Cates on Vacation

Friday: Frisco to Amarillo and Dinner at The Big Texan We hit the road from Frisco, TX to Amarillo — about a 6-hour drive. Took a lunch break somewhere along the way at Brickhouse Brew in Witchita Falls. It was okay. After checking in at the Hyatt Hotel, we met up with friends for dinner at The Big Texan Steak Ranch at 8 p.m. This iconic spot is famous for its wild west vibe and the crazy 72-ounce steak challenge. No one in our group tried the challenge, but it was a fun, touristy experience the kids enjoyed too. Definitely a Texas must-see! After a big day on the road, we called it a night. Saturday: From Texas Canyons to Colorado Caves We kicked off the day with breakfast at the Hyatt in Amarillo before hitting the road for the next leg of our trip. First stop: Palo Duro Canyon Just about 30 minutes from Amarillo, we opted for a drive-through since the hiking trails were closed due to rain the day before. While we missed out on hiking, the views did not disappoint. Known as the “Gran...

 About this Trip We took this trip when I was 6 months pregnant in February of 2015. We flew out of Dallas on United Airlines (with a stopover in Phoenix). Planning Your Kauai Adventure Kauai has five main regions—North, South, East, West, and the Middle. While the North Shore boasts dramatic cliffs and the famous  Kalalau Trail , the South Shore (where Poipu is located) is sunny and laid-back. If you have only three days like we did, focus on the North and South. You’ll want to plan a return trip for the rest—especially the full  Na Pali Coast . Day 1: Cruising Through Coffee Country We kicked off the trip by renting a convertible and driving through Kauai’s scenic backroads. There’s something about rolling the windows down and taking in those wide-open views that instantly puts you in vacation mode. Our first stop was the Kauai Coffee Estate, the largest coffee farm in the U.S. It’s a beautiful, open space to wander, and the smell of fresh coffee is everywhere. We s...

 About this Trip We took this road trip from Dallas to New Orleans for New Year's Eve in January of 2025 with our kids, 9 and 13. Even though New Year's Day was a holiday, nothing we did was closed and the city was just as vibrant as it always is. Day 1 We started our journey with a drive from Dallas to New Orleans, making a detour to visit Houmas House along the way. This plantation estate is beautiful, with lush grounds and an interesting history. As we walked through the gardens, we were surrounded by exotic birds and stunning scenery. The best part was that after the tour, we were free to wander the grounds as long as we liked. It was a peaceful, relaxing stop before continuing our drive. We caught a 6:00 p.m. tour, which was the perfect timing to explore the house and the grounds. There are many plantations in this area that you can tour. We liked this one but be sure to research the different options before you go. After Houmas House, we drove on to New Orleans and check...