Mom’s Girl Trip to Port A!

A group beach trip was planned for Mom at Port Aransas. Carly, Laney, Haley, Shelly, Michele, Grandma, and me booked a 3 story beach house with a elevator and 2 beach buggies! Everyone brought food and snacks to enjoy, plus your favorite thing or things.

Cruising to Panama

Flew to Tampa to board Grandeur of the Seas for a cruise to Panama. First port was Grand Cayman and a visit with our friends, Alecia and Dennis. A great day with them and a nice lunch before tendering back to our ship.

Next port was our favorite island, Aruba. We made reservations at Barefoot on the Beach at subset. As usual the food and service were excellent, the sunset was a work of art!

Our last port was Curacao where we just walked around the harbor, crossed the bridge, and saw three tall ships.

Arrivibg in Colon, we boarded a bus to Pabama City for our flight vack to Houston.

Icognito Cottage Xmas

Costa Rica was calling, Christmas was creeping up, and we were ready to bail to Playa Dominicalito for a two-week vacation extravaganza.

Our home sweet home was the Incognito Beach cottage, courtesy of Greg, the super cool owner who showed us the ropes. Before we even unpacked, he gave us the grand tour - because priorities.

The cottage was a one-bedroom wonderland with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and the real pièce de résistance - a ginormous pool and front porch with rocking chairs that screamed 'Costa Rican chill'.

The beach was a stone's throw away, and the surf's soothing serenade was the perfect accompaniment to our relaxation. We high-tailed it to the nearby grocery store, grabbed some fresh fish, and made a pit stop at the panderia for our new favorite treat - Orejas. Our Alaska-based neighbors hooked us up with some delicious tuna they'd caught earlier in the week - score.

Our days fell into a lazy rhythm: morning coffee on the porch, iguana, sloth, and bird-watching, followed by a pre-sunburn walk on the beach.

After lunch, Dale claimed the pool as his own, courtesy of a lazy chair pool float that fit him like a glove - he became the Pool Float King.

As sunset approached, we'd stroll back to the beach, catch the daily spectacular, and amble back to the cottage under the stars.

No trip to Dominicalito would be complete without a pilgrimage to Playa Hermosa and a requisite Copo, aka Costa Rican Snow Cone - because brain freeze is universal.

Sunset calling meant a beach hike to score the perfect shot, and in my flip flops, I tagged along with Dale, holding his hand for dear life. We meandered up to the edge of a cut, and just as we struck a pose, reality hit - big waves could totally ruin our Instagram moment. A hasty retreat ensued. The beach was just as stunning as we'd remembered, and lunch was always a breeze with Rapipollo's finger-licking fried chicken and Pizza Time's tasty pies - good food is always easy to find when you're hungry.

Before we knew it, the weeks flew by, and it was time to head back to San Jose for our flight home. We landed in Houston after lunch, right on schedule, and our vacation mode officially shifted to 'back to reality'.

Sun, Sand, & Seafood

After a smoking hot summer and a busy schedule we decided to spend a few days relaxing in Port Aransas at the Sandpiper in Condo 704.

The resort was quite and we had the pool mostly to ourselves.

Sunrise beach walks are always a favorite of mine and Dale joined me a couple mornings.

Soaking in the hot tub under the stars was very enjoyable and relaxing. Refreshed and rekaxed we headed home.

Escape to the Tetons

Escaping the sweltering Texas heat, we embarked on an adventure to the breathtaking Grand Teton National Park, craving the invigorating mountain air. Conveniently flying into Jackson Hole and securing a fantastic rental SUV, our journey began.

Crossing Teton Pass, nearly 7,000 feet high, revealed stunning vistas, though steep grades demanded attention. Arriving in Driggs, Idaho, we savored lunch and gathered groceries before heading to our serene cabin.

Our cozy Colter Cabin welcomed us warmly, its charming decor instantly making us feel at home.

Witnessing endless wheat and alfalfa fields, with hay baling in full swing, left us in awe. Within the park, the majestic Grand Teton peak towers above 13,000 feet, overlooking the valley.

Several glaciers shine brightly, accompanied by patches of snow on the highest peaks. Picturesque lakes dot the landscape, with Jenny Lake being the most popular.

A scenic ferry ride across Jenny Lake offered breathtaking views, followed by a visit to the

historic Morman Row Historic District.

Indulging in a mid-afternoon pizza at Dornans, paired with a refreshing Greek Salad recommended by our cabin owner, was a true delight that nourished both body and soul.

We celebrated Dale’s 82nd birthday at the Royal Wolf in Driggs out on the deck with a delicious meal and cake, surrounded by love, laughter, and warmth. Reading about the world-famous ice cream shop, we stopped at the Victor Emporium for a

“Huckleberry Shake”…..yummy! The Badger Creek Cafe in Tetonia served up a good old-fashioned breakfast that we enjoyed one morning, and filled us with energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead.

Since we saw no bears while there, we drove over to West Yellowstone to visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, where we gained a deeper appreciation for these magnificent creatures and their importance in the ecosystem.

It provides a up-close look at grizzly bears and the wolves that have been reintroduced into Yellowstone, and was a truly enriching experience. Lunch followed at The Slippery Otter in West Yellowstone, where we savored delicious food and reflected on the unforgettable experiences we had and celebrated the beauty, wonder, and magic of life.

During our stay we visited Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming…saw the magnificent Tetons and the Snake River that I had recently been rafting on, and experienced the awe-inspiring beauty and wonder of the American West.

Soon it was time to head back home, and the flight home went smoothly, bringing us full circle to the place where our journey began. Landing in Austin, walking off the plane, it felt like an oven, but we were filled with the warmth, light, and inspiration of our journey, and we knew that we would carry the memories, lessons, and magic of our adventure with us forever.