Adventure Travel Photography Blog
I’m thankful for Florida’s forgotten coast because you can visit the historic town of Apalachicola and the beautiful beaches of St. George Island with your dog in tow and without the crowds. It was a perfect getaway place for me and my dog Annie as we roadtripped to Florida for three weeks in Venice to horse show in January.
DON’T FORGET!
During our three week visit to Venice, Florida, we enjoyed the local dining scene ranging from elevated waterfront seafood at the jetties to the charming, pink-hued comfort of “old Florida” bistros tucked along Miami Avenue.
Whether you are sipping a craft brew from a self-serve beer wall or sharing a decadent homemade muffin at a sidewalk café, every meal reflects the city’s unique blend of sophisticated Mediterranean architecture and relaxed coastal hospitality.
Below is a list of restaurants in Venice we tried, with favorites being Made In Italy, Food + Beer, Oak and Stone, and Blue Island Bistro.
TAKE A TASTE!
I recently visited Venice for three weeks of horse shows at Fox Lea Farms, and on my time off I like to escape to nature while hiking with my dog Annie. Venice affords nature seekers a variety of places to hike including preserves, reserves, state parks and beaches. Below are five places I hiked in Venice.
HAPPY HIKING!
While in Katy for some horseshows, I took a side trip to Brenham, just an hour drive away. Brenham, with a population near 19,000, is most famous for being the home to Blue Bell Creameries, maker of “the best ice cream in the country.”
While Blue Bell may be one of the most popular attractions in this darling town, there are many things to in Brenham from strolling its historic downtown to riding the Flying Horse Carousel to camping at nearby Lake Somerville State Park. Historians, nature lovers, and shoppers will all enjoy a weekend getaway in Brenham.
Continue reading “Things to Do in Brenham, Texas”
As a native Texan, I’m sorry to say it took me 54 years to finally visit the Blue Bell Creamery, whose slogan when I grew up was “The Best Ice Cream in the Country.” While I tend to agree, I’m certain people from other states might not, so I will concede and go with the slogan, “Blue Bell is the state ice cream of Texas.” I can’t think of too many Texans who would disagree.
DIG IN!
Well, I finally made it to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. I’ve always been interested in rocks, so what better way to indulge in stones by digging for diamonds?
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is only a four hour drive from my hometown of Dallas, Texas. So, I don’t know why it has taken me so long to try my luck. Especially with a recent trip to Mena and passing through the state too many times to count for horse shows in Gulfport and Ocala.
The good news is that now my piqued interest in digging for diamonds has been satisfied. For anyone else who wants to try their luck, below is a helpful guide.
DIG FOR DIAMONDS
After traveling to all seven continents, I can honestly say that the United States remains one of the most diverse and breathtaking destinations on Earth. From the rugged coastlines of Maine to the desert landscapes of Arizona, from the towering peaks of Alaska to the tropical beaches of Hawaii, this country offers an incredible variety of experiences that could take a lifetime to fully explore.
As someone who spent a year road-tripping across America with my two dogs in a Eurovan, I’ve had the privilege of discovering hidden gems and iconic landmarks that showcase the true beauty and diversity of this amazing country. Here’s my ultimate USA travel bucket list – 25 epic adventures that every traveler should experience at least once.
ADVENTURE AWAITS!
The Cascades National Recreation Trail in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is a spectacular fall hike near Pembroke, Virginia.
HAPPY HIKING!
Much to my dismay, aside from hiking the Wild Pacific Trail in Vancouver, trekking this summer eluded me. Fortunately, however, on my way to Maryland for a horse show, I stopped to stretch my legs with my dog Annie on the Dam Mountain Trail in Lake Catherine State Park.
Lake Catherine State Park is located outside of the popular resort City of Hot Springs in the forest-clad Ouchita Mountains. The 2,240 acre park offers many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, water sports, hiking and horseback riding.
With the majority of the campsites on the lake shore, camping and water activities including fishing, party barges, canoeing, kayaking, water biking and pedal boating are the biggest draw.
HAPPY HIKING!
Since my horse show schedule has somewhat taken over my vacation travel, I try to make the most of it and look for interesting stops on my road trips across the USA. From Dallas to Chicago, I took a slight detour to Hannibal, Missouri to visit The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.
Mark Twain was by far my favorite author in school. In fact, I basically hated reading and his books like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may have been the only ones I ever finished during the school year! I liked his writing so much, that I took an entire class in college dedicated to his works.
So to me, stopping to visit Twain’s boyhood home was a very exciting endeavor. I wished I had made more time to wander Hannibal’s charming downtown too. But with the black sky and ominous storm approaching, I only took a few hours to check out my favorite author’s childhood abode.
JOIN THE ADVENTURE!