Picture It with Priscila

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).

Best of Knott’s Boysenberry Fest 2025

Knott’s Berry Farm is a local theme park here in Orange County. I grew up having gone once or twice for field trips (roller coasters are obviously physics-related right?), but it was honestly this year that I rediscovered what an amazing park it is and actually started visiting it on a regular basis.

They’re also known for being the birthplace of the boysenberry fruit! Every year, they have a festival where they create boysenberry flavored items along with speciality shows and characters. It’s one of the most beloved food festival events in the area. This year (2025), it runs from March 28 to May 18, on select days. I got a chance to try some of the items and wanted to share some rankings in case a Knott’s Boysenberry Festival visit is also a part of your spring break. Unfortunately, I learned that I’m not the biggest fan of boysenberry so ratings were pretty low, but just because it wasn’t for me, it might be for you! 

Note: Sorry about the lack of photos – new to blogging, I definitely ate before the camera a lot more times than I thought. 

  • Deep Fried French Toast stuffed with Boysenberry Cream Cheese (8/10) – I had heard this was a highlight and it really was! Although it looked a little dark and I was worried it was over-fried or would taste like overused oil, it was actually ok. Granted, there was an oil stain on the plate so it probably could have drained a bit more, but it didn’t affect the taste. It had a less artificial tasting boysenberry custard in the sandwich and a cold fresh berry jam on the side that complemented the french toast.

  • Chocolate Dipped Boysenberry Buñuelo with Boysenberry Ice Cream and Powdered Sugar (7/10) – The ice cream was surprisingly good and not artificial tasting (i.e. different from the Dippin’ Dots flavor). The only con was that chocolate and boysenberry is not the best pairing…
  • Boysenberry and Lemon Tart (7/10) – This had lots of buttery crust which is a pro if you like crust like I do! You don’t taste too much boysenberry in this but the lemon curd in it is delicious! 

  • Stuffed Boysenberry Pie Cookie (7/10) – Although this was a really good cookie, I didn’t taste any pie filling despite the name of the item. It was more like a thin layer of boysenberry jam.
  • Boysenberry Sausage on a Hoagie topped with Boysenberry Sauerkraut Slaw (6/10) – I actually would have enjoyed this more without the boysenberry sauce. It made it taste more sweet than savory which is not what I wanted in a sausage. Without the sauce, the sausage was snappy and flavorful and the bread was soft and fresh. 
  • Double Stuffed Baked Potato with Boysenberry BBQ Pulled Pork and Jalapeno Chips (6/10) – While the meat was tender, the potato was really the star. The jalapeno chips added another layer of flavor and slight spiciness. Butter and sour cream were also included to enhance the baked potato experience. A solid choice but I’m not the biggest fan of spicy so again, would be ok not getting it again. 
  • Boysenberry BBQ All Beef Meatball Hoagie with Provolone Cheese (5/10) – I think boysenberry works best in a BBQ sauce for savory items since it naturally adds in that sweetness and slight tartness. This BBQ sauce was definitely sweeter than a typical BBQ sauce but as long as they’re not too much sauce, the balance with the salty meatballs was ok. The only unfortunate thing was that the cheese was not melted. Glad I tried it but would be ok not getting it again. 
  • Creamy Boysenberry Grits with Cajun Shrimp (4/10) – While the boysenberry note did not enhance the flavor of the dish, it oddly didn’t distract as much as I thought it would. The purple grits were a bit of an odd color, but overall, the dish had a sweet and savory taste to it. A couple of the shrimps were good, and a couple were chewy and not so good. It was a bit weird but it wasn’t bad and I’m glad I tried it.
  • Boysenberry BBQ Beef Tips over Mashed Potatoes garnished with Green Onions (4/10) – The mashed potatoes were delicious but the beef was a bit sweeter than I wanted it to be. In addition, the beef pieces were small so the gravy, boysenberry taste definitely outweighed the beef taste. It also started to taste more one-note the more you ate it.
  • Boysenberry Infused Beef Chili over Mac and Cheese with Chili Cheese Corn Chips (3/10) – Similar to the item before, the mac and cheese was good but was completely overshadowed by the boysenberry chili that made the whole dish sweeter than it needed to be. 
  • Boysenberry Honey Garlic Chicken Wings (3/10) – Too much sauce and the skin was too soggy. 

  • Boysenberry Sangria (1/10) – While ok at the beginning, the taste began to get a bit sickening after a few sips. The boysenberry flavor in this was artificial and syrupy. The aftertaste had notes of intense sweetness followed by grape medicine which was not my cup of tea. To improve it, I would recommend adding more fruit juices and brandy to make it lean more into a typical sangria. I sadly could not finish this drink.
  • Boysenberry Dippin’ Dots (1/10) – This had the same boysenberry flavor note as the sangria, artificial and syrupy. Again, not my cup of tea.

How to Have a “Perfect” Day at Tokyo Disneyland

My last time at Tokyo Disney taught me that flexibility was really important. I’m not as familiar as I am with the domestic US parks so I definitely struggled at times even when I was just prioritizing my must do’s. However, things did work out with that approach. Therefore, I think the best way to have a “perfect” day is to prioritize the must do’s and then build the rest of the day around those. 

Cinderella Castle

 

I wrote this article around some basic logistics and then my favorites or the most unique things in the main categories of attractions, shows, characters, and foods. This will all be based on what I’ve personally experienced or what I researched about so you have a “buffet” menu to help start building YOUR perfect day while allowing space for your own exploration. NOTE: This won’t be the most comprehensive list, but I have been a few times now and definitely did a lot of research so might as well spread the knowledge! 🙂 

General Definitions

  • Disney Premier Access (DPA) – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person) that works per attraction or show.
  • 40th Anniversary Priority Pass – This is the free version of the DPA for attractions only.
  • Show Lottery – Unlike the US domestic parks, show seats are allocated through a lottery system since they provide assigned seating. You can only enter for one show time per show once each day. However, the nighttime show is not a part of this lottery system.

Attractions

  • Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast – The absolute best ride that’s also super family friendly! I half thought it was going to be overhyped, but it’s not. Not only is the attraction beautiful (queue included), the effects amazing, but the ride itself is a fun twist on the classic dark ride where the motions actually immerse you even more in the story somehow! 
  • Pooh’s Hunny Hunt – This is a unique Tokyo Disneyland attraction so definitely make it a priority. In my opinion, it’s better than both the Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom versions!
  • Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! – This is another unique Tokyo Disneyland attraction. In addition to being a dark ride, it’s also a bit of a game where you are using “flashlights” to find monsters! 
  • The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents “Aloha E Komo Mai!” – Not going to lie, I wanted to go just to see little Stitch ears on the tiki room birds from Youtube videos, but the overall show was also quite fun and a delightful spin on the Tiki Room attraction. Worth a visit if you’re also looking to take a bit of a break.
  • Country Bear Jamboree – Since this version no longer exists at Disneyland nor Magic Kingdom, I think it’s a fun flashback choice. There’s a delightful Christmas version – get ready to hear a variety of Christmas songs from bears dressed in the holiday spirit! 
  • Big Thunder Mountain – Even though I would say this is not a must do since there are versions at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, I would say it’s still slightly different and worth the fun if there’s extra time in your day! 
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – I rode this one on my first visit, but I remember it being very similar to either the Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom version. I would recommend only riding it if there is a short wait and you have extra time in your day.
  • Haunted Mansion – I luckily got to ride the Haunted Mansion Holiday during my last visit. While fun, I do think the Disneyland version is a smidge better since it has the gingerbread house. Other than that, I could see that this attraction was very similar to the Disneyland version so definitely not a must do if there’s not enough time. 
  • The Happy Ride with Baymax – I did not get a chance to experience this, but it is very popular, even if it’s just to observe the group of Guests that gather round to dance/sing to the different songs at night. The attraction itself is similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disneyland or Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios. 

Shows

  • Mickey’s Magical Music World – Such a great show! If you have ever seen Mickey and the Magical Map at Disneyland (RIP), you’ll really enjoy this. It’s the same idea as a mash-up of various Disney songs with some medleys, great dancing, and beautiful costumes.
  • Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights – This is the Disney Electrical Parade, but better! It has some of the same floats as the original Disney Electrical Parade but some floats are glammed up with better effects. The DPA for this is pretty great – there’s assigned seating so you don’t have to worry about getting there early. NOTE: The earlier you buy, the better the chance you have of getting the front row. I bought these the first thing after coming in which was just a minute or two before the regular crowds came in. 
Dreamlights

 

Foods

  • Shrimp Cutlet Burger – This was my favorite snack at either park! The bread was soft and pillowy, the shrimp patty was crispy and well portioned to the bread, and it was all tied together well with a sauce! 
  • Egg & Chicken on Chinese Bun – This was my second favorite snack! Combined with the Shrimp Cutlet Burger, this could become a lunch meal since they’re both sold at the same location. This was my second favorite since I couldn’t taste the eggs very well and the chicken didn’t have as good of a crunch as the shrimp patty. Otherwise though, it’s still delicious! 
  • Baked Cheese Potato – These potato bites were so much better than expected. It was surprisingly cheesy! If you want a larger meal, the Seafood Pizza is also sold at the same location. Not a must eat but still good.
  • Chicken and Tomato Calzone – I didn’t try this one, but my family really enjoyed it. I’ve also seen other creators recommend this so I thought it was worth keeping it as an option! 
  • Honey and Curry Popcorn – While the curry popcorn was good, the honey one was only ok. Neither had a very strong flavor, but that made it easy to keep eating. 
  • Little Green Dumplings – These are super viral, but honestly, they are ok mochi. The texture isn’t chewy nor soft enough. BUT lots of points for creativity and cuteness! 
  • Chocolate Churro – Although this was one of our favorite snacks, it was a seasonal item. My family and I are chocoholics and this was definitely a delicious flavor for the classic churro. It actually had chocolate flavor infused in the churro dough rather than it being a dip. 

Characters

It was very rainy when I was last there so I didn’t see too many characters roaming around. However, from videos, that seems to be more of the regular scenario than actual “set times” of character meet and greets. Character meet and greets tend to be a circle formed around the character and they will choose people to interact with rather than getting into a queue. I’ve also heard there are character Standby Passes but I’m not sure which characters! 

Final Thoughts

I hope this post was helpful for planning your DisneyLand day. Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer!