• My husband, my teenage son, and his girlfriend visited Chili's on a Friday night for dinner.
• Our teenage dining companions love Chili's and our food wasn't bad, but I'm not sure I get the hype.
• The $100 meal seemed reasonably priced, but Chili's definitely isn't my favorite chain restaurant.

On one of my teenage son's first dates with his girlfriend, they went to Chili's.

As a food writer, I was curious about the choice. I wouldn't classify the major chain as an ideal date-night destination, but it's clear they may have been inspired by TikTok.

Chili's is a hit with Gen Z on the social-media platform, which is brimming with videos of people around their age eating mozzarella sticks with impressive cheese pulls and burgers loaded with toppings.

A few months later, it was my son's requested birthday dinner, so my husband and I accompanied him and his girlfriend to our local Chili's on a Friday night.

The place was hopping, with a 30-minute wait for a table and loud groups of diners sipping colorful, fish-bowl-sized margaritas as they waited for their meals.

It felt like the hottest spot in town, but I found the food underwhelming. Always willing to give a restaurant a second chance, our same group returned to that Chili's on another Friday night a few weeks later.

Here's what I thought of my second try at understanding Chili's popularity with younger customers.

Although Chili's was once again crowded, we didn't have to wait for a table.

Unsurprisingly, Chili's was just as crowded around 6 p.m. on a Friday as it was the last time we visited. This time, though, there was no wait to be seated.

Within seconds of walking in the doors, we were at a table looking over the Chili's menu.

The Chili's menu really covers all the bases.

Truly, I find the menu at Chili's a little all over the place, with a variety of cuisines and options that almost feels overwhelming.

Things I'd expect to be on a neighborhood-grill-style menu are there, like burgers and chicken tenders, but there's also seafood, salads, quesadillas, steaks, and pasta dishes.

The drink menu feels pretty extensive with lots of colorful cocktails, themed margaritas, and beers.

Still, although it seems to me that Chili's is trying a little too hard to be everything to everyone, the crowd size during our visit indicates the chain's doing something right.

We started with a free appetizer that I earned through Chili's rewards program.

We're signed up for the Chili's My Rewards loyalty program, which costs nothing to join and includes perks like a free birthday dessert and special savings offers throughout the year.

My Rewards member can choose between a free non-alcoholic beverage or free chips and salsa at each visit. We chose the latter

The appetizer at Chili's is usually around $7, so it's a nice freebie to split across the table while waiting for entrees. It wasn't bad or super memorable.

While we snacked on our chips and salsa, we ordered a round of drinks — sodas ($3 each) for my son, his girlfriend, and I, and an $8 beer for my husband.

After we ordered, I spent some time observing the crowded restaurant.

The restaurant was only getting busier by the time we'd ordered our meals.

I was surprised by the mix of clientele, from young women in their 20s who were dressed for a Friday night out to families with little kids to elderly patrons dining together in groups.

On a trip to the bathroom, I spotted lots of brightly-colored, giant-sized margaritas, too — a true sign you've landed at a Chili's.

My son ordered what seems to be Chili's most TikTok-ed dish.

TikTok loves the Chili's Triple Dipper. The dish has thousands of posts with millions of views on the platform, and people seem to love ordering it for its customizability.

It's meant to be an appetizer, but it contains enough food for a person to order as their meal. It consists of a pick-your-own selection of any three appetizers from the menu.

Earlier that day, my son was already anticipating his Triple Dipper, telling my husband he was "so hyped" to order one that night.

His choice of appetizers in the $18 platter? Big Mouth Bites cheeseburger sliders, fried mozzarella, and fries.

Although he loved everything in his Triple Dipper, he said he'd skip the fries next time since they cost less and aren't as filling as other appetizer options.

To get the most value for his money and add protein to the meal, he'd keep the sliders and mozzarella sticks but add chicken tenders as his third item.

Chili's has really, really good chicken tenders.

My son's girlfriend chose a $15 platter with four Chicken Crisper chicken tenders, fries, and white-cheddar macaroni and cheese.

She enjoyed the meal, and since that's exactly what I ordered the last time I visited Chili's, I knew how delicious it was firsthand.

I'll give Chili's this: The chain serves really well-battered, crispy chicken tenders — probably some of my favorites from a chain restaurant.

Diners can also customize their tenders by having them tossed in sauces like honey chipotle or Nashville hot.

There are an impressive amount of options for dipping sauces to pair with them, too, from standards like honey mustard and ranch to unique-to-Chili's dips like Sweet Chili Zing and Buffalo Ranch.

My husband and I shared the most expensive item on the menu.

Out of curiosity — and because we're focusing on a low-gluten, high-protein diet — my husband and I ordered the most expensive dish on the Chili's menu to share.

Chili's Fajitas For Two comes with four meat portions (we chose two portions of steak, and one each of chicken and shrimp), rice, black beans, tortillas, and fixings like sour cream, cheese, and pico de gallo.

The $40 entree came out hot and sizzling, and the fajita meats and grilled bell peppers and onions were delicious. The roasted jalapeño on top was flavorful and spicy, a nice contrast to the cool sour cream and shredded cheese.

Overall, we liked our meal, but I'd feel better about spending my money on fajitas at one of the mom-and-pop Mexican restaurants in our town rather than a chain restaurant.

Our $100 meal felt reasonably priced, but I still don't get the Chili's hype.

Our meal, which cost just under $100 before tip, felt reasonably priced.

However, there are plenty of other spots (including other chains) where I'd prefer to spend the same amount on dinner for a Friday night out.

Both times I've eaten at Chili's, I felt the food was tasty enough, but not super memorable (aside from those yummy chicken tenders, of course).

I wish I could say I fully understand the Chili's hype, but it's still just not my favorite chain restaurant.

Still, Chili's is popular with teenagers these days, and I love getting to share a meal with my son and his girlfriend and just talk.

As parents of two teens, my husband and I are always trying to find little ways to understand what they enjoy, so if hitting a crowded Chili's on a Friday night and bonding over Triple Dippers and sizzling fajitas is what they want to do, we're only too happy to oblige.

• My teens have been going to Disney theme parks since they were small.
• However, they have little patience for long lines or crowds, and I often skip my favorite things.
• I spent a day alone at Disneyland and did everything they won't do, and it was perfect.

I've spent more than a decade visiting Disney World and Disneyland with my family, and when they were small, my kids were game for the hustle and bustle. Now that they're teenagers, visits to theme parks with them are rare, and when they do tag along, there's not much they're interested in doing.

Recently, I spent a day at Disneyland alone and, in the words of Rapunzel, had the "best day ever." I visited the park from early morning until late at night and did the things my kids would have complained about having to do if they'd been with me. It was a great reminder that grown-ups need to do "kid things" by themselves sometimes, and I can't wait to do it again.

I did everything my kids complain about doing when we visit

At Disneyland, I prioritized rides I love but that often have long lines, especially old dark-ride-style attractions like Pinocchio's Daring Journey and Snow White's Enchanted Wish. You can't use Lightning Lane, Disneyland's skip-the-line pass that costs extra, on these rides, so my kids are usually out.

I did use the Lightning Lane pass I purchased to ride other attractions my kids claim to be sick of, like It's A Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean. Experiencing these longtime favorites whine-free was magical.

My kids also complain about parade-viewing at Disney parks, since you usually need to find a spot along the route at least 30 minutes before the parade starts and sit still to keep your place. On the day I visited, Disneyland had two parades, The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade during the day and Paint the Night — an incredible lighted parade — at night. For both, I grabbed myself a treat, found a seat, and thoroughly enjoyed waving to characters like Duffy Bear and the Disney Princesses from my front-row vantage point.

The day reminded me that grown-ups need to let loose sometimes, too

There were other little things I found delightful during my day, from being able to try snacks my kids may have turned their noses up at, like a chicken pot pie-topped baked potato that's part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration menu, to standing in long lines to meet characters like Minnie Mouse. I rode more than 10 rides, met several characters, saw two parades and the evening fireworks show, and enjoyed yummy treats, like a mint julep and a green sugar-covered Gator Tail Churro.

I also faced a Disney fear — riding the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction (formerly Splash Mountain). I never liked the 50-foot drop at Splash Mountain, so I'd put off riding the new version. Because I was alone, I decided to be brave. The ride was incredibly beautiful and I would absolutely face the drop (and getting soaked) again to spend more time with Princess Tiana and her friends.

Doing things I love to do helped me recharge and unwind

My day acting like a kid at Disneyland was a much-needed break from the responsibilities of mom life. What's more, the following day, as I flew home, my husband had an emergency appendectomy, and I landed amid a bit of chaos. It just goes to show that it's important to take little moments for yourself when you can, so you're ready to jump when the inevitable stresses of life show up.

Recharged and armed with a bit of pixie dust, I arrived home from Disneyland ready to support my husband and kids during a stressful time. My husband joked that I already deserve another Disneyland trip since mine ended with his medical emergency. While he's on the mend and doing great now, I just may take him up on that one day.

• After many recommendations, I visited 30A and its highlights, like Seaside and Rosemary Beach.
• 30A feels like one of the best places to visit in Florida as it's beautiful and has variety.
• I enjoyed the pristine beaches and the different towns, which felt more luxurious than touristy.

On a weekend trip to Panama City Beach, a beach town in Florida's panhandle, I heard a recurring comment from the locals.

"Have you made it over to 30A yet?" said my Lyft driver. "You've got to — it's the up-and-coming spot around here."

While purchasing tickets for the Shell Island Ferry, the cashier said, "Do you have plans to go over to 30A?" When I said no, she insisted I return to the area for a trip because it's just so beautiful.

I live in a different Florida beach town that often gets inundated with spring breakers and summer beachgoers, so I couldn't decide if Panama City Beach locals were trying to run tourists out of town, or if they really meant what they said about 30A.

Eager to find out, I planned a trip to Florida's 30A area — a 24-mile stretch of beach between Destin and Panama City Beach that's been called "the Hamptons of the South."

Turns out, those locals were right. I think 30A is one of the best gems in Florida, and I liked it even more than Panama City Beach.

Panama City Beach is great for tourists, but 30A has a more luxury feel.

Panama City Beach reminds me of the beach towns I grew up visiting in the Northeast: lots of souvenir shops, a pier for walking and fishing, and more tourist attractions than one could squeeze in during a vacation.

There's lots of good food in PCB, including a crepe shop adored by reviewers on Yelp, but I'd say the general vibe of the area can best be described as "touristy beach town."

The landscape changes entirely when you drive just 15 or 20 minutes to 30A. High-rise hotel chains become private rental cottages, and souvenir shops give way to luxury shopping venues.

The overall vibe switches from a busy vacation spot to a place where you'd do beachfront yoga and sip freshly pressed juice before spending your day on a quiet, white-sand beach.

The beaches along 30A felt pristine.

The beaches alongside 30A communities like Rosemary Beach and Seaside are home to white sand and transparent blue water. They took my breath away.

To get onto most beaches in 30A, you need a wristband or beach tag — visitors can get these from whichever rental property they're occupying.

I think the beaches benefit from the lack of large nearby hotels and public access. With limited visitors, there's less of a strain on 30A's beaches, resulting in a beautiful setting that feels more intimate.

30A is also the best spot in the area to watch the sunset.

There are some spectacular sunsets along the Gulf of Mexico, and 30A is a great place to see them.

On my trip, I especially loved watching the sunset from Bud and Alley's, a Seaside restaurant with sweeping coastal views. Another evening, I watched the sun set from the beach and was equally blown away by the beauty around me.

It's easy to hop from town to town and explore 30A.

During my stay in 30A, I chose a rental property between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Fortunately, the area is very bikeable, with ample spacious sidewalks and bike lanes throughout. Lots of condos or hotels here come with bicycles, plus there are many rental companies in the area.

Often, I took a beach cruiser from my condo over to Rosemary Beach for coffee or a meal, or I'd bike down 30A and stop to explore each town.

Since I also had a rental car, I drove to some of the farther-away-from-me spots, like Seaside and Santa Rosa Beach. Parking felt easy to find, and the area was simple to navigate by car with my phone's GPS system.

I loved Seaside, which had the vibe of an upscale beach town.

My favorite spot in 30A was Seaside, a beach community where the movie "The Truman Show" was filmed.

It had beautiful beach houses, a small boardwalk area with shops and restaurants, as well as a collection of food trucks, and an outdoor amphitheater for concerts.

It felt relaxed and not too pretentious, but more upscale than Florida beach towns like Fort Lauderdale, Cocoa Beach, or Panama City Beach.

I loved exploring the area, and it's the spot along 30A where I saw the most families with children.

Visiting 30A's Alys Beach felt like stepping into the Mediterranean.

If Seaside is a family-friendly-but-upscale beach town, Alys Beach is on the opposite end of the luxury vacation spectrum.

This small community is filled with white-washed, stone vacation homes and Mediterranean-inspired architecture — it felt like a big resort.

In fact, there's nothing comparable to Alys Beach in Florida that I've seen. Because of its stunning homes and high-end feel, Alys Beach feels like one of the least-accessible-to-the-public areas in 30A.

I didn't spend much time here, especially because I saw so many residential streets with signs prohibiting the public from walking through or taking photos.

If you're interested in vacationing in a more private area of 30A, though, Alys Beach is worth taking a look at.

Visit Rosemary Beach if you want to feel like you're in a cute, European town.

Rosemary Beach has made its rounds on TikTok, going viral for its similarities to a little European town.

Its downtown area is lined with cobblestone streets full of shops and al-fresco eateries, and it has a hotel complete with spires that reminded me of something I'd see in the Swiss Alps.

I passed many street carts selling wares like scarves and fresh flowers, and homes with European-style architecture. The area also has beautiful private beaches, which can only be accessed with a key card.

There are plenty of unique, smaller beach communities to explore along 30A, too.

Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach are perhaps the most famous spots along 30A, but I was impressed with the lesser-known areas I visited, too, like Santa Rosa Beach.

You truly could make an entire day out of exploring the tiny towns and communities that make up this beautiful part of Florida.

30A is home to lots of nature, including state parks and coastal dune lakes.

In addition to beaches, shopping, and dining, 30A has lots of beautiful, natural landscapes to show off.

I stopped by Eden Gardens during my visit — a 163-acre state park home to sweeping gardens, a bayou, plenty of walking trails, and centuries-old oak trees.

The area also has a collection of coastal dune lakes, a rare saltwater and freshwater phenomenon that only exists in a few spots around the globe.

I can't wait to return to 30A, and think it's truly one of the most gorgeous destinations in Florida.

I've lived in Florida for nearly 10 years and call a small ocean beach town home.

As someone who's spent time on both the gulf and ocean side of the Sunshine State, I can say 30A is one of the most stunningly beautiful areas in all of Florida.

There's so much to see and do in the area, and it has a peaceful vibe I've rarely found in Florida beach towns.

I can't wait to return to 30A and think it's the perfect destination for everything from bachelorette parties to family vacations.

• To celebrate my 500th day sober, my husband and I went on an expedition cruise.
• Traveling sober used to be a bit of a struggle, but I realized it makes my vacations so much better.
• I remember more of my trip and feel more physically able to do everything I want to do.

It's been more than 520 days since I last had an alcoholic beverage. It feels like quite an accomplishment, considering in my pre-sobriety days, I'd been known to polish off an entire bottle of wine in one evening or skip my early-morning gym workout due to a hangover. Since I'd hit the legal drinking age, my vacations had been synonymous with cocktails by the pool and rosé on the patio, so one of my biggest worries in my early days of sobriety was what travel would look like when I wasn't drinking.

Soon after I stopped drinking alcohol, I traveled on an expedition cruise, whale-watching in Mexico through National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. I remember being thrilled for the experience, but also nervous about the all-inclusive alcohol on the ship.

Staying sober on vacation was easier than I thought, but it was a struggle to watch other passengers, including my husband, throw back a few glasses of wine at dinner or sip craft cocktails at the ship's bar.

I've often been told sobriety is a muscle, and the more you exercise it, the easier it gets to pass up booze. It's true: Since my first sober vacation, I've visited an all-inclusive resort in St. Vincent, stayed alcohol-free during a solo trip to London, and even faced my fears at some of my favorite Florida theme park Halloween events without liquid courage. So when my husband and I talked about taking a trip together to celebrate making it to 500 days sober — this time, an expedition cruise around Portugal's Azores islands — I didn't worry at all.

An expedition cruise felt like the perfect vacation for celebrating my sobriety wins

On our cruise around the Azores, we stopped at seven islands and spent our days hiking, walking, and exploring. We learned about Azorean history and culture, ate some incredible local dishes, saw breathtaking views, and hit lots of cafés and shops in quaint Azorean towns. In the evenings, we sat at communal dinner tables with other guests and had great conversations late into the night. The trip was unique and special, and being sober throughout every moment of it felt like the perfect way to enjoy it.

I'm more physically able to enjoy my travels

Expedition cruises are among the most physically demanding trips I've ever taken. Not only are there full days of hiking and walking around towns, but there are lots of stairs aboard the ship and activities like early-morning stretch classes. Most days begin with an early-morning wake-up call around 6 or 7 a.m., followed by a mad dash to get ready, eat breakfast, and disembark the ship for adventure.

Had I been staying up late drinking and waking up hungover, I'd never have enjoyed these activities as much as I did. What's more, I was overwhelmed with pride each time I succeeded at completing a difficult hike, since in my drinking days, my physical health wasn't as good as it is now.

I make more memories now

When I traveled and drank alcohol, there were always parts of my vacation that were a blur. Too many Aperol spritzes in Italy, and I can only remember a day we spent in Florence through photos. Bottles of wine poolside on a Caribbean cruise? There are blocks of that day I barely recall. Traveling sober has allowed me to remember more of my vacations, like when we were picked to sleep overnight in one of the heated igloos on our ship's upper deck.

Where I previously would have had several cocktails and fallen asleep, I'll now remember having a candle-lit sleepover with my husband in a glass igloo as we looked at the stars and watched movies on my iPad. In fact, all of my memories of the trip, from hiking to the top of a volcano to watching dolphins swim alongside our ship, are permanent fixtures in my booze-free brain.

Sobriety has only made travel better

Looking back at the expedition cruise we took last year, when I was only a few months sober, I wish I could tell that version of myself how much better travel would continue to get without alcohol. My biggest focus during travel used to be my next drink, and now I spend vacations breathing in the fresh ocean air, proving how strong my body is through hiking, and appreciating local cuisine, which tastes way better when not drowned in alcoholic drinks.

I'm more present, more relaxed, more energetic, and more ready to enjoy everything I do and see on my trip. Travel has only gotten better in more than 500 days of sobriety, and I've been able to enjoy every moment in every destination.