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    OMG properties

    2 over-the-top vacation rentals that beckon for a Hill Country getaway

    John Egan
    Oct 15, 2020 | 4:30 pm

    Are you itching to get away for a close-to-home vacation? If so, check out two Hill Country properties that vacation rental platform Vrbo has named to its new list of 25 highly rated “over the top” places to stay.

    The first one is Red Sands Ranch, a private resort near the town of Mason. The bucolic $1,855-a-night ranch is a staycationer’s dream. The living quarters include a bunkhouse with four twin beds, a loft with four full-size beds, and four self-contained rustic cabins that sleep six to nine people each, as well as a vintage Airstream trailer. The property, about four hours from Dallas, can accommodate up to 37 overnight guests.

    Among the amenities at Red Sands are a four-story waterslide, a 3,400-foot airstrip, a fitness center, tennis and basketball courts, a “party shed,” a hot tub, a “secret ‘mine shaft’ cave,” and an outdoor swimming pool with a spa and grotto.

    Surrounded by limestone and red sandstone cliffs, the ranch hugs the Llano River, affording opportunities for fishing and kayaking.

    The other Vrbo-highlighted property close by is a “dramatic” limestone-and-steel home on 17 acres near Kyle. The Vrbo listing for the three-bedroom, $375-a-night house boasts that its location near I-35 offers easy access to amenities in both San Antonio and Austin, as well as to the outlet malls in San Marcos and three nearby wineries.

    The home, which sleeps up to 10 people, features a loft-like living and dining area, a large screened-in porch, an outdoor swimming pool, a gourmet kitchen, and a massive limestone fireplace. The listing says the property is ideal for weddings, parties, family gatherings, and corporate retreats.

    Austin-based Vrbo compiled the 25-property list to celebrate the company’s 25th birthday. It’s running a contest asking people to submit their favorite family vacation photo for a chance to win a stay at one of the 25 properties.

    “We wanted to recognize and show gratitude to our customers who have trusted Vrbo with their family vacations over the past 25 years. To celebrate this milestone, we are inviting families to look back through their old family photos to reminisce on their most precious memories together,” Lish Kennedy, Vrbo’s vice president of global brand marketing, says in a release.

    In December 2015, travel giant Expedia purchased what then was known as HomeAway for $3.9 billion. HomeAway rebranded last year as Vrbo.

    Red Sands Ranch.

    Red Sands Ranch
    Photo courtesy of Vrbo
    Red Sands Ranch.
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    ain't we got fun

    New Vegas-inspired Carnival cruise ship to dock in Galveston in 2028

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 24, 2026 | 3:00 pm
    Carnival Tropicale to homeport in Galveston in 2028
    Photo courtesy of Carnival
    Galveston will be home to two of Carnival's three newest ships when the Carnival Tropicale docks in 2028.

    A new massive Carnival cruise ship — the Carnival Tropicale — will bring "old-Vegas flair" and tropical charm to Galveston in 2028. The Carnival Tropicale will join a fleet of four other Carnival cruise ships currently homeporting in the coastal city.

    The Excel-class ship was named after Carnival's original 1982 cruise ship, MS Tropicale, which defined the cruise line's "Fun Ship" era that made "entertainment and shared joy as central as the destinations themselves," according to a release.

    The Carnival Tropicale also serves as an embodiment of the cruise line's 26-year history in partnership with the Port of Galveston. In 2024, Carnival celebrated a maritime milestone as the first cruise line to bring over 10 million guests to Galveston in 2024.

    "Carnival’s continued investment in the Port of Galveston is a big reason why we’re the cruise port of choice for a growing number of Americans and why we’re setting new growth records year over year," said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. "Carnival has been a valued partner for this port and this community for 26 years. We look forward to many more years of growth together."

    Carnival Tropicale to homeport in Galveston in 2028 TBD if the Carnival Tropicale will actually have horns.Photo courtesy of Carnival

    Carnival Tropicale will accommodate more than 6,000 guests and feature showstopping experiences typical of Carnival's Excel-class ships. The iconic Sunsation Point top deck entertainment zone and the Carnival WaterWorks Ultra will offer all-day and all-night fun with six waterslides, two splash pads, a mini golf course, outdoor games, an arcade, and much more.

    The Carnival website also teases vibrant live performances inspired by "the golden age of show business" in Las Vegas.

    The ship will be powered by liquefied natural gas to reflect Carnival's "focus on innovation and sustainability" and take some inspiration from its sister ship, Carnival Festivale, which will dock in Florida's Port Canaveral in 2027.

    Carnival Tropicale is expected to sail year-round after it ports in Galveston in 2028, and reservations and trip itineraries are expected to be released later in 2026. Those who want to be first in line for updates and promotions can register online at carnival.com.

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