B2B Travel ~ Work and Wander

     I recently had to travel for work and figured I would take a bit of time to add in some wander to my travels.  While traveling for work is about being productive and functional there is no reason to miss out, go and explore the destination.  This is true now more than ever when “bleisure” and “townsizing” have become intrinsic with business travel. 

Work and wander go hand in hand when traveling to smaller towns, such as where our bed and breakfast is located and other small towns world wide.  Studies have found that taking breaks throughout the day can actually increase productivity in workers, which can be even more true for those who are traveling while working.  Why not add in that bit of wander to help boost energy and productivity?

The edge in boosting productivity starts with the location where you stay.  Local accommodations such as a boutique inn or bed and breakfast, will serve as your personal guide.   These hosts help you to make the best “wander” decisions in your day, so that wander time is used wisely and effectively. 

Wandering can help to reset your mind and body from being locked in a singular place for too long and increase blood flow to reactivate your mind for better results once back in that week's office.  Whether a stroll through a historic downtown or even walking to a local cafe for lunch these moments of movement improve your focus for the remainder of the day. 

Now that you have found the perfect place to stay and they are helping your to explore, embrace your work life balance with that bit of wander when traveling for business.  Take the time during the day to explore a little to get the lay of the land, or use innkeeper recommendations for authentic local experience. 

Work and wander is more than a new trend,  it’s a new way of approaching business travel.  By taking those short breaks to explore your temporary home, you’ll discover that the best part of the trip isn’t just the work you finish, but the world you find along the way.  

Travel Texas ~ Salado, TX

    

     Located in Central Texas, almost equal distance from Austin and Waco, lies the village of Salado, Texas.  In 1859 the Village was founded because the locals wanted to have access to a strong education, creating Salado College, located near a spring fed creek.  Between the creek and the college Salado found itself to be a viable settlement that has stood the test of time. 

The local downtown of the village boasts over 175 shops, dining and historical spots.  Antique shops, boutiques, and so much more entice visitors to spend time visiting the village and exploring the historical significance of this central Texas village.  Take a walking tour of the historic sites, and learn more about how the Village came about and take a step back into the past.

If you are looking for entertainment outside, the Tablerock Amphitheater is going to be the place you want to stop.  Music, plays, and so much more are scheduled to perform on stage under the stars.  But that’s not all, the amphitheater sits on 13 acres filled with trails for hiking and biking. A must do while visiting Salado.

If live music and theater are not what you are looking for Salado has a season of Annual events that happen throughout the year that include art, holidays and even golf.  Nine different annual events are scheduled for guests to enjoy and some cross over to multiple weekends such as their Christmas Stroll.  You might not want to miss the Scottish Games in November, travel back in time to see men in kilts, toss a caber, play drums and generally show off how strong they are for all to see.  

If you are looking for places to stay, look no further than The Yellow House Bed and Breakfast.  Located just outside of the village, Yellow House has a room for everyone.  With a main house, that has four rooms, two cottages and two guest houses to rent for parties of varying sizes.  Sara, your innkeeper, makes a homemade breakfast the morning of your stay that you will not want to miss.  Yellow House also does special events such as a charcuterie class, cookie decorating, and cooking demonstrations.  The chef kitchen is perfect for learning new techniques with friend and family.  

Of course there are other places to stay such as the Historic Stagecoach Inn and your standard hotel.  Take a break from the norm and step out to explore a new way to travel and stay with local accommodations.   On our last visit to Salado, we wandered the village and even stopped in for a local trivia night at Chupacabra, which had a great selection of beer and wine for patrons to partake while dining. 

Salado is a wonderful place to visit and you can spend any number of days in the village and still not see it all. Plan your stay and explore this little slice of Texas that is right off the interstate. You will not be disappointed with your visit.  

In the Garden ~ How Much Should you Plant

   

 

    It might seem early to start thinking about what and how much you want to grow in your garden this year but you might want to think about first how much you will need.  Right now is the perfect time to plant your onions, that will be ready for early spring.  But how many onions do you need to plant?  Of course if you do not like onions, then we can’t really be friends.  Just kidding! They do lend great flavor to dishes as a base so it might be time to rethink those onions.

For ease of simplicity we are going to use the base measurement of a family of four. For those who know my family, know that we are not a family of four but seven and four of those are teenage boys, which is sometimes like feeding two grown adults.  All this to say, take these numbers as a base and add in more of what you really like and maybe what you really want to eat.  Of course, how much space you have is also a contributing factor.  Are you only growing your garden in pots, then maybe you will have to ignore all these numbers.  If you have a good amount of space or friends willing to share and grow this will help guide for variety and fun.

Don’t forget that you can rotate items out as the weather changes. For example, those leafy greens and spinach will do very well during the cooler months, while tomatoes will not.  Rotate your choices to also add variety and diversification to your garden.  If you plan to preserve your items for use all year long, even better, that will stretch your garden into the winter months when you won’t be able to grow as much food.

I found a beneficial chart here: https://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/vegetables/getting-started/calculate-how-many-vegetables-to-plant/ They give a great breakdown of plants per person from one to four.  If this seems overwhelming, partner with neighbors or friends.  Do you grow tomatoes really well, volunteer to grow them all for everyone and see if they can handle all the zucchini and squash.  There are so many ways to grow your own food and be able to feed your family healthy, sustainable produce that won’t break the bank.  Of course each year you garden it gets easier.  As you learn more and figure out what works best for you and your garden, it becomes a source of pride and enjoyment.   

If you plan to preserve food you might need more space and more plants.  For example, you might need 5 tomato plants per person for a year's worth of tomato products, such as salsa, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.  Whereas, you will only need one squash plant per person, to provide an adequate amount of squash for a year.  Those cucumbers are a higher number as well, such as 6 to 9 plants total for fresh and pickled cucumbers to last a year.  Create variety in having multiple winter squash plants that will yield enough for a year.  Five different options are, acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and the like.  These all have a stronger outer layer that will store well in dry storage along with those potatoes, onions and garlic.

Do not be afraid to try something new to see how it works out.  If your goal is not to preserve food but to share with others keep those numbers high.  If you want to only grow enough for your family, I hope this helps to get you started.  Of course, it’s never too early or late to start your garden, so give it a try.  We hope to hear from you about all your growing success this year.  We will regularly post our wins and misses from our garden so be on the look out. 

B2B Travel ~ Beyond the Buffet: Why the Modern Executive Chooses the B&B

 Beyond the Buffet: Why the Modern Executive Chooses the B&B

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to trade in the sterile corridors of a chain hotel for the warmth of a bed and breakfast? For the modern corporate client, a B&B isn't just a quaint getaway—it's a high-performance tool designed for efficiency and wellness. Here is how a smaller, personalized stay can transform your next business trip. 

Morning sets the tone for your entire day.  The local Bed and Breakfast provides corporate clients with high performance fuel and strategy to start the day strong.  A custom made breakfast, not a generic buffet will start the morning off strong.  Bed and Breakfast innkeepers take into account all dietary needs when serving their guests.  This fresh, home cooked meal provides sustainable focus for guests throughout the day, which in turn will help increase productivity.  Beyond the food, the innkeeper will be your personalized concierge, where their local expertise will help navigate to and from meetings, or share the local gem for any off site meetings.  

By mid-day, the Bed and Breakfast becomes your private office.  Many offer dedicated work stations in the rooms or in another area of the building for overnight guests to use.  They will provide a strong Wi-Fi connection with ample power outlets.   A 200 room hotel will have many distractions, which will decrease productivity.  With a smaller guest capacity, the chance of disruptions greatly diminishes deep concentration and efficient task completion.  This efficiency will allow you to take part in “bleisure” activities, such as a stroll through the gardens or enjoying a good book.   

Evening hours, bring on the time for relaxation and resetting.  Retreat to a room that has all the comforts of a home away from home.  Many bed and breakfasts offer rooms that have specialty tubs or showers for deeper relaxing moments after a stressful day.  With the addition of inclusive extras, such as free parking and Wi-Fi and the possibility of streaming services, guests can relax with what they are comfortable with to really be able to reset for the day ahead.  The innkeeper can direct you to the best spots for dinner or they might even offer a happy hour or wine tasting for all guests in residence.  This organic networking is a chance to relax in an atmosphere with other professionals in a low-no pressure environment.  

Businesses are increasingly prioritizing sustainability and value. Many inns offer competitive corporate rates and separate invoicing, providing better value than "cookie-cutter" chains.  Corporate rates help to draw in week day travelers when the season might be slow, and allow business travelers a better way to travel.  Sustainability is growing in the industry and many bed and breakfasts are on the forefront of creating an environment that is overall healthier for guests.  From the detergent and cleaning products used to the ones offered for guests to utilize while in house.  Not to mention the ease and flexibility of accommodating check in and check out that might make changes at a moment's notice.  

Bed and Breakfast travel is no longer just for vacations.  The convenience of gourmet breakfast and a personal concierge to free amenities, many travelers are making the jump to smaller local inns.  Try out a bed and breakfast the next time you travel for work and see the difference that your stay makes. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Elderflower Smash

     

    Happy New Year, and welcome back to the Oaks Bed and Breakfast Herb Infused Cocktail series.  This year we hope to bring you some new and delicious cocktails that you can enjoy at home or with us, at one of our events.  With 2026, starting off strong we are hitting the ground running with a simple yet sip worthy cocktail. 

    We had a wonderful Holiday season and our cocktail was the hit of the party for several occasions and are welcoming new guests and events for this year, with another great round of seasonal cocktails to enjoy.  

First up is an Elderflower Smash.  Four simple ingredients pack a punch and this drink is definitely one you want to sip and savor throughout the evening. 

Elderflower Smash 

Single Serving

4 - 6 mint leaves

Juice of half a lemon

2 ounces Gin

1.5 Ounces St. Germain Elderflower liqueur

3 dashes of bitter

Add the mint and lemon juice to a shaker cup and muddle to meld the flavors together.  Once muddled, pour in the Gin, St. Germain, and bitters.  Fill shaker cup with ice.  Shake until the outside of the cup is very cold.  Pour into an ice filled glass.  Garnish with a slice of lemon and or fresh mint.

This drink is so very easy to make and just as easy to sip on while drinking.  Enjoy this drink with a delicious meal with friends around the fire pit.  These cooler evenings make for a wonderful atmosphere for friends to join together and make memories.

As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!

B2B Travel ~ Why a Bed and Breakfast is a Strategic Choice for your Next Business Trip

 Know Before you Go: Why a Bed and Breakfast is a Strategic Choice for your Next Business Trip

When traveling for business professionals often find themselves choosing between two extremes clinical convenience and overpriced luxury.  A third option exists that perfectly melds high end luxury and the comforts of home.  By booking your stay at the local Bed and Breakfast, your experience can be customized to your dietary preferences, be given local expertise and provide unique value that a cookie cutter hotel simply cannot replicate.  

To ensure your next trip is productive and enjoyable here are four key questions that emphasize why a Bed and Breakfast is the superior choice for a business traveler:

1. Can you accommodate my specific dietary preferences at breakfast?  

Unlike a hotel that caters to the masses with a generic continental breakfast, your innkeeper at a Bed and Breakfast will be more than happy to tailor your experience and take into consideration your allergies or preferences.  The best part will be that everything will be ready when you are,  many innkeepers will adjust serving times to allow you to make the meetings you have planned.  

2. What are  your local  “hidden gems” for client dinners or downtime?  

The concierge desk at hotel chains usually will point you to the most touristy chains, that give none of the local feel.  While the innkeeper is part of the community and will share all the local expertise of the best restaurants for business dinners and local landmarks.    Be sure to take into consideration their suggestions for the most authentic visit, and see the glass bathrooms or the larger than life sized cows in the area you will be visiting.

3. What unique history or personality does this property have? 

Many hotels are modern builds on the side of the interstate with little to no personality not to mention the sound from the road traffic.  While many Bed and Breakfasts have a rich history just waiting to be explored.  Many properties have been meticulously restored to their former beauty and provide visitors with a sense of place and calm from the otherwise high-stakes business trip. 

4. What extra are included in my stay beyond the room?  

The “nickel and dimeing” of corporate hotels is a major frustration for many business travelers.  White at many Bed and Breakfast’, they provide value-added perks such as; free high-speed Wi-Fi, free parking or complimentary refreshments.  Beyond the logistics, the cozy common area can provide space for you to catch up on emails or explore a good book.  While providing that small business vibe that feels more inviting and professional than a crowded hotel lobby.  

Regardless of the duration of your trip, your choice of accommodations dictates the productivity and well-being.   This year make the trade from a sterile hotel to a Bed and Breakfast. Discover the character and personalized service that local hospitality can make on your professional journey.