Hotel des Balances, Lucerne Switzerland

I often get asked what is one of my favorite cities? My answer is always the same: Lucerne Switzerland. I absolutely fell in love with the charm and beauty of the city, as well as my husband. It was at the end of a week long road trip through Switzerland and Lucerne was one of our last stops. I remember just looking at him and knowing, he was the man I was going to marry. Of course the backdrop of the beautiful city didn’t hurt!

We decided to stay at Hotel des Balances which was one of the best decisions I have made. From the moment we pulled up it was so extraordinarily beautiful that it was hard to not fall in love. Upon checking-in I knew this hotel was going to be an amazing experience. We booked a room overlooking the river and the Chapel Bridge which was absolutely perfect for a first timer to Lucerne. The hotel itself is situated between the fish and wine markets and a perfect location for any site seeing or walking tours you want to do. We personally spent the days walking the streets, popping in different eateries, and sitting on the benches watching the water. It is a simple city but the beauty and calmness is definitely something to experience. I always recommend traveling to Lucerne if you are in Switzerland and if you can, stay at Hotel des Balances. From the staff, to the rooms, to the eateries – you will not be disappointed.

images via hotel des balances, my own, and panoramio

Discovering The City You Live In

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photos shot by Krystal Schlegel

I must admit – Dallas is exciting me lately. With new restaurants popping up left and right, a renovation of our parks, and finding out about new exhibits it almost feels like there is, “too much to do with not enough time.” I know this is isn’t the truth as there is plenty of time but I can’t help but get giddy at the future of Dallas. These snaps were from my time at the Goss Michael Foundation a few weeks ago with my friend Krystal, but since then I have learned of another really exciting new gallery, Lab Art. I will bring you more on that space later but really, I am just so happy there are new and different things to do around Dallas.

I spent all of last Friday planning a trip to Europe I will be taking with the hubs and my best friend. I am beyond excited about the trip but to be honest, I have never planned a trip on my own. Yup, I said it! I have always relied on other people to plan the trip. If you read this site you know I am not a planner and I am 100% laissez-faire when it comes to travel. However, after taking my bestie Molly abroad on my own last year, I realized I needed to change if I was going to bring anyone else back. Not that we didn’t have the best time ever but it helps things to run smoother to have certain items planned out ahead of time. That being said, I have learned planning is not for the weak of heart. Maybe that is why I have never done it? One thing that planning this trip has showed me is to find the best places in a town you have to research, more research, and then plan. Since I am known to get “frustrated” with Dallas, I decided to have this same mentality for the city I live in. I sat there and googled “things to do in Dallas” and spent the next hour researching as if it were a city I had never visited before. It was shocking! I realized that on the list of, “100 things to do in Dallas,” I had only done about half. I have lived in this city for almost ten years and I have only experience 50% of the things the city has to offer? That was pretty pathetic but also very exciting as I have a lot to look forward to.

That being said, I have a new lease on life in Dallas and it is invigorating. Thanks to actually forcing myself to plan a trip I realized that I need to do the same for the place I live. If you are getting bored or uninspired with your city as I was, “plan a trip to your city.” I promise you will discover an oasis of things you have yet to complete. And maybe that is exactly what you need to get out of your rut!

Don’t Leave Without Trying: Dallas, TX Edition

Location: Dallas, Texas

Name: Mesero Miguel

Price Point: $$

Dish: Nachos Conocidos

Why:Growing up in Texas you are born to have an appreciation for Tex Mex (which is a form of Mexican food). I decided to go to SMU for college which happened to be down the street from a local tex mex spot that everyone loved. I must say, I was less than impressed. The food lacked major flavor and originality. Almost 10 years later people are still going to this other spot time and time again. For the life of me I can’t figure it out. Great tex mex is something us Texans hold near and dear to our hearts so there really is no compromising on mediocre food. When Mesero Miguel moved in right down the street from my house I was excited and a little skeptical. I was hoping it wouldn’t be like the “other local favorite” and lack any real creativity or flavor. After my first trip there I was smitten. I fell in love with the Nachos Conocidos which are four individual chips topped with brisket, beans, cheese, creama sauce, and an avocado. They are absolutely divine and each bite gets better and better. I am sad to say that the waitstaff now knows my husband and me by name as we go there all the time but these nachos are addicting. I have since introduced them to other friends, family, and visitors, whom all agree these nachos are a MUST if you are visiting Dallas. Each bite is packed full of flavor and since there are four you can share or have them as a meal (which I do). These really are a – Don’t Leave Without Trying – dish!

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image via Dallas Observer

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