McAllen, Texas: An Unexpected Foodie Destination

McAllen, Texas has become an unexpected culinary incubator in southern Texas- melding traditional Tex Mex & Mexican cuisine with a Texan twist on the farm to table dining experience...

This post was created in partnership with Visit McAllen. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

When I traveled to to the city of McAllen in the southern tip of Texas last November, I expected to find some amazing local Tex Mex & Mexican restaurants. After all, McAllen is located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, just a short 10 minute drive from the Mexican border. And while I did sample some amazing traditional Tex Mex fare during my stay, I was truly surprised by the number of restaurants in this city that had embraced the farm to table concept in new, exciting, & delicious ways. 

I was introduced to a bodega that proudly cures it's own meats. To a restaurant & bar in the New American style of dining that prides itself on it's cocktails inspired by locally sourced ingredients. To a wine bar & bistro that is redefining fine dining in the Rio Grande Valley area by bringing the freshness of the valley to each and every one of their dishes. 

The local food scene of McAllen, Texas definitely far surpasses the expectations that you may have of a just north of the border Texan city. This bustling metropolis, which attracts about 18 million visitors each year, has become somewhat of a culinary incubator- melding traditional Tex Mex & Mexican cuisine with a Texan twist on the farm to table dining experience...

Experience a Taste of Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas

The city of Amarillo, Texas embodies the very essence & spirit of Route 66 with its quirky roadside stops & historical sites...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Amarillo. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I think many Americans and foreign tourists alike share the dream of one day traveling the entire length of the historic & iconic Route 66. It is one of those bucket list items. The ultimate American road trip. A journey back to a simpler time when Cadillacs ruled the roads & families packed up the station wagon or camper to head out west for the annual family vacation.

But the nearly 2,450 mile drive from Chicago to Santa Monica can seem a bit daunting at first. This trip can take you weeks round trip, especially if you stop often to take in the quirky & iconic roadside attractions along the way. I mean, what's the point of making the epic Route 66 journey if you aren't going to actually going to make the time to experience everything this nostalgic highway has to offer?

If weeks of paid vacation time is not something that you currently have the luxury of possessing, but you are itching to get a taste of Route 66 then a trip to Amarillo, Texas is definitely the cure for what ails you. ;) Amarillo happens to be the largest city along the 178 mile stretch of Route 66 from Oklahoma to New Mexico. And even though only a little over a mile of the Mother Road runs through the historic district of Amarillo, the city embodies the very essence of Route 66 with its quirky roadside stops & historical sites...

Why Grapevine, Texas Should Be on Your Holiday Travel List

If you haven't considered Grapevine, Texas as a family holiday destination before, then you definitely need to check out these reasons why the Christmas Capitol of Texas should be at the top of your holiday travel list...

This post was created in partnership with GrapevineTexasUSA. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When it comes to making travel plans for the holidays, I know that Texas may not be the first destination that comes to mind. I mean, we usually think of snow and maybe a cabin with a roaring fireplace in the mountains when we start thinking about planning an escape from the usual Christmas festivities. 

But today I am going to share with you all the very reason why the Lone Star state should be at the top of your holiday destination list this year- Grapevine, aka the Christmas Capitol of Texas! 

I had the pleasure of visiting Grapevine near the beginning of last month just as they had started to gear up for their annual 40+ days of over 1400 holiday events. The entire historic downtown area had been transformed into a festive wonderland of lights, wreaths, & evergreen garlands. 

All the shops along Main Street were already getting into the swing of the hustle & bustle of holiday shopping. And this was during the first week in November, folks. 

Grapevine doesn't play when it comes to Christmas. I mean, you certainly don't earn the title of the Christmas Capitol of Texas by not going all in, am I right? ;)

There are hundreds of reasons why Grapevine, Texas is the perfect family holiday vacation spot, but I can't possibly cover them all in this post. You all might be reading this for days if I did attempt that. 

However, I will share with you all my top picks of what to do when visiting Grapevine with your family during the months of November & December starting with my personal favorite- a visit to the Gaylord Texan Resort... 

A Foodie's Guide to Magnolia Market

Magnolia Market isn't just for the DIY addicts & HGTV fans. With a delectable bakery & food truck park, this market in Waco, Texas is a must-visit destination for foodies too...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

I will be the first to admit it- I don't watch HGTV all that often, and I have never caught an entire episode of Fixer Upper. (I know- GASP, right?) 

I mean, I know who Chip & Joanna are. I have seen parts of Fixer Upper a few times (my parents are HGTV addicts & love the show, so I have caught bits & pieces of it when visiting them). 

So when I tacked on the day excursion to Magnolia Market with my ticket to the Indulge Conference earlier this month, it wasn't because I am a fan girl or wanted to make the ultimate DIY pilgrimage to the home decor mecca of Texas. I wanted to go for one reason & one reason only- the food, folks. ;)

While the food was my main goal of visiting Magnolia Market, I came away with an unexpected fun & laid back experience as well. There is much more to Magnolia Market than just the food. And home decor & DIY inspiration is not all you will find when exploring this famous pair of silos. But let's chat about the food first, shall we?

Planning a Getaway to Grapevine, Texas

Experience luxury, delicious Texan cuisine, and a brief step back in time in the historic & charming town of Grapevine in North Texas...

All accommodations, meals, & experiences were provided courtesy of Travel Media Showcase & its sponsors. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Last month I had the pleasure of attending Travel Media Showcase for the first time in the lovely city of Grapevine, Texas, which is located halfway between Dallas & Forth Worth. While I spent a good part of my first visit to the state of Texas at the actual showcase events, I did get a little time to explore the resort we were staying at and to experience the charms & tastes of Grapevine. 

But before I get into the details of my Grapevine Getaway, let me tell you all a little bit about Travel Media Showcase (TMS). The showcase (which is in its 16th year) is an opportunity for travel writers, journalists, & bloggers to network and learn from each other as well meet and interact with representatives from convention & visitors' bureaus (CVB's) from across the country. 

Not only are those in travel media given the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with the CVB's of their choice, but the showcase provides plenty of opportunities for writers and CVB reps to interact and get to know each other on a more personal level whether that be over a cocktail or as part of a local tour of the area. The connections that you can make at the Travel Media Showcase with other travel writers as well as with those representing the visitors' bureaus are simply invaluable. So much better than a back & forth over email, don't you think? ;)

Though my visit to Grapevine was far too brief, I did come away with a few travel nuggets to share with you all about the area...