Longhorn Caverns is a great place to go to see some natural Texas beauty. Our tour guide Emily was…read moreabsolutely amazing. She is extremely knowledgeable, confident, and has great puns! We lucked out and got her on a walking tour but you can normally find her on the Wild Cave Tours. My wife has severe anxiety, Emily was extremely understanding, helped her stay calm throughout the walking tour, and gave our family an unforgettable experience. I couldn't thank her enough for everything she did. I highly recommend checking out these Caves, and if you have the gumption to get muddy, spring for the Wild Cave Tour. Either way you go, it's a great experience!

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

[This is a review of the Hutchings, Sealy & Co. Historical Markers in Galveston, but Yelp moved it…read moreand renamed it. Maybe they fix it, maybe they don't.] One of the most haunted buildings in Galveston, or at least as much as I've read. This where the ghost of a schoolteacher who heroically pulled victims from the floodwaters during the great hurricane of 1900 roams the Strand. I didn't see it. The State marker here reads, "Four decades after joining in partnership, George Ball, John Henry Hutchings, and John Sealy employed prominent Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton to design office buildings for their Ball, Hutchings & Co. commission and banking operations. Built in 1895 as two individual but connected structures, these buildings complemented Galveston's Strand Avenue, known at the time as the "Wall Street of the Southwest." "The buildings' Renaissance revival style is represented by the heavily rusticated stone arches featured on its entryways, terra cotta detailing on the parapets and entablatures, evenly spaced columns and pilasters, elaborate stone cornice, and arcading windows. The foundation walls are six feet wide at the base and made of pressed brick with ashlar patterned sandstone facing. "The corner building, which features the name "Hutchings" on its entablature, was originally constructed for John H. Hutchings. The adjoining office building, featuring the name "Sealy" on its entablature, was built for John Sealy. These majestic buildings are reminders of a grand era in Galveston's history and the philanthropic legacy of these early businessmen." The second marker has a picture of the building on the back. The front reads, "This impressive building contains grey and pink granite, red Texas sandstone, and buff colored terra cotta. Designed in the Neo-Renaissance style by Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton, it was built in 1895 for the banking firm of Ball, Hutchings & Co. "Although the three-story building appears to be a single structure, it actually consists of two adjoining structures made to look like one. The corner structure housed the bank and the easterly building the offices. The two buildings are crowned by an elaborate stone cornice with the Lone Star medallion on panels of the entablature and with the dates 1854 and 1895 in the stonework. "Ball, Hutchings & Co. was established in 1854 with George Ball, John H. Hutchings, and John Sealy as partners. As bankers and dealers in wholesale dry goods, the firm was the first of its kind in Texas and its influence was felt throughout the state. In 1858, the assets and liabilities of the Samuel May Williams' Commercial and Agricultural Bank, the only chartered bank in Texas prior to the Civil War, were taken over by Ball, Hutchings & Co. "When the Federal blockade the port of Galveston during the Civil War, the firm moved to Houston for the duration of the war and from there carried on trade in cotton as a means to help the Confederacy. In 1867, George Sealy, younger brother of John Sealy, was made a partner in the firm. "The bank was reorganized in 1897 as Hutchings, Sealy & Co. After a merger in 1930 with the South Texas National Bank, the name of the bank was changed to the Hutchings-Sealy National Bank. And in 1958, after a merger with the First National Bank of Galveston, to First Hutchings-Sealy National Bank of Galveston. Based on these mergers, the bank has the distinction of being the oldest bank in Texas. In 1933, Hutchings-Sealy National Bank was moved to the Rosenberg Bank at 22nd and Market Streets. In 1956, a new building was constructed for the bank at 22nd and Market. In 1972, a ten story building was erected for the bank between 22nd, 23rd, Market and Mechanic Streets. American Indemnity Company was founded here in 1913 and occupied the building until 1958. After Hurricane Carla severely damaged its building in 1961, Ursuline Academy held classes here for several years. The bank has played an important role in Galveston's commercial history. George Ball, John H. Hutchings, John Sealy and George Sealy were influential in many industries including railroads, steamship lines, and the wharves. They were civic-minded men whose concern for the citizens of their city led them to establish and support hospitals, schools, and orphanages. "In 1985, George and Cynthia Mitchel began restoration of this landmark." [Review 879 of 2024 - 634 in Texas - 21908 overall]

My family and I decided to go play mini golf at the Memorial minigolf and museum. We went on a…read moreMonday at around 2:00 pm. Luckily the weather was in the 70s which was really nice for a January day. We drove up and parked easily. We then went to pay the rate for 4 adults, got our clubs, chose our golf balls, and we were off. There were a few people there with families on the course but we basically had the course to ourselves. It was a course with a practice spot and then 18 holes to play. It was very informative and fun. There were stands at each hole with a set of photos and historical information. Plus the actual course had slight slopes, and a few fun obstacles. After golfing we went inside the small museum. There were several artifacts and some historical information to look at and read about. On a side note they have two bathrooms with soap and running water which is a positive. Overall it was a fun afternoon on a nice day. The mini golf course is fun and informative. The museum is small and interesting. If you like history and mini golf this would be a good place to visit and play on a nice day.

Gorgeous mini-golf course! The family had a blast. The WW2 theme is fun, educational, and the…read moremuseum is filled with items from neighbors in the community. Our kid wants to have her birthday party there and my wife's office is looking to plan an event especially with the mini disc golf course. The new bar/indoor dining is family friendly and there's a new food truck with DOLE WHIP, sandwiches, fries, burgers, and Mediterranean food.

Took the kids here for some cool down. In order to get to the pool, you need to hike abit, which…read moreis great for the kids. Parking can be tough but eventually you will fine a spot. The pool is quite nice with cool breeze. Finding a sport can be rough if you come late in the morning but bring some shade and you will be fine. Water is cold but it was nice after a the hike and eventually your body will get used to it. Overall everyone enjoyed the day here.

What an incredible experience. I have to say first off, I really appreciate that it's reservations…read moreonly. Doing that limits the amount of people entering at once and allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Paying for a reservation and then additional money upon arrival allows this reserve and park to be properly maintained. I'm thankful for that and for the people who take care of it. It was a bit chilly the morning we went and the water was freezing. I still went in! I wanted the full experience and I got it. The way the water in the pool meets the rock formations is breath-taking. As is the rest of the park. It was a nice area to hike and breathe in nature.

Since moving to Austin in late 2020, my favorite activity has been going to the theatre. I have…read moreseen almost every show that Austin Shakespeare has put on since that date, and I am in love with this theatre company. They bring to life not only Shakespeare's works but also a variety of other great literary dramatic works. It's a great time with friends and the community here in Austin.

Austin Shakespeare is the Bard and more! I have enjoyed their performances at the Parker Jazz Club…read morewhere they highlight both vocal and instrumental performers usually focusing on one or two musical icons. in addition , their Shakespeare summer performances in Zilker Park and The Curtain Theatre. an historical replica of Elizabethan theaters, featuring youth is delightful. And, what about Tom Stoppard and other playwrites at the new KMFA studio or The Rollins at The Long Center? Such an eclectic company with superb multiracial actors, creative directing and adaptations! What's not to love?

The Pennybacker Bridge, also known as 360 Bridge, is one of Austin's most notable landmarks and a…read morerequired stop for anyone visiting or living in Austin, TX. The bridge is located at Lake Austin along Loop 360 (the Capital of Texas Highway), the bridge combines a unique structure with sweeping Hill Country views. It is simple in structure yet spectacular when combined with the Lake Austin water views, which never gets old. Today we simply wanted to be one with nature. What a fanatstic starting point! No matter what you call the bridge, one thing that is certain is that you will likely admire the architecture of the rust-colored steel arch design. That weathered looks allows the bridge to easily blend in with the rolling hills and Lake Austin. It is an equally visually appealing structure whether you are driving across it or admiring it from afar. Parking is very limited along Capitol of Texas highway. What spectacular way to start your morning or end your evening!

A quintessential barely-a-hike excursion that is a must-see if in Austin, especially if its your…read morefirst time in the city. Despite it not being my first time here, I always enjoy coming here and taking friends who haven't been. Hiked up here in chanclas and a maxi skirt, so anyone can do this as its only a 0.5 mi hike, super chill. The view is gorgeous, you have the Pennybacker overlooking the river. Not quite as spacious on the trail or as shaded as Mt. Bonnell, but still very much worth a visit as it doesn't take much time at all to take in the views and then descend. There's limited parking at the bottom but there's a stoplight prior to this area so it wasn't hard to enter or exit prior to oncoming traffic.

I love Fredericksburg. It looks like a German town. I love beer and food. I walked around Main…read morestreet. There were a lot of beautiful buildings. Nowadays, I saw many Hispanics. I heard a lot of Spanish. Germans might dissapear. But I still could see some legacies. Please visit Fredericksburg!

Old limestone houses! This Historic District is in the…read morenational register of historical places. It's a few square blocks around Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg. The Historic District is a fun, pedestrian friendly area that's a cool walk to wander. The buildings in the district were mostly built in the 1840's-1880's and later. There's a lot of limestone in the area, so the German settlers built Texas versions of their houses back home in Germany. The structures vary from old log cabins to impressive stone churches. Be sure to check out the Sunday Houses, which are town homes for people who lived out in the boonies, so they could come to town and do church stuff, and trade. The district is safe, there's always cops patrolling the area, and this town runs a bit slower than the big city. You can legally walk around in this district with an open beer! Cheers! They have a map on the internet of an official route, which shows off a few old churches, a few cool old homes, and some public buildings. Overall, there's more than 700 old structures in this district. The map shows off some of the highlights. It's a great stroll through Texas history!

Only a sign right now- this settlement is part of the Shoal Creek Conservancy established to…read morerecognize the post-Civil War settlement along the banks of Shoal Creek by formerly enslaved people. Later, working Mexican American families moved in. The Texas Historical Commission approved the "Undertold Marker" and land. The land would be a nice spot for future programming and education about the Settlements in Austin.

Springtime made for an excellent time to visit this park, as there were lots of enjoyable…read morewildflowers springing up out of the ground everywhere (my partner could tell you how often I paused our hike to get photos of a new flower I saw along the trail, LOL). Entry was a very fairly priced $5 per person. We were given a map, which if I'm being honest, helped guide us to the parking but didn't offer quite as much help later with the trails, LOL. Really they need some better signage up for the trails. More than half the time we weren't sure which trail we were on or if we were even on a trail that was marked on the map... Good thing the park ranger told us we were "free to explore!" Some of their plaques with information on them could use replacing too, as sun or weather damage has made them fairly illegible. (I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes to stop and read those things, haha. I especially enjoyed the one that had the history of the Reimers family on it.) Seemed to be plenty of parking, all paved too. There was a really nice station at the first parking lot with indoor plumbed bathrooms, a shady overhang, picnic tables, and water fountain (it even tasted pretty good!). The trail that runs along and overlooks the river is probably the "main event" for most visitors to this park, however it is also somewhere you can get adventurous with rock climbing, mountain biking, and riding on horseback. Pretty neat! There were also trails that led all the way down to the river, where you were permitted to swim and/or fish. Hooray for somewhere you can do unattended swimming! Sometimes that's a rarity, so I appreciate you can get in, splash around, and cool off here. =) My partner and I really only explored about half of the trails available at this park, so we may have to come back again sometime to do the rest. The big loop looked to have some good elevation changes and scenery that most parks near Austin are mostly flat or boring hills.

Came in on a Saturday for a short hike as part of a trip to lake Travis. Overall great experience,…read more10$ per person. Lots of different hiking trails as well as rock climbing for a fee as well. Saw some people in the river/beach area as well although we didn't join. Amazing nature and scenery, would come back to explore further if Im in the area.

Color me impressed! I came to this location this past weekend with my partner. This was one of the…read morethree stops we made on Saturday. What I like about small vineyards is they have the freedom to experiment and create a variety of wines and blends using different varieties and winemaking styles. This innovation leads to fresh and evolving tasting experiences that keep wine interesting, exciting, and perhaps most importantly, personal. Small vineyards also focus on quality and sustainable farming, and produce smaller quantities of wine. This locally owned small vineyard has bold reds and crisp whites and breathtaking views at sunset. For my partner, I purchased a bottle of the 2019 Mourvèdre. This vino is smokey and bold with cholocatre undertones. This vino will pair well with steak and other red meats. While I am not a fan of reds, the quality and legs on this vino is undeniable. I purchased a glass of 2021 Barrel Aged Trebbiano which was reminiscent of a Cabernet Sauvignon blanc. Cabernet Blanc wines have a flavor profile that's similar to a mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. They can be dry, but some are made to be slightly sweet. This Trebbiano was more dry that sweet which I adore. Aside from the vinos, the sunset views when sitting on the deck are stunning. My partner and I sat and watched the sun go down with glasses in hand. The vino coupled with the views made this outing magical. The service provided by those working here is outstanding. #supportlocal

Absolutely lovely service, very informational, the owners are so sweet, love to converse with the…read morecustomers and will bring the wine to you for the tastings! It was so so hot outside making more comfortable inside no matter what, just wish there was a little bit more shaded seating outside. All of the wine was delicious, and we ended up taking some home! Would love to come back