Welcome to Miles and Smiles of Texas

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There’s no shortage of travel blogs offering bucket-list destinations, luxury resorts, or perfectly curated itineraries.

That’s not really us.

We started Miles and Smiles of Texas around a simpler idea: that meaningful adventure doesn’t have to be far away, expensive, or complicated.

Sometimes it can be a day trip down a back road.

Sometimes it can be a weekend in a small Texas town you’ve driven past but never explored.

And sometimes it can be as simple as deciding on Thursday night to go somewhere Saturday morning.

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Along the way, we started joking about something we now call the 3-3-3 Rule:

• Under 3 hours driving
• Under $300
• Under 30 minutes to plan

It’s not a law. It’s a lens.

A way of reminding ourselves that adventure can be doable.

That spontaneity doesn’t have to be reckless.

That ordinary people with ordinary budgets can still make memories.

And if we occasionally break the rule? Well…that may become part of the fun too.

Because some places are worth stretching for.

This blog will track those adventures—mostly across Texas, occasionally beyond—with a format we hope feels practical, honest, and personal.

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Here’s what you can expect in each post

Lonnie’s Take

One traveler’s reflections on the destination, the quirks, the surprises, and what made the trip memorable.

Dawn’s Take

Because two people can experience the same place differently—and that’s half the fun.

What Worked (and What Didn’t)

The honest part. Not every stop is magical. Not every plan goes smoothly. We’ll tell you both.

The 3-3-3 Scorecard

Did the trip fit the rule? Bend it? Break it? And was it worth doing anyway?

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We’re not luxury travelers.

We’re not influencers.

We’re just a couple looking for beauty, barbecue, backroads, and small adventures close enough to reach by Friday night.

If some of these trips help you discover a getaway of your own, that’s even better.

And if a few wrong turns, diner stops, or unexpected detours become part of the story—well, those may end up being the smiles in Miles and Smiles.

Adventure number one is already on the tracks.

First stop: East Texas.

—Lonnie and Dawn King