Jess Moss Travel

Author: jmoss5

  • How to Spend 2 Days in Austin: Travel Guide

    How to Spend 2 Days in Austin: Travel Guide

    I went to Austin for a few days for a work summit. Most of our time was spent in meeting rooms in the W hotel, but I was able to check out a few things while there. Here’s what I did:

    How I Got There

    There aren’t too many direct flights from D.C. to Austin; I flew United nonstop from Dulles. 

    Where I Stayed

    W Hotel: Good location a short walk from Sixth Street. The hotel had a chic design with an industrial edge. Large rooms had awesome attention to detail, especially the bathroom toiletries. Two words: face wash!!! 

    Day 1

    Blue Dahlia: Cute spot for tartines and breakfast/brunch food. It’s a bit dark inside, but there’s a nice outdoor seating area if it’s not too hot out. 

    La Condesa: Upscale Tex Mex is the name of the game at this large high-ceilinged restaurant with moody lighting. 

    Rainey Street: When this residential area was rezoned into commercial real estate, historic houses were turned into quirky bars. Most of them have back yards or outdoor patios, and food trucks pull up to serve eats. Basically it feels like you’re drinking in a buddy’s backyard, not a bar.

    Day 2

    Bat Cruise: Every night between March and November thousands of bats that live in the crevasses under the South Congress bridge fly out around sundown to feed. You can stand on the bridge to look down at them, or hop on a boat cruise to tour a bit of Lady Bird Johnson Lake. The boats float beneath the bridge to watch the bats. You’ll get better photo ops from the boat because you get the bridge scene too. Tip: get a boat with a covered roof; it’ll protect you from the bat droppings.  

    Swifts Attic: Not your average menu here. Inventive courses whip up weirdness like spicy edamame with pop rocks and bacon-wrapped Gorgonzola. Try the ball cocktails: the flavored ingredients are frozen in an ice cube ball that flavors the liquor in the glass as it melts.  

    White Horse: An east side honky tonk where you’ll find a quirky mix of folks. Think sleeve tattoos and ironic hipster t-shirts with unironic cowboy hats and two-step dancing. 

    Rain on 4th: This gay bar on 4th Street has a dance floor with cages and an outdoor back bar. 

  • The 7 Best U.S. National Parks for Wildlife Spotting

    The 7 Best U.S. National Parks for Wildlife Spotting

    September 10, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || As the U.S. National Parks Service celebrates its Centennial this year, there’s a lot of buzz around the country’s incredible natural resources. And to many (if not most) of the millions of visitors to these natural wonders, the most exciting part of a trip to the national parks is the chance to see wild animals. From close encounters with grizzly bears to snorkeling with sea turtles, here are the best national parks for wildlife-watching.

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  • The 8 Best New Rooftop Bars in Washington, D.C.

    The 8 Best New Rooftop Bars in Washington, D.C.

    August 2, 2016 on Conde Nast Traveler || Want to find D.C.’s hottest bars? Just look up.

    There’s something missing from the D.C. skyline: skyscrapers. A height limit has kept most of the District’s buildings shorter than the Capitol dome, creating a town-like atmosphere while offering unobstructed views. It’s the perfect recipe for rooftop bars—and this summer, the city’s nightlife mavens have taken note. D.C.’s in a rooftop boom, with nearly a dozen new drinking perches open this year. From cozy cornertops where you can people-watch the street below, to Instagram-ready sunset and stadium views, here are some of Washington’s best new rooftop bars.

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  • The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco

    The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || That PCH route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it’s not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. A road trip through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California is equally epic, but with less traffic. You’ll see some of the West Coast’s fastest growing cities, majestic national parks, windswept beaches and sunsets that need no filter. Here’s the route.

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  • Baseball Fanatic? Here’s Your Dream Road Trip

    Baseball Fanatic? Here’s Your Dream Road Trip

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || You’re a baseball stat wunderkind, not unlike Jonah Hill’s character in “Moneyball.” So your ultimate summer road trip has to be all about baseball, beer, and modern Americana. If you’re in the Midwest, the drive from Chicago through Ohio and Kentucky and on to St. Louis is a must. You’ll cheer with some of the sport’s most spirited fans, pay respects to one of its oldest ballparks, see where bats get made and learn how the game was played back in the day. Here’s the route…

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  • Take Your Costa Rica Adventure to the Next Level: Hit the Road

    Take Your Costa Rica Adventure to the Next Level: Hit the Road

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || This ain’t your minivan family road trip. Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is beautiful — with lush wildlife-stuffed rain forests, picturesque beaches, secluded hotels and adrenaline-fueled activities like zip lining and surfing (oh, and a volcano along the way).

    But driving here is a bit more complicated than your standard cruise control highway trip. Many of the beach towns are connected by unpaved roads that flood or become impassable in the rainy season (May to November). That doesn’t mean this isn’t a place for road tripping; you just have to be a little adventurous. 4WD is a good idea here, as is sticking to the main paved highways when possible.

    Here’s a route that takes you past some of the region’s finest sights — and its most fun things to do.

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  • The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    June 17, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || When you imagine driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, you might think of the thrilling stretch of coastal road between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is one of the country’s most famous drives, and for good reason. But stick to this route and you’ll only see a fraction of the spectacular scenery that lines the West Coast. For a real adventure, hit the road for a longer coastal journey, from Vancouver, British Columbia, to San Diego, taking in soaring redwood forests, hidden beaches, big cities and charming seaside towns. Read on for route highlights.

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  • An Insider’s Guide to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters

    May 2016 on Visit the USA || The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness encompasses some 1,000 glacial lakes over 400,000 forested hectares of the Midwest along the U.S. and Canada border. It’s one of the largest wilderness areas in the USA. There are no roads here. No stores or restaurants. No other people, once you paddle your canoe far enough. You go here to canoe, fish, camp and hike, and to find peace away from the busy world.

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  • 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Island

    10 Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Island

    May 21, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || First, let’s get one thing straight: There’s no wrong Hawaiian island. All six of the major islands in the chain have the ingredients for paradise: stunning beaches, awe-inspiring scenery and a warm aloha spirit that’s palpable the moment you step off the plane. That said, depending what you’re looking for in a Hawaiian vacation, some isles may be a better fit for you than others. Whether you’re on a budget, traveling with the family or simply want to see some volcanic lava, here are some tips for choosing the best Hawaiian island for you.

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    (Story also appeared on MSN.com: 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Hawaiian Island)

     

  • Photos: Cusco, Peru

    Photos: Cusco, Peru