Austin, TX

Tom and I travelled to Austin over President's Day weekend to explore town and spend time with his sister, Sam. Austin is the capital of Texas and one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Located in central Texas within Hill Country, it is home to numerous lakes, rivers, and waterways, including Lady Bird Lake and Lake Travis on the Colorado River, Barton Springs, and McKinney Falls.

 

We caught a direct flight Friday morning and met Sam at the airport. She and her husband, Justin, live in North Austin with golden doodle Bear and cat Lucy.

 

Justin is the son of the rock and roll bandleader of Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88's. Both Justin and Sam are talented musicians and free spirits. Austin is considered the live music capital of the world, with a large rock, blues, and country scene. As such, Sam took us to see one of her favorite artists perform downtown at Lamberts. Local R&B/soul artist, Jackie Venson has a big smile and infectious energy; she put on a great show.

We slept in on Saturday, and enjoyed a lazy morning sipping coffee and tossing Bear his frisbee in the backyard. With respect to the climate, Austin is located within a unique transitional zone between the dry deserts of the southwest and the lush, humid regions of the southeast; residents can expect long hot summers, short mild winters, and a warm spring and fall--which allows for year round outdoor living. The weather was  60 and sunny during our visit. 

We enjoyed lunch at colorful Eldorado Cafe with Sam's friends. Austin is a foodie city, most known for its Mexican and BBQ cuisines. I had no issues with vegan options. Afterwards, we took Bear to Zilker Park, a 361-acre park nestled in the heart of downtown, right off Lady Bird Lake. The park is home to Barton Springs Pool and host to the Austin City Limits Music Festival. 10 miles of trails border Lady Bird Lake and serve as a social hub for runners, walkers and cyclists. The city has a number of bridges over the winding Colorado River.

That afternoon, Sam and Justin hosted a BBQ for their friends. They have the perfect backyard for entertaining guests, complete with yard games, hot tub, and a fire pit. And Sam is an excellent cook!

Sunday began with a visit to Barton Creek, an ideal spot to run, bike, hike, swim, climb or spend a day lounging in the sun (or shade). 

We spent the rest of the day in South Austin, beginning with lunch at Güero's Taco Bar. From there, we moved to 6th Street. Lined with dive bars, restaurants, food trucks, and live music, the "Dirty 6th" is the heart of Austin's entertainment district; it is noisy, rowdy and nocturnal. We enjoyed music and people watching from the rooftop bars at the Blind Pig Pub and Shakespeare's Pub.

 

Afterwards, we migrated to Rainey Street to meet Tom's cousin, Dave. This increasingly popular area is lined with renovated houses turned into bungalow bars with back patio performances. University of Texas students frequent this local watering hole, giving Austin its college town status. The bartenders at both Half Step and Lucille's pour a mean margarita. 

On Monday, we lunched at Dos Salsas before a visit to McKinney Falls State Park. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound at this 641-acre park, include hiking, mountain biking, bicycling, birding, camping, and swimming in Onion Creek.

Tom and I were sad to say our goodbyes at the airport that afternoon, but anxious to get home to our Louie. Our trip to Austin was the ideal blend of activity and relaxation, which left us feeling exhausted in a positive way. I feel very grateful to our hosts, Sam and Justin, who inspire me with their easy going lifestyle and free spirit energy. I will forever treasure our memories together.

February 18 - 21

St. Valentine

Louie turned 6 months old at the end of January. The vet gave him a clean bill of health apart from an ear infection. He is growing fast, but still has all of the silliness and cuteness of a kitten. When he's not being a menace, he is an affectionate little boy. I love fawning over my fuzzy baby.

 

Tom and I spent Valentine's weekend at the coast to celebrate our 3-year anniversary. Cannon Beach is one of my favorite day trips from Portland, but there is something special about staying over night to watch the change in lighting and the tides roll in. The Oregon coast is usually cold and cloudy this time of year, but we were blessed with a beautiful weekend full of sunshine and temperatures in the 50s.

We stayed two nights at Hallmark Resort & Spa, with Haystack Rock just steps away; I would definitely stay here again. We dined at Pelican Brewing and MacGregor's Whiskey Bar--a cozy favorite that I cannot say enough good things about. It's tough to leave the coast after a relaxing and romantic weekend, but I was excited to see our Louie.

 

Snow Birding in Tampa

I recently moved into a full time position at the pharmacy, the timing of which has prompted me to reflect on my priorities at the start of a new year. Despite the increase in working hours, my goal is to continue to maintain a work-life balance. With this in mind, I want to go out more this year, and make friends.

A break in the rain made for a beautiful Sunday in early January. Tom and I spent the afternoon at the coast, soaking in the warm sunshine. Finders Keepers is a Lincoln City tradition where local artists hide hand-blown glass floats on the beach. Over 3,000 glass treasures are "hidden" along 7 miles of sandy beach. If you find a float, it’s all yours. Friends Kyle and Dani joined us for the adventure, but we sadly did not find any treasure. Better luck next time!

I missed my family at Christmas, but we kicked off the new year with a reunion at my sister's new house in Tampa. I left after work on the Thursday before MLK weekend. It is a bear to lose 3 hours flying to the east coast, but I did not encounter any flight issues with the quick layover in Dallas. Anna flew in from Denver, and also arrived at midnight. Rita picked us up at the airport and brought us back to check out the new digs.

We slept in on Friday, enjoying a lazy morning together. Later that afternoon, we drove 40 minutes west to Clearwater Beach. Tampa is a city on Tampa Bay, along Florida’s Gulf Coast. A major business center, it’s also known for its museums and other cultural offerings. We grabbed food and drinks at beachside Palm Pavillion, and watched a beautiful sunset. Our parents arrived from Pittsburgh that evening.

Saturday was a highlight of the trip. Located an hour north of Tampa, Weeki Wachee is an enchanted state park and spring where you can see live mermaids, take a river boat cruise, learn about Florida wildlife, and swim in the pristine waters at Buccaneer Bay. We began our visit by paddling a 3-mile section of the Weeki Wachee River. The waterway winds gently underneath a mix of cypress, oak, and palm trees. Along the way, we found ourselves floating alongside a variety of fish, birds, turtles, and even the endangered West Indian manatees. 

  

Afterwards, we watched the mermaid show, which shares their version of The Little Mermaid. From a submerged auditorium, visitors have watched the famous mermaids perform for 60 years. It is a very unique and charming experience.

Before leaving, we took a dip in the bay and again came face to face with manatees!

That evening, my parents prepared a delicious family dinner at home.

I was surprised to see it rain on Sunday, but Rita explained that Tampa gets well above the US average rainfall. Tampa's historic Ybor City neighborhood was developed by Cuban and Spanish cigar-factory workers at the turn of the 20th century. It is now a dining and nightlife destination. We dined at iconic Spanish restaurant, Columbia, owned and operated by 5 generations over 115 years. 

On Monday, we explored the Tampa Riverwalk, which links downtown’s favorite attractions via a 2.6-mile path along the Hillsborough River. Located in Tampa Heights neighborhood, Armature Works is a historic structure reinvented as a community destination with innovative eateries and Heights Public Market. After lunch, I said goodbye to my family and travelled back to my boys. Until the next reunion!