Today we are going on a Magnolia Silos tour to see what all the hype is about with Chip and Joanna Gaines’s shops and restaurants in Waco, Texas!
My friend Georgeanne and I decided to take a road-trip from downtown Austin to Waco to check out some Magnolia housewares just in time for the holiday season. Getting from Austin to Waco takes about 1.5 hours, but once you get there, there is so much to do! We visited the cupcake airstream, the Magnolia Bakery, the Magnolia Market and much more. If you’ve ever been curious about the discounted Magnolia products at Magnolia Warehouse or what it’s like to have Lunch at Magnolia Table, keep watching! I hope you enjoy this vlog about the Magnolia Market at the Silos.
If you enjoyed this video about Magnolia Silos, be sure to subscribe to the channel for more travel videos like this video and visit my website below. If you’d like to share your own travel experiences or have a question, leave them down in the comments section, and I will do my best to answer you. Thanks for watching today’s video!
Need a gift for the traveler in your life? The Abundant Traveler shares the top 10 best travel gifts for this holiday season. Here are the things you need to make your traveling experience better. From on-flight essentials, luggage, and more! Here is your gift guide.
You can purchase most of these online at Amazon.com. The Magellan duffle bag is available at Academy Sports. Feel free to leave any further questions or more gift suggestions down below in the comments section!
This video is not sponsored and all my reviews and opinions are based on my own experience with the products which may not be the same for everyone. This contains affiliate links which will help support this channel! If you choose to use them, thank you for your support 🙂
The Abundant Traveler is here for your holiday shopping! All of these gifts are perfect for the traveler in your life and best of all, they are all under $20 and can be purchased on Amazon. On flight essentials, packing essentials, and more. This is your gift guide!
You can purchase all of these online at Amazon.com. From packing cubes to water bottles to in-flight comfort, all of your travel essentials are here. Feel free to leave any further questions or more gift suggestions down below in the comments section!
This video is not sponsored and all my reviews and opinions are based on my own experience with the products which may not be the same for everyone. This contains affiliate links which will help support this channel! If you choose to use them, thank you for your support 🙂
Who doesn’t love bloopers and outtakes?!? I know that traveling the world sounds glamorous… And trying to capture it all on video for my channel, well that’s another story! Here’s the truth: It’s NOT always glamorous. And it often takes many takes to get the right shot! I hope you enjoy a behind the scenes look at some silly moments of this Abundant Traveler. 😀 Did you enjoy these bloopers? Check out some of the footage that made it to the final cut here.
Welcome to a new segment on my channel, a Q&A where you send me your travel dilemma, and I share my experiences and do a little research to answer your questions. I hope you find this information useful and valuable!
Question #1:
How many cities should/could I visit in a one week timeframe if traveling abroad? Mandy-Austin, TX
I recommend traveling abroad for more than a week. It is so hard to fly to a foreign country, get acclimated, see all you want to see and get back home in 7 days. I’d suggest staying for 2 weeks if possible.
If you only have a week, I would stay in no more than 3 cities. Remember, you not only have travel time to the foreign country, but you will have travel time in between the cities. You want to make sure you have enough time to see everything you want to see as well as have some downtime to relax on your vacation.
The type of city is something else to think about when booking your trip. You might want to visit a large city, then a small town, then another large city. Break it up, and take a breather between all the chaos of large cities.
Finally, if you really need to maximize the number of locations on your week abroad, stay longer in cities at the beginning of your trip, and shorter at the end. The beginning of your trip, you are jet lagged, you don’t understand the transportation systems, and your not sure how to get around. The longer you are in a foreign country, the more acclimated you become, and the quicker and easier it is for you.
Question #2:
Hotels vs. Airbnb, what are the pros?
Hotel Pros:
I choose hotels when in a big group or traveling solo. I, honestly feel a little safer in a hotel with people around me when I’m alone, and hotel amenities make life a little bit easier.
Remember, the hotel staff are there to look after you. The concierge will book restaurants, tours and entertainment. The front desk staff will provide your key and the bellmen will show you to your room. Not all hotels have these perks, but they are really nice to have. And as a bonus, your breakfast is usually included. I also find that throughout the world, hotel rooms are generally the same. At a hotel, you won’t have to spend time figuring out the coffee maker, or how the shower works. Another advantage to hotels are the bookings. You typically don’t have to pay in advance which is a great perk.
Transportation to and from a hotel is usually easier as well. Hotels are well marked, well known and simpler to find. Taxi drivers don’t always know where the door to your Airbnb is located.
As a final note, I like to stay in hotels when visiting for just a day or two; short stays work very well for hotels. If I’m only in town a couple days, I want to be focused on my itinerary of attractions and events, not the logistics. In summary, I choose hotels when I need convenience and ease.
Airbnb Pros:
I truly enjoy Airbnbs when I want to live like a local. It’s just delicious to walk out of an apartment in the morning to grab my coffee instead walking through a lobby full of people.
Airbnbs may be a bit more difficult to maneuver at check-in, but once you’re there, you feel at home. You typically have an entire apartment, which means more space to unpack, relax and sprawl. They are also great when traveling with one or two friends, as you can sit and relax and enjoy each other’s company, as if you were at home.
Airbnbs are also a great option for people with dietary restrictions. You typically have a kitchen, where you are able to cook your own meals according to your diet. I, personally, make a protein shake every morning with my greens and supplements, and it’s great to have access to a blender, glasses and cutlery.
Finally, I choose Airbnbs for my extended stays. If I’m staying for more than 3 days, I want more space to relax and work. I also want to get the local vibe, meet the neighbors and visit the grocery store and a local coffee shop. Hotel rooms just don’t provide these feelings.
Kathleen, thank you so much for your question; I hope you found my thoughts helpful.
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Hello travelers! I’m on the hunt for the perfect packing cubes to add to my travel staples, so I went on Amazon and decided to buy all the most popular ones and return what didn’t work.
What are packing cubes?
They are small fabric rectangular pouches, enclosed with a zipper, that are small enough to fit several into a carry-on bag, suitcase, or backpack. I like them because they keep everything organized in my suitcase. When I get to my hotel or need to grab something out of my bag at the airport, I don’t have to take everything out because I already know how it’s all divided in the packing cubes; I know where everything is!
What am I looking for in a packing cube?
Large netting so I can see, functional and smooth zipper, color and size options, strong cloth material, and quality straps.
Here are the ones I tried.
Vallilon Design – thinnest material with least expensive zippers. There were 7 – so it’s high in quantity, but not great in quality.
Bago – on the other hand, Bago was VERY nice quality. I’d say these were the best designed, (*meaning if style is most important to you, pick these!) The zippers are easy to use with an extra piece of cloth to make them longer. There is a large netting area, very nice material and vibrant colors. Additionally, they sent lots of “extra” bags for shoes, dirty clothes, etc.
G4Free – Lots of color options, very nice and thick/strong material. They had a smooth zipper and a large netting area so I can easily see the clothes inside. (*I ended up keeping these!)
Dot&Dot – Most well thought out and well made (*great for engineering types!) They have an extra seam which make them more cube like. This allows you to be more efficient in your packing (perfect for the engineering types). These are also the only cubes that came with multiple colors in one set.
Travel Wise – Great all around, but nothing special. Strong zipper, nice big handles so they will be easy to carry, and lots of size options.
Gonex – For quality and quantity, go with Gonex. They sent 7 bags with two shoe bags. The only down side is that the netting is on the side only.
4 Slim Gonex Packing Cubes The small carry-on packing cubes on the other hand have large netting and are a great quality. They are just a bit larger than the dot-dot bags. (*I ended up keeping these!)
For more on what I bring with me when I travel, visit the shop page.
This video is not sponsored and all my reviews and opinions are based on my own experience with the products which may not be the same for everyone. This contains affiliate links which will help support this channel! If you choose to use them, thank you for your support 🙂
