Charming Colorado ski escape and Texas coastal town top Houston's favorite spring break destinations

breck beckons

Breckenridge Ski Resort/Facebook

Spring break is top-of-mind for many Houstonians, and many are escaping our humidity for crisp Colorado air and ski resorts.

And in the latest report from vacation rental specialist Key Data, more Houston spring breakers have set their sights on the Breckenridge Ski Resort more than any other destination. Two other Colorado ski resorts in Steamboat Springs (No. 2) and Vail (No. 3) are also at the top of the list.

Key Data determined their rankings based on the average nightly rate, the number of nights sold, the total accommodation cost, and the length of stay by travelers from Houston who made bookings in the month of March.

Though many Houstonians will stay in the great state of Texas, they won’t be sitting idle at home. They’ll be off to Port Aransas, which was ranked the No. 4 top destination for spring breakers in the report. Coming in at the No. 5 spot for the top destinations for Houston spring breakers is a city in the sunshine state: Destin, Florida.

For the curious minds wondering how much the average spring break stay is for the ski resort in Breckenridge, Key Data’s figured it out. The cost of the average 4.4-night accommodation at the resort adds up to $679 per night, or just over $3000 total. For those looking to stay closer to home by traveling to Port A, you’d be surprised to learn you’re not saving much money. Visitors will spend $852 per night, or $3,704 total for accommodations in Port A for the same amount of time as a spring break vacationer in Colorado.

In a press release, Key Data’s executive director of data insights Melanie Brown said the city’s spring breakers are divided into two categories this year: vacationers looking to see the mountains and embrace the snow, and those who want to catch some rays at the beach.

“Houstonians are having to part with quite large sums to stay in these locations, reflecting the huge popularity of these destinations with travelers from all over the US,” she explained.

The top 5 destinations for Houston spring breakers is:

No. 1 – Breckenridge, Colorado
No. 2 – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
No. 3 – Vail, Colorado
No. 4 – Port Aransas
No. 5 – Destin, Florida

Key Data also determined that 11 million nights for this year’s spring break week have been booked through online vacation rental marketplaces like Airbnb and Vrbo. That’s up 22 percent from last year, which accounted for 9.4 million nights.

The full report can be found at keydatadashboard.com.

Photo courtesy of Campspot

4 glorious Texas campsites pitch top spots as best in America to connect with nature

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

March's sunny, warm weather is here, and if you're looking for an outdoorsy spring break experience, one of these four Texas sites should be on your itinerary. They've just been named among Campspot's Best Campgrounds in America.

Campspot is an online marketplace and booking website for private campsites; they used 70,000 data points across 12 categories, including community reviews and family-friendly amenities, to determine their rankings.

In the category for Best Campgrounds for National Park Lovers, two Port Aransas resorts came in at the top: Aloha Beach RV Resort was ranked No. 1 and Tropic Island Resortcame in at No. 3. Both were ranked highly thanks to their proximity to local beaches and opportunities for outdoor activities, such as world-class fishing, birding, boating, golf, and more.

Champions Riverside Resort in Gainesville, Wisconsin split the Texas resorts in the ranking at No. 2, while Pokegama Lake RV Park & Golf Course in Pine City, Minnesota (No. 4) and New Jersey’s Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: South Jersey rounded out the top five.

In the Best Campgrounds for Weekenders category, Hidden Falls Adventure Parkin Marble Falls and Lazy L&L Campgroundin New Braunfels ranked No. 4 and No. 5. Hidden Falls is the perfect place for some off-road fun on its sprawling 2,000-acre property, while Lazy L&L is more along the scenic side with a beautiful river frontage across 25 acres.

Ranking above the two Texas sites are three California grounds: Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort in Mt. Shasta City (No. 3), Casini Ranch Family Campground in Duncans Mills (No. 2), and Sun Outdoors Paso Robles (No. 1).

Campspot’s 10 best overall campgrounds in America don’t include any Texas destinations, but are still worth a gander for any out-of-state adventures:

No. 1 – Indian River RV Resort in Indian River, Minnesota
No. 2 – On the Saco Family Campground in Brownfield, Maine
No. 3 – The Nugget RV Resort in Saint Regis, Montana
No. 4 – Otahki Lake Cabins & Campground in Patterson, Missouri
No. 5 – Stonebridge RV Resort in Maggie Valley, North Carolina
No. 6 – Dark Sky RV Campground in Kanab, Utah
No. 7 – Pecan Park in Jacksonville, Florida
No. 8 – Kootenai River Campground in Troy, Montana
No. 9 – Okefenokee Pastimes Cabins & Campground in Folkston, Georgia
No. 10 – Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Memphis in Horn Lake, Mississippi

The full report can be found on campspot.com.

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CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

Meet the gifted chef showcasing authentic, home-grown Greek fare to Houston, plus hottest food news

What's Eric Eating Episode 285

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," chef Mary Cuclis joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Kriti Kitchen. The Pondicheri veteran opened the family-friendly Greek restaurant in January.

The conversation begins with Cuclis explaining how she entered the world of professional cooking. Prior to opening Kriti Kitchen, she trained at Bo Innovation, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong, and spent 10 years working for James Beard Award finalist Anita Jaisinghani at Pondicheri, the acclaimed, Indian-inspired restaurant in Upper Kirby.

At Kriti Kitchen, she honors her Greek heritage by serving dishes she's experienced when visiting family in Greece. Sandler asks her about the ways in which her cooking is different from Houston's other Greek restaurants.

"A lot of the Greek food I found in Houston was very delicious but very much street food. The kind of food I'm wanting to portray is more homestyle, things that I eat with my relatives," she says.

"For example, when you go to a taverna in Crete, a lot of times it's a couple running the whole thing. They invite you back into the kitchen to smell the stew. It's stewed meat and a lot of fresh vegetables with beans and lentils. I don't think too many people see that side of Greek food. I wanted to share a little bit of what I see with my family and what we eat when we're there."

Listen to the full interview to hear Cuclis explain why Kriti Kitchen offers both dine-in options during the day as well as heat-and-serve options that customers can pick up for dinner. She also discusses her goals for the future.

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Rebecca Masson, chef-owner of Fluff Bake Bar, discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Nobie's owners Martin and Sara Stayer's plans to open a new pizzeria; Roswell's Saloon opening in Montrose; New York City's Lady M establishing a permanent presence in the Galleria; and Masson's experiences during Austin's Hot Luck food festival.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Masson share their thoughts about meals at two new Italian restaurants. First, they recount the highs and lows of a meal at Triola's Kitchen. Then, they share first impressions of Bari Ristorante, a new restaurant in River Oaks District that serves classic Italian dishes.

Photo by Ajna Jai

Chef Mary Cuclis is this week's guest.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Saturdays at 2 pm on ESPN 97.5.

Famed luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo steps into Houston with stylish boutique in first outlet locale

WELL-HEELED

Local favorite Houston Premium Outletshas exciting news for fashion-forward and price-conscious shoppers. The renowned luxury brand Jimmy Choo has recently opened its doors, bringing its signature high-end styles and accessories to Houston.

Shoppers will be delighted to find an extensive range of Jimmy Choo's coveted collection, including trendy shoes, chic bags, stylish eyewear, cute small leather goods, and other must-have accessories.

The luxury footwear brand hit the scene in the 1990s and quickly became a favorite of Princess Diana. Carrie Bradshaw and Sex in the City catapulted the shoe to a household name and the shoes became synonymous with femininity and luxury.

With more than 200 stores worldwide, Jimmy Choo is no stranger to the fashion scene. However, this outlet store marks its first in Houston, making its elevated shopping experience more accessible to a broader array of discerning buyers.

Savvy Houston shoppers will be thrilled to find top-notch designer pieces at prices that won't break the bank. Jimmy Choo joins other luxury brands at Houston Premium Outlets, such as Armani Outlet, Burberry, Tory Burch, Coach, and Cole Haan. It's the perfect excuse to make the journey to Houston Premium Outlets and stock up on summer wardrobe essentials.

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Photo courtesy of Jimmy Choo/Instagram

The Jimmy Choo boutique at Houston Premium Outlets includes shoes, bags, stylish eyewear, small leather goods, and other must-have accessories.

Jimmy Choo; Suite 955, near Armani Outlet; Houston Premium Outlets – (Suite 955, near Armani Outlet); 29300 Hempstead Rd. in Cypress.

Houston SPCA's handy guide to weathering hurricane season with your pets

Get Ready

Every year during hurricane season, spare gas tanks are filled, food and water supplies are replenished, and go bags are packed. However, one aspect of storm preparation that shouldn’t be overlooked is your pet’s preparedness. Make sure they’re included in your emergency plans just like your human family members.

Not sure what that entails? Follow this handy guide from Houston SPCA:

1. Never leave your pet behind when evacuating
It’s critical that your pet is prepared to come with you should you need to evacuate during a storm. Don’t wait until it’s time to leave to put your pet in a crate for the first time. Make sure they’re comfortable in a travel carrier every now and then by encouraging them to enter and exit the kennel with plenty of positive reinforcement.

If you know your pet becomes carsick or anxious when traveling and requires medication, be sure to have a current prescription. Administer the medication at least once in advance to know how your pet reacts to it.

2. Ensure a happy reunion
In the event that you and your pet are separated, confirm that they have a properly fitted collar and tag with your current contact information.

Also check that their microchip information is up to date, and that you have a recent photo of yourself with your pet to help prove ownership.

3. Be medically prepared
Obtain vaccination and medical records from your veterinarian. Write down any care or medical instructions as well, and seal this information in a plastic bag with the medications they take.

4. Secure your yard
Walk around your yard to ensure that your fence is secure and there are no weak spots that your pet could escape through if they get spooked. If they wear a tether or use a leash to go outside, test it to confirm it won’t break when pulled.

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

Never evacuate without your pet.

5. Build an emergency kit
Save this disaster checklist to make sure your pet has everything they need before leaving home in an emergency.

Pack the items in a sturdy backpack or duffel bag and have a secure travel carrier in good shape ready to place in the car. Ensure that it fits in advance if you have a large animal.

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Follow Houston SPCA on Twitter and set notification for real-time updates in the event of a local disaster.

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