Comal River, New Braunfels, TX

The Comal River is located in New Braunfels, TX, about an hour south of Austin! The Comal is famous for its tube chutes! One of the biggest things to remember is on the Comal, there is a can ban, meaning you can not have canned beverages on the water! There are police on the river and if they see the cans, they’ll confiscate all of them. When it comes to renting tubes on the Comal, we always recommend renting from Texas Tubes! The Comal River definitely offers the most exciting river tubing in Texas!

The Guadalupe River, New Braunfels, TX

The Guadalupe River, also in New Braunfels, TX is the other of the two New Braunfels tubing spots. Unlike the Comal river, there is no can ban here – bring all the canned beverages your heart desires! When it comes to renting tubes on the Guadalupe River, we always recommend renting from Tube Haus, you can drop in to the river right from their location!

What to take to the river

Now, I don’t know about the rest of the country, but in Texas, as soon as temps start to rise, Texans get this overwhelming urge to head South and float the river. Now, it sounds a little goofy when you think about it, but don’t knock it till you try it! River tubing in Texas is so much more than sitting in a tube and drifting around. You add in a few friends, some alcohol and the gorgeous Texas scenery and you have the makings of a fabulous river floating day. But aside from all of the obvious, there are some things you just can not forget when hitting the river.

Coolers for the river

Now, one may think this is obvious. It’s not. You’re about to spend 4+ hours in the Texas sun, DON’T FORGET YOUR COOLER! What kind of cooler and what you put in your cooler is totally up to you, just don’t forget it!

Waterproof speaker

Invest in a cool waterproof speaker or a cooler with speakers. It’s not only a great way to add a little sound to your float, but you’re sure to attract other floaters with your music. We invested in this awesome waterproof speaker and it has definitely become not only one of our river trip essentials but also a great addition for any outdoor activity.

Snacks

Now, I know your cooler may be filled to the brim with beer and other fabulous alcoholic beverages while you’re floating the river, but stick some food in there! For longer floats on the Guadalupe River we usually pack picnic style with meats and cheese and if we’re doing a shorter float on the Comal River, we like things like beef jerky, candy and trail mix. Consuming tons of alcohol in the heat, with nothing in your stomach is never a good idea!

You need something to save your sunglasses! Losing your sunglasses in 12 feet of water is not something you want to happen while floating. Most of the tube rental places and even Walgreens locations close to the river sell floating croakies. They may not be the cutest, but they work damn well! If being fashionable while floating is more your game, check out some of the ones above! Get them, you won’t regret it!

Croakies/Sunglasses

Ways to keep your valuables dry & safe

I don’t even think this one needs an explanation… Keeping your phone safe when you’re near water is a no brainer. We used these awesome waterproof phone pouches anytime we are around water and they are perfect for keeping your phone dry… AND they float! Another great tool in our arsenal is a dry bag! We love this backpack dry bag – it keeps our phone, keys, clothes and anything else, dry!

Sunscreen

This is the biggest and most important one. The only moving you’re going to be doing is re-adjusting yourself in your tube, lack of movement + lots of sun= extreme sun exposure. I’m all for getting a good tan, but when floating the river, you really need the strongest sunscreen you can have! Bring it with you to put more on every few hours, you can thank me later!

Floating the river has always been something we really enjoy doing in late spring and summer. Whether we have 10 friends with us, or it’s just us two, we always have a great time floating the river as long as we bring along all of these river essentials.

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Things to do This Fall in Dallas

The Best Pumpkin Patch Dallas, TX

Autumn at The Arboretum

With close to 90,000 pumpkins and gourds gorgeously displayed, you won’t be disappointed with Autumn at The Arboretum! There’s a fairytale carriage (even Cinderella would be jealous), hay mazes and of course, the famous Dallas Arboretum pumpkin patch. Grab a few friends, bring a picnic and your camera and enjoy the sights on the lawn!

Yesterland Farm

Located just outside of Dallas in Canton, TX is a true fall wonderland. The things to do at Yesterland Farm are endless! With everything from a corn maze to concerts and apple cannons, there is no shortage of things to do here! You could definitely spend a whole day here and still not want to leave.

The Yesterland Farm pumpkin patch is not something you want to miss!

Hall’s Pumpkin Farm

Hall’s Pumpkin Farm in Grapevine is another great attraction that so many people still don’t know about! They have a corn maze, pumpkin patch and hayrides! Hall’s Pumpkin Farm also has tons of areas set up for photo-ops, so be sure to bring your camera!

Blase Pumpkin Patch

We found this amazing little farm a few years ago while planning a bridal shower! They are just east of Dallas in Rockwall and double as a blueberry farm in the spring. The pumpkin patch at Blaze Farm is absolutely adorable and the perfect place to take kiddos! They also have homemade treats available for purchase as well.

Cost: $8 admission

When: September 28th – October 31st

Where: 1232 E Fork Rd, Rockwall, TX 75087

St. James Episcopal Church Pumpkin Patch

This is pumpkin patch totally deserves noting. I have been going here since I was little (#EastDallasRaised) and it always amazed me how many pumpkins they fit in to that little area, and how beautiful the area was!

Cost: Varies

When: September 28th – October 31st

Where: 9845 McCree Rd, Dallas, TX 75238

Glowing Pumpkin Patch

Cost: $20 adults, $18 age 60+, $16 ages 4-12, Free 3 and under; Group rates & late night pricing available

When: October 11th – 13th

Where: Howell Farms, 4016 W Division St. Arlington, TX 76012

 

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Dallas’ Original Pumpkin Patch

Located at the Dallas Farmers Market, Dallas’ Original Pumpkin Patch is a one day event that encompasses all things pumpkin (and fall). If you haven’t been to one of these one-day-festivals at the DFM, you’re in for a real treat! Be sure to stop in at Whiski Designs while you’re at the Farmer’s Market – they have a State Fair of Texas T-Shirt that we absolutely LOVE, and is perfect for fall in Dallas!

Cost: Free

When: October 12th

Where: 920 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201

Fall Festivals & Activities in Dallas

Grapevine GrapeFest

Okay don’t sue us, but this festival isn’t technically in the fall, but whatever, close enough. GrapeFest is the largest wine festival in the southeast. This four day event is all about wine in the gorgeous area of Downtown Grapevine! We always consider this the inaugural start of Fall in Dallas.

Cost: $8 adults, $5 seniors (62+), $5 kids

When: September 12th – 15th

Where: Downtown Grapevine, TX 76051

Addison Oktoberfest

Addison is known for a few things – 1. having the most restaurants per capita than any other city in the US; 2. Taste (of) Addison; 3. Addison Oktoberfest. This festival has going on for as long as we can remember in Addison Circle. Grab your lederhosen and head down for some delicious beer and an afternoon of fun!

Cost: Free admission Thursday & Sunday, $10 admission adults, free for kids under 10

When: September 19th – 22nd

Where: Addison Circle Park, Addison, TX 75001

 

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Greek Food Festival of Dallas

Read that title again. Does this even need an explanation? The Dallas Greek Food Festival is a true gem, that should not be missed if you enjoy the mediterranean cuisine!

Cost: $9

When: September 20th – 22nd

Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 13555 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, TX 75240

 

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Plano Balloon Festival 

The Plano Balloon Festival has long been a staple in North Texas! Usually, the first weekend (or close to it) of fall, you can see dozens of beautiful hot air balloons floating through the sky in and around Plano! You can also enjoy tons of food and games at the festival! A definite family favorite!

Cost: $20 3-day weekend ticket, $10 1-day ticket, $5 kids 3-12 years old, $5 seniors 65+, Free kids 36 inches and under

When: September 20th – 22nd

Where: 2801 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074

Smoked Dallas

Smoked is another great one-day festival in Dallas. With dozens of pitmasters cooking up some of the best BBQ they have to offer, this is any meat lover’s dream! Get there early to get the best selections!

Cost: $50 general admission, $96 VIP admission

When: September 21st

Where: 1902 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201

Six Flags Fright Fest

If you enjoy haunted-ish things and rollercoasters, this is definitely the fall event in

Cost: $50, various discounts available

When: September 21st – November 3rd

Where: 2201 E Road to Six Flags St, Arlington, TX 76010

The State Fair of Texas

If you’ve ever been to Dallas in the fall, you know the State Fair is one of the biggest attractions! With State fair discount days almost every day of the fair season, there’s no reason to ever pay full price for a ticket. Be sure to check out our State Fair of Texas Bucket List and some great State Fair of Texas photo ideas!

Cost: Varies, discounts available daily

When: September 27th – October 20th

Where: Fair Park, Dallas, TX 75210

Really trying to get in to the fall spirit? Give our (sort of famous) pumpkin zucchini bread recipe or fall detox water a try!

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Where to eat in Fredericksburg

Twisted Sisters Bake Shop

Rachel (the bride) loves a good iced coffee and I’d say this place has a pretty darn good one. Twisted Sisters Bake Shop was just a short walk over the river from our hotel (like two minutes). The decor in the little shop was absolutely adorable – definitely a great place to start your day.

Hye Market

We skipped out on a big breakfast on Saturday so we could do a bit of exploring before we hit the first winery, but after that, we were pretty darn hungry. The super sweet girl we did our tasting with at Calais recommended we stop here for some food. It was oddly reminiscent of our trip to V. Sattui when we were in Napa a few years ago, but the Texas version. Definitely worth a stop if you head out that way.

Auslander Restaurant

Once we caught on to the fact a lot of places were still closed for the “winter,” we had to change some of our dining plans. One of those changes led us to the Auslander Restaurant. It was the perfect spot, right on Main Street, with a delicious Ruben sandwich. And I have to mention, you can get your frozen sangria to go…. Which is exactly what we did! Even though it was a little chilly that night, we enjoyed sipping our frozen sangrias while we sat in the hot tub!

78624 The Bar

We all agreed, this place very much had a “Friends” feel. Technically, it’s a bar, not a restaurant. The drinks were amazing, but their cheese board was equally as amazing, if not more. They had live music and the cutest set up we could have asked for. This is the perfect spot to stop in before dinner, enjoy a cheeseboard and just relax.

Spots to visit

Main Street

We didn’t spend near enough time on Main Street, but it was such a cute area, with everything you could possibly want. As many main streets do, it had a very quintessential vibe that just can’t be missed.

Magnolia Pearl

This not-so-little shop is just a quick drive east from Main Street. We stopped here on our way out to Calais and loved snapping tons of pics and checking the farmhouse decor and goodies. Magnolia Pearl in Fredericksburg is a must stuff for any farm house decor lover.

Wineries to visit

We tried not to visit many of the big name wineries in Fredericksburg during this trip. We went for more of the boutique wineries that offered somewhat of a boutique experience.

Calais

Calais was our first stop on our day in Fredericksburg. This little winery is easy to miss, after all, it is literally in the side of a hill. This cellar and tasting room doesn’t look like much from the outside, but once you step inside the tasting room, you’ll quickly see why it’s a crowd favorite.

Ab Astris

We stopped in at Ab Astris on a recommendation from the somalier at Calais. She told us how cute the set up was for this spot and she wasn’t kidding. With large Adirondack chairs and backyard feel to their oversized yard, this place was the perfect spot for us to get off our feet and just relax for a bit.

Southold Farm & Cellar

This was our last stop before we headed back to our hotel to drop our car off. We had no idea this place even existed when the day started. Southold Farm & Cellar was recommended to us while we were at Calais and we were sooo glad it was. Getting there might be a little… confusing. You’ll feel a little like you’re winding down roads forever (especially if you’ve had a few glasses at this point) and when we visited, we had to drive up a steep, gravel road. But when you get to the top of the hill you’ll see this adorable little building.

If you’re lucky, Rusty, the wine maker’s dad, will be there and he’ll give you a rundown of how this little spot came to be and if you’re really lucky, he might even pour you a glass of wine! Now don’t get me wrong, the wine was fantastic, but the real show stopper here was these views. I definitely recommend letting this be your last winery of the day – the atmosphere is perfect to watch the sun setting over the hill country. Out of all the things to do in Fredericksburg, this is a definite must. 

Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten

Once we had retired back to our hotel room after a long day of winery hopping, we knew we weren’t ready to call it quits. We dropped our car off and headed down Main Street for more wine (duh). At the other end of Main Street from our hotel was Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten. Because we were there in early January, some places weren’t re-opened yet or weren’t open late. Thankfully, this spot was. We met one of the owners of the vineyard, managed to score a seat in the basement/dungeon/underground tasting room, which was so fascinating to three girls who had been sipping wine all day. This place was awesome. Definitely grab a picnic basket, which includes homemade pimento, bread, olives, a brownie and more. And you have to try the tasting – just make sure it includes their frozen sangria, it is delicious!

Where to stay

Fredericksburg Inn & Suites

You guys. I can not even begin to tell you how great this place is. The Fredericksburg Inn & Suites is the perfect place to stay on a weekend getaway to Fredericksburg. We checked in Friday afternoon and spent two nights at the hotel.

We were greeted by the modern entry way to the lobby, but within minutes we were transported to a charming and cozy atmosphere inside the lobby and in our room – this was exactly what we wanted!

Our room had a farmhouse chic vibe to it and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The beds were super comfy and we had plenty of room for the three of us. The hotel offered free breakfast and coffee, which we totally took advantage of. They even had breakfast tacos that we just couldn’t turn down.

Fredericksburg Inn and Suites is located right on Barons Creek, which made for gorgeous views and a super serene atmosphere. The courtyard area had two pools, a hot tub (which we took full advantage of) and some gorgeous areas to just hang out in.

Overall, Fredericksburg was the perfect place for a girls weekend and even more of a perfect place to celebrate our soon-to-be bride!

Thank you to Fredericksburg Inn & Suites for hosting us for the duration of the our trip. All opinions are my own.

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Shady’s Burgers and Brewhaha (Lake Highlands)

First off, what an awesome name – Brewhaha. Shady’s is the neighborhood spot you crave when you need a good burger, a shake and maybe a cocktail or beer. We decided to spice it up and got The Hood burger which comes with white cheddar, avocado, grilled onions and grilled jalapeños and it was the kick of the night.

Table etiquette: leave it – someone will come to bus the table

Del’s Burgers (Richardson)

We’d be lying if we said we’ve known about this spot forever. We were driving home after dropping our nieces off one day when we saw this little spot right off of Main Street in Richardson. We planned our return and were not disappointed. The charcoal burgers are some of the best we’ve ever had. The deliciousness doesn’t stop with the burgers, the homemade root beer and fried Twinkies are only two of our endless favorites from this spot.

Table etiquette: Clean it up – bus your own table

Griffs (Garland)

This little spot is such an oldie and probably the least known of all of our list. But oh man is it a solid burger spot. Stop in, grab a burger or two and a shake and you’ll see what we mean. This is a no-frills spot, that is sure to wow you!

Table etiquette: Clean it up – bus your own table

JG’s Old Fashioned Burgers (Old Greenville)

I’m not so sure I want to share this one with the masses… Tucked in to a tiny strip shopping center is JG’s Old Fashioned Burgers. There’s not a lot of glitz and glam when it comes to this little burger joint, but boy is there delicious burgers. We stopped in on a rainy weekday to grab a couple burgers and they did not disappoint. We shared a mushroom Swiss burger and a bacon cheese burger – classics. They were also classically delicious. This is the kind of place where your burger comes with the basics, and you load it with all of the toppings your heart desires.

Table etiquette: leave it – someone will come to bus the table

Sky Rocket Burger (North Dallas)

Sometimes, it’s the hole in the wall places that really knock you off your feet. Sky Rocket Burger is as hole in the wall as it gets and it definitely lives up to the bill with its food, in every way possible. This spot has one of the most mouth watering burgers in all of town and cheese fries that will blow your mind. Drooling over this one as we write this.

Table etiquette: Clean it up – bus your own table

Blues Burgers (Love Field)

Smokestack, julienne fries, king rings and coconut cream pie with cherry limeade… These are the things dreams are made of. Ask and you shall receive at Blue’s, the guy running the counter suggested the Smokestack burger and we are so glad he did! We split the burger and ordered onion rings and fries. Definitely a must! And we cant even put in to words how delicious the fried coconut cream pie was.

Table etiquette: leave it – someone will come to bus the table

Hunky’s (Bishop Arts)

This classic, soda-fountain-style, restaurant has been a staple in Oak Cliff for many years now. The burgers are good, but the nostalgia is better. We recommend the Texas Cheeseburger, served on Texas toast. This burger is both delicious and easily shareable. We also opted for 2 sides (if you’re sharing a burger, why not!?) and got the fries AND onion rings. Both were freaking delicious and I’m not just saying that because I was starving. In true soda-fountain fashion, Thomas got a float and I ordered a malt. There’s just something about a chocolate malt with a burger! Needless to say, Hunky’s easily made it on to our list of best burgers in Dallas with all of their delicious options.

Table etiquette: leave it – someone will come to bus the table

Butcher Block (Addison)

OMG, this place has some of the best food and presentation we have ever seen. This little shop opened up last summer and we had driven by it so many times and we finally looked it up. When we saw a perfect 5/5 rating with 140 reviews, we knew we had to check it out!

We popped in for lunch one day and ordered the Ugly Duckling (pictured below) and the Mexican Flirt which both came out on these awesome wooden boards with the sauces decorating them. Any burger that combines beef with brisket, marinates in duck fat, adds an IPA tempura onion ring and throws some truffle mayo on it will always have our heart and our money. Butcher Block is in every way a 5 star restaurant and is a must try.

Table etiquette: leave it – someone will come to bus the table.

Did we mention your favorite hidden gem burger spot in Dallas? Or maybe we missed it on our search! Let us know in the comments…. We’re always down to try more burgers!

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Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse

With so many great options for steak in Dallas, Nick & Sam’s is definitely on top for us.  From their amazing tuna tartare with cotton candy on it (just trust us on that one), to the damn good fries, which is what they’re actually called, to their deliciously huge desserts for that special occasion. This clubby-steakhouse is exactly what we’re looking for when we want a special meal or just an all around great steak.

One of our favorite features Nick & Sam’s offers is being able to order a half order of all the sides and most appetizers. More room to order more! The ability to see their great selection of steaks before you decide, and their staff’s extensive knowledge of the menu gives us that welcoming feeling that you look for when looking for the best steak in Dallas. The cherry on top has to be the chance to see a few of Dallas’ top celebrities anytime you eat here. You never know when you’re going to walk right past Jason Witten (your favorite former Cowboys player) and you completely miss it!

Zio Cecio

We visited Zio Cecio a few months back for a birthday celebration and have been kicking ourselves for not visiting sooner!

We had one of the most delicious pork chop that was almost too big to finish! Paired with their amazing brussel sprouts, this dish can’t be beat. We also tried the bolognese which was packed with flavor. Chef Francesco went above and beyond for the birthday girl and made every dessert they offer for our table. Our favorites were the lemonchello cake, the raspberry sorbet, and the incredible tiramisu! What a special treat to have made all of these desserts himself for us all to try. The best service we’ve had at a Dallas restaurant, by far.

Neighborhood Services

The jack of all trades. Neighborhood Services has been our favorite restaurant in Dallas for as long as we can remember. This spot is perfect for anything from a date night in Dallas  to a dinner with your girlfriends. There are now a few different locations of Neighborhood Services in Dallas, but we highly recommend NHS on Lovers. With locations sprinkled all across DFW, we still put the original location on Lovers and Inwood at the top, by a fairly large margin!

Start off with their meatballs dipped in their special voodoo sauce and some of the crispy asparagus. Two of the best appetizers we’ve ever had. If you’re extra lucky, they might have lobster nachos, in this case, order 5 plates, they’re freaking amazing.

If you’re like us and you love a wedge salad then you’re in for a treat! NHS’ is so good that we’ve been known to order one after we have already had dessert… they are that good.

From the entrees list we love the chicken fried steak or steak frites that come with that amazing voodoo sauce again. The nightly fish and pastas are always delicious but if you’re really hungry order the prime Delmonico which can easily compete as one of the best steaks in Dallas!

The sides might be the real show stopper, Brussels, fries and Mac cheese are always our go-tos and are perfect to share with the table. But we’re warning you, don’t fill up too fast. You absolutely HAVE to save room for dessert. NHS does a nightly fried pie with Henry’s vanilla ice cream and we have yet to have one that we weren’t in love with. If you’re not a pie person then we recommend the amazing butterscotch pot de crème, it’s always perfect.  Make a reservation ASAP and go try our favorite Dallas restaurant!

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Sushi Rock

This little spot in Richardson is the perfect place to go for affordable yet high-end sushi. We stumbled upon this place a few years ago and we can’t get enough. Everything we order here blows our mind with flavors and ingredients we had no idea went so well together. Our favorites have to be the home smoked salmon that Chef Mark cold smokes himself or the ottoro blue fin tuna that literally melts in your mouth.  Grab a glass (or bottle) of plum wine or sake, sit at the sushi bar and let Chef Mark and his family serve you some of the best sushi you’ll find anywhere in Dallas. There a reason we labeled it the neighborhood version of Uchi on our Yelp review.

E Bar Tex Mex

A few years ago we were looking for a place to go for lunch on Cinco De Mayo and we found E Bar! A quiet little spot on Haskell that you wouldn’t think much of from the outside. We tried it and we have been back many times since. We are big fans of the food and the happy hour drinks here, but we both agree the service could be better at times. Some of our favorites include the tortilla soup, taco salad, sour cream enchiladas and the chicken fajita nachos. E Bar has been so good every time we go, we can easily say it’s the best Tex Mex in Dallas. When you’re done devouring a delicious meal at E Bar, head down to Deep Ellum and check out some of the best Dallas murals!

Jeng Chi

2018 was definitely the year of the dumpling for us! Jeng Chi is easily our favorite dim sum spot in the DFW area. Nestled in Richardson’s Chinatown community, Jeng Chi has a huge assortment of dumpling options to choose from. Our go-to’s are the beef juicy steamed dumplings, pork and Napa boiled dumplings and chicken steamed dumplings. All the dumplings come made to order and are piping hot and ready for you to devour. Is there a better combination then a glass of sangria, dim sum, and dessert from their bakery? We don’t think so!

Mai’s Vietnamese

If you’ve lived in Dallas for a number of years, chances are, unless you’re “in” with the locals, there’s a good chance you still haven’t heard about Mai’s. Lucky for you, your girl here was born and raised in East Dallas and is about to be your “in.” If you are in search of the best Vietnamese food in Dallas, look no further. I’ve been coming here since I was in the womb. I grew up going to church with the owners and their sons. You could say I’ve been coming here since before I knew how to properly devour thier delicious chicken clay pot or shrimp spring rolls (don’t worry y’all, my mom taught me how real quick!). They recently reduced their restaurant size to about half of what it once was, due to the boom of East Dallas. But fear not, the food and service are just as good as they’ve always been!

Cris & John

My oh my. This little spot became an instant favorite from (literally) the day they opened. I stumbled into Cris and John with my two favorite mini-foodies when we were on the hunt for Asian one night. Little did we know, it was the first day they were open and we were about to get a glimpse of a spot that would take Dallas by storm. The ramenrito was what initially blew our minds, but as we evolved we’ve grown to love the dumpling noodles and the phoritos. And if you’ve managed to save room for dessert, and they aren’t sold out, the café churros will be the cherry on top of your perfect meal. Cris & John easily have the best Vietnamese street food in Dallas.

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Carmine’s Pizza

Ever since Tiffani and I were kids we’ve been coming to Carmine’s Pizza Spring Valley Rd in Dallas. We didn’t even know each other until we were in college but both of our families, from different areas of Dallas, somehow found this place and loved it. A no frills NY style pizza shop that’s been slinging pizza for over 30+ years. We love to come here for lunch and get the lunch pizza special with a large slice of pizza, dinner salad and drink. The pizza tastes like you’re deep in NYC. We hope this place never closes and we’ll be able to bring our kids here someday.

Keller’s Drive-In

In the day and age that prices continue to go up, Keller’s continue to stay the same with cheap burgers and fries. With old-school carhops that still bring your order out to your car and cheap eats, it’s no wonder this is and always will be a must on our list of the best restaurants in Dallas. Our favorite is the classic, number 5 special with double meat and cheese, lettuce, tomato and special dressing on a poppy seed bun for $2.85. Add fries and a drink and you’re still under $6!! Good luck finding anywhere this good for this cheap. Keller’s has been bringing food to people at their cars since around 1950 and we hope they continue to, forever! You can find more burgers in Dallas on our list of The Best Burgers in Dallas!

Chiloso 

It almost wouldn’t be fair to mention this place and leave out the little detail that we had our first date here! Two, cute little 18 year olds, eating tacos. Coincidentally, we also came here the morning Thomas asked me to be his girlfriend because he about lost his marbles when he found out I’d never tried their breakfast tacos. We’d easily say they have the best breakfast tacos in Dallas. With a set up similar to Chipotle or other fast-casual dining spots, where you can pick all the toppings your heart desires. Their breakfast tacos are heavenly, but their lunch and dinner offerings are just as good. We usually aim for a taco and a bowl of their chicken tortilla soup. They might have one of the best chicken tortilla soup in Dallas.

Whether you’re on the hunt for the best steakhouse in Dallas or just a spot to grab a quick breakfast, this list has a little bit of everything for everyone!

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Things To Do in Austin

Barton Springs Pool

Austin can get hot… Like really hot. It is Texas, after-all! Barton Springs is the perfect place to chill out after a long day of exploring Austin in the Texas heat. Barton Springs is a natural spring fed outdoor pool right in the middle of the city and the water stays at a glorious 70 degrees, year round. If swimming just isn’t your thing, there’s also a massive grassy hill overlooking to the pool that is perfect for relaxing and getting some sun!

Rowing Dock

SUP? No, not literally. SUP stands for stand up paddle board and it has quickly become one of our favorite activities to do on a weekend in Austin. Rowing Dock is our go-to place for renting your SUPs (or kayaks and canoes) during a weekend getaway and is located right in the heart of the city on Lady Bird Lake. Whether you want to Kayak or SUP, visiting Rowing Dock is the perfect activity for a weekend in Austin.

 

Mural Hunting

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we love to find awesome murals in different cities. Austin has one of the biggest collections of murals in any city we have ever traveled to. If you love murals as much as we do and want the low down on where they are, you have to check out our 17 awesome murals post!

6th Street

Speaking of drinking, Austin is home to some of the best bars. Right smack in the middle of Austin is historic 6th Street. 6th is one of Austin’s main entertainment districts and it is the most popular spots for bars and drinking. No trip to Austin, no matter how long, is complete without time spent on 6th. Maggie Mae’s, The Blind Pig Pub, Midnight Cowboy, and The Jackalope are some our favorites for a night out.

Rainey Street

If hanging out on “Dirty 6th” isn’t really your scene, I’d definitely suggest heading over to Rainey Street. This strip of bars is geared more towards the craft cocktail crowd and most of the bars are in old houses that have been redone.

Visit Uncommon Objects

If browsing for antiques or random old stuff is your thing, this is the spot for you. Uncommon Objects is tucked in South Austin and will provide you with hours of antique hunting! It’s the perfect activity for a rainy day in Austin or the average hot-as-hell day, too!

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We have been season pass holders every, single year since we began dating and go at least a dozen times each year. We love the food, the atmosphere, the people, the football, the everything! If you’ve been around a while, you’ve probably seen our State Fair of Texas Bucket List. But, since the fair is such a busy place, and there are always a ton of people, we knew we were going to really have to be on top of the planning and strategy for the shoot!

Once we found an amazing photographer, who was crazy enough (and insanely talented) to go along with our idea, we set out for a sunset engagement shoot at The State Fair of Texas!

Photographer: Nat Chittamai | Instagram | Facebook

State Fair of Texas Engagement Photos + Engagement Photo Tips

Chose a location that totally represents you

This was a no brainer for us. We wanted something that SCREAMED “Thomas and Tiffani,” so we chose a place where we had so many wonderful memories and a place that meant a lot to us. Deciding on State Fair of Texas engagement photos was something we just knew would make our friends and family literally say “These are SO YOU” …. and they did.

Bring your support system!

Especially if you are going to a busy place, somewhere there is a lot of traffic, or a decent amount of foot traffic, you need people there! Whether it’s to hold your lipstick, and all the little extras you brought along, or just for emotional support, bring them along. Having someone else there adds a different dynamic, and might make being in a busy place less awkward.

Don’t be afraid to share your ideas with your photographer!

When we first contacted Nat he recommended we start a Pinterest board, so we did! It gave Nat a good idea of the photos we wanted, and let him see what we are looking for. Having engagement photos in a unique location, that not many people use, make things a little more difficult, but having a baseline idea of the kinds of photos we wanted beforehand made it so much easier to go through the motions during the engagement shoot.

Bring props that mean something to you!

The whole point of having a unique engagement photo session is to be unique! So do it! Bring props that are unique to you guys, your location, or something you love! We snagged this “Howdy, Folks!” printable from Whiski Designs the minute we saw it go up on their Instagram! It is so cute, and was the perfect accessory to our engagement shoot at the state fair!

Tell people around you what you’re doing!

Sound silly right? People should just know you’re in the midst of a photo shoot, but they don’t. Let people know. They’ll often give you a little extra! In our case, we were graced with free cotton candy (see below), our photographer and moms were able to ride the carousel with us, and a few other things. Especially if people are staring, and trying to figure out what they’re doing, let ’em know! Everyone loves hearing about an engagement!

Have total confidence while shooting!

When shooting unique engagement photos, you are bound to have people staring. Whether you’re in a park, and wearing crazy clothes, or in the middle of the State Fair of Texas with a photographer in tow, OWN IT! Know people are just curious, and you have to be confident in order to get the best pictures possible!

Don’t worry about peoples’ reactions!

If this isn’t your life motto (it’s totally mine), live by this, y’all! Don’t worry about everything going on around you. Engagement photos are supposed to show how in love you and your significant other are, and of course, to show off the gorgeous asset on your left ring finger! Get lost in the person you are with, flirt, laugh, and enjoy each other. Don’t worry about anyone else… Except maybe your photographer!

If you are interested in seeing more of our engagement photos, head over to our wedding website and check them out -> SweetHomeAnderson.com

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The State Fair of Texas Bucket List

Eat a Fletcher’s Corn Dog