Traveling with the Jones

Since beginning school at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico three years ago, I have learned to navigate my way around the city.  Through my adventures I have made a list of fun things to do during the summer when the hot days of over 100 degrees seem to drag on forever.

Many of these I do on a regular basis, but there are still a few I am excited to try for the first time this summer!

1. White Sands: The White Sands National Monument is only 30 minutes north east of Las Cruces.  You can spend hours playing in the mounds of sand.  Bring along a few sleds, and the giant mounds of sand become tracks to slide down at full speed.  Just make sure to bring along some sunscreen, it can get hot on the bright sand.

2. Old Mesilla: Old Mesilla is full of hidden shops and restaurants.  The people are kind and the merchandise is incredible.  This location truly captures the southwestern New Mexico culture and history.  A local photographer’s playground, you will often see people getting their pictures taken and once I even saw a movie being filmed. It is a wonderful to park and wander around for a few hours.

3. Play at the park: There are many parks in Las Cruces that provide a great place to play or even have a picnic.  To name a few: Pioneer Women’s Park is located in the center of the city on Main Street and is full of bright green grass to relax on and spend the afternoon.  Unidad Park is great for children, providing a massive wooden playground that can entertain for hours.

4. Farmers Market: The Las Cruces Farmers Market is held every Saturday and Wednesday morning from 8:30-1:00.  The market is full of baked goods, fresh produce, photography, jewelry, crafts, and music.  It is held at the downtown mall on Main Street.  There is never a shortage of things to look at and interesting people to meet.

5. Dripping Springs Natural Area: Dripping Springs is a great place to go hiking on the trails, or just enjoy the great outdoors.  Most locals enjoy walking the Dripping Springs Trail itself, though it is over a 3 mile hike there and back.   But from what I understand the view is well worth the distance.  If you enjoy being outside and want to take in a view of the city, this would be perfect.

6. Wine Tasting: Las Cruces is home to at least seven wineries.  Because of the growing wine industry within New Mexico, there are two annual wine festivals held in Las Cruces each year.  One is during Memorial Day weekend and the other is during Labor Day weekend.  Many of the wineries have also joined together and created a wine passport that gets a stamp each time you visit a new winery in New Mexico.

7. Catch a Matinee: Allen Theaters has three choices in the Las Cruces area.  Two are regular theaters while the third shows older releases at a discounted price.  Going to a movie is a great way to finish the day.   

Have you been to Las Cruces?  What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Taysha Ham hails from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.

This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.

To learn more about Las Cruces, check out this book”;.

 Other posts by Taysha that you may want to check out”;.

•  Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• Destination Discovery: Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• 7 Travel Apps You Need Before Your Next Travel Adventure
• Weekend Wanderings – Santa Fe, New Mexico

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During a five night visit to Budapest, Hungary, in early May, we chose to stay at the Budapest Marriott overlooking  the Danube River.

There’s a joke that the best views in Budapest are from this Marriott, because when there you don’t see the Soviet-era hotel building.

While not as attractive as the more historic buildings along the river, inside, the Budapest Marriott is a lovely hotel.

Our room was on the ninth floor, which is also home to the executive lounge just as you exit the elevator.

The lounge is more spacious that most Marriott executive lounges. Complimentary breakfast is served here, as well as happy hour drinks and snacks.

Best of all is the outdoor deck, perfect for enjoying terrific views of Budapest.

Evening views are even more stunning, especially looking right to the Chain Bridge.

Our room, #939 was at the end of the hallway on the ninth floor, a very quiet location.  Inside, the room is all about the view.  Even on an overcast day, the view of the Danube and the Buda side of the city is spectacular.

Of course, we had to take a closer look out the window.

The king-sized bed was comfortable, with excellent bedside lighting and electrical outlets, although one needs to bring their own converters.

The room had a sizeable desk and flat screen television.

Room 939 offered a wardrobe closet, a refrigerator, a coffee maker and snacks for purchase.

The bathroom is on the smallish side, but is well-appointed and has a deep shower-tub.

All of it other positives considered, the best thing about this hotel room is the view.

Our Bottom Line on the Budapest Marriott

We stayed using Marriott Rewards points.

The Budapest Marriott is a Category 6 reward level,  costing 30,000 points per night with the fifth night free.  We considered it a good use of our points.

• The hotel appears to host many conventions and tour groups; sometimes over-running the lounge. 
• The hotel staff is helpful and most are fluent in English.
• The location makes the hotel ideal for a pre-river cruise stay in Budapest.
• We would stay again at this hotel.

Have you visited Budapest? What’s your favorite hotel? 

Check out these other posts on Budapest…

• World Class Food at Borkonyha Wine Kitchen in Budapest, Hungary
• Eating Our Way Through Budapest With Taste Hungary

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Along the east coast of Florida is a city called St. Augustine, full of sights, sounds and a vast array of history.

Photo by Excel23

 Here are 14 Fun Facts about St. Augustine, Florida

1. St. Augustine was the first city in America. Therefore making it the oldest city in the United States, founded by the Spanish in 1565.

2. The legendary spring, the Fountain of Youth, made famous by explorer Ponce de Leon, is in St. Augustine and located on what is now known as the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.

3. Located in St. Johns County, St. Augustine is approximately 9.43 square miles.

4. St. Augustine has its own marvelous white and black striped lighthouse with the St. Augustine Lighthouse.

5. Each year at Christmastime, St. Augustine hosts a Night of Lights making it one of the best holiday light displays in the country with almost 2 million lights.

6. St. Augustine has its own Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum with oddities, useless facts and interesting sights.

7. St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park was founded in St. Augustine in 1893 and is still in operation today.

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

8. St. Augustine has three forts that guard it. Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Mantanzas, and Fort Mose were all built to protect the city. The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.

9. The World Golf Hall of Fame calls St. Augustine home.

10. St. Augustine can boast that it has the narrowest street in the U.S. Treasury Street is only 7 feet wide!  

11. St. Augustine is the oldest port in the continental United States.

12. Marineland, a dolphin encounter exhibit, has been in existence for 75 years allowing visitors to swim, feed, and interact with dolphins along the beaches of St. Augustine.

13. More than 13,000 people call St. Augustine home.

Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse. Photo by User:Shreeg88

14. The oldest wooden schoolhouse is located in St. Augustine built in 1716.

Learn more about St. Augustine, Florida with these books:

Walking St. Augustine: An Illustrated Guide and Pocket History to America’s Oldest City

This is a guest post by Morgan Large, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas.

Morgan loves to explore the world. She’s traveled across the United States and to 11 countries. St. Augustine is one of Morgan’s favorite places to visit.

Originally from Ohio, Morgan currently lives in Arkansas with her Australian Shepherd, Oxley.

At the  University of Arkansas, Morgan’s studies are focused in agricultural communications.  Her blog,  RazorBuck: A Midwestern girl living in a Southern world highlights her adventures in photography, cooking and travel.

If you enjoy geography-related trivia, check out these Fun Facts posts:

• 14 Fun Facts to Know About Rotorua, New Zealand
• 12 Fun Facts You May Not Know About the Great Wall of China
• 15 Fun Facts about Cornwall, England
• 26 Fun Facts to Know About Hawaii
• Visiting Alaska? 22 Fun Facts You Might Want to Know

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