SXSW Food Trucks

Tens of thousands of people converge on my birthplace, downtown Austin, Texas, each March for the annual SXSW, South by Southwest, Festival and Exposition for Music, Film, and Interactive. This year's gathering occurs on the following dates: Interactive: March 9-13, Film: March 9-17, and Music: March 13-18. With all of the thousands that are in attendance, it can be difficult to navigate through all of the crowds in the city and downtown, and even if you are a native, it can be difficult to know where to go to enjoy great food that is close by so that you can spend more time in attendance at the various venues and parties rather than being caught in traffic.

With this in mind, when I attend SXSW, I prefer to grab my dinner from any number of mobile food trailers and other mobile eateries that are all over Austin during SXSW. Due to crowds and limited space, it can be hard to find out where all of your favorite eateries are located on a particular day. Thankfully, there is a food trailer website that provides continuous updates as to vendors, locations, and hours during SXSW that makes it easy to find your favorite mobile food vendor.

The following are some of my favorite mobile food vendors from past SXSWs that are in attendance for SXSW 2012.

The Peached Tortilla, (512-222-8781.) This mobile eatery features tacos and sliders that are a luscious meld of traditional Southern and Asian cusine. This is my absolute favorite place to grab a bite on the go when in Austin, and they also provide catering services in addition to their conveniently placed food trucks. You have to try their bahn mi sliders for $3.50. These sliders contain braised pork, pickled daikon, carrot salad, Sriracha mayonnaise, and fresh cilantro on a Hawaiian-style bun. They are also available on tacos or as a burrito. Pair them with their sweet potato fries and peach mint dipping sauce for an extra $3.50. Also great are their Japanese-inspired hamburgers or their Yumé Dog. This hot dog contains an all-beef hot dog, wasabi mayonnaise, tonkatsu sauce, nori, and crispy onion strings. Don't forget to try their fried banana Nutella wontons drizzled in cajeta for dessert for an extra $3.50. The Peach Tortilla is unique, delicious, flavorful food at a great price!

The Texas Cuban,(1700 S. Lamar on the Lawn, Austin, Texas. 512-294-9259.) Another great mobile food eatery, The Texas Cuban also has a dine-in location. They provide hot pressed sandwiches with a Cuban flavor. A bit more expensive than The Peached Tortilla. They are best known for their $13 Texas Cuban sandwich. It is large enough for two people and features pork tenderloin, ham, swiss and provolone cheeses, and pickles pressed on garlic Cuban bread. I prefer their $7 South Austin Veggie Soul; it features organic zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, onions, red bell pepper, and provolone cheese pressed on garlic Cuban bread. All of their sandwiches come with orders of fried plantain chips, and they are great paired with Zico (coconut water) to drink.

Rockin Rolls ATX (3205 RR620 N. Austin, Texas. 512-297-4140.) Rockin Rolls bakes oversized specialty rolls fresh every day and fills them with heavenly creations. My favorite is the James Hetfield Roll. This gourmet roll is filled with bacon-wrapped meatloaf that's encased with a spicy, honey ketchup glaze for $6.50, and you can add chips and a drink for an extra $1.50. This is a great way to enjoy comfort food on the go.

One Taco (Sixth and Nueces, Austin, Texas.) This mobile food vendor also features a convenient dine-in location and provides traditional Mexican-themed tortillas and tacos at a great price. Breakfast is served all day. I usually order from the lunch and dinner menu when I eat here, and I love the Mixto Al Pastor. It's spicy marinated pork, steak, cheese, onions, and pineapple for $3.49. Pair it with a personal serving of chips and queso for an extra $3.25.

Hill Country Pierogi (11th and Lydia Street, Austin, Texas. 512-765-2260.) Convenient location and food trucks provide traditional Polish pierogi and treats, as well as sandwiches, salads, and desserts. I really like their bacon pierogi; it's a mashed potato-based fried dumpling with cracked black peppercorn bacon and caramelized onion. It's served with sour cream and peppercorn bacon crumble for $7. The kielbasa sandwich for $4 is also great - it has a full link of grilled Smokey Denmark Jalapeno Kielbasa, sweet jalapeno mustard, shredded carrots, red cabbage, and mango pepper sauce on a grilled sweet Hawaiian roll, and it's scrumptious! Pair either one with "The 420" for dessert. The 420 is a warm brookie (chocolate chip cookie baked into a brownie) smothered in dulce de leche, mini marshmallows, powdered sugar, and whipped sweetened mascarpone for just $4.

There are many other great mobile food vendors and restaurants in Austin to enjoy for SXSW and throughout the year, but these are the ones that I have found to be the most convenient to visit during the festival and to have the best food all year-round.

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Visiting San Antonio, Texas as a Solo Traveler

When someone first hears the words San Antonio, everyone automatically thinks of The Alamo and the famous battle that was fought there in 1836. While this location is definitely worth the visit, and no trip to San Antonio is complete without a tour of the historic fort, there are many other sites to see when visiting San Antonio, Texas, particularly as a solo traveler.

The city and its river were named by the Spanish Missionary, Father Damian Massanet, who conducted the first Catholic Mass on what has become known as "Marriage Island", a small heart shaped spot of land in the center of the river in San Antonio and its River Walk. He named it after Saint Anthony of Padua to honor his feast day. The following two day itinerary is the perfect plan for the solo traveler to see much of San Antonio.

When traveling in San Antonio, there are many hotels, motels, beds and breakfasts, and cottage rentals from which to choose your accommodations. For help in making a decision, you may wish to contact The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, 203 S. St. Mary's Street, Suite 200, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Telephone: 210-207-6700 or 800-447-3372.

Day One

Upon arrival, begin your visit at Downtown's official Visitor Center location, at 317 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Telephone: 800-447-3372. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, not including holidays. The center is centrally located between The Alamo and Riverwalk. Here you can pick up pocket guides, maps, audio tours, passes and more that will make traveling in San Antonio easier and it will help you enjoy your stay.

There are many ways to get around in San Antonio, but one of the most charming is by restored streetcar. The Visitor's Center can give you up to date information about available routes, but one of the best streetcar routes is The Red Route, which makes daily stops at The Visitor Center, The Alamo, Market Square, La Villita, The Convention Center, and Rivercenter Mall, among other stops. Bus No., also known as "The Sightseer Special," is also a great way to travel around San Antonio and see all of the sights. For more information about traveling by bus or streetcar visit Via Metropolitan Transit, 211 Commerce Street. Telephone: 210-362-2020.

Taking either the Red Route by streetcar, or The Sightseer Special Bus No. 7, visit the historic mission, The Alamo, and lunch at one of the many family run bistros and café's at the Market Square, or in La Villita, while you are shopping. Due to the length of time involved in touring The Alamo and shopping and eating at the Market Square and La Villita, it would be best to wait to visit Riverwalk and the Rivercenter Mall until the second day.

As you will see after you visit Market Square and La Villita, there are many places to eat in San Antonio. If you are looking for something different that combines history with dining, you may wish to try one of San Antonio's many Ghost Tours. One of the best is The Sisters Grimm Candlelight Ghost Tour. Costumed guides lead you through some of San Antonio's most famous haunted places by lantern light.

A ghost tour is also available that combines fine dining at The Menger Hotel, one of the most haunted hotels in America, before the tour of the other haunted sites. This tour is a great way to conclude your first evening in San Antonio, and is also an excellent, historic place to base your stay, as rooms start at $109 a night. After you hear some of the ghost stories, and if you encounter any ghosts on the tour, you may want to leave your lights on when you retire to your own hotel room for the evening.

If you find that you aren't ready to end the evening after the Ghost Tour, you will find that San Antonio has a vibrant living nightlife as well. You can visit one of over 86 bars and lounges that are open until the wee hours of the morning in San Antonio, such as one of the most famous bars in the country, Coyote Ugly, or the Longest Bar in Texas at The Esquire, both are located conveniently in the Downtown area near the River Walk .

In addition to bars and nightclubs, there is a vibrant live music community in San Antonio as well. Enjoy the various music venues offered in The Main Plaza, listen and dance to Country and Western Performers at Cowboys Dance Hall, savor Jazz bands such as Jim Cullum, along with fine cuisine at The Landing, or sample an eclectic mix of musical diversity offered every night, from Latin rhythms, to techno, to karaoke, at Graham Central Station.

Day Two

Begin your second day visiting The Riverwalk. If you did not enjoy breakfast at your hotel, there are hundreds of restaurants along the Riverwalk to satiate your appetite. Your entire day is full exploring all that the River Walk has to offer. The walkway is for pedestrian travel and is one level down from the main road. It winds its way along the banks of the San Antonio River and is lined with restaurants and shops and connects major tourist sites from the historic Alamo, to hours of shopping and eating at Rivercenter Mall.

While there, don't miss out on the outdoor performances at Arneson River Theatre at La Villita, or the spectacular waterfalls, as well as more shopping and dining opportunities. Other great sites to see and activities that you won't want to miss are the 750 ft Tower of the Americas at HemisFair Park which you can follow up with a more leisurely stroll through the San Antonio Museum of Art.

If you become tired from all of the walking, why not tour the area by riverboat? For more information about river taxis and tours, contact Rio San Antonio, 205 N. Presa Building B. Suite 201, San Antonio, TX 78205. Telephone: 800-417-4139 or 210-244-5700. In addition to regular tours, they also offer cruises that include cocktails or dinner.

There are many other attractions and places to visit while in San Antonio, and this two day itinerary is not meant to be an exhaustive list of what's available, but it is a sampling of the best of what San Antonio has to offer the solo traveler.

Photo Credit: mcclouds

Best Small Coastal Towns in Texas

By Lyn Brooks, Contributor 

Curious about the best places to visit in Texas? If good food and pristine beaches are part of your ideal vacation, why not visit one of the following five best small coastal towns in Texas? 

When many people begin to make plans for summer trips to the beach, most automatically think of states along the Atlantic such as Myrtle Beach, in South Carolina, or the many beaches of Florida. Most people do not realize that Texas has over 600 miles of shoreline that contain some of the most pristine and private beaches and sports fishing in the World, as well as unique towns and cities up and down the coast. The following are some of my favorite small towns to visit along the Texas Coast.

Port Aransas
Port Aransas is located at the Northern end of Padre Island and is a small, picturesque town along the 70 mile long Padre Island National Seashore. "PINS" as it is known to the locals, is the largest stretch of undeveloped barrier island beach in the world, and has no modern development other than a picnic shelter or two; it offers 365 days of fishing, camping, shell collecting, birding, swimming and surfing fun! In addition to enjoying the pristine natural habitat of the PINS, you can stake out a quiet spot on nearby Mustang Beach State Park, another beautiful beach on the northern end of the Island; make certain to stop by the Port Aransas Museum when you visit.

Rockport
Rockport is a charming town located about 30 miles north of Corpus Christi, Texas. It is known for its year round sports fishing, sailing, clean blue waves, bird watching, and friendly, laid back atmosphere. Located along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, you can see many of the 450 varieties of fowl that frequent the skies along the trail. Rockport is known in particular for frequent sightings of whooping cranes. Don't miss Rockport's beach, as well as the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Goose Island State Park, Rockport Harbor Aquarium, and Rockport's Maritime Museum. Rockport has several hotels, cottages, and campgrounds to make your stay enjoyable.

Freeport
Freeport is another waterfront town located south of Galveston between Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges, where over 300 species of waterfowl make their home. Freeport is also home to nearby Quintana Beach County Park. It contains a protected harbor, but is also just moments from the Gulf of Mexico, making it known for its phenomenal sports fishing and water sports. Freeport is definitely a great designation if you are looking for a beautiful beach and opportunities to enjoy wildlife and water sports.

The Village of Surfside Beach
The Village of Surfside Beach is just North of Freeport, and just south of Christmas Bay and is possibly Texas's best kept secret when it comes to pristine beaches. Like many places along the Texas coast, you can enjoy fishing and bird watching but the deep water and long jetties found just 8 miles off shore make Surfside Beach the place to go if you love traditional surfing or windsurfing. According to locals, Texas Street, which is about ½ mile north of the Jetty, is where you can find the best surf. 

Offshore fishing here is also great for catching red snapper, ling, bonita, and kingfish; closer to shore there is an abundance of flounder, redfish, and speckled trout. 

The village has a handful of unique restaurants, two to try out are Kitty's Purple Cow and Pirate's Alley Cafe. You can't miss Kitty's two story vibrant purple building just up from the beach, and it has absolutely the best hamburgers that I have ever eaten. For a wider variety of unique seafood fare, check out Pirate's Alley Cafe, it's the only restaurant on the beach itself. Don't miss The Pirate's Feast, it's a bit pricey at $15.99, but big enough for two people to enjoy when you pair it with one of their appetizers.

Port Isabel
Port Isabel is a beautiful, historic town located just east of Harlingen, Texas, at the far southern end of Texas's famous Laguna Madre Bay.It's just 2.6 miles from some of the world's most popular beaches located on South Padre Island. Port Isabel is also known for its fishing and watersports, with its waters teeming with abundant redfish, speckled trout, snook, tarpon, flounder, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, mangrove snapper, barracudas, jack crevalle, black drum, sheepshead, shark, ladyfish, lookdowns, grouper and many other types of saltwater fish. Port Isabel is also the site of many historic Texas events, and you must see Port Isabel's Three Museums when you visit: The Port Isabel Historic Museum, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, and the 1852 Port Isabel Lighthouse! 

While there are certainly several other wonderful towns along the Texas Coast, it is my opinion that these five offer the best access to historic sites, pristine beaches, world class sports fishing and bird watching, and phenomenal water sports that can be found not just in Texas, but anywhere in the world.

Photo Credit: Surfside Beach, TX by  doug_hodel

Places to Visit in Texas: Galveston Island

Galveston Island, Texas

Lyn Brooks, Contributor

If you are looking for places to visit in Texas, Galveston Island remains a great choice! Recently, my oldest daughter relocated to Houston, so now I have the opportunity to explore and rediscover some of my favorite places to visit in Texas, the state where I was born.

When I made my recent return visit to Galveston, I could see that the island had grown and changed. Despite this, Galveston Island remains an enchanting paradise, full of adventure and fun activities. It's also just about an hour outside of Houston, which makes it convenient to visit.

Before you travel to the island, make certain to visit the Official Website of Galveston Island, Texas Tourism and Marketing. The site contains helpful information such as current festivals and special events that are happening on the island now, as well as provides links to deals and specials at a wide variety of places to stay, dine and shop.

Things to Do on Galveston Island There are over 32 miles of beachfront and shoreline in Galveston, so the most obvious things to do when you visit the island are beach and ocean related: relaxing on the beach, sunbathing, or strolling along the shoreline. The island also boasts several opportunities for other ocean related activities such as surfing, swimming, kayaking, salt water and deep sea fishing, scuba diving, sailing and more.

There are 5 public beach areas on the island, including the three West End Pocket Parks, East Beach and Stewart Beach. You can also access the beach from Galveston Island State Park. Each of these beaches has its own "flavor" or atmosphere, with Stewart Beach and the West End of the Island being a bit more family friendly. The West End of the island is also where you will find Moody Gardens and the indoor and outdoor water parks of Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Water Park.

Moody Gardens (1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554. 409-744-4673), is a nature reserve and theme park, all rolled into one. A key feature of this attraction includes its large glass pyramids, which house an aquarium and rain forest. It also contains a zip line and ropes course, 3D, 4D and Ride-film theaters, Discovery museum, paddle-wheel boat cruise, golf course, and on site hotel. The Palm Beach section of the resort offers white sands, a lazy river, water towers, wave pools, slides and more. At different times of the year, this park has special activities and celebrations. During the winter holidays the site lights up the cool nights with the Festival of Lights. This summer there are also special concerts with live music and fireworks. Annual family memberships are $380 and yearlong memberships for the individual are just $99.

Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark (2026 Lockheed Road, Galveston, TX 77554. 409-770-9283), is next door to Moody Gardens. It features over 35 water rides, and visitors are able to travel throughout the park in special waterborne tubes; so that guests never have to leave the water unless they want to.

Galveston Island State Park (14901 Farm to Market 3005, Galveston, TX 77554. 409-737-1222), is less developed than other attractions on the island. This feature is a big plus if you are a nature lover and prefer a more relaxed, laid back visit to the beach. This is our favorite place to visit on the island. The biggest drawback to this particular park, however, is that it does not offer lifeguards for its beaches. If you take your children there, especially small children, make certain that you watch them closely when they are playing on the beach and have them wear a life jacket. Even if your child is a strong swimmer, this beach tends to have quite a strong surf at times, there are sudden drop offs in places, and as mentioned before, the state park does not have a lifeguard.

While it doesn't have lifeguards, Galveston Island State Park is the place to go for both fishing and bird watching, as the park has several bayous, marshland, dunes, freshwater swales, walking trails and photo blinds that make it the perfect place to observe birds and other wildlife. The State Park also participates in the Angler Education and Tackle Loaner Program , which makes it easy to fish in the park if you don't want to have to lug around a lot of fishing gear to and from your home when you go on vacation. There are plenty of places to fish at the State Park, as it provides an easy access point to the Gulf of Mexico as well as Galveston Bay, in addition to its beaches.

Another big advantage the State Park has over some other sites on the island is that the entrance fee is very low. It's just $5 for adults to enter, and the park has over 60 day use sites. There are also 180 overnight campground sites. Fees for camping range from $15 to $25 a night, and other facilities, such as restrooms, are available nearby.

Regardless of which beach you visit on the island, you are likely to find an abundance of seashells. According to the popular site, Coastal Living, the western end of the Island is best for shell hunting in the winter months. So far, we've found the best shells and bits of unusual sea glass in the early morning hours, with a typical haul containing a few intact lightning whelks, various mollusks, as well as an occasional angel wing.

The East End of the Island is known for the charming, Victorian architecture found in its historic district. If you have time, a short walking or biking tour of this area is definitely a must! Historic homes on Galveston Island that you will want to see include Ashton Villa, Bishop's Palace and the Moody Mansion and Museum. The famous Galveston Post Office Street is located in this area, and is home to the Island's art and entertainment district and is the place to enjoy a malt beverage in a pub, or discover a hidden prize in one of it's many antique shops. The Grand 1894 Opera House (2020 Post Office St, Galveston, TX 77550. 409-765-1894), is located in this area, and features live entertainment and shows throughout the year.

At the northern end of the island is the 8 mile long Galveston Seawall, which was originally built after the devastating 1900 hurricane that killed between 6,000 and 10,000 people on the island. Lifeguards are available along the wall, and it is a relaxing site from which to view the ships coming in and out of Galveston Harbor. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (2501 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550.855-789-7437), is located close by, and features rides, shopping and dining. Boat cruises and Ferry rides to the Bolivar Peninsula (502 Ferry Road, Galveston, Galveston Island, TX. 77550. 361-749-2850), are available in the area, and can be a great way to see more of the ocean as well as possibly spy dolphins and other sea creatures.

Other fun things to do on Galveston Island, Texas, include watching old fashioned Salt Water Taffy being made at LaKing's Confectionery (2323 Strand St, Galveston, TX 77550. 409-762-6100). Visitors can also try one of their 36 flavors of gourmet ice cream! The Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast (2313 Harborside Drive (Rear), Galveston, Texas 77550. 409-762-6677) exhibit features a year round pirate exhibit and ghost tour that's fun for kids.

There are also several museums that provide interesting side trips. Lone Star Flight Museum (2002 Terminal Dr, Galveston, TX 77554. 409-740-7722), allows visitors to ride in classic planes from WWII. You can see what life was like sailing the high seas on the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA at the Texas Seaport Museum (Pier 21, Galveston, TX 77550. 409-763-1877). Additional Galveston Island museums include the Galveston Railroad Museum, and Ocean Star Drilling Rig Museum.

With all of these great sites and fun activities, it's easy to see why Galveston Island remains one of the best places to visit in Texas!

Photo Credit: thigpen.robert