my favorites: best texas swimming holes

Posted on June 4, 2014 by jaunt blog

thank goodness for summer! time to relax and slow down. (taken at jacob’s well in wimberley)

and just like that, spring is over. the temperatures are creeping up, and not cooling off at night. my husband and i walked to our neighborhood wine night (yes) last week, and i was struck by how quickly jeans season ended. after years in california with its cool nights, we’re back in texas, where it’s time to shed pants for summer shorts and skirts.

just relaxing at jacob’s well in wimberley, texas

so its the perfect time to talk about my favorite texas swimming holes. i’m much more of a city girl than a nature lover, but california taught me a lot about appreciating nature (maybe it was our proximitiy to griffith park that helped me live at peace with coyotes and that rogue mountain lion), and now i can’t get enough of the perfectly and naturally formed swimming pool, shaded by trees and open to all. there are three that i’ve really enjoyed visiting: two in or near austin and one in far west texas.

the scene at jacob’s well in wimberley, texas (the dark circle in the water is the 30-foot well)

jacob’s well, wimberley, texas – just southwest of austin in the beautiful texas hill country lies wimberley, a place i visited a lot growing up and never fully appreciated until i was older. jacob’s well is a 30-foot deep well in the middle of a shallow creek, surrounded by rock cliffs and shaded by trees. though the well is deep, the surrounding creek bed only has about two feet of water lined with slippery rocks. scuba divers used to dive to the bottom of the well, and crawl through a narrow space at the bottom that opened up to another drop-off, estimated to be around 150 feet deep (a couple of deaths caused the city to grate over the drop-off and prohibit scuba diving). go early as lines can form in the summer, bring a picnic and goggles, and find a warm rock on which to sun bathe while taking a cool dip in the well.

cooling off in austin’s barton springs

barton springs, austin, texas – located in the middle of austin at zilker park, barton springs is an austin favorite. formed from natural springs from main barton spring, the water is refreshing and sparkling (read: freezing, no matter what time of year), and is where the party’s at. the city has lined the springs with cement to make it into more of an outdoor pool, and there are plenty of grassy areas or bleachers to set up for the entire day. the people watching is fantastic (especially if you go outside the gates a bit further down), and remember: topless sunbathing is allowed everywhere in austin.

sun bathing at austin’s barton springs, with a token guitar player in the background

balmorhea springs, balmorhea, texas – so, this one is…remote. we stumbled upon this gem during a trip to marfa in far west texas, and it is definitely worth a stop. these springs have the clearest water i’ve ever seen, and are located at balmorhea state park. for $7, you can enter the springs, swim for awhile, and enjoy the grounds. there are campgrounds and cabins onsite, and it seems to be a favorite among kids. this would be a perfect stop during a tour of west texas that could include a couple of nights in marfa, a stop in alpine, a drive through big bend with a stop at terlingua (home of the texas chili festival), and a visit to the mcdonald observatory (see more of my thoughts on that here).

mountains in the background at balmorhea springs

the next step is to find some swimming holes closer to home around dallas – do you have any favorites in your part of the world?

rushing grass-filled stream at balmorhea springs in west texas

my favorites: letterpress stationery

Posted on May 23, 2014 by jaunt blog

a collection of some of my favorite letterpress stationery and notes over the years

in honor of the national stationery show (nss) that occurred this week in new york city, i thought i would devote this week’s post to my love of pretty paper. i’m not sure when it happened, but somewhere after college i fell in love with all things letterpress. as someone who still prefers handwritten letters over emails, i find so much joy in a colorful or witty or charming notecard that has been made locally (anyone want to join my challenge to write one letter per day in july?? i totally stole that idea from someone, so apologies if it was you!). see below for a few of my favorite stationery stops across the US. and learn more about some of the best stationery in the business here (anyone want to go with me to nss in 2015??).

the bishop arts location of we are 1976 – must.take.letterpress.workshop.

1. we are 1976, dallas, tx – this store has it all. from greeting cards and graphic posters to felt donuts and handmade jewlwery, i could spend hours here. with a couple of stores in town, i have found that my favorite is the bishop arts location, which i visited several weeks ago. my heart just about skipped a beat when i saw the giant letterpress behind the counter and learned they also offer classes for cards, posters, and business cards! can you even imagine how delightful teal pressed jaunt cards would be? i can.

lovely words from sugar paper los angeles, next to my international vogues and venice postcard…bliss.

2. sugar paper la, los angeles, ca – what started as a small venture in the brentwood country mart has turned mega popular across the US thanks to their recent target line. i adore their polka dots and gold inlay and basically anything they write in script, like my “work hard and be nice to people” poster i purchased from them a few years back. they have the most pleasing cards and colors, and never cease to outdo themselves (seriously, check out their new kate calendar for 2015…never too early to plan!).

ten years ago this summer (sigh), shopping for stationery with my bestie and coming out with too, too many finds (my bag not pictured!).

3. kate’s paperie, new york city, ny – i stumbled in here on a trip to new york with my best friend, and we instantly fell in love. first, it’s huge. second, it has cards you’ve never even dreamt of. perhaps this was the moment i fell in love with letterpress. i’m pretty sure we spent a couple of hours (and many, many dollars) at kate’s, and came away with some delightful treasures.

do you have any favorites i should add to my list?

my jaunts: new york city

Posted on May 7, 2014 by jaunt blog

gets me every time!

a couple of weeks ago, i spent the weekend in new york – my very favorite of cities. the weekend was spent catching up with old friends and celebrating life events, and therefore did not lend itself to site-seeing or checking out new restaurants or shops. but just being in the city is enough, to see the loud nypd direct traffic, to hear the ridiculous cacophony (big word) of the horns and bike bells, to experience the energy that inspires millions.

tulips on park avenue

also, it’s spring. spring in new york, which never ceases to amaze me. my very first visit to new york was in april of 1999. it was over easter weekend, and we stayed downtown in the hotel between the world trade center towers. we took photos of all the people rushing up the escalators in the morning. instantly, i fell in love. despite being cold (why must the new york weather be the last to hear of spring?), central park was in full bloom, and our carriage driver (yes, carriage driver) shouted “happy easter!” to each passing hasidic jew.

stumbled upon a mile-long sikh festival, and couldn’t resist invading some personal space for a closer look at these earrings (let’s be honest, there was no personal space at that parade).

fifteen years later and i’m still in love. maybe because i don’t live there and the magic isn’t replaced with tired feet and freezing winters and cramped apartments, but rather still exists in the tulips on park avenue, the random cultural events that pop up at a moment’s notice, the pure joy of quietly reading a book in bryant park while surrounded by the nation’s craziest intersection.

a bagel and a novel (thanks, bagel & schmear) during a quiet morning in bryant park

after many visits, new york still isn’t my home (and may never be), but it’s my happy place. and with spring being my happy season, it doesn’t get much better than april in manhattan.

bright and cheery at madison square in new york

what’s your favorite place for spring?

my jaunts: texas wildflowers

Posted on April 18, 2014 by jaunt blog

bluebonnets! the state flower of texas, and the backdrop of many texas family photos.

it’s that wildflower time of year, which may seem strange if you’re not from texas. every april, after several monsoon-like rains hit the area, bright vibrant wildflowers bloom along the sides of highways, in abandoned lots, really anywhere you wouldn’t expect to see the lovely blooms.

blurry, but beautiful – miles of bright yellow wildflowers along highway 45

i wasn’t too sold on the flowers when i first moved to texas, preferring more manicured landscaping to the haphazard smatterings of wildflowers along the roads. but fast forward one year, and i was sold. there’s something beautiful in the incredible colors and sheer amount of flowers literally lining hundreds of miles of freeways throughout the state.

warning: taking photos while driving not necessarily recommended.

i made the four hour drive along highway 45 between dallas and houston twice last week. the southbound leg was driven in a complete downpour, with little visibility of the medians. the northbound drive home three days later was absolutely breathtaking. flowers followed me for the entire four hours – beautiful! i took some photos on my phone while driving back to dallas; they’re blurry and unfocused, but give you an idea of how pretty the drive was this april.

hundreds of miles of wildflowers line highway 45 between houston and dallas

we can thank lady bird johnson for this unruly beauty, as it was through her efforts on the beautification act of 1965 that improved the previously unsightly medians and billboards. later, in 1987, the surface transportation and uniform relocation assistance act required that at least .25 of 1 percent of funds spent on landscaping highways be used to plant native flora. splendid.

texas wildflowers along a hill on highway 45

beautiful day for a drive

a sprinkling of the famous texas bluebonnets, alongside shades of yellow and pink in the median

my favorite time of year: the summer travel season

Posted on April 7, 2014 by jaunt blog

the summer 2014 travel lineup

somehow, miraculously, my busiest time at work is over. it seems too good to be true, but after several 80+ hour weeks, and many more 70+ hour weeks, i’m ready to explore something other than a corporate office. thanks for your patience these past few months – more frequent blog posts to return shortly.

while not necessarily recommended, work stress does have one positive impact on me: it forces me to plan vacations. i love having something to look forward to, a celebration for the end in sight. or in this case, not just a single celebration, but many! i am so excited for the travel lineup this summer, i can hardly wait. after agonizing over the budget with my husband (we set aside a certain amount each month to make sure we can travel to the extent we like, foregoing other luxuries like nicer cars or a bigger house), we’re booked for the following locations:

the stunning texas hill country

road trip through texas – my husband is going on a bachelor party road trip through central and southeast texas, complete with bbq, biking, and beer. i tried to insert myself into that soiree, but apparently it’s not very traditional for a female to join. shame. at least the wedding is in hill country, too. thinking of buying myself a pair of boots for the occasion. yeehaw.

the devil’s backbone, outside of wimberley in texas hill country

new york, new york – then it’s my turn for a bachelorette party in the city of cities. my all time favorite, and this time i don’t have to plan a thing! the last time i was in new york, i focused only on brooklyn, hardly venturing into manhattan. while fantastic (and something i would definitely recommend), i’m ready to again be in an empire state of mind.

let’s hear it for new york…

los angeles (x2) – does it count as a vacation if you’ve lived there before? i think so. i’m looking forward to seeing old friends and partaking in several father’s office burgers (if you are ever in LA, you absolutely must try this burger. as someone who counts cheeseburgers among her favorite foods, believe me when i say this burger is incredible). and staying at the cottages in silverlake is always a treat.

the view from our cottage in silverlake, a favorite stay in los angeles

new orleans, louisiana – is it crazy that i have never been to n’awlins before? i think so! so thrilled that my friend, stephanie, pushed our friends to book this trip. it is shaping up to be a fabulous time with good food, great friends, and (hopefully) lots of jazz. did i mention good food?

new orleans, as shot by ed bierman at https://www.flickr.com/photos/edbierman/10798203675/

south africa – yes! we booked it! it’s official! i fell in love with southern africa after reading brendan van son’s blog last year when he rode a motorcyle through africa, and i couldn’t wait to see it myself (sans bike). we’ll be taking the beginner’s guide to south africa as i like to call it, which includes about five days in cape town and five days in kruger national park. so excited to explore the winelands, table mountain, and see the big 5 (the lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, and elephant). one of our safari lodgings includes canvas walls so that “you can hear the animals and be that much closer to nature.” scared. out. of. my. mind.

cape town, south africa, as shot by eGuide travel at https://www.flickr.com/photos/eguidetravel/2919101197/

mystery location – yes, you read that correctly. it’s time for the biannual bestie trip, and we cannot decide where to go. solution? let’s wait until the last minute and play travel roulette and follow the deals! we may end up in boise, but hey, i hear boise has it going on.

please, please tell me about your adventures this summer! where are you going? and would you like to write about them in a guest post? i would love to feature them and hear more! i get so inspired from others’ vacations.

my jaunts: sedona, arizona

Posted on February 25, 2014 by jaunt blog

breathtaking views of sedona, arizona

as the weather in dallas is finally starting to warm up (though i have a sneaky suspicion that mother nature has one more freeze for us…), my thoughts have turned to hotter locales and sun, sun, sun. so, arizona. while living in los angeles with family in texas, i had made the drive between the two states too many times to count. my initial thoughts of arizona were based on my jaunt through the southern part of the state on i-10: hot, dry, and flat. what a surprise when one winter we decided to take the northern route home via i-40. snow and mountains in arizona? say what?!

the allegedly haunted hotel monte vista in flagstaff, arizona

my husband instantly fell in love with this area through our cross country trips home, so we decided to stop and stay for a few days in the summer. we started in flagstaff, a college town in northern arizona with a mountain hippie vibe. for a great cup of joe or a cocktail to take off the chill in winter, head to rendezvous or the monte vista cocktail lounge. they are both housed inside the monte vista hotel, known to be haunted. our friends stayed here a few years back and can attest to the creepy sounds throughout the hotel. brave enough to stay? i was not. while in flagstaff, walk through the adorable downtown – so quaint, and feels miles away from phoenix – much more of a boulder, colorado vibe.

breathtaking views on 89a driving south from flagstaff to sedona

next, we headed south on 89a. per my trusted rand mcnalley atlas (probably one of my top ten favorite books of all time), this is one of the prettiest and most scenic drives in america. after driving a few disappointing miles, we turned at a bend in the road and immediately came up against a breathtaking tree-lined canyon stretching high above us and far below the street. this road definitely delivers!

my aunt went to northern arizona university in flagstaff, and recommended that we stop at slide rock state park, home of “nature’s water slide.” if you enjoy state parks and a good water slide, then this place is for you. a word of caution: the water is really, really cold. and once you’re in, there’s no getting out! i had barely plopped down at the top of the “slide,” yelped out my shock at the ice water, and was immediately pushed down the slide over the eroded rocks and into the shallow pool below. before i could express my shock to my husband, it happened all over again!

overlooking sedona with the mister

after sunning ourselves on the canyon rocks, we headed further south to sedona, made famous by its amazing red rocks and new age mentality. we enjoyed a fabulous meal at elote, which is not to be missed, despite the seemingly meager exterior – seriously fantastic food; expect a wait. we shopped at tlaquepaque (check out environmental realists – strange name, extremely unique goods – i was hooked), hiked the trail around the airport (don’t forget to pack plenty of water; it’s so dry here that you don’t really how much you are sweating, and you risk dehydration), and enjoyed the cool night by the creek at our hotel, the l’auberge de sedona. two words on l’auberge: outdoor shower. it’s worth the upgrade.

a wonderful meal at elote in sedona – best meal of the trip

as a final farewell to sedona, we took a suggestion from 36 hours and called larry at earth wisom jeep tours. where to start with larry? first, let’s mention that i am no hippie. i like blazers and bows and kate spade and confetti. larry likes singing to the wind. but my trust in 36 hours is getting out of control, so i hopped in the back of his jeep, trekked up a mountain, and found myself singing while he played his peace pipe. so what? this city girl can find herself in nature every now and then. while not normally my thing, larry’s lesson on living well with nature was one of my favorite parts of the trip. when in sedona…

larry from earth wisdom jeep tours. just do it.

who should go: people in search of a relaxing weekend, hippies

what to listen to: bob dylan

what to bring: hiking gear for the numerous trails and mountain chic style for dinners at night

surrounding area: drive even further south to jerome, an old copper mining town known as the “wickedest town in the west.” eat at the haunted hamburger, check out live music at the spirit room, and visit the gift store at the connor hotel.

chapel of the holy cross in sedona – fantastic architecture, inside and out

to escape the heat, stay at l’auberge sedona creekside, with lush grounds and outdoor showers.

my favorites: canals

Posted on February 6, 2014 by jaunt blog

the canals of tongli in western china

ok, i admit, have a list of favorite canals is a stretch. and strange. but here’s the thing: writing about venice on tuesday really got me in the mood for that other-worldly venetian spirit. and i think canals have something to do with that. two cities immediately come to mind with the same spirit of venice that somehow only a boat in a narrow green canal can create:

the canals of venice in los angeles

venice, california – it still amazes me that most angelenos don’t even know of the venice canals, though it was always on the top of my list for visitors (and the town’s namesake). south of santa monica, tucked away just east of the crazy beach and west of eclectic abbot kinney, the canals wind through blocks of stunning houses, each creative and different from the next, connected through narrow alleys and steep foot bridges. i could spend an afternoon wandering the canals, peeking into residents’ lush yards (probably not recommended?), and then spending the evening strolling abbot kinney and eating at one of its many famed restaurants. the hardest part? finding the canals. good luck!

just some family fun along the venice canals in los angeles

tongli, china – referred to as the venice of the east (sensing a theme here?), tongli was my favorite city on my tour of western china. during a cruise along the canals, i overheard women singing at a restaurant, waved to elderly chinese men taking an afternoon stroll, and listened to the patter of light rain on the stone bridges as we passed underneath. i also witnessed a truly absurd fishing habit. an older woman had tied the ankles of large black pelican-type birds to her rickety boat. on command, the birds would dive for fish, catch them, regurgitate them into an empty bucket, and then get their necks wrung by the woman. extremely strange.

the site of the bird fishers. seriously mad ritual!

which places have you visited that are simply magical?

street/canal signs in tongli

my favorites: pizza

Posted on January 28, 2014 by jaunt blog

just a good veggie pizza at pizzeria regina in boston

what’s better eating than a good slice of pizza? pizza has always been a favorite food (does anyone not like pizza?), and here are a few of my favorites throughout the united states:

di carlo’s in los angeles – hidden in a non-descript building near the corner of hollywood and sunset in los feliz, this was my regular pizza joint for the duration of our time in los angeles. it doesn’t look like much from the street, but the pizza is amazing, and you can have the leafy back patio with strung lights to yourself on most nights. the owner is great (he’ll set aside the patio for you if you want to have a party), it’s byob (not even a corkage!), and the diavolo pizza is a personal favorite. can’t go wrong here.

celebrating on the back patio at di carlo’s in los feliz, los angeles

pizzeria regina in boston – an oldie, but a goodie. serving pizza since 1926, this north end tradition is sure to not disappoint. i went a few years back with a good friend, and tried some pizza over a cask of chianti (i’m starting to see a trend here with the vino). the pizza was amazing and the people were friendly – not sure what else you could want!

cask chianti at pizzeria regina in boston

new york pizza, of any kind, provided it is cheap and sold by the slice – while i like a great pizza with wine and atmosphere, there’s nothing like stopping in a hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor in new york, chilled from the wind and the elements, ordering a slice of piping hot pizza, and perching against a standing-room-only table to wolf it down. the entire process embodies new york for me almost as much as the obligatory morning bagel and chic evening cocktails.
the classic and delicious new york pizza by-the-slice

what are some of your favorite pizza stops? i’m on a hunt for the best, so don’t be shy!

happy new year!

Posted on January 7, 2014 by jaunt blog

hiking through the woods in hot springs village, arkansas while visiting family.

hello, again! and happy new year! it seems like ages since i last posted. after a fantastic christmas hiatus, jaunt is back! warning: i am about to enter my busiest time of year at work and, therefore, the posts may be fewer and far between. as jaunt tends to help relax and motivate me, though, i may just find that i post more!

these past few weeks have left me a lot of time to think about new year’s resolutions (i know, i know), and i think there are a few worth mentioning:

more art from nasher sculpture center’s dallas-wide exhibit – this time at fish trap lake, as seen while exploring dallas with family in town.

live healthier – this one is a no brainer for some, but actually very difficult for me. if it was up to me, i’d read all day curled up on my couch while snacking on lemon bars and egg nog. as it turns out, that dream of a life is not so healthy for me. luckily for me, i do not have a trust fund to allow me to read all day (sad) and a generous neighbor gave me a free treadmill! late-night walks: here i come! walking in my guest room doesn’t seem to embody the adventurous spirit of jaunt, but my upcoming months will be spent working until late at night, and now we’re just talking about a safety issue.
live simpler – after our move from los angeles to dallas, we were able to upgrade the size of our home. with it came oodles of free space – a blank canvas, but also an impossible feat to fill immediately. remembering that i do not need things to define me is a good lesson, and also allows me to be more particular with what i fill my home. which leads me to my next resolution..

part of the nasher sculpture exhibit, as seen at the dallas audubon center while exploring with family in town.

travel more – it would seem that traveling more not be very simple. however, i read a study once (i cut it out and put it in my travel journal) that proves that people that spend their money on memories (i.e. traveling together) are happier than people that spend their money on tangible goods (i.e. clothes, electronics, etc.). of course. traveling more could turn out to cost more money, but not if i take smaller, simpler trips. my husband and i spent some time this past month driving through arkansas, oklahoma, and texas, and i am overwhelmed by all of the places i’ve added to my list! these are easy trips that don’t take much time or money, bring me closer to my friends and family, and allow me to explore. this goes hand in hand with my next resolution…
spend more time with great friends and family – social media has us keeping up with too many people in our lives, and not enough with those who are dear to us. this year’s goal is to spend more time with my family (so lucky to be so close again), and my best of friends. and since people are happiest making memories, i’ve decided to plan a few trips – a couple of family trips this summer, a trip with my bestie perhaps, a trip with friends and the husband…even if just a quick night trip to town nearby, memories will be made, and adventures will be had.

help me stay true to these, and fill me in on some of your new year’s resolutions!

buckstaff bath house in downtown hot springs, arkansas – as seen while visiting family over the holiday – must go back and explore!

travel tips: how to make the most of business travel

Posted on November 19, 2013 by jaunt blog

strolling past the floralis generica (giant silver flower that opens and closes) in buenos aires during a work trip during a break to explore.

i travel a fair bit for my work; mostly domestic travel, but every now and then i get the opportunity to travel internationally. since travel is, oh, just my favorite thing to do ever, i always want to take advantage of these trips to see new sites and experience the new place. but that can be difficult when your primary reason is business, and not pleasure. to help, i’ve compiled a list of things that will help add some jaunts to your business travel.

remember you are there to work. it’s great that your employer is sending you to france for a week, but they probably aren’t going to like it too much if you show up late each day after staying out too late the night before exploring on your own. remember that work is your priority when you travel for business, and that you have earned this right. don’t screw it up by slacking off while you’re there – you may not be invited back.

understand your itinerary in advance. work with your colleagues to understand how your days will be structured. will you have a break during any days, or perhaps a dinner where you are on your own? if so, take advantage of that time to explore on your own. on a recent business trip to verona, we had a two-hour break before dinner. after catching up with my emails and to-do list first (see #1), i grabbed an umbrella and headed out to explore the old part of the city on my own, which brings me to my next tip:

a quick jaunt to the river in verona after wrapping up work for the day

plan ahead. understand where you would like to visit should you have the time. know where the sites are in relation to your hotel or office, so that you are ready for a quick jaunt should the opportunity arise. i had mapped out the sites i wanted to see using CityMaps2Go before hand (see more on this app here), so i was able to head out immediately and not stop to plan during my precious down time.

a quick photo of verona’s castle bridge while walking back from our office to our hotel

use your colleagues. are you meeting with people based in that area’s office? ask them for recommendations for excellent restaurants or parts of town. they know the area best and will be able to point you to the best spots that aren’t necessarily on the tourist radar. have them join you for meals to point you to the local dishes, and learn about their culture over drinks and dessert. some of my favorite moments while traveling for work are the relationships i’ve made with colleagues and clients.

trying brazil’s famous local feijoada with brazilian coworkers during a work trip to brazil last year

try to extend your trip. if able, see if you can add a day or two on the front or back of your trip. if the flight cost is the same, and you’re willing to pay for the additional nights at the hotel, many employers will not mind. i was unable to do this for my most recent trip (again, see #1!), but i was able to do this last spring when i visited argentina. we arrived a day early and explored on our own, and were able to get a good night’s sleep prior to early meetings the following morning.

checking out the brownstones of brooklyn heights during a weekend in nyc following a work training in manhattan the previous friday

what are some of your business travel tips, or some of your favorite business trip destinations?

jaunt: one girl's search for adventure

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