Category: Couple Adventures

Spring Break- So you want to go on a cruise?

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We’re Back!

Roasted crickets, slaughtered pigs, and dancing in the street…we found it all!

This was our second time on a cruise and we’ve came to the conclusion that we are just not cruise people.

We had the most fun when we were OFF the ship and able to soak up the sun and culture of Cozumel and Progresso Mexico.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of activities on the ship (including a hairy chest competition that The Bearded One partook in). There’s just so much more to see and appreciate off the ship!

Cozumel

Our first port was Cozumel, which we were slightly familiar with because of our first cruise. Once off the ship we grabbed a taxi and headed straight to Chankannab Beach for some much needed sand and snorkeling. The beach was beautiful, the snorkeling not so bad ( better than my first experience) and the staff attentive. We spend the whole day laying in the beach, watching the other tourists and chatting it up with our waiter Angel. He was so pleasant and beamed with pride when we asked him about his family (3 grown daughters all at university!). It was definitely a challenge to leave the beauty that is Cozumel and head back to our ship.

Progresso

Cozumel is the ‘fan favorite’ but personally, I love Progresso. It may be a little run down and impoverished but it’s full of authenticity and friendly people living their best lives. The Bearded One and I occasionally like to stray and explore when we’re out and about (no worries we were perfectly safe) and on this particular trip we wandered in to the markets and it was quite the experience.

We saw fresh fruit and beautiful flowers, butchered pigs and sharks, and so much more! We also enjoyed multiple buckets of beer on the beach, fun little gifts from numerous beach vendors, and a couple of crunchy cricket snacks 😉

All in all we had an amazing vacation (we always do). The cruise staff was great, the activities plentiful, the weather fantastic, the food decent, but making memories with my forever date was the best part ❤️

We’re DINKs!

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I learned a new hysterical, yet fitting, term recently. DINK-Double Income No Kids. At this point in our lives we are choosing to embrace this term and spend some of that double income on our next adventure.

In just 3 short weeks (hopefully, if the school Gods are smiling down upon us teachers) we will be ON SEA TIME, headed to Mexico!

This cruise is basically the same as the other we took but no complaints here. Five days of food, drinks, sun and sand, I can’t wait!

I’ll keep y’all posted on the itinerary but until then, wish us DINKs luck, we need it to make it spring break!

‘Tis’ the Season in San Antonio

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Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m slightly obsessed with Christmas and all it encompasses. I love the beautifully decorated trees, the sparking lights, the perfectly wrapped gifts, the nostalgia of Christmas as a kid, heck I even like the corny Christmas shirts! I’m just in love with the whole Christmas season and I want to experience it in every way possible!

When I saw everyone posting on the IGs about the San Antonio Riverwalk Christmas lights I knew we had to check it out for ourselves, and it was definitely worth it.

Now we’re not new to SA by any means; Six Flags, Seaworld, Market Square, The Alamo, The Riverwalk, Beerfest, birthdays, bachelorette parties, the list of San Antonio adventures goes on and on. We’ve been to SA so many times I’ve lost count, but this was the first time we’ve seen the city sparkle and shine with the Christmas spirit and it did not disappoint.

We’re pretty touristy when we visit San Antonio and we started this little overnight adventure at Market Square. For those of you that have never been, Market Square is a great place to shop, eat, watch street performers, and experience something new.

During the wonderful Christmas season Market Square was decorated with poinsettias, lights, and a giant Christmas tree. We had a great afternoon shopping and people watching.

After Market Square we took our cliche touristy selves down to the Riverwalk to see the lights. Once again, San Antonio did not disappoint with their Christmas flare. From the trees to the river,the whole area was dripping with lights. No matter how many pictures I attempted, I just couldn’t capture the beauty of the Riverwalk Christmas Lights. It’s something y’all will just have to experience yourself!

Another successful adventure for Messy Bun and The Bearded One ❤️🎄

Christmas in Gruene

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Last weekend we were fortunate enough to get away from it all and bask in the Christmas spirit of Gruene, TX. Not only is Gruene our favorite little getaway, but there’s always so much to see and do. We were able to enjoyed the Christmas festivities including:

  • watch the Pony Express ride into town
  • shop at the Ole Gruene Christmas Trade Market
  • hear Christmas carols for a local choir
  • and my favorite, witness Kris Kringle light up the town

Gruene already holds a special place in my heart, and when you combine that love with the spirit of Christmas, it became a magical vacation.

I would definitely recommend Gruene to anyone who hasn’t been. Even if you can’t make it for a special holiday event, this special little town is chock full of love and adventure.

Check out some of our favorites when you plan you visit!

  • Check in to Gruene River Inn for fabulous service, rustic decor, jacuzzi tubs, and unbeatable river views
  • Dance at Gruene Hall (this is mandatory)
  • Grab a pizza and listen to some music at Infernos Pizza
  • Have a Batman and Robin at Mozies while you snack on their amazing garlic fries
  • Shop shop shop!
  • Sample some wine at the Grapevine (try the blackberry)
  • Shop at the Gruene Olive and sample their innovative oil and vinegar blends
  • Share apps or have dinner at The Gruene River Grill
  • And finish the night enjoying free music at the outdoor venue Oma’s Secret Garden (recently renovated)

I hope you fall in love with Gruene just like me and my Bearded One ❤️

Gruene River Inn Views

Wine at he Grapevine

Gruene Hall

Kris Kringle Lighting the Town

Oma’s

A Much Needed Weekend Away

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Gruene, Texas, my favorite little town.

This weekend we finally decided to get away and head to my happy place, Gruene. Situated on the banks of the Guadalupe River, home to “Texas’ Oldest Dance Hall” , and notorious for historic shopping and live music, I am in love.

This perfect little town is chock-full of history, music, and memories for me and my bearded wonder. This is the place where I was asked to become a Mrs, I discovered acceptance and love from strangers, I two-stepped without a care in the world, I discovered my favorite wine, and continue to build my adventures.

We’ve never experienced this perfect little town in the winter and although we’ve been here for less than 5 hours, I’m already overwhelmed with the holiday spirit.

I can’t wait for tomorrow adventures! We plan to welcome the original Pony Express, shop the artisan Christmas market, and cheer on Kris Kringle as he arrives on horseback to spread a little Christmas magic.

Stay tuned, my heart is full tonight ❤️

Road Trip: New Mexico-Arizona-California

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Well ladies and gentlemen, we’ve covered quite some ground in the last 24 hours. We’ve seen the white sands in New Mexico, the organ pipe cacti in Arizona and we will arrive on the pacific coast of California this evening. We have been pleasantly overwhelmed by the beauty of nature on this trip and we’ve used every opportunity to stop and explore. An hour detour here, 30 minutes there, every extra minutes and mile was well worth it.

White Sands National Monument

We knew a little ahead of time we wanted to see the white sands in New Mexico and we couldn’t have picked a better day. When we arrived it was about 68 degrees and the views were stunning. While we explore all these places we always take the time to learn a little about the history. The white sands aren’t technically sand, they are white gypsum and they’ve been around for over 8,000 years. There are over 275 square miles of white gypsum dunes and a large portion of them are enjoyed by visitors from all over. I visited here as a child but I really didn’t remember much of it. As an adult, it’s completely mesmerizing and I’m still impressed by the park overall.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Our next stop was Tucson Arizona. We didn’t really do much in Tucson, except eat some bomb-ass pizza at a little place called Dry River Pizza and Beer. After that we spent the evening researching things to do in AZ. The Bearded One found Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and was determined to see these cacti. It was slightly out of the way but well worth it. The desert terrain is nothing like we’d imagined it would be. It’s full of unique vegetation, most of which we’ve never really seen before.

We’ve already seen quite a lot and can’t wait to explore California next. We will be in San Diego for the next few days and then up the coast from there!

Road Trip: Las Cruces

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Well folks, it happened, my biggest travel dilemma. I, who plans, researches, checks and double checks everything booked a RANDOM hotel and it’s a little sketchy….well maybe sketchy isn’t the correct adjective but it is definitely out of my comfort zone. I told he Bearded One “let’s try something different” and I got exactly what I asked for. So let me explain. It’s a name brand hotel, nothing too off the wall, it’s just designed whacky. The lobby is dead center in the middle of the building and all be rooms are interior doors that look down into the lobby, restaurant, pools and shops. But check this out, the doors to the rooms are all glass French doors (super odd). Pretty awkward hotel room to say the least.

Our door on the left our view on he right

Enough about the hotel, day two on the road was eventful. We pretty much stopped at random scenic lookouts the whole way. We also visited the Fort Lancaster museum, in the middle of nowhere. After our rainy driving adventures we stopped in Las Cruces for the night. We gorged on some New Mexican food (I’ll stick with Tex-Mex) and then took a drive around the Organ Mountain Range to try to catch the sunset. We took lots of beautiful pictures and spend the night looking up the history of the surround areas in New Mexico.

Fort Lancaster Pictures

Las Cruces Pictures

Rio Grande in the Mesilla Valley

Organ Mountain Range

Once again, another successful day on the road.

See You Next Year Colorado

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Once again Colorado exceeded our expectations. Between the five of us on this trip we probably took a thousand photos (I’ll upload more in this post ). Honestly, pictures alone can’t capture the natural beauty Colorado has to offer. If you’ve never experienced the Rocky Mountains, put them on your list, there is something for everyone in the mountains.

From hiking, to shopping, to enjoying the small town festivities, we pretty much did it all this trip.

This time Hoosier Pass was my favorite hike, but you can’t beat the views of Kite Lake and Quandary Peak. I’m sure we will visit all three places again (maybe eventually I’ll join the 14ers club!)

Kite Lake

Kite Lake Trailhead

Hoosier Pass

My Favorite Views

Quandary Peak

Fairplay

Fairplay and Alma are still my favorite tiny towns. We went to the “TGIFairplay” free concert event and were impressed by not only the town, but the welcoming people and friendly atmosphere. If you’re in Fairplay you have to take an stroll down their streets to stop by all the little shops and admire the historical sites.

For all my adult beverage connoisseurs check out South Park Brewery in Fairplay. Grab a Cherry Blonde craft beer at 9,953 ft, you won’t be disappointed. And if you do decide to stroll down the streets of Fairplay, swing by the South Park Distilling Tasting Room and let Megan hook you up with a fabulous cocktail! Not only did she make Amanda and I great drinks, she remembered our names and made us feel welcome.

Cherry Blonde South Park Brewery

Go Visit Megan at South Park Distilling Tasting Room

Breckenridge

We also visited Breckenridge for their Sunday Market which included lots of artisan hand made goods. It was a fun event, and we were able to walk around the town, shop, and swing by the Gold Pan (a bar established in 1879 with a rich history). I know Breckenridge is famous for skiing in the winter months but it’s just as beautiful and lively during the summer.

This has once again been an amazing trip. Not once did I feel like there was nothing to do. Our trip was packed full of activities and relaxation. As long as I’m still impressed by Colorado we will continue to enjoy our Colorado Adventures! See you next year Rocky Mountains.

Next years goal:

  • Hike Wheeler Lake again
  • Visit Blue Lake by Quandary Peak
  • Zipline
  • Natural Hot Springs

St. Louis Day Two: Soulard Market & Forest Park

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Our second day in St. Louis was just as eventful as our first evening here. The overall atmosphere of the Soulard neighborhood is relaxing and tranquil. No one here seems in a hurry, everyone just seems content traveling and enjoying life at their own pace. We started our morning at the famous Soulard Farmers Market.

Soulard Farmers Market

Now Chris and I attempted to visit the farmers market when we were here in January but let me tell you, it was nothing in comparison to the summer market. Let me give you a little history about the market before I describe our memorable day:

-one of the oldest markets in the US, founded in 1779

– open year round

– over 125+ venders with all kinds of products

-fresh veggies and fruit, organic products, fresh meats and cheeses, food booths, homemade soaps and crafts, live music, and so much more

-my grandma use to sell here with her aunt and uncle when she was a kid ❤️

I absolutely love farmers markets and this is by far my favorite. I enjoy seeing people sell products they’ve worked so hard to produce and are so proud to display. Today we had a mission in the market; we needed to find food for a homemade dinner and breakfast the following morning. We had no real plan of what we wanted, we simply explored the booths and came up with a menu on the fly. I have to say, we did a pretty fantastic job.

Forest Park

Fun fact, right before we left the market it decided to POUR rain for the next few hours. We decided to find something inside to do so we headed back to Forest Park.

Forest Park is full of activities such as:

  • The St. Louis Zoo
  • Muny Theater
  • The Jewel Box (a huge greenhouse)
  • The Museum of Art
  • The Science Center
  • The Missouri Museum of History

There are quite a few other places in Forest Park, some of which the bearded one and I explored during Christmas break. Today we visited the history museum and I was overwhelmed with fun facts about my home state. I was especially impressed with the history of Forest Park and the background information I learned about the 1904 World Fair that took place in St. Louis.

I’d say we had another successful day in the great city of St. Louis. Tomorrow’s plans include, The Arch, Ted Drewes, the Graffiti Wall and my old neighborhood.