Things to Do In Austin, Texas

I recently spent a week hanging out in Austin with my husband's family. It was my first time in Texas, and I had a blast! I highly recommend checking it out if you ever get the chance. Before I dive into our activities, I do want to preface this by saying we only had a few days to actually explore the city. We were in Texas for the Formula One race, so that took up a lot of our time. There is SO much to do in this town, so don't limit yourself to these!

First and foremost, go see live music! Do it! Austin, like Nashville, is a very musical city. We actually managed to see live music three times: once at Antone's ( a blues type club), once at a saloon (a real saloon!) and once at the raceway (Brittney Spears, no less)

Antone's is a great place to visit if you like more blues-type music. You just need to make sure to get there early! There are only a few tables, and they go fast. They also don't serve food, but you can bring your own food if you want to. We brought in some pizzas and it worked out perfectly. Be sure to look up parking before you go, because it is in the city. We managed to find some nearby for relatively little money.

This little saloon was great! It was small, authentic and had plenty of people in cowboy boots two-stepping away! (I don't know if they were actually two-stepping, but that was my best guess)

Next, we went to the Bullock Museum, AKA Texas State History. We really enjoyed our time here! It's a pretty big museum and we were tight on time, so we only hit the highlights. It is definitely worth checking out. They have rotating exhibits on the main floor, and while I was there, it was rodeo themed! Super interesting and very appropriate for Texas.

The museum also had this amazing mosaic on the floor of the lobby. As you moved up the museum, you got a better view. It was incredible!

Side note: I really love to knit so I had to make a pit stop at Hill Country Weavers. They were named one of the best yarn shops in America. Truthfully, I was a little underwhelmed and one of the attendants was a bit snarky. It's a nice shop, but they were not very newbie-friendly.

Finally, I have to mention the Circuit of the Americas! This was the Formula 1 track where we spent a lot of our time. It was a very cool experience, but there is a TON of mud. Just be extra careful and wear boots if there has been any rain at all. I was not even a big race fan before this experience (my husband's family love F1), but after experiencing it, I am definitely interested in it now!

There are so many attractions in Austin I would have liked to visit (like the bat bridge!), but we squeezed in what we could. All in all, Austin is a very cool place. Check it out if you can! Or I'd be happy to help you plan your trip. Visit my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. 

South Kaibab Trail - Grand Canyon

Our final hike of the trip was the incredibly beautiful South Kaibab Trail. This trail is a bit shorter than the Bright Angel trail but definitely still a challenge. We did a total of 6 miles and had a blast! 

There are a few trail markers along the way - Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point. It's something like .2 miles to Ooh Aah Point, 1.5 miles to Cedar Ridge and 3 miles down to Skeleton Point. Just remember if you go down, you have to come back up!

The path is fairly closed off in the beginning, but it really opens up at the aptly-named Ooh Aah Point. It's a great turn around spot for families with children or inexperienced hikers. 

From there, the path is fairly narrow and a little scary at times! I was constantly worrying about one of us slipping off the edge. Realistically, the trail is plenty wide enough and is rarely a straight drop. Just be careful and pay attention to where you are going and it will be fine!

We took a brief break at Cedar Ridge on the way down before making our way to Skeleton Point. We actually went up to the left at the end of the trail so we could get a better view of the river and it was so nice!

Skeleton Point

After resting and enjoying the view, we hiked back up to Cedar Ridge where we used the restrooms that were available (not very pleasant, but still nice that they are there!) and then enjoyed a nice lunch. It's kind of the ultimate picnic spot! I really enjoy taking leisurely hikes and just relaxing with my husband and taking it all in.

This trail is also known for having donkeys going up and down alongside hikers. If you encounter any, be sure to step off the trail and be respectful. The donkeys are used to humans and won't cause any trouble unless provoked. 

All in all, we had an awesome time hiking this trail! It was towards the end of our trip, so we were definitely tired. However, we left plenty of time, took tons of breaks and ate lots of snacks and were just fine. As always, hike responsibly, be mindful of your abilities and the weather conditions and you'll be just fine!

If you'd like any help planning your next adventure, email me at Malena@MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com or check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

A Pit Stop at Hoover Dam

After a brief visit to Las Vegas we embarked on our four hour drive to the Grand Canyon! Fun fact -  about a half an hour into the drive, we run right into the Hoover Dam! It was definitely worth a pit stop for some beautiful pictures. If you do this trip yourself, pro tip - drive past the first three pay-to-park lots. If you drive across the dam, there is FREE parking available there! After we parked (for free!) we hopped out of our car and made our way out on the dam. It was absolutely beautiful!

It was a bit of a trek to reach the main area, but it was definitely worth it! There are even bathrooms out on the dam. They are up in these little towers and everything! 

The views were spectacular, and I'm glad that we took the time to check out this piece of Americana. 

I will say the sun was absolutely brutal. Definitely load up on sunscreen, grab a hat and brace yourself. The desert sun is no joke! It didn't take us a long time to check it out, so we were all glad we took the time to check it out. 

If you ever want help planning your own adventure, let me know! Check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com, or send me an email at Malena@MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Vegas Baby!

The time had finally arrived! We were ready for our vacation - Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon and back to Vegas! The flight to Vegas was pretty uneventful (just how you want flights to be!) 

We landed in Vegas pretty early in the day, so we got our rental car and got on our way. We checked into the hotel and then made our way to the strip. I really wasn't too excited for this portion of our trip, but I had never been to Vegas so I was eager to explore. The hotels in Vegas are just absolutely unreal! They are whole shopping malls! I absolutely loved the different themes. Like Paris:

And New York:

And Venice!

It was a blast to just stroll down the streets and take it all in.  It was so much fun to see all the famous sites you always see in movies! It was also exciting to see the casinos. I myself am not a big gambler, but I set aside a little bit of money to play with. Sure enough, my husband and I had fun! We even tried our hand at black jack. I wanted to try it - even if it was $15 per hand! We didn't lose toooo much money but called it quits pretty quickly. I did win it "big" on the Big Bang Theory slot machine! Of course, we pretty much just won back the money we spent, but still! We walked away with a whopping big profit of $6. Boom. All in all, Vegas was fun but way over priced. I would probably go back again, but there are definitely places I would like to visit first. 

A Look Back on Our Mini-Moon in Orlando

My husband and I are huge fans of amusement parks. In fact, we have gone to parks all over the U.S. and even one in Singapore! It was only fitting that we hit up some of our favorite parks for our "mini-moon." And by mini-moon, I mean a mini vacation right after our wedding but months before our "real" honeymoon to Portugal. So yes, I'm throwing it back a bit this week!

Our first stop was, of course, Harry Potter world in Universal studios! We got our "Just Married" buttons (which took a little bit of hunting) and we were off! We had a GREAT time exploring Harry Potter world, and I had my first butterbeer. I opted for the frozen version, and it was DELICIOUS! Highly recommend. 

These buttons wound up being totally worth it when we got to skip the line at some of the rides. Definitely not every ride, but still! We were so tremendously grateful, and it made the trip feel just a little bit more special.

And of course, we had to visit Disney World. We had been to several of the parks together previously on a work trip, but we wanted to visit again, this time just for fun! (I organized a sports tournament at Disney previously, and my husband was able to tag along.) We chose to do the park hopper pass and hit the big rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios before closing the day out at Animal Kingdom. Neither of us had done Animal Kingdom before so that was extra fun! We chose to end our day there because that was the park that was open the latest. It was a long, but very very exciting, day. We walked over 25k steps! 

All in all, this was the perfect way to kick off our life together. We love to travel, and we LOVE to go to amusement parks. We crammed a lot into just a few days because we were actually moving half way across the country the very next weekend. (Did I mention that 2017 was an absolutely insane year for us???)

If you want help setting up your next vacation, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com. 

Long-Term Travel Goals

Sometimes big trips take big preparations. In 2019, my husband and I are planning to go on a grand adventure to Australia and New Zealand! Now, because we are based in the U.S. that is quite the plane ride. Therefore, we would like to go for at least two week, maybe even longer. And because this will be such a big trip, we are starting to prepare now.

Start Saving

Trips across the world are definitely not cheap. That being said, savings plans are a wonderful thing! My husband and I sat down and did the ballpark math - flights, hotels, activities etc. We tried to overestimate or round up whenever possible so we wouldn't come up short when it came time to travel.Once we had a goal figure we divided it up between the two of us and broke it down month by month. Saving a few hundred dollars per month seems WAY easier than spending thousands of dollars all at once. I know that by setting aside some money on a monthly basis that I am saving up for adventure while still being responsible with my money. Win - Win!


Research

Next step is to research and get ready for your trip! it can feel incredibly overwhelming to try to nail down the details of your trip. The best way to plan is to take it bit by bit. If you start planning for your big trip months (or even years) in advance, you'll be able to take your time. Start with the fun part - activities! Are you going to lay on the beach? Skydive? See the sights? Once you get an idea of your main "objectives" you can fill in the details from there - hotels, meals, trip duration etc.


Make It Happen

Make your dream a reality! Don't just plan for an "eventual trip." Set a date, come up with a savings plan and do your best to follow through. So many people have dream trips that they will take "one day." Life is too short. The time to start planning is right now.

If you need help getting off the ground, check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

Follow Through on Your New Year's Resolution to Travel

It's a new year! And that means it's time for New Year's Resolutions. Unfortunately, according to the Huffington Post,  only 8 percent of people will actually follow through with those resolutions. Most people go too big and expect their whole life to change on Jan.1. The truth is, change takes time. With some careful planning and baby steps, you can make your travel dreams a reality.

Start Planning Now

Big plans take big planning. While spontaneous trips are absolutely fun and worthwhile, it's going to be easier for you to make things happen if you have a definitive plan. Talk with your friends, buy the plane ticket and write it down. Don't wait to start your planning! Now is the time to be researching and figuring out the details of your trip. By taking concrete steps, you'll bring your trip into reality.


Don't Be Afraid to Start Small

Like any resolution, the way to succeed is to start small! If you've never traveled by yourself, maybe don't start with a huge international trip across the globe. You can even start with a simple road trip! Finding a hotel, booking activities and coordinating an itinerary on a smaller scale is the perfect way to practice. Each little trip will help you learn about traveling and build your confidence.


Save a Little at a Time
Travel is often a long-term kind of goal. It takes time and money. That means you may need to save up a bit for that trip of a lifetime. By setting aside a portion of each paycheck specifically for travel, you'll have the funds you need in no time. Many people are intimidated by the cost of travel, but the key is in the preparation! You don't need to pay for it all at once. Like any goal worth accomplishing, it's going to take some time, patience and diligence, but it will absolutely be worth it in the end!

Travel is one of the best things you can do with your time and money (in my opinion). It is absolutely worth the work! Traveling has made me who I am today, and I would absolutely love to help you reach your goals this year! Visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com and get started today!

2018 Travel Plans

2018 is finally here, and I've already started making my travel plans for the year (of course). I was talking with my husband, and I realized I really haven't seen that much of the U.S., despite spending the majority of my life here. So that's our mission: see more of the U.S. Not to mention, that's a good way to save up for our big trip to Australia/ New Zealand/ Japan in 2019.

The first trip we're in the process of planning is the Grand Canyon! We will probably fly into Vegas and road trip it out. I've actually never been to Vegas either, so we will have to have some fun while we are there too. I'm hoping to see some shows and see what Vegas has to offer!

Over at the Grand Canyon, we will probably spend quite a bit of time hiking. We might hike down to a waterfall and camp there for a few days. We shall see! We are still in the very early stage of planning, but I can't wait to start nailing down details. I've heard that camp sites book up fast though so we will hopefully get everything nailed down and booked by the end of January.

During the year, we will hopefully have some time to do some smaller trips to maybe Chicago, Pittsburg, Detroit or Toronto. Who knows!

Finally, I think our last trip will be down to Texas. We haven't worked out the details just yet, but I can't wait to try me some quality barbecue! We'll see how things play out, but there is a possibility of a trip to Albuquerque for Christmas. Our itinerary is still being determined, but I can't wait to see how the year plays out.

If you need help narrowing down your travel plans, I'd love to help. MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

2017 Travel Recap

2017 was quite the year for me! While not a record-setting travel year, I still made it to 5 countries (4 if you don't include the U.S., where I live.) 2017 was a crazy year for me - I got married, moved across the country and had a blast exploring the world with friends and family!

First up was our girls' trip to the Bahamas for my bachelorette party! It was my first time on a cruise and it was a blast! It was much more structured than I'm used to, but overall it was still an awesome experience. I hung out with my sisters and my best friend in the sun, enjoying fruity drinks and light-hearted books. 

Next is the reason I included the U.S. in my travel list - we moved! We packed up our belongings and within a week of being married, my husband and I were settling in our new town. We are relaxing in a small town in Ohio right near the river and are loving life.

Next up was our honeymoon! What was supposed to be a quick layover in Madrid turned into a one-day adventure! We missed our connecting flight and were put up in a hotel. We decided to make the best of it and set out to explore some of madrid! We were exhausted, but we still managed to have a blast exploring Puerto del sol and the city center.

We did eventually make it over to Portugal for our actual honeymoon. Portugal is absolutely beautiful! We traveled from Porto to Lisbon to Luso to Lagos then back up to Porto. Portugal is absolutely amazing, and I can't recommend it enough!

Finally, we got to spend some time in Canada! We made a few pit stops in Toronto and Niagra Falls before visiting with family near Muskoka. The weather was lovely and the lake was just gorgeous. We had so much fun and will absolutely be going back soon!

I hope your year was filled with beautiful adventures. If you'd like help planning your next excursion (domestic or international), visit my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.