Read more about the article Hermann Park – Houston, TX

Hermann Park – Houston, TX

On our recent trip to Houston, we experienced Houston like tourists. Since most activities for a family wedding were located near the Museum District, we spent a morning at Hermann Park, followed the next day by a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston – MFAH.

Hermann Park

New York has Central Park, Atlanta has Piedmont Park, and San Francisco has Golden Gate Park. Houston’s equivalent is Hermann Park. Bordered by Rice University, Texas Medical Center, and the Museum District, the 445-acre Hermann Park offers activities galore.

One can easily spend lots of time here with the Houston Zoo, a public golf course, a dog park, the McGovern Centennial Gardens, the Japanese Gardens, and the Pioneer Memorial Obelisk. Additionally, you can hike the Marvin Taylor Trail, rent pedal boats, fish in Lake McGovern, ride a carousel, and eat at the restaurant. To the delight of many children, a small train even takes guests 18 miles to stops throughout the park.

Rose Garden at McGovern Centennial Gardens
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Read more about the article MFAH: Museum of Fine Arts – Houston, TX

MFAH: Museum of Fine Arts – Houston, TX

Most trips to Houston involve visiting family for both my husband and myself. After attending a family wedding in Houston this spring, we decided to see Houston like tourists. MFAH, which stands for Museum of Fine Arts Houston, has always been on my list to visit. It did not disappoint!

The museum consists of three buildings – the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, the Caroline Weiss Law Building, and the Audrey Jones Beck Building. Our two-hour visit barely scratched the surface so I plan to spend more time on our next trip.

Wilson Tunnel connecting the Law and Beck buildings
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Read more about the article Ritz Carlton Reynolds: Lake Oconee, GA

Ritz Carlton Reynolds: Lake Oconee, GA

I’ve stayed at many high-end hotel chains across the globe including Occidental Grand, Omni, Four Seasons, and InterContinental. However, I finally checked the Ritz-Carlton off my bucket list when DH (Dear Hubbie) had a company trip to the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee.

So what makes the Ritz so special? The brand became synonymous with luxury and opulence from its early beginnings. Opened by Cesar Ritz in 1897, the Hotel Ritz in Paris provided electricity and private bathrooms for guests. A few years later, Ritz opened the Carlton Hotel in London with a telephone in every room. The brand came to the US when Alber Keller purchased the franchise in 1911. Today, Marriott owns the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company with over 100 hotels in the world.

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Read more about the article National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche – St. Augustine, FL

National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche – St. Augustine, FL

Just north of St. Augustine’s Old City Gates lies the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios. We learned about the site on the trolley tour when we moved our daughter into her dorm at Flagler College. Fast forward a couple of years later when we explored the tranquil grounds.

On the “Sacred Acre” visitors can see the site of the first parish Mass in the United States. The grounds contain trails through a rosary garden, the 14 stations of the Cross, the seven sorrows of Mary, and a historic cemetery. Our Lady of La Leche also encompasses a church, historic chapel, museum, gift shop, and pilgrimage center.

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