I’ve lived in Dallas for a full year now, and I’ve hosted my parents, my brother, and several friends for weekends in the Big D. I’m going to tell you how I’d spend my ideal weekend in Dallas so that you can plan your trip to Dallas like a local!
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Dallas gets around 100 days that reach 100 degrees per year, so it’s likely that your weekend in Dallas will be perfect for spending time outdoors and on patios.
My brother and I at the Truckyard – an outdoor bar & food truck round-up in Dallas
For young people, Dallas culture is pools, brunch, and White Claw. Dallas is NOT cowboys (except for Dem Boys), horses, and accents. In fact, it’s the 7th largest metro area in the US and behaves as any other city would.
So, let’s say you’re my guest. Here’s how we’d spend a weekend in Dallas together:
Friday:
Welcome to the Big D. If you’re my guest, I’ll get you from the airport. However, the train straight to downtown only takes 40 minutes and costs $2. At 5 pm on a Friday, you’re better off taking the train because traffic is outrageous here. What is a 20-minute car ride on Sunday is 45 minutes or more on a Friday during rush hour.
6PM, Friday:
I’m going to take you to Deep Ellum to fill our bellies with the best tacos in Texas. Ruins has over 200 types of Mezcal and 200 types of Tequila behind the bar, so margaritas are a requirement. The pobre guey taco is the best bean and cheese taco you’ll ever eat. Depending on our appetites, they have a dessert waffle made of churro dough and top it off with cotija ice cream – I’ve made the trek over there several times just for the dessert!
We’ll go home, relax, and get ready to go out.
10PM, Friday:
We’ll head over to British Beverage Co (BBC) in uptown for live cover band music and dancing until the bars close.
Some people will choose to go back to Deep Ellum because it’s only a $7 uber ride and there’s a dueling piano bar, a salsa bar, and others that are a blast, but this is MY ideal weekend in Dallas, so we’re going to dance our faces off at BBC.
2AM, Saturday:
Home.
The Dallas Farmer’s Market is a neighborhood featured around a 7-day indoor market. The outdoor portion with fresh fares is open on weekends.
Saturday:
Get a Morning Blast juice or coffee from Brewed & Pressed, and walk around downtown. Our downtown area is dead on the weekends, so you can scoot or walk to the giant eyeball, see the museums, and enjoy Klyde Warren Park before brunch.
12PM, Saturday:
Dallas culture is brunch, so try to make a reservation a few days before. In my world, we’ll walk to brunch at the Common Table. Get the mimosa pitchers, it’s a better deal than most. Note: Dallas does not to ‘bottomless’ mimosas.
Other popular spots are BreadWinners in Uptown, STIRR in Deep Ellum, and Oddfellows in Bishop Arts District. If you go to Oddfellows, get the apple cider mimosa.
2PM, Saturday:
Nice n toasty, we’ll post up at my apartment’s pool for a few hours. Don’t forget the white claw!
If you don’t drink or it isn’t pool season:
If you don’t have a pool or people to hang out with, there are plenty of other ways to spend a Saturday in Dallas. Pecan Lodge is a famous barbeque joint that opens at 11. I recommend getting in line no later than 10:30 AM.
Dad found the giant eyeball installation in downtown Dallas!
If you’ll be outdoors, consider shopping your way through the local spots in Bishop Arts. Deep Ellum is fun to walk around and shop in. To truly be like a local, go for a walk, rollerblade, or bike ride on the Katy Trail.
There are plenty of professional sports and live music in Dallas as well. I use the Gametime app to see what music and sports venues have going on.
5PM, Saturday:
Time to relax and have dinner. I recommend ordering in i Fratelli Pizza or if you feel like going out to a nice dinner, check out Sixty Vines. If you’re coming off a pool day, walk to Katy Trail Icehouse for dinner and a summer beer.
If you’re going out, I recommend checking out Kung Fu in Uptown or heading out in Deep Ellum.
Sunday:
Again, weekend mornings in Dallas are so perfect to enjoy walking around and checking out the neighborhoods, the Katy Trail bike path or our myriad parks and museums. While brunch is still big on Sundays, if you have to fly or drive home, you should check out the Pecan Lodge instead of boozy brunch. The doors open at 11 but definitely get in line by 10:30.
Dallas has plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy before your flight. The Arboretum is beautiful and often has events on Sundays.
I braved my fear of cows and took the photo op to ride a Texas Longhorn at the Forth Worth Stockyards!
If you’re looking for a relaxed lunch in the city, go to Katy Trail Icehouse or the Truckyard. Get there before 12 or 1, because there will be a line out the door most Sunday afternoons. It’s not uncommon to see people with their carry-ons, making one last stop before heading to the airport. An uber from here to the airport will cost about $25.
So there you have it.
A weekend in Dallas is a weekend of summer beers, pools, and just enough history to let you feel like you’ve done something productive.
Have you been to Dallas? Head over to my Instagram and let me know what your favorite thing to do!
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See Dallas Like A Local!A Perfect Weekend in Dallas
If you’re interested in visiting Morocco for a week, you’re likely curious about what to budget.
Here’s my break down for my budget for a week in Morocco as a short-term resident, and a second example for someone spending a week in Morocco as a tourist:
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Budget for a Working Week in Morocco:
In-Airport Expenses:
Sim Card: $30 Cash Machine: $3 fees Snacks: $3 Worried about the arrival process? Check out this arrival guide video for everything you need to know about arriving in the Marrakech Airport.
Settling In Expenses:
First grocery run at the souk: $12 A face cream that I forgot at home: $5 Bus ride to Marrakesh bus stop: $3 Bus ride to Agadir: $11 Taxi ride to coliving in Taghazout: $15
Seeking Sunsets in Taghazout, Morocco
Accommodation:
$25/night including an office at a coworking space
Extras:
Barbeque dinner: $9
Total spent in week 1: $62
Budget for a Week-Long Holiday in Morocco:
Everything Essential is Invisible – wall in Taghazout, Morocco
In-Airport Expenses:
Sim Card: $30 Cash Machine: $3 fees Snacks: $3 Worried about the arrival process? Check out this arrival guide.
Accommodation:
Hostel: $7-10/night per person Riad: $35-200/night per room Hotel: $50-200/night per room I recommend using Booking.com to reserve hotels in Morocco.
Typical Moroccan lunch. This was served on my terrace by the owners of my coworking apartment.
Food:
Breakfasts: Unsure, typically included with accommodation Lunch: $5-10 Dinner: $7-13 Drinks: Sprite is about $.35 in any kiosk, beer is $1-3 if you can find it Snacks: $1-3 for grab-and-go snacks
Transportation:
Buses in the city are no more than $3 Intercity buses are $10-25 Intercity shuttles are $15-40 Taxi in the city: $5-10 Taxi between cities: $90-150
Extras:
Camel rides: $10-30 Surfing days: $25-50 Walking tours: $10-25 Shopping: Varies. A small rug might cost $50, a lamp or hookah might cost $20-100. Food is very inexpensive.
Streets in my village in Morocco
Total to tourist cost for a week in Morocco as a tourist: $500-1000
This number is contingent on how much you choose to spend, eat, and do in Morocco. Don’t be afraid to haggle for taxi prices – it’s customary here outside of the airport. You can also haggle in the markets, but typically anything in a shop or that has a sticker price is firm.
Are you wondering what it will be like when you arrive in Marrakech? Will the airport have WiFi? How do I avoid getting ripped off on my SIM card? What about ground transport?
You’re in luck because I’m going to tell you step-by-step how to arrive in Marrakech and set yourself up for a great holiday in Morocco.
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Read on to discover everything you need to know about arriving at the Marrakech Manara airport, including getting money, a SIM card, customs, and finding your ground transport.
I arrived at the Marrakech airport on a Tuesday morning after an overnight flight from Chicago to Lisbon followed by a quick 1.5-hour flight from Lisbon to Marrakech. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Marrakech airport was super easy to navigate and was able to do everything I needed to within half an hour.
Read on or check out this video to see just how easy getting through the Marrakech airport was!
I created this guide for my brother because he’s meeting me here in 3 weeks.
Deplaning
Our flight from Portugal landed out on the tarmac. Everyone walked down the steps and across the tarmac and into the building. All the signs were printed in both English and Arabic. All the signs also had clear symbols marking how to get to important things like customs or the bathroom, so you don’t need to speak Arabic to manage the airport.
Getting Through Customs
The video above does not have any footage of customs because it is illegal in most countries to have phones out during the customs process. However, it was as easy as showing my passport, them stamping it, and I walked through. Ours was the only plane arriving at that time, so the line took maybe 5 minutes.
Baggage Claim
The baggage claim is right on the other side of the customs check. Our bags arrived shortly after we did; it was a seamless airport experience.
SIM Card
This step is optional if you do not want the internet on your phone during your time in Morocco. This post will help you to understand what your options are when traveling with an American cell phone abroad.
I got ripped off and paid $30 for 3 gigs of data, so my advice is this:
Do not use the INWI brand of SIM right when you get through customs. Instead, get your bags and cash first, then use a provider in the arrivals area after baggage check.
I recommend going through the baggage scanner area before buying a SIM. The company Orange is to the left when you walk through. Their data cost about $15 for 6 gigs – more than enough to get you through a couple of weeks providing that you do not stream data.
Customs 2 – Baggage Scanner
You’ll have to put any carry-ons or checked baggage through the bag scanner. This will take about a minute.
Getting Money From the ATM or Exchange
The ATM is right on the other side of the baggage scanner. They will accept foreign VISA and Mastercard and the fee is about $3. You can get up to 2000 Moroccan Dirhams, which is about $200 right now. Most places will only accept cash, so I recommend pulling out the full amount. If you brought money to exchange, do that at the exchange next to the baggage claim while waiting for your checked bags. If you are exchanging money, you can do it before or after the baggage scanner.
Finding Ground Transport
To find local transit, walk out of the front door of the airport and follow the two signs to the bus. If you are taking a taxi, the taxis are right across the pickup lane. It took about 3 minutes to walk across the Hertz lot to get to the local bus. I asked the driver if he was going to the intercity bus station and he said yes. Then, I paid him 70 Dirhams (set price). He even told me which stop to get off at when we got to the closest one to the intercity bus station.
The baggage claim office is at the end of the row of baggage belts, and the people running the office speak English, French, and Arabic. Go see them if your bag does not arrive.
Most people in tourism including the bus drivers will speak French and English as well as Berber and Arabic, should you need to ask any questions.
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Other questions about what it is like to arrive in Marrakech, Morocco? Leave a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram!
One morning when I was on an island in Thailand, I woke up and my ear was throbbing. I couldn’t hear, and the whole side of my head was hot. Nobody likes going to the doctor in Thailand, and I had to worry about whether or not I’d be able to communicate with mine.
Here’s a breakdown of how I handled it.
Loading up my scuba gear. The pressure from scuba likely pushed all my earwax to the back of my ear 😳
I woke up in my hostel room at the diving center in Koh Tao, Thailand. I’d been sharing a room with a few girls that I had gotten really close with, and I told them that I couldn’t hear out of my ear. Fortunately (for me, not her), one of the girls had broken a toe earlier in the week. Fortunate because she knew all about the medical system in Thailand. She also had travel insurance and I did not.
As an American, my first thought was, ‘Well shit. This is going to cost me an arm and a leg. And perhaps an ear.” A quick google search told me that Thailand does not have social health, so I would have to pay for my services upfront. Last-minute procedures are never cheap.
At about 10:45, I decided that I had no choice but to walk to the clinic. Lucky for me, there was one about a 10-minute walk away from the dive center.
Going to the Doctor in Thailand
I arrived just before 11 and saw the doctor immediately. I filled out a form and told him what was wrong. He used an otoscope to check out my ear and we chatted about diving for a few minutes. Then, he put oil into my ear and walked out of the room. He came back in when he heard me say, “ugh”.
“Dizzy?”
“Yes.”
“Ok no problem.” Walks away.
10 minutes later, he had me lie on my back and put a little bowl under my ear. He used a squeeze bottle to flush my ear out and cleared the blockage that had caused a minor infection.
I left the room and felt like I could hear EVERYTHING. The nurse gave me antibiotic drops and checked me out.
The damage?
$39. I put it on my credit card and walked home. The whole experience took 45 minutes and $39. That’s it. I stayed out of the water for the next couple of days and everything was fine.
I wish there was a more climactic end to this story, but I suppose the takeaway is that not all doctors are scary and expensive and take up a bunch of time. In fact, I’d rather go to the doctor in Thailand than spend 2 hours just in the waiting room in the US.
Have you ever been to a doctor abroad? How was it?
I was craving a place that I could go get some work done during the day, learn from the local culture, and see the stars at night. Jefferson was the perfect place for all three. Here is how I’d recommend one spend a weekend in Jefferson, Texas.
The House of Seasons in Jefferson, Texas. If you do one home tour, make it this one!
When I was invited to go on a trip to visit Jefferson, Texas, my first question was, “Where?”. A little bit of googling and Pinteresting told me that I was in for such a treat. The City of Jefferson and Visit Jefferson had plenty of ideas for me as well. However, I found that there were so many options for things to do that it would hard to decide what to do, and in what order.
To make it easy on you, below is an abbreviated guide to how I would recommend that you spend a weekend in Jefferson, Texas.
When planning your trip, be sure to call ahead to each activity that you’d like to do to ensure that they are open when you plan to visit. Every business in town is locally owned and operated, and it’s not unusual for stores to be closed during the week or around mealtime hours.
Leave Dallas after work on a Friday, arrive in Jefferson by 7:30 PM.
7:30 PM – Check in to the Black Swan Bed and Breakfast, chat with owners Darrell and Christi. I recommend inquiring with them about a bottle of wine for after dinner.
8 PM – Walk down Austin street to dinner at veteran-owned McGarity’s Saloon. Be sure to try the Nutella Creme Brulee for dessert!
9:30 PM – Consider stopping by the Franchise for a nightcap, or heading back to Black Swan for a bath in the claw-foot tub. Be sure to look up and notice the stars on your way back to the Bed and Breakfast – they’re so bright!
My bath setup was in my room, not the bathroom. Check out the selection of bath beads, bath salts, and fragrances on the right!
Enjoy your rest!
8 AM – Get up and either enjoy a coffee on the veranda, a stroll through town, or simply get ready for your day.
9 AM – Darrell and Christi serve a phenomenal breakfast at 9. Allow yourself an hour to relax, indulge in conversation, and enjoy the beautiful home.
10 AM – Drive to 200 Bayou Street for a Bayou Boat Tour. Call the captain at 903-665-2222 days beforehand to reserve your spot, and to make sure that he’s operating a tour that day. Tours are one hour, and I promise that you’ll laugh!
A sneak peek at the Bayou Boat Tour
11:30 AM – Park back at the Black Swan, and plan to walk the rest of the weekend. Walk to the Historic Museum and Train Museum at 223 West Austin Street.
12:30-2:30 PM – Wander through the local shops until you arrive at the Austin Street Bistro at 117 Austin Street for lunch. I recommend making a stop in the General Store, the Willow Tree, and the Old Store (it has fudge!).
2:30 PM – A trip to Jefferson isn’t complete without visiting the Excelsior House Hotel and hearing about all the famous people who have stayed there. Be sure to ask to visit the Jay Gould Car.
3:30 PM – Walk next door to the Black Swan to relax. Perhaps wander down to Enoch’s Stomp for a glass of local wine or a coffee.
6:30 PM – Have dinner at Stillwater Inn. Eat early, because you have a unique tour coming up!
8 PM – Meet at the corner of North Vale and Austin street for a walking ghost tour. Visit their website here to reserve a spot.
9:30 PM – Head back to Black Swan to relax.
Downtown Jefferson is SO Cute!
Enjoy your rest, and perhaps a bath! Darrell and Christi leave out snacks in the dining room, so help yourself!
9 AM – Breakfast anywhere in the house – Darrell and Christi are wonderfully accommodating!
10:30 AM – Your carriage awaits! Walk down the block to 222 West Austin Street to take a carriage tour of the town and see a few spots that weren’t as easy to get to by foot.
12 PM – I recommend a stop by the House of Seasons or The Grove before you leave town – or both if you have the time!
2:30 PM – I suggest a stop back at Enoch’s for a cup of coffee before getting back on the road.
The Atalanta, Jay Gould’s personal train car. Should I give up nomadism to live in a train?
If you come to realize that any of these museums are closed during your time in Jefferson, you may also want to explore:
Jefferson Candlelight Tour of Homes – December 5-7, 12-14
Thomas Jeffersons Birthday Jubilee – April 18th, 2020
Mardi Gras – February 21-23
The bayou – thank goodness there aren’t many alligators!
Jefferson is a town full of kind people who are so proud to show off their slice of paradise. I went there on a blogging trip and was able to get work done in my downtime, but could see myself taking some girlfriends there for the weekend, or going on a little weekend baecation.
Have you ever been to Jefferson? Where else do you recommend for a weekend getaway?
My day in Mobile, Alabama started with a lackluster visit to the local visitor’s bureau. Don’t worry, it got better.
This is Justin
I always make my first stop in a new city the Visitor’s Bureau because they provide an opportunity to meet a local, get some interesting suggestions for what to see, and always a great lunch recommendation.
I plugged the Visit Mobile Alabama location into my GPS and arrived at a HUGE riverfront convention center. Luckily parking was free, and I set out to find the office inside of the 3 story building. After about 10 minutes of wandering around outside, I found an open door and saw the visitors center – a single desk with a bunch of brochures. The person behind the desk (Justin) was super nice, but shared with me that he didn’t actually work for Visit Mobile – he was just a customer service employee of the convention center. He didn’t know of many local spots not had he ever been to a museum in town.
Starting my day in Mobile, Alabama
From an accessibility standpoint, I found it interesting that I had to go up all of the stairs to get to Justin’s desk. Why? Because Justin was in a wheelchair. Justin had to use the one elevator in the building to get to where he was, and anyone who couldn’t do stairs would never have found that desk in the first place.
Beautiful architecture on Dauphin Street
Luckily, Justin was super friendly and told me where I could get the best lunch in Mobile. It was about a mile walk through the historic district, so I set off in that direction. It was a rocky start to my day trip, but I kept an open mind.
I enjoyed a couple of hours of wandering down Dauphin Street and the surrounding roads that make up downtown Mobile. The architecture was reminiscent of New Orleans, which is my absolute favorite city in the US to wander.
This beautiful basilica was built when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana
My destination was Wintzell’s Oyster House, a local chain. I gorged myself on the best shrimp n grits I’ve ever had and chased it with red beans n rice and a cup of gumbo. When in Mobile, I suppose?
If I wanted to spend more time in town, I’d have visited the History Museum of Mobile and caught some more local music. However, I was tired and decided to move on to my destination of Meridian, MS.
The street art was wonderful!
My day in Mobile, Alabama was everything and nothing that I expected, and given the opportunity, I will definitely go back. The only thing I’d do differently is to have more of a plan before arriving so that I could experience a little more of what this southern gem has to offer.
