The girls and I recently went to Lake Norman, NC for an extended weekend getaway. This trip was so fun and relaxing! Lake Norman is about 20 minutes outside of Charlotte. We were supposed to drive down, but because of my crazy work schedule, we found cheap round trip flights to Charlotte. From DCA to Charlotte, tickets were about $130.

The house:
We rented a dope 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom lake house on Airb&b that was perfect for our group. There are some beautiful homes on Airb&b but we picked this one because it was affordable and had a lot of amenities. Because of Covid, we knew we would spend more time in the house than usual, so we were looking for something that was comfy but also had things to do. The pictures do it no justice. The house was beautifully decorated and had everything we could have needed. The hot tub, fire pit and view were my favorite features, but they also offered paddle boards, kayaks and grills. Brenell and Milo were awesome hosts. The provided a guide for the house as well as things to do, places to shop and eat in Lake Norman. You can check out the lake house here: abnb.me/XYOf33rwRfb

Things to do:
​Rent a chartered boat. A family friend is a member of the yacht club but you can find options on www.getmyboat.com
Hang out in downtown Davidson - cute little shops and restaurants
Day trip to Charlotte
Hike Grandfather Mountain
Visit a winery (Raylen, Childress or Shadowline)

Places to eat:
Eddies on the Lake - American seafood - good food and drinks
131 Main - American- delicious food
Havana 33 - Cuban - amazing food and mojitos
Davidson Wine Co. - Urban Winery - decent brunch
Table 31
Hello Sailor
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Preakness is back this year with live entertainment on May 15th @ Pimlico in Baltimore. Instead of the usual Infield Fest that takes place in the middle of the race track, they have switched things up. This year, the live event will offer pods to allow for social distancing. Pods fit 8 people and range from $600-1200 depending on tier. The line up includes D-Nice, 2 Chainz and Jack Harlow. For tix/info www.preakness.com

If you’re feeling like most people in the world, you are ready to get back to events and festivals. On May 15th, Fizzy Land Hard Seltzer Festival will be taking place at the Bullpen in DC. To abide by DC’s Covid regs, they are offering picnic tables for groups of 6 and waitress service to tables. Tickets are $30 for GA and $50 for VIP.

For tix/info visit www.fizzyland.com

Punch Bowl Social re-opened this week in Arlington featuring karaoke, bowling and arcade games.  Inspired by a Victorian-era tradition of gathering around a bowl of punch to socialize, Punch Bowl Social is the perfect place for adult fun.  They also boast a scratch kitchen and craft cocktails. I'm adding this to my places to visit.

Prices vary based on activity/number of people in party
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Location: 4238 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
www.punchbowlsocial.com

I fell in love with Throw Social.  The place was made for Instagram photos!  Throw is a football bowling arena that has a tropical theme complete with neon signs, flamingos and palm trees.  The cocktails are amazing and follow the theme.  I went when they first opened and it wasn't very crowded.  The staff were really nice and took the time to show us how to play football bowling which isn't as easy as it seems unless you have a great arm.  After a few cocktails, no one really cares anyways.

Prices vary based on activity/number of people in your party.
Currently open Thurs-Sun

Location: 1401 Okie St NE, WDC
www.throwsocial.com

I love Hook Hall! They change their theme every season. The current theme is *drum roll*...Cherry Blossom and it's super cute. Hook Hall is an outdoor venue with separate cabanas which are perfect for social distancing. To rent a cabana is about $100 and it seats 6 people and includes a bottle of champagne. If you don't want to rent a cabana, you can book a regular table. Their drinks are really good. Im a fan of drinking my frozen margaritas out of a pouch. Service is decent. My only complaint is the food so don't go with high expectations or if you're really hungry. Think bar bites such as fries, wings, pizza, etc.

Location: 3400 Georgia Ave NW, WDC
www.hookhall.com

Yesterday, for Taco Tuesday, my friends and I went to Rebel Taco on U street. The decor is so dope! I love the artwork and neon lights. The patio faces U street which is always great for people watching. The drinks were strong. I got the hibiscus margarita which I highly recommend. They use Toast which is an online ordering system. People have a love/hate relationship with these systems but I personally like the limitation of interaction with waiters. Service was overall good. The guac and queso were bomb 💣! The tacos were decent. I really liked the shrimp and my friend liked the beef. My only con was that a lot of items on the menu weren’t available. I would definitely go again in the future.

Location: 1214 U St NW, WDC

Check out some of these dope taco spots in DC.  What's your favorite taco spot in DC? Drop in the comments. 

Taqueria Xochi
Location: 924 U St NW, WDC
IG: @taqueriaxochi

Tequila & Mezcal
Location: 3475 14th St NW, WDC
IG: @tequilamezcaldc

Rebel Taco
Location: U St NW, WDC
IG: @eatrebeltaco

El Techo
Location: 606 Florida Ave NW, WDC
​IG: @eltechodc

Houston's food scene is on a whole different level.  Ill keep updating this post as I find more places.

Turkey Leg Hut
Location: 4830 Almeda Road, Suite A/B, Houston, TX
IG: @turkeyleghut

The Greasy Spoon
Location: 636 Cypress Station Dr., Ste A, Houston, TX
​IG: @thegreasyspoonhtx

Waffle Bus
Location: 2220 Brazos St, Houston, TX
​IG: @thewafflebus

The Funnel Bar
Location: see website for locations www.thefunnelbar.com
​IG: @thefunnelbar

Seafood Connection
Location: 507 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
​IG: @seafoodconnectionhouston

FOMO Factory, another colorful pop-up full of Instagram-worthy photo ops recently opened in Houston.  FOMO Factory's installations awaken a sense of nostalgia as you travel back in time to your favorite childhood memories such as the locker room, the seesaw and science class.  Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children.  The pop-up is currently scheduled through July 16, 2021.  I wonder what city they will go to next....

Location: The Galleria (3rd Floor), Houston, TX
www.thefomofactory.com