Spring Break (& Beyond!) Fun is Here at Alley Cats Hurst, Arlington & Burleson

 Affordable, family-friendly fun at three convenient locations

*This content is paid for by Alley Cats. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Alley Cat's slogan is "Indoor. Outdoor. Fun!" and this couldn't possibly be more accurate. From rides to bowling and laser tag to arcade games, Alley Cats has everything you need for family fun under one roof, and at great prices, to boot!

Enjoying the arcade games at Alley Cats Hurst.

We recently visited the Hurst location and hung out and played together as a family for hours. At Alley Cats Hurst, you can:

- Check out the rides outdoors. Our favorite? The Rattler Rollercoaster!

- Drive go karts. Who doesn't have a need for speed?

- Challenge the family to mini golf. Spoiler alert: I will always lose even when I'm genuinely trying not to!

- Hit up the batting cages. My oldest's favorite Alley Cats activity!

- Go bowling. I bowled. I lost. And I promise I gave the game my all!

- Play the arcade games. My girls love the piano game, and I just don't get it!

- Grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. I love the black bean burger!

- Play laser tag. Always fun!

Suited up for laser tag at Alley Cats Hurst.

On Sundays, Alley Cats Hurst even does brunch so you can dine and play for the ultimate family fun day. 

Have I mentioned how affordable Alley Cats is? Before you head out to one of their three awesome locations, be sure and check the "special promotions" tab on their website- it will let you know the latest deals at that location. Right now, in Hurst, for $60, you can get unlimited rides, batting cages, bowling and mini golf PLUS a $20 arcade card. That is hours and hours of fun for one low price. (Promotion not available during Spring Break)

Enjoying some fun in the sun at Alley Cats Hurst.

Looking for a thrills a little closer to home? Alley Cats Arlington has everything you need for a family fun day in town. We always enjoy family time here mini golfing, playing arcade games and more.

Looking to check out their newest space? You'll want to hit up the Burleson location! It's less than a year old and equipped with all the fun activities you've come to know and expect from Alley Cats. Bowl. Go Kart. Ride. Play. Tag. The list goes on!

What do you love most about Alley Cats?

Have Kids, Will Travel: Five Ideas for a Summer Road Trip from DFW!

Five more weeks of school and summer will be here!

Are you ready?

If you're like me, i.e., someone who loves travel and live life on the go, you're probably already lining up your summer travel plans. Maybe you're considering a trip down to Galveston to soak up some south Texas sunshine, or you're thinking about a weekend in San Antonio to see the Alamo and let the kids play at SeaWorld. These tried and true trips are quick drives from DFW and affordable for Texas families.

But, if you're like me, you may be wanting something a little different this summer. Maybe you want a new state, a new destination. Something driveable- because hello!- flights are expensive, especially if you have a bigger family. Driving just makes sense a lot of time for a lot of reasons. 

Maybe you want the beach or lake for a little laidback summer fun. Or maybe you prefer the bright lights of a big city. These five destinations- all driveable and none in Texas!- offer tons of activities and family-friendly fun for groups large and small. 

If you're looking for an off-the-beaten path getaway with the family this summer, consider one of these five fun destinations you can easily roadtrip to from Arlington. 

Five fun summer road trip ideas from Arlington, Texas

Time to plan summer travel! Check out these fun road trip ideas from DFW.

Branson, Missouri

Guys, I don't mean to brag, but I consider myself an expert on Branson. And not because I've actually ever even been to the city (how I escaped spending my four years of college in the Show Me State but never actually made it to Branson is beyond me!). But, for more than a year now, I've written a weekly blog post about Branson for ABC Campground in Branson, and I'm blown away every week by how much there is to do there.

Why vacay in Branson:

Drive time: 7 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: Take your pick. You can camp, stay at a hotel or resort (how cool does Grand Country Resort look?) or even find a fun AirBnB.

What to do: See a show- there are magic shows and comedy shows and variety shows- and they all sound wonderful. Go to the Titanic Museum. Take in some thrill rides at Silver Dollar City. Ride the Branson Ferris Wheel, relocated in recent years from Chicago's Navy Pier. Boat on Lake Taneycomo. The possibilities are endless! 

If you need any recommendations, just ask! And one of these days I'll actually head that way myself... I love me some Missouri!

Lake Hamilton/Hot Springs, Arkansas

Lake Hamilton is a gorgeous spot in Arkansas for a lake getaway. Less than 5 hours by car from Arlington, Lake Hamilton is located in the Hot Springs area and offers a cozy retreat from the tourist-y city while still being close enough to enjoy its amenities.

Why vacay in Lake Hamilton:

Drive time: 4.5 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: If you want to stay on the water, look for a house or condo for rent on the lake. Otherwise, staying in Hot Springs will give you easy access to both the city and the lake. Emerald Isle Resort looks like it have a lot to offer at a great price! 

What to do: At the lake, go boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing or simply relax and enjoy lake life. Nearby in Hot Springs, you can go to the Mid-America Science Museum (we highly recommend this spot!) or try out the Magic Springs Theme and Water Park. Don't forget to check out the national park and Bathhouse Row to learn a little about Hot Springs!

A trip to the lake is always fun in summertime. 

Gulfport, Mississippi

I can't stress enough how much we enjoyed our visit to Gulfport last year. The shores of Mississippi certainly don't offer the same beaches as Alabama or Florida, but "the Secret Coast" has its own personality and offerings to make it worth your trip. Not only is it less expensive to vacation on Mississippi's coast, it's closer, too!

Why vacay in Gulfport, MS:

Drive time: 8.5 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: We stayed in Gulfport, right on the water. However, the Mississippi Coast is made up of 12 communities that offer condos, AirBnBs, motels and more. There is a Margaritaville on the water that looks fabulous as well as a myriad of hotels to choose from. 

What to do: Go shrimping! We can't recommend a Biloxi shrimping tour enough. Not only is it educational and fun, you'll get to see dolphins and all sorts of marine life on the water. Play at the beach. Go to the nearby waterpark. Check out the Mississippi Aquarium. Let the kids play at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. Shop in Ocean Springs. Go gambling in Biloxi. Trust me- there is a TON to do in coastal Mississippi!

Fun in coastal Mississippi!

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

It's hard not to hear the lyrics to Garth Brooks' "Callin' Baton Rouge" as I write about this Louisiana town! Baton Rouge is an interesting town with a storied history. The capital of the state and home to Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge is a southern city with deep roots and lots to do for families. 

Why vacay in Baton Rouge: 

Drive time: 6.5 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: There are a number of hotels right along the Mississippi River that are fun and accommodating for families. If you want to splurge, the Watermark Baton Rouge comes highly recommended. There are also several hotels attached to casinos if you are looking for tons of amenities under one roof.

What to do: Learn about animals at the Baton Rouge Zoo or about sea life at the Blue Zoo. Splash around at the nearby waterpark. Check out Knock Knock Children's Museum or the Louisiana Art & Science Museum. Take a swamp tour and learn all about the Bayou and the animals, reptiles and fish that call it home. 

Santa Fe, New Mexico

New Mexico is a state filled with stunning geography and a rich history. Santa Fe is nestled at the very southern edge of the Rocky Mountains and is a city that offers a lot of family-friendly fun year round. Did you know? Santa Fe is the highest capital city and third highest city in America!

Why vacay in Santa Fe

Drive time: 9 hours from Arlington 

Where to stay: There is no shortage of gorgeous hotels in Santa Fe. So many I looked at were well, well out of my price comfort zone. The Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder came up time and time again but even that was at my absolute max budget. So, this may be a town I find an AirBnB in, and, a quick search shows there is no shortage of those, either! 

What to do: Meow Wolf looks incredible, and the Santa Fe Children's Museum would be a blast for kids. Railyard Park offers lots to do, and you could always stroll and shop downtown. Learn about Native American culture during your trip. Go gambling during your trip or go for a hike in the mountains. 

Where will you travel this summer?

Cinco de Mayo in Arlington!

Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Arlington? Here are a few spots for fun!

Do you know why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated?

Cinco de Mayo (which means Fifth of May in Spanish) commemorates the Mexican Army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. 

I did an article about Cinco de Mayo for Zulily, with lots of ways to celebrate with kids. Please click the link to read! 

Looking to do more learning on this Mexican holiday with your kids? Here are a few great books to check out:

Celebrate! It's Cinco de Mayo! by Janice Levy

A simple history of the holiday with illustrations perfect for kids.

Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

Follow along with Rosa, a Mexican-American girl from California, as she explores this Mexican holiday. 

Because of the strong Mexican influence here in Texas, there are lots of ways to get festive for Cinco de Mayo here in Arlington. If you are looking to celebrate with or without the kids, here are a few ways to celevrate in the Arlington area. 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Arlington, Texas.

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations in the Arlington Area

Cinco de Mayo Taco Truck & Food Drive: May 5, 4-6 pm

Join the Deeds Group and Saltillo Taqueria for tacos. Bring a donation for NEW DAY ARLINGTON, an organization that provides meals to the food insecure students of Arlington and we will provide you some free dinner! Daesy's Tropical Sno Truck will also be there to get a Snow Cone! So come by and eat tacos for a good cause!

Cinco de Mayo at Texas Live!: May 5, 5-10 pm

Stop in for free Salsa/Bachata lessons with Dallas Dance Studio. Enjoy drink specials, a raffle, contests and more. 

 

Salsa Joe's Tex-Mex Smokehouse Cinco de Mayo Parking Lot Party: May 5, 11:30 am- 9 pm

Music, drinks, food and more at this parking lot party on Park Row Drive!

Cinco de Mayo at El Gabacho: May 5, 4 pm

Join Wild Rag Vodka, Andrew Sevener and his band at El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill in Arlington for the Ultimate Cinco de Mayo concert event, starting at 4:00pm.

Cinco de Mayo Skate at Arlington Skatium: May 5, 6:30- 8:30 pm

Skate for just $5 to celebrate May 5! 

Cinco de Mayo with Live Music at Boomerjack's: May 5, 10:30 am- 10 pm

Drink specials all day plus live music with Nikki & Ryan. 

Maintaining a Clean Home: 5 Services to Hire Out in the Arlington Area

I'm a terrible housekeeper. 

There. I said it. It is what it is. 

I will happily hammer out five SEO-friendly articles in a day. Drive the kids to Little Elm (or across state lines) for a fun activity? I'm your girl! Volunteer with various organizations and provide value and service? On it! 

But ask me to clean my shower (like my husband literally did yesterday) and I will find 500 things that need to be done before I am able (and willing) to complete this task.

Like I said. Terrible housekeeper. 

I did just do an article for Zulily, though, about 20 Spring Clean Hacks I Learned on Instagram, and I have tried them all out myself! Once. But hey- if you're a better housekeeper than I am, there are truly some great tips in the article. Please click over and read it!

But, in writing that article, I started to wonder what services could be hired out. I hate cleaning, so I sometimes hire a housekeeper. But, there are a myriad of other things I hate doing (like laundry. Because based on the amount currently sitting in my laundry room, I'm genuinely wondering if there are people living in my house who I don't know about). But guess what? There are people I can pay to wash, dry and fold those piles of clothing for me. Brilliant!

Hire someone to do your laundry, pick up your dog's poop, clean your car and more.

5 Services to Hire Out in the Arlington Area

So here we are. Five household chores that you might not want to do that you can pay someone else to do for you! You're supporting a local business, checking one item off your to-do list and just generally freeing up some time that you would have had to allocate to that task. Because time is money. And you are worth a lot more than you give yourself credit for!

Laundry service: I can't even find the time to wash most of the fitted sheets in my house, let alone figure out how to fold them! This is money well spent on my end. Having someone literally air out my dirty laundry sounds brilliant! Check out Top Drawer Laundry to have your someone else deal with your dirty laundry!

Dog Mess Cleanup: When I was younger, my mom used to pay my brothers and me to clean up the dog poop in the backyard. I hated it. Our dog wasn't even that big and yet the amount of poop he could generate was insane! Eventually she started hiring the neighbor kids because my brothers and I all refused to do the job, even if we were paid to do it. Today I would happily pay someone else to clean up dog poop because I really can't think of anything I'd rather do less than clean up poop! Try Poop911 to take this messy task off your plate. 

Mobile Car Detailing: My husband consistently detests the state of my car. I always remind him how much running around I do with the girls- and how often we find ourselves eating in the car, even though it's a bad habit. I'm trying to be better about cleaning out the car regularly and wiping down the interior. But sometimes it's just one more thing to do and I'm out of time (and energy. And desire, quite frankly). Enter mobile detailing. Let someone come to you and scrub your car until it shines! Mobile car detailing is brilliant. Try Savvy Mobile Detail to have a clean car without the having to clean it yourself bit! 

Declutter the House: What is it about kids and chaos? It is so hard to stay on top of the clutter in my house... The kids come home every day with piles of stuff (where does it even come from?!) but it takes me ages to wade through it and get rid of the stuff we simply can't keep. When we moved last summer it was a true struggle to figure out what should stay and what should go. Sometimes you just need a neutral third party to remind you of which items are worthy of a spot in your home and which ones need to find their way to the local charity drop. Try Lisa's Chaos Coordinators if you, like me, need a little help to get out from under all the stuff! If you have baby gear that you no longer need but are hoping to get some money back on some of your big ticket items, try Good Buy Gear- they will come grab your gear, sell it for you, and give you back a portion of the selling price! 

Grocery Shopping: I think I'm one of the total weirdos who actually doesn't mind grocery shopping. Don't get me wrong- no matter how many times I make my list and check it twice I always make it home without some much-needed item, but, that's just because I'm me. But I don't mind wandering the aisles at Target and then telling my husband the ridiculously-high bill included nothing but essentials (three new tops and a new throw pillow are essential, thankyouverymuch). Mostly, though, I love strolling up and down the aisles, discovering new products and new dinner short cuts. I love finding new items to add to the pantry. Also, I love going to the grocery store solo and then claiming the line at checkout was stupidly long and that's why it took so long. If anyone tells my husband that I spent an hour just sitting in the clothing section, scrolling my phone, well, then, we can't be friends. But, if you aren't like me and hate the grocery store, no worries! Try Shipt or Instacart to have your groceries come to you. 

What household errands do you hire out? I love to find new ways to lessen my load at home!

Get Your Sweat On: Fun Spots to Workout in the Arlington Area!

I'm a runner.

Not a fast runner or a professional runner, but a runner. I love to log miles all over Arlington and beyond. I'm training for the Cowtown Half (I was *supposed* to run the full this year even though I swore I would never run another full... I think the Universe is sending me a message!), and I'm following Peloton's Road to 26.2 (and adapting it to the half). I love that the program integrates weight training into the plan.

But I've decided to look into other workout options in the area. I love to run- but I need to add weights. I realize that weight training will make me a stronger and better runner. So I've rounded up some awesome workouts in the Arlington area that offer more than just cardio and weight machines!

Check out my article for Zulily here about ways to workout at home! 

Great spots in Arlington, Texas, to get your heart pumping!

Unique Workouts in the Arlington Area

 1. TexasFitt- This local spot offers onsite childcare during select hours as well as classes and personal training. There are yoga classes, classes just for women and a few just for seniors, as well as a Butt & Gut class that is calling my name...

2. Momentum Fitness- Momentum offers private training as well as small group sessions and boot camps. Yoga is also offered onsite. 

3. CrossFit Power Method- CrossFit is one of those workouts that totally intimidates me. It looks downright tough and exhausting, but I can only imagine how accomplished you must feel at the end of a grueling workout! One of these days...

4. PureBarre- Barre workouts are low-impact but so powerful! I tried a class here when they first opened and fell in love. If I didn't live 30 minutes from this spot I would absolutely have a membership. This workout is intense! 

5. The Epic Grand Prairie- I wish I lived closer to The Epic- you'd find me there every day for sure! Group fit classes, CrossFit, Aquatic workouts. This spot offers something to all fitness levels and has something for everyone. I love swimming laps- being near a pool like this would be great!

6. Fit4Mom Arlington/Mansfield- If you are a mom of young kids, you need to join Fit4Mom. Not only will you meet a bunch of awesome moms (like you!), you'll get in a great workout WITH your kids! Seriously. I loved this group when I was the mom of little ones. Workout and socialize with your kids!

7. Camp Gladiator- CG is an outdoor workout with friends. Bring your own yoga mat and free weights and your trainer will whip you into shape with an hour-long bootcamp workout. 

8. OrangeTheory Fitness- This spot in the Highlands puts you through an hour of HIIT (high intensity interval training) to get your heart pumping and blood flowing. This workout is aimed at getting your metabolism going!

9. HotWorx- Workout in an infrared sauna 24 hours a day. Do a 15-minute HIIT session solo or a 30-minute isometric session at this new Viridian-area spot.

10. Premier Yoga & Fitness- This Mansfield spot offers everything from Zumba to barre and yoga to HIIT. You won't get bored with workouts at this spot because the schedule has such a variety of activities to choose from! 

Have fun and get fit at these local workout hot spots.