I'm often surprised when friends tell me they think a vacation home costs more than a hotel, because I save money when I rent a home -- and often a significant amount! For example, on one recent trip, I had trouble finding hotel accommodations for less than $400/night due to a major local event that coincided with my trip. I hopped onto my home rental apps and within minutes found a fantastic home for less than $150/night! Once there, I was able to grocery shop and then cook many of my meals … [Read more...]

In my post, The Ultimate Guide to Visiting River Street in Savannah, GA, I mention that my first stop when visiting Savannah is always to River Street Sweets. In fact, in 20+ years of annual trips to Savannah growing up, I never once missed a visit to my favorite famous candy shop! It embodies Southern charm, and that's just one of the many reasons this little candy store is my top stop along the river. An oversized antique candy display … [Read more...]

Sure, I could be dreaming of a white Christmas right about now -- but it's so much more fun to think Gruene! After all, what could be better than Christmas in Gruene? It's one of my favorite small towns in Texas. I'm currently working on a very detailed guide that will be posted on Thanksgiving day (tomorrow, for non U.S. readers).  I'm also working on a post about the famous Gruene Hall and a Gruene shopping guide. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a sneak peek of this small town … [Read more...]