I%26#39;m contemplating a trip next spring to the Hill
Country and wondering when the wildflowers start
to bloom. March? Apri? Can I expect March to
be rather dreay yet as photos show barren trees.
When does it start to green up?
April is probably your better bet, though it does start greening up and blooming in mid-to-late March. It really varies depending on how cold it is and how much rain we get in the winter.
I have been to Houston before but have never stayed in these areas. We are headed there for a long weekend and I would like to know any info on these areas. We don%26#39;t have a problem driving to places we%26#39;d like to go - we%26#39;d just like to be in a good area of the city.
Greenspoint is not the best area. Energy Corridor is nicer but way out I-10W.
For a more central area, try the Hyatt Galleria or Hyatt Downtown (on Louisiana) location.
Thanks, I%26#39;ll check those out.
Unless you have a good reason to be stay in either area, I%26#39;d suggest you consider either the Galleria (West I 610) area or Central Houston. Both of these will offer better options, reduce driving and probably offer better quality and value hotels.
I guess the question is where do you want to go in Houston? Will you have a rental car? It sounds like you found some good deals with the two hotels - if so - make sure the transport / time etc. will not be more. So once you decide where in Houston you want to visit we can give more info.
anyone know the best dog friendly hotel near reliant areana?
Sorry I am of no help. I am sure the other ppl in Houston will inform you.
thanks, i got a room at the marriott medical center and it says they take dogs but from the pictures i am afraid of showing up and being rejected. my problem is i need a hotel taking dogs but sometimes they are little sketchy.
Hi,
Has anybody experienced the American Girl Store and Bistro at the Dallas Galleria? I am wondering if dinner is worth it and if the shopping experience is easy to buy my daughter a doll.
Thank you
It depends on how old your daughter is as to whether or not it is ';worth it';. I do know that it is highly popular and the good folks there make it very easy to drop some serious money on dolls and accessories. If you look at the Bistro and aren%26#39;t impressed, there are many restaurants within the Galleria that rate a look like the Grand Luxe but if your daughter is seriously into American Girl dolls, then you know what you need to do.
We have not been to the Dallas store, but we%26#39;ve been to all the other stores and had a great experience in Chicagoat at the cafe. Lunch was $22 per person and they served fruit kabobs, salad, finger sandwiches, drinks and little dessert plates with 3 or 4 different items. They have cute seats for the dolls that attach to the table and the service was very good, they really try to make the girls feel special. I would recommend it if you%26#39;ve never gone before. I%26#39;m sure you can get better/more food at nearby places, but the experience is fun, like eating at a fancy hotel dining room %26amp; the girls feel grown up in the old-fashioned, make-believe kind of way, not the growing-up-too-fast kind of way.
I might be heading back to Houston for a business trip and was looking forward to a trip to Las Alamedas. Their website says they are moving and currently not open. Anyone know of their status?
Thanks
No generally available public information, but the telephone is disconnected so I%26#39;d expect they are not going to be open any time soon.
Lots of other options, such as Hugo%26#39;s in the Montrose if you%26#39;re in that area.
thanks
Is there a place where kids (ages 10 %26amp; 11) can ride a mechanical bull or is it adults only? I%26#39;ve seen bulls at events in other cities that are padded all around %26amp; kids can ride, is there anything like that in the D/FW area?
Contact Gilley%26#39;s in Dallas and see what their guidleines our concerning kids and the mechanical bull.
www.gilleysdallas.com
We are planning a weeks holiday to texas in the second week in November. My boyfriend will be flying in from Vegas %26amp; I will be flying in from UK, that means we could probably start anywhere in Texas.
We like to travel around %26amp; stay 1 night at each stop %26amp; sometimes 2 if there is lot to do. We don%26#39;t really like big cities. We like country side, spectacular scenery %26amp; the beach. Any suggestions as to a good 1 week tour of Texas.
What is the weather like in November?
Many thanks
The weather In November is usually pretty nice... average in the 70%26#39;s but can be cooler or warmer.
A week in Texas is not much time..it%26#39;s a huge state and traveling around would take up all your time. I would suggest Austin/San Antonio/Hill country area. Should be plenty to do to keep you busy for a week.
the best natural scenery in Texas is in Big Bend National Park and the Texas Hill Country west of Austin
nonnativetexan, I would submit that Matagorda Island, South Padre Island, and lots of places in East Texas are just as beautiful and Big Bend, just different. :)
If you decide on the Hill Country (good choice by the way) you might like to fit in a morning or afternoon at Gruene, between Austin and San Antonio. It%26#39;s just a little village but it is so quaint that I consider it one of the most romantic spot in Texas. You can do a little shopping, eat at the Grist Mill Restaraunt and get an old fashioned malted at one of the little shops.
The name of the restaraunt is the Gristmill. My husband when to the Stagecoach Inn in Salado (just north of Austin) and thought it was very quant and romantic as well.
Here is my 2 pence...
Fly into San Antonio, rent a car and head for B%26amp;B%26#39;s north of the city in the Texas Hill Country.
You could visit Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, Mason, Kerrville, Wimberley, Gruene, and maybe head down to one of the Dude Ranches in Bandera. These are all small towns with their own piece of Texas history and quaint shops and restaurants. There are others in the area as well.
If you need a beach fix at the end, Port Aransas is about 2.5 hours south of San Antonio. Another small town often described as a ';fishing village'; which caters to tourists in the summer and winter Texans from the north after that. Nice restaurants and beach accommodations.
Remember, Texas is a big place and you could spend an entire day traveling from one part of Texas to the other. El Paso, Texas is nearer to Los Angeles, California than the eastern border of Texas and Louisiana. I would focus on one part of Texas and get to know it.
The odds are in your favor on the weather. Sometimes cold weather fronts arrive during November especially in the Northern and Western parts of the states. In all probability, however, the weather should be nice for travelling.
The suggestion for the Austin/Hill Country/San Antonio area is a good one. But here%26#39;s an alternative. You can fly into El Paso rent a car and explore the expanses of West Texas. The Big Bend is certainly a must but also check out the Davis Mountains a little further North and somewhat North of there the striking and little-visited Guadulupe National Park. From there it%26#39;s a relatively short drive to Carlsbad, New Mexico and the fabulous caverns. You can then loop back to El Paso by way of the resort towns of Cloudcroft and Ruidoso in the Southern New Mexico Mountains. They may even have snow by then.
Thanks for all the helpful suggestion.
Will have to start planning now
Does anyone know how much a taxi ride to The Woodlands area will set me back approximately? I tried the Yellowcabs website but it wouldn%26#39;t give me a quote. I%26#39;m sure it will be more than SuperShuttle but if it%26#39;s not that much more then i would happily pay to get there quicker.
Are there any other options available? train/bus perhaps?
Thanks!
No trains or bus - taxi or super shuttle are about the only options. I have never taken a taxi to The Woodlands - but my guess is about the same as Kingwood - about $40.00.
Thanks for your reply :)
Does anyone know where to get discount tickets to Schlitterbahn for this weekend? Do they have any ';soda can'; promotions?
Also, how much is a bottle of water? I am trying to decide if it is worth taking a cooler. How far is it to the lockers once you are in the park? What is the price of the lockers?
Thanks in advance for your help!!
I would take a cooler, at least maybe a small one with some drinks. Taco Bell almost always has tray liners with discounts.
Hi visiting relatives in fort Worth in Sept can anyone recommend days out or places to visit from Fort Worth, San Antonio to far for a day trip must return to fort Worth each evening
Depending on what kinds of things appeal to you:
You could visit Glen Rose, Dinosaur Valley State Park and/or Fossil Rim Wildlife Park
…state.tx.us/spdest/…dinosaur_valley
www.glenrosetexas.net
http://fossilrim.org/
The State Fair is in Dallas at Fair Park from Sept 25- Oct 18
www.bigtex.com
You could catch the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) from Fort Worth over to Dallas and visit downtown Dallas including the Sixth Floor museum, Old Red museum , Reunion Tower, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas World Aquarium, etc
www.trinityrailwayexpress.org
www.jfk.org
www.oldred.org
www.dallasmuseumofart.org
www.reuniontower.com
www.dwazoo.com
If you are into sports, you could take the tour of the new Dallas Cowboy stadium and/or the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/
texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/ballpark/museum.jsp
There are lots of different ideas on here, but Ft Worth has MANY things you can do without even leaving the city, or you can venture out into neighboring towns.
Here are some ideas:
--Ft Worth Zoo and nearby the botanic and Japanese gardens
--Fossil Rim Drive through wildlife park-@ an hour or so away in Glen Rose and also Dinosaur Valley State Park
--Grapevine wineries, also great shops in the old town square
--Stockyards--many restaurants including some great Mexican rest. and of course Billy Bobs
--Sundance square-great restaurant and shops
--If you like Baseball--hopefully the Rangers will still be playing in Arlington??
There is a thread called ';Ft Worth Favorites'; on this forum that has many more ideas. If you give us some specifics on what your interests are, you may get more ideas!!
You%26#39;ll love Ft. Worth!!
Hi Guys%26#39;Gals
Thanks for your ideas have been to Fort Worth before this is our second trip we will be coming out for a week then the old folks join us for a week we have access to a car as relatives may be working some of the time so looking for activities for middle aged and older generations. How is the parking in Fort Worth. Did Stockyards, Dallas last year so looking for what the %26#39;locals%26#39; like to do
Would like to do a baseball game will be coming out 28 Aug - 13 Sept
I was going to recommend a Fort Worth Cats baseball game but they are out of town for the last games of the season in August. However, you can catch the Texas Rangers in Arlington Sept 1-2 (makeup doubleheader on the 1st) and Sept 11-13.
Parking in Fort Worth is actually quite easy most of the time. Downtown, in the Sundance Square area parking is free after 5pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. Plus downtown retailers can validate your parking as well. Here%26#39;s a link to a map that might be helpful.
sundancesquare.com/maps/maps_directions.aspx
My favorite place downtown is sitting on the rooftop patio at Reata (the patio at 8.0 is 2nd) and in the Stockyards having a beer at the White Elephant.
Depending on whether you like museums, Fort Worth has some of the best. Even if you don%26#39;t care for art, lunch at the Modern or the Kimbell is terrific.
Here is a little known museum that I enjoyed going to: Civil War Museum. It is at Clifford St and I20. It is small but to me well worth the $%26#39;s to see a part that Texas had in that era. They also have a room full of dresses from that period which I thought was cool but very thankful I did not live in the time. :P
Hey there,
We%26#39;ve planned to come to Dallas in August but now we%26#39;re wondering how many cases of the Swine flu reported in Texas, or more specifically in the Dallas, Forth Worth area. I don%26#39;t want to sound paranoid or anything, just to want to do some fact findings. Please advise. Thanks a bunch!
I can%26#39;t remember the last time I heard of a case in Houston, it seems to have just passed from here.
I think most of us in the Dallas area don%26#39;t feel we have had any significant impact from this disease.
For the facts go to the CDC website where you can see all the most current data and information.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm
So far, Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin have had the most cases. But keep in mind how darned big Texas is, and that we are the second most populous state (last I heard), and the 2000 cases we%26#39;ve had is a very minute proportion of our residents.
last I heard, there were around 300 cases in the Dallas area but no deaths from the swine flu.
Outside of the U.S. and Mexico, countries hit hard by the virus include Canada (2,978 cases); Chile (1,694 cases) and Australia (1,307 cases).
that being said - I think you%26#39;re just as likely to come across the swine flu flying somewhere in Canada (or anywhere else for that matter) as you are Dallas - which is NOT very likely - have a good time and relax if you decide to come!
just a bit of perspective - the common flu kills around 35,000 people every year around the world and we never hear about that
It hasn%26#39;t made the news here in weeks, and from what I just found searching the whole state only has about 2000 confirmed cases. As noted above, with a population the size of Texas, that%26#39;s a pretty small number of people and a tiny fraction of the number of people that get the ';regular'; flu every year. I really don%26#39;t think you have much to worry about. I visited Canada when Avian Flu was all the media could talk about and made it back fine.
Dont hear much about a Flu problem on the radio station 1080 talk news...seems to be a bit of talked up in the media, like everything else
Hope this helps
Hidalgo and Bell counties (neither near Dallas) have the most cases of ';swine flu.'; You should be in no danger of contracting the virus.
It would be a shame for you and your family to miss out on all the fun things in Dallas and its environs because of a perceived health risk.
While you are in Dallas, visit Ft. Worth with the stockyards, Kimball Art Museum, Amon Carter Art Museum (great western art, including Remingtons) and the botanical gardens with plants that--I bet!--you don%26#39;t see in Canada!
Hope you enjoy your trip to Dallas, and come back to Texas often.
San Antonio opened the new, much heralded northern extension of the River Walk last weekend. I waited until yesterday to walk it, then was so impressed with what I found I brought my husband back this morning to walk it again.
It is incredible. Although just open a week, it looks as if it%26#39;s been completed for ages. The landscaping was put in as fairly mature plants--large palms, purple fountain grass and other ornamental grasses, hibiscus with flowers the size of plates, lantana and other flowering perrenials that do well in this area, lining all the banks the entire distance.
There are several artwork installations, but my favorite is a school of 25 4%26#39; parrot fish, suspended by (barely visible) wires from the underside of a bridge. My DH noticed that there were electrical boxes mounted under the bridge too, with a wire leading to each fish, so they will be lit from within at night, but even in the day they are just beautiful with the same luminescence the fish have in the Caribbean. Other installations under bridges will be better seen at night I suspect, but the fish are gorgeous and a nice surprise in the day as well.
There are several small pond areas off the side of the river with aqueduct systems similar to those actually used in the historic missions south of the city, bringing water to them. The pond areas are planted with water lilies and other water plants. There%26#39;s an area with a grotto, complete with stalactites, that%26#39;s nice for sitting and resting in the shade near the museum. There are a couple of side waterfalls there and at other spots on the river. At the far end, on Saturdays there%26#39;s a new farmers market at the restored Pearl Brewery (where I got a beautiful yellow double stemmed phaleonopsis last weekend for a very reasonable $30). There%26#39;s a shop there selling goods similar to that found in El Mercado as well. The brewery restoration is a work in progress.
You can travel the new extension by riverboat, in which case you have to go through one lock...a lot of fun to watch as the boats are lifted about 10%26#39; to continue on their journey up river, taking less than 4 minutes from the time they get into the lock to the point the water has filled it and they are ready to leave at the new level. There are walkways along the top of the locks for those on foot to stop and enjoy the process. There%26#39;s been a boat in the lock each of the 4 times I%26#39;ve been past, so they must run fairly frequently, at least on weekends.
You can also do the entire length on foot as we did, or bike, as many others were doing. We began near the Valencia Hotel for those familiar with the area, and walked up and back, a distance of a bit more than 5 miles--made so enjoyable by the artwork, the landscaping and all the smiling faces of others out to see the new project, and likewise delighted and amazed with what they found.
At this point anyway, the other people you%26#39;ll see along the river are primarily residents, not many tourists yet, although that will come. So will the restaurants and more development I%26#39;m sure. Already some enterprising soul has set up white tented picnic tables where you can get bar service from a nearby club, and the old historic VFW post has tables set out where they%26#39;ll serve beer from 2 PM to closing.
Anyway, kudos to the city for a fantastic job, well above and beyond what was called for. It is a terrific addition to the city for both residents and tourists, and such a feather in Mayor Hardberger%26#39;s cap. Hopefully there will be more found money some day for the completion of the extension south from the city too, to the missions. This portion was a 72 million dollar project, funded primarily by the bed tax, but some aspects (the lock system for instance) underwritten by corporations too. (AT%26amp;T in the case of the locks). Job well done, and for anyone coming to San Antonio, it%26#39;s something well worth seeing. Our beautiful city just became even more so!
Thank you for your great report, OO. I have been following the development with great interest, and can%26#39;t wait to see it in person when we are in San Antonio (only 21 more day). What a great addition to San Antonio, and from what I understand there is more to come.
There is more to come Shinerbock...they need more money though. It really makes me proud of the city for the job they did...not just completing it, but completing it fabulously.
I neglected to give the price in my first post. The RioTaxi ticket to ride this portion of the river is $10 pp, a little steep IMHO, but the ticket is a 24 hour pass, and can be combined with the ticket for the other portion of the river (though I don%26#39;t have that price). It was a lovely walk though, and the operation of the locks especially are something well worth seeing.
Great Job! Other cities come here to study the river to try to reproduce what we have. I just don%26#39;t think you can...needs to be small and intimate....Hillsborough River (Tampa) and Savannah River, both of whom have studied this, just don%26#39;t lend themselves well because of the size factor alone. It%26#39;s a treasure, for sure, and it got even better with the extension.
This link tells a bit more about the taxi...as well as describing how to hail them. http://www.ksat.com/news/19648588/detail.html
I really hope that the money issue is going to be resolved. I have looked at the designs, and love how they have managed to combine urban planning while at the same time it is going to have a positive impact on the eco system. I read that they even received an award for responsible urban planning. Great job, San Antonio, you can really be proud.
I just wished the authorities here would take a page out of your book. Urban planning here is horrible. It%26#39;s all about the bottom line without regard of the infrastructure, environmental impact, or aesthetics.
I really enjoyed your well written detailed report..It will give the locals like myself another reason to visit downtown as well as an added attraction for tourists..It seems to have been well thought out as opposed to many of our highway projects which seemed to be planned by 3 year olds..While living in Cali,I enjoyed visiting master planned communities like Irvine..
Good TR on the Riverwalk always one of my favorite places to visit will be there next w/e looking forward to see the extension.
Thank you for posting the report. We were in SA recently for only a day %26amp; must say we were very impressed with the %26#39;original%26#39;Riverwalk area. Whoever thought %26amp; actually built this was a genius, it%26#39;s so wonderful.
Can anyone tell me the details of when it was first conceived and constructed, who was the architect etc?
We were so impressed that we may fly back to SA in the future for another, longer, holiday.
I%26#39;d love to see the new extension when it%26#39;s fully established.
I%26#39;m glad you enjoyed yourself kencar, and hope you%26#39;ll come back for a longer stay. The architect was a man named Hugman, and the River Walk was first developed as a flood control project, with funding from the Depression era WPA, the ';economic stimulus plan'; of the 1930%26#39;s. Wikipedia has a nice concise history: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_River_Walk
The river flooded with some regularity before the project in the 30%26#39;s, but flood control is so complete now, (it includes a 3 mile tunnel that can divert water away from downtown San Antonio if necessary, as well as flood gates on both ends of the downtown section), that the river stays at a constant level, no matter the weather. The River Walk portion is drained once a year for a week in January for cleaning and necessary repairs. The job done in the 30%26#39;s has made downtown and San Antonio the tourist destination it is.
Thanks OO for the info %26amp; link.
We will indeed come back some time in the future. How long do you think before the new extension becomes fully operational with restaurants in place etc etc?
I don%26#39;t know, kencar, and today%26#39;s economy makes predictions even harder than normal. Our first walk there was the 2nd weekend it was open, then I was back the next weekend. Someone put some tent type structures up to serve beverages near the art museum our first weekend, obviously taking advantage of the crowds. There was a vending truck at another point selling ice cream type refreshments...it had just backed down a side street. The old VFW post (an interesting historic building) has its picnic tables for beer and wine, but they also had a smoker going last weekend. Anyone can go, but you must sign a guest book if not a member of the VFW post.
Currently the old Pearl Brewery at the farthest end is being renovated with some shops and at least one great restaurant coming in there--Andrew Wiseman who has the best restaurant in town, Le Reve, is putting another restaurant in the brewery complex. The developer has also planned a boutique type hotel for the area.
It would be decades before that stretch took on the appearance of the city part of River Walk, and maybe not even then. I doubt it will ever be jammed with businesses, but there is no doubt it will bring about some positive change to the area. Now you can take the new River Walk from the city to the art museum and the brewery (and farmers market) with plans to go even further eventually.
I%26#39;m going to be working on Bullverde Rd. the week of July 27-Aug 1 and am wondering where I can find an inexpensive, safe hotel that I%26#39;d want to be in for a week. I want an easy drive since I am unfamiliar with San Antonio and I prefer one with a free breakfast and a pool. Any recommendations?
There is a new Drury in that area that is a Great VALUE for your money with lots of FREE amenities.
They have a FREE Hot Breakfast, then Beverage %26amp; also adult beverage (2-3) %26amp; Snacks %26amp; it will be very close %26amp; a easy drive it on 801 N. Loop 1604 E. www.druryhotels.com
Also there is a Hampton Inn Northwoods www.hamptoninn.com which is nearby
Hawthorn NE www.sanantoniohawthornsuites.com
This 1 is a little farther out but a consideration
Residence Inn North/Stone Oak www.marriott.com/satmr
A restaurant for excellent Tex-Mex while you are here + nearby where you%26#39;ll be working %26amp; staying is
La Hacienda de los Barrios www.lhdlb.com so yummy as well as the margarita%26#39;s it%26#39;s on Redland Rd north of 1604 %26amp; easy to get to with a woodsy country atmosphere.
If these don%26#39;t meet your criteria than just re-ask to see if we can find something that meets your criteria %26amp; personal preference.
Have some Fun while working here.
In that area, safety won%26#39;t be as much of a concern as traffic. The intersection of the 281/1604 access roads is horrible, so if you can avoid them, do.
That a rather very, very long road, can you be a little more specific as to where on Bulverde road
VERY true!!! Bulverde Rd stretches from Loop 1604 north of Marshall Rd and continues...to Bulverde! No doubt about it, Loop 1604/281 intersection can be a nightmare at certain times. It also depends on where you%26#39;ll be working too. Is it the new Tesoro building? The Wamu...oops, I mean Chase call center? A little more help on the details would be nice.
I%26#39;m working at Pearson, 19500 Bulverde Rd. From the map search I did, it looks like it is between Emerald Ridge Drive and Rosehart.
Thanks for all the advice so far!
I%26#39;d say look for a place on 1604 well east of 281, if you can. If you head west, look for something in the Blanco road area or further west. That way, you can miss the worst of the exits.
The area that I listed are on the east part of 1604E. I wouldn%26#39;t personally go toward Blanco it very congested %26amp; not really any closer.
Hope you find what you are looking for.
I would agree with that -- I was just suggesting to avoid exiting at 281, even if you have to drive farther out. The east side of 1604 is definitely your best bet.
Does anyone know where is the best beef jerky in Amarillo? My boss would bring me some from Amarillo but they were in a brown paper bag without the company%26#39;s name.
thanks.
i can%26#39;t speak for any specific beef jerky, but many gas stations (usually in rural areas of Texas) sell ';fresh'; beef jerky that is stored in a glass jar. This jerky is usually made locally and must be consumed sooner than the kind of jerky that is mass-produced and shrink-wrapped. if you are driving through Texas and stop at a gas station or small grocery store, then look for jerky in a glass jar or hanging on a small rope. I know it sounds strange, but it%26#39;s much better than the pre-packaged kind.
the beef jerky was probably from Edes meats. They are a butcher shop here in Amarillo/Canyon area and they sell their jerky in some convience stores here. You can always get it directly from Edes also
OK TexasHam - around San Antonio, what%26#39;s your favorite Jerky? My votes:
Whittington%26#39;s in Johnson City http://www.whittingtonsjerky.com/
Buc-cee%26#39;s from Luling - I particularly like there smoked pork tenderloin (not really jerky) but I do like their Turkey Jerky. http://www.bucees.com/photos.htm
hey Octoboy, I%26#39;ve never had the jerky from Luling, but I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;s great. I did just recently buy four kinds of jerky from Whittington%26#39;s that I%26#39;m taking with me on a trip next week to Wyoming. It%26#39;s probably some of the best jerky I%26#39;ve ever had! The spicy turkey and garlic beef rule! I will definitely go back there. Are there any places in SA to get good jerky?
I don’t usually get jerky in town, I guess it’s a traveling food for me.
The beef jerky was definitely from Eade%26#39;s Meats. Their butcher shop is on I-27 @ McCormick I believe. Best jerky in 3 states!!!
Edes%26#39; Custome Meats.
Edes Custom Meats Ltd
(806) 622-0205
6700 W McCormick Rd
Amarillo, TX 79118
No website that I could find.
Jeff
Macaroni Joe%26#39;s
Edes beef jerky is absolutely the best there is! I got some on my way through Texas and couldn%26#39;t believe how juicy (yes, juicy) it was. Just mouth savoring!
And it does come in a brown paper bag w/the company%26#39;s name on it.
Edes has the best beef jerkey anywhere. It is much better if you buy it at the butcher shop because it is fresher.(they also have a flawless chili mix ans excellent rubs.....not to mention the quality of their meats, and great selection!) It really becomes terrible when it gets old and dry, so I wouldn%26#39;t trust the convenience store. We put the paper bag in a ziplock as soon as we get it, it starts to dry out in about a week.
You can get Eades jerky at all the Pak a Sak convenience stores. And yes, it is very very good.
We are going to sea world and wonder if the cabana%26#39;s are worth it? Two kids 7 and 11 we get there when it opens and stay until it closes. We also are not sure what the meal vouchers really are.
Hello.....I%26#39;m from Los Angeles and I will be relocating to San Antonio. How well is the public transportation vs. using a car? Keep in mind I am coming from a city where your vehicle is your 2nd home. Would it be the same in San Antonio? Would I need a car to get me around everywhere? Any help is greatly appreciated.
its the same, but there is bus service
If you%26#39;re accustomed to driving IH-5, then even the 281/1604 corridors won%26#39;t feel too bad to you. Traffic here doesn%26#39;t really compare to that...
Depending on where you choose to settle, you could find yourself driving only 10-15 minutes each way to/from work. The absolute worst cases are around 1-1.5 hours.
Let me say 1st Welcome to San Antonio glad you are relocating here. I think you%26#39;ll find people in SA are very friendly %26amp; helpful %26amp; know how to party.
Now to your question
No you won%26#39;t have to consider the car your 2nd home.
lst it depends where you live.
2nd how close to public transportation
3rd Traffic isn%26#39;t as bad
I personally would think a car is better to get around but each their own. SA has the rush hour but it isn%26#39;t as bad as LA IMO.
Hope you move goes without any problems.
Are you moving here due to a job??? Do you plan to live close to where you work??? Have you check out any areas in SA????
I dont know know where Pruske lives, but ';traffic is not bad';. Well that depends on where you live and work, yes its not Austin, Dallas or Houston or LA, but IH 10 can be bad and 281 is the worst in town. And 1604 is Satans traffic workshop.
And about second home? I have a time meter in my car, I spend about 14-16 hours a weeks behind the wheel and that not counting when I have to drive out of Bexar County.
Hi all
I am looking for some advice concerning somewhere to stay close to fort worth meacham airport, I am tavelling from the UK to attend a course at the airport for one week from the 19th of July. Could anybody tell me of a clean and cheap place to stay in the area. good local advice would be much appreciated.
thanks in advance
Paul
For future questions, you might want to post on the Fort Worth forum.
Not sure what you consider cheap but there are several of the more economical chain hotels in the area (mainly built for the crowds who go to Texas Motor Speedway).
We have stayed at the Comfort Suites in the Fossil Creek area (around Loop 820 and Beach)but it isn%26#39;t the cheapest in the area.
(comfortsuites.com/鈥?/a>)
Others around Fossil Creek (around 8 miles from Meacham) include Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Candlewood Suites, Residence Inn.
Another area you could check is around I-35 and Meacham Drive- a little closer to Meacham but right on the highway. Includes Radisson and Holiday Inn (both more expensive), Hilton Garden Inn, La Quinta Inn, Baymont Inn.
If you look at reviews for Fort Worth hotels here on TA, look for the ones that have Fort Worth North or Fossil Creek in the name of the hotel.
can you just walk in at the sand dollar resort and request to see a room with out first seeing what your going to rent or do i take my chances on line just to expect something not worth walkning into will be there in september thanks
Hi all
I am looking for some advice concerning somewhere to stay close to fort worth meacham airport, I am tavelling from the UK to attend a course at the airport for one week from the 19th of July. Could anybody tell me of a clean and cheap place to stay in the area. good local advice would be much appreciated.
thanks in advance
Paul
Here%26#39;s a link to what I suggested on the other forum
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g55711-i141-k28832鈥?/a>
I would suggest:
La Quinta,-- www.lq.com
Baymont Inn and Suites- www.baymontinns.com
Super 8- www.super8.com off of I-35--
You could avoid the highway and take Meacham Blvd which is right where you will need to be. Also, the Radison http://www.radisson.com/ftworthtx_north is nice, but I%26#39;m not sure about the price.
North of you is going to be Saginaw-(no hotels that you would want to stay in) and South would be Northside, which is a great place for some wonderful mexican food, but not overnight. There used to be a Sandpiper Inn at Meacham Airport, so you might call the airport and ask them.
These are all within 5 minutes of where you are going to be.
Have a great time in Ft. Worth!!
We are going to a concert at the superpages center? I would like to be able to find a hotel where I can walk to the center or take a shuttle. I don%26#39;t want to drive because I want to have some fun. Any suggestions on hotels? Thanks
Well, I just read on TA how this center is not in a good neighborhood. So I will change my question. My husband and I will be in Dallas for the weekend for a concert. We like local restaurants and local bars with bands. Where would you suggest to stay that is not too far from the center but where we can get the most out of our weekend. We can always hire a taxi. Thanks
Closest hotels are downtown hotels - Magnolia, Adolphus. I%26#39;d even look on hotwire and see what you can get for a 4 star in downtown Dallas for your dates.
my boyfriend and i are moving to the area and have checked out the woodlands and really like it. we have it narrowed down to a couple of apartments. does anyone have any suggestions on which are the safest and nicest. we don%26#39;t have a ton of money so that needs to be taken into consideration.
thanks
moving to TX
What complexes do you have in mind? That would help give you more info.
There%26#39;s ';The Woodlands Area'; and ';The Woodlands'; which are very different. The Woodlands is not an incorporated city, but it does have a very definitive boundary.
Complexes near The Woodlands but in the area, especially those around the I-45/Rayford Road area, are sometimes cheaper than those in The Woodlands but not usually as nice nor as convenient as The Woodlands was developed to have these apartment complexes integrated into the community and they usually have better maintenance.
There are some exceptions though, of course. It would be in your best interest to pick an apartment complex closest to one of the ';village centers'; as this will mean that you can walk for most any shopping, and they%26#39;re usually fairly convenient to elementary schools and parks.
Hope that helps.
the woodlands is a very nice place to call home, but, you said money is a consideration, the woodlands is not the north side of houston, well it is, but only geographically, and you can expect to pay a good price for the name, but it%26#39;s no safer here than anywhere else, there has been some major crime here lately, bank robberies, burglaries, robberies of individuals, etc. the best advice anyone can give you, is, the farther you are from the metro area of houston, the better, there is a community, to the west of the woodlands, called TOMBALL,TEXAS it%26#39;s off of f.m. 2920. and f.m. 249. it%26#39;s not crime riddled, and there are some nice places there, and reasonably priced as far as rent goes, i%26#39;m a homeowner, and i live in magnolia, texas, but apartments are almost unheard of here, my house is on the west (back side) of the woodlands, and is whats known as a equestrian community, but there are no apartments here, but there are HOUSES for rent in the area, and you would certainly enjoy more privacy for the buck, than you would an apartment, and about the same money, except you cut your own grass, but you certainly have more privacy in a house, and i stress to you,that if you look ,you%26#39;ll find a house reasonably priced to rent and be a lot happier, i assure you ...good luck in your search
and by the way, there is THE WOODLANDS,and THE WOODLANDS AREA, I could%26#39;ve bought my house in the woodlands, but chose not to, my house sits on 81/2 acres is 3700 sq. ft. and was paid for 10 yrs ago, but to let you know something ahead of time, just as soon as people who are home OWNERS learn that you god forbid RENT an apartment, you may just as well rent a trailer in houstons 5th ward,(youll get more respect) just because you live in the woodlands does%26#39;nt make you any safer. crime here in woodlane forest is unheard of, my house was the 3rd one built here, and i%26#39;ve never heard of anyones house burglarized, or building materials stolen from our properties NEVER and here pretty quick, THE WOODLANDS is going to be annexed to houston, not so with TOMBALL, or MAGNOLIA, the woodlands is no place special, just overpriced, and over taxed, if the woodlands is so special, why does the woodlands bicycle club want to ride their bikes in our subdivision??? we certainly don%26#39;t want them here, but they flock here anyway, it%26#39;s because the woodlands dones%26#39;nt have all that much to offer to make you want to even ride a bike there. so RETHINK your position as to where you want to rent...good luck ma%26#39;am
You might consider moving on the east side of I-45 but still in The Woodlands area. Maybe off of Rayford Rd. There area some really nice brand new complexes there. If you really want to be You might also consider renting a house or townhouse. You can view rental homes from my website at www.MontgomeryCountyLiving.com. I am not sure what your budget is, but you could rent a home or townhome in The Woodlands around $900 and up for a 2 or 3 bedroom.
Tiffany Dalton
www.MontgomeryCountyLiving.com
The Woodlands is not being annexed into Houston. We will form our own city.
The Woodlands is a very safe place to live and the community is wonderful. We have tons of shopping, our own waterway, night life, our motto is live, work and play and you really never have to leave!
Best advice is to walk the area on a weekend and ask the people that live there. Some of the apartments are nice, some not so nice. Most people will be happy to answer any questions...Texans are a very friendly bunch. We have lived here 27 years and raised two kids and wouldn%26#39;t dream of living anywhere else. There is so much free stuff to do on the weekends and even during the week that the higher cost of living here is well worth a little extra. Free music at Market Street, free music at Waterway Square, free concerts at the Mitchell Pavilion, dozens of parks, inexpensive resident pool passes with dozens of pools from which to choose, dozens of adult sports teams, dog parks, bicycle clubs, hike and bike paths, way too much to list. We have a few friends that live in the Woodlands area, just outside of the Woodlands, and they enjoy some of the free stuff, but if you live here, you can take advantage of everything.
I%26#39;ll be in Abilene for two weeks in July taking a course. I%26#39;d like a reasonably priced but safe place to stay for that time. Can you suggest a motel or B%26amp;B?
not that Abilene is too big for you to drive across town, but where is your course going to be held? there are several new chain hotels in different parts of town. I live in Abilene and will be happy to help, just tell me what area you will be in.
It%26#39;s south of dontown, but I will have a car so I don%26#39;t mind a bit of a drive, even if it meant a small town nearby.
';south of downtown'; in Abilene, is most of the city. it really is small.
there are only a handfull literally about 5 bed a d breakfasts in abilene, a couple of them are around downtown. there is also a hotel downtown.
I would not stay in or around downtown. the surrounding residential areas are not good.
There are several new chain hotels along the 83/83( winters fwy)which if you look at a map goes along the west and south side of town. which will be close to several chain restaurants, wal mart, and grocery stores.
I really can%26#39;t tell you any more, with out knowing where your course is.
other than dont stay downtown, don%26#39;t stay on ACU hill, which is north east abilene, and any hotel that is on I-20 will be in that area, also.
its really hot here in July, like 100 every day! I hope you have some ';play time';. are you renting a car? if not you better stay close to your course venue. we have a few cabs in town. and busses, but the public transportation here is not like big northern cities. People in this area are very friendly, and there are great places to eat everywhere, tex-mex, bb-q, I would be happy to suggest some restaurants.
It%26#39;s near McMurry University. I%26#39;m thinking of the trip as a working vacation-my husband will join me for the last few days and we%26#39;d like to explore the area, try some restaurants, etc.
McMurry is in the middle of town. I don%26#39;t know your budget, but there are 2 or 3 houses, or garage apts that people have converted that I have seen on VRBO.com (vacation rentals by owner) and look up Abilene. these are pricey but very nice, even have pools at them, which since it will be 100 degrees here, you will like. check that out. if it is too expensive for your total stay, maybe stay in a chain by yourself, and when your husband joins you, then you can splurge. these vrbo%26#39;s are on or around sayles st. which is within walking distance to McMurry. the nicest ';chain hotel'; we have is elegante suits, which you can walk to mall and several chain restaurants, there is also a new Hilton garden inn, comfort suits, super 8, and several others. like I said before the area you want is Mall( buffalo gap rd.) or southwest drive?s. 27th. nothing on 1-20 or ACU hill. hotels there are fine, but that is far from where you will be
for Day trips, you should explore Buffalo Gap, Tx a small community 15 miles south of abilene, good restaurants, Historic village, shops, and state park are there. and to the north of Abilene about 30 miles is Albany, more shops, and restaurants and also a historic village is in the process of being built, and you can visit it,
there is lots of info online about Buffalo Gap, Tx and Albany, Tx both are very ';touristy';. drive is nice and not long, and a good visit. you could even go to ft. worth/dallas area for the day. 2 1/2 hr drive. ft. worth is more western,stockyard area is a good visit) dallas is pretty much like any other big city. the drive there is pretty uneventful, down I-20. but you can take the ';old hwy'; and go through small towns along the way. you would go through Albany and then hwy 180 to weatherford. most of these small towns have ';town square'; with shopping. there are also great outlet malls around dallas, in grapevine, and hillsboro. not sure what you like to do, so I tried to give you options, sorry if I rambled. let me know what yall like to eat, and do, and I can suggest every good place to eat. lots of out of the way ';dives'; that are yummy. be sure to try bbq, tex=mex, and chicken fried steak, while you are here, and get some dairy queen ice cream .check out these websites.
http://www.albanytexas.com/
http://www.buffalogap.com/
http://www.periniranch.com/
fortgriffinandbeehive.com/http://www.vrbo.co…
good luck
Planning a day trip to Schlitterbahn this weekend. I am diabetic and very hesitant to go barefoot. Does anyone know if I will be allowed to wear Teva sandals or some other type of waterproof footwear in the pools and on the rides?
Thanks!
Yes, except for a few rides you can wear water shoes.
Yes, you can and I highly reccomend water shoes or sandals because you have to walk alot and the concrete will do a number on you feet anyhow.
I know this is meant for travelers, but as a local to the northern suburbs (Leander), I%26#39;m always on the lookout for good restaurants to take the kids to. We%26#39;ve done the Waterloo (with playground), and Phil%26#39;s ... where else are some great suggestions to take young ones?
Forgot to add Mooney%26#39;s Burger house up in Cedar park ... decent for the kids.
Buco de Beppo, followed by Dave and Busters. My nephews and nieces also loved Chuy%26#39;s and County Line on the Lake - many things to look at for little ones.
Did anyone here ever drive from Dallas TX area (or other area in Texas) to Orlando?
Any suggestion on where to visit before arriving in Orlando
Thanks a lot!
Not sure if you plan to take it easy going up and down with several stops, or how much you want to detour. The quick answer is to stop in New Orleans (almost halfway).
I drive from the Houston area to the Orlando area almost every summer. What type of places to visit are you looking for? I can drive it in a day if I don%26#39;t stop and look around, or longer if I want to sightsee. I never stop in New Orleans on the way there, but usually on the way back.
It might help to know the ages and number of people in your traveling party.
Thanks for your reply.
I don%26#39;t think I can drive all the way to Orlando. We have to stop in the middle for one night. My kids are 10 and 9. My mom is also with us, and she is 70+.
I am thinking to drive 10 hours on the first day, stop in Mobil maybe? then 7 more hours on the 2nd day.
During the 1st day, is there any place that we can see (besides just stopping at the rest place)?
Thanks again!
What may be a good place/City in between to take rest if I drive from Houston to Orlando? I%26#39;d like to drive for 8-10 hrs on day 1. I am traveling with kids so need to take rest in between. Please advise. Thanks for your help.
Destin, FL for the beach might work. May be a little more family friendly than NO.
I%26#39;d stop in Pensacola and take the kids to see the National Museum of Naval Aviation in the morning before driving on to Orlando.
You don%26#39;t mention if you%26#39;re driving there and back or whether this is a one-way drive, nor how much time you have available for the trip in either direction. That would be helpful to know to best give recommendations.
We have been making the drive from Houston to Orlando almost every year since 1992. We always drive straight through to Talahassee on the first day, leaving very early in the morning, taking a good stop for lunch and a lot of stretch breaks at the various rest areas (some are really nice, the first one in Florida has orange juice, brochures and lovely grounds). This leg of the trip usually takes about 14 hours including the stops. Then the next day we only have a 4 hour or so drive into Orlando. We always stop in Ocala for the Disney welcome area and take a breather. It%26#39;s not a bad ride if you stop and stretch and relax mid day. Have fun!
I know there is the skate park across from Mueller, more like a small halfpipe--where else in the city can I take my kids skating.
Here%26#39;s a link to 2 indoor ones. Leandar and Round Rock.
http://www.austinskatepark.com/
STAY AWAY FROM STARKEY PROPERTIES! Marsha Starkey will smile at you while they take your money then slam the door on your way out. Rented a beach house from her. the house was filthy, roaches %26amp; silverfish all in the dishes, Kitchen chair broken, dryer broken, bed broken, ceiling fan broken. AC went out, Called the emergency number, front desk and NO ONE ever called back! This was in the summer heat. When I turned in the keys and explained what my family went through they said they would get back with me and see what they could do, Never said sorry, and they NEVER called me. I called Marsha every single day for over two weeks and they absolutely refused to call me back.I wrote the chamber of commerce and they responded immediately back to me forwarding my mails to Marsha.She responded to them saying ';This guy waited to complain while he was checking out so they could not do anything about it. If Marsha would of read the dam letter, that I called for hours and no one called back, went to the office and no one was there, What the hell were we suppose to do. Just beware of her and her company unless you like staying in a DUMP then please give her a call...
Thanks so much for sharing the info, I%26#39;ll make sure my family know about this cause they rent houses from time to time. I wouldn%26#39;t want them to experience such a bad place that has no respect for their customers.
We are staying in a Starkey Property right now and are having the same experience. We have a large place and are paying $4000 a week and you think we%26#39;d get mattress covers--but after two visits to their office we have yet to get an answer about whether any are available. In the meantime, we have infestation of bedbugs in the downstairs bedroom and are working through that. At least four light bulbs are out in the place. Can%26#39;t recommend Starkey Properties at all.
Just curious. Another first time poster came to Tripadvisor just to tell this property is not good???
Hope you%26#39;ll have some positive contributions in future.
The poster joined in Sept. of 2008, which means he/she is not joining just to post a bad review. It seems that he/she wants others to avoid the bad experience of staying there. although I have no intention of going to the coast, I would be grateful for the ';heads up'; if I were.
You should visit PA once, a great beachtown. Btw there are 2 first time posters. Last one joined june 2009.
Hi
I had a look at days inn 910 north collins says its acroos road from stadium.Is this correct and is hotal OK???
Thanks,
Pomlea
It really is the closest hotel to the stadium for now and is on the Arlington trolley route. However, this is a fairly old property, with very little renovation in the 35+ years, so don%26#39;t expect newer construcution and amenitites. It gets mixed reviews on TA but management does respond to bad reports so at least someone is listening! There%26#39;s a coffee shop there. This part of Collins is a bit ratty but with the stadium construction, changes are happening. If you decide to stay there, just be very prepared for ';you get what you pay for'; may not quite apply to this property.
Check the new Comfort Suites on Road to Six Flags Drive, about 2 miles from the new stadium. I will be staying there in early June, so I%26#39;ll post a review.
I%26#39;ll be staying at the hotel as well for the opening game.
Which hotel, dallasbound08- the Days Inn or the Comfort Suites?
the days inn. i have a feeling that i will be in my hotel alot because driving in texas scares me.
I think you are making a mistake....the Comfort Suites is brand new, spacious and clean. It%26#39;s also an easy walk from the stadium. You can%26#39;t go wrong.
I does anyone know a a hotel near the George bush airport where the whole hotel is smoke free. Whenever I get smoke free rooms they are still smokey. The best luck I have is in a fully smoke free hotel. If yo do not know of a specific hotel have you seen a hotel finder site where that is one of the options to refine your search?
thanks
I know that Comfort Suites and Wingate Inn%26#39;s are smoke-free.
There is a Comfort Suites on JFK at the airport, but read the reviews as I have never stayed there.
There is not a Wingate at the airport.
There are I think 3 brand new motels that just opened up down Beltway 8 (or about to). One is a Super 8 or something like that, another is Candlewood or something like that and I forget the other - but was a chain. All these are very close to IAH and most of the new motels are more and more smoke free.
Hi S,
There is a La Quinta near IAH, and their entire chain is smoke free. Also, a Baymont Inn, on the road as you leave IAH, so very close. The Baymont is pretty new, as well, and they are both within walking distance to a Sonic and a Waffle House, plus a Jack in the Box, right across the road.
Try not to book anything that says ';Greenspoint'; or ';Humble location';--there are a lot of IAH hotels ON %26#39;WIll Clayton Blvd. (the street that leads to the airport), and many,like this one, will tell you how close it is, such as ';3 miles';, on this link.
Try this link, I think this one is pretty new, and it is close to IAH; be sure to read the TripAdvisor real reviews on this, and others, before you book it!
realtravel.com/h-77971-humble_hotel-humble_e鈥?/a>
cc,
Cupcake
Hi S,
More 4-1-1 for you!
Try this link, too:
tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g56010-d530645-鈥?/a>
This is the TA review, and I know it is nice, as I pass the hotel often. Look on the Holiday Inn website for a good deal, or try ';www.Bookit.com';--great hotel prices everywhere!
Hope this helps,
cc,
Cupcake
Below is a post from a recent traveller. It does not answer your question (about smoke free) but what appears to be a good place.
Just an update. We stayed at Country Inn and Suites in Humble. They are mostly a business person%26#39;s hotel but were wonderful with my kids! The shuttle arrived for us in about 5 minutes, the driver handeled all of the bags. The front desk was very helpful. The pool was open until 11PM and again at 6AM (great for jet lagging kids) although it was a little cold. Breakfast was nice. Beds were very comfy. All in all a great experience. Worth the little extra to get a suite so some of us could sleep while others didn%26#39;t (again jet lag).
thanks for your help.
My mother and I will be flying into DFW on 6/26 and need to get to Hilton Garden Inn in Duncanville. Does anyone know of any reasonably priced shuttles/taxis we can reserve? Thanks!!
Have you asked the hotel for any suggestions?
Definitely no special rates on taxis. The usual shuttles are Super Shuttle and there are others, but they%26#39;re all going to be a bit pricey. Is there a reason you don%26#39;t want to rent a car? Duncanville does have public transit, but not like in downtown Dallas.
Hi. I posted in early June, planning to spend a day and night in Houston. Thanks for all the responses. Unforunately, this has now been cut down to a transit only visit. Arriving 9 am from Mexico, and leaving at 6pm to LA/Australia. Are there any day tours that will pick up from airport? Or %26#39;just go and see this, e.g. space center, downtown, or??'; Hiring a car not an option so need public transit or tour. Please save me from spending 7 hours at the airport. Thanks.
Here are 2 tours that might interest you
visithoustontexas.com/visitors/…
visithoustontexas.com/visitors/…
Another option would be to take a cab and visit the Woodlands for shopping, dining, movie theaters, bookstores, etc. I think on another post, someone thought the cab fare was around $40.
www.visitthewoodlands.com
www.marketstreet-thewoodlands.com
Even though downtown might not be the best option - that is what I would do as that is the easiest to get to with public transport. If you are willing to pay the extra money (like $4.00 compared to $80.00) then go to The Woodlands. If not get the bus (at terminal C) - go downtown walk the tunnels, go to the park etc. chill out and then take a bus back. Negative - the bus can take over an hour to get downtown while a car it will be 20 minutes. So I woouls keep 2 1/2 hours if by bus. Go to ridemetro for times and schedules.
Thank you for the advice. Are there any tour companies that pick up at the airport and would take you to the Space Center, or is it too far away?
It is not enough time to go to the space center.
www.nccil.org/exhibits/openingevents.htm
now until 9/19/09
at the National Center for Children%26#39;s Illustrated Literature in Abilene--
tribute to two guys who do those great pop-up books with some large--maybe life size--copies of scenes from the books...
article in the FTW paper last week brought it to my attention--
sounds really great for children or adults
and there are other attractions in Abilene for a nice weekend trip--or during the week since I guess even Abilene can get crowded on weekends
Our whole family is traveling to SA in 2 weeks and we%26#39;re trying to plan our meals. One request from my sister is to eat German food. Did some research on this forum and I only saw recommendations for Schilo%26#39;s (which sounds amazing!!!). I just wanted to make sure no one had other suggestions??? We%26#39;re staying at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa and we%26#39;re visiting the Riverwalk, Natural Bridge, Witte museum, Alamo, and El Mercado for sure...maybe the zoo, botanical gardens and La Villita. Any suggestions for German food would be gretly appreciated.
thanks! Anna
Shilo%26#39;s is the best one in the downtown area.
Their is 1 in the NW area that is very good also it is Old World German Restaurant on 1546 Babcock Rd
Their is 1 in the Hill Country in Welfare that is worth the drive IMO very yummy Welfare Caf茅 in Welfare on 223 Waring Welfare Rd.
There are a couple in New Braunfels but I can%26#39;t remember the name, it%26#39;s been a while since we ate there.
Thanks so much!
Anna
Stop in Walburg on the way down -- there is no substitute for the real thing... I have not found any place in Texas that comes close.
http://www.walburgrestaurant.com/
It%26#39;s just north of Georgetown off IH-35.
There are a couple of places around town for German food, Schilos is good but not much of a choice beyound standard stuff. Goo place for a sandwich and cold beer, really.
Welfare Cafe, I do not understand why everyone thinks this place is great, the best, etc. Its not that good, IMO its just ok and I would not make a special trip for a meal there. If you are going to drive that far, go to PoPo%26#39;s and order fried chicken instead, better food and lower price.
Old World would be a good choice and its easy to get to.
I would second Walberg for food and music.
http://www.walburgrestaurant.com/
In New Braunfels is Oma%26#39;s Smokehouse
http://www.omashaus.com/
So if we go to Schilo%26#39;s do they offer a selection of schnitzels and wurst? Can we get things like red cabbage, spatzle, and german potato salad? We don%26#39;t need a huge menu but a good selection of the traditional dishes would be great! I%26#39;m assuming they have some Hefe Weis on tap or in bottles???
Schilo%26#39;s is a deli-style German resturant serving reubens, split pea soup, subs, bagels and lox. Try a frosty mug of their homemade root beer, or one of the German and local beers on tap. A fruit strudel and hunks of rich cheesecake will finish off any visit to Schilo%26#39;s.
My husband and I and our two children (8 and 11) are leaving tomorrow for a week stay. I am looking for riverwalk restaurants that are good for a family. My husband does not like Texmex. We are only eating dinner out and hoping for entre%26#39;s below $25.00 and a kids menu.
One of my favorites is The Republic of Texas. It has a very varied menu including TexMex, but it also has some damn good Chicken Fried Steak, burgers, sandwiches, and a great kids menu.
http://www.therepublicoftexasrestaurant.com/
For other suggestions, see the post below about the Reader%26#39;s Choice Awards.
Can anyone recommend a good independently owned pizza place either downtown or even near the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort? I%26#39;m not looking for Pizza Hut ;-) I want a pizza joint that the locals love....thin crust is a plus!
I saw some posts for Fralos (too far, I think) and I saw there%26#39;s a Central Park Pizza on the River....just wanted to get your 2 cents as well.
Thanks! Anna
Unfortunately, I cannot think of any independently owned places between downtown and the hyatt hill country.
HOWEVER! There is a fantastic pizza place near Alamo Heights called Sorrento%26#39;s. It has always gotten rave reviews from both tourists and natives. Check out the google reviews.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en%26amp;ie=UTF8%26amp;q=pizza+restaurants+san+antonio%26amp;fb=1%26amp;split=1%26amp;gl=us%26amp;view=text%26amp;ei=IPw8SumRBY_MMYm01YgE%26amp;cd=9%26amp;sll=29.445178,-98.508385%26amp;sspn=0.203890,0.132893%26amp;latlng=29474139,-98462660,15689291995821633179
I hope this isn%26#39;t a stupid question but does the River Tour bring you back to where you started or do they drop you off before they turn around? If it%26#39;s round trip can they stop along the way and drop you off before they arrive back at the starting dock point?
Thanks! Anna
Anna,
The actual tour boats take you back to where you started and they will not be able to let you off somewhere else. There are also river taxis which can take you anywhere on the river, but that would be a separate price. I am not too sure how it works on the new part of the river, though.
The new portion of the river is a $10 ticket which is good for 24 hours, so you could ride up and back without getting off, or you could ride up, get off and explore the most northern reaches, then catch another one to go back. It%26#39;s the river taxis that ply the new extension. (They look the same...the taxis have a flag on the back, about the only way you can differentiate them.)
Does the $10 ticket also give you access to taxi rides (not tour boats) on the older portion of the river? For example, could I get a ride from the Rivercenter Mall to County Line and then later ride from somewhere in that area to the new portion and then ride back? It sounds as if this is what could happen. I like to make the long walks on the river, but my husband has a bad hip, and he can%26#39;t walk far. This sounds like a good deal for us. Do the taxis run pretty often? And are they full enough that you have to wait in line a long time? Thanks for your help, OO.
Am coming with family in july. Looking for a good hotel for 4 nights. Would Perfer LaQunita, but any advice would be helpful
There are 4 La Quinta Inns in the city. Knowing your purpose in coming might help determine which Inn is most appropriate.
I would avoid La Quinta Inn North. The area is near the refineries and not generally pleasing to look at. It is, however, nearest to downtown.
La Quinta Northwest is a long way from the beach and most of the attractions families come to Corpus Christi to see and do.
La Quinta Airport is the newest of the 4 I believe but is not really close to anything other than the airport.
La Quinta South is nearest the beach, although still a good 15-20 minute drive. Also near a lot of the Southside restaurants.
None of these properties are walking distance to any of the cities attractions. If I was to pick one I would go with the South location. You can continue down SPID to the beaches (15-20 min) You can get to downtown (USS Lexington, Texas State Aquarium, etc.) in about 10 minutes.
The reason for being here will help you decide which of the 4. Also the room rates are different with the South location the most expensive and the Northwest location the least expensive.
There are other hotels better located and reasonably priced in the city.
There%26#39;s a new Hilton Garden Inn on SPID. It%26#39;s equi-distant from the beach and downtown. Downside? It%26#39;s not super close to either and it%26#39;s just off the freeway. BUT, it%26#39;s set back a ways off the freeway, access to SPID (the main freeway) is easy and there%26#39;s never any traffic, you%26#39;re close to restaurants and shopping, and the hotel is very nice. Nice rooms, nice lobby, nice staff. Free breakfast in thw morning with a large selection (they even had an omelette bar when I was there!) This is where my parents stay whenever they come in town...
If you prefer to stay downtown, spring for the Omni. It really is the nicest one downtown...and it%26#39;s not even THAT great (I%26#39;d rather stay at the Hilton)...but there are great views of the area!
If staying at the beach (North Padre Island) I would recommend the Holiday Inn. Last time I was there the rooms were a bit worn, but it%26#39;s a good beachy atmosphere.
Hope you enjoy your stay! Make sure to eat at the Dragonfly restaurant on North Padre. Very yummy and neat place!
We are coming for vacation and to see the beaches.
TA Reviews said LQ South was bad and North was pretty good
Will be coming for vacation. Beaches and sightseeing
TA Reviews said LQ south was to be avoided, but the north onew were pretty good
What about Comfort Suites?
There are a lot of hotels near the beach. Not sure why you are limiting yourself but if distance is not a factor La Quinta North is probably one of the newest. It is easily 30-45 minutes depending on traffic from the beaches along Padre and Mustang Islands.
Comfort Inn Calallen is also 30 minutes plus from the beaches. Google search says 35 miles to beaches. Don%26#39;t be fooled when it says 15 min from Corpus Christi Beach. The Gulf Beaches where the beachgoers vacation are another 30 minutes away. Corpus Christi beach is man made and on the bay. Can be fun but not open ocean.
There are several Comfort Suites near the beach...one on Windward and one on SPID. Think they are relatively new. Have never stayed at either.
Not interested in Port Aransas?
Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce
http://www.portaransas.org/
Thanks for the input. Not necarsilly trying to limit myself; just want something farily close and easy to get to.
All the reviews of it seem really good. How far is it to the beaches and is there anything else I need to know?
The Comfort Suites on South Padre Island Drive is 11 miles from the beaches.
The one on Windward is across the street from the beach.
We are planning a family trip over Thanksgiving week. We would like to drive probably no more than 24 hours from Dallas. We would love Texas recommendations and other states as well. We have a teen and an 8 year old. We love outdoor activites, and history. We would like to go to a location where we don%26#39;t have to drive far for activities, once we arrive. We plan on staying 4 or 5 days depending on how long the drive is. What do you recommend?
Hi there - are you saying you only want it to take a day to get there? Or 24 hours total driving time - because you can almost get to San Francisco in 24 hours of driving time or Buffalo, NY. That leaves MANY destinations to suggest. Just curious so we can narrow the options better for you -
I%26#39;m going to assume you mean only taking a day total (drive and sleep/rest time) to get there and suggest Big Bend National Park. Beautiful scenery, plenty of outdoor activities (camping, horseback riding, canoeing/rafting down the Rio Grande River, etc. The skys are gorgeous out there and you could visit the McDonald Observatory near there :
http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/
Last Nov. I rented a condo in Gulf Shores, Al. Had a wonderful time. The water was too cold to swim, but nice weather for walking in the beach. I took lots of day trips..Mobile, Pennsecola, FL, Fairhope, AL. Enjoyed the outlet mall in Foley and the Wharf shops. It is about a 12 hour drive from Dallas. Easy drive.
Thank you both for the trip ideas. I should have been more specific about drive time. I did intent it to be 8-14 hours vs 24 driving non-stop.
Thanks again.
a couple of other suggestions:
Northwest Arkansas (about a 6 and 1/2 hour drive): it%26#39;s a beautiful part of the state, many places to camp - the Buffalo River is popular for rafting. (Keep all food out of your tents, etc because there are bears up there - had one walk right by my tent one night). Eureka Springs is a neat town to visit while up there also. They have other activities up there you could read about under the northwest Arkansas posts.
Colorado Springs, CO: plenty of outdoor activities - www.gardenofthegods.com - etc
if going to Big Bend NP area, you could also drive to Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, NM from there - which is pretty awesome:
www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/cave_tours.htm
I had been thinking Eureka Springs too. It is absolutely beautiful and I bet there might be some great color on the foliage at that time of year if its not too late.
Just had another thought ... We drove from McKinney, TX to Gatlinburg, TN in about 14 hours. Gatlinburg is a wonderful little city with lots of scenery and tons of things to do that you can get to on foot.
Just before Gatlinburg (not as far up in the Smokies) was Sevierville and Pidgeon Forge. Both had tons and tons of new motels at unbelievably low rates (in April). We%26#39;re talking around $30. There is just as much, if not more, to do in those towns plus I understand Dollywood is somewhere nearby.
We found 14 hours in the car a bit much but had underestimated the distance. Gatlinburg is virtually on the border of North Carolina. If you are not deterred by that kind of time on the road, I would definitely consider it for lots of natural beauty, lots of things to do and decent prices.
I%26#39;m in town next week for a conference at the Hyatt Regency Austin. I%26#39;ll be there thru Sunday w/o a car. What%26#39;s within walking distance, that isn%26#39;t 6th St., that%26#39;s a great place for hearing live music?
I%26#39;m looking for places to go Fri. night, Sat afternoon and evening and early Sun. afternoon.
Thanks!
Hello -
Here%26#39;s a couple of venues you can check out
My first thought is the Elephant Room (walking distance): www.elephantroom.com
SpeakEasy (walking distance): www.speakeasyaustin.com
A very short/cheap cab ride away would be the Saxon Pub: www.thesaxonpub.com
short can ride: Stubb%26#39;s: http://www.stubbsaustin.com/music_home.html
That being said, I%26#39;m not sure what type of music you like so maybe you could tell us so we can point you in the right direction.
MrTed will be able to list some more optionsm for you
I like classic rock, folk of the singer / songwriter variety, some country, about everything except hip-hop and disco dance music.
My husband is very much into hearing original music.
From the Hyatt, you are close to the Continental Club and South Congress. You%26#39;ll find music all over on the weekends. Not sure why you aren%26#39;t interested in 6th St, we%26#39;re in our late 40s and always find something we enjoy when we go down there. With UT out for the summer it%26#39;s not as crazy and there is a variety of music to be heard. That said, take a look at the Austin Chronicle music calendar and you can get an idea of what%26#39;s in town next week. austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/…MusicListings
Try to get by the Austin Visitor%26#39;s Center at 209 E. 6th for the visitor%26#39;s guide and free maps. Don%26#39;t forget that prices of anything in Austin, especially cabs will be substantially below Chicago prices! A nice thing to encounter.
Definitely check out www.austinchronicle.com/
for the alternative newspaper that comes out on Thursdays. It does a good job of listing the clubs, their genre and who%26#39;s playing on specific nights.
I%26#39;ll also suggest the Cactus Cafe on the UT campus for acoustic music, especially of the singer/songwriter variety.It%26#39;s a very short cab ride. For country, it%26#39;s always fun to recommend the Broken Spoke. It%26#39;s one of the last true honky tonks and is a short cab ride from down town. Occasionally even Willie Nelson shows up here.
There%26#39;s an assortment of music at both the Continental Club on S. Congress and Antone%26#39;s. Both of those clubs are among the most popular in town. Continental Club is an easy walk from the Hyatt and Antone%26#39;s is walkable. I%26#39;d cab home from it.
Welcome to Austin!
I%26#39;ll be hitting 6th St. early with people from the conference. Since Austin has such a reputation for being a great live music town, I want to hear some of the other venues, maybe some place that attracks more of the local crowd.
I just thought I%26#39;d post and share some of my favorite places to eat and go in Ft Worth. I%26#39;ve lived in Tarrant Co for 8 years, hubby has been here 10 and we love it here!
Food:
Mexican: Uncle Julio%26#39;s for chips and salsa and fajitas
Benito%26#39;s for pico de gallo and lunch specials
Fuzzy%26#39;s taco shop for taco%26#39;s, chicken enchiladas and white cheese dip
Pizza: Mama%26#39;s then Mellow Mushroom-great patio
Burger: Kincaid%26#39;s
Sandwich: Central Market Cafe to Go-great patio
Salad: Old Neighborhood Grill
Italian: Margie%26#39;s
To go and do:
get mix and match beers and hang on patio at Central Market
Rose gardens at the Botanical gardens
Main St Arts Festival, especially the music
nice day at the Stockyards, enjoy Brad Hines if he%26#39;s playing at the Love Shack and get ice cream and Texas art at the Bullring
bike/picnic at Trinity Park
the museum%26#39;s
live music at the Flying Saucer downtown
concerts at Mayfest
check out galleries/art shops, especially The Artful Hand
We are planning a weekend trip in May to Ft. Worth. I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about Mayfest.
Thanks
Kincaids +1
how %26#39;bout
Paris Coffee shop
Nice list, Aggie. I office out of Fort Worth.
I%26#39;ll list a few personal favorites;
I%26#39;m really fond of taking in and simply taking out of towners to the culture district. I think it really ends the debate that Texas has no culture.
The Seventh St. area west of the Trinity River is really changing and I%26#39;m looking forward to great times in the area.
The new Omni I think will add a new level of sophistication downtown that%26#39;s already teeming with activity.
I%26#39;m fond of Lucille%26#39;s for breakfast on weekends.
My favortie Tex-Mex is El Asadero on Main just a bit south of the stockyards. It%26#39;s a hole-in-the-wall though.
I take out of town guests to La Familia off of Seventh St. for Tex-Mex in pleasant surroundings. No one beats their service.
Gloria%26#39;s is a great addition and nice change of pace to the Fort Worth dining scene.
The Spiral Diner is surprisingly good. I%26#39;m not even a vegetarian, but my wife is, and we%26#39;ve enjoyed the place several times.
Hot Damn Tamales MUST be experienced.
I think some of the local restaurants are under appreciated and over shadowed by the Dallas bretheren.
Louise%26#39;s
Reata
Lanny%26#39;s place
St. Emillion
Lonesome Dove
Are all local worthy dining scenes.
I have a soft spot for Sardine%26#39;s. Something about the atmosphere and the jazz makes my wife particularly frisky.
I miss the old JJ%26#39;s Hideaway. Best lounge to hide from work in Fort Worth.
The jazz club in Sundance Square area (Scat ?) has given me a few good times.
Taverna, Ferre, and 8.0 have all been fun spots one time or another.
I think the Bass Hall is a stunning structure inside.
It%26#39;s worth taking the hour long tour sometimes. I also learned the hard way about buying the cheap seats in the upper gallery for a ';Scrooge'; performance about 1 1/2 years ago too. Those seats seemed built for children.
I think we underappreciate our zoos sometime. Combine the Fort Worth zoo with the Dallas zoo, throw in the Dallas World Aquarium and Fossil Ridge and do we REALLY need to see the San Diego zoo?
San Antonio Sea World is mighty close as well.
I%26#39;m sometimes fond of some of the local taquerias. Some of the best tasting Mexican food in north Texas come out of these stands.
I live in Denton and like Dallas and Fort Worth equally well. Different vibes and I appreciate both equally well.
This should tell you most of what you need to know about Mayfest;
www.mayfest.org
Thanks for mentioning JJ%26#39;s Hideaway, dentonjohn.
Had some great times there!
RIP
Both you and BbA have mentioned some of my favorites, especially the White Elephant for beer, music and relaxation and sitting on the roof at Reatas with a glass of wine. Gotta love lunch at either the Modern or Kimbell.
Love LaGrave Field and watching the Fort Worth Cats.
Riding bikes on Trinity Trails.
So much of the downtown architecture,especially the Flatiron Building
Etta%26#39;s Place
Parade of Lights and the Christmas tree
Starting to love my FW area for these things:
Margaritas/patio-Joe T%26#39;s
Mexican breakfast- Eperanza%26#39;s
Mexican-Molcajetes
Burger-Kincaid%26#39;s the original and Lili%26#39;s Bistro
Pizza-Nizza Pizza
Italian-been wanting to try Piola%26#39;s but haven%26#39;t made it yet
BBQ-Angelo%26#39;s
The best part there is so much more out there waiting for my taste buds to judge.
See/Do-
Science Musuem
Plenty of Art Museums
Zoo
Log Cabing Village
Botanical Gardens
Water Gardens
Cats Baseball
Drive-in Movie
Various Lakes
Stockyards
Sundance Square
Duck Pond
Trinity River/trails
Duck Day on the Trinity
Many marathons
Main St. Art Festival
Mayfest
Christmas Parade of lights
Wineries
Breweries
Horse Trails
DFW Airport is one of the best out there
Billy Bob%26#39;s
Houston St. Bar/Lounge%26#39;s
CONCERTS!
N those are the things I know about imagine how much more is out there to find out about.
Here are a couple more:
Mexican (with a seafood spin)---La Playa Maya off of North Main (shrimp/cheese enchiladas are to die for!)
We love wineries and have gone a couple of times to: Light Catcher Winery --near Azle in Lakeside
and right across the highway :The Fort Worth Nature Center
Grapevine Wineries are wonderful!!
The Gaylord--great place for pictures and to just look at the wonderful scenery--great for a weekend getaway to. Glass Cactus is a wonderful club!!
Hot Damn Tamales is high on my to do list.
I love reading the lists of others to look for new ideas for us!
I%26#39;ve been dieting and working out a lot this year so my dining out has been limited to 1 splurge meal/week and it%26#39;s hard to tear myself away from my fav%26#39;s!!
