Event - #Travel - #Texas - New Braunfels - The Peddler Show - August 7-9, 2026

New Baunfels, Texas - The Peddler Show
August 7-9, 2026
New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center
Since 1977, New Braunfels has hosted this vendor-oriented show with a small gap and now it's back!
Come browse over 70 booths of shopping, services, food and drinks. Christmas is only four months away so what a great place to get your shopping done early while support local and small businesses.
While you're in town, check out these other activities:
Preschool/Toddler Dance Party - August 7th from 10:30am CST - 11:00am CST at the Main Library Branch (700 E. Common St). (FREE) Bring your kiddos for some fun dancing and book reading time.
First Friday Art Haus - August 7th from 6:00pm CST - 9:00pm CST. (FREE) Opportunity to enjoy art, live music and entertainment with others in the parking lot on the Main Plaza (263 Main Plaza).
Night Hike at the Fischer Park Nature Education Center on August 8th from 8:45pm CST - 9:45pm CST. ($8 per person; kids under 3 are FREE).

Address: 375 S. Castell Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Hours: Friday 12:00pm CST - 6:00pm CST; Saturday 9:00am CST - 6:00pm CST; Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm CST
Fees: Everyone over age 12 will pay $10.00 to enter.

For more information, click here: https://peddler.tixonlinenow.com/newbraunfelsaug/

Review - Travel - Florida - Orlando - Walt Disney World - Disney Springs - Fourth of July Weekend and the New Level 99

Yep, I'm a month late posting my July fourth weekend travels. It seems my calendar has been booked solid this last month plus some weekend trips here and there which I'll get to - eventually. Anyhoo, Fourth of July weekend at Disney World is always busy because most families take a long weekend to visit Orlando.

What is Disney Springs?

Disney Springs, if you've never been, is the giant outdoor mall of Disney World. There are a lot of high-end brands (Tommy Bahama, Anthropologie, Coach, Lily Pullitzer, and more) and some trendy brands (Corkcicle, Everything But Water, and more). You can find lots of restaurants and food stalls. Amorette's Patisserie is highly recommended for their Disney-themed cakes and their cake-decorating classes. Everglazed™ Donuts and Cold Brew has fun donut flavors in addition to more normal flavors and a cool prop for photos outside. And of course you can find lots of Disney-themed stores and the World of Disney store is the biggest Disney store in the world. Uniqlo is a fun Japanese casual wear store which offers Disney-themed merchandise only here. San Francisco-based Gheradelli's is here and they have the same menu items (nothing special for Orlando or Disney). They used to have free chocolate candy samples in their store which wasn't the case the last time I visited due to the remodel but they might have brought it back. You can also get free cups of water here without waiting in the order queue.

How do I get to Disney Springs?

You can get dropped off (by bus, Disney bus if you're a paid guest, uber/lyft, etc) or you can park in one of their massive parking garages (named, appropriately for Florida, as Lime, Orange or Grapefruit). You will see signs letting you know if a particular garage is full (then just go to the next garage). Inside each garage is a board letting you know which floors have spaces available and each floor has parking available lights at the ends of the rows and above each parking spot (red means not available and green means available). There is also surface-level parking but it fills up really quickly especially if there's a Cirque du Soleil show.

Everyone goes through the security line to get into the shopping area. I recommend keeping umbrellas and phone chargers out because those always set off the alarm for extra checking.

You can bring strollers. You can bring food and drinks.

Will I see Fireworks?

This year there were no drone shows or fireworks or other displays.

You may be able to see small bits of the nightly EPCOT fireworks show from a really high spot at Disney Springs such as Aerophile - The World in Balloon ride (if you time it right), the top level of the parking garages, the top level of the Coca Cola store.

The AMC movie theatre at Disney Springs plays the latest movies and there's a special Star Wars Galactic ID Maker machine inside to try before heading to watch your movie. The fun part, in my kids' opinions, is having food delivered to your theatre seat. Of course it's fun when someone else is buying.

Do they have special treats for Fourth of July?

Absolutely! You can find special treats and drinks at many of the vendors. Because this year was also America's 250th birthday, they also had products and deals to coincide with that. So for next year, keep your eyes out for special Fourth of July cakes and cocktails.

If you're planning a trip soon, they already have Halloween-themed treats and drinks for sale.

Should I bring the kids to Disney Springs?

I always do. Keep in mind two things - if you're on a budget, inform your kids up front because there will be a lot of "I want this" type of whines. And the second thing will be the amount of walking. I always bring a stroller for the younger kids even if they insist on walking. There are some experiences you can purchase like the carousel and the train. There are also a lot of entertainment that is free especially in the evenings. If you visit during the holidays you can get a scavenger hunt type map and stickers to keep kids entertained while you browse the shops.

One place I always take my kids is the Lego Store. There's a queue to get into the store which in the evenings can run long. But once you're inside, there is some hands-on minifig building and on the way out they have brought back the car build and race ramps. If you're kids are real Lego fanatics, you might not be able to leave empty handed so consider that before getting in line. They do have a great wall of parts where you can fill a box with any part you want from the wall display and then pay a set price. That's how my family has ended up with hundreds of Lego pink heart pieces.

Level 99 is the newest entertainment venue at Disney Springs which caters to teens (aged 12+) and adults. It took over the spot formerly occupied by Disney Quest and then the NBA Experience. Young kids will not be admitted and I've seen plenty crying outside because their parents didn't know. The games are challenging and timed so it makes sense. The premise is hands-on puzzles you work through as a team of 2-6 players. Each puzzle takes about 1-4 minutes. My older kids really enjoyed it. There are two options for length of play - 1.5 hours or 2.5 hours. The site has dynamic pricing so tickets for 1.5 hours starts at $29.99 and goes up. For 2.5 hours it starts at $39.99 and goes up. There is also food and drinks available for sale which is great for a rainy day so you can stay inside.

Also if you visit during the Christmas holiday, be sure to check out the decorated trees, plants and photo-ops.

Visiting Disney Springs Tip - bring your umbrella. Almost every time we visit there is a drizzle or what locals call a five-minute-downpour. If it's not raining, you can always use your umbrella to make your own shade on a hot and humid afternoon.

Overall, Disney Springs is a nice break from the amusement parks and a good opportunity to "chill" for a few hours.

If you need more information, check out https://www.disneysprings.com/

More info on Level 99 can be found here: https://www.level99.com/?loc=disney-springs-fl

Book Review - Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local

If you're planning a trip to Paris, France, this is a really useful book to take with you. It's small enough to fit into your backpack or sling bag (or you can rip out the pages you need and take them with you).

The book contains 6 suggested walking itineraries. Each itinerary comes with an introduction to the walk, an overview of the neighborhoods, a "short on time" section that emphasizes the main sights to see, a full-color map with points of interest labeled (which are also color-coded), and the walk description (with the labels included). Followed by more details sections for "sights and attractions", "food and drink", "shopping" and "more to explore" which also correspond to the color-coded labels.

The introduction of the book includes lots of useful information - good to know practical info, museums, French food culture, useful shopping tips, public holidays, transportation and biking, Top 10 sights and museums, Top 10 restaurants, Top 10 On Sundays, and Top 10 Nightlife.

Walk 1 = Batignolles and Montmartre

Walk 2 = Quartier des Martyrs, Grands Boulevards, Louvre, and Madeleine

Walk 3 = Les Halles and Le Marais

Walk 4 = Les Iles, Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Pres

Walk 5 = Eiffel Tower, Invalides and Champs-Elysees

Walk 6 = Belleville, Canal Saint-Martin and Menilmontant

The very last chapter offers more things to do "With More Time".

In summary, this is a keeper to take with you on your French trip.

Title: Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local
Author: Moon Travel Guides
ISBN: 979-8886470222
Pages: 152

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Event - #Travel #Texas - Temple - Dig It! Family Day - August 1, 2026

Temple, Texas - Dig It! Family Day
August 1, 2026
Santa Fe Depot
Bring your kids for some hands-on fossil digging and other fun activities. Get ready to get dirty!
While you're in town, check out nearby Chalk Ridge Falls (5600 FM 1670) or Lake Belton (11725 W. Adams Avenue). Check the website down below for more FREE things to do.

Address: 315 W Avenue B, Temple, TX, United States, Texas 76501
Hours: 10:00 am CST - 1:00 pm CST
Fees: FREE

For more information, click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/315-w-avenue-b-temple-tx-united-states-texas-76501/dig-it-family-day/1727791668556671/

For more about Temple, Texas, click here: https://www.discovertemple.com

Book Review - Road Trip Survival Guide by Samantha Brown

If you're planning any type of road trip, you'll want to read through this book. Even if you're not going on a road trip, there is plenty of information and inspiration to get out of this book.

The first chapter focuses on planning your trip - researching your destination, making your trip more green (environmentally friendly), and some inspirational trips.

Chapter two has lots of good advice for packing and vehicle organizing plus packing lists.

The next chapter offers suggestions on snacks to make and bring with you (and thereby saving money and time).

I found the "Safety" chapter useful for any trip with tips on vehicle safety and road conditions, night driving, and other safety resources.

Chapter five has some great itinerary suggestions for road trips in the United States as well as Canada and Mexico.

Overall, this is a great book. Try to find it in your local library.

Title: The Road Trip Survival Guide: Tips and Tricks for Planning Routes, Packing Up, and Preparing for Any Unexpected Encounter Along the Way
Author: Samantha Brown
ISBN: 978-1982177072
Pages: 204

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Book Review - Fodor's Travel - Mexico City

If you're planning a trip to Mexico City or even a stopover, get this guide. It is full of useful information and full-color maps.

Chapter One highlights Mexico City starting with "20 Ultimate Experiences" with colorful photographs. I like the "What to Eat and Drink in Mexico City" guide (especially for someone from Texas who is used to Tex-Mex) and the "What to Buy in Mexico City" guide. There's "Best Museums" and "Under the Radar" guides as well. And for history buffs, there's "A Brief History of Mexico City".

Chapter Two contains the vital information - "Know Before You Go", "Getting Here and Around", "Essentials" and even a pullout "Helpful Phrases in Spanish" guide.

The next eleven chapters are the various neighborhoods (barios) such as Alameda Central, Benito Juarez, Roma, Condesa, Coyoacan, Sn Angel, and more. Each chapter has a snapshot guide and a full-color map with highlighted bullets along with sights, restaurants, and hotels with ratings and detailed information.

"Side Trips from Mexico City" is a great chapter with suggestions on quick trips to places with ruins or beaches. There's a useful planning section.

The last sections include Maps and Indexes. The very last page includes a handy Metro map.

Overall, a great guide to Mexico City. This book was published in 2024 but still verify all the information before travelling.

Title: Fodor's Mexico City
Author: Fodor's Travel Author
ISBN: 978-1640976993
Pages: 368

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Book Review - Wild Play: Parenting Adventures in the Great Outdoors by David Sobel

If you've never heard of David Sobel, do a quick google search. He has extensive information and has written many books on enjoying nature and the outdoors with including children.

This is a not a travel guide but rather a blend of memoir of David Sobel's family's adventures as they expored nature through different experiences and a guide on how you can enjoy nature with your own family. You might be inspired by the many stories to try new experiences as well.

This book is divided into parts based on a child's developmental phase along with a location that metaphorical aligns with that age. Part one focuses on Early Childhood (which he suggests covers ages two to seven) in the Meadow. Part two deals with Middle Childhood (ages seven through thirteen) in the Forest. Part three goes into Adolescence (ages thirteen up to eighteen) on the Rocky Ridge. Part four jumps up to Early Adulthood (ages over eighteen) in the Orchard.

I found the little snippets throughout the reading where there's a date and David's children's ages so we get context on what they are experiencing.

Chapter Nine disrupts the dreamlike narrative with discussion on the divorce that David experiences (a bit unexpectedly). The desire to continue taking his two children on natural adventures is touching.

Overall, this is a nice read and you may find some suggestions on experiencing your own natural adventures. Try to find a copy at your local library.

Title: Wild Play: Parenting Adventures in the Great Outdoors
Author: David Sobel
ISBN: 978-0996267694
Pages: 256

This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites it may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any extra cost to you.