New Braunfels, Texas - Santa's Ranch
November 1, 2025 - January 4, 2025
Santa's Ranch
Families have been coming to Santa's Ranch to view the holiday light displays for over 20 years and I can't wait to return. There's just something magical about holiday light displays. It connects all types of people and cultures. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, the lights are wonderful.
The lights are set up so that you stay in your car and drive slowly along to take pictures. In addition to the 3 million lights, they also have a concession stand (menu with prices are available at park entry). They have three sets of restrooms - at the beginning, at the concession stand, and at the end. Also, it's rain or shine.
Address: 9561 I-35 North, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Hours: 6:00pm CST - 10:00pm CST (Sun-Thurs); 6:00pm CST - 11:00pm CST (Fri-Sat)
Fees: Single Pass – $37+tax per vehicle or Season Pass – $74+tax per vehicle
For more information - https://santasranch.com/
Travel - Oklahoma - Oklahoma City - Six Flags Frontier City - Fright Fest and Boo Fest
Since there were only a few days left for Fright Fest, our family decided to endure the loooong 3 hour drive from our home in Dallas to visit Frontier City just outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We drove up Interstate 35 which has a lot of construction going on - even through the night - so beware of closed lanes and slow trucks.
One note is that the park doesn't have clear signage on where guests should enter along the road. After you exit I-35 you will go along E Hefner Rd. Pass N. Coltrane Rd which is actually one of the the parking lot exits. the actual entrance is just past the park to an entry sign. Parking is either $30 for standard or $40 for premium, but the parking lot is really small so there is no need to upgrade to the higher priced parking unless you have the need.
During the day from 1pm to 4pm CST (but they closed up most activities before 3:30pm) children can participate in Boo Fest throughout the Happy Trails children's area. Start at the first stop on the left and ask for a treat bag. Then go stop-to-stop for fun Halloween-themed crafts, games or more candy. One note is none of the candy contains chocolate and many of the candies were really sticky (like airheads). I recommend bringing your own bag because the bags are not easy to carry and they are also too small to hold any of your crafts, OR, one of the craft stations has large white paper bags to decorate you can use (but they are hard to carry around too).
One craft station features pumpking decorating with paint markers. You grab a pumpking and head up the stairs (or walk a few feet over to the ramp up) to tables that have TONS of paint markers to use.
Throughout the area are decorated pumpkins that small kids can climb inside or face-cut-out photo props.
At the end of the Happy Trails area (right next to the restrooms) is a fun Little Monster Maze. Note, there are only 2 days left for Boo Fest - October 25th and 26th.
Fright Fest starts around 6:00pm CST and ends at 10:00pm CST Friday through Sunday. The last day for Fright Fest this year is November 1st. Fright Fest is included in the price of your entrance but the Haunted Attractions are not. You can buy a combo ticket (entry + Haunted Attractions) or an add-on Haunted Attractions pass online or at the gate. There are five haunted mazes, several scare zones and some Halloween-Themed shows. Like other parks, the scare zones are easy to find with the fog machines blowing out clouds of fog and black lighting.
One thing that was different at Frontier City's Fright Fest than other parks I've attended recently was the Fright Fest Parade (which isn't advertised online and I only found out when they started blocking the street). You will see several themed cars (like above) and most of the entertainers who are working the festival. Just a note, many of the entertainers target young kids and those who look scared. There are loud noises (chainsaws and metal scraping the cement) and some screaming. I'd keep younger kids away from the main street just in case.
Although there are not a lot of food options throughout the park (and note, Wild Bill's Chicken is currently closed) they did offer some Fright Fest specialty items for sale (or as part of your add-on Dining Pass).
The Pumpkin Patch snack was delicious (I mean, it's fried donut balls, of course it would be delicious). Bring patience as the food locations are understaffed. The Fort is the main dining hall with options plus drink refill area and a central restroom location. Avoid the back room with broken-down and non-working arcade machines.
The Fort also hosted a magic show (at 4pm CST and 5:30pm) and then freak shows afterwards. There are also some live entertainment shows across the way (near the spinning rides) but they are short so get there early to not miss the fun.
Overall, it was a good visit for a small park with enough to keep older and younger kids entertained and fed.
Address: 11501 N-I35 Service Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73131
For more info: https://www.sixflags.com/frontiercity
Book Review - Fodor's Travel Guide - Essential Costa Rica
Costa Rica has become a popular tourist destination and is definitely on my bucket list. A lot of airlines fly directly to the city of San Jose which is in the center of the country or Liberia which is in the northwest. Cruise lines are also making Costa Rica a stop on their itinerary. This guide is massive and very thorough with lots of colorful pictures and maps.
"Experience Costa Rica" is the first chapter and lists out most of the "must do" reasons to visit Costa Rica - Top 18 experiences, Best Beaches, Best Ecolodges, What to Eat and Drink, Eccotourism, Outdoor Adventures, Weddings or Honeymoons, The People, and Families. Followed by a "Travel Smart" section listing out how to get here and get around, the main language is Spanish and there's a handy guide of useful phrases, What to Pack (expect rainy weather), Tours and Calendars. The rest of the book is divided out into areas starting with San Jose, The Central Valley, Northern Lowlands, GuanaCaste, The Nicoya Peninsula, Central Pacific Coast, South Pacific, and The Caribbean Coast.
Each section lists contains a map, detailed information on the national park within it, food and accomodation suggestions, "planning your time" info, nightlife and shopping. I really appreciate the safety callouts for some of the more adventurous activities (like ziplines). The table of contents lists out all the maps with page numbers if you want to pull those out to pack in your luggage (like I do since I don't trust Wifi internationally). Excellent guide published in 2025.
Title: Fodor's Travel Guide - Essential Costa Rica
Author: Fodor's Travel Guide
ISBN: 9781640976924
Pages: 528
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - Moon Guide - Idaho by James Patrick Kelly
The first section of this book, "Discover Idaho" is full color and shows highlights as well as info on planning your trip, Idaho's Best Road Trips, Wine Country Weekend, Rest and Relaxation, High-Country Adventures, and the Quest for the Perfect Powder. The middle chunk of the book is divided into areas starting with Boise, Southwest Idaho (Owyhee Mountains and Canyonlands), Magic Valley (Twin Falls, North and South Snake River), Southeast Idaho (American Falls, Teton Basin), Sun Valley and the Sawtooths, North-Central Idaho, The Panhandle (The Silvery Valley, Priest Lake). Then the back of the book has useful Essentials (Travel tips, transportation and getting around, Health and Safety) and resources.
This book was published in early 2016 so double-check all your plans before you head out as times, prices and operations might have changed.
Title: Moon Guide - Idaho
Author: James Patrick Kelly
ISBN: 9781631210150
Pages: 449
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Travel - Texas - Arlington - Six Flags Over Texas - Fright Fest, Oktoberfest and Tricks and Treats
My family attended Six Flags Over Texas Tricks and Treats/Oktoberfest/ Fright Fest this past weekend after missing it for a few years. I think the kids' activities during the day were much better than they have been in the past and I'll get into those in a minute. The nighttime "scares" were much calmer, more organized, and (in my opinion) less scary - it seemed to us that teenage girls were the most scared by the costumed performers. Lots of screams there. We did not go inside the haunted houses as that requires purchasing a separate ticket ($30).
The park wasn't too crowded during the day. Most of the Fright Fest revelers seemed to trickle in later in the afternoon. Although the lines were shorter, a lot of rides kept breaking down especially popular rides like Batman, Titan, and the Texas Giant. The line for the new Aquaman was quite short - keep in mind the front row gets SOAKED.
Tricks and Treats
For kids, there is a fun little Trick-er-Treat area in the French area where the Fort stands. Kids and adults can get a free bag and go door-to-door ringing the doorbells for treats. In previous years, costumed characters handed out candy in the Bugs Bunny Boomtown area. There are characters to see but on a different street further away from the Bugs Bunny Boomtown area. It's not exactly a trail like advertised, more like just a bunch of small houses in a circle. And, for convienence, the restroom is next door.
Right outside the Trick-er-Treat area, between the Icey shack and the restaurant are tables set up for pumpking decorating and/or mask making - both are free.
At the entrance of the Looney Toon area, is a haybale maze with costumed mice to visit. Fun for very young kids. The maze closes much earlier than the rest of the area. During Fright Fest, the Bugs Bunny Boomtown rides stay open later than normal which is great.
Oktoberfest:
This event is in the small Biergarten just past the games area. They had german-style treats (like brats and pretzels) and adult drinks for sale. Games such as bags (bean bag toss) and jenga for anyone to play. There was a fun band playing songs (Oompah Delics). The workers were dressed in German-style outfits and did go around checking on customers. A good place to relax while you're at the park but not a destination in itself.
Fright Fest:
The actual event starts after 5pm CST when the sun starts going down. Although it's open to anyone, I don't recommend young kids to participate as it can be scary especially the loud chainsaw noises. If you stay really late, guests can become rowdy and throw a lot of f-bombs. They were selling a special glowing necklace which was supposed to limit the scares but it does say it's not guaranteed. Personally, I didn't think the "frights" were scary but it was loud and smoky.
There are 6 haunted houses (a special ticket to enter is required and can be purchased at booths nearby, at the park entrance gate, or online).
There are also several Halloween-Themed shows which start earlier than Fright Fest itself. We watched a Ghouling Pianos singing show which you can hear from the street. Other shows include Toxicity, Raging Inferno (heavy metal show), Curse of the Undead (gunfighter show), and Dia de Los Muertos (Mexican dancing show).
Just a sampling of some of the interesting foods and alcoholic beverages that were being sold.
Fright Fest Map: https://static.sixflags.com/website/files/sfot_ff-guide.pdf
For more information, check out: https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas
Book Review - Moon Guide - Hudson Valley and the Catskills (Upstate New York) by Nikki Goth Itoi
Moon Guide to Hudson Valley and the Catskills is a nice introduction to the beautiful area of New York. The book starts with a nice introduction with Top 9 Experiences, Planning Your Trip, suggested Day Trips from New York City (with useful tips on utilizing subways), Cycling the Hudson River Valley (you can easily find local bike rentals if you don't have or bring your bike), Revolutionary War Routes for history lovers, Fun for Foodies, Contemporary Art (Indoors and Out), Fall Foliage Tours, and more. The middle chunk of the book is broken out by areas - Lower Hudson Valley, The Hudson Highlands, Mid-Hudson Valley and Southern Catskills, Western Catskills to the Delaware River, Upper Hudson Valley and the Northern Catskills, The Capital-Saratoga Region. Each section lists out suggested places to visit and restaurants to try followed by accommodations for each area and tips on getting around. At the back of the book you will find Essentials and Resources. Nice book. The only nitpick that I have with this guide is how they separate activities (like winter sports for example) from the town that was just discussed earlier in the chapter. So I was doing a lot of flipping back and forth. If you like to have everything listed town-by-town, this will bug you a bit.
This book was published in April 2019 so be sure to verify each location's hours and prices before heading out as a lot changed after Covid.
Title: Moon Guide - Hudson Valley and the Catskills
Author: Nikki Goth Itoi
ISBN: 978-1-64049-199-1
Pages: 330
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - Lonely Planet - Georgia and the Carolinas
This guide is stuffed full of useful maps, information and where to go. I also love how colorful this guide is starting with the colored tabs on the book edge. Starting with the red section or "Plan Your Trip" - a colorful map, Top 20 things to do or see, Need to Know including getting around, a useful "If You Like" guide by suggestions for Culture, Food, Craft Beer, History, and more. Month by Month festivals guide. Several suggested itineraries. Outdoor Activities. Eat and Drink like a Local (this is really useful if you are like me and looking for those local delicacies). Travel with Children. The next chunk of the book is divided into regions featuring places to visit, food stops, City Walk maps, off the beaten track callouts, accommodations, and more.
This guide was published in 2019, so be sure to verify your plans before heading out in case of any changes in hours or operations.
Title: Lonely Planet Georgia and the Carolinas 2 (Travel Guide)
Authors: Trisha Ping, Amy C Balfour, Jade Bremner, Ashley Harrell, MaSovaida Morgan, Kevin Raub, Regis St Louis, Greg Ward
ISBN: 978-1787017368
Pages: 384
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - Day Hikes in Yellowstone National Park by Robert Stone
Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park? This handy guide points out hikes you can reasonably complete in a day and, in fact, most of them can be completed in under 2 hours. Of course, that doesn't include the time to stop and admire nature or views. If you prefer gentle hikes, look for those with lower elevation numbers of "near-level" like Natural Bridge Trail (Hike Number 44). Each hike has detailed information and easy-to-follow maps. Great guide to toss into your backpack.
Keep in mind this book was published in 2005 so be sure to check the official National Park Website (https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm) before heading out to be sure the trail you're interested in is still available. A hydrothermal Explosion last year has caused some damage and closures. Check your local library for a copy of the guide.
Title: Day Hikes in Yellowstone National Park: 82 Great Hikes, 4th Edition
Author: Robert Stone
ISBN: 1573420484
Pages: 184
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando by Seth Kubersky with Alicia Stella
The Unofficial Guides are invaluable resources for planning your amusement park visits. I've gotten all the books in their series - Disneyland, Disney World, Disney Cruises and now this book. The last section features tear-out pages with suggested touring plans for Adults, Families, Tweens, Teens and Seniors. Follow them or use them as guidelines. Sometimes we start our park day with all intentions of following suggested plans but then quickly learn to be flexible.
The other thing I love about the Unofficial Guides are the useful maps. Those make it easy to plan ahead. Once you're in the park, you can just use the Universal Orlando app to view maps. But I like to see where I want to go before I arrive. If you're driving, check out the I-Drive Area Sneak Routes map.
There are chapters dedicated to each park - Universal Studios Florida (USF), Universal Islands of Adventure (IOA), Universal Epic Universe (EU) and Universal Volcano Bay. Other chapters include Accommodations (both on-site as well as off-site), Dining and Shopping, CityWalk, Arriving and Getting Around, Visiting with Children, and more. Definitely a keeper if you plan to visit the parks.
Title: The Unofficial Guide - Universal Orlando 2025
Author: Seth Kubersky with Alicia Stella
ISBN: 978-1628091601
Pages: 416
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide by Kiernan P Schmitt
Whenever I visit a city again, especially after the third or fourth time, I always look for something new to do or see and this book is a perfect guide for exploring the city of Boston with a new perspective. I love that each item or location has detailed information or history. The pictures are great. The book is divided into areas (Central Boston, Cambridge, Brookline/Fenway/Back Bay, West, and East) with nice maps which makes focusing on one area so much easier especially if you need to rely on public transportation. In addition to some quirky things (Elephant Ashes?) there are some legitimate museums in here (Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 Museum). Almost all the sights are easy to get to or only require a small amount of walking. And, although this book was published in 2024, be sure to verify times before heading out.
Title: Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide
Author: Kiernan P Schmitt
ISBN: 978-2361957179
Pages: 288
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - Explorer's Guide Charleston, Savannah and Coastal Islands by Cecily McMillan
I've visited these areas and still found many new places to explore in this handy little guide. Each area starts with an introduction, maps, general overview of getting there and getting around followed by places of interest (things to do such as museums), activities (golfing, fishing, etc), where to eat and accommodations. You can find sections calling out places just outside the city worth visiting. Some climate or temperature information especially on hurricanes which hit the shorelines. Very well organized and easy to read.
Although this is the 9th edition of this guide, it was published in 2021. So be sure to verify all the hours and information before heading out on your trip since Covid might have forced unexpected, long-lasting changes.
Title: Explorer's Guide Charleston, Savannah and Coastal Islands
Author: Cecily McMillan
ISBN: 978-1682685082
Pages: 176
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Book Review - Lonely Planet Great Lakes and Midwest USA's National Parks (National Parks Guide)
This compact little guide is surprisingly full of good information and a fold-out full-color map. The first few pages highlight some great things to do followed by a useful "need to know" section. There's a listing of some but not all festivals or events throughout the year. More pages offering advice on what to wear and equipment you may need (or can rent), how to stay safe, and average temperatures. There are several pages featuring "best of" such as "Best Hiking", "Best Wildlife Viewing", "Best Family Experiences" and more.
If you prefer roadtripping, there are three road trips planned out - Oklahoma Tribal Trails, Pioneer Trails, and Blackhills Loop - with maps and info on each major stop.
The back of the book features guides on different wildlife you may spot, outdoor activities, and landscapes/geology.
Overall, a great guide that fits really well in your day bag!
Title: Lonely Planet Great Lakes and Midwest USA's National Parks (National Parks Guide)
Author: Regis St Louis, Anita Isalska, Brendan Sainsbury
ISBN: 978-1838696108
Pages: 130
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Travel - Texas - Arlington - Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Splash Island has a row of 6 colorful, mini slides which have both minimum height and maximum height requirements (teens and adults can't ride). As you can see in this photo, children empty right out to the splash pad area for good parental visibility. My only complaint was the queue to get on the slides is not well marked and could be confusing for younger children - they need to go all the way around the orange slide toward the back and up a set of stairs carrying a large float. The platform connects all the slide entry points. Restrooms are located at the very back of this area (right next to the lazy river entry points) which is a bit of a walk from the splash area. There are also showers there and a first aid office. I highly recommend wearing shoes or flipflops into the restrooms especially toward the end of the day.
Families can also enjoy the lazy river which goes all around Surf Lagoon (right in the center of the park) with entry and exit points along the way. On the other side of the park, in the Tornado area, there is a fun pirate-themed area called Hook's Lagoon with a treehouse (Hook's Lagoon Slides has a min height of 42" but the Lagoon Crossing is good for young kids 36" up to 54").
There are plenty of slides for thrill-seekers such as Der Stuka, Dive Bomber, Geronimo, Tornado, Tsunami Surge, and Typhoon Twister all with a minimum height of 48".
The park is open the next few weekends from 11am until 6pm or 7pm - August 23-24, August 30-31 and September 1. Daily Tickets are dynamically priced and for the next two weekend range from $35 to $25 depending on the day. Sometimes you can search the web for cheaper tickets.
You can bring refillable water bottles. But if you plan to drink any sodas, I highly recommend buying the All-Day Sourvenir Bottle ($19.99). The system will force you to wait 15 minutes between refills, but you will break even if you get 4 refills. Considering how hot you might feel in the Texas sun, you will definitely get more than four refills. For those wanting to fill water bottles, do not use the ones at the lockers as the water is not chilled and is pretty nasty. Ask for water cups at the drink refill stands or restaraunts instead.
Outside food or beverages are not allowed into the park (except baby food or formula). The food options are typical park fare - burgers, fried chicken strips, pizza, nachos, pretzels, turkey legs. I personally didn't purchase the dining add-on because we only ate lunch inside the park and then ate dinner outside the park. If you'd like to see the food options, check out the Restaurants. Bring plastic bags to store any leftovers because birds will land on your chair and eat any food left sitting out.
General Parking is $35.00 and Priority Parking (closer to the entrance and right outside the exit) is $50.00.
Lockers are available on the left side when you walk into the front gate as well as restrooms and showers.
Printable Park map - https://static.sixflags.com/website/files/hhtx_park-map.pdf
For more information, https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharbortexas
Book Review - New Mexico Family Outdoor Adventure by Christina M Selby
Finding activities for children is always a challenge because you have to take into consideration their energy level, their hiking ability, and their idea of fun. The author of this travel guide is also a mother and has gone on these trips with her two children and her experiences shine throughout with lots of good info and tips. I really appreciate the detailed instructions on how to get to the different hiking trail heads (which can be challenging to find without good signage or maps). If you enjoy camping, be sure to check out the suggested campgrounds listed in here for the different locations.
Another great feature of this book are the fun activities that most children can participate in (like Class 1 White Water Rafting). You'll find mountain biking, paddling, fossil hunting, and more. Also, there are suggestions throughout each adventure where you can teach your children valuable science or history lessons without being annoying. Little tids bits of goodness, I call them. I'm looking forward to finding similar books on other states.
Title: New Mexico Family Outdoor Adventure: An All-Ages Guide to Hiking, Camping, and Getting Outside
Author: Christina M Selb
ISBN: 978-0826362933
Pages: 322
This article may contain photos and links that take you to third-party Affiliate sites. If you purchase any item on those sites may contribute a small monetary amount back to our website without any cost to you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)