Authentic English Style Fish and Chips

I lived in Houston in the early %26#39;80%26#39;s - Cedric%26#39;s had pretty good fish and chips. Is there anything around now. Please do not reply with Long John Silvers or Captain D%26#39;s - THANKS!

Authentic English Style Fish and Chips

Black Lab, Richmond arms, to name a couple.

Authentic English Style Fish and Chips

Hi In,

Try this:

b4-u-eat.com/houston/鈥sv3025.asp

It%26#39;s called the Bull and Bear Tavern, and the reviews look favorable. I agree with Kingwood; the Black Lab is prett authentic, as well.

I do Not recommend the ';Firkin and Phoenix'; for food; as a pub, there are nice people,and plenty of soccer on the big screens, but we were disappointed in the food.

Let us know what you find and enjoy!

cc,

Cupcake

Thank you - I am still a few weeks away from my visit, I will look into these recos. My stay will only be 3 days, so I may or may not be able to get to this meal.

The best in town is the Red Lion on Shepherd. Enjoy :-)

I think the Red Lion looks like the spot - $16 for F%26amp;C is pretty pricey to me... I guess I have issue with that as I know so many great inexpensive places to eat in HOU. I did put it in my notes and will see if the mood strikes. Thanks!

spots

Sea World

Whats the best plan for a day @ Sea World? I heard the parking lot opens pretty early, then also heard you can do a few things befor the ';park'; opens. Also I have etickets but have to go to customer service to get my %26#39;hard'; tickets (year pass)can that be done befor the ';park opens';? Any fst food resturants outside of the park to grab a light breakfast. Want to make the best of our time, any suggestions/ What about taking food in, lockers %26amp; such? Good idea or a waste of time?

Sea World

Check out my post at tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60956-i76-k281312鈥?/a>

Food is not allowed to be brought in. A few little snack and some water can be talked in. You could always leave food in the car and go back out to it. There%26#39;s a McDonald%26#39;s right near the entrance.

Sea World

Great thanks for the tips! What about the waterpark area, what to do with purses %26amp; wallets, do they have lockers? Whats the best plan so things don%26#39;t get stollen.I saw night time shows %26amp; fireworks, but the calender says park closes @ 6:00 pm the second week in June, its not dark yet! Is dining w/Shamu fun or do you see enough animals kids 6 %26amp; 4?

It might not be officially allowed, but with two kids, we%26#39;ve always brought in snacks and water, and never had any problems. The staff WILL watch out for straws, plastic lids, and other things normally considered hazardous for the animals.

There are several restaurants around SeaWorld before you get there to stop %26amp; grab a bite. If you all plan on going on the rides at the same time than I would definitely get a locker to protect valuables. Since you are going early I would get a locker near the entrance %26amp; exit part of the Park due to when leaving it would be easier to get your things from the locker. You may also want to go to SeaWorld website under questions %26amp; Answer part for lots of good advise %26amp; a lot of answer to questions you may be thinking about. I%26#39;ve gone there several times %26amp; found many answers to my questions %26amp; family questions. www.seaworld.com/SanAntonio

BTW on the SeaWorld website click on F.A.Q. there is a answer for food %26amp; drinks.

Also I think the dining with Shamu is a great things for the kids, my niece %26amp; nephew were so fascinated about it %26amp; still talk about it %26amp; they were close to the age of your kids 2 yrs ago. The lunch is actually pretty good %26amp; the joy that you see on your kids face is memorable.

Thanks for all your great tips. What about night time shows I heard they had them but the web says they close at 6:00. Ps we are doing the dine w/shamu looks like alot of fun.

Food @ Brackenridge Oark

Is Amadillos close to the park? (looking for something close,walking)Or do they have resturants in the park. Planning on the Zoo,railroad,kiddie park, Witte museum. I%26#39;m assuming this will take up most the day, would like a place to have a good light lunch. Can you park in one spot %26amp; get to all these things? Am I missing anything fun in that area?

Food @ Brackenridge Oark

Augie%26#39;s Barbed Wire is the closest - next to the parking lot for the Japanese Gardens. Next closest is Josephs - good but a little pricey. On Broadway there are some fast food choices as well as WD Deli, Goodtime Charlies, Cheesey Jane%26#39;s and Central Market. I would recommend any of those.

Food @ Brackenridge Oark

Armadillos is not walking distance. Good Time Charlies on broadway would be a good food choice.

Armadillos is more central downtown %26amp; a great place for huge Hamburgers.

Witte museum isn%26#39;t easily walk from the zoo but you can take the train there %26amp; By the Wittie are several places nearby to eat.

Looking for deli like or mexi. I don%26#39;t eat meat. Living in Dallas we have great burgers %26amp; BBQ for the kids. Looking for fun %26amp; different. Hows that Twin Sisters? Magic Time Machine we do have that in Dallas but maybe its different in SA. Hows that for location from the riverwalk.Staying at Hilton hill counrty by sea world then moving to Hawthorns.

Tex-Mex near the zoo would Picante Grill or Tomatillos, I prefer Picante. Deli would be WD Deli or HEB Central Market (Central Market has a huge variety sushi, burgers, sandwiches, stir fry, prepared foods, salad bar, soup, beer, wine)

I would do zoo first (park at zoo) then train loop back to zoo parking lot. Drive to lunch (check out Kiddie Park you may choose to skip it - it is VERY kitschy) Then drive to Witte. If you have time after that - Botanical Gardens, or McNay Art Museum are nearby.

I agree with Octoboy suggestions!!!! If you are looking for good Tex Mex I also agree with Octoboy suggestions, FYI Picante Grill does have vegetarian dishes here is the website to check it out to see if it meets your criteria. http://www.sawhost.com/picantegrill also Tomatillos is very good. Magic Time Machine is a fun place never been to the one in Dallas so can%26#39;t compare. It%26#39;s on the NE side a little down from the airport. It%26#39;s about a 19 min drive from the downtown area.

Enchanted Springs Ranch

I see ranch is about a 30 mile drive from riverwalk is it worth the drive? I%26#39;ve been told its alot of fun just wondering if anyone has been lately. What about the food situation around the Ranch. Kids 6 %26amp; 4

Enchanted Springs Ranch

The Ranch is just west of Boerne on Hwy 46. On the way @ IH 10 %26amp; 46 you have Wahataburger, Chillis, DQ, taco Cabana, Dennys, Starbucks, Churchs, BBQ stand. In town more choices for food.

For 4%26amp;6 its maybe worht going of the old west is your thing.

Enchanted Springs Ranch

Yes I think it%26#39;s worth a visit especially the hayride, %26amp; seeing the working ranch %26amp; the show + chuck wagon dinner. It%26#39;s very interesting!!!!

Whats the Chuck Wagen dinner? Do they do that for ';lunch';?I think we are going to go here %26amp; I%26#39;ve been wondering about the food.

I haven%26#39;t been recently but they didn%26#39;t do lunch just a chuck wagon dinner with a movie. I believe you can get the newer info on their website. www.enchantedspringsranch.com my niece %26amp; nephew really enjoyed it %26amp; had a fantastic time.

FYI, I just saw that you can bring a lunch with you %26amp; eat it their. They have a picnic area set up which would be nice.

fishing

I am going to south padre 8th through the 12th of june who is the best and cheapest fishing guide there also were to go fish off piers?

review of Pawnee Bill's wild west show

Ever been? Recommend to family with teenagers and elementary son? Know of any coupons/savings?

Thanks!

Downtown tunnels and Chase Building

Does anyone know how to get

into the downtown tunnels and what

hours they are open? What is down there?

Shops and restaurants?

Also can you go to the observation point

of the Chase tower or do you need a ticket

or tour? What hours can you do this?

What is a good restaurant to eat in at downtown?

Downtown tunnels and Chase Building

In terms of the Downtown Tunnels, you can easily start at Macy%26#39;s by taking the escalators down. There are maps to guide you around. Hours are basically normal business hours, though most of the eating places close around 2p or 3p after the lunch crowds have died down. You can go from Macy%26#39;s to the Shops at Houston Center underground. The new Houston Pavilions is not connected to the Underground.

More information and maps here under ';Getting Around';:

www.houstondowntown.com/home/default.asp

In terms of restaurants, I like Mia Bella, Les Givrals, McCormick %26amp; Schmidt, Vic %26amp; Anthony%26#39;s, and Erma%26#39;s. House of Blues sounds interesting and have yet to try The Grove at Discovery Green.

Downtown tunnels and Chase Building

You can get down to the tunnel from any building. They used to be open from 6:00A till 10:00 or 11:00P. That said after about 6:00P most of the stores close - and yes shops and restaurants. You do not need a ticket - can go the observation on the Wells Fargo building (about the 60th floor) or the Chase building (don%26#39;t remember the floor). Top floor of the Wells Fargo building is a private club / restaurant (hopefully still is). If you are talking tunnel - treebeards, Beck%26#39;s Prime - I have heard the brekfast Klub is supposed to be good (never been there) - then off tunnel like the Grove, Vic %26amp; Anthony%26#39;s, Cabo%26#39;s, Sambuca (personally I don%26#39;t but every one seems to like it)

Thanks for the info!

Look forward to navigating the tunnels!

spots

Taxi/shuttle

Hi. I would like to inquire if anybody knows how much is the taxi and shuttle fare from Brownsville airport to Suntide II at SPI. Thanks for any input.

Dallas cowboys stadium near by Hotel or shuttle

Hi

Coming from Australia would love to see NFL game

Will be in USA september %26amp; October.The only game we can get to will be Cowboys v Giants Sunday 20 sept 7.15pm.

Will be staying in Fort Worth but to get to the game from there is out of the question.

Need some good advice where to stay near by or a conveniant shuutle.

Thanks,

Pomlea.

Dallas cowboys stadium near by Hotel or shuttle

It actually is not impossible to get from FW to the stadium- just a bit a expensive if you take a cab.

We are looking forward to some first hand trip reports, especially from knr, once the stadium opens this summer for concerts.

That said, here are some recent threads from the Arlington/Dallas forums on this same topic

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g30183-i859-k26193鈥?/a>

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g30183-i859-k25675鈥?/a>

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g55711-i141-k27125鈥?/a>

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g55711-i141-k26747鈥?/a>

Dallas cowboys stadium near by Hotel or shuttle

The Hilton Arlington is a full-service Hotel less than one mile from the new stadium and I hear they are doing some cool pre-game things in their bar area. They will offer free trolley and/or van transportation to the stadium so it will be easy getting in and out of the stadium area and back to the Hotel.

Hi

Ha a look at Hilton Arlington but already booked out for this date

Cheers,

pomlea

You may want to look at the new Comfort Suites on Road to Six Flags Drive. I am attending an event this weekend at the Cowboys Stadium and I called to see if they would have any shuttle/trolley service to the stadium and they will. This is complimentary to hotel guests only.

I also asked them if they would provide this same service for the Cowboys games this fall and they said that it would still be offered.

Where in Ft.Worth will you be staying? Arlington is about a 20 -30 minute drive from Ft.Worth.

People live in Arlington and commute to Ft.Worth for work each and every day. The rooms will be easier to find in Ft. Worth and probably alittle less expensive. If I were you, I would stay in Ft.Worth and come into Arlington for the game.

C.E.

Yea, knr! Good information.

Looking forward to your report after the concert. Have fun, be safe.

Possible Road Trip

Hi,

I%26#39;m in the VERY early planning stages of a possible road trip next year. I%26#39;ve done a bit of research on the forums and so far I%26#39;ve come up with the following:

San Antonio

Houston

Lafayette

New Orleans

Natchez

Follow the Natchez Trail to Jackson

We only have a couple of weeks and I don%26#39;t want to be in a car for every hour of every day. It would be nice to have time to enjoy the sights and maybe stop over a couple of nights in some places.

Do you think the above is far enough or should I stretch further?

I quite fancy getting to Savannah, Georgia but not sure if that is too much and where I would stop along the way?

Thanks

Possible Road Trip

We%26#39;re huge fans of southern Louisiana and live in SA so SA-Houston-Lafayette-New Orleans sounds great to me. I grew up in Beaufort, SC (45 minutes north of Savannah) and am a huge fan of the low country. If you%26#39;re heading there you ought to consider Charleston, SC too.

San Antonio - 2 days plus 1 day for each amusement park, 1 day for Schlitterbahnn, 2 days for hiil country 2 days for Austin

Houston - 2 days, plus 1 day for NASA and area, 1 day Galveston (2 if you include Schlitterbahnn)

Lafayette - 1 day plus 1/2 day swamp tour, 1/2 day plantation, another day for antiques around Washington and Ville Platte

NO - 3 days another day shopping Baton Rouge

Savannah - 2 days

Hilton Head - 2 days including a day for golf

Beaufort - 2 days (instead of Hilton Head) same less resorty more down to earth

Charleston 2 days plus 1 day for Plantations

Interests might be a determining factor here. What are you most interested in?

Possible Road Trip

This is a good itinerary.

There is alot to see in the San Antonio area, I would plan to spend the most time there. Houston, 2 nights at the most. What are you planning to see here? I

If Lafayette is just a place to stop, you might want to consider taking a Southwest Airlines flight from Houston to New Orleans (they have good fares) and then visit N.O. and Jackson, Vicksburg is also nice and not far from Jackson.

I love Savannah, GA. You could take a Delta Airlines flight from Jackson to Savannah, via Atlanta very easily.

Are you flying from the UK in/out of San Antonio? Maybe you could fly UK to San Antonio, return Savannah to UK.

I would recommend you plan this trip from March-May or October-November for more comfortable weather.

Welcome to the US!

you may want to provide more details about your interests - what are you interested in seeing in each place? I would definitely add a few plantation homes to visit in south Louisiana while on the way to New Orleans - namely Oak Alley oakalleyplantation.com (which has been used in some movies) and Nottoway plantation home www.nottoway.com - you can research these online.

Thanks for your ideas so far. We don%26#39;t have any particular interests we%26#39;re into and would just like to experience a broad range of things such as:

Outdoor activities

Local history

Good local food

Sports - would love to see a basketball or football game

Rodeo

Just want to get a good flavour of the areas we visit really so definitely no theme parks or anything too touristy that%26#39;s not unique to the area, although NASA could be cool.

Thinking it could be good to stay in the general area of some of the cities on route but maybe more out of town unless the city itself is a must see e.g. New Orleans. Maybe some of you have some suggestions?

I%26#39;m now thinking that Savannah is stretching it for one 2 week trip and we should save it for another time. It%26#39;s also cheaper for us to book return flights and pick up/drop off the hire car in the same place so thinking of flying in/out of Dallas and doing a circular route with all the places I mentioned above but need some suggestions for between Jackson and Dallas

Thanks

If you visit March 2010, you can visit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This is a huge event in Houston.

http://hlsr.com/

You mention flying in/out of Dallas. That is a good distance from the original cities you mentioned. Have you checked the fares into Houston , New Orleans or San Antonio. When are you looking to travel here? Something else you may want to look at, if you are not flying nonstop into Texas, is 2 round-trip tickets. One from UK-NYC, for example and another from NYC to Houston.

Check you car rental rates in one stop at bnm.com, you can do same rental city pick up/drop off, or one way rentals.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo sounds great. What%26#39;s the weather like in March? And will there be any sports on at that time e.g. basketball, American football, etc?

I can see that Dallas is quite far out so I guess it could mean a lot of driving and not as much time to see and experience other places. I can fly to San Antonio (via Philadelphia) so do you think it would be best to just book flights in and out of there and start my trip in San Antonio, end in Jackson and then get an internal flight between Jackson and San Antonio? Is this possible?

I agree that Savannah would be tough to do with everything else you want to see. Based on what you said you want to experience:

Outdoor activities

Local history

Good local food

Sports - would love to see a basketball or football game

Rodeo

I would fly to San Antonio or Austin, TX - spend time (probably 3 or 4 days) around San Antonio and Austin (only a one hour drive from each other) and experience the Texas Hill Country, Lakes, horseback riding, etc (outdoor activities, good Texas barbeque (especially the brisket) see some live music in Austin (live music is huge in Austin) they also have the Austin City Limits festival being held in early October this year (www.aclfestival.com)

then you could drive to Houston or Dallas (about 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours) to experience one of the big southern cities and a sports game for about 2 days.

then, you could fly from Dallas or Houston to New Orleans and stay 3 days or so. New Orleans is one of THE cities you must visit in the South - very unique culture and great food!

then, I would drive from New Orleans up to Jackson (since you stated that you wanted to see Jackson) and maybe go from there to Memphis, TN. Memphis has great barbeque also but are known more for ribs there - it%26#39;s the home of Elvis and they have a great nightlife scene on Beal Street. Memphis would be an easy city to get a flight back home from also.

I%26#39;m just trying to think of some great cities that have alot to offer so you can experience the southern charm, food, music etc that makes the South such a popular destination. Also, you don%26#39;t want to spend all your time driving around -

if you need more info just ask - hope you have a great trip!

Thanks nonnative Texan for some good ideas but I think we%26#39;d rather stay on the road and do a shorter route than take too many flights (too much time wasted in airports). Also we%26#39;re after some ideas out of cities as we don%26#39;t want to visit cities unless they%26#39;re ones we really shouldn%26#39;t miss e.g. N.O

the drive from Houston to New Orleans is about 6 hours and can be cool if you make some stops in the small towns along the way in south Louisiana if that%26#39;s what you want to do - I was just trying to keep you from driving alot during your trip - but driving is a fantastic way to experience the people/culture etc... I%26#39;ve actually always rented cars when visiting Europe and love it so I think that%26#39;s a great idea to drive more

Yeah, that%26#39;s exactly what we%26#39;re after. Maybe you could recommend a few small towns on the way from Houston to New Orleans that we could stop off at?

Taxi prices

Can somebody give me an idea of the approximate cost of a taxi from Hyatt Place hotel Hurst to Stockyards and Sundance Sq? Visiting in September,and don%26#39;t really want to drive,as I like a drink on vacation.

My wife has friend who lives in Hurst,and she has kindly offered to drive us around.

Would like to take her for a night out and meal,but don%26#39;t want her to have to drive.

Taxi prices

We are staying at the Hyatt in Hurst in two weeks- small world!

The hotel is about 13 miles from the Stockyards, 12 miles to Sundance Square. Based on a rough estimate using Yellow Cab rates, it will run about $36-38, one way. I have found that cabs will sometimes cut you a deal on a round trip, if you use the same driver and set up the trip in advance.

We are actually using a car service when there, just for the fun of it- runs slightly more than a cab but was recommended by a friend so we are giving them a try.

http://starsandbarsdfw.com/

hotel with kitchen

Any hotels with kitchens in Port A? Still looking for a great deal. Flexible dates until July 19. Thanks

hotel with kitchen

The TravelLodge in Pt. A has rooms with kitchens.

Houston to New Orleans

Hi - This is my first post on Trip Advisor although I have been reading lots of hotel reviews recently for NOLA and have settled on the Place D%26#39;Armes Hotel mainly based on its location and everyones reviews ;o)

We are visiting my cousin in early September who live at Katy, Houston and my friend and I will be driving to NOLA for 3 days - not sure if you would class this as a road trip as its only a few hours travelling but as we%26#39;re driving I suppose you would!!

I have a few questions that hopefully you could help me out with -

Can anyone recommend any good places to eat along the way - I will try anything so am open to sugggestions of roadside diners or places in towns.

Also are there any sights or places worth seeing along the way, we are planning to leave early on a monday morning and would like to get to NOLA I guess by late afternoon early evening. We are already planning a swamp trip whilst in NOLA and may take in the plantations as well time permitting.

Finally - what route would people recommend, looking oni a map it seems the I-10 is the main one, although from what I have seen it gets very busy round Baton Rouge - would it be worth turning off at Lafayette and taking the US-90?

Sorry to ask so many questions but it seemed easier to put them all on one post!!

Thanks - Kozzer ;o)

Houston to New Orleans

We make the trip from SA to NO or Lafayette often. I-10 is the quickest way, though we have often taken the more scenic route. Lafayette is a great place to eat. I can give you a week%26#39;s worth of restaurants.

Prejans www.prejeans.com

Pat鈥檚 Atchafalaya Club http://www.patsfishermanswharf.com/

Cafe des Amis http://www.cafedesamis.com/

Nash%26#39;s

Blue Dog Cafe

T-Coons

Dwyer%26#39;s Cafe

Hub City Diner

Poor Boy%26#39;s Riverside Inn

Porpot%26#39;s Bakery

Best Meat Company

Don%26#39;s Meat

to name a few

Houston to New Orleans

I would definitely add a few of the Old South plantation homes to visit in south Louisiana while on the way to New Orleans - namely Oak Alley oakalleyplantation.com (which has been used in some movies) and Nottoway plantation home www.nottoway.com - you can research these online. They have directions on how to get there on their websites but they are not very far out of the way.

there are many others worth seeing but these two are my favorites

Thanks Octoboy - great help - I am now spoilt for choice!! Can%26#39;t wait ;o)

Thanks for the tips about the plantations - I had thought about adding them to a swamp tour but it looks like it might be more cost effective to call at one on the way to NOLA, so thank you ;o)

There are also swamp tours in Lafayette.

You didn%26#39;t ask about Place d%26#39;Armes but I will caution you: amongst all of the glowing reviews, there are a few not so good ones- mine was one. There is a section of rooms (ours was 224) that are not the pretty, look out on the courtyard kind, I think saved for those of us who booked cheaply through Expedia and that sort of thing. Be cautious about where they put you and be prepared- here%26#39;s a link to my review

tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60864-d1119鈥?/a>

Hi Poodleone - thanks for the note about the hotel - I%26#39;m hoping it will be OK as we booked a room with a balcony and through the hotel website as it was actually cheaper to do it that way than with expedia or similiar sites - I guess because the dollar rate is working in our favour at the moment, but thanks for the headsup!

I look forward to your trip review- sounds like you are planning a really good time! We love NOLA, such an interesting and fun place.

spots

Marriott Hotel

Sunday to Friday travel. Stay 3 nights and get one free using promo code (sum). Ave $117 per night.

Marriott Hotel

Thanks. I am thinking of a possible getway there.

Six Flags & OR Hurricane Harbour with 4 & 8 year old boys?

Is there enough for our age kids to do to make it worth the tickets? Boys are 40in and 48in...the website shows several but would we get bored? Also concerned about the reviews? We have been to Disney but I am not expecting Disney at six flags....

Six Flags %26amp; OR Hurricane Harbour with 4 %26amp; 8 year old boys?

My children had a gap in age and what we found was the problem is there will be a lot the 8 year old can ride the 4 year old can%26#39;t at Six Flags. We used to solve it by letting each child take a friend and split for a lot of the day, one parent with each age group. Maybe not so easy since you will be traveling. With cell phones, we were easily able to get together to ride a few of the rides and for meals. You might consider checking if they%26#39;re doing the evening in the park thing again this year. Used to be you could sometimes get in from say 5 pm on at a reduced rate, think coke cans had to be brought with the discount on them, available at most convenience stores in the area if they are doing it again this year. We found Hurricane Harbor slightly more friendly to the age gap. Also there are smaller water parks around the dfw area so you might look for one of these, they can be cheaper but have less range. Usually very family friendly however and more manageable.

Six Flags %26amp; OR Hurricane Harbour with 4 %26amp; 8 year old boys?

My son is 4 and this is the third year that we have purchased season passes for hurricane and six flags. We normally take my cousins childen with us and they range from 4-9 so there is a gap in age, we always find plenty of things for all to do. By then end of the day they have had a great time, and are very tired, so when I see this, I know that it was well worth the money we spend.

If I were you, I would take them to Great

Wolf Lodge instead. My kids are a little older, but they had a ball, and so did I. Hurricane Harbour, is so disgusting these days, the park and the people there. its way over priced, the people are making out in the lines,it is extremely dirty and the new electronic lockers, are a whole other story. we were at six flags a few months ago. It was not dirty gross, but my kids and I were very bored, and only stayed a few hours, and we don%26#39;t really go that much.

have fun whatever you do

We will be going Six Flags park on tuesday or wednesday next week. Do we need to buy ';fast passes'; or can we manage on normal tickets? Is there long queues on weekdays too?

the fast passes are not cheap. I think they were $15 per person, but they are worth it. the most I have ever stood in line with a fast pass was 5 or 10 min. you are looking at at least almost an hour on popular rides. it is just painful to stand there when its 100 degrees, for that long. if they were 50/person, they would be worth it.

sorry forgot to answer your question. yes, in the summer, it is busy all the time. very long waits on the most popular rides. parking is about 15$ also. it is susposed to be close to 100 degrees all week.

enjoy!!

Rodeo in San Antonio

I am going to be in San Antonio June 24-29th. Does anyone have any good suggestions on where to go for a rodeo show?

Rodeo in San Antonio

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60956-i76-k152877…

Rodeo in San Antonio

In Bandera, they have a rodeo shows at Twin Elm Guest Ranch or Lightning Ranch. Here is a website to check it out on

www.banderacowboycapital.com

Our Rodeo is in the beginning of Feb. for about 16 days, her is a website to check it out

www.sarodeo.com

Have a great trip in SA

We went to Twin Elm Ranch rodeo in May, a great place to go as BAndera is cowboy capital and well worth a visit

naved, thanks so much for your personal input on the Twin Elm Ranch in Bandera.

Another good rodeo in June would be on this website www.tejasrodeo.com/ click on events then month of June.

Texas heat question

Ok, weather.com says it will be in the 100%26#39;s when we are there for our sons graduation. Now is this the same kind of heat they have in Phoenix or is this different? I%26#39;ve lived in PHX and have dealt with these kind of temps there so I%26#39;m just wanting to be prepared. I may change our schedule of things we will do off base so all input is appreciated. Thanks.

Texas heat question

If you can deal with Phoenix, heat I would think you would be able to deal with anything - ha

the humidity level will be higher here than around Phoenix and that will make it seem somewhat hotter but you should be fine as long as you are not running around too much outside

Texas heat question

It really depends on the time of year. Right now, for instance, when we get temps that high, it is because a high pressure system has pushed through. That keeps humidity levels down a bit.

In the later summer, the heat is a bit more stifling.

Compared to Phoenix, I find that the heat of the late summer here can be slightly harder to handle. In Phoenix, you get roasted alive, but here, you feel it in your lungs. Either way, A/C is a requirement for survival, and both are better than Houston%26#39;s 95 degrees / 90% humidity...

Right now, the heat is not that bad -- it%26#39;s toasty in the afternoons, but not at all unbearable.

Phoenix doesn%26#39;t have the humidity that we have, so it all depends on the humidity if the humidity is low than it won%26#39;t be that bad. It hard to say since it all depends on the humidity.????? Be prepared to sweat, LOL!!!!! I know when I go to Phoenix, Laughlin, %26amp; Vegas, when the temp is around 110 it doesn%26#39;t feel as bad since the humidity is lower there versus some of our 100%26#39;s temp.??????

I was guessing humidity was the key factor. We will arrive the 10th and leave the 14th. My guess would be since my son has been training in much warmer weather than what we have here this time of year, I will probably look into things we can do in the a/c during the heat of the day. Thanks.

Not to belittle your question but people have lived in South Texas for hundreds of years and survived. It is hot, it is humid. If I%26#39;m outside I%26#39;m sweaty and not the most comfortable. Even in the evening I%26#39;m going to be sweaty. How do I cope. Hang out in an air conditioned bar, go swimming, nap in the afternoon, get up early and sight-see then. If I%26#39;m in a new place and want to see something, I%26#39;ll usually sacrifice some comfort to go see or do something I may not get another chance for. Use a trick the Drill Instructors use, and have some extra shirts so that you can change out of a sweaty one, but come on down and enjoy what SA has to offer.

Hi, helpfulinillinois. I just looked at weatherunderground.com (my favorite source for weather), and as far out as they are projecting weather for us (to next Saturday), the highest it will get is 95. That%26#39;s pretty hot, but....

I was in Chandler two summers ago helping my daughter pack and get ready for their cross country move. We love the Phoenix area, but had only been in the winter previously. OMG it was absolutely unbelievable. I%26#39;m very heat tolerant, so much so we%26#39;ve just now turned on our A/C full time, but it was unbearable there. No one ventured out in the afternoon. I took a walk one afternoon and was the only person out on foot in the half hour I was gone. It wasn%26#39;t even that hot by Phoenix standards....103!

Providing you haven%26#39;t been totally acclimated to Illinois weather, you will be fine here with temps in the mid 90s. There is lots of shade on the Riverwalk, so it is quite bearable, even pleasant, especially early in the day. As you know, if you are out and about walking in Phoenix, you are in full sun 100% of the time. Have fun and congrats to your son.

Where to go for a beach without college kids?

Where would you suggest for a nice beach for spring break without college kids?

Where to go for a beach without college kids?

In Texas? When are you planning to go? Some weeks are going to have larger college crowds than others. Generally, avoid South Padre Island in March if you want to avoid college spring breakers. Other places further up the coast (Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Galveston) may be less crowded, but there may also be less to do in terms of activities and it%26#39;s not quite as warm.

Where to go for a beach without college kids?

There%26#39;s a little beach that I used to go to near Bay City at the mouth of the Colorado. There%26#39;s only one, small road there, it%26#39;s very pretty, and there are usually not many people. It%26#39;s out of the way, but it%26#39;s also very secluded and I really doubt that you%26#39;d see many college kids.

From Austin, you can take 71 east (actually, south) almost to Palacios, turn north/east (left) on FM 521, then south (right) on Highway 60 and, in Matagorda, follow the signs to FM 2031, which follows the river to the beach.

If you really want desolation and don%26#39;t mind the trouble of getting there, you can also take a ferry from Port O%26#39;Connor (near Port Lavaca) to Matagorda Island. No roads though.

Another option is Cameron, Louisiana, which doesn%26#39;t have the nicest beaches, but is pretty much college kid-free.

hth

I prefer Port Aransas, but it has become a major spring break destination for kids. Try Surfside Beach, it%26#39;s family oriented, and has lots of beach house rentals right on the sand.

Can you camp on the beach near Matagorda/Colorado River mouth on FM2031? If yes, are there any restrictions and/or costs? Thank you.

If you want to miss the college kids, then head out to the National Seashore to Malaquite beach, nice clean beach %26amp; clean restrooms - not skid-o-cans.

The Padre Island National Seashore and Malaquite Beach are part of a National Park that stretches for almost 100 miles south from Corpus Christi. There are no condominiums or developments of any kind because it is a park. You can overnight there, but most students avoid it because all the fun is along Mustang Island and South Padre Island.

http://www.nps.gov/pais/

July 4th Celebration

I am considering visiting Fredricksburg for the July 4th weekend with my family of 4 (kids 12 and 8). If anyone has celebrated the holiday in Fredricksburg, I%26#39;d love to hear comments/recommendations on the parade/fireworks and any other suggestions.

spots

where to stay, what to do - dallas/plano

Hello, I will be flying in to Love Field (June 30) and looking for an area to stay where there is something to see, great place to eat, fun things to do. As Dallas is fairly large and many neighborhoods - I was wondering if someone could suggest something. I will be arriving around noon, going to an outdoor concert at Oak Point Park Amphitheatre (Plano) and leaving the following day around lunchtime. Looking for something fun, hip and interesting between the downtime. ANY suggestions would be helpful. THANKS!

where to stay, what to do - dallas/plano

You are here for one night only? Assuming you%26#39;ll have a rental car, right?

where to stay, what to do - dallas/plano

Well, if nothing else, your post made me look to see what would bring someone to Plano for a mid week concert!

That%26#39;s a bit of a long trek between Love Field and Plano. Are you staying in Dallas or Plano? When you say ';fun, hip, intersting'; are you thinking of something after the concert or between your landing and the concert start? Such as dinner or another entertainment venue?

yes, will have a car but no hotel as of yet because I don%26#39;t know which area to go to.

Thanks!

anything, really. I thought plano was only 30 minutes from Dallas.

Casey's

I have read good reviews about Casey%26#39;s My husband says it is a chain restaurant. Does anyone know if that is true or not?

Casey's

Casey%26#39;s is affiliated with Gaido%26#39;s, but I think the only one is the one on Seawall in Galveston. Here%26#39;s the website, which is linked from the Gaido%26#39;s website -- http://www.gaidos.com/about/caseys.htm

Casey's

I have never heard that CAsey%26#39;s is a chain, but I am still pissed at Caseys because it arbitrarily decides to not do takeouts, even when you stay at their motel. And they are extremely rude about it. Gaidos restaurant, on the other hand is terrific and very nice.

Was extremely underwhelmed by the quality and taste of food when we ate at Casey%26#39;s in March.

I%26#39;ve not been to Casey%26#39;s but Gaido%26#39;s does nothing for me. Our last trip to Galveston%26#39;s best seafood meat was at Nate%26#39;s at Jamaica Beach and was quite reasonably priced!!

Well OK, we did go there and it was alright. The price was fine but I had to pay $0.59 for a little tiny salad. I would have much preferred to have cole slaw but it was not an option. The food was just OK, nothing special as I was expecting. Actually, I am not that much of a seafood person but DH is. He had some kind of dish that had a little bit of everything and he said it was just ok but would not go back. That means alot. I had catfish(with the crappy tiny salad) The catfish tastsed fine to me, BUT it was sitting on top of some french looking bread. I thought they were supposed to be some kind of hush puppy tasting bread...but OMG...do NOT even think about trying it. EWWWWW! When the waiter checked on us I asked about the ';bread'; and he told me the bread was actually there to soak up the grease from the catfish. Well that was pretty disgusting to me to realize I tasted a grease soaked gwajit. Nasty,gross as my GD would say. I have never had catfish that was so greasy it needed a grease soaker, but as I said, I do not eat much fish.

best place for your buck

We are thinking of heading your way for a week. We always come at Spring Break and stay with my parents at Casa. We are looking for something a little less expensive than that this time but we want to be within walking distance of the beach. Any ideas? Thanks

best place for your buck

Go to the chamber of commerce link

http://www.portaransas.org/

Go to the stay and play link, click on condos, happy hunting!

best place for your buck

Try A Laughing Horse Lodge,Port A. Check them out on trip advisor. Its our favorite place to stay, however not if you want a pool. Sandy and Lloyd are the best management you could ask for.

We stayed at Casa last year in a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo. I really liked it because the 2nd bedroom had 2 queens, and since there was 5 of us, the 5th person didn%26#39;t have to sleep on a sofa bed. Last weekend it was just 3 of us and we stayed at Island Retreat. The reviews were ok and since we were only there for 3 nights we stayed in an efficiency-#149. It was similar to a hotel room with a kitchen but it was roomy and the beach was just a short walk over the walkway. If you go to www.portaransas.org and go to stay %26amp; play you can see the rooms available. We had a great experience there and would recommend it.

Hi

Try the Courtyard Condo good price and about 100 yards from the beach.

David

patio furniture shopping in/near McKinney

Will be in area for weekend and want outdoor table. Where should we look in or near McKinney?

patio furniture shopping in/near McKinney

It really depends on your budget and what you are looking for. If you are talking about buying traditional patio table, the locals would probably just go to one of the big chains - Lowe%26#39;s, Home Depot, Target, etc. There is a Casual Living store (http://www.casuallivingltd.com/) at 7225 N. Central Expressway on the west side by the theatre but it seemed pretty pricy. There is a rustic furntiure place on the East side of the highway on the south side of McKinney and you might have some luck there but I%26#39;m not sure what you will find in the way of tables.

Since you are looking for outdoor stuff though, you might enjoy checking out D%26amp;J Pottery on McDonald Street (Highway 5). They have some fantastic Mexican imports.

Here%26#39;s a weird tip -- the Ace Hardware at 1700 W Virginia has rustic coolers that I think are made here locally. Very nice.

There%26#39;s also some places downtown that often have interesting stuff. There%26#39;s one place across from Mama Emelia%26#39;s that had really neat stone artwork for the yard (and home). I think it is called Tom Levy%26#39;s Stone Creations. I%26#39;ll double check and post back when I have a good name for you on that one.

patio furniture shopping in/near McKinney

This is too late if you came this weekend but the name of that store is Tom Lavy%26#39;s Stonewood Creations. He doesn%26#39;t have a web site that I can find. His store is chock full of neat decorative things that can go outdoors or in. You could toss a dart and find something you couldn%26#39;t do without.

Wow! Thank you so much for the info. We will be back in the area in July, and I plan to visit the sites you suggested. You were very helpful!

Best beach for kids?

Anyone have a Texas beach recommendation for a family weekend getaway with a 5-yr-old? We love Port Aransas but want to try something else. South Padre is too far of a drive from Georgetown where we live, so any ideas anywhere between/around Corpus Christi to Galveston?

If you do have a location recommendation, do you have a hotel/condo recommendation, too?

Thanks so much!

Best beach for kids?

I perfer the beach at the National Seashore. Its clean, not very crowded and has facilities. The Holiday Inn Sunspree is a nice place to stay.

Best beach for kids?

I would suggest the Holiday Inn Emerald Beach downtown Corpus Christi. It has an indoor playscape for the kids as well as an indoor pool and the beach is right out the back door. The property is a bit dated but the amenities are perfect for young kids.

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60927-d98571-R鈥?/a>

We enjoy taking our kiddo%26#39;s to Matagorda and Surfside. Both are great as Tx beaches go. But Surfide is seems to be less prone to under-tows.

Surfside Beach Post Ike?

We%26#39;re traveling to the Houston area in July and were hoping to spend a couple of days at the beach. How did Surfside fare after Ike? Should we stay there, or consider other areas?

Surfside Beach Post Ike?

Was up that way a couple of weeks ago. Things looked fine to me.

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Concerts in the Garden

Just a reminder for visitors (or locals) that the Symphony has their annual concert series at the Botanic Gardens until July 5.

Here%26#39;s a link to check it out

www.fwsymphony.org/concerts/citg-tickets.asp

Concerts in the Garden

We%26#39;ve lived here for almost 10 years and have never been to one of these concerts, we really need to go this year!

Concerts in the Garden

We had the thread of favorite things to do in Fort Worth- we should start one of ';things I have always meant to do and plan to this year';!

that%26#39;s a great idea! I think that list may be longer than the fav things to do!! We find things we like to do and tend to just do them over and over-same thing for restaurants. I guess with limited free time we tend to do the things we know we like rather than test the new waters!

Johnson Space Center

I need advice on the extended tour of the Space Center. We are two adults who are quite keen.

Apart from the price, is it a good tour?

Has anyone done this recently?

We will be in the Houston area in July and our time is limited. Help is greatly appreciated.

Johnson Space Center

Honestly, I haven%26#39;t been on it recently. If you still get to go behind the scenes and interact with the training equipment, then it is very much worth it. If you just get to see a few more buildings, then, meh...

Growing up in a NASA family (my father was a lead engineer in Mission Control in the 70s-80s), we saw a lot behind the scenes, and it wasn%26#39;t all that thrilling. The most interesting parts are the hands-on and luck-based interactions with astronauts. The basic (included) tours cover pretty much everything else.

Then again, I am very, very biased on the matter -- growing up in a family that saw the ins and outs every day, the ';talking'; points of the tour weren%26#39;t very educational to us. That may make all the difference in the world to some...

Johnson Space Center

I have never been on the extended tour - but taken several out of town guest and some love it some say it was %26#39;okay%26#39;. If you are big into space stuff - I would say go for it.

Great Wolf Lodge discounts

Hello. Does anyone have any discount codes or coupons for the Great Wolf in May? We are thinking about taking our girls for a birthday outing but the prices just quoted to me were much higher than people report paying. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Great Wolf Lodge discounts

The only discounts I know of are on their website. And if you go under that part of the website it will give you the discount and you can do it all on line.

Great Wolf Lodge discounts

Use the Promo Codes WOLF, GREEN, or SUMMER... and if you do it soon, LOCAL.

place with a decent pool?

We want to go to Fredericksburg for a few days. The Hampton is booked when we want to go. Would also consider a B%26amp;B, but want a pool where we can lay out %26amp; have a drink or two. Family of 5. Any suggestions?

Kid Friendly Getaway somewhat near Fort Worth?

I%26#39;m looking for a fun getaway for my husband, myself and my two kids, ages 5 %26amp; 7. We%26#39;d love a place that is within 2 hours from Fort Worth, that%26#39;s kid friendly, and has lots of fun, nature stuff to do (hiking, splashing in a stream, animals, etc.). I was thinking about Mill Creek Ranch Resort in Canton. Any suggestions for other places? Thanks!

Kid Friendly Getaway somewhat near Fort Worth?

maybe canoe the Brazos or get a cabin at Lake Whitney? Lake Travis is 3 hours away outside of Austin but it%26#39;s a really pretty lake with lots of options of entertainment around it.

There are cabins on the Paluxy down at Glen Rose which is very close to Granbury as well. There%26#39;s the dinosaur park in Glen Rose as well as the river (spring fed and pretty).

I had some friends who did a work event at Mill Creek and they weren%26#39;t that impressed with it.

Kid Friendly Getaway somewhat near Fort Worth?

Fossil Rim in Glen Rose is a really neat experience for kids that love animals. It%26#39;s a drive through animal park. Its just up the road from the Dinosaur Park, so if you are spending the night, may be able to do one each day. Our boys loved both places when they were small.

Hotel/Beach

We are traveling from Nevada to seek a second opinion at MD Anderson in Houston. We have several days of medical appts lined up, but then will have the weekend free.

After months of chemotherapy and radiation, my husband would just like to spend a few days relaxing on the beach and listening to the ocean. We thought that we might be able to do that in Galveston? Or is there another coastal town that would be recommended?

He%26#39;d love to stay at a hotel where he could see the ocean, hear the ocean and walk to the ocean. Unfortunately, price is a consideration.

I%26#39;d love to hear others%26#39; input.

Hotel/Beach

Coming from Houston, Galveston is your best bet for a quick weekend coastal getaway. Any place else would be too far to drive. There are numerous hotels on the Seawall, but none are actually ON the beach. If you can find one that has an outdoor balcony that faces the beach, he%26#39;ll be able to hear the ocean. The first hotel that comes to mind for reasonable prices, right across the street from the beach, with a pool, balconies on gulf side is the Commodore. Don%26#39;t expect a five star here, but they also offer a complimentary continental breakfast, so that can help with cost. There are a couple of restaurants within walking distance also.

Hotel/Beach

You can see the water from the Hilton and you may can get a good price there.

sometimes you can do better with a condo than a hotel so you could check www.vrbo.com or sandnsea realty company.

I just booked a condo for around $159 a night. We have been to Galveston 10+ summers and never stayed in a hotel.

visit www.vrbo.com

spots

Best hotel pools w/o going broke?

We want to hang out %26amp; relax for a few days, but don%26#39;t relish spending the $300 a night most places are asking. Family of 5.

Best hotel pools w/o going broke?

Can it be split 2 and 3 with adjoining rooms?

Best hotel pools w/o going broke?

Finding some great rates at the Sheraton Arlington after July 4- nice big pool.

March in San Antonio

Yes, I know this is very early to plan for a March vacation - but I%26#39;m scouting out ideas for our 20th anniversary March 13 - 20, 2010. I think I found the perfect destination in San Antonio, but I%26#39;m concerned about Spring Break crowds. Will the Spring Breakers be mostly at amusement parks, or will they clog up historical and outdoor venues as well? We%26#39;d be interested in the Alamo, the Mission Trail (biking?), riverwalk, Wine Country, Guadalupe State Park canoeing, maybe some horseback riding in Bandera. Early idea is to rent a condo in King William district. We may or may not take the kids (teenagers) depending on if we can farm them out to friends :) Feedback?

March in San Antonio

March is a beautiful time to visit. The spring breakers do come, but the crowds are not as heavy as you are probably imagining. Everything is greening up, the wildflowers are out, and the weather is generally very pleasant.

In April, we will celebrate Fiesta on the 15th-25th, so it will be considerably busier then.

Most of the activities you mention will be uncrowded, though the wine country won%26#39;t be very impressive early in the spring (it still has some nice scenery, anyway), and the river will be cold. Rafting really picks up after Memorial Day, when the sun takes the edge off the 55-degree water. If you can handle the cold, it%26#39;s a nicer ride, though. One bit of advice: if you haven%26#39;t used a canoe in a rapid (even little ones like the Guadalupe), opt for an inflatable one (';commanche';). They%26#39;re more forgiving, and bounce off of trees, bend over falls -- the real ones can wrap around trees (ouch!) and dump over on shallow falls (ouch!).

March in San Antonio

Thanks for the feedback! San Antonio is definitely one of the top two choices ... Negril Jamaica is the other. It might come down to cost :-)

I don%26#39;t mind cold water - we usually raft NC%26#39;s Nantahala, with year round 50 degree water pulled from the bottom of the lake. Good advice on the commanche.

Is there anything in San Antonio that teens particularly love doing?

Martha

Teens, of course, love the big parks -- Six Flags, Sea World, and Schlitterbahn (though not so much in March).

We always loved the other kind of parks as teens, such as the Guadalupe, Government Canyon, and the like. But, that%26#39;s us... The shops in San Marcos might be a hit, as well (there is a HUGE set of outlet malls there -- yes, multiple malls, as in four of what you would normally consider an outlet mall). Bandera is also nice for other teens.

This is a family / romantic type of getaway location, so you won%26#39;t find as much for the partying crowds. For the teens, though, you shouldn%26#39;t have too many problems.

If you decide to leave the teenagers behind, I highly recommend the Hotel Valencia, especially for a special event like your anniversary. My husband and I stayed there for our 25th anniversary last year and actually renewed our wedding vows in their beautiful courtyard! The staff helped my husband (it was a surprise for me) every detail of our weekend, to the smallest detail, up to and including finding a local florist to duplicate my original wedding bouquet!

We travel alot and this is one of my favorite hotels in the US. They made our anniversary so very special! Check them out!

http://www.hotelvalencia-riverwalk.com/

San Antonio would be a great place to visit %26amp; as you can see there%26#39;s a lot to do %26amp; see. Spring Break isn%26#39;t that bad in SA, most spring breaker go to the coast, cruise or Mexico. You%26#39;ll be ok in SA during Spring Break. The kids may also like Natural Bridge Caverns, Theme Park, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, Splashtown, %26amp; Riverwalk,

Embassy Suites

Hello~

I have reservations for three nights at the Embassy Suites downtown (Lake Travis) in October. However, I am having second thoughts after reading some of the reviews. Is it old and run down as some have indicated? Would the Embassy Artoretum be a better choice? How far is it from downtown --- Capital etc.? Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks~

Embassy Suites

I think I put the wrong lake in my post. I think the Embassy is near Town Lake not Travis. Sorry~

Embassy Suites

If you%26#39;re coming to Austin to see the sights as a tourist, as opposed to coming for business, I would not move to the ES at the Arboretum. The ES downtown is a great location, while staying at the Arboretum would require you to drive in traffic to get to and from downtown. Also, the Arboretum is more of a residential and retail area that doesn%26#39;t really look much different from any other suburban area.

I totally agree with Mr. Ted. The Arboretum area is to be used if you%26#39;re here on business and doing business in that corner of the world! There%26#39;s a lot of traffic in that area and staying there would be like staying in any city in the US.

Almost all the fun things that make Austin unique are downtown.

I%26#39;ve read the mixed reviews for the Embassy Suites. While it%26#39;s not the newest or the most recently remodeled, I%26#39;ve found that most people are very pleased with the hotel and especially happy with its location for downtown, bat watching etc. It is not run down and the staff will go out of their way to be accommodating.

Don%26#39;t forget to request your visitor%26#39;s guide and maps from www.austintexas.org.

Hope this helps.

We stayed there at Easter for a brief visit. I was pleased with the value. Yes, I%26#39;ve stayed at more luxury hotels that were nicer, but this one was pretty good. I think they may have been doing some updating. Our room was clean, the bathroom perhaps a little dated, but not too bad. We enjoyed the pool area %26amp; fitness room. The breakfast was okay, and the happy hour so-so, but that comes with the rate! Great location, really can%26#39;t beat it for the price.

Forum design changes coming- keep an eye out!

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12104-k2844562鈥?/a>

I 40 Texas Area Suggestions Needed for Interesting Sites

We will be traveling on I 40 in northern Texas returning east from California in early August and need suggestions of interesting sites along with drop your jaw ones within one hour%26#39;s driving distance.

I 40 Texas Area Suggestions Needed for Interesting Sites

the only site worth visiting within a hour of Amarillo (I-40) area in Taxas that I can think of is Palo Duro Canyon - The ';Grand Canyon of Texas';

www.palodurocanyon.com

I 40 Texas Area Suggestions Needed for Interesting Sites

Palo Duro Canyon is indeed beautiful, just don%26#39;t expect anything remotely the size of Grand Canyon.

Other sights along the way:

Cadillac Ranch www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2220

Groom Cross www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1912

Devil%26#39;s Rope Museum www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/13371

First visit to San Antonio!

My husband and I are planning a family vacation with our ten year old son, and I would like advice on what part of town to stay in. I%26#39;m looking for somewhere relatively inexpensive and safe. We are planning on visiting Seaworld and the Riverwalk. Do you have any other recommendations for a first time visitor?

First visit to San Antonio!

I would stay between DeZavala Road and 1604 on IH 10 West. Ther are several inexpensive motels in that area. Straight shot to downtown on IH 10, easy seaworls access by taking 1604, Fiesta Texas is just blocks away.

First visit to San Antonio!

It depends if you want to stay on the riverwalk which is very safe as well as the SeaWorld area. The Drury%26#39;s are a great value for your money with lots of great amenities that are FREE. www.druryhotels.com Most of SA has safe area, it all depends on where you want to stay closer to???????

Don%26#39;t know when you%26#39;re coming but I went to Hotwire and put in 7/17 - 7/20 got:

3-star hotel in Riverwalk South - La Villita Area $59

3-star hotel in Riverwalk North and Alamo Area $84

3-star hotel in San Antonio Intl Airport SAT Area $54

3-star hotel in San Antonio Northwest - Medical Center $63

All of those sound like good deals. Remember, downtown will usually charge around $20/night for parking Airport and Northwest should be free parking.

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Music before 5pm??

Wondering if any of the venues have live music performances before 5pm on Friday/Saturday. We normally go to Nashville every October (10 years!) but thought we%26#39;d try something new this year. The bars there start playing at 11 am.

Is there anything happening before 5pm?

thanks!

Music before 5pm??

For the most part, the live music venues on 6th Street and Red River, the Austin Music Hall, La Zona Rosa, and Antone%26#39;s only have shows at night. However, there are lots of smaller bars and restaurants that have live music at other times.

The Continental Club on South Congress has a Saturday matinee show that starts at 3pm and there is usually no cover -- http://www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html

The Saxon Pub on South Lamar also has some shows that start as early as 6pm and a Saturday matinee that starts at 3pm -- http://www.thesaxonpub.com/

Stubbs BBQ hosts a gospel brunch with live music on Sundays starting at 11am -- http://stubbsaustin.com/rest_home.html

Threadgill%26#39;s also has a Sunday gospel brunch that starts at 10am, with music starting at 11am -- http://www.threadgills.com/

Apart from these, you%26#39;re likely to find music all over town, even if it%26#39;s just a guy playing a guitar in a coffee shop. The vibe is probably a little different from that in Nashville, but Austin is a great place to spend a long weekend.

Music before 5pm??

Don%26#39;t forget Maria%26#39;s Taco Express for gospel brunch too.

Thanks for your responses, very helpful.

First time in FW - Questions

Hi,

We are two females coming to Fort Worth for 2days/3nights in Nov and have booked a room at the Hotel Trinity Fort Worth.

How far is this hotel from the Amtrak Station? Is there public transport or do we need to take a taxi?

Below is our itinerary.. Do you have any other suggestions?

Day 1 - Billie Bobs

Day 2 - Stockyards and the Rodeo

Day 3 - Texas cowboy hall of fame, cowgirl musuem and sundace square

Thanks in advance!

First time in FW - Questions

First off, I would not be staying at the Hotel Trinity. There is absolutely nothing near that hotel but a ';transitional'; neighborhood. There is a reason you can get such low rates- it is not a good place to stay, especially for visitors without a car. Please rethink that aspect of your trip.

The Amtrak station is a little over 2.5 miles to that hotel but it is all highway- there will be no walking.

If you spend the day in the Stockyards, you can combine your visit to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame as well as Billy Bob%26#39;s. The rodeo starts at 8PM and you can go over to Billy Bob%26#39;s after that- it will be livlier at that time with more people, dancing and music.

The Cowgirl Museum is in the cultural district and, even if museums are not your thing, I highly recommend stopping for lunch at the Kimbell or the Modern- you don%26#39;t have to spend the day looking at exhibits but they are beautiful places.

www.fwculture.com

You can transition over to Sundance Square for the evening, checking out some live music venues, having a drink at the rooftop bar at Reata, seeing a movie, hanging out on the large patio at 8.0 people watching. Public tours of Bass Hall are each Saturday at 1030 and are well worth it.

www.basshall.com

www.sundancesquare.com

There are many options and opportunities in Fort Worth. Please write back with an update of your plans and any questions (I emphasize again rethinking the Hotel Trinity).

First time in FW - Questions

there%26#39;s a newly redone Holiday Inn just off I 30 and Summit just off downtown that has good rates and is quite nice-my family stayed there while my granddad was in the hospital recently.

Ft Worth does have public transportation but I%26#39;ve never used it; it%26#39;s called the ';T';; I%26#39;d probably cab if you don%26#39;t want to rent a car. You can often get really cheap rates on rental cars thru Expedia-like $15/day so that would be cheaper than cabbing all over.

The Ft Worth Botanical Gardens have some interesting Japanese Gardens and other gardens that you might enjoy checking out.

i never heard of the hotel trinity. then i looked it up..it used to be a rundown ramada inn..but it actually looks pretty good on the website..but like the poster said its not in a great area so i wouldnt go ';explore'; the area on foot. i would consider something in downtown or the stockyards..but really the hotel does look good..they have remodeled big time. but the only way to get downtown or to wherever you go is by taxi..lets face it, our public transportation sucks..

Thank you for your help.

We have now cancelled our accommodation at the Hotel Trinity.

What is the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa like?

I%26#39;ve never been inside the Sheraton,but I%26#39;ve seen it from I30. It%26#39;s near the convention center and convinent to 30 and 35. Sundance square is nearby. Seriously consider renting a car which you can do at the train/bus station located near your hotel. Our public transportation isn%26#39;t known to be the best.

Itinerary: you could combine Billie Bobs, Stockyards, Rodeo, n that one musueum mentioned earlier in one day and night.

Maybe do Sundance Square on your first day in the evening since it%26#39;s close by.

On your third day consider-

We also offer: Science musuem (omni theather) which is connected to the cowgirl musuem. Near that are our wonderful Art musuems. Slightly farther is our Botanical Gardens, Log Cabin Village, Zoo.

Nearby we have a quaint town Grandbury, tx that offers a town square, drive-in movie, and lake.

If you have questions or need more information, just ask.

Thanks 鈥?we are definitely going to the drive in at Granbury!!

Is the train station that you are referring to the Amtrak Station or the Trinity Railway Express Station? If not how far is the Amtrak station from down town?

Thanks again for your help!

The Amtrak trains and the TRE all go to the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC). This is in downtown Fort Worth, just to the east of Sundance Square.

www.trinityrailwayexpress.org

Here%26#39;s the link for the drive in:

http://www.thebrazos.com/home.htm

Mind you it has only one screen. The movies tend to be family oriented so there are a lot of children. Having said that drive ins are rare enjoyable experience.

Love love love the Embassy Suites in Sundance Square. We stay there at least once during each month for a weekend night or two. Very clean and the staff is awesome! Close enough to the Stockyards to go by cab.

Granbury also has lots and lots of wonderful bed and breakfasts if you are at all interested in spending the night in a quiet little Texas town.

Stockyards help please????

My wife and I are returning to Fort Worth this summer for a second time and need some advice. Last trip we being huge country music fans, spent most of our leisure time in the Stockyards where we vowed at that time that the next time we would get a hotel there so we could do the honkeytonks and not have to drive. That said, we are finding that hotels in that area run $200/night so are wondering how cab service is to and from the Stockyards. We are noticing cheap accomodations just a couple miles north of the Stockyards and might book if we know we can easily get cabs.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Stockyards help please????

Cabs are actually fairly easy to get in FW- just remember cabs in Texas are ones you call, they won%26#39;t be sitting on the corner waiting. Put some local cab company phone numbers in your cell phone (easy to get out of the phone book or on-line), then you can call them back afterward. Restaurants and clubs are fairly helpful with calling cabs as well. Also, I have had cabbies give me their card when dropping off to call them directly when I am ready to leave the Stockyards.

Stockyards help please????

Thank you poodleone,will probably book in North Fort Worth and cab.

Also, staying in downtown (Sundance square) has some really nice hotels (Embassy Suites, etc.) and is very close. Go to sidestep.com and you can do some price comparisons.

Exotic Meat Restaurant

My husband and I are visiting in late June. I%26#39;m looking for a restaurant that serves exotic meat to take him to.

Exotic Meat Restaurant

You might consider the Y.O Steakhouse in the West End

www.yoranchsteakhouse.com

Exotic Meat Restaurant

What type of meat is exotic these days? I%26#39;m clueless as a vegetarian.

You may want to try the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Ft. Worth. FABULOUS!

Reata Restaurant in Ft. Worth has some great food, plus, downtown Ft. Worth is a LOT of fun. If you are there on Fri or Sat night, consider going to the improvisational comedy club Four Day Weekend in the same building. Hilarious, clean comedy.

We ate at the new Cadillac Ranch in Irving just a few days ago. They specialize in foods produced in Texas. There were some uncommon meats on the menu. You might want to check them out!! The building inside and outside is very interesting and comfortable. A creek runs through the restaurant.

I also recommend Lonesome Dove.

Taxi cost

Three of us will be going from IAH to the Hilton Americas hotel. What will be the approximate cost of a taxi?

Taxi cost

Here%26#39;s a quote from the website for Yellow Cab www.yellowcabhouston.com/fare_info.html

Special note about Houston airport taxi service: trips to and from Houston airports are determined by zone rates, in accordance with Houston City Ordinance. Passengers are charged the flat zone rate or the meter rate, whichever is less.

For a zone map and zone rate info to and from Bush Intercontinental Airport, click here. Note that, in accordance with Houston City Ordinance, all taxi trips originating at Bush Intercontinental Airport are subject to a $2.75 surcharge. For information about Bush Intercontinental Airport, click here.

Taxi cost

You have the answer from the previous post (about $40) - I just wanted to add that you might consider renting a car (unless you will be in the general vicinity of the hotel during your stay).

Canyon Lake to San Antonio - 1st time help

Husband %26amp; I (early 30%26#39;s) have 1 free week at the Silverleaf Hill Country Resort in Canyon Lake, TX. We%26#39;ve never been to the area and would love any trip itinerary recommendations.

This is what we would like to do for the week Sat-Sat, likely in Oct or Nov when the heat goes down a bit:

- visit San Antonio (fly in here? How far is the drive to Canyon Lake?)

- visit Austin %26amp; surrounding neighborhoods for a future potential move in 2-3 years. Looking for newer ranch homes under $150k, and want to drive around to get a feel for the area, city %26amp; things to do. Should we contact a real estate agent to tour us around, or is it easy enough to do on our own? recommended towns to visit?

- we like outdoor fests, live music, unique things to see (i.e. Caverns or Bats).

- we are casual people, and enjoy eating %26amp; drinking outdoors (i.e. riverwalk?)

- looking for cheaper things to do, not fancy restaurants or theater or museums.

How far is the drive from the resort to each San Antonio and Austin? Thank you for any info you can offer us!

Canyon Lake to San Antonio - 1st time help

I can answer a couple of the questions...

The drive to Canyon lake from the airport will be about an hour, depending on where you go, traffic, and the route you take. If you go through the middle of New Braunfels, it will be slower than if you take 306 through Gruene. Getting to either downtown will take you a good hour and a half, maybe a bit more.

The Natural Bridge Caverns will be just around the corner from you, as well as Hamilton Pool. There really are a lot of parks in this area...

For neighborhoods, it really depends on what kind of environment you are looking for -- close to the action? Quiet? Remote? There are a lot of homes available for under $150k, but they will mostly be older homes, or in starter neighborhoods. Austin/San Antonio both have higher home prices on average than the rest of Texas.

Austin is a bit more youthful %26amp; energetic than San Antonio, but San Antonio has more of a ';family'; feel to it. Maybe that doesn%26#39;t make snese, but having lived in both cities, that%26#39;s how it feels. I really love them both, but with the family, I%26#39;m happier in San Antonio, which is a bit more grounded, and less quirky.

If you can describe what kind of neighborhood feel you would like, we can probably steer you a little better. You can, and probably should, drive yourself around, so that you get a better sense of the areas. Then, get an agent for the details, after you have chosen a couple of preferable areas.

Canyon Lake to San Antonio - 1st time help

You certainly want to take advantage of you proximity to the Guadalupe river for toobing. Rockin R River Outfitters http://www.rockinr.com/

The lower Guadalupe tends to have 20 somethings and lots of drinking. It has shallows and rapids and slow deep water. I would get a tube with a bottom for this trip.

Gruene Hall www.gruenehall.com, River Road Ice House, Whitewater Live Music Amphitheate are all great casual venues for good Texan Music and Beer.

Here%26#39;s the scoop on Bats: My favorite is the bat cave at Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area 鈥tate.tx.us/huntwild/鈥?/a> near Fredericksburg. Upside - cool wilderness setting, shopping, and restaurants nearby in Fredericksburg. Disadvantage - viewing area has limited capacity and they close off the area when it reaches capacity (get there early.)

OK here%26#39;s a secret about the bats. While it%26#39;s way cool to watch them leave at dusk, it%26#39;s even more cool to watch them come back in the morning. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunrise. Yes I know it%26#39;s early, but it%26#39;s worth it! As you approach the roosts, you%26#39;ll hear this vibrating noise, sort of like paper tearing. It sounds so close. As it gradually gets lighter, you%26#39;ll start to see them, thousands of bats diving down and into the tunnel or under the bridge. It%26#39;s so cool! The bats feed at up to two miles high, when they are ready to come back to roost, they tuck in their wings and start a freefall. As the get close to the ground, they open their wings to navigate back to their spot, that%26#39;s the noise you hear.

As I understand the bats, the population grows throughout the summer with peak populations in late August early September. Also, as summer goes on they start leaving to feed earlier. For more great general information about bats and specific information about local caves, check out Bat Conservation International http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

Austin under 150K %26amp; Newer get ready to be in far away from Austin and a long drive to work. Everyone loves Austin to death. Austin is way more expensive then SA, but SA is gaining fast.

Did you want to live closer to SA, Austin or in between the 2. SA to Austin is about an hour drive. Canyon Lake is about 45 min drive.

Natural Bridge Caverns is about 12 min away www.naturalbridgecaverns.com

SA Riverwalk www.riosanantonio.com

good place to eat on the RW is Boudro%26#39;s get the guacamole prepared tableside with a yummy prickly pear Margarita. www.boudros.com or go to the Market Square www.marketsquaresa.com to La Margarita www.lamargarita.com take a drive in the Hill Country %26amp; visit the wineries. www.texaswinetrail.com on the RW visit Howl at the Moon for a great time www.howlatthemoon.com SA has the 2 Theme Park, Alamo %26amp; the river cruise. How long did you plan to visit SA to get an idea on what to recommend to see %26amp;do??????

Thanks for all the fantastic info. We look forward to visiting the areas of San Antonio %26amp; Austin and in between.

Regarding potential towns to live in, we do not need to live anywhere near jobs, since husband will work from home anywhere, and I will not work. So we can move anywhere! I%26#39;d like to be within 1 hour of Austin or closer. I think that might be a better fit for us than San Antonio right now. of course, we will be scouting out both areas.

We really want to be in a suburban neighborhood with a newer home (no fixer upper) and similar neighbors to befriend who have young families. We like going to music fests, walking around casually, bars at night, movies, restaurants, typical stuff. We%26#39;re over the constant party scene.

Does that help you recommend more specific areas?

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Comfort Suites Richland Hills

Does anyone have any info on the Comfort Suites @ 643 NE Loop 820 - Richland Hills? I can%26#39;t find any reviews on this hotel on any travel site. We love this chain but this is the only property available when we are going to be there. Is this area part of Fort Worth or is it out of the city limits?

Comfort Suites Richland Hills

Its not in the City of Ft Worth, maybe 7 to 10 from downtown... You should be able to google the address and look on the map to see how far away. I live in the area what are look to do or see?

Comfort Suites Richland Hills

Thanks! We wil be there in November for the race and have visited Ft. Worth before. We stayed a few nights last summer at the Comfort Suites on Tanacross-considered North Ft. Worth. I was jujst wondering if this hotel is OK and if this is in a good area. Any info would be appreciated. I just find it odd that I can%26#39;t find one review of this property.

There is a Comfort Suites in Roanoke that is a couple miles from the track. Also I do know that rates go up on race weekend. I%26#39;d also try the one is Grapevine, its a straight shot down Hwy 114 or even coming down from Denton. Traffic seems to be a bit less from the North, both coming and going.

Me personally I%26#39;d pass on the Richland Hills one. Not a bad area but not a good area either, Older part of town.

Thanks for the info. I%26#39;ll check out the locations you mentioned!

Where to stay off IH37 or Hwy 77

Travelling to the coast and would like to make it as far as Corpus tomorrow night. Looking for a place to stay. We don%26#39;t have to have the fanciest...just clean and safe. Would like something convenient to one of these highways.

Where to stay off IH37 or Hwy 77

All of these are moderately priced and relatively new hotels located near where IH37 and Hwy 77 intersect...

comfortinn.com/…

www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do…

www.hiexpress.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/fivtx…

…bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do…

www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml…

Where to stay off IH37 or Hwy 77

Thank you so much....you have been a great help!

DFW Connection Concern

I will be arriving at Gate B36 (American Eagle) and departing from Gate D33 (American). This is a domestic flight connecting to an international flight. My arrival time at B36 is 4:50 and departure time at D33 is 5:30. I cannot change the reservations as I am with a group. Any suggestions to insure I do not miss this flight? What is the best way to traverse from terminal B to D? Can I stay within the secure area to prevent having to go through security at DFW? All suggestions greatly appreciated.

DFW Connection Concern

YIKES. I don%26#39;t mean to alarm you, but that is below what is referred to as minimum connection time. You may wish to go to American Airlines and ask to fly stand-by for an earlier flight leaving (I assume) Corpus Christi. They can see that you are on an AA international flight, and may make the change for you. You can usually confirm the change on the day of departure for $50.00, or standby for free.

DFW Connection Concern

If you take the sky tram (train), you don%26#39;t have to go through security again. However, the tram only comes every so often (although frequently). You may want to look online and see how often it comes. That would probably be the best way. Walking isn%26#39;t an option.

You should be fine. You are at about the minimum time (35-40 minutes), but it%26#39;s do-able.

1) Try to get a seat close to the front of the inbound jet, so you%26#39;ll be close to first out the door. Any checked bags are automatically transferred, so just grab your carry-on bag and go. If you%26#39;re thinking of doing only carry-ons, bad plan; you can check 2 free for international (but I%26#39;d only pack one bag, regardless of the length of the trip, and have one handbag/computer bag/backpack for personal stuff on-board with me).

2) From B36 walk to the first skylink escalator at gates B28-b31, trains run every two minutes, be sure to get on the Terminal D side, train will not take more than about ten minutes, maybe less, exit at D24-34 exit, go down the escalator. There may be a moving walkway for a portion of the way, if so, use it.

When I%26#39;m running a tight schedule, I ask the gate personnel where I%26#39;m departing (B36 in your case) to call the gate I%26#39;m heading to (D34) and let them know a passenger is en route.

Barring unforeseen problems, I think you%26#39;ll make it. Keep in mind that if you%26#39;re having weather issues, so is everyone else (usually), and that everything will be backed up.

Thanks everyone for your responses. It is greatly appreciated.

Also, meant to endorse the possibility of going stand-by on an earlier flight. It is always much better not to be stressed, and if you get an earlier flight the stress factor goes way down. However, if you aren%26#39;t able to change anything, I still think you%26#39;re probably okay.

ok people - 40 minutes is PLENTY of time to catch a connection in Dallas - I used to fly through DFW two to four times a week for work and it never took me more than 10 to 15 minutes to get to my next gate using the SkyTrain - the only issue would be if your flight coming in to Dallas was delayed

I have checked gate locations and am comfortable with making the connection if my inbound flight is on time and arrives at the gate promptly. This would be less significant if the outbound flight to Madrid was not the only Madrid flight that day. I am linking up with a group in Spain that will not be able to wait an extra day if I arrive a day late. Thanks again for all the comments.

I am not sure if you have taken your flight yet. However, I%26#39;d be quite concerned with this connection. Assuming your first flight arrives on time (and that%26#39;s an IF), it means the plane gets to the gate at 4:50. You%26#39;d need about 10 minutes, give or take to de-plane, 5 minutes to the Sky Train, another 5 minutes to Terminal D, 5 minutes to your gate. That means the earliest you can get to your gate is 5:10. Your onward flight%26#39;s doors might be closed by 5:15 since 5:30 is the actual push-back time. I%26#39;d say this whole thing seems too tight to me. See if you can change to an earlier flight.

I had a connection in London%26#39;s Heathrow(75 minutes) where I had to change terminals %26amp; was more than a little stressed if we would make it. We made it no problem %26amp; was so impressed by how well the airport moved as well as signage directing you around(I researched it in advance to know exactly where I had to get to). I don%26#39;t know Dallas%26#39;s airport(am coming there in Aug.) but with some research you should be fine.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will get to the airport early and hope to fly standby. If not I now have a plan for getting from Terminal B to Terminal D in the most efficient manner.

Hotel near USCIS center

Help! I have my naturalization interview in 2 weeks. The place is in Irving, TX. I%26#39;ll be driving there and need a place to stay that%26#39;s close to the USCIS center (Campus Circle East) and that is easy to drive to and from (I am *not* a good driver and my husband cannot come with me). I would appreciate any suggestions! Thanks.

Hotel near USCIS center

Go to Google maps. Search for 6500 East Campus Circle Drive Irving, TX 75063 HOTEL. The resulting map will show the center%26#39;s location and several nearby hotels. If you click Satellite in the upper right of the map you can see what the neighborhood looks like. Good luck on your interview!

Hotel near USCIS center

Suggest staying at the Execustay by Marriott (looks to be the closest). The Staybridge and Courtyard Marriott on Walnut Hill on the East side of 161 are easy access also. You can take Walnut Hill to Gateway, then Gateway to Campus Circle. These hotel choices keep you off the major highways. This whole area is mostly businesses, hotels, and restaurants especially on MacArthur just north of 114. Traffic is not bad if you avoid rush hour and 114.

Thanks a lot

f.

Day Spa Ideas

My DW will be visting relatives 30 minutes north of Dallas in June. It has been a very busy year for her and I would like to suprise her with a gift certificate to a local day spa. Can anyone suggest a nice spa in that area?

Thank you for your help!

Day Spa Ideas

Try this place:

http://www.spahabitat.com/spa-locations.htm

They have two locations that should be easy for anyone to get to.

If not, what area would you be looking for?

Day Spa Ideas

Hi pepper,

Thanks for the link. It looks nice. She will be staying in the Lake Dallas area. How far of a drive would that be to the Plano location and would traffic be bad?

Thanks!

Hmmm...I%26#39;m not sure where Lake Dallas is. I might need to find a map.

OK...it%26#39;s pretty far up there (well...to me). You might be better off finding something near there in Lewisville or Denton. Unfortunately, I don%26#39;t know that area.

Pepper,

Thanks for your help!

RW, Just south of Lake Dallas off I-35 is highway 121 (bypass) which would make it an easy drive (20min) to the Gaylord Texan, which has a very nice spa, and it is a fairly nice hotel in inself. The fam could wander around the hotel while she lounged in the spa then have dinner there, or their is Grapevine Mills mall a mile down the road (she would pass it on the way the the GT) where they could occupy time too, if needed.

A little further away in Irving is the 4 Seasons. It has a wonderful spa. Our favorite.

Also, she could take 121 (business this time) North into Frisco where there are a number of hotels with spas.

I am not aware of Denton spas nor nicer day spas.

Best of luck.

First time to Dallas

Hi,

We are 2 females coming to USA in November and will be making a stop in Dallas for two days.

I was wondering if anyone could help us with a few questions:

Is the bus station (greyhound) in Dallas safe?

How far away is it from the Amtrak station?

Are there any areas we should avoid?

Are the Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive and the Mary Kay Cosmetics worth visits?

First time to Dallas

The bus station is as safe as any other downtown big city station- be alert and aware of your surroundings. Dallas has a fairly large homeless population which makes some people uncomfortable since you may get asked for money by panhandlers. Just know where you are going and keep walking.

The Greyhound station is less than a half mile from the Amtrak terminal at Union Station.

The Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive statues are interesting but not much of a destination in and of themselves. Perhaps see them while you are closeby at the bus/train stations. Mary Kay is out of town, in Addison, so not easy to get to without a car. There are limited factory tours and a small museum. Guess it would depend on how much you are into Mary Kay and the products.

First time to Dallas

The bus station is very close to the Amtrak station--4 or 5 blocks only.

I would avoid the McDonald%26#39;s restaurant near the bus station. There have been several violent crimes in that area over a period of several years.

Visitors seem to enjoy the Cattle Drive statue. It%26#39;s not a huge thing but a good photo opportunity,

I love the Pioneer Plaza cattle drive, although I wish the city staff would keep the vegetation trimmed back so it%26#39;s more visually impressive, as it was when it was first installed.

I take all Dallas visitors to see it, and so far everyone I%26#39;ve taken it to has loved it and are glad to have had the opportunity.

Depends on whether you are into art, cattle, parks. It%26#39;s not something you%26#39;d spend a lot of time on, that%26#39;s for sure.

I don%26#39;t know anyone who%26#39;s gone to Mary Kay%26#39;s. I%26#39;d spend the time at the 6th Floor Museum, Old City Park, or the DMA.

What are you doing at the Greyhound station? While the Amtrak statio is walkable from the Greyhound station, if you%26#39;re thinking of trekking a lot of luggage down there, I%26#39;d grab a cab.

The Cattle Drive at Pioneer Plaza 650 S Griffin, Dallas is a HUGE THING. The 44 larger-than-life longhorns and cowboys took several years to create and covers several acres. IT may be the most impressive bronze casting statutes installation ever. It is rivaled only by the MUSTANGS on O%26#39;Connor Blvd in IRVING, TX just 7 miles to the northwest of Dallas near DFW airport. Both installations encourage visitors to get close to the art. There is a nice restaurant near the MUSTANGS in Irving and a small museum there to give the history of them. I would definitely recommend both of these Texas-size bronze-cast installations.

What I find slightly more interesting at Pioneer Plaza is the cemetary on the backside.

Now you have got me curious. How many people in the cemetery? Who are they? and why is it interesting? and how far is it from the Cattle Drive? thanks.

It%26#39;s a very small cemetary in the same block as Pioneer Plaza - but on the opposite side of the cattle drive area...up the hill and behind the waterfall-ish area. It%26#39;s old and that makes it interesting. But we like cemetaries.

Jags,

What are your plans while in Dallas? I take it you are arriving by bus and leaving by train, or perhaps vice versa. Have you made hotel reseverations? If so where (what area, no personal info)? Will you have a car? If you stay downtown youwill have access to the rail service.

Let us know and we can give your siteseeing advice and restaurant advice.

Hope you have a great time. Bring my niece home with you!

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