Book Review - DK Eyewitness Travel - Off The Tourist Trail

This massive (and heavy) book is absolutely loaded with suggested places to visit that rival famous and very touristy locations and even popular festivals. Full-color photos will inspire you. Most of the suggestions come with Practical Information boxes with "Getting There and Around", "When to Go", and a useful website for more information. I like the This vs That format of each location and even offers a little side bar about why you should skip the more famous site.

My favorite part of the book are the chapters titled "Less-Explored" such as "Less-Explored New York" and "Less-Explored San Francisco" located toward the end. They offer unique and interesting experiences without dealing with the long lines or high prices. "Less-Explored New York", for example, has suggestions for Off-Broadway Theater and Performances, international foods to try, Hidden Parks, Music Venues, and suggestions on where to stay and where to eat.

Also at the end of every section are these great "44 More" sights to explore with pages full of great suggestions.

The section "Ancient and Historical Sights" highlights plenty of interesting alternatives such as Pyramids of Meroe in Sudan versus the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt followed by 4 more pyramids to check out. Avebury versus Stonehenge followed by 6 more prehistoric sites. Pula Arena in Croatia versus Rome's Colosseum. This is followed by 6 more amphitheaters to visit.

The "Festivals and Parties" section has suggestions all over the world including Salvador Carinval versus Rio Carnival. Both are in Brazil but the Salvador version offers more participation and is actually the biggest street party in the world. This is followed by 4 more Carnival parties to attend. If you enjoy music, check out the Montreal Jazz Festival versus the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland - it's much closer and much more manageable.

"Great Journeys" section includes chapters "Less-Travelled China" and "Less-Travelled India" in addition to famous treks such as Coastal Route 15 in Mexico versus Route 66 in USA or a Pilgrimage to Rome vs Camino de Santiago in Spain.

"Architectural Marvels" section includes lots of famous structures including Haghia Sophia in Istanbul versus Basilica San Marco in Venice. Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles versus Sydney Opera House in Australia (and it's much closer for us). Notre-Dame d'Amiens in France versus Notre-Dame de Paris.

The next section, "Natural Wonders" has several good American options - Devil's Tower in Wyoming and Bryce Canyon in Utah, but then the authors choose Iceland over Yellowstone.

The "Beaches" section has some gorgeous pictures. Turtle Bay in Watamu, Kenya, Sabratha in Libya, Manzanillo Beach in Costa Rica, and more.

"Sports and Activities" section has some adventurous options. Skiing in Kicking Horse versus Whistler in Canada. Hiking Mount Stanley in Uganda versus Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Diving in Australia's Christmas Island versus The Great Barrier Reef.

"Art and Culture" section includes some interesting options such as Wine-Tasting in Mendoza in Argentina versus Napa Valley. Rock Art of Drakensburg in South Africa versus The Cave Paintings of Lascaux in France. Lyonnaise Cuisine versus Parisian Cuisine. New York's Independent Galleries versus MoMa also in New York.

And finally, "Cities" section featues a lot of "Less-Explored" chapters in addition to a nifty Geographical Index.

Overall, this is a great book to get inspired for some new places to visit and new experiences to try. The price of the book is pretty reasonable. I leave my copy on the coffee table so guests can also feel inspired by the beautiful full color photographs.

Title: Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives
Author: DK Publishing
ISBN: 978-0756653996
Pages: 336

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Event - #Travel #Texas - Marshall - Rueggenfest - September 12, 2026

Marshall, Texas - Rueggenfest
September 12, 2026
Rueggenbach Brewing Co
Men, put on your liederhosen. Women, done your favorite dirndls (dress). Let's head to Marshall for a German-inspired festival with games, live bands, craft beers, and lots of heritage.
Check the website for useful "how to get here" information and some links to local hotels.
Some other fun activities: Dauschund Races (at 2:30pm CST), Keg Rolling (at 3:00pm CST) and Yodeling (at 6:00pm CST). Plus costume contests and other fun activities. Prost!

Address: 108 W. Houston St, Marshall, Texas
Hours: 11:00am CST - 8:00pm CST
Fees: FREE but vendor costs vary

For more information, click here: https://www.rueggenbach.com/rueggenfest

Book Review - Lonely Planet: Sustainable Escapes

This book starts with a well-written introduction to sustainable travel which is summarized as "tourism that delivers meaningful guest experiences and benefits locals without negatively influencing communities and the environment." As a traveler, it often means choosing a vendor that utilizes local resources or invests in their local community in a positive way. I was also surprised that many of the places highlighted in this were actually reasonably priced.

Right after the intro is a nice highlight of "Innovative Sustainable Tourism Attractions Around the World" which features 12 sites that were cutting edge in 2020 when this edition of the book was published.

The next chapter focuses on "Nature" with color-coded dots to showcase Wildlife Watching, Outdoor Adventure, and/or Conservation. Each listing includes bullet highlights of the location and a side bar which includes cost (when available), typical food offered, location and website. The chapter contains a guide on "7 Tips for Responsible Wildlife Interactions" which is a bit eye-opening.

"Relaxation" is the next chapter with color-coded dots for Eco-Luxury, Sustainable Dining, and Wellness. This chapter contains a note on "7 Ways to Reduce Waste on Your Travels" with simple tips anyone can try to incorporate.

Next is the chapter on "Culture" with color-coded dots for Community Interaction, Arts and Traditions, and Homestays. Within this chapter is a useful guide on "How to Choose a Responsible Tour Operator". The colored sidebar offers great suggestions on a responsible tour.

The next chapter is titled "Urban" for locations in cities and the color-coded dots include Eco-Luxury, Sustainable Dining, and Community Interaction. Many of the places in major cities are actually reasonably priced. The guide "Identifying a Sustainable Sleep" has some tips on picking a good place to spend the night (not necessarily a resort or hotel).

Next is a chapter on "Learning" where you can combine your travel with education but some of these tours might be a bit of a monetary stretch such as the Antarctica Scientific Expedition Cruise running over USD$14,000. But that is offset by the absolutely free Australia Beach Clean Up 10 day Expeditions. This chapter also contains the guide "How to Choose a Sustainable Volunteering Project"

Since this book was published back in 2020, you will want to verify all the information before making reservations or heading out.

Overall, this was a great book to find locations to stay at or visit that will minimize your impact on the planet and, for many locations, without spending gobs of money. Try to find this book at your local library or through inter-library loan programs.

Title: Lonely Planet Sustainable Escapes
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1838690373
Pages: 256

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Event - #Travel - #Texas - Slaton - 2026 Texas Banana Pudding Festival - September 5, 2026

Slaton, Texas - 2026 Texas Banana Pudding Festival
September 5, 2026
Slaton Bakery
There are people in my life who think they know how to make Banana Pudding. Well, they don't. It's terrible.
But, here is an opportunity for us to try four professionally made puddings (one is not banana) and $5 for every ticket is donated to charity. You will get 5oz of each flavor.
The website says we can bring coolers to take any leftovers home (which I doubt there will be any).
This is a bigger event than just eating pudding. There will be music, vendors and other entertainment as well. The whole town will turn up.

Address: 109 S 9th St Slaton, Tx 79364
Hours: 10:00am CST - 2:00pm CST
Fees: Puddin' Pass is $26.50 online ($25 plus $1.50 fee)

For more information, click here: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/slaton-bakery/2026-texas-banana-pudding-festival

Book Review - Subpar Planet by Amber Share

This is a fun, entertaining book that features some of the most famous landmarks and tourist destinations around the world and what a one-star reviewer said about them.

The author describes each location in great detail with some insight, oftentimes questioning what the reviewer might have experienced. One example: Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada which someone said was "Not Really the Best Place". Amber then discusses the appeal of the park and what a typical tourist might actually experience such as the blue and green lakes filled by glaciel melt, wildflowers in the Sunshine Meadows, and more. Another example: Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The reviewer said "Not as Spectacular as I Had Thought". Ouch. Amber gives the background of this masterpiece with the Emperor Shah Jahan who commissioned it in the 17th century for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died after having 14 children.

The chapters are broken out by continent or region - Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Each chapter has a colorful map of locations.

On pages 40 and 41 are a great "Which Waterfall is 'Best'" discussion comparing some of the most famous waterfalls in the world.

Pages 114 and 115 illustrate "The Big Five", the animals most people want to see when they head to Africa for a safari.

There's a funny chapter called "How to Have an Absolutely Terrible Time Traveling" at the end. This chapter offers some useful advice on not overloading your trip or your expectations.

This is not an actual travel guide but reading through the author's descriptive research, it's hard not to add many of these sites to your bucket list of places to visit. Definitely look for it in your local library for a quick, easy read.

Title: Subpar Planet: The World's Most Celebrated Landmarks and Their Most Disappointed Visitors
Author: Amber Share
ISBN: 978-0593473177
Pages: 254

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Event - #Travel #Texas - Fredericksburg - Gillespie County Fair and Festival - August 27-30, 2026

Fredericksburg, Texas - Gillespie County Fair and Festival
August 27-30, 2026
Gillespie County Fairgrounds and Exhibition Hall
Gillespie County is hosting this year's 138th fair! It's the oldest continuous county fair in Texas.
Check out the antique tractor pull and the 42 domino tournament (which I've never seen before so I'll be stopping by to watch).
There will be livestock shows, contests, goat roping, and horse races as well as other agriculture-related exhibits. Check the website for entry details if you want to participate.
Of course there's a carnvial and midway.
From the website under "concessions": All food and beverages must be purchased with tickets. 1 ticket = $1. Beer/Wine (limit of 2 per person) are 5 tickets each. Sodas are 2 tickets. Water is 1 ticket.
Per the "FAQ" on the website - No dogs allowed. No coolers allowed. You can bring a lawn chair.

Address: 530 Fair DriveFredericksburg, Texas 78624
Hours: Hours vary
Fees: Entry fees, Concession and activity prices vary. If you purchase entry tickets online they add a service fee.

For more information, click here: https://gillespiefair.com/

Book Review - Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World's Leading Travel Authority

When planning a vacation, if you lean towards activities that are more physical or challenging such as running marathons or rock climbing in the desert, this is the book for you.

For me and my family, I focused on activities that young children could enjoy which wasn't many. Here are the chapters that could fall into the family-friendly category or could be re-worked a bit to become family-friendly: Going to Extremes (a few choices such as the Dead Sea, Greenland, Vatican City), Best Four-Legged Adventures (Reindeer Sledding, Dog Mushing (check on age range requirements), Wagon Train Adventure), Boy's (and Girl's) Own Adventures, Get Your Thrills Indoors (Chakazoolu Indoor Theme Park or Indoor Skiing and Snowboarding), Intrepid Treasure-Hunting Trips (Gold Panning in British Columbia, Canada), Best Undiscovered US Parks, and a chapter dedicated to Family-Friendly Adventures (options like beaches in Bali, Indonesia or Ranching in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Are you a strong swimmer and enjoy water activities, check out these chapters: Best Spots to Catch a Big Wave, Wildest Swims in the World, Epic Sea-Kayak Paddles, Sail or Bust, Get on Board, Truly Wild Waterways, Best Rafting Rivers, Sweetest Snorkel Spots, and more.

Enjoy rock climbing, these might appearl to you: Mountain Quests, Most Spectacular Rock Climbs, Rock Stars: World's Best Bouldering, Best Beginners' Climbs, and more.

Prefer running or extreme hiking? How about Gotta Be In It to Win It: Best Races, Downhill Dashes, Mind-Blowing Marathons, Best Treks with Killer Views, Best ultra Runs, World's Highest Treks, Longest Treks, and more.

Like animals plus adventure (no petting zoos in here), try these: Scariest Animal Encounters, Most Excellent Equine Escapades, Best Birding in Highlands and Islands, Essential African Adventures, and more.

This book was published in 2013 so double-check all the locations to be sure they are still open to tourists and the information is correct.

For a family of young children or for really lazy people who prefer relaxing, this wasn't a very useful guide but there were a few suggestions. If you enjoy daring activities, you'll get plenty of inspiration.

Title: Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World's Leading Travel Authority
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1743217191
Pages: 352

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