Texas travel

Splashy Texas waterpark and campsite uncorks new wine festival

As weary parents know, family vacation is much more entertaining when it comes with libations and other adult offerings. To that end, a Texas waterpark is ensuring kids can dive in and adults can kick back and enjoy some local grape on getaways at a new “Wine Walk.”

Splashway Waterpark and Campground will host a collection of Texas wineries at its outdoor wine walk on April 9-11 and April 16-18 from 12-5 pm. Along with wine tastings, guests can shop an outdoor artisan market featuring vendors from around the state, a chili cook-off, and live music.

Meanwhile, kids can revel in putt-putt, laser tag, paddle sports, basketball and volleyball, a fishing pond, and even a dog park. Also on deck for the kiddos are s’mores, movie nights, arts and crafts, and more during these special weekends. The water park opens May 1.

Splashway is at 5211 Main St. in Sheridan, Texas — about an hour and 50 minutes from Austin, en route to Houston. It's a popular stop on Hill Country or Texas Coast getaways and an appealing place to camp.

A $49 Wine Walk ticket includes a tasting with each participating winery and three bonus tastings to redeem at any booth — for a total of 15 tastings.

Participating wineries include:

Majek Vineyard & Winery
Whistling Duck Winery
Cast Iron Winery
San Ducerro
Busted Oak Cellars
Rusty Hook Winery
Blue Mule Winery
Lavaca Bluffs Vineyard & Winery
Gulf Breeze Winery
Rohan Meadery
Haak Vineyard & Winery
ErmaRose Winery

Visitors are encouraged to bring an RV or stay onsite at one of the park’s cabins. For tickets, cabin rentals, and more information, call 979-234-7718 or visit the Splashway site.

Before sipping, dive into the water park.

Splashway Water Park Wine Walk market 2021

Photo courtesy of Splashway

Before sipping, dive into the water park.

families tours wine parks kids vacation

Turkey Day News

Austin plates up top-30 rank on list of best cities for Thanksgiving

Photo courtesy of RedFarm

Enjoy a whole Peking Turkey at RedFarm in Austin for Thanksgiving.

Austin is sitting at the head of the table as one of the best places in the country to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, a new study has revealed.

Austin ranked No. 30 out of 100 of the largest U.S. cities in WalletHub's annual "Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving" report, published November 12.

The study analyzed each city based on 18 metrics to determine the best places for Thanksgiving, such as the number of pumpkin patches per capita, the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner, the number of volunteer opportunities, the average weather forecast, and more. The metrics were then organized into five overall categories to determine the rankings.

The category that Austin ranked the highest in was the average weather forecast during the holiday period (No. 4), while the lowest-ranked category was for safety and accessibility (No. 69). Other categories that determined Austin's overall ranking were the number of celebrations and traditions (No. 39), the city's relative affordability (No. 39), and a "giving thanks" rank (No. 59).

Austin restaurants are getting prepared for their big Turkey Day meals, and CultureMap has rounded up a thorough list of all of the local restaurants hosting holiday feasts, from to-go meals, dine-in experiences, and desserts abound.

"The best cities for celebrating Thanksgiving all have an abundance of high-quality restaurants and places to buy festive decorations, and their residents get very excited for the holiday based on their Google search history," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

By Thanksgiving on November 28, Austin will be fully decked out for the December holidays. Austinites who will have extended family in town during Thanksgiving weekend can take in of all the marvelous Christmas lights brightening the city. The Texas Capital certainly goes all out for the most wonderful time of year.

Elsewhere in Texas, Dallas (No. 5) and San Antonio (No. 7) were the among the top 10 best cities to celebrate Thanksgiving, while Houston ranked No. 15.

San Diego, California (No. 1) topped the overall list of best places to go for Thanksgiving this year, followed by its Golden State neighbors San Francisco (No. 3) and San Jose (No. 4). Atlanta, Georgia (No. 2) rounds out the top five.

thanksgiving wallethub rankings holidays lists austin