USA Archives

Supporting Locally-Owned Businesses in Austin and Beyond

One of my favorite parts of traveling is supporting the local community while I’m there. By that, I mean shopping at local boutiques, eating at independently owned local restaurants, and spreading the word about how much I love that destination. Considering how everything has been this year, it’s more important than ever to support the tourism industry and small businesses, even if you can only travel across your own city. When staying at a hotel on a quick getaway, you’re still helping the local community just by being there. You’re supporting the hotel to keep locals employed and the city’s tourism industry alive.

November 23, 2020

The Quick Guide to Boating in Austin, TX

I’ve partnered with my friends at DiscoverBoating.com to help everyone in Austin and beyond find accessible ways to enjoy boating! In most parts of the country, there is still plenty of time to go boating. In fact, one of the benefits of living in Central Texas is that our boating season lasts well until the fall – if you can even call our September and October hot weather as fall! So whether it’s over 100 degrees in the summer or in the 80s and 90s in spring and fall, we’re lucky to be able to take out a boat, go for a swim, try watersports and more for the majority of the year.

September 21, 2020

Things to Do in Georgetown, Texas

Georgetown, Texas is a fun day trip from Austin or a weekend getaway if you have more time to explore! The city of Georgetown has a population of nearly 50k and sits north of Austin and Round Rock off of highway I-35 (which also makes it a great stop on the way up between Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth). If you’re looking for things to do in Georgetown, Texas or where to eat in town, check out the quick guide below!

September 20, 2020

Krause Springs: One of the Best Swimming Holes in Texas

Just a 45-minute drive northwest of Austin is Krause Springs, one of the best swimming hole spots in the Central Texas Hill Country, if not all of the state of Texas! Krause Springs is a 115-acre property that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites and was founded by the Krause family in 1955 and has been in their ownership ever since. There are 32 springs on the grounds, some of which feed into the manmade swimming pool and the natural swimming hole area which flows into Lake Travis. The spring water that flows into the pools is 68° F year-round, making this a very refreshing spot to cool off from the hot Texas weather. And if you’re looking for a place to kick back and camp out that doesn’t require advance reservations, this just might be the spot for you. They have a large campground for tent camping, as well as 24 RV sites with water and electricity available that you can call and arrange in advance.

July 8, 2020

How To Visit Jacob’s Well Natural Area in Wimberley, Texas

The Texas Hill Country has so many great swimming holes, but undoubtedly one of the best is Jacob’s Well, located just north of Wimberley, Texas, and a 45-minute drive southwest from Austin. This spot has become so popular that just like the famous Hamilton Pool nearby, the Parks Department had to start instituting reservations for visitors. So, if you’re planning to be in the Austin or San Antonio area and want to take a day trip to Jacob’s Well Natural Area, make sure to follow all these steps and plan ahead so that you don’t miss out!

July 6, 2020

The Quick Guide to Austin, TX

Hey folks! So, I get messaged a lot on Instagram by people planning trips to Austin and wanting to know what I recommend for their stay. I figured it was about time I created a quick guide for my own city with some of my top recommendations for things to do, where to eat, where to stay, etc. I mean, what city do I know better than the one I’ve lived in my whole life? So without further ado, here’s my quick guide to Austin, Texas!

February 8, 2020

Checking In: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Florida

When I got offered an invite to jet off for a weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, I was quick to say yes. What better way to escape winter than a weekend by the pool in ever-sunny Florida? The property, which is Florida’s largest casino, was recently expanded to the tune of $720 million, so everything there is shiny and new, like their new 14-story hotel tower and a 223,900-square-foot casino. The grand entrance to the lobby also features one of the coolest pieces of music memorabilia that I’ve ever seen – Elvis’ iconic gold piano, a 24-karat gold leaf plated 1928 Kimball Piano Company Grand Piano! They sure know how to make an impression here at the Hard Rock.

January 22, 2020

In Photos: Dublin, Miami, and Honolulu with Hyatt Centric x Sofar Sounds

Have you ever heard of Sofar Sounds? They’re a really cool company that’s been creating unique concert experiences for the last 10 years with secret shows in living rooms, businesses, and beyond. Generally, they showcase up-and-coming local artists, and it gives you the opportunity to see something new in a cozy space. Since I started as a music photographer back in college, I’ve known about Sofar Sounds, but had never been able to experience them – until now. Thanks to Hyatt Centric, I had the opportunity to visit three different cities to see three different Sofar Sounds shows, all located inside of Hyatt Centric properties. That’s because Hyatt Centric has a long-term partnership with Sofar Sounds to showcase local artists around the world inside their hotels, and they did 12 in 2019! In fact, if you’re in New Orleans on December 20th, there’s still one more show happening at Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans, so make sure to go check it out!

December 17, 2019

Little Rock & Hot Springs Arkansas: A 3-Day Itinerary

Have you ever thought about road tripping to Arkansas? I didn’t realize how much the state had to offer, but now that I’ve been, I can see why they call it The Natural State! I recently had the opportunity to do a 3-day weekend getaway to Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas, and I wanted to share with y’all my itinerary from the trip, as well as my top picks for things to do, where to stay, and where to eat in each locale. So buckle up folks, and let’s go for a road trip!

December 13, 2019

Cruise Review: Onboard the Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest Breakaway Plus class cruise ship is here, and it’s a beauty! I just spent 3 days cruising from Miami to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Encore’s inaugural sail, and it was a whole lot of fun. Between the above-deck go kart track The Speedway, lots of fine dining options, and a Broadway musical onboard, there’s a bit of something for everyone! Here’s everything you need to know about the Norwegian Encore.

November 20, 2019