3 Central Texas tours ranked among Tripadvisor's best experiences in the nation

traveler's choice

tripadvisor.com

From sightseeing to wine-drinking, there is plenty to do on a trip to the Austin and Hill Country areas. Three Central Texas excursions, in particular, have recently made it on Tripadvisor's "Best of the Best Things to Do" list for 2023.

The Traveler's Choice Awards encompass the best experiences from millions of reviews around the world over the past 12 months. According to a press release, it's the online travel site's "definitive list" of the ultimate best activities from every part of the world.

In the category for the best food and culinary experiences, Austin's Hill Country Barbecue and Wine Shuttleranked No. 3 in the United States and No. 18 globally. The four-and-a-half hour tour by Austin Detours can accommodate up to 10 people on a drive through the Hill Country, stopping at wineries like Duchman's Family Winery or Fall Creek Vineyards, as well as a stop at the Salt Lick to try some of their classic Texas barbecue. According to the listing, the tour is "perfect for foodies visiting Austin for the first time."

Keeping up with the wine trend is the Taste of Fredericksburg Small-Group Wine Tour from San Antonio, which ranked No. 11 in the list of best wine experiences in the nation. This day trip adventure brings up to 10 people from the La Villita Assembly Hall in San Antonio to Fredericksburg's Sister Creek Vineyards and the Texas Wine Collective. This tour by Cottonwood Wine Tours promises a "guaranteed small-group experience" with free time to explore the town outside of the designated tour stops.

The final Central Texas experience that made it onto Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards is the ninth best cultural and historical tour in the United States: the Classic Waco Tour: Best Sites and TV Highlights in Waco. In just two-and-a-half hours, up to 13 visitors or locals will get to ride in a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van to visit several key gems from around the city, like Magnolia Market, Heritage Creamery, and more. Tourists will also receive an exclusive coupon book from Waco Tours that contains over $300 in savings for local Waco businesses. And if no one in the group is a natural photographer, the tour guide is more than happy to fill the role at no added cost.

Tripadvisor's general manager of experiences Kate Urquhart says in a release that Tripadvisor will continue to find and support local businesses that provide unforgettable memories.

"We're grateful to everyone who took the time to share their reviews and help fellow travelers plan their next escape," she says.

The full list of Tripadvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards can be found on their website.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia

Chip and Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper castle in Waco goes up for auction

Royal real estate

Hear ye, hear ye: The most famous castle in all of Texas is seeking new owners. By royal decree (aka Facebook post), renovation king and queen Chip and Joanna Gaines have revealed that they're auctioning off the historic Waco castle that they spent years rehabbing and made the focus of a special Fixer Upper series on Magnolia Network.

The Gaineses' Magnolia Realty posted on June 24 that the Cottonland Castle will be offered through Concierge Auctions. Bidding will begin at 3 pm July 20, and there's no reserve. A $100,000 bidder deposit is required.

"In 2019 — after 20 years of dreaming about the chance to renovate this castle — Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines finally did. They aired the whole process on Magnolia Network last summer, then opened it up for guests to tour. Now, they’re ready for someone new to write the next chapter in this historic home’s story," the Facebook post says.

The three-story, 6,700-square-foot residence at 3300 Austin Ave. has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, seven fireplaces, and sits on 1.5 acres in the heart of Waco. Construction was started in 1890, finished in 1913, and modeled after a Rhine River castle in Germany.

The Gaineses purchased structure in disrepair in 2019. According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, the price they paid was not disclosed, "but the property was listed at $425,000 and had a tax appraisal of $350,700 at the time."

The couple and their Magnolia team designed and executed a regal flip that added a conservatory, library, butler's pantry, card room, and more. It was opened to the public for tours in summer 2022 before being featured on a multiple-episode special called Fixer Upper: Welcome Home – The Castle, in October 2022. Rooms of the castle also have been featured in The Magnolia Journal.

In the ultimate modern touch — a branding opportunity — a 17-page “Castle Sourcebook” listed design elements and products and where to buy them. A “Colors of the Castle” paint collection also was created and released through Magnolia.

According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, the property was appraised this year at $1.7 million, including land - nearly $700,000 more than its $1.03 million appraisal in 2022. The castle is also being offered for sale at $2.9 million by Magnolia Realty, and a representative for Concierge Auctions told the Waco newspaper that "there remains the chance a pre-auction offer would be tendered."

The Gaineses reportedly had planned to sell the castle immediately after the series aired in the fall. But after a three-year renovation, they got a little attached, they said.

"This is a project that I was pursuing for 20 years. The reality is we need to sell it and we should sell it," Chip Gaines told Entertainment Tonight in October 2022. “But I wonder if it’s not one of those things 10 years from now you don’t look back and wonder, ‘Gosh, should we have kept it? What if somebody in the family wanted it?'"

CultureMap was one of the first to step inside the castle for a tour. Check out some of the spectacular surprises in this story.

Photo courtesy of Casa Kumwesu

Sweet Dallas-Fort Worth couple's new Waco Airbnb is an over-the-top ice cream dream

sprinkles of fun

A dynamic Dallas couple is promising some sweet dreams with their new dessert-themed vacation rental in Waco.

Jessica Serna and Ismail Mpiana, wife and husband behind My Curly Adventures travel blog and My Culinary Adventures food blog, respectively, have debuted an ice cream-themed rental home called “Casa Kumwesu.”

The name pays homage to Serna's Hispanic roots and Mpiana's Zambian-Congolese heritage. It roughly translates to “our place/our house/our village.”

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house spans 2,300 square feet on several acres of land, and can accommodate up to eight guests.

Highlights from the listing include:

one king-sized bed, one queen-sized bed, and two single beds
kitchen with stainless steel appliances
formal dining table and long island with seating reminiscent of a soda fountain
coffee bar stocked with syrups and toppings in a nook with seating
large soaking tub
plush bedding in each bedroom
four parking spots
two outdoor security cameras

But beyond the nuts-and-bolts, it's the Instagrammy design details that make the house a whimsical wonder. It's sprinkled with ice cream decor throughout, from ice cream cone seating and bathroom wallpaper to dish towels and pulls on the kitchen cabinets. On the walls, bright pastel colors and quirky patterns (one looks like "melting" ice cream) would make Willy Wonka proud. A photo-worthy ice cream cart bearing the name "Casa Kumwesu" stands outside on the patio.

Other fun features include a full-size Ms. Pac-Man machine and a super trendy flower wall with neon sign that says, "Treat Yo' Self" over a bed.

Mpiana says the ice cream theme wasn't due to any great love of the frozen treat (although Serna did recently have an ice cream named after her at Picole Pops). It was essentially marketing presentation that came to life.

“Jessica was doing a keynote seminar to destinations about the importance of owning a particular niche and going all out with it,” Mpiana says. “She ended up using an example of an ice cream theme."

As she was researching, she ended up falling in love with the colors and fun of ice cream and "just ran with it,” he says, adding that they both ended up enjoying the design process.

It was important to them to fill Casa Kumwesu with pieces and products that support Texas businesses, they say, from beautiful custom artwork created by local artists to personal care items by H-E-B’s Field and Future line. Many items were sourced through Etsy and Instagram. For instance, kitchen towels were designed by artist Volta Voloshin-Smith (@colorsnack on Instagram), a fringe wall was done by Oh My Darling Party Co (@ohmydarlingpartyco); and Home Airbnb designer Erica Dike (@ericaoohdesigns) helped bring it all together, with a cherry on top.

But, why Waco? Serna says its proximity between Austin and Dallas made it the perfect location for them.

“We spend so much time passing through Waco on all our travels across Texas, and we just started to fall in love with it,” she says.

Photo courtesy of Casa Kumwesu

Guests can share a meal at the large island, which resembles an old-fashioned soda fountain.

The home is located minutes away from a few of Waco’s most popular spots: Magnolia Shops at the Silos, Lake Waco, and Baylor University.

Casa Kumwesu has quietly opened for reservations via Airbnb and Vrbo. According to the booking sites, pricing starts around $550 per night (before cleaning and service fees), with a two-night minimum.

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'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Spooky ghost tours, a big Silobration, and more Texas travel tidbits in October

where to travel right now

Fall is finally here, and with the (hopefully) cooler temps will come the chance to get outside and enjoy autumn activities all around Texas. Can't decide where to take a quick vacation, road trip, or staycation? Here are 10 events, special celebrations, and hotel happenings to help plan a getaway in October.

Throughout Texas

If searching for beautiful fall foliage around Texas is at the top of the priority list, cabin rental agency Smoky Mountains' prediction map is the perfect guide to help estimate when the leaves will begin changing throughout the state and the U.S. The map predicts most of Texas will have minimal-to-patchy changing leaves by the end of October, and most of the state's trees will be at their color-changing peak in November.

Dallas-based luxury bus operator Vonlane added 60 new weekly departures to meet anticipated high demand for the fall travel season. There are now more than 430 trips per week departing Vonlane hubs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Travelers can book their trips online for both one-way or round-trips, with fares beginning at $119.

Waco

The annual Magnolia Silobration at The Silos will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chip and Joanna Gaines' Waco-based home design and lifestyle empire from October 19-21. Fixer Upper fans can visit the Silos to enjoy a three-day adventure of local artisan and food vendors, live music performances, shopping, and more. The festival is free, but note that certain ticketed experiences like the 20th anniversary tour, weekend rooftop passes, and Evenings with Chip and Jo are sold out.

Along the Gulf Coast

What better way to celebrate the arrival of spooky season than by seeking out haunted ghost experiences in Corpus Christi? The Heritage Park Museum will showcase four reportedly haunted houses, and phantom chasers will delight in visiting the USS Lexington during the "Haunting on the Blue Ghost" event, October 6-31, to glimpse any ghostly crew members lurking about the vessel. The abandoned Nueces County Courthouse also has some ghouls of its own, with reports of voices, noises, and screams being heard following a hurricane that devastated the area more than a century ago.

Summer might be over, but a trip to the beach is always in the cards on South Padre Island. The annual Sandcastle Days falls on October 5-8, drawing the attention of sandcastle-building experts, food and craft vendors, and free family-friendly entertainment. Then, from October 19-21, classic cars and motorcycles rev up the brand new Chrome in the Sand Festival. The weekend will consist of live performances, car shows, a poker tournament, and more. Tickets for the Chrome in the Sand Festival begin at $20 for general admission, $55 for VIP, and $500 for VIP tables.

In the Hill Country

It's never too late for a day by the pool, and the luxurious Lantana Spa at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa has opened reservations for their renovated pool cabanas with a special VIP poolside service and deluxe amenities. The private, two-person Canyons, Preserve, and Oaks Spa Cabanas each include an unlimited mimosa service, shaded seating and chaise lounges, a dedicated server from 11 am-5 pm, and more. Cabana reservations can be made by resort guests or in addition to a spa service, and rates begin at $400.

Nonprofit trade association Texas Hill Country Wineries is bringing back its Texas Wine Month passport this month for a self-guided journey through 45 local wineries with special discounts scattered along the way. With participating estates scattered throughout popular weekend destinations like Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and New Braunfels, it’s a chance to explore the Hill Country and soak in those autumn vibes. Wine passport-holders can visit up to four wineries daily to get the most out of a weekend getaway. Individual passes are $85, and couples' passes are $120.

Speaking of wineries, one Marble Falls-based winery is hosting regular events throughout October, which is perfect for those holding a Texas Wine Month passport. Every Saturday and Sunday, folks can venture out to Flat Creek Estates & Vineyard for their effervescent Bubbles and Brunch from 11 am to 3 pm. And if the trip transforms from a brunch outing into an all-day affair, guests catch live music from local Texas bands during the winery's weekend music series from 2-6 pm. Ernie Vasquez and Evan Grubbs are scheduled the weekend of October 7-8, and Stephen Daly and Andrew Lopez will play on the weekend of October 14-15.

Austin

It's finally festival season down in Austin this month, beginning with the iconicAustin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park for two consecutive weekends from October 6-8 and 13-15. Luckily for Texas travelers, CultureMap's got the scoop on all things ACL – from can't-miss acts, to new eats, and more. One-day general admission tickets begin at $170. Weekend One tickets are waitlisted, but there are still one-day general admission tickets available for Weekend Two. Weekend passes for both weekends are waitlisted.

Then Austin zooms forward to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas from October 20-22. Red Bull Racing has already won the 2023 Constructors' Championship after its longstanding driver Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix, and Verstappen is well in the lead to win his third-consecutive World Drivers' Championship title. Three-day general admission wristbands are $475, two-day GA is $425, and three-day parking passes are $275.

These are the 5 must-see shows in Dallas-Fort Worth theater for October

Theater Critic Picks

It may seem like slim pickings this month, but keep in mind that both The Rocky Horror Show at Dallas Theater Center and Theatre Three's Lizzie: The Musical got spooky season started onstage in September (and they both run through October 29, by the way)

In order of start date, here are five local shows to watch this month:

The Fly
Hip Pocket Theatre, October 6-29
Science played with the atom and a monster has emerged from the disastrous experiment. James Clavell wrote the screenplay for this special Halloween production, which has been adapted by Shawn Gann. Hip Pocket Theatre will use music, practical effects and whimsy to present The Fly.

The Visit
Amphibian Stage, October 12-November 12
A darkly comic tale from prolific German writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt, The Visit tells the story of a wealthy philanthropist returning to her hometown to save it from financial ruin … but the money comes with a deadly request that will test the morals of the town’s inhabitants.

Othello
Bishop Arts Theatre Center, October 19-November 5
When a woman shatters a glass ceiling, what waits for her when she lands? Franky Gonzalez' adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello explores this question and centers on the difficulties of Imani Othello (Denise Lee), who has been named the first Black woman head coach of a major football team in Dallas.

Once Upon a Mattress
Stage West, October 19-November 5
By royal decree of the Queen, all princesses must pass a series of tests if they want to marry the hapless Prince. Even worse, throughout the kingdom no one may wed until the Prince finds a worthy wife. Many have tried, all have failed, and the Queen plans to keep it that way. But when a bold and undeniably charming new princess makes a splash at court, it seems the Queen has finally met her match. This is a co-production with Theatre TCU.

Little Shop of Horrors
Lyric Stage, October 26-29
In this delectable sci-fi-horror musical, with an electrifying 1960s pop/rock score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, Seymour is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant. Little does Seymour know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for human blood.

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