Austin, TX

Published on May 12, 2014July 6, 2015 by T.W.O.1 Comment

At the beginning of May one of T.W.O. jumped on their saddle and headed to Austin, Texas for a friend’s wedding. Having visited before, we knew that Austin was a great town, but after this trip we now know it’s an AMAZING city. With different neighborhoods, shopping, great food, live music, outdoor activities and rooftops we can’t wait to go back! Here are some of the highlights of one of T.W.O.’s trip.

Austin

Rainey Street

It’s a street filled with historic homes, many of the bungalow style, in downtown Austin, Texas. Rainey Street is positioned near Lady Bird Lake and Interstate 35 in the southeast corner of downtown. Our first stop – Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden. Great outdoor area filled with picnic tables and great ambiance.

Franklin Barbecue

The effort was there, but unfortunately we didn’t get to try this famous barbeque place. We arrived around 11am and the line was already a two hour wait. Two hours would have been worth it, but comes to find out a girl 10 people in front of us was holding a sign that said “Last person guaranteed food”. Ummm….okay Franklin – – you are going to have to wait till our next visit to Austin! Off to another barbeque place that didn’t disappoint.

The Ironworks BBQ

This little tin building is a historic site and a family owned and operated business that has been serving Real Texas Barbeque since 1978. It’s a definite must stop when visiting Austin. What did we order – beef ribs, brisket, corn on the cob, potato salad and a local beer. The ribs were phenomenal – – and you know that we like ribs! The meat just fell off the bone and had a great smoky flavor that wasn’t over powering. The brisket was juicy, tender, meaty and went well with their homemade barbeque sauce. I wouldn’t mind going back and having a brisket sandwich! Do they deliver in California??

South Congress

A neighborhood located on South Congress which is known for the shopping and its many eclectic small retailers, music, art venues, food trucks and restaurants.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar, South Congress

On Sunday afternoon, while strolling down South Congress we stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant with a hour line. Must be good, right? Luckily we got the attention of the bartender who seated us before we had to wait the full hour – – must have been our California IDs! Anyways, the menu was overwhelming and I say that because everything looked SOOO good. It was so hard to choose what I wanted. From their burgers, to salads to vegetarian dishes and fries – – there is an option for everyone. Ended up ordering The Goodnight (an angus beef, Tillamook cheddar, hickory bbq sauce, caramelized onions, sliced jalapenos and sassy sauce. We got fries with queso which are highly recommended. Word on the street CA is going to be getting one of these in Marina del Ray area – – let’s hope!!

The Wedding

The ultimate reason why one of T.W.O were in Austin was for a wedding – – and besides all the sites seen and the food eaten, this was my favorite part. It was amazing watching two people that are so in love get married in front of their friends in family at Stonehouse Villa outside of the city. From the dancing to the food and mostly – the people that were there made for a special and memorable night. Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Rorden!

Keep Austin Weird,

The Bacara Resort and Spa

Published on March 3, 2014March 4, 2014 by T.W.O.2 Comments

If you are looking for a nice relaxing vacation or getaway weekend and are willing to spend some money – The Bacara Resort and Spa is a great choice! Located North of the downtown, this resort has it all. Beach, pool, spa, dining, views and a fantastic wine room! T.W.O. spent a lovely afternoon walking around the grounds and some time in the Foley Wine Room. (More to come on that in a later post!)

This Spanish-style resort is welcoming right when you pull in. The “piazza” has a gorgeous fountain that is calming and the service is fantastic. The lobby is inviting with the beautiful floral arrangements and the complimentary lemon and cucumber water. It feels like you walked into the ultimate spa! The outside amenities include a pool, cabanas, fire pits, outdoor seating and the best part – views of the ocean.

Check out some of T.W.O.’s favorite highlights of the Bacara!

Biarritz

Published on September 24, 2013September 24, 2013 by T.W.O.1 Comment

France for the day? Why not!?! T.W.O. took a day trip from San Sebastian to Biarritz to check out Europe’s Surf Capital. This luxurious French beachtown is about forty-five minutes from the border of Spain and is located on the Bay of Biscay. Biarritz is filled with tourists and surfers of all ages. Here are some of the highlights of T.W.O.’s quick visit!

Transportation

T.W.O. took the Alsa bus from San Sebastian to Biarritz. It was a great way to see all the small towns and experience “crossing the border” from Spain to France. As soon as we crossed the border into France, the bus stopped and the French police came on board to check our passports. Good thing T.W.O. brought those with us!!! En route, we saw the French coastline, two different campsites filled with retro looking trailers, beaches, bakeries, road bikers and a bountiful of hydrangea plants.

City of Biarritz

Biarritz is a great place to shop, eat and go to the beach. T.W.O. strolled around the city, stopping in stores along the way and bought linen snow-leopard scarves to keep warm. It was overcast in the morning and the summer attire T.W.O. was wearing was not doing it for them. FRENCH SOUVONIEUR…CHECK! T.W.O. noticed that a lot of people didn’t speak English and T.W.O. doesn’t speak French, so there was some communication issues. Au revoir, not hasta luego! Just kidding….T.W.O. got the feeling that people didn’t want to give them the time of day sinceT.W.O. was not speaking French. Other than that, T.W.O.‘s France experience was great!

Farmers Market

T.W.O. stumbled upon a framers market in the center of town. The market was divided into two sections: one section with fresh produce stores and bakeries and the other section with fish and meat stores. The fish and meat side was smelly, so T.W.O. spent less time there! Farmers markets in different countries are so amazing. The produce, baked goods and deli selection are very different from what you would find in the US. The cheese display in Biarritz was plentiful and it was hard to walk away from the sample section. T.W.O. probably ate about ½ pound of cheese in 20 minutes. Any opportunity T.W.O. gets to go to a farmers market, even if it is just to look around, T.W.O. will go out of their way to make the trek.

Lunch

Fresh Salads and a view! After about 2 hours, T.W.O. finally found a restaurant that had an English menu and a great view. (Good things take time, right?)

Beach

The beach in Biarritz was filled with travelers from all over the world. T.W.O. met some new friends from Scotland. They travel to Biarritz every year for a long weekend to enjoy the serenity and small beach town atmosphere. The water was on the colder side, but refreshing to cool T.W.O. down from the hot sun. Yes – the clouds burned off and T.W.O. was able to get their tan on!

The Famous Farmers Market Tote

T.W.O. was in search for the perfect farmers market tote and the mission was accomplished in Biarritz. Down the street from the farmers market, there was a cooking supply store (like a Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, etc.) that had a ton of the market totes stacked up in all different sizes and colors. Once calmed down from the excitement, T.W.O. happily purchased the tote that was dreamt about for months. (More on this tote in a future post.)

You can’t go to France without getting a baguette and pastry, so T.W.O. ended the day trip with these two things. T.W.O.enjoyed their snacks in a small park, while waiting for the bus back to San Sebastian.