Category Archives: Dallas

Spain trip with Events & Adventures

World Travel with Events & Adventures

The only way to sum it up our visit to Spain is to say that Events & Adventures really does world travel well.  This wasn’t a trip where we were on a clock throughout the experience; there was a great mixture of planned tours and free time.  We started our adventure at JFK in New York, getting some quick introductions to the over 40 people who were taking part in the trip.  And believe it or not, someone was sweet enough to bring everyone homemade cookies!

world travel to spain

Events & Adventures members from around the US and Canada visited Spain!

After landing in Madrid, we got to stretch our legs with a quick tour of some of the city’s most famous sights, before taking a break to enjoy a welcome lunch that offered a staggering amount of delicious traditional Spanish cuisine.  Our first full day started with a tour for the presidential palace, which was spectacular.  We then journeyed to the ancient city of Toledo, which is thousands of years old, and got the chance to get lost in the labyrinth of tiny streets that wind around the historic town.  Dinner was a casual five-course party with several small plates (tapas) before our entrees. We learned the hard way we would have to pace ourselves with the food here because they just keep bringing it out!

We headed to towns ancient towns of Avila and Segovia. The Roman aqueducts are still soaring over the town.  How can the residents just go on about their day when they have such spectacular history all around them?!   After we returned to Madrid we refreshed ourselves and headed out to a popular bar area for a Tapas crawl.  The bars here are more like pubs, not clubs—because those open way later.  Each bar we tried different luscious small dishes, and we loved how everyone shares!

We packed up from Madrid and headed to Bunol, where the residents were preparing for the Tomatina Festival the very next day.  It was such a cute little town. We spent our afternoon and evening touring and eating in this historical city by the sea.  The next morning was the beginning of the adventure that is the world famous Tomatina Festival—probably the world’s largest annual food fight.  Security was tight.  To make sure no one got hit with anything other than tomatoes we couldn’t bring anything in.  Twenty thousand people packed the long narrow streets before the dump trucks just started unloading as they drove down the street, and at the starting pistol—it was pure madness.  Goggles were the best idea ever—as long as you kept them on!  It was so exciting, and everyone was there for the fun of it, not to kill other with these little red bombs.  As much as we laughed, it was best to keep your mouth closed though!  After the ending pistol the fire department and locals brought out hoses to wash everyone off.  There is nothing like experiencing world travel by being involved in the local culture.  Getting smashed tomatoes out of hair proved to be the most challenging part of the whole trip.  Even playing in the warm and relaxing Mediterranean Sea didn’t get it out.

world travel to spain

Barcelona was the final hotel location for our world travel to Spain.

We took a tour of what is probably one of the biggest promenades you’ll ever see, and thousands of people were out for an evening stroll.  The shopping, food, bars, and views of the Gothic neighborhood were everything you’d expect it to be.  Small lanes that are no wider than one car have little bars and restaurants around each turn, with people spilling out into the lanes.

It wasn’t long before we got to witness La Sagrada Familia, one of the most incredible cathedrals in the world—and they are still building it!  Every tiny detail has a meaning, and the colors the stained glass creates and projects into the building are breathtaking.  Designed by several architects, the most influential being Gaudi, it has different styles in throughout the construction.  Afterwards, we had an amazing tour of Park Guell.  It was the original planned neighborhood.  At the time it was too far out of town and too expensive but for a handful of the super elite. Gaudi’s influence could be felt everywhere we went, and he managed to translate beauty even in the unusual, as everything he produced appeared to be curved and wavy.  His mosaics were everywhere and they were beautiful, even the monochromatic ones.  World travel can expose you to so many wonderful things you might have otherwise never seen.

Monserrat Benedictine monastery is a historical and religious jewel. Hidden up, up, way up in the mountains, disguised by the hills, how’d they build this gorgeous place?  There are still monks there and a school for boys!  So after our tram trip to the ‘top’ of the mountain (there’s a small chapel and alter up even higher if your legs can get you there), we went to the coolest place ever for another never-ending lunch—a traditional hacienda (ranch house) that was turned into a restaurant.  We learned the traditional Spanish way to drink wine and had never ending courses of family-style food (again).  People were stuffed before they brought out the chicken, traditional sausage (which tasted like Texas BBQ!), and meats.  We HAD to get to the winery so dessert was taken to go—Biscotti-like biscuits and fresh fruit!

Speaking of wine….  We had a tour of the most amazing winery I’ve ever seen, and I live in Northern California.  This was not a regular winery; it was a huge commercial business that makes great wine.  It was simply amazing.  The tram we rode had headset options for six languages, though we didn’t use them since it was a private tour.  Stories of the wineries founding and growth were projected on walls that lifted up so we could see the barrel storage.  We got to walk down the original storage cellars below ground. They told and showed us how they produce spectacular “healthy” wines that don’t harm the environment.  Using solar power the facility is almost entirely self-sustained!  Everyone was impressed before we even started the tasting and got to try four different delicious wines.  I imagine the wine drinkers were ready to move in.

Our last day of this world travel tour was spent visiting the ancient cities of Figueras and Girona.  Girona is a medieval city with narrow streets, castles and ramparts.  Figueras is another historical city that is such for a different reason—Salvador Dali.  The museum made of his birthplace was a trip in the madness of a truly brilliant artist.  The amount of art in so many different mediums was staggering.  Our farewell dinner was a little different since it was in the Catalonian style.  Less meat, meat, meat, more little flourishes on the dishes, but still way too much food.

The trip and tours were truly awesome, but getting to see people from the other E&A Clubs was like gathering of old friends while making new ones.  There were so many people I wanted to spend more time with but the time slipped away so fast. We’ll stay friends through social media until we meet again on our next world travel trip, maybe even on an in-between trip to visit friends!  We talked about the Amazon trip next month and Cuba and China trips already scheduled for next year.  I can’t wait to join my Events & Adventures world travel friends in our next exotic destination.

world travel to spain

trapeze adventure with Events & Adventures

Events & Adventures Dallas Pushes the Limit with Trapeze Classes

The other night Events & Adventures Dallas attended trapeze classes, and it was an amazing adrenaline rush! We started off with introductions, and all of us couldn’t help but notice the trapeze bars that rose 50 feet into the air.  Some of the members who’d already taken trapeze classes with the club talked about how after a couple of times the adrenaline wears off and you start to really enjoy yourself, which helped get the rest of us excited.

Donovan and his crew at Skyline Trapeze covered some ground rules and commands for jumping so that we knew how to proceed once we climbed the ladder to the trapeze swing.  Josh, one of the members who previously attended trapeze classes with Events & Adventures, was the first to take to the trapeze and inspired us all with his moves.  He swung while hanging by his feet, then again with his hands and finally, he finished off with a back flip! We were all very impressed.

We all got at least one jump in. The instructors began our trapeze classes with an introduction to silk, hanging, spinning upside-down, and posing.  As the night went on we all learned how to conquer the trapeze tricks that Josh showed off during first flight of the night!

The most amazing trick of the night was THE CATCH.  Those who mastered the swing by their feet were able to be caught by an instructor on the other swing. At the end of the night, everyone was having a great time and wanted to see the event on the calendar more. Several members signed up for two more classes for the price of one (a deal only offered to Events & Adventures members). Some of us may have contemplated running away and joining the circus because of how amazing the trapeze classes were.  All in all it was a great night. Some new friendships were made while swinging 50 feet in the air, and we can’t wait to it all over again!

Shooting pool with Events & Adventures Dallas

A Billiards Night to Remember with Events & Adventures Dallas

Billiards night with Events & Adventures is always a hit.  Despite the pouring rain, over 20 members came out to play and several tables were reserved for our group.  The atmosphere was as friendly as always, and the more experienced members made sure to immediately bring new members into the fold and broke the ice.

As we played, we began to realize that we had a lot in common, including not being the best at billiards!  As each of us took a shot, the other gave tips and encouragement.   As we all mingled and discovered shared interests, eventually we were talking more than we were playing.  It didn’t matter how well or poorly we shot, everyone was supportive and had a great attitude.  We ended up playing doubles for most of the night and we all made some great new friends in the process.

All of us were glad we decided to go even with the bad weather because we had a great time and met great people.  We had the event at Rack Daddy’s; it had a full service bar and many TVs where we watched playoff hockey and basketball in between playing billiards. We can’t wait for this to come up on the calendar of events again!  Whether it’s just some friendly competition in town or something more exotic, Events & Adventures always has the cure for boring.

Fun ziplining event with Events & Adventures Dallas

The Dallas Club Goes Zip-Lining

Last Weekend the Houston and Dallas Events & Adventures clubs got together and spent the weekend zip-lining and horseback riding in Nacogdoches. We stayed at the Zip Inn, and we could hear the zip liners flying from the moment we arrived. The lines were so close to our lodge that we could yell to the riders from our lawn chairs as they flew past us.

We spent the first night hanging out around the camp fire, and we learned a little about each other. Then early Saturday morning we feasted on a full breakfast that our members helped make, and then we were off.

It was a cool morning so the good people at Rose Lake Ranch let us borrow scarves. We broke up into two groups. After the first group mounted up and headed out, those of us who stayed at the ranch met the locals, who mostly consisted of llamas, foals, potbellied piglets, goats, deer, chickens and all kinds of rabbits.

When the first group got back the rest of us got our turn on the horses. We went up and down hills, through the woods and if you were lucky (or unlucky depending on your terrain preference) through the creeks. The land was gorgeous and it was a unique experience—we didn’t have to follow the trail thanks to our guides, and truly got to experience nature on horseback.

After a great barbecue lunch we headed to the zip line course. We had an awesome time zip-lining through the trees. The guides were great; they made sure we were safe and but also let us stretch our wings and get adventurous. Our group had a great time both teasing and encouraging each other. Some were daredevils and others were afraid to leave the platforms, but we all helped each other out and made sure that all of us had fun.

After dinner was over and the sun set, many of us decided to try the nighttime glow-in-the-dark zip-lining. The platforms had rope lights and everyone wore glow in the dark necklaces so the guides could catch them. It was a less intimidating option for those who were afraid of heights (since you couldn’t see the ground). We spent the rest of the night by the fire with s’mores and popcorn, enjoyed each other’s company and looked back on all the amazing memories we’d made as members of Events & Adventures Houston and Dallas!

Fun singles group events with Events & Adventures Dallas

Bowling, Fun and Friends with Events & Adventures Dallas

Events & Adventures Dallas spent a night out at the bowling alley, and while you might think that bowling wouldn’t be interesting enough to be a highlight of the weekend, it was a fantastic evening!  We had several new members come out for their very first event and it was a perfect place for them to socialize and be brought into the group.  We had close to 40 people attending and everyone was fun, pleasant, and spent time in between the game getting to know new members. The atmosphere was very inviting and no one felt left out.

Bowling is just one of those things that never gets old.  Even the few of us that weren’t too skilled at bowling were having a great time, and we were even able to sneak in a few strikes here and there.  Everyone was laughing, high fiving, and cheering on our fellow members making it a great atmosphere.  We were out bowling for about two hours, and some of our members say that the cheap drinks at the alley’s bar helped them get higher scores—but don’t hold them to that!

After the game a bunch of us decided we weren’t ready to call it a night, so we went to celebrate our wins (or drown our losses) with a few cold ones.  About 20 of us headed over to a local bar, and several of them were new members who already felt comfortable enough to hang out with the rest of us.  Everyone had a great time, and this is just one of the many great events Events & Adventures Dallas sets up for us every month. We’ll be doing it again soon!

Poker Night with Events & Adventures Dallas

A Poker Night in Dallas for All Types of Players

Events & Adventures Dallas had a blast at Poker Night! Shortly after arriving, we hung out for a bit and had a quick bite to eat before the game finally started. The event was held at Trinity Hall, and the venue had bunch of great beer on tap, as well as authentic Irish and British food like fish and chips and Sheppard’s pie. Lots of members showed up, and between all of us we had to set up a couple of tables. We had a great mix of men and women, and a lot of friendly and fun people showed up to play.

We learned very quickly who really knew how to play and who was still learning their way around the poker table. We weren’t too hard on the newbies; in fact, some of us took some time to help struggling players figure out the game. It was a great event because we had the opportunity to sit down and learn more about other members in an atmosphere that made conversation come easy. Our group had a great time talking about everything from food and drinks, to how their week went. Many of us took the opportunity to try new types of beer with the encouragement of other members who were more familiar with the unique kinds of drinks offered at the bar.

Only two women from our group of club members advanced to the championship round, but many others stuck around to play on the secondary tables just for fun, or hung out and watched others play. One of our ladies even came in third at the championship table and won a gift card!

One of the best things about Events and Adventures is that we all get the chance to experience new things in a very positive and friendly environment. In fact, most of us had no idea that Trinity Hall even had poker on Mondays! A couple of us liked it so much we’re going back again together, just as a group of new friends. We’d have never known anything about this great event if it weren’t for Events & Adventures Dallas.

Cassie & Her Husband - Meet your future at Events & Adventures

Find More Than a First Date, Find a Lifelong Connection

We’re so happy to share the real life success story of Events & Adventures member Cassie. Here it is in her own words.

“Knowing that I was dead set against dating online, a friend of mine recommended that I try Events & Adventures. After just a few events, I met friends that I knew I’d have for life. Everyone in the group was so unique and all had such kind spirits, so I knew I was in the right place to meet a loving man. From March to August I went to events sporadically and then there he was! I was so intrigued when I met and spoke with him, but at the time I was convinced that liked a friend and fellow club member of ours, so I played match maker and invited him to church for her. He came multiple weeks in a row, but never made a move on my friend or myself.

Finally, after a month or so he admitted he liked me and we went on our first date. We were sure right off the bat that we were made for each other, and if it weren’t for Events & Adventures we may have never met! I highly recommend joining E&A to not only gain a huge amount of friends, but to potentially meet the love of your life as I have. We were married six months later and the rest is history! I also want to say thank you to the hosts at each event for making it comfortable for the newbies! Without you some people may never introduce themselves to a single soul. Good luck to all who join!” ~ Cassie M.

Events and Adventures Dallas Singles Poker Crawl!

Singles Poker Crawl with Events & Adventures Dallas
FW Sundance Square Poker Crawl3

Events and Adventures Dallas Poker Crawl

A poker run on a motorcycle has 5 stops where everyone gets a card to make a poker hand. A pub crawl is on foot and hits several bars. Mix them together with a group of singles and you get an Events and Adventures poker crawl! We don’t have as many people with motorcycles as with feet, so we hit Sundance Square on Saturday night. We were ready to play a game of poker and check out some of the local pubs. We started with appetizers and our first card. You really have no idea how things are going to until the third card. Then you know if you are in it or just there for the pub crawl the rest of the night. We hit some really cool places. Really nice and even a dive bar. How many people can you fit in an elevator? By our 5th stop everyone was impatient to get their card to see if they could make a hand or draw. Whew! So we all know most people cheat and trade cards right? Hmmm . .Who has the worst hand? The best hand? High card draw wins! Congrats Tanya, your very first event and you won!   FW Sundance Square Poker Crawl4

Events and Adventures Dallas Tackles Lil Ninjas Obstacle Course!

obstacle course

We checked out Lil Ninjas obstacle course and dodgeball Saturday night. This place was technically built for kids, but it was a blast! Some of the more advanced elements of this obstacle course were hard- and impossible for many!  We were the guinea pigs for glow in the dark dodgeball. Those balls never seem to stay glowing so they are changing it to black light. We wore glow necklaces and laughed about the walls attacking us when we were certain weren’t anywhere near them. A few of us made it across the unstable ladder. I was surprised I was the first! Gotta be smarter than the ropes. J The curved wall was a dream for most but a few made it up there! Since it was just us and not open to kids we were allowed us to bring beverages of intellect which made everything even funnier.  Those that didn’t want to play just came and cheered and jeered those that accepted the challenge. It was a great change from the weekend bar scene. Don’t get me wrong, I love the dancing and parties we have but it was something new, unusual and totally fun!

Trying Out Foot Golf With Events and Adventures Dallas!

Dallas Singles playing Foot Golf

I’m a big soccer fan. I watch, I play, all of it. So when I heard there is a new sport that is soccer based I was in! We played Foot Golf for the first time. I’d never even heard of it. It’s like golf but with soccer balls. We arrived at the golf course and everyone paid a nominal fee to get on the course. We had our own soccer balls (or you could rent them) got out score cards and headed to out T’s. We had 3 groups of 6. We teed off from the ladies line and aimed for the green. This a LOT harder than I thought it would be. In soccer we have to get it to another person or in the general direction of the goal. On the golf course it was way easier to aim way off from our target. Getting it into the 3 foot diameter hole was a hard!  We laughed and talked a little trash as to how everyone’s aim was at the beginning. Towards the end we were all aiming better (some better than others!) When all the groups gathered after out game we went out to recharge and decided we really like this new sport of Foot Golf!