Top 5 Places to Visit in Austin, Texas
We recently got back from a trip to Austin, Texas. It was our first time exploring the city and it was simply amazing. It’s a city with a great variety of things to do and beauty is all around. We have 4 kids, so the activities we chose were more kid friendly, however I’m pretty sure all ages would enjoy these. Here are our top 5 spots to visit in Austin, Texas.
- Bike around Lady Bird Lake. We rented bikes from a local bike shop and rode the full 10 miles on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike trail. It was perfect weather and beautiful. There are a lot of places to stop if you need a quick break. We were able to see a ton of turtles in the lake, Texas bluebonnets scattered around the path, and a group of people rowing on the lake. You can pack a lunch and bike around, taking as many stops as you would want. This was a favorite spot of ours.
- Hike to Mt. Bonnell. This is more of a walk up 115 (or so) stairs. Once you reach the top you’ll see a breathtaking view of the river and also the city of Austin. This is the highest point in Austin which makes the view great. We were able to see it at sunset which made it even more spectacular.
- Zilker Park. This park is close to the lake/river too. There is a cute train that takes you on a tour of the park. It’s a good 25 minute train ride, so you’ll be able to see a lot of the park. Our kids love trains, so this was definitely a highlight. Be sure to check out their hours and prices before you get there. This park is HUGE and a good one to bring a ball and go play.
- See the Austin Bats. Did you know this was a thing? Apparently around 1.5 million bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. At dusk during certain times of the year, you can see them fly all around you from that bridge. If you think that’s cool, then for sure go enjoy this unique experience.
- Eat Yummy Food. It’s true this isn’t just one stop, but whenever we visit a new city we like to try unique places to eat. When in Austin, you’ll want to eat some Texas BBQ, Torchy’s Tacos and try out the delicious donuts at Gordough’s. You can always check out Yelp and see what everyone is loving in the city.
Jumbo Stripe Tote Bags Only $8.99 (Reg. $35)
I love these!!! Hurry over to Jane and get one of these Jumbo Stripe Tote Bags for Only $8.99! (Reg. $35). Carry your belongings in style with this canvas oversized tote. Spacious and stylish, this tote bag features a zip closure to keep your necessities secure while the double shoulder handles make for easy carrying. This sturdy bag comes with an interior zip pocket and cell phone pocket to keep things neat and organized.
Material:
- 100% Polyester
Measures:
- 22 ½” W x 15” H x 5” D
- 10 ½” strap length
PRODUCT DETAILS
- 100% Polyester
- 22 ½” W x 15” H x 5” D
- 10 ½” strap length
BAGSMART Travel Packing Cubes (Multiple Colors) Only $13.49 Shipped with code!
I seriously love these! They are so handy when traveling! Head over to Amazon and get a set of these Bagsmart Travel Packing Cases for Only $13.49 Shipped. Keep in mind that the sale list price is currently $26.99, but if you use the code FJYNME04 at checkout, it will bring your price down to $13.49! They are flexible, durable but not rigid and are adaptable to travelers vigorous schedule. Your clothes will stay more wrinkle-free and not get crushed during your travels.
- Package Content: 3 x packing cubes
- Material: Durable and water repellent polyester
- Size: Large: 16.9’’×4.3’’×12.5’’ Medium: 14.9’’×3.9’’×10.6’’ Small: 13’’×3’’×9’’(L×H×W)
Keep in mind, Amazon pricing can change at any time! Don’t wait to purchase this deal or it might be gone when you come back!
Fun & Creative Things You Can Do at the Beach!
I’m so excited for summer and the warmer weather! We have a couple trips planned to the beach that we’re all looking forward too! I’m sure we won’t have any problem making memories and having fun but I’ve come up with some fun unique things to do in the sand that maybe you haven’t thought of! Check them out!
- Have a sand sculpture competition – you could put mom and dad on opposite teams and get busy making your best sculpture!
- Write messages in the sand – from your names to shapes and drawings you can do so much with simple a stick.
- Sand Volcanoes – using the chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar you can make a sand volcano. Build your volcano with a bottle as your core. Then fill your bottle with baking soda (you can add sand to the bottom of your bottle if it’s a larger bottle, then it doesn’t take as much baking soda) then add the vinegar and watch it erupt.
- People watch – this reminds me of the scene in Date Night where they’re at the restaurant and watching people as they make up their conversation and life story.
- Make a relay race – this can include everyone from adults down to kids. Use cups to fill up a sand whole or a bucket you have.
- Create a scavenger hunt – come up with some items everyone has to look for. Then use those items and make sand art with them.
- Color Sand – there’s a couple different ways I saw you can do this. First you’ll just need zip lock bags and food coloring. Add your sand to the bag and a few drop of your food coloring. Zip the bag up and shake it up until the sand starts to change color. Second, take some sidewalk chalk and grate it up (using a food grater) then mix in your sand until it’s all colored. Both these way sound fun and something we’re going to try.
- Play Pictionary or Tic Tac Toe – These are simple games you can play right in the sand. You could come up with some pictures to draw while you’re there or create your list before you go.
- Target Shooting – dig a whole, make a circle or put a stick into the ground and use it as a target. Make it a game and see whole can hit the target first. (Just make sure you’re smart in which way you’ll be throwing your items, don’t want to hit anyone.)
Save an Extra 10% Off Hotel Bookings!
Who’s thinking about taking a little getaway here soon? Right now through February 24th you can get an extra 10% off select hotel bookings at Hotels.com when you use coupon code TAKE10FEB2019.
This code works for select hotels booked between February 24th and March 31st. Great time to cure those winter blues!
Jet Blue Winter Sale! One Way Airfare As Low As $49!
The Jet Blue Big Winter Sale is going on now! Airfare is as low as $49 one way! These low fares are available through January 9th for travel between January 16, 2019-April 10, 2019. Flights from Salt Lake to Long Beach, CA are just $59 each way! The perfect deal for any upcoming Disney or Universal Studio trips you might have planned. You can also fly from Salt Lake to Boston, MA for just $99 each way! Check out the deals flying from your city here.
As always, the fine print is very important to read when booking travel. So here are the details for this sale:
- Fares include government taxes and fees.
- Book by 1/9/19 (the earlier of 11:59 PM ET or local time).
- Travel between 1/16–4/10/19. Tue & Wed travel. Blackout dates: 2/19–2/20/19.
- Blue fare shown.
- Different or additional day of week restrictions, travel windows, and blackout dates may apply and vary by route. Click on a fare for details.
Southwest Flights Starting at $69 One-Way! (Includes Travel!)
Now through July 20th, Southwest is having a taking off sale! One way airfare is as low as $69! If you’re planning on going home this holiday season, this would be a good time to grab airfare!
- Nonrefundable. Seats, travel days, and markets limited.
- Blackout dates apply.
- Domestic travel valid 8/21/18 – 12/19/18.
- Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico valid 9/5/18 – 12/6/18.
- International travel valid 8/21/18 – 12/12/18.
- Points bookings do not include government fees from $5.60 per one-way flight.
Score $150 Southwest Airline Gift Card For Only $135!
Who has fun travel plans this summer? Right now on eBay you can score a $150 Southwest Airlines Gift Card for only $135.00! And since it will be emailed you won’t have any shipping charges. Just note you’ll have to pay through Paypal to get this offer. It’s a great way though to save even more on travel costs.
$100 Southwest Gift Card Only $90.00 Shipped! (Plus Extra 15% Off Through Tonight – Only $76.50!)
Have some travel plans for this year? Right now you can save on your flights by purchasing this $100 Southwest Gift Card for only $90.00! And shipping is FREE! Saving even 10% off the gift card is hug and you can pair this with one of their sales they run!
If you hurry you can score an extra 15% off your purchase when you use coupon code PREPSPRING at checkout! That drops the price to only $76.50!
More Cruise Saving Tips to Save You Tons!
We all know that booking the cruise is just the first step and expense there is but what about all the extra expenses? What about the excursions, dining expenses, luxury services? Those all add up but I’m here to tell you how you can get the most for your money when you’re on your cruise!
When you’re booking your room look into booking inside rooms. Lots of times these rooms are going to cost less because many travelers like to relax in their rooms. We like to get out and play so we choose to save our money on the cost of the room and put it towards an excursion.
Look at doing the excursions on your own. It’s convenient to book an excursion through the boat but they’re pricey. Look online and research the excursions that you’re interested in to see how much it could save you doing it on your own. It’s also a great way to read reviews. We found we could take a taxi for $16 to the volcano and do the same tour for only $8 each. That saved us $50 compared to what the cruise line was charging. Please note though, when you book on your own they are not guaranteed to get you back to the boat on time so make sure you watch the clock!
Are you a big soda drinker? Look into getting the beverage package on board. We were planning on just getting my husband the non-alcoholic beverage package and when I get online I noticed they had bundled this package with their wifi package that we were looking into – score! So watch the sales cause they’ll included their packages.
Eat on the boat. You paid for this service so make sure you take full advantage of it. Eating the local food can be fun and maybe a great treat to have but it gets pricy because you’re a tourist and they know it. So eat a good breakfast before you get off the boat. We also packed a couple snacks into our backpack to take off the boat in case we wanted to stay out later and enjoy the land. Just be prepared. Also since I didn’t know and found out later I thought I’d add in here, you can dine in the dining room for breakfast and lunch as well! It’s perfect for when the buffet is busy and you have a later excursion planned. Take advantage of this option because it’s all included, no additional cost.
If you want to take advantage of their luxury services, the best time to do this is while you’re at port. They hike up the prices of their luxury services while you’re at sea because everyone is on the boat but when you’re at port most choose to get off and play. That means it’s the best time for you to enjoy a massage, get your hair done and more.
I hope you guys enjoys your cruising! They’re so fun and relaxing and you can enjoy them even more when you save more 😉
eBay: $100 AirBnB Gift Card Only $94! (Great For 2018 Vacations)
I love that this deal just came up cause I was just looking at getting a place for our summer plans! eBay has a $100 AirBnB gift card for only $94! We’ve used Airbnb when traveling before to California and loved it. It was so nice to have a place to stay with everyone together, a kitchen to cook in and everything just like home. If you haven’t given Airbnb a try now is the time.
10% off Getaway Deals at Groupon!
Is anyone else ready for vacation after the hectic holiday? Right now at Groupon you can save 10% off Getaway deals on Groupon! Just use promo code SALE3 at checkout.
This can save on your next weekend away, or a big vacation planned for later in the year!
eBay: $100 AirBnB Gift Card Only $90! (Great For 2018 Vacations)
I love that this deal just came up cause I was just looking at getting a place for our summer plans! eBay has a $100 AirBnB gift card for only $90! We’ve used Airbnb when traveling before to California and loved it. It was so nice to have a place to stay with everyone together, a kitchen to cook in and everything just like home. If you haven’t given Airbnb a try now is the time.
On Airbnb, you can book unique places to stay from local hosts anywhere in the world. Explore over one million homes in over 34,000 cities, like Paris, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and New York. Find a place that inspires you and has everything you need—whether it’s for your next family vacation, group trip, or romantic getaway.
eBay: Airbnb $100 Gift Card Only $90! (Great Travel Deals)
Have travel plans coming up next year? Get a $100 gift card to Airbnb for only $90! We’ve used Airbnb when traveling before to California and loved it. It was so nice to have a place to stay with everyone together, a kitchen to cook in and everything just like home. If you haven’t given Airbnb a try now is the time.
On Airbnb, you can book unique places to stay from local hosts anywhere in the world. Explore over one million homes in over 34,000 cities, like Paris, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and New York. Find a place that inspires you and has everything you need—whether it’s for your next family vacation, group trip, or romantic getaway.
eBay: Airbnb $100 Gift Card Only $90! (Great Travel Deals)
Have travel plans coming up this year? Get a $100 gift card to Airbnb for only $90! We’ve used Airbnb when traveling before to California and loved it. It was so nice to have a place to stay with everyone together, a kitchen to cook in and everything just like home. If you haven’t given Airbnb a try now is the time.
On Airbnb, you can book unique places to stay from local hosts anywhere in the world. Explore over one million homes in over 34,000 cities, like Paris, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and New York. Find a place that inspires you and has everything you need—whether it’s for your next family vacation, group trip, or romantic getaway.