Winter getaways close to home: Austin Travels

Back for our Austin Travels weekly visit, this time with Kristen Feinand. Always happy to see you. And you're first back from a trip up I-35, which you've been known to do. Yes, I know. Everything's in Dallas these days, I feel like. But this time was a hockey-themed visit. Okay. So, I mean, I feel like hockey's really popular right now, especially with, like, My kids, you know, who are teenagers are really into it with like heated rivalry off campus, these shows. And so hockey is at the center of a lot of these shows. It really is. And so it's been on our radar and there's a... Kind of this like viral like pair of best friends on the San Jose Sharks called Wilmac and they were playing the Dallas Stars. So my girls are like, can we go see the Dallas Stars? I've never seen the Dallas Stars or been to a hockey game there. Have you been to one? I haven't been to an NHL game. We used to minor league hockey when I worked in Corpus Christi. And that's and I didn't grow up around the sport in Houston like I did the other like football, baseball, basketball. If you go to enough hockey games, you're a fan for life. Oh my goodness. Well, yeah. We walked in just to see what it was about, and we walked out huge Dallas Stars fans. And it was such an amazing experience. I mean, it's super affordable. We were able to get really pretty cheap tickets, like four rows up. So we had all the action. I didn't realize how intense it could be, but it was so much fun, and it's crazy. It's just three hours right here in Dallas, and I love Dallas for sports anyway, we did Cowboys game for Thanksgiving last year, which is another really fun one. But I just thought it was, like, such a cool experience. Yeah, yeah, so many great professionals, all the major professional sports found up in Dallas. But so many other good accommodations as well, some great hotels in that area. Yeah, and the location. I mean, that's what's so interesting about Dallas. It's so weirdly walkable for being such a big city. And so... You know, downtown in major U.S. cities are hit or miss. Yes. And I guess it's cool that this one's pretty good. Yeah, so we stayed at the Fairmont Dallas. This was my second time staying. And that is perfect. Perfect location. So we were able to walk to the game, which is at American Airlines Center. That's so huge. It is so huge. It was like 10 minutes. And then it's right in the Arts District, too. So you can do all the amazing arts in Dallas, which are some of the best in the world. And then, of course, the restaurant scene, too. So you could literally just stay at the Fairmont, which is an amazing hotel, rooftop pool, 500 rooms, all recently renovated, just gorgeous. And then just truly not take your car anywhere. Yeah, we love that. And you did do a little eating while you were there, of course. Yes, we always— How many spots you could pick? Yes, we have so many favorite spots now, but this one I had to do because my girls, you know, again, traveling with teens, they saw it on TikTok. They helped you with your itinerary. They did. What would you do if you didn't have them to plan for you? It's true. And so I will say it was a great tip. It's a place called Yochi, and it's an Australian... You're looking over here, I guess. Yes, it's an Australian frozen yogurt shop, and this Dallas just opened last month, and it's the first one in the country. So we really got to experience something new, and what was special about it, you know, I've I've been to a lot of Froyo shops, for sure. Yeah, I was going to say, is Australian making something different? So, yeah, I mean, I think the ingredients are a little different, and then just the setup is really fun. Like, they have a chocolate fountain, and they have, like, cookie dough that you can do by the scoop on your Froyo, and then I think also they just really want community there, so they're really encouraging, you know, especially with so many teenagers and, you know, people in their 20s, and they really want them to just have, like, a safe, fun place to hang out, so it's like murals and pretty and really inviting, and everyone, I mean, it was packed, of course, because it was opening weekend, but I could see it Being just like a really nice community hub for people there. It's very cool. I mean, again, you guys come on Austin Travels, you literally travel the world. And some people are like, well, Dallas. But it's fun to just get away. It is. And so many things in a big city like that, this is one example you could do. Three or four trips to do some different things every single time. Yeah, and I think that's it. I mean, just maybe think about something that you've never done. I mean, especially the sports for us is very new. So a hockey game first time, Dallas Cowboys game first time, and then you get to explore all around it. And there's so many things like that in Dallas that you might not experience somewhere else. Yeah. And for sports, so many people who are maybe new to the sport, but also so many people who might love it, but they've never actually gone. Like, treat yourself at least one time, be in person. See that stuff, that's very cool. That's exactly how it was. We were like, oh, we love this. Their energy was just, you know, so captivating. Wonderful. Great trip. Again, up I-35, Kristen Finan. Appreciate it.