Cynthia Drake

Austin

Freelance travel writer. Bylines @texasmonthly @texashighways @southernliving @aaatexas @cruisecritic, others. ✉️ [email protected]

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Articles

19 Hidden Texas Gems Only Locals Know About

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Cynthia Drake

There are plenty of well-documented restaurants and attractions across Texas, but the best finds are the ones with parking lots crowded with Texas license plates. These are the places where people wouldn't even think about whipping out their phones for a shot for "Insta" before digging in. Texas is such a large state that there are more hidden gems than we could possibly cover in one place. Our advice?
19 Hidden Texas Gems Only Locals Know About

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Cynthia Drake

There are plenty of well-documented restaurants and attractions across Texas, but the best finds are the ones with parking lots crowded with Texas license plates. These are the places where people wouldn’t even think about whipping out their phones for a shot for “Insta” before digging in. Texas is such a large state that there are more hidden gems than we could possibly cover in one place. Our advice?
14 Resorts In The Florida Keys For The Ultimate Beach Vacation

1 month ago | southernliving.com | Cynthia Drake

Life in the Florida Keys has long captured the hearts of travelers.
The Oldest Family-Owned Barbecue Joint In Texas Is Hiding In This Small Town

1 month ago | southernliving.com | Cynthia Drake

Located about 90 minutes east of Houston and just 30 minutes from the Louisiana border is Beaumont, a former oil boomtown that still is mostly characterized by the petrochemical factories that loom large along its peripheries, bolstered by a busy shipping port—the fourth largest in the U.S. by tonnage.
27 Best Restaurants In Houston To Try Now

1 month ago | southernliving.com | Cynthia Drake

Key TakeawaysHouston’s food scene is influenced by its location on the Gulf and the global flavors brought by immigrants. Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, and Mexican restaurants put an international spin on breakfast. From elevated to casual, dinner menus list dishes from all over the world, and Chinatown desserts aren’t to be missed. Houston’s food scene is one of the top draws for this major Texas city.
5 Best Places To Find Spring Wildflowers in Texas

2 months ago | southernliving.com | Cynthia Drake

Fredericksburg, Texas, and surrounding areas Head down the 13-mile Willow City Loop from Fredericksburg toward Llano for one of Texas's truly iconic springtime drives. Along this roadway, there is an explosion of spring color, including a beautiful pink beebalm and cheerful black-eyed Susans. Flower lovers would be remiss not to stop at Wildseed Farms to pick up a pack of seeds for their home gardens, while the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center just outside of Austin is also a worthy stop.
10 Romantic Overwater Bungalows That Are VERY Short Flights From the U.S.

Feb 11, 2025 | fodors.com | Cynthia Drake

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The 18 Most Romantic Restaurants in Austin for 2025

Jan 11, 2025 | timeout.com | James Wong |Anastacia Uriegas |Sarah Medina |Cynthia Drake

Keep the spark alive at the best romantic restaurants in Austin, ideal for date nights, anniversaries and special occasions.
There's Great Dining, Sports, Space, And Surprising Gems Around Every Corner In This Texas City

Dec 31, 2024 | southernliving.com | Cynthia Drake |Kaitlyn Yarborough

As the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest city in the U.S., Houston offers visitors a huge helping of culture and cuisine, along with a side of sports and style. No two visits to Houston are quite the same, as there is always something new to discover in this diverse and vibrant metropolitan area that has contributed many gifts to the world, from the U.S. space exploration program to museums to sports teams.
Inside the Revamped 1850s-Era Home of a Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence

Dec 4, 2024 | texasmonthly.com | Cynthia Drake

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