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.

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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...

5 Festive Reasons to Visit Pittsburgh During the Holidays (Updated for 2023)

Twinkling lights, holiday magic, and festive family fun await you & your family this holiday season in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...

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

I have spent most of my life living 2 hours or less from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and never once in that 30+ years did I visit the Steel City just to take in the sights & the sounds of the holiday season. 

To shop at the malls for holiday gifts? Yes. 

But we had never took the time to go and see the twinkling lights at Kennywood, or to take in the wonder of the season at Phipps Conservatory, or to try our luck at ice skating downtown. That is, of course, until a couple of weeks ago. ;)

Let me just start by saying that we have been missing out! I don't know how many times during our most recent visit to Pittsburgh (aka, Kidsburgh) that I turned and looked at my husband & asked him why we have never taken the kids to the city do all of these fun & festive things during the holidays before? 

Pittsburgh becomes something so much more during the holidays than just a former steel town, a home to major league sport teams, the point where the Allegheny, Monongahela, & Ohio Rivers meet. During the holiday season, the city becomes a magical place alive with the spirit of holiday wonder.

Although there is so much to do during the holidays in Pittsburgh, I am sharing with you all my top 5 festive reasons to visit the Steel City during the holidays in today's post...

Exploring Fort Wayne in 3 Days: A Family Friendly Itinerary

From kayaking with views of the city to a budget friendly baseball game to a hands-on science museum, here is a family friendly itinerary for exploring Fort Wayne, Indiana is just 3 days...

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

I will be the first to admit it that Fort Wayne, Indiana is not typically the first destination that comes to mind when planning a vacation packed with family friendly fun. But my family & I's three day visit to Fort Wayne earlier this summer totally changed my preconceived notions of this Midwestern city. 

Fort Wayne is a vibrant & diverse city that deserves more credit & props than I originally afforded it. From kayaking with views of the city to a budget friendly & fun minor league baseball game to a larger than life, hands-on science museum, Fort Wayne just may be the perfect family friendly getaway that you & your family have been looking for. :)

Since there is so much to do & see in Fort Wayne, I thought I would share our 3 day itinerary with you all to help you narrow down some of the must-see & must-do attractions & activities in and around the city. You will find that most every place we visited in this post is no more than a 10 minute drive from one another. That is one of the things we found most attractive about Fort Wayne as far as a family friendly destination goes- the city was extremely accessible, easy to navigate, & most everything there is to do and see there is fairly close together.