Cold weather is for the birds. Especially during the pandemic when all our activities are outdoors. So why not go to a place where the outdoors is more pleasant? Here’s the plan (and here’s what we actually ended up doing):
After parking the Airstream in the driveway of family in NC and GA, we’ll shoot west and hit some of our favorites, with some new stops sprinkled in:
- Austin
- get carryout from Loro, a collaboration between two of our favorite Austin chefs
- J has already put in his order for curbside pickup–without the 2.5 hour wait–at Franklin BBQ (thanks, Covid!)
- eat outdoors at Comedor, on a 2020 list of best new Texas restaurants (I made a reservation!)
- Launderette has been on my radar for years, and they have cool porch seating
- our nextdoor neighbor Juliet has a fabulous patio
- here’s a good list of patio options for eating and drinking
- repeat favorites like Voodoo Doughnuts, Turf ‘N’ Surf, breweries, and running by the river
- San Antonio
- this NYT 36 Hours article is from 2017, but may be useful
- explore the River Walk–NYT says go two miles north of downtown for more peace
- visit the missions (by bike?)
- most of the Alamo is outdoors, but a ticket is required
- lots more patios
- cocktail at a rooftop bar (this is from 2018 so scene may be different now)
- eat a puffy taco (but can I find one without beef?)
- Alpine, TX
- Marfa, TX
- view the Marfa Lights
- Big Bend National Park
- hike Lost Mine Trail, including a summit of Casa Grande
- consider repeating South Rim hike, our favorite in Big Bend
- Tucson
- more patios!
- hike in Saguaro NP–maybe the Sweetwater Trail to Wasson Peak?
- hike in Madera Canyon, a recommendation from Uncle Jim
- hike in Ironwood National Monument
- we’re also spending a couple nights outside of town at Catalina State Park
- Bisbee, AZ
- Bisbee Breakfast Club for breakfast or lunch
- hike in Coronado National Memorial (another Uncle Jim reco)
- hike in Ramsey Canyon Preserve (no dogs allowed)
- Elsewhere in southern AZ
- camping and hiking in Lost Dutchman State Park near Phoenix
- hike in Chiricahua National Monument (Uncle Jim again. Can you tell he really knows this area?)
- Mesilla, NM
- Uncle Jim says to eat at La Posta
- visit White Sands National Park
- New Orleans
- there’s a long to-do list from our last visit!
- get a drink on the courtyard at The Elysian Bar (and peek into the church dining room)
- I follow Sebastian Modak on Instagram–he was the 2019 52 Places traveler. He’s currently in NoLA and posted awesome pictures from The Chloe
- here’s a list of heated patios (but doesn’t enclosing the patio in a walled tent defeat the purpose?)
- we’ll be there post-Mardi Gras, but I’m still going to be on the hunt for king cake
I’m excited to spend a couple nights in San Antonio–we haven’t been able to escape the pull of Austin in the past to visit. And we’ve enjoyed Bisbee on day trips before so we’re looking forward to a more immersive experience.
The area where we’ll spend the most time is greater Tucson, splitting it across a commercial park in town and a couple state parks in the mountains. We’ll be in Arizona for ten days. Texas is the overall winner though–we have 13 nights there.
Be like Uncle Jim and send us your recommendations!
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