travel tips

Cool Things To See On A Trip Through Texas

glen-carrie-66914-unsplash.jpg

https://unsplash.com/photos/dR77em3nyJY

 

If, like the majority of us, you’re working long, hard hours through the week. You’re probably thinking every Monday morning about getting out of the current routine and taking a big, lovely break. You may not exactly despise your job – you might even love what you do, but sometimes you feel as though you need to get out and explore something new.

A good way to break the dull routine that you’re finding yourself in is to get out on the road and head on a big trip. After all, they say travel broadens the mind – whether it’s to an area reasonably close to your home or far away into entirely new and scary territory!

If you’re finding yourself attracted to the prospect, might I suggest a trip through Texas! They say everything’s bigger in Texas and with good reason. A huge surface area that is jam-packed with hundreds of things to do. Like the thought of it? Well, let’s have a little look at a few of the coolest sights and spots to visit while stopping by.

 

Visit The National Parks

If you love seeing the wilderness and the wildlife of the world, you’ll want to see the likes of the Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains. Getting away from the hectic everyday life we live and seeing glorious nature such as these will put your mind at ease.

 

Space Center Houston

If you’re a stargazer, you may love the idea of visiting the Space Center. A place where you can learn all about the outer world above us and be amazed by all of the work that NASA gets through. There are areas for kids as well as museums and seminars for adults. An entire day can be made of it, so if you’re able to book a hotel in Houston, Texas, you can spend a long while having a blast. You don’t have to be a geek to enjoy this stuff!

 

The Sixth Floor Museum

The spot in Dallas where Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed President John F. Kennedy. Understandable it won’t be for everyone, but people come to marvel at the historic building and surrounding area.  

 

The Alamo

The famous and legendary Battle Of The Alamo. You’ve probably heard of it because everyone has. The renowned spot from the Texas Revolution is located in the heart of San Antonio and is Texas’ most visited landmark. There are activities for families as well as a guided tour.

 

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock is a huge and beautiful pink granite dome that attracts people from all over the world. It’s a spot to sightsee but also has activities do to there.

 

Sports Stadiums And Arenas

If you like sports, then you’ll probably want to visit a few of the famous teams’ homes. Football teams like the legendary Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, basketball teams such as the Rockets or the Spurs, or if you like Baseball you can see where the Texas Rangers’ do their stuff.

 

travel tips

6 Ways To Work Out While On The Road

Travel, whether it be for business or pleasure, is a great opportunity to recharge your batteries and break free from the routines that control your everyday life. However, that doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice your workout regime too. Whether you enjoy exercise or not, it is a vital part of life, helping you to keep fit, look your best, and manage the stress that travel can often cause. If you’re struggling to work out while you’re on the road, here are six things that you can do.

running-573762_1920

Source

Plan Time To Exercise

Finding the motivation to work out, especially when there are so many other fun things that you could be doing, can certainly be tricky. For this reason, you should plan a rough itinerary for your trip, detailing what activities you are going to do when, including times to exercise. After all, if you have nothing better planned, there’s nothing stopping you from hitting the gym now and then.

 

Pack Your Exercise Equipment

You’re not going to be able to pack your dumbbells or running machine in your hand luggage, but that doesn’t mean you need to work out without any aids whatsoever. There are plenty of smaller and lighter pieces of equipment that you could bring along with you, such as a skipping rope or resistance bands. You should also remember to pack your running shoes and gym clothes.

fun-1850709_1920.jpg

Source

Choose The Right Accommodation

Whether you’re just a few states over or halfway across the world, being in a new place means you don’t have access to the usual gym facilities you have back home. With that in mind, you should book accommodation that provides them. The Holiday Inn hotel in West Plains, Missouri, for example, is perfect. This has a fitness suite and an indoor pool to support any exercise plans.

 

Research Cheap Local Services

When there are no hotels available with amenities useful for your work out regime, you should research gyms, fitness classes, and other services in the local area. You may be able to purchase a cheap temporary pass, granting you access to the services that you need. If you forget to do this before going away, speak to someone at the reception of your hotel for help.

 

Take Advantage Of Technology

With so many other expenses to contend with, you may not want to pay to exercise when you go away. Thankfully, you don’t have to. These days, there are countless free apps available on the app store to support and guide your workouts. You could also pack a laptop and a few workout DVDs. As long as you have these essentials, you can work up a sweat in your hotel room.

architecture-backpack-backpacker-346824.jpg

Source

See Sights By Foot

Travel is all about seeing and doing new things, which means that you shouldn’t spend your entire trip locked away working out. Instead, take part in more physical activities, like hiking and watersports. You can also sign up for walking tours and see the sights by foot. This allows you to fit in a work out without having to sacrifice any of the time you want to spend having fun.

 

Travel isn’t an excuse to be unhealthy, so remember the tips above to stick to your work out regime.

 

Accommodations, destinations, resources, road trip, saving money, travel tips

The Best Hostels from My Oregon Road Trip

I hadn’t realized that I’d only seen a small part of my home state. After years of numerous road trips, I still missed so much that Oregon has to offer. This past November, I took a road trip to explore a town I’d never heard of as well as revisit a city I’d only ever had a glimpse of. To maximize my time and money, I stayed in centrally-located hostels. Road tripping to hostels isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to finding parking. But so far, all of the Oregon hostels I’ve stayed at have provided plentiful parking in a good area, as well as so many other unique amenities. Both hostels from this trip were great; I think you should stay there too!

Bonus: Be sure to click on the links to see my full reviews at Hostelz.com!

Mitchell, Oregon

Painted Hills Mitchell Oregon

To be honest, I didn’t even know this tiny town existed before I starting researching for my road trip. But I had heard of the Painted Hills, one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon. A short drive and several quick hikes took me through a sightseeing tour of awe-inspiring multicolored formations. Mitchell, Oregon is the nearest town to this national monument. While the Painted Hills are the most notable landmark, the entire drive from Central Oregon to Mitchell offered scenic views.

 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Just eight miles away from the Painted Hills National Monument is Spoke’n Hostel, located right next to the city limits. Although I didn’t spend much time in the town proper, my fabulous night in Mitchell suggested that Spoke’n Hostel is the place to be in Eastern Oregon!

I was greeted by the owners, who have renovated their church to welcome TransAmerica cyclists and Painted Hills travelers in the most beautiful way possible. The sanctuary-turned-bunk room is the best I’ve ever seen. The big locally-made beds with privacy curtains offer a comfortable rest and personal necessities (like lamps and charging ports). Surprisingly, I was the only guest that night, so I was upgraded to a cozy private room. Down in the basement, I used the library, kitchen, games, and other fun activities. Even the backyard is picturesque!

Bend, Oregon

1113180917.jpg

In the heart of Oregon, you’ll find Bend, a city thriving with its city fun and outdoor adventure. I spent nearly two full days exploring just a sample of what Bend had to offer. I went for long walks, including my own alcohol-free version of the Bend Ale Trail. I followed the Deschutes River, ate delicious food, and saw unique sites like the High Desert Museum and America’s only remaining Blockbuster Video.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Bend has history, too! And what better way to be a part of its history than staying in the city’s very first brick building? Bunk + Brew Historic Lucas House was an old building with a young heart. Just a block away from downtown, Bend’s only hostel offered a variety of dorm rooms (I stayed in the four-bed female-only dorm), make-your-own-breakfast, and adventurous employees who can make your time in Bend even more enjoyable.

Other Oregon Hostels

La Pine State Park Oregon

For the third night of my trip, I couldn’t find a hostel on the route between Bend and my home in Medford, Oregon. Instead, I stayed budget-conscious while getting a room of my own by renting a cabin and staying at La Pine State Park. While I enjoyed the miles of hiking trails and seeing the world’s largest ponderosa pine, I did miss the typical hostel amenities, such as breakfast, walkability, and getting to meet other travelers from around the world. (I think there were only two other campers on that below-freezing night!)

 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

However, the next week, I was on a shorter road trip on Oregon’s I-5 when I discovered that Wolf Creek Inn offers hostel rooms as part of their historic hotel. Here are a few other Oregon hostels I’ve stayed in:

I loved staying in the Eugene Whiteaker Hostel.

Ashland Commons is another good hostel choice.

Question: Which hostel would you most like to stay at? Do you have a favorite road trip route? Let me know in the comments!

Foodie, resources

VALENTINE GIVEAWAY: 6 Free Meals from Around the World

While I can’t always leave home to travel the world, I often try to bring the world into my home. I’ve recently been using Gobble, a meal kit delivery program that lets you pick your own food and brings it right to your door. Since everything is already measured out for the recipe, it makes cooking a breeze. I’ve enjoyed trying new dishes and selecting meals inspired from many nations around the world.

Now, I’d like to pass on a FREE six-meal box to you.

Here’s how to enter:

  1. You MUST be a follower of this blog.
  2. Leave a comment below telling me your favorite blog post from JessicaLippe.com. (Note: This contest cannot count as your favorite post- if this is your first time here, go explore and read and then come back here to comment.)

Once those two steps are complete, you’ll get one entry! For another entry, check out my Instagram post.

Can’t wait to win? Everyone who follows this link and makes a new Gobble account will get a free dinner kit for 2!


View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jessica Lippe (@jessicalippe) on

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Rules: Contest begins February 13th and will end on February 14th at 11:59pm. Winner will be selected and notified via email or Instagram within 48 hours. Winner must provide relevant information for Gobble invitation and create a Gobble account. Prize is one free box containing six meals. Winner must create a new Gobble account in a timely manner in order to redeem prize. This contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram.