United States

As the holiday season approaches, we decided to take a breather and escape to the serene settings of South Padre Island. Our destination? The Inverness at South Padre, a sanctuary of tranquility perched on the beautiful coastal expanse of Texas. Our journey began with a one-hour drive to the island. Despite the proximity, we do not often visit the

Welcome to South Texas! In this travel blog, I invite you to start a journey through the enchanting South Texas region, primarily the Rio Grande Valley, sharing my personal perspective as a local travel writer. Tangentially inspired by "The Case Against Travel," I believe that exploring local attractions can provide deeper insights and more authent

Las Vegas is known for its vibrant nightlife and bustling casinos. However, it also hosts numerous conferences every year, such as the 2023 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference. As a Facilities professional, I decided to attend this conference, and it was an enlightening experience that expanded my understanding of building safety

Our first trip to Las Vegas, NV back in 2017 was a unique experience that we'll never forget. We went for a timeshare presentation by Bluegreen Vacation Club, which is associated with Choice Hotels. They lodged us for a couple of days at the Tuscany Suites & Casino. We flew out of McAllen International Airport (MFE) to McCarran International Ai

There are many great places for barbecue in Texas. In fact, some Texans will occasionally make the weekend pilgrimage to their favorite barbecue spots, which may be hours away. And then, there are local favorite barbecue spots that everybody in town knows and frequents. The Drunken Chicken is one of those local favorites in Mission, Texas.  Entranc

We recently booked a stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had never stayed at this property. However, we had visited their bar and restaurant when we have gone out on dates. We generally like Embassy Suites hotels. We enjoy their evening Happy Hours, their attentive staff, and the l

Taking a Break I have been reading about uric acid and its effects leading to diabetes and other maladies. I originally intended to get a haircut. But, as it is Independence Day, the shop was closed. I decided to stop for a beer. Ironically, beer can increase uric acid levels in your blood. But, I haven’t finished reading the book, so I’m OK. 🤪

The City of Falfurrias, Texas is a small community in South Texas. It is a two-hour drive south from San Antonio, and a one-hour drive north from the Texas border with Mexico. Falfurrias is on the way between many destinations. But, it is not often a place people intentionally choose to visit. Falfurrias Historical Marker Admittedly, Falfurrias is

As travel is starting to bounce back after two years of lockdowns, I decided to take a closer look at the Choice Privileges Visa card, which we have had for several years without scrutiny.  About Choice Privileges Choice Privileges is the Choice Hotels loyalty program that awards points for stays, which can be redeemed for free stays. As with most

Today, Mrs. TWM and I went out to the local Embassy Suites Hotel restaurant named On The Border. The hotel is in McAllen, Texas. Our motive was to try out the Hilton Honors Business Card by American Express. The card earns 12 points per dollar of spending at Hilton properties. Of course, it’s better to verify. So, we had lunch and some drinks.

I used to joke that you have to go to San Angelo, Texas. You don't end up there by accident. That was before we visited Fort McKavett, Texas. If you are looking for remote destinations, this historic site is definitely for you.  Our family traveled from Junction, Texas to Fort Stockton, Texas last year. We saw signs on the highway advertising Fort

Back in 2015, my son and I took a trip to Wisconsin to visit family. It had been some time since our last visit. Up to then, we were mostly making trips to Wisconsin for funerals. It would be a nice change to go just for the sake of going. We stopped at several places on that trip. Today, I am sharing about our trip to Rib Mountain State Park.  The