friendly Day at the Spa 
• A Family-Friendly Rooftop Restaurant/Bar in Downtown Dallas with a glorious view of the skyline
• Stay tuned for my sample Dallas Travel Itinerary at the end!

Our AirBNB in Coppell

Accommodations:

We stayed in Coppell (a suburb just outside Downtown Dallas) at this adorable two-bedroom home that is super close to parks and restaurants. The community is so well-maintained that it made us want to MOVE there! It's right on the outskirts of Carrollton, so it will only take you about 11 minutes with traffic to get to the Spa. It is also about 26 or so minutes with traffic to get to Downtown Dallas. 

Spa Castle also has a boutique hotel attached to it called The One where you can enjoy an all-inclusive weekend immersed in spa. They even have this unique Loft Suite where you can sleep on one floor, and the kids can sleep on the other. We couldn't consider this option because of our dogs, but it sounds super appealing!

"D-Town" Tip #1 - Dallasites aren't really that snobby. The kids waive to you from their bikes, and everyone we met was super friendly and accommodating! However, there is definitely a different standard of living here, and customer service employees noticeably take extra care to make sure you are satisfied before leaving whichever establishment you are visiting. 

The Loft Suite at The One

Spa Castle:

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and they definitely kept their word with this spa! If you've ever been to Bavaria (Germany), Spa Castle is the closest U.S. equivalent to Therme Erding I have been able to find.

The Two Outside Bade Pools and the Hinoki Bath

Spa Castle has:

• Separate Bath Areas for men and women: both have Locker Areas, Powder Rooms, Wet and Dry Saunas, and Lounges - here is the step-by-step guide on how to traditionally use the Bath House (scroll down to the bottom)
• Eight Hot Saunas in an area called "Sauna Valley"
• Two Cold Saunas - there is one accessible from Sauna Valley and one outside near the pools (so you can move back and forth between the hot tubs and the cool air)
• A Swim-Up Bar with underwater tables you can eat and drink at
• Two huge outside temperature-controlled Bade Pools with jets to target specific areas of the body, and one smaller Hydrotherapy Pool inside near the bar
• Multiple Hot Tubs outside near the pools and inside near the bar
• A covered temperature-controlled Grotto Pool that makes you feel like you are inside a cave with a waterfall
• A covered Hinoki Bath made of 400-year-old wood
• Resting Areas to nap within the Locker Areas and inside Sauna Valley
• Aesthetician services such as facials, pedicures, and manicures, as well as massage, body scrubs, and hand/foot reflexology
• A Fitness Center
• A Café, a Sushi Bar, a Juice Bar, and a bar for alcohol and typical bar tapas
• They even oxygen-enrich all of the air inside the spa
• There are usually even more amenities available, such as a Full-Size Gaming Area with VR games, mini-golf, and a theater. However, this area is temporarily closed due to COVID-19. 

Sauna Valley

The Golden Pyramid Sauna (this was the kids' favorite)

Know Before You Go:

1. Any Aesthetician services or massages should be reserved 1-2 weeks in advance to assure you secure your preferred time. 
2. Make sure you grab anything and everything you need out of your vehicle before you head in because once you're in, there is no re-entry.
3. As in most traditional Norwegian or Asian spas, you must shower before you enter the pools and saunas. The Bath Areas are completely nude, so if your kids are not used to the European lifestyle, there will need to be a conversation had that they may see a naked body in the locker room or bath area. 
4. You are required to be barefoot inside the spa, and only bath shoes are allowed by the pool.
5. They usually provide towels and robes, but due to COVID-19, you must currently bring your own. Masks are required if you are moving from one relaxation area to another.
6. Everything is touch-free, so you can leave your wallet in your locker. They will provide you an electronic armband to pay for things while you're in the spa, and this band will also be what allows you access to your shoe locker and your main locker. 
7. There are very select places you can bring or use your phone, so we just took the opportunity to disconnect from technology for the day by also leaving them inside our lockers.
8. This isn't a waterpark, so kids have to be informed ahead of time that this is a place for relaxation. They can't be splashing around or cannonballing into the pools, and they must respect other bathers' space without swimming up on them.

Kids' Review: This may seem like a lot of rules, but our kids had an absolute blast! They love learning about different cultures and how they live, and my daughter actually enjoyed taking part in the saunas. This is such a great opportunity to teach them about the power of spa and how to use meditation and relaxation to care for your body in the overstimulated world we live in these days!

The Mystic (Grotto) Pool

The Swim-Up Bar

The Henry:

Eating at a rooftop restaurant is a Bucket List item for sure, but with most catered to adult professionals and partiers, it's difficult to find it a feasible option for dining with kids. Happily, The Henry is the exception.

How to Secure Your Rooftop Dining Experience:

• My recommendation is to make a reservation for the Bottom Level of the restaurant for your desired timeslot about two weeks in advance - these can be made via OpenTable. This is just in case they don't have available seating for the Top Level when you arrive (as you cannot make a reservation for up Top). However, don't be deterred with the lack of ability to make a reservation because as long as you arrive between 6-8PM, it's usually pretty easy to secure a seat up Top. 
• When you arrive, just tell the Hostess you have a reservation for your timeslot and let them know you would like to sit up Top. They will check you in, and then you can just walk straight ahead and up the stairs at the back of the restaurant. There is an inside area on the Top Floor, and if you keep walking straight, you will make your way out onto the veranda. There are adorably decorated booths, cute high tops, and tons of fans to keep you comfortable (as Dallas can get pretty hot during the Summer months). The atmosphere is lively and laidback, and the servers are wonderful. 
• The view is absolutely perfect and allows for the quintessential cityscape-dining experience. The kids can watch the jumbo jets fly past the skyscrapers while enjoying dinner off the kids' menu, and you can watch the sunset over the skyrises and the city come to life while enjoying bar tapas and local brews. We all had a blast and will definitely be back!

"D-Town" Tip #2 - All desirable Dallas restaurants book pretty quickly for weekend timeslots after 5PM, so I would try to make your reservation for any restaurant you choose about two weeks out if you can. There are two other well-known and wonderful rooftop bars/restaurants in the city: Waterproof at the Statler Hilton and the Gallery at the Canvas Hotel (these are less kid-friendly, but definitely two of the most famous in the city). 

Rooftop Dining at The Henry

SAMPLE ITENERARY:

Friday -

• Begin the trek to Dallas
• Once settled, pick up some healthy breakfast for two mornings at the Kroger close to the Airbnb

Saturday - 

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Arrive at Spa Castle around 10AM
• Leave Spa Castle around 5PM and head back to the Airbnb to change into something more formal for dinner, as well as let out and feed the dogs
• Head to Downtown Dallas for dinner at The Henry

Sunday -

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Begin the trek back home

(If you have more time in Dallas, there are countless other items you can add to this itinerary, such as Frontiers Flight Museum, the JFK Museum at Dealey Plaza, or finding more spots to see the skyline, but the point of this particular trip was to relax and feel luxurious for as little as possible.)

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

(In true Texas style) We fit in a Longhorn picture every chance we get! 

Have you ever been to the home of the Dallas Cowboys? Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any Dallas suggestions or tips in the comments below!

6 Do's & Don't's for Your Summer Weekend In Chicago!

View from Navy Pier

I'm not usually one for big busy cities, but give Chicago the chance, and it will absolutely steal your heart!

There is so much to see and do in Chicago for little to no cost, and the ability to walk everywhere makes it even more inviting. You could spend weeks in Chicago trying to hit everything, but what if you only have, say, a weekend? What are the must-dos? And the better left don't's?

What's Ahead:

• Everything in this post is located in the Chicago Downtown Loop!
• Each is walkable from the other and from whichever hotel you choose to stay at within the vicinity!
• All can be completed in 2-3 days for a complete and total immersion into ChiTown!
• Stay tuned for my sample Chicago Travel Itinerary at the end!

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

#1: Transportation

DON'T: Feel the need to rent a car. Just take a cab from the airport to your chosen hotel and walk from there. Parking is atrocious whether in the parking garage or anywhere you're trying to visit. If you're staying downtown, you can get almost anywhere by foot.

DO: Feel free to get a hop-on hop-off bus pass to help you get around if you're traveling across town. 

Windy City Tip #1 - Walking in Chicago is definitely part of the experience, and it will surely help you get in those steps! Just be aware that the cab drivers are crazy, and cars will run you over if you don't walk across the crosswalk quickly enough, so if you're from the slower Southern states, know you will have to pick up the pace.

View from the top of a hop-on hop-off double decker bus

#2: Skydeck

DON'T: Feel the need to do the Skydeck in the John Hancock Building. For the price you pay, dealing with the crowd to spend one minute in a glass box to take a selfie has never seemed worth it to me.

DO: Stay in a skyrise hotel. There is a huge range of hotel pricing downtown, so there is something to fit everyone's budget. Being a part of the skyline and seeing the city from above and below is one of the best perks of staying in downtown Chicago!

I can't recommend a specific skyrise to stay in right now because my favorite (the Carbide and Carbon Building) shutdown last year due to COVID-19 struggles, but thankfully, they have sold and plan to re-open sometime this year or next. This 1920's gold-encrusted Art Deco skyscraper has my heart! 

 

Hopefully this piece of history re-opens to guests again very soon!

#3: Tours

DON'T: Feel the need to have a tour guide while walking through the city. Everything is reasonably easy to find, and it's so much more fun if you discover the sights on your own. This way, it's your personal experience, as opposed to yours and 100 other people's.

DO: Take a Double Decker Bus Ride (the Big Bus is a hop-on hop-off bus line, so you can make your way around town while seeing all the sites)! The historic skyscrapers are worth the hype and definitely part of immersing yourself in ChiTown.

Windy City Tip #2 - Bring a jacket! Even if it's the middle of Summer, bring a sweater or a hoodie at the very least. They don't call it the Windy City for nothing!

This was late June. It was still windy enough to merit a thin hoodie!

#4: Food

DON'T: Feel like deep dish pizzas, hotdogs with seven toppings, and Italian pastrami sandwiches are the only way to "taste" Chicago!

DO: Eat at the local diners to get a real sense of what it's like to be a Chicagoan, and the most important food recommendation I can give you is Smith & Wollensky's for one of the best steaks you'll ever eat!

Windy City Tip #3 - Be aware that in this busy city, people are bustling in and out of these diners all day long, so don't be surprised when the waitresses start cleaning up around you while you're in the middle of your meal. It may seem a little rude to newbies, but they are trained to get you in, fed, and out as quickly as possible. They know you are busy and have important places to be.

This 14-ounce Cajun-seasoned filet mignon at Smith & Wollensky's was to die for!

#5: Millennium Park

DON'T: Skip Millennium Park. 

DO: Know that you can do almost everything in this park for absolutely no cost!

Points of Interest in Millennium Park:

• Cloud Gate (better known as the "The Bean"): As one of Chicago's landmarks, this is a mesmerizing piece of art to see in person!
• Crown Fountain: A great one for the kiddos, this is a fountain you can splash in! It's a piece of art showcasing Chicago locals in such an innovative and interactive way!
• Jay Pritzer Pavilion: You don't even have to buy a ticket, as the shows here are free! Or you can just walk by and waft in the melody drifting up from the extravagant orchestras that play this magnificent bandshell!
• Picnics are a must in Millennium Park, and you'll definitely get in the spirit by seeing tons of locals lounging around on the lush grass, playing frisbee with their pups, or reading a good book in the soft breeze.
• Lurie Garden (full of 2.5 acres of seasonal blooms) also connects to the park, and the park hosts Chicago's largest outdoor dining venue at the Plaza at Park Grill (the food is the only thing not free)! You can even take the BP Pedestrian Bridge over to Maggie Daley Park for a fantastic kiddie park, roller skating trails, and massive rock climbing walls! There's literally something for everyone! 

- Check out the city's website for even more info on the park! -

If you've ever wondered what the inside of the "The Bean" looks like...

#6: Navy Pier

DON'T: Feel like you have to spend a ton of money at Navy Pier! With the food (there are local restaurants and the chain ones, such as Margaritaville and Bubba Gump), the shopping, the tours, and the carnival rides, you could spend a fortune, but you can also enjoy the aura of it for pretty much free!

DO: Ride the Centennial Wheel to get 360 degree views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The beer garden with it's live music is also free of charge!

- For more info on the Navy Pier, check out their website! -

Centennial Wheel takes you up 200 feet in the air!

SAMPLE ITENERARY:

Friday -

• Land at O'Hare International Airport
• Take a cab from the airport to your skyrise hotel
• Head to the Navy Pier for dinner, drinks, and a ride on the Centennial Wheel

Saturday - 

• Eat breakfast at a local diner
• Head to Millennium Park for the day
• Eat lunch at the Plaza at Park Grill
• Hop on a Double Decker bus ride from Millennium Park for a tour of the city 
• Hop off at the Chicago Riverwalk to walk to Smith & Wollensky's for dinner
• Hop back on the bus at the Riverwalk to catch a ride to Grant Park
• Hop off at Grant Park to see the Buckingham Fountain light show
• Hop back on the bus to get back to the closest stop near your hotel (or walk if it's close enough)

Sunday -

• Eat breakfast at the hotel or another local diner
• Check out of the hotel room
• Head back to the airport for your return trip home

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

Have you ever been to the Windy City? Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any ChiTown suggestions or tips in the comments below!