LTK Travel – Vacation Like a Local

Uniquely Romantic Lofts for Two that are Perfect for Valentine’s Day

January 19, 2021January 16, 2021 by VacationLikeALocal, posted in Local Businesses, Travel, Where to Stay

Everyone’s favorite romantic holiday is less than a month away! Have you and your significant other started making plans for your next romantic getaway? Thankfully, this year, Valentine’s Day falls on one of the most perfect days of the week. Sunday. For those of you with children, this allows you the perfect time to let the kids spend the weekend with their grandparents and have a romantic weekend getaway with just you and your spouse/partner. Matt and I have done some digging on Airbnb and found some unique lofts that are within a 4 hour drive of Frisco.

Rose Capital Studio

Photo Courtesy of Airbnb
Photo Courtesy of Airbnb

This uniquely decorated studio gives you the urban conveniences of home, yet with a rustic flare that makes you feel like your are in Marfa (without the 8 hour drive)! This cozy loft includes some fun features such as projector and screen for watching some of your favorite romantic comedies, an open reading nook, a standing desk, and even some smart lights. If you and your significant other like to go out, there are plenty of things to do while in Downtown Tyler. For the foodie couples some great places to visit include: True Vine Brewing, Culture ETX, Rick’s on the Square, or the Janie’s Cakes. For shopping, there are a few boutiques and salons in town including a couple antique shops and a flower shop 😉 .

Downtown Tyler | Directions

Travel Time: 2 hours

Loft ZaZa

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

Now, this is a rather large loft with 3 beds, 1.5 baths and it can fit up to 10 guests. However, this loft should not be written off solely based on the number of guests it can accommodate. The fantastic Loft Zaza is located just above the Boutique One Eleven in Downtown Gainesville. For those who like to shop there are a couple of unique boutiques in town, including: Boutique One Eleven, Cahoots Handbags, Amelia’s Attic Antiques, Kinne’s Jewlers, and Bungalow 123. There are also a few unique eateries in the area like: Fried Pie Co. & Restaurant, Sarah’s on the Square, and the Red Fox Lounge.

Downtown Gainesville | Directions

Travel Time: 1 hour

Nid d’Amour

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

If you do not want to take a road trip, then definitely consider having a staycation in the beautiful Wilson Building in Downtown Dallas. As always, there are plenty of things to do for couples in Downtown Dallas. For example: there are plenty of great events going on in the Arts District! On Friday, February 12th, Titas/Dance Unbound Doug Varone and Dancers will be performing live at the Winspear Opera House. Also, within a few blocks of the Wilson Building Apartments, there are several restaurants including: The Woolworth, Chop House Burger, and Porta Di Roma. For some other romantic ideas include a couples massage at the Spa at the Joule Dallas or shopping at Neiman Marcus.

Downtown Dallas | Directions

Travel Time: 30 minutes

Recess on Cypress Creek and Wimberley Square

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

Just a few minutes Southwest of Austin, in the town of Wimberley, there is an adorable bohemian styled loft that is perfect for a romantic weekend! This loft is in an old home, but fully up to date with a kitchen, private bath, and living area. Of course this loft was furnished with the environment in the forefront owner’s thoughts, the accents in this loft include live indoor plants, 100% cotton towels, bamboo blankets, and hand made wooden accents. There are a few great little places to see while you are there, including: Ino’s Brew & Chew, Community Pizza & Beer Garden, and Wimberley Cafe.

Wimberley | Directions

Travel Time: 4 hours

Artists Loft in San Antonio

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

Granted San Antonio is a little over a four hour drive. However, the city of San Antonio is every bit worth the extra 30 minutes. After all, between the unique sites along the Riverwalk, Rich Texan History, and amazing Latino culture; what is there not to like about San Antonio. This Artist Studio is every bit as unique as the city itself. It is decorated with stunning area rugs, beautiful antique furniture, live plants, and one of a kind art work. For those who are unfamiliar with the Southtown Neighborhood of San Antonio, there are some great small businesses in the area. While you are there, be sure to visit: The Friendly Spot Ice House, La Frite Belgian Bistro, and Maverick Texas Brasserie.

Southtown Neighborhood of San Antonio | Directions

Travel Time: 4 hour 30 minutes

Loft on 6th Street in Austin

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

This loft is absolutely perfect for anyone who loves the nightlife! If you choose to spend your romantic holiday here, you will find that you are within walking to distance of some of the greatest venues that the Live Music Capitol of the World has to offer. The best part of this loft is the floor to ceiling windows on every external wall (except in the Bedroom) which allows the loft to be filled with natural light during daylight hours.

Downtown Austin | Directions

Travel Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Windmill Loft

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

It does not sound like there is much in the city of McGregor, TX. However, it is a very small town about 20 minutes Southwest of Waco. Therefore, you have access to all of your favorite locations in Waco, including: The Silos and Baylor University. But if you and your significant other are just looking for some quiet, private time; the Windmill Loft is the perfect place your the two of you to spend your Valentine’s Day. This lovely loft is inside the newly renovated Historic Masonic Building in Downtown McGregor. All of the hardwood in the loft (including the cabinets, floors, and wainscoting) are all original to the building and has a large TV, comfortable beds, couches, and 14 foot ceilings.

McGregor | Directions

Travel Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes

The Urban Cowboy Loft

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

The Green Door Lofts is a really cool renovated building in the heart of the Historic District of Waco. This spacious and airy loft allows you and your life partner to relax and spend a great night in watching Netflix or Direct TV. It is also worth noting that there is a heated pool on the grounds of the the apartment complex, in case the two of you would like to go for a late night swim. However, if you would like to go out and see the sights; the Hippodrome Diner Theatre is right next door. Other options in the area for food and entertainment is the Dr. Pepper Museum, the Waco Farmer’s Market (only open Saturdays 9am to 1pm), and Union Hall.

Downtown Waco | Directions

Travel Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Behrens Lofts Downtown Waco

Photos Courtesy of Airbnb

This is another beautiful loft right in the heart of historic Downtown Waco and within walking distance to the Silos District. The Behrens Lofts are located in the recently renovated Behrens Warehouse. The owners of this loft have kept the brick exposed brick walls and industrial air vents that have added a wonderful antique, urban flair to the property. If you are looking for a quiet night in, this is the perfect place to eat some of your favorite comfort food, lounge on the couch and watch your favorite movies on the 70-inch Smart TV. There are plenty of fun places to visit (all within walking distance) during your stay in Waco, including: Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits, Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant, and the Clay Pot Restaurant.

Downtown Waco | Directions

Travel Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

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Where to Stay While Honeymooning in French Polynesia

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 by VacationLikeALocal, posted in Destination Weddings, Travel, Travel Photography, Where to Stay

_{Prior to writing this article, Matt and I would like to send our special thanks to Rhonda who was our Travel Agent with Park Cities Travels. With the Covid pandemic, Matt and I had absolutely no idea where to start or what to do when the time came for us to start planning our Honeymoon. Rhonda was an excellent travel agent and has a worldwide network of resources (literally), she was such a huge help to us as we planned our trip. We highly recommend booking your next big trip through Rhonda at Park Cities Travels!}

We started planning our wedding and our honeymoon prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, our plans was to take a small trip a few days after the wedding and a BIG trip to New Zealand later in the year. Then the COVID pandemic arrived and like many things our hopes on going to New Zealand were thwarted. To further complicate our goals, many other countries (like New Zealand) had also closed their borders to tourists. At that point we were stuck in a quandary and did not know what to do or where to start. Our Travel Agent, Rhonda, was such a huge help. Once we finally decided where we wanted to go, we just gave Rhonda our final budget and she did all the rest. She booked our hotel, transportation, excursions, meal plans and more! What is better, is she also was able to meet all our needs and desires and still come up a few hundred dollars under budget!

InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa

The Lagoonarium

Aerial view of the Lagoonarium

On the Island of Tahiti Nui, we stayed at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa. First, my absolute favorite feature of this resort was the Lagoonarium. This lagoonarium is an artificial (man-made) lagoon that is fed by sea water and is filled with some of the most colorful fish that are native to the area. So when you go to swim in the Lagoonarium, you are literally swimming with the stunning fish that are native to the area and some of the most beautiful coral in the world. I highly recommend bringing a snorkel and goggles when you visit the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, so that you can observe these sights as you swim! There are also two other swimming pools on the complex. One pool is right next to the Lagoonarium. Then there is a smaller infinity pool that overlooks the South Pacific and includes a swim up bar as well.

Overwater Bungalows

The InterContinental Resort & Spa in Tahiti does have amazing Overwater bungalows available to rent. They also have a few different types of Overwater Bungalows so that you can pick the perfect one for you. The smallest bungalows are called the Jr. Suite Overwater Bungalow Lagoon. the prices for these start at ~$520.00/night. This bungalow is a perfect location as it is right next door to the lagoonarium and has fantastic views of Mo’orea Island. However, if you are looking for an overwater bungalow that is a little more high end get the Overwater Motu Villa Suite. This suite can sleep up to 4 people and includes a balcony with stunning views, a luxurious bathtub, and is perfectly secluded. The price of Villas start at ~$650.00/night.

Early Check-In & Courtesy Rooms

It is also worth noting that most flights coming from the United States arrive in Papeete either early in the morning (ours arrived at 5:04 am) or late in the evening (around 09:00pm). Also the hotel is only about 10 to 15 minutes away from the airport. Therefore, if you are arriving early, be sure to request an early check in. The hotel does have courtesy rooms (which include toilets and showers) for their guests who arrive earlier than the check-in. I highly recommend making use of these courtesy rooms while you are waiting to check-in. These courtesy rooms include showers (with shampoo and bodywash), towels, toilets, and sinks. However, if you are arriving late. Check-in is a 3:00 pm. Be sure to call the front desk before you board you flight to Papeete and let them know that you will be arriving late in the evening.

Manava Beach Resort & Spa Hotel

Mo’orea Island

Island as a whole reminded me of the French Polynesian version of a small sea side town in Florida, USA (like Seaside or Key West). While Tahiti Nui had more of an urban feel, Mo’orea was more quiet and felt more rustic. Due to the size and slower paced lifestyle of the island, Matt and I found the that we more and better access to beaches and the ocean. So if you wanted to go for a swim in the ocean, it was definitely much better.

Rooms and Bungalows:

Manava Spa and Resort (compared to the InterContentental Tahiti) was also smaller and and more quaint. However, Matt and I really enjoyed our time here! There are plenty of different styles of bungalows and rooms. While the Overwater bungalows seemed wonderful; they were not what Matt and I really wanted. We felt that they were a little too close to the other overwater bungalows around them. We also did not think that they gave us the privacy that we really wanted. With it being our honeymoon, Matt and I really needed something with much more privacy than what the Overwater bungalows could provide. Instead, we stayed in the Garden bungalow. These bungalows were fenced off and had a small private dunking pool. This bungalow ended up being everything that we needed it to be. If you are travelling with a family with kids, the Overwater and Beach Bungalows would be better suited for your needs. For couples definitely go with the garden bungalows during your stay.

Dinner and a Show

When booking your trip to Manava Beach Resort & Spa, be sure to make sure you are there on a Saturday night. Every Saturday night at 7:30 pm there is a show featuring Traditional Polynesian dancing! Dinner is included and but it is by reservation only! Make sure to be sure to make reservations as soon as you can for dinner on Saturday.

Paraoro, Mo’orea

In town there are a few restaurants Restaurants, a Tahitian Black Pearl shop and a small grocery store. Also if you are searching for a second home in a stunning destination there is a Sotheby’s Reality office just a five minute walk away from the Resort. Other souvenir shops are also in town.

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Rainy Day on the Island of Tahiti Nui

January 2, 2021January 16, 2021 by VacationLikeALocal, posted in Travel, Travel Photography

The following photos were taken during my honeymoon to French Polynesia this past December. I will be writing another post talking all about this trip including itinerary and other details. But first I wanted to show you some of the incredible photos I was able to take while on the trip. In fact, these photos are so incredible that I did not even need to add any filters, presets, or other touch ups on Lightroom.

Christmas Gift Guide for the Couples in your Life

December 2, 2020December 3, 2020 by VacationLikeALocal, posted in Local Businesses

Christmas is only a few weeks away. But this year – with the Covid lockdowns, furloughs, and business closures – money is tighter than normal for many Americans. Of course we all want to show our loved ones we are thinking about them on Christmas, by giving them a gift but this is hard with a smaller budget. A great option that should help with your Christmas gift budget this year. Here are some of our favorite gifts that are perfect for any young couple in your life!

Chefs and Bakers

Acacia Gripperwood Cutting Board

This was on our Wedding Registry and thankfully it was given to us during a bridal shower. I love this cutting for a few reasons. First, the wood is absolutely beautiful! In fact, when I am not using this cutting board, it is on display for guests to see. Another reason I love this board is because there are four rubber feet attached to the bottom. This keeps the board from moving around as I am using it. There are two sizes large (11″ X 14″) and small (8″ X 11″) and each cutting board is about 3/4″ thick. These cutting boards are definitely worth getting for that favorite couple in your life.

OXO Good Grips Vegetable Chopper

This was a Christmas gift to Matt and I from my sister last year. While this might seem like an unusual gift idea; but, it is actually perfect. After putting this gift to use, I realized that the amount of time I spent in the kitchen is only be a fraction of what it once was. The amount of time that Matt and I spend on chopping the vegetables for dinner is significantly shorter than it was. All you need to do is cut the vegetable to the appropriate size, place it on the grate, and close the lid. Also a wonderful benefit to using this device is that your eyes will not get teary when you are chopping the onions.

Kitchen Aide Food Prep Attachment + Scraper Bowl Attachment

If this couple has a Kitchen Aide Mixer, these are great gifts for them. Let’s start with the Scraper Bowl Attachment. I currently have this attachment, it was one of the first purchases I made after receiving my mixer. It is a very useful attachment because I do not have to stop my mixer to clean up the sides of my bowl when I am making something. The scraper does this job for me. It also makes washing the bowl a little easier.

The Food Prep attachment is another great gift for anyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen. While I do not have this gift myself, my parents have had this attachment for a long time. I have used this attachment to help grate cheese and some vegetables when I was still living with my parents. This is another gift that will tremendously help limiting the amount of time spent grating cheese by hand.

For the Couple that likes to Entertain

Personalized Cutting Board

_{Photos Courtesy of Naked Wood Works}

(For clarification) these boards are not for regular everyday kitchen use. These boards are far too nice to use for as an actual cutting board. At the very least, these boards are great for kitchen décor. You can keep it on display on your countertop (or even the wall). If you do use them for anything, I would highly suggest using this only for a meat and cheese board the next time you have friends over.

Waterford Crystal Oversized Wine Glasses

Keep in mind this is just an idea, as Waterford Crystal has many different cuts and many different items that are perfect for gifting. Also it might be worth talking to the couple about what their favorite cut is. For me personally, the Lismore Essence cut is my favorite design and it matches all our other fine China. Nevertheless, Waterford Crystal is always a great gift for any couple that enjoys entertaining. Waterford Crystal is so beautiful and so classy, it will doe a perfect job at dressing up anyone’s dining table.

Cheese Board with Cloche

If you want to give your favorite couple a gift that is going to be used over and over again. This is the perfect gift to give them (especially if they are a couple that entertains on a routine basis). Cheese Boards are always super handy to have and can have multiple uses! The most obvious use of this item (of course) is for a meat and cheese board. It can also be used to serve other types of Hors d’oeuvres; such as: fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, meat for fondue. Or it can be used to hold a few dips.

For the Couple that Loves to Travel (or other fun Local Experiences)

CityPASS

The is a perfect for anyone loves to travel! CityPASS it is an excellent gift for several reasons. First, it is available in about 14 different cities on the North American continent including: Dallas, New York, Boston, and even Toronto. Each CityPASS give the holder “free” admissions into the 1 to 5 top attractions of that given city. For example, let’s say that you get the Dallas CityPASS. This pass will give this special couple admission to the Perot Museum, Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, Sixth Floor Museum, and Dallas Zoo OR the President George W. Bush Library and Museum. The CityPASS works differently for each city, so be sure to read about how the CityPASS works in that specific city you are purchasing.

ENO DoubleNest Hammocks + Hammock Accessories

Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava on Pexels.com
Photo by Leonie Fahjen on Pexels.com
Photo by Simon Migaj on Pexels.com
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Pexels.com
Photo by Max Andrey on Pexels.com

I have a SingleNest Hammock. I purchased my hammock a few years before my husband and I even met. To this day it is one of my favorite travel accessories. First, the hammock and suspension system are specifically made for backpackers; therefore are really easy to pack into a carry on bag. For the couples who really enjoy outdoor adventures or long hikes, this is a great option because it allows your favorite couple a great place to relax, swing, drink, and watch the sunset.

Large Reusable Tumbler/Water Bottle

_{Photos Courtesy of Brumate}

Reusable water bottles are other wonderfully useful items (even for when we are not traveling). They are always really nice to have in just about any situation. They can be used when working out. I bring them to work. With traveling (domestically) these are always great to have because you do not have to buy water or water bottles as most establishments will have a water fountain which can be used for refilling their water bottle.

Other Fun Experiences for Couples

Kombucha Starter Kit

Something needs to be said about couples that make it a point to learn useful ways to be resourceful and self-reliant. If this special couple in your life really likes Kombucha, this is a great gift for them! For those who do not know, Kombucha is fermented black tea (<0.5% alcohol). However, it is also a good-for-you drink because it is so full of probiotics and bacteria that is really good for your gut! Granted, Kombucha can be purchased at the grocery store. But it can definitely be more on the expensive side. So for anyone you know that likes kombucha. This is a great opportunity for them to make their own. Making a good brew of Kombucha takes very little effort and will be super helpful on their checkbook as well.

Home Beer Brewing Kit or Wine Brewing Kit

This is another great way for anyone to learn to be resourceful and self-reliant. It is also fantastic for any couple that loves beer or wine. With people needing to stay home during the Covid pandemic, this might help with cabin fever and limiting public exposure. Anyway, (like the Kombucha) buying your friends a DIY Beer or Wine kit should also help with keeping costs down at the store.

Murder Mystery Dinner Show

If you are really looking for a unique and creative gift, this is a fun idea! It is a really good, 4-course dinner paired with a fun activity! During a Murder Mystery Dinner, you are guided (by actors) through a engaging whodunit! As the participants they will be able to interact with those they are sharing dinner with and it would allow them to make new friends.

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