San Antonio’s heart is vibrant. Round Rock offers charm. Austin’s energy is electric. This Texas journey was one for the books. I competed in my second major disc golf event. I indulged in unforgettable local eats. I also cracked into an escape room. This trip was a wild, wonderful ride!

Last year, my in-laws surprised me with an epic birthday tour of my favorite football team’s stadium. While we didn’t make it to an escape room then, the memories were unforgettable. This time around, we made it our mission to dive deep into puzzles, putts, and pure fun.

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🗺️ The Adventure Begins in San Antonio

Where we stayed:

• Westin Riverwalk Hotel

Day One:
We flew in and picked up our car. We then checked into the beautiful Westin. It was central, scenic, and just steps away from the iconic Riverwalk. That night, San Antonio sparkled with St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The river was dyed green. There was live music and joyful crowds. Street vendors sold everything from leather goods to artsy crafts.

Dinner? Wings from Dick’s Last Resort (because sometimes, tacos can wait). After a quick hotel nap, we hit the Riverwalk again. We soaked up the nightlife. Then, we turned in for some well-earned rest.

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🥏 Day Two: Discs and Rainforests

We hit up Graytown Park for some disc golf—after hopping a fence because, surprise, the gate was locked! Muddy clay tried to take us out, but we loved the challenge. Every shot brought something new: ace runs, tight woods, open fairways. Trey and I were in our happy place.

We refueled at the Rainforest Café, surrounded by animatronic wildlife and thunderstorm sound effects. Over Skip-Bo and smiles, we soaked it all in.

Later, we took a reflective walk to the Alamo. There, a kind older gentleman shared some history. He also gave a riddle-like response to our question: “Was the distraction worth it?” (Spoiler: it was.)

Late-night craving? Bunz for burgers, found on foot—and totally worth the walk.

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🚗 Day Three: Flying High in San Marcos

On the way to Houston, we made a pit stop at Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club—and WOW. Their quirky putting course was full of fun surprises. Think windmills and wacky angles. The wooded 18-hole layout delivered some serious challenge.

Trey lit up when he found a Simon Lizotte signature line in the pro shop. We even gave the tower shot a try—missed it, but watched a young girl land two like a champ! Total magic.

Our bellies were growling. We zipped over to Chili’s. After eating, we checked into our Redbud Ranch RV Park—peaceful, cozy, and the perfect home base.

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🏆 Day Four: Practice Makes Play

Tuesday morning kicked off at Wilco Park, my battleground for the coming tournament. I started with a quick walk-through to warm up. Then, I had a bite to eat. After that, it was off to Old Settlers Park for a full round before sunset.

Excitement was building. My fingers were crossed for one more thing: an escape room adventure!

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📸 Day Five: Starstruck & Locked In

We rolled up to Sprinkle Valley at Austin Beerworks for check-in and my player pack. This is where the fangirling began—I ran into so many FPO superstars! Snagged pics with Henna, Evelina, and Paige Pierce. Still hoping for that photo with Valerie Mandujano one day!

Knowing this could be our last chance to escape, we booked it to The Escape Game – Austin. After a delicious meal at Moonshine Grill, we tackled “The Depths.”

We joined forces with three strangers and dove into the mystery. And guess what? We missed escaping by one clue. ONE. But wow—the puzzles were so cleverly hidden in plain sight. It was challenging, thrilling, and exactly the kind of mental twist we’d hoped for.

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🥏 Game Day: Day Six

Thursday came, and so did the big event. I leapt out of bed ready to compete. Hole one? Felt like a champion. Hole two? Not so much. But the beauty was in the journey. With no pressure and no scores to beat, I played for joy—and I could feel myself growing with every throw.

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💪 Day Seven: Friday Feels

Paired up with some powerhouse women from the ultimate frisbee world, I kicked off round two. First round was a personal best: +8! I strutted off that course proud.

Round two? +12. Yikes. And once again, hole 17 gave me drama! Still, I left feeling stronger, more focused, and hungry for redemption.

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Day 8 – Round Three

This round was a real doozy!

By Day Two, scoring a +12 had me feeling like I was living in a cartoon. It seemed like the disc had a mind of its own. Matching that score again? It felt like taking a pie straight to the face! My putts were clearly on vacation while I was stuck driving the struggle bus. 😅

After the round, I let out a good ol’ rallying cry in the parking lot—pure frustration and fire! But then I had to remind myself: it’s just a game. A fun little hobby that I love. And the truth is, I’ve set the bar high for myself. I’m not chasing “meh”—I’m chasing growth, confidence, and greatness. Even when the round doesn’t go my way.

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Day 9 – Round Four (Final Round)

It was the big finale, and I was ready to crush my goals and fly higher than ever. But instead, I found myself… right back at square one.

I thought my putting and approach game were dialed in, but my tee shots had other plans. Ending up 35th out of 42 players felt like a tough pill to swallow.

But honestly? This event was so much more than the leaderboard.

It was about the vibe, the community, the incredible women showing up with grit and grace. Watching these ladies chase their pro dreams and uplift one another—it was beautiful. I walked away inspired, even if I didn’t walk away with a trophy.

Disc golf is such a joyride when you get to do it with passionate, supportive people!

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Day 10 – Home

Day 10 – Home

The trip had left me physically drained but deeply fulfilled. As we rolled our bags through a nearly empty airport, the silence was oddly comforting—no crowds, no noise, just calm. That’s when we saw it.

Tucked in the corner of the terminal was a glowing, portal-like doorway.

We stopped in our tracks. It looked like something straight out of a movie. It was softly lit. It was adorned with names of fantasy worlds we’d grown up loving. Narnia. Hogwarts. Neverland. Middle-earth. Pandora. It was whimsical and unexpected, like a secret passage to every childhood adventure we ever dreamed of.

It was one of those beautiful, symbolic moments. Like the universe was reminding us that the magic isn’t behind us—it’s still ahead of us. That even though the trip was over, the journey wasn’t. All the beautiful places we explored.

Final Thoughts + Hidden History

As we wrap up this incredible journey, here’s a little nugget of history tied to our adventure:

Did you know?
St. Louis—a city we passed through—is home to the oldest public park west of the Mississippi, Lafayette Park, established in 1836. It has been around since before the Civil War. There are even rumors of it having hidden tunnels once used in the Underground Railroad. The city is literally layered in secrets and stories—perfect for explorers like us!

Portal Puzzle: Unlock the next Badge

I call the brave with whispering winds,
And mark the start where wonder begins.
In winding paths and skies so pure,
You’ll find the soul of the word “?.”

I’m not a place, but where places lead,
Born of curiosity, courage, and need.
A journey, a quest, a story so true—
Solve this riddle, I’m waiting for you.

🔑 What am I?
💬 Answer to unlock Badge 19: Portal Keeper!

Thank you for being part of our adventure across America!

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