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Day Trip Inspo: Johnson City, TX

One of my favorite parts when living in Texas was visiting the small towns that make up so much of the state. Each town always had a fun “claim to fame” with a Main Street that had most of the shops and a restaurant that was truly the “best in town” and beyond (for some). Johnson City is one of those towns that is about an hour away from Austin.  

Why Go?

Johnson City has the childhood home of Lyndon B. Johnson, his ranch property, and the Texas White House. Everything I did was free which makes this itinerary a free and educational trip as well!

Where to Stay?

I would recommend staying in Austin and doing this as a one-day trip if you’ve got the time while visiting! My mom was in town for her birthday so we decided to do this trip as a part of her celebration. 

How to Get Around?

Unfortunately, a car would be necessary since the area is expansive and there are multiple areas to visit via car.  

The Itinerary

I recommend leaving around 8:30-9A since the park isn’t open all day long. Your first stop should be the National Park Visitor Center. The staff is wonderful – they can share maps, tour times, closures, updates, and their own recommendations.

For me, they recommended that we start with the exhibits inside of the visitor center (1 on Johnson City map) since I wanted to take a tour of the boyhood home (2 on Johnson City map), which was only available with a staff member. 

 

After that, we drove over to LBJ Ranch. We grabbed a driving permit (free) at the visitor center there and made our way into the park. We got a little lost somehow and ended up going to LBJ’s birthplace (4 on LBJ Ranch map) and the Johnson family cemetery (5 on LBJ Ranch map) rather than the show barn (8 on LBJ Ranch map), but eventually, we made it over there! After hanging out with some of the cattle, we continued the route and made a stop to see the JetStar, a cool aircraft that President Johnson jokingly referred to as “Air Force One-Half.” Lastly, we ended at the Texas White House Complex (7 on LBJ Ranch map) and walked around it since construction was underway inside. 

Final Thoughts 

While not a must-do when visiting Austin, if you’re a fan of Lyndon B. Johnson or American history, I do believe this would be worth the visit. I myself am not a history buff, but I love museums and really enjoyed my time learning about that time in history while also getting some steps outside (seeing the hangar and meeting the animals).

How to Spend 3 Days in NYC

I’ve been lucky to go to NYC twice now, and it’s definitely one of my favorite places on Earth (aside from the rats – I can live without them). There’s so many things to do and when you mix in seasonal offerings and limited time exhibits, it’s definitely a place you can come back to over and over again whether it be revisiting old favorites or trying new things.

Why Go?

I think NYC is a must for any city lover. It has food from almost any cuisine, world class museums, historical monuments, and a multitude of nighttime entertainment. It’s also ever changing and is host to more than a few, very famous global events (think Met Gala, Fashion Week, New Year’s Eve in Time Square).

Where to Stay?

My visits have been mostly focused in Manhattan so I definitely recommend Manhattan for this itinerary. Within Manhattan, I think if you’re staying close to a subway stop, you’d have convenient access to the places on this itinerary. I personally stayed near Hudson Yards, but a place near Times Square, Central Park, or Madison Square Park would also put you in a good location.

How to Get Around?

Luckily, NYC is a fairly easy city to navigate. Not only is it walkable but there’s an easy public transportation system. I have to admit I’ve only used the subway lines but there’s always a stop near the major, popular sites. Recently, when I went in May 2024, you can use your credit card as your metro card so you can take advantage of the weekly max amount. Last but not least, there’s also Uber/Lyft. 

Day 1

The first day is a typical city tourism day. I would start off at Central Park. The Park is actually much, much larger than a typical park with numerous walking paths, beautiful gardens, big sport fields, and even a lake for rowing. You can easily spend an hour, a half day, or even a whole day there. Luckily, since it’s a park in the middle of the city, you have easy access to restaurants and even museums if you want to take a breather from the green space! I personally would spend the morning at the Park, have lunch, and then head over to a nearby museum for the afternoon. 

For a museum, I personally would choose the Met. I have yet to go but it’s so iconic not only because of the Gala but because of the art pieces as well. Other options are the Guggenheim Museum or the American Museum of Natural History. If museums are not your thing, there’s also the Central Park Zoo!

After dinner, I would start the night with a Broadway show. There’s always so many shows to choose from. If you’re going with a bigger group or seeing a popular show, I would definitely book tickets ahead of time. However, if you’re willing to be flexible, I had some good luck getting great deals on last minute tickets at the box office day of or even a few minutes before. After the show, I would head over to Times Square as I think everyone should experience the bustle and the lights of Times Square at least once in their life. There’s also a fantastic Disney Store right in the middle where I had once picked up New York exclusive pins!

Day 2

The second day is all about New York specific tourism sites! I would start off at the 9/11 Museum. There are early morning tours if you want a more quiet experience as it is very popular and can get crowded fairly easily. The museum is very somber so be prepared but it’s also very informative especially to what it was like and what was going on in the city during the attack. I remember where I was during 9/11 but it was educational to see it from a different time/place as California is 3 hours behind. 

After the museum, I would definitely allow for some time to recover. One of my friends was slightly depressed after coming out and that isn’t the best feeling to go exploring with. We got lucky that day that Smorgasburg was outside so we had lunch there from a few booths, but on your way to the second activity, you’ll be walking through the Financial District if you want to research ahead for where you want to have a bite to eat! A couple notable stops in the Financial District include the Charging Bull and Trinity Church (the Cemetery is where Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth, are buried).

The second activity for the day is the Statue of Liberty. I haven’t actually been since the last time I went, it was a bit cold already and it would be even colder riding the boat. However, it is on my list of things to do the next time I go back! We just took a sneak peek from Battery Park through the fence. However, as I was linking the website, it looks like reservations are highly recommended especially if you want to visit the Crown or the Pedestal. Note: The best part of the park is the Seaglass Carousel! You sit in colorful opaque fish that rotate around and up and down. It’s $6 (as of Oct 2024) and the ride is actually fairly long. But the best thing is that it’s just such a simple, joyous thing to do especially as the sun hits in and the colors reflect all around you! 

To close out the second day, there are awesome bars to check out. Or, if you’re not feeling up for that kind of adventure, there are plenty of dessert shops, ice cream parlors, or cookie establishments that have late hours! 

Day 3

The third day is going to be filled with my other favorite activities that I’ve done in New York along with a couple of things I still want to do! Feel free to mix and match what sounds interesting to you! 

The first is the New York Library. I love libraries in general, but the New York Library is massive and has a Winnie the Pooh display in the children’s section! It’s honestly delightful to walk around and see some of the different research rooms. There’s also tours and a visitor center for information. Note: Plan to spend a couple hours. When I went, an hour was not enough! The library is also located on 5th Ave so it’ll be a fun stroll afterward looking at all the luxury brand storefronts. 

Another option is the Morgan Library and Museum. We went on a free night which was on a Friday. The “museum” portions that comprise his private collections are a bit random… rich people sure do collect odd things. But the library itself is very beautiful and the rest of the building houses other exhibits that were quite interesting. For instance, we got to see an exhibit on Beatrice Potter and learn about her life and how she got into illustration and writing. The free time is limited but I think it was a nice sample of the place and we got to see everything we wanted to see.

My last recommendation on things I’ve done is the High Line. It’s a nice nature walk in the concrete jungle that’s not Central Park. There’s also art pieces randomly along the path with benches to sit down on to chat with friends or to admire nature. 

Now for things that I have not done but want to! The first is the Empire State Building. While I know a lot of people go for the view from the top, I personally want to know more about the history of the building and send a postcard from there since it literally has its own zip code! The second one is Grand Central Station. In addition to being a pop culture filming location, it’s known for beautiful architecture, shopping, and food. My personal goal is to try the oyster pan roast at the Oyster Bar!

Final Thoughts 

As you can see, it is so easy to pack a full 3 days or more! It’s one of the few places on Earth that I would happily go back to because there is genuinely always something going on, something to eat, or something to see!

A Weekend in Oklahoma City

Starting with a throwback trip, but something that I thought someone might find interesting. I visited Oklahoma City (OKC) back in January 2023! It was not a place on my bucket list, but I am so glad that I went! It had history and culture to share and was a safe place for a female solo traveler. It also had some great food to boot as well!

Why Go?

I was about to head up to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area for a visit and was doing some research to see how I could extend my weekend up there. OKC is about a 2.5-3 hour drive from the DFW area so if you’re looking to expand that DFW bubble, I recommend OKC!

Where to Stay?

I opted for an Airbnb as it was the cheapest option. Since I had a car, location didn’t matter as much. I just needed a place that had parking! Most popular points of interest are in the downtown area, but there may be restaurants and other museums you want to visit that are a bit farther (i.e. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum). I recommend creating your list of interests first so you know what area to look in for a place to stay!

How to Get Around

I recommend renting a car to travel around OKC or staying in a more central place to your points of interest as you’ll likely need to Uber/Lyft. I didn’t see many buses running around during my weekend stay.

Day 1

Arrival day was a slow day. It was lots of driving after my “big girl” job and by the time I arrived, it was getting pretty late. I stopped by Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, a famous steakhouse that’s been frequented by celebrities and presidents! I heard it had a neat interior, but I had stopped for gas before and was already hungry and ready to go to bed. I’m glad I ordered ahead because there was still a bit of a wait when I arrived. Luckily, my Airbnb was close by so my food was still hot although it did culminate in my first and not-so-fun experience of using a plastic fork and knife to eat a steak. Overall, a really solid meal for the price – everything was great with my personal favorite being the bread. If you can, I would suggest eating in to get everything right off the grill. I’m sure that would only enhance your dining experience!

Day 2

A full day of exploration awaited! First stop was at Harvey Bakery and Kitchen. TIP: The line was out the door so I highly recommend ordering your desired baked goods online as they have a separate window for pick up. It’s a bit of a bummer to not be able to take a look at the bakery case, but Yelp photos definitely helped! Honestly though, I ordered a chocolate almond croissant, a cinnamon roll, and a kouign amann, and all were delicious so I don’t think you can go wrong!

 

Next stop was Kitchen No 324, my actual planned place for breakfast. It’s a beautiful modern space that would have been a great place to dine, but once again, there was a wait, and I was running late after sleeping in. I ordered a Giant Buttermilk Pancake, and it was glorious! My favorite part was the slabs of salted butter than just melted into the pancake. Y-U-M! Who said you couldn’t eat cake for breakfast?

After the lovely pancake, I headed to the First Americans Museum (FAM). TIP: If you plan on going to both the FAM and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, they offer a combination ticket that also saves you $5. I recommend both if time allows! FAM offered a free tour (~1 hour), and it was a nice addition to my visit to get to ask questions with a tour guide. The tour consisted of a walk-through of the main exhibit on the first floor that focused on key historical moments and select artifacts. The museum incorporated history from a different perspective than in my schoolbooks growing up and overall, provided a knowledgeable view into First American culture and history. It is fairly new, and I think it’ll be really exciting to see how it will grow and expand over time. In terms of time, I recommend about 2 hours. If you plan on doing the tour, I recommend exploring the other exhibit on the second floor and going back to look at details from the first floor after the tour.

Originally, the plan was to visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum next. However, it was already mid-afternoon, and calculating the commute, I wasn’t sure if 2 hours would be enough. However, the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum was closer and the recommended amount of time for that was an hour and a half so I headed over there. Although the museum is older, the layout is well done. The museum details the story of the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 throughout the day and focused on the victims, the first responders, the perpetrators, and the aftereffects as well. It was the worst act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history, and although definitely tragic, it’s definitely a must-do if you visit. Outside is the Memorial dedicated to this event which I also recommend visiting. The hour and a half will allow you to comfortably walk through the museum and read most of the signs. However, I will note that I spent about 2 hours as there is much more information to read if you wanted to spend the time to do so.

After spending some time outside at the Memorial, I headed over to The Hall’s to pick up some pizza for dinner. They had some interesting flavors – I chose Sweetness and the Sunday Lunch for a Half and Half pizza. Sweetness was like an elevated Hawaiian pizza with hot honey and the Sunday Lunch had brisket and roasted potatoes. It was a great and satisfying meal to end the day with!

Day 3

Last day started off with breakfast at what seemed to be the most popular restaurant in OKC – a Latin cuisine inspired restaurant with an emphasis on Guatemalan cuisine, Café Kacoa. I ordered an Horchata and Tikal. The horchata had a rich depth and a lovely cinnamon-y kick. The tikal was one of their most popular dishes – think ultimate breakfast platter with eggs, steak, chorizo, black beans, plantains, and tortillas. It was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The portion was pretty generous, so I even had a little bit leftover to take back home with me for another breakfast experience another morning!

As for my morning activity, I wasn’t able to make it to the scheduled time I wanted to take of the Bricktown Water Taxi, so I improvised and did a self-guided driving tour to other points of interests. I admired and took photos of the Capitol building outside and drove in downtown to see the Bricktown area on foot. While looking for points of interest on Google Maps, the Centennial Land Run Monument popped up and I decided to check it out. I have to admit it was a bit odd to get directed towards a Bass Pro Shop, but apparently, the Monument is accessible from the back part of the parking lot. The Monument memorializes the Land Run on April 22, 1889, when more than 50,000 people rushed on horses, foot, and wagons to Unassigned Lands to attempt to stake a claim. While I don’t remember this event from my history classes, I must admit it was a very detailed monument and an expressive art piece.

Still full from breakfast, I headed off to my afternoon activity – utilizing the other half of my ticket to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. I admit I was a bit surprised to see this museum in OKC because I had never associated Oklahoma with cowboys before. However, let me say that this museum was big and full of information. I spent nearly 4 hours there and was so glad I did not go the day before because it would have felt so rushed. The museum had western and First American art, a real-life model of a Western town, private collections of guns, cowboy clothing and equipment, and more! Exhibits touched on the history of cowboys and western life, explained rodeos and its story, and showcased the Western entertainment genre, to name a few. Like the First Americans Museum, there was also a free tour. I was 1 of the 3 attendees and our docent was amazing – it was evident that he was very passionate about the topics and shared unique details throughout the museum. I eventually left the tour after 2 hours so that I could explore the other exhibits we had yet to get to. An impressive fact that I learned is that the museum has storage of even more pieces than they’re showcasing! This place is definitely not one to skip when you’re visiting OKC!

My last stop before heading back home was to Tucker’s Onion Burgers. I absolutely had to get an Oklahoma original – an onion burger although I didn’t learn about these until a few days before my trip. So, for those who may not be familiar, an onion burger has thin slices of onion smashed into the beef patty while it’s being cooked. For someone who’s not a fan of raw onions in my burgers but loves grilled onions, it was absolutely glorious! The supposed origin story is that by adding onions directly into the patty, costs could be reduced because less meat was being used. Given that it was supposedly created during the 1920s during the Depression, it sounds like a creative economic solution!

Final Thoughts

For someone who loves museums and food, OKC was an awesome weekend getaway. I found plenty to do without stressing that I wouldn’t be able to do everything. A weekend is a perfect amount of time so if OKC is close enough for a road trip or there’s a cheap flight that pops up, I recommend going!

Extra Things to Do

Bricktown Water Taxi
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Catch a game at Paycom Center

Extra Places to Eat

Boom Town Creamery
Empire Slice
Sheesh Mahal