Texas
Dallas | Austin | South Padre Island | Brownsville | McAllen | San Antonio | El Paso
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ADVENTURES IN TEXAS
DALLAS TEXAS
Where to EAT
Things to do in DALLAS
Austin, Texas
Bumble Global Connector Bee Pilot Episode in Austin, Texas
Bumble Global Connector Bee Hopeful: TravelingJules in Austin, Texas #GlobalConnectorBee
Come along with TravelingJules as she visits Austin, Texas, in hopes to become Bumble's Global Connector Bee 🐝! The job: travel around the world for a year and date, make friends, and create professional connections around the world using Bumble 📲! She'll be busy as a bee creating cool content and documenting the adventure! Do you think TravelingJules is the one? 💗 Comment below!
On this adventure, I take you along for the ride using Bumble and making a special connection, meanwhile experiencing some of Austin’s unique experiences…like, ahem, chicken 🐓 @#$% bingo (yeah, it’s a thing) at the Little Longhorn Saloon, hiking up Mount Bonnell at sunset 🌅, and Texas BBQ at the Salt Lick 🔥. But as you’ll see, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey! Thanks for joining me!
Things to do in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas: Chicken Sh*t Bingo
Not Your Average Bar Game
Come along with TravelingJules as she stumbles upon chicken shi*t bingo at The Little Longhorn Saloon in Austin, TX. With live music and cold drinks, it's dubbed "The Honkiest Tonkiest Beer Joint in Town." On Sunday afternoons (pre-COVID), crowds draw as the betting begins while all watch over a giant bingo board. These days, you can watch and place your bets online over at The Little Longhorn Saloon Facebook Page! Where will our chicken friend will do his business? You'll have to come to find out. With laughs and good times, everybody wins at chicken $#!+% bingo!
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
One Day in South Padre Island
It’s a happy day when you get to go horseback riding on the beach! Take me back! 🐎 #SoPadre#TexasToDo #LetsTexas
I’ve been to the beach. 🏖️ I’ve been horseback riding. 🐴 I’ve been to Texas. But to do it all at the same time was just MAGIC. ✨
Feeling the wind in my hair, seeing views of sand dunes to my left and the Gulf Coast waves on the right, getting to explore a remote section of the island, it was an experience I won’t soon forget. 💗
The adventure begins where the sand dunes swallow the pavement. It’s literally the end of the road. There were no hotels or beach bars or beach chairs here, just me, my horse Trigger, my guide, our adventure pals, and nature! Love exploring the road less traveled.
And can you imagine horseback riding at sunset?!? I will be back!
Tag someone you’d like to do this with!! 💗
📸🎥 Shot with the new Canon Powershot V1 (and a couple shots from my EOS R5 C). #teamcanon #createwithcanon#canoncolabambassador #powershotv1
#🐎 South Padre Island Adventure Park
📍South Padre Island, Texas @visitsouthpadreisland@traveltex
#travelingjules #🐎 #🐴 #horsebackriding #summertravel#travelmore #happytravels #instatravel #travelgram #✈️
This TEXAS star is such a vibe and #SoPadre! South Padre Island is a great tropical getaway on the Texas Gulf Coast, here’s why. #TexasToDo #LetsTexas
You’ll naturally become a birder visiting the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, one of nine World Birding Center sites located within the lower Rio Grande Valley. Boardwalks lead you through the tidal wetlands to spy on cool birds 🐦 and you’ll find great views of Laguna Madre Bay from the top of the watchtower. @spibirding
Clayton’s Pier is a classic SPI hangout and the biggest beach bar on the Texas coast. Loved watching the waves crash on the sand and people watch. 🏖️
The highlight? Seeing remote parts of the island horseback riding on the beach! 🐎 Feeling the wind in my hair, seeing views of sand dunes on my left and the Gulf coast waters on the right was such an adventure!
Wild to find the end of the road where sand dunes cover the pavement and stop you in your tracks. 🚘
Nothing like a fried shrimp basket with a view at Cafe on the Beach. 🦐
It was fun to meet some local artists at the Art District and learn about a special residency program. 🎨
The Dolphin Watch cruise is a wonderful way to get on the water. Seeing dolphins play in the wild is just magic. 🐬 @breakawaycruises
So special to see sea turtles up close at the largest enclosed sea turtle hospital in the world! Sea Turtle, Inc. rehabilitates turtles and releases them back into the wild. I want to come back this summer to see the turtle hatchlings make their way back to the water. 🐢 @seaturtleinctx
What is your favorite thing to do in South Padre Island?
📍South Padre Island, Texas @visitsouthpadreisland@traveltex
#travelingjules
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS
One Day in Brownsville
Dreaming about 🌮🌮🌮! Take me back to the Taco Trail in Brownsville, TEXAS. ✈️ #TexasToDo#LetsTexas #VisitBTX
I’m craving quesabirria tacos dipped in house-made consume, savory elote plus crispy carnitas-style pork belly chicharron guacamole! Calacas Tacos & Beer, @calacastacosbeer, sign me up. 🍽️
And then, a Michelada 🍺 topped with pickles and gummi worms soaked in a spicy red chamoy sauce would really hit the spot. Once you try it you can never go back! 😉
Ready to hit up alllll the other taquerias and eateries on the official Brownsville Taco Trail. 🙌
Who’s with me!???
📍Brownsville, Texas (The Taco Capital of Texas) @visitbrownsvilletx @traveltex
#travelingjules #🌮 #tacotrail #taco #nomnomnom #foodie#happytravels #instatravel #travelgram #✈️
The secret is out! Brownsville is a true Texas hidden gem 💎. Can’t stop thinking about the food—plus interesting nature and wildlife. So much to do, so much to eat! 🍽️🌮✈️ #TexasToDo #LetsTexas #VisitBTX
Yes, the Taco Trail was a highlight 🌮🌮🌮! Calacas Tacos & Beer wowed me with quesabirria tacos dipped in house-made consume…crispy carnitas-style pork belly chicharron guacamole, elote and more. My Michelada 🍺, topped with pickles and gummi worms in chamoy—you gotta try it! @calacastacosbeer
Sabal Palm Sanctuary is a treasured birding and nature space. Peek at Mexico across the Rio Grande River from an observation deck. Learn about native plants and birds along 3 miles of walking trails. Wildly cool! 🌿 🐦 @sabalpalmsanctuary
What a joy to explore the local resacas 💦—a special kind of oxbow lake unique to the RGV. My guide Aaron was so passionate about getting people outdoors, and knowledgeable about all the cool birds we heard and saw along the way. 🛶🐦 @brownsvillekayaks
I adore Jolie Petite with a feminine pink interior and classy vibe. I sampled it all, from beautiful croissants and a French Kiss cocktail, crabe benedictine, quiche lorraine, and my fav, the biscuits & duck gravy. Bonus—homemade rhubarb jam. 🙌 @joliepetite.btx
Had a mix of cultures in my birria ramen bowl 🍜 at @kuyashiijapanesekitchen, and @dodicipizza’s brick oven pizza and blow-torched cesar salad was 🔥🔥🔥! 🍕🥗
And Brownsville is home to a 2025 Texas James Beard Award semi-finalist, Chef Eugino Uribe. Le Rêve served up delicious dishes with layers of flavor, from the crispy bomba rice with sea urchin to asparagus and crab meat in a citrus butter sauce. Loved the presentation of the glazed duck breast. And hello, a burger with bacon-jam and bone marrow mayo? Tastebuds are happy. 🍽️ @le.reve.restaurant
Not to forget, the popular Gladys Porter Zoo and botanical park! With 377 species of animals, wide open spaces for gorillas and rhinos, a cool aviary and more. Need to come back to see the ocelot! @gladysporterzoo
High five to the 956! 🙌
📍Brownsville, Texas @visitbrownsvilletx @traveltex
#travelingjules #foodie #letseat
MCALLEN, TEXAS
One Day in McAllen
Creativity is alive in McAllen, Texas, where I was surprised to find public art painted on 200+ irrigation pipes! Fun to see street art jump off flat walls and onto cylinders of all shapes and sizes! 🎨 Community members, students, teachers, retirees and artists alike contributed to the colorful project, honoring the city’s rich agricultural history. There is a map that will lead you directly to each artworks, or you can simply keep your eyes open while you’re out and about exploring around town.
📍 McAllen, Texas @keepmcallenbeautiful @visitmcallen @exploremcallen @traveltex
🎨 Swirl @lupitalupitaart
🎨 Canta a La Vida @monarchproject_mcallen
🎨Homenaje a la Mariposa Monarca
And more!
#travelingjules #🎨 #TexasToDo #LetsTexas #VisitMcAllen #ExploreMcAllen #KeepMcAllenBeautiful #streetart #publicart
Exploring a new region in TEXAS —have you been to the Rio Grand Valley area? First stop, McAllen! Art, culture, nature and so much more. #TexasToDo#LetsTexas #VisitMcAllen #ExploreMcAllen
You know, a lot of cities have mural art on walls, but this was a surprise—in McAllen, there is public art painted on 200+ irrigation pipes around city. 🎨 It’s a nod to the area’s agricultural history, a collaboration with the community and a welcome splash of color. @keepmcallenbeautiful
A must-see in this part of the world is Quinta Mazatlán, a World Birding Center 🐦! It’s an urban oasis where you can tour a historic home 🏠 and enjoy beautiful gardens and forest trails 🌳. Among many rare birds that pass through, I got to meet a local, the plain chachalaca which is almost as fun to watch as it is to say the name. @quintamazatlan
I was surprised by our international foodie stops in McAllen. 🍽️ The new A Todo Mar had an impressive display of fresh seafood from around the world, a festive michelada cart and lots of delicious nibbles. The large screens playing underwater scenes gave this space such a stylish vibe. @atodomar_
Sunset at Toloa Rooftop in North McAllen for a drink 🍹 and modern Mexican food was also a hit, with open-air and indoor seating, a bar area and inviting community table. @toloarooftop
Families will enjoy a visit to the International Museum of Art & Science. Cool to see how NOAA and NASA project info and cool visuals onto a spherical canvas (called Science on a Sphere). See paintings from Spanish America, a rotating gallery space, and enjoy some hands on time at El Studio to have a play with physics. @imasmuseum
I enjoyed my stay at the legendary Casa de Palmas Hotel in McAllen’s Art District, just 10 minutes from the McAllen airport. Its’ beautiful Spanish architecture and modern conveniences were inviting, I need to come back for some pool time! @casadepalmashotel
More to come on this Texas adventure! 👊
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
IPW San Antonio with the US Travel Association
IPW Photo Dump! #ipw23 I’m always impressed by how the US welcomes international travelers at the legendary travel industry event called IPW. This year, we gathered in San Antonio, Texas, famous for the Alamo and its’ charming walkable, floatable River Walk and so much more.
Travel journalists from around the world and here in the states are invited to come and hear what’s happening in popular and emerging U.S. destinations. We connect over scheduled meetings, conversations on the show floor, and four nights of fiesta fun!
We had block party in La Villita and side parties at places like the historic Aztec Lounge, the stylish 5 diamond Hotel Emma, the Lonesome Rose honky tonk and beyond. Plus special performances--this year I sang along with the Counting Crows and Broadway hits and witnessed a pretty awesome drone show over the Alamo.
IPW, how do you do it? Pretty cool to work (and play) in travel. 😉
📍 San Antonio, Texas @visitsanantonio@traveltex
#VisitSanAntonio #traveltexas #ipwDaily#travelingjules #travelstorytelling#traveljournalist #travelmedia#travelconference #travelgram#MeetingsMatter #TravelForward
#werkwerkwerkwerkwerk
🙏 @ustravel_association @ustravelipw
EL PASO, TEXAS
SATW El Paso Annual Convention
A few fave moments frozen in time from El Paso, Texas 🌵🤠. My first official SATW event for travel journalists was one for the books—so many great people, places and faces crammed into a few short days—didn’t feel like “work” one bit. Always grateful to explore new destinations with people who are passionate about what they do. Storytelling is an art form, it fuels the soul. ✈️📷 ✏🎥👩🏻💻 #satwElPaso #visitelpaso #satw@societyofamericantravelwriters 📍 El Paso, Texas @visitelpaso 📍 Samalayuca Sand Dunes, Cuidad Juarez, Mexico @visitajuarez
#travel #adventure #elpaso #texas #juarez#mexico #videostorytelling #storytelling#contentcreator #videojournalist #vlogger#travelvlogger #travelingjules #🎥
Who knew El Paso, Texas 🌵🤠 has so much to offer! After spending a few days in The Sun City for the SATW Convention for Travel Journalists ✈️📷 ✏🎥👩🏻💻, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface…and they kept us busy! #satwElPaso #visitelpaso #satw@societyofamericantravelwriters
El Paso is a border city, a special community where two countries and three states meet (New Mexico, Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico). I even climbed to the top of Mount Cristo Rey ⛰ where I could see all three states at once! We got down to business with industry meetings 💻 and speed networking 🤝 and professional development sessions 💡. I was honored to lead a presentation about Video Storytelling 🎥👊🙌! I loved getting to know so many fellow travel journalists from around the country and different sections of the industry. It made me wonder why I haven’t come sooner since I joined a few years ago. 🤷🏻♀️ Outside of the convention center, we were charmed by the downtown ElPaso Streetcar and mural art. We sampled the food trucks at McKelligon Canyon Ampitheatre. We stumbled onto a western movie set at Indian Cliffs Ranch and Cattleman’s Steakhouse. We even crossed the border into Cuidad Juarez just in time to see the sun setting over the Samalayuca Sand Dunes—WOW! 🌄 I enjoyed watching the 4x4’s zoom around the sand, listening to the mariachi band, and taking home a few colorful tortilla warmers for a souvenir. Yes, there were a several things I didn’t get to tick off my list, hopefully I’ll be back for another visit! 🎥 Did you catch my adventure on Instagram Stories? Here’s a quick recap! I shot everything with the #iphone11pro 📲, toggling between the three lenses using the built-in camera app and vlogging with the Instagram app. Let me know what you think in the comments! #elpaso #texas #juarez #mexico #videostorytelling#storytelling #mobile #📲 #iphone #contentcreator#videojournalist #vlogger #travelvlogger #travelingjules #🎥
Foodie Juliana Broste, TravelingJules, samples Texas BBQ at the Pecan Lodge in Dallas, Texas. She samples the famous Pitmaster sandwich and learns how to make the hot mess. (Local Now)