Event - #Travel #Texas - #Fredericksburg - 80th Anniversary Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration - August 9, 2025

Fredricksburg, Texas - 80th Anniversary Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration
August 9, 2025
National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. There will be a moment of silence and an exhibit about bombings (atomic) and to honor those who lost their lives.
While you're visiting, check out The Manhattan Project at Nimitzplatz at 340 E. Main St (Free) to learn about the Atomic Bomb and about the people who made it.
Address: 311 E. Austin St, Fredericksburg, TX
Hours: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm CST
Fees: FREE
For more information - https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/event/hiroshima-nagasaki-commemoration

Book Review - The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line 2025

The Unofficial Guide is a wonderful resource for Disney planning (check out their website for lots of good info and tips). This updated book is a valuable resource full of deck plans, reviews of each of the current Disney ships (and a blurb about the future ships as well). There are detailed information on Disney's unique rotational dining with different restaurants and adults-only options as well. Lots of good information on Disney's new port at Fort Lauderdale. Helpful guides on preparing for your trip, packing, what to bring/not bring, embarkation and debarkation. Reviews of popular cruise itinerary destinations.

Title: The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line 2025 (Unofficial Guides)
Author: Tammy Whiting with Len Testa and Erin Foster
ISBN: 978-1628091625
Pages: 404

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Brownwood - Family Day - August 2, 2025

Brownwood, Texas - Family Day
August 2, 2025
Lehnis Railroad Museum and Visitor Center
Family Day is celebrated at the museum the First Saturday of every month with discounted entry fees. Train lovers will enjoy the exhibits in the museum including running model trains. Mini Train rides will be available depending on weather. Burn off energy with the fun play area for kids.
Combine your visit with a Wildflower Walk at the Lake Brownwood State Park from 9:30am to 12:30am.
Address: 700 E Adams St, Brownwood, TX
Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CST
Fees: $2.00 entry for ages over 4; train rides $2.00 per person
For more information - https://www.brownwoodtexas.gov/228/Lehnis-Railroad-Museum

Book Review - DK Eyewitness Travel - Family Guide Paris

I'm hoping to be able to take my family to Disneyland Paris at some point especially after the updates they made to the park, so I grabbed this Paris guide to see what other fun activities we could do and foods to try. DK Eyewitness Travel books are so colorful, and I love the detailed maps and floorplans. The "Lowdowns" sections are really helpful and give you the websites you can access for further research.

Keep in mind that this book was published in 2018 so always be sure to verify information like operating hours and costs ahead of time since Covid negatively impacted many businesses.

There's a great section on Disneyland with lots of information.

This book is broken out by areas which makes it easy to focus your day in a location. Lots of suggestions on dining, etiquette (especially helpful to know when dining in a restaurant as opposed to a cafe), shopping, and ways to entertain your children.

Title: DK Eyewitness Family Guide Paris (Travel Guide)
Author: DK Eyewitness
ISBN: 978-1465468185
Pages: 288

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #San Antonio - National Day of the Cowboy Aloha Vaqueros - July 26, 2025

San Antonio, Texas - National Day of the Cowboy Aloha Vaqueros
July 26, 2025
Briscoe Western Art Museum
Free admission to the museum in addition to a day of activities focused on cowboys including the paniolos (island cowboys) of Hawaii. Kids can ride stick ponies and race around barrels or play games like horseshoe toss. Arts and crafts such as making your own cowboy hat or spur. There will story time, poetry reading, and food trucks ($).
Address: 210 W. Market St, San Antonio, TX
Hours: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CST
Fees: FREE
For more information - https://briscoemuseum.org/etn/national-day-of-the-cowboy-aloha-vaqueros/

Book Review - Insider's Guide to Williamsburg and Virginia's Historic Triangle

Since I'm planning a trip to Busch Gardens Amusement Park this summer, I thought I'd pick up this guide to see what else I could see while I'm in Williamsburg, Virginia. This travel guide is divided into categories - Accommodations, Entertainment, Shopping, Parks and Recreation, and more.

I like the callout sections that describe some historical tidbits of an area since Williamsburg is so full of history and historical events. There's even detailed information concerning Busch Gardens. Lots of easy-to-read suggestions and even a section if you're considering retirement in the area.

Title: Insiders' Guide® to Williamsburg: And Virginia's Historic Triangle (Insiders' Guide Series)
Author: Susan Corbett
ISBN: 978-1493045310
Pages: 297

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Bryan - Wish Upon a Butterfly Fundraiser - July 19, 2025

Bryan, Texas - Wish Upon a Butterfly Fundraiser
July 19, 2025
Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History
The Brazor Valley Museum of Natural History will release Monarch butterflies into the skies as well as offer crafts and a "wish keepsake" for guests. Each ticket includes admission to the museum which features butterfly displays, live music, refreshments, and other activities. Also, children who come in a butterfly or caterpillar costume will receive a surprise gift!
Address: 3232 Briarcrest Dr, Bryan, TX
Hours: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CST
Fees: (see website)
For more information - https://www.brazosvalleymuseum.org/wish-upon-a-butterfly

Book Review - Bradt Travel Guide - 52 European Wildlife Weekends - A Year of Short Breaks for Nature Lovers

When I saw this book at my local library, the cute bear on the cover grabbed my attention. This is a really neat book that highlights some of the wildlife (birds, animals as well as interesting flowers) in easy-to-reach European cities. Listed by month when the wildlife is at its peak viewing period. Realistically, I probably wouldn't fly for 10 plus hours to get to a city for only a weekend visit but I would definitely add these tidbits to future trip itineraries.

Another great feature of this guide are the ratings for Accessibility (how easy it is to reach the location) and the Child-Friendliness rating (out of 5).

One thing this book could improve upon is to provide maps and an overall European map to show how far or close these locations are from each other. Might make it easier to plan a multi-stop trip without having to use the internet to check.

Title: 52 European Wildlife Weekends: A Year of Short Breaks for Nature Lovers (Bradt Travel Guide)
Author: James Lowen
ISBN: 978-1784770839
Pages: 246

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Blanket - 150th Anniversary Sesquicentennial Celebration - July 12, 2025

Blanket, Texas - 150th Anniversary Sesquicentennial Celebration
July 12, 2025
Downtown Blanket
Blanket is hosting a HUGE celebration for their 150th anniversary. Parade downtown starts at 10:00am (line up before 9:45 to get a good view). Interested in participating in the CookOff? Sign up between 9:00am and 10:00am in the Tent. Car show starts at 11:00am for 2 hours. Homemade Ice Cream starting at 3:30 under the tent. Blanket Museum will be open all day (9:00am to 5:00pm). Cookoff Awards at 7:00pm. Street Dance starts at 8:00pm.
Address: Downtown Square, Blanket, TX
Hours: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm CST
Fees: FREE
For more information - http://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FmK9bVYPw/

Book Review - Moon Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket by Ray Bartlett

If you are planning a trip to the Massachusetts coast, this book is a great guide. Lots of trip planning tips including how to get around the towns (especially during high peak season when there is very limited or almost non-existent parking). Local public transporation is always recommended. Where to park, where to eat, where to stay in addition to full-color maps. "Best of" suggestions with number of days to visit. Tips for the beaches. Food suggestions. Very good guide.

Title: Moon Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (Travel Guide)
Author: Ray Bartlett
ISBN: 978-1640492097
Pages: 272

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Brady - July Jubilee Parade and Street Dance - July 5, 2025

Brady, Texas - July Jubilee Parade and Street Dance
July 5, 2025
Brady Downtown Square
Start the day attending the fourth of july themed parade (check out that antique firetruck!) then stay until evening for the Streeet Dance Party which will have music, food vendors and more. Bring your own cooler of drinks (BYOB) with the purchase of a cooler tag. If you plan to spend the night, there's a fun Uncle Sam's Scramble 18 hole golf event at the Brady Municipal Golf Course; sign up at 1pm to play at 1:30pm then enjoy snacks afterwards.
Address: Brady Downtown Square, Brady, Texas
Hours: Parade is 10am; Street Dance gates open at 5:00pm and concert starts at 6:30pm
Fees: Parade is FREE; Street Dance $10 entry plus $5 cooler tag (purchase tickets on website)
For more information - https://www.bradytx.com

Event - #Travel #Texas - #Jacksboro - TNT Fest - June 28,2025

Jacksboro, Texas - TNT Fest
June 28, 2025
Downtown Square
Jacksboro has their Fourth of July party early - the last Saturday in June. Come to the square for a Concert starting at 8:00pm just before the Fireworks. There will be Vendors, Food Trucks, Games and more.
Address: Downtown Square, Jacksboro, Texas
Hours: 11:00am - Dark
Fees: FREE
For more information - www.cityofjacksboro.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=290

Florida - Orlando - Epic Universe - Visiting with Young Kids, Toddlers or Preschoolers

Epic Universe is Orlando's newest amusement park that just opened at the beginning of summer as part of the Universal Empire. I was lucky enough to be able to visit with my family while we were in Orlando (no, I wasn't sponsored or paid to visit). It's pricey and right now there are no deals or discounts (and the annual pass does not currently include this park). Parking costs extra and has its own dedicated lot (of course you could always get dropped off to avoid those high costs).

Be sure to download the app so you can check wait times, character or show schedules, and more. However, one note, sometimes the app would display a time for character meet-and-greet but they were not actually meeting. Always ask the cast member when characters plan to return or what is the last meeting time if you want to meet but they closed the line (which they do quickly!).

The park has so many things to see and do even without getting on rides such as shows and characters. Theme details are amazing. Keep in mind that there is a lot of walking and the weather is unpredictable (hot one second and pouring rain the next). I've found that the weather app is not reliable, so be sure to bring rain gear and/or umbrellas.

Most visitors are interested in the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ — Ministry of Magic™ land or the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ land and you will see some of the rides' wait times skyrocket to over an hour right away. Keep in mind, guests staying at select Universal Hotels/Resorts will get in the park an hour before it opens. That means those lines are already long before the gate for regular guests even opens (as we quickly discovered).

Stop by guest services or info booths to get your First Visit button (don't wait until the end of the day).


While guests were headed in those two directions, we headed toward How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk land. The rides had short lines or were walk-ons. Older kids, teens, and adults will want to ride Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and Dragon Racer’s Rally. The Fyre Drill water ride doesn't have any height requirements but really young children will struggle to reach the water-cannon shooter. There's cute dragon animatronics as well as a meet-and-greet (with longs lines). If you need a walking break, check out the show, The Untrainable Dragon.


Toddlers, preschoolers and young children will enjoy the Viking Training Camp playground. It's a massive playground with lots of hands-on activities. Ramps and stairs are available to reach the upper level. There is also a restroom within the playground area. They do shut down early before the rest of the park and there's limited adult seating.



Super Nintendo World seemed crowded throughout the entire day but there's plenty to do. One caveat is that at least one member of your party should purchase the interactive wristband ($50) in order to play the games and immersive experiences. Our family of 6 purchased only one wristband which we shared and that worked out. Some families bought each member a wristband. According to the website, they are usable at the park in Hollywood and in Japan. Also, if over-stimulation bothers you, I'd avoid this land as there is a lot of motion and sounds. There are pockets of quiet areas like toward the Mine-Cart ride (past the restooms and through the Donkey Kong tunnel). The ice cream stand, The Bubbly Barrel, is right inside the Donkey Kong area and had a yummy treat.


Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World was a fun experience but the food options might not appeal to picky eaters as they contain interesting forms of mushrooms or msuhroom-mixed-in-sauce. So the way the cafe works is you stand in line for a table which turns over pretty quickly. Then you order your food at your table using your device. The food does take a long time to arrive and you can't customize (ie, remove the mushrooms). I can recommend the Bowser's Fireball Challenge (hot sauce is on the side) but it contains a ground-beef meatball (pictured). The desserts are really cute and don't contain mushrooms so the kids enjoyed them (but they were a bit pricey). You can also add on a refillable sipper cup or drinks. The lines did get long during typical lunch and dinner hours.

The gift shops are a lot of fun and the younger ones enjoyed the A/C and were entertained by all the fun stuff while the older kids went on the rides. The Yoshi ride is good for younger kids but too "tame" for thrill seekers. The Mario fountain looked really pretty at night.

Dark Universe is the land of Monsters (like Frankenstein, his Bride, Ygor, The Invisible Man, and more. Younger kids did not like this land but were fine meeting the characters (the lines for the meet-and-greets were short). Thrill seekers will enjoy the rides. The Makeup experience wasn't available during our visit but that's fine as it costs an additional $45-$169 per person. The tunnel looks really neat at night.


The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic land is amazing even if you don't know or like the books or movies. The attention to detail to bring 1920's Paris to life is unbelievable. Like Mario Land, you will need to purchase a wand in order to bring the interactions to life or you can just hover while other guests use theirs. There is a fun circus show called Le Cirque Arcanus (check the app for times). The biggest feature here is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry motion ride (it's slightly tame as you just sit in a booth with limited motion but there are flashing visuals). Ride times skyrocketed to 305 minutes while I was in the park (and they do close the queue). I personally waited almost 3 hours as the ride kept breaking down but luckily we didn't have to evacuate. My four year didn't like the ride as it had too much side-to-side shaking. Also, you can look around inside without even waiting for the ride itself if you are a Harry Potter fan.

The rest of the land is fun to explore. We were invited by the roaming characters to check out the shops and restaurants which are full of movie references and images. They also have a butterbeer cart for those who'd like to try.


Celestial Park is a small area which has several eateries including the popular Pizza Moon. The Constellation Carousel is kid friendly but I noticed those guests who couldn't transfer out of a wheelchair were not able to ride even for the car-type seats (they're not able to lift guests). It's also very slow loading right and those with Express Pass will short-cut to front of line. The carousel looks really pretty at night with all the lights. There's also an interactive splash/spray ground called Astronomica so be sure to bring a change of clothes and towel.

If you manage to stay late enough, there is a fountain show in the Celestial Park area.

My family consists of several different-aged children whose ride-enjoyment range from not-scary to very-scary. So I got a bunch of questions when I got home from other parents, such as:

• Should I wait until my child is older? - My youngest is 4 and had a blast. For your family, however, you want to take into consideration the Florida heat and the long lines.
• My kids don't like rollercoasters. Will we have fun? - There are plenty of other rides, character meet-and-greets, and shows to enjoy. The lands are very immersive and enjoyable without doing any activity. You have to decide if that is worth the high cost of entrance.
• Our child is bothered by over-stimulation or loud noises. Will we have fun? - I would avoid Super Nintendo World Land as it can be over-stimulating. Some of the rides in other lands have loud noises, flashing lights, fast-moving images.
• We don't like baby rides. Are there enough thrill rides to keep us happy? - My thrill-ride loving kids enjoyed Monsters Unchained, Curse of the Werewolf, Dragon Racer's Rally, Stardust Racers, and Mine-Cart Madness. They thought Harry Potter was too tame.
• Should we go to Disney World or Epic Universe? - This is a difficult question because it depends on your family's needs. Disney is a lot bigger and has a lot more things to do. But it is expensive and can be overwhelming. If you have younger kids or Disney fans, I'd go to Disney. If you have any Mario or Harry Potter fans, I'd go to Epic.
• I don't like Harry Potter or Mario. Will we have fun? - Yes. I'm one of the few people who have not yet watched or read Harry Potter and I enjoyed the land. I thought Ninetendo land was fun even if I don't play video games. I haven't seen the How to Train Your Dragon movies in a long time but that land was also enjoyable.
• Should I purchase the Express Pass? - My family didn't purchase the pass and was able to ride everything they wanted to but it probably will depend on (a) how busy the park is and (b) how important the big rides are to your family like Harry Potter and Mario Kart Bowser's Challenge and (c) if your budget allows for adding the $129.99-$329.99 pass on top of your ticket price


Some Tips:

• If you buy a refillable cup, be aware that at the end of the day they run out of ice and soda options.
• Bring your own refillable waterbottles because Florida can get really hot
• Snacks are allowed. Bring snacks so you can eat your lunch later than the crowd.
• If you want to visit specific characters, make the effort to do that earlier in the day as they cut the lines quick and they stop meeting early.
• Restrooms have auto-flush in case your child freaks out about that.
• Guest Service lines got super-long at the end of the day and they cut the lines.


For more information, https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/epic-universe

Note - We were not sponsored or paid to visit or review Epic Universe.

Book Review - Moon Boston: Neighborhood Walks, Historic Highlights, Beloved Local Spots by Cameron Sperance

I really like this Moon guide for Boston as it's a little different than other travel guides as it focuses on neighborhoods. And for each neighborhood, they have full-color maps with walkable tours with suggestions, food options, shopping, and more. There are day trip suggestions as well as longer trip ideas. There's a nice Revolutionary Timeline for those interested in the history within the city. You can also find info on public transportation, how to get around, and travel tips.

Title: Moon Boston: Neighborhood Walks, Historic Highlights, Beloved Local Spots (Travel Guide)
Author: Cameron Sperance
ISBN: 978-1640498624
Pages: 490

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Book Review - Lonely Planet Epic Drives of the World

If you ever wander around the travel section of your local library or the bookstore there is a small section on road trips and awe-inspiring drives. That's how I came upon this big book of drives around the world.

For those of us who enjoy road trips and admiring views from the window of a vehicle, this is a great guide. The book covers six continents with bucket list routes such as Crossing the Kalahari (in Botswana - which is also on my bucket list for safaris), The Pacific Coast Highway, India's road from Srinagar to Manali, the Black Forest High Road of Germany, and more. Beautiful photography. Well written and clear. The only negative is that it was published in 2017 so some of the data might need updates (always check ahead before starting your journey to be sure areas are still accessible).

Title: Lonely Planet Epic Drives of the World
Author: Lonely Planet
ISBN: 978-1786578648
Pages: 328

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Travel - Texas - McKinney - Heard Museum - Bugs Live

Now through June 29th the Heard Museum in McKinney, Texas is featuring giant bugs along their outdoor walking trail loop. Many of the bugs are animatronic and move. None are particularly scary. Unlike Dinosaurs Live, none of them squirt water. The trail is included in the price of museum admission. And the Butterfly Garden is also open during this event and is included in admission (along with a few native animals).



The gravel-covered walking trail was a bit slippery due to the leaves from the trees so if anyone in your party has mobility issues, be cautious. Wheelchairs and scooters might be able to get around as they do have ramps available. Restrooms outside were closed at the time of our visit but they have restrooms inside the museum on both first and second floors. The museum does have working elevators.

There are also a few photo-ops such as this giant caterpillar. Just past the bug trail is a nice western-style village of playhouses for young children to release some energy.



The Butterfly Garden is set aways back from the museum past the Texas Animals exhibits in a large greenhouse-type building with special doors. Due to the nature of the doors opening and closing manually, not sure if scooters or wheelchairs can maneuver inside the butterfly house easily (call to confirm). Young children need to be reminded not to keep the doors open (and let the butterflies out). There is a box full of cocoons from which butterflies emerge. Signs explain which types of butterflies are flying around and what type of flowers attract them.

Overall, young children will enjoy the bug animatronics and the Butterfly Garden.

Where: Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: 1 Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069

Hours: Summer Hours (Now through August 2): Monday – Friday: 7:30AM – 3:30PM, Saturday: 7:30AM – 9:00PM, Sunday: 1:00PM – 5:00PM

Fees: Adult $15.00, Child (3-12) and Seniors $11.00, Children under 3 are free

For more information, https://www.heardmuseum.org/

Book Review - The Unofficial Dollywood Cookbook by Erin K Browne

This isn't a travel guide or a travel book, but a cookbook full of recipes for Dollywood-style foods, snacks, and drinks. There are over 100 easy to follow recipes. Plus there are fun anecdotes, a bit of history, and information of the Dollywood amusement park and the other entertainment venues (Splash Country, Dream More Resort and Spa, and the Stampede show). You will find a section for Cooking and Baking tips in addition to Helpful Tools. In the Appendix, you will find Dollywood maps and Standard US/Metric Measurement Conversions.

Here are some interesting facts: As of 2023 (when this book was published), Dollywood produces 212,250 loaves of cinnamon bread in an average season! And 614,000 pounds of popcorn! For those who love powdery crispy funnel cakes, they make 87,000!

Chapters include "Smoky Mountain Snacks", "Lunch in the Foothills", "Dinner with Dolly", "Southern Sides", "Lovin' from the Oven", "Country Candy and Ice Cream", and "Back Porch Sips"

Title: The Unofficial Dollywood Cookbook
Author: Erin K. Browne
ISBN: 978-1-5072-1996-4
Pages: 239

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