Globe Trotting

DFW World Affairs Council takes travelers on unforgettable adventures around the globe

To reiterate its mission of promoting international awareness and understanding, the World Affairs Council of Dallas-Fort Worth started a travel program in 2012 with a weekend trip to Guanajauto, Mexico. This past January, WAC upped its travel game with extended trips, starting with an eight-day excursion to Cuba.

“The Cuba trip was one of the top items on my bucket list,” says Anne Buckley, a Dallas resident and traveler on WAC’s first extended trip. “It was a rich, exciting and meaningful experience.”

In addition to the traditional tourist stops, WAC trips include lectures from experts in the fields of diplomacy, journalism or academia, which vary depending on the country and city. The experience is built around understanding the culture on all levels, from politics to daily life.

The DFW World Affairs Council travel experience is built around understanding the country's culture on all levels, from politics to daily life.

In Cuba, the travelers journeyed with Havana-based guide Steve Hart and met two representatives from the Dallas WAC office.

“Never did I feel uncomfortable,” Buckley says. “I was amazed at the way they squired us around the country. It was always gracious and fun.”

Buckley says her favorite part of the trip was visiting the Cuban countryside and the historic site of the Bay of Pigs invasion.

“Being a part of that landscape and understanding the beauty as well as the amazing adaptations the Cuban people have had to make in order to survive was a valuable understanding I gained from that exposure,” she says.

The key part of the trip, she says, was meeting different people who shared their stories and experiences. “One would be well-served to pack energy, enthusiasm and curiosity on this adventure,” she adds.

For those with enthusiasm and curiosity at the ready, WAC has a line of upcoming trips, including visits to France, Morocco and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The Myanmar trip, scheduled for November 1-12, promises a unique opportunity to explore this mysterious and mystical landscape, where travelers can explore the magnificent examples of the civilizations that have ruled this Asian nation.

WAC participants will visit the traditional tourist sites as well as meet residents, artisans and other people who have a deep understanding of Myanmar's assets and challenges. Among those individuals is Thant Myint-U, a historian, writer and grandson of United Nations leader U Thant. Stops include Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan.

The price for the Myanmar trip is $4,600 double occupancy; add $1,120 for single. The trip includes stays in four-star hotels, a local and bilingual tour guide, and in-country travel. (Travel from the U.S. to the destination county is not included.) Most meals also are included, except for a few dinners, which allow people to explore the city during free time.

To sign up, contact programs manager Jocelyn Lancaster at jlancaster@dfwworld.org or email travel@dfwworld.org. The deadline for the Myanmar trip is August 16.

The WAC trips are designed to build an understanding of the culture on all levels, from politics to daily life.

Photo courtesy of Jocelyn Lancaster

The WAC trips are designed to build an understanding of the culture on all levels, from politics to daily life.

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Best of the South

Southern Living lauds Hill Country hotspot among best towns in the South

Photo by Steve Rawls

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The famous German Hill Country town of Fredericksburg is getting the spotlight as a must-visit destination in Southern Living's 2026 South's Best Awards.

Fredericksburg claimed the coveted No. 3 spot in the publication's ranking of the Best Small Towns in the South.

The annual awards are determined through third-party online surveys of Southern Living consumers from July 9 to September 9, 2025. Over 17,000 respondents rated their favorite places across the South, the report said.

The top two best small Southern towns were St. Augustine, Florida (No. 1), and St. Simons Island/Golden Isles, Georgia (No. 2).

Specifically, Southern Living gave a nod to Fredericksburg's growth and the recent addition of The Albert Hotel, which opened in 2025. The Albert Hotel was ranked the 10th best new hotel in 2026.

"The city’s premier full-service luxury hotel revives a cluster of 19th-century landmarks, from a historic saloon to a former pharmacy that is now a cafe, deli, and artisan market," the report said. "Alongside the 105 minimalist guest rooms, a holistic spa and a limestone pool provide moments of quiet relaxation."

We all need a relaxing day poolside at the Albert Hotel pool oasis.Photo by Chase Daniels

As the Fredericksburg area grows, Southern Living said, it still maintains its cozy, small-town feel.

"Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals," Southern Living wrote. "Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside."

It's no wonder Southern Living decided to locate its 2026 Idea House there.

Popular events like the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival and locally focused programs like the Texas Hill Country Wineries wine passports draw in crowds from all parts of Texas. The town is about a five-hour drive from downtown Dallas, which makes it a great weekend or spring break escape. North Texas travelers might even spot small patches of bluebonnets during their road trip through the Hill Country.

No matter which route you take, travelers should make a pit stop through another small Texas town called Marble Falls, which is home to one of Southern Living's most legendary Southern restaurants: Blue Bonnet Cafe. According to the report, its longstanding staff members embody the idea of "southern hospitality" every day.

"There’s one real reason the Blue Bonnet Cafe is so widely respected: The folks who run the place have been holding this small-town diner to high standards for years," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe opened in 1929 and was later bought by the Kemper family in 1981, who still own and operate it today. Southern Living recommends ordering one of the blue plate specials, and a slice of pie is a mandatory treat.

"With 15 options — from luxuriously creamy to bright and fruity — you’re guaranteed to find one you’ll love," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas Ordering a slice of pie is a requirement, not a suggestion.Blue Bonnet Cafe - Marble Falls, TX/Facebook

The only other Texas destination to earn recognition in Southern Living's annual awards was the iconic Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was crowned the best barbecue joint in Texas by the publication's readers.

"Fans from around the world queue up for hours to experience the craftsmanship that has made Franklin a barbecue celebrity," the report said. "Flawless prime-grade brisket with a sweet, tangy glaze is still the showstopper here, and it’s accompanied by the quintessential Central Texas lineup of pork ribs, turkey, and jalapeño-Cheddar sausage."

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