Abandoned Mansion in Sherman

Does anyone know anything about an old, abondoned mansion on the shouthwest side of Sherman? I can not remember what street I saw it on but it was huge, red brick, white columns, and on a large, fenced off property. Very spooky! Thanks.

Abandoned Mansion in Sherman

Yep, that%26#39;s the old Woodman%26#39;s Circle Home (some time of fraternal order like the Elks or something) and it%26#39;s been abandoned for years and years. It burned probably 20 years ago now, and it%26#39;s never recovered. Back in the 60s it was still in use, particularly its ballroom. It had beautiful floors and lovely transoms, wide hallways, and quite a bit of charm. Now, however, it%26#39;s just spooky. Last I heard it was owned by Robert Minshew, but I don%26#39;t know if that%26#39;s still true as it%26#39;s been quite some time since I heard that!

Abandoned Mansion in Sherman

Thanks for solving my little mystery. Such a spooky place. I wonder if it%26#39;s haunted......

yeah it is haunted my uncle and friend went in side a said their were screams and bangs constantly inside their is also some apartmants haunted in shermen i forgot the name but there on willow street

the appartments are east side garden apartments, and woodman circle is very very haunted, there is also a cementery called woodmans circle cemetery its on 1417 , its also haunted some friends said they went to check it out at like 7:00 at night and they swear they were only there for 10 minutes and when they pulled out of there it was 8:00 they said it was like a time warp, sounds crazy i know but its true!!!!!!!!

Woodman%26#39;s Circle is the most beautiful Art Deco (1930) mansion I have ever seen. It was built and homed widows in the main house and orphans in the Philladelphia house (long home to the side). There is a majestic Gazebo with an overlook, scenic drive up, big bay windows, sunroom on two floors, two huge ballrooms, and a large basement for the pipes. Unfortunately in the 70%26#39;s, the state mandated new electrical codes and the Forest Woodman%26#39;s Society for the Aged and Orphaned could not afford to rennovate the building to meet the regulated guidelines. They moved out (and took all of their belongings with them - so cancel all stories you hear of furniture, books, clothes, etc... in the building). It was then used as a church - not a Satanic Church as the story goes, just a church. That was was for a very minimilistic time. That is where the story of a 4 year old boy falling down the dumbwaiter comes from. I have been unable to validate that portion of the story, everyone I have spoken to leaves it in, so it might be. It then moved from one S%26amp;L to another through the 80%26#39;s. 5 business men purchased the home in hopes to fix it up after the crash of the S%26amp;L%26#39;s. Vandals had broken windows, stolen fixtures, destroyed walls %26amp; doors, and finally in the early 90%26#39;s an arson set fire to portions of all the buildings. It is currently owned by a lawyer in Sherman who does have plans for it. I personally hope that the plans are to rennovate the home back to it%26#39;s magnificence and to restore the Art Deco beauty that it once held.

This home could have ghosts of elderly widows and a 4 year old boy, but not the stories that I heard. All of the ones I have heard where of occult rituals and tragedy, but this is a special house and so is the cemetery. Built out of charity for a close knit organization.

I grew up in Sherman and had friends that lived on the other side of the ';woods'; from this place. I don%26#39;t think it was a normal ';church'; that was there... The kids that lived there used to chase us away with hoes and rakes when they were working in the garden. (Jennifer, Carolyn, Jimmy, %26amp; Cooper - you can verify this!) Anyway, after it burned down, some friends went back in there and said there were pentagrams on the floor and that it looked Satanic... so I%26#39;m not sure since I didn%26#39;t go... but it freaked me OUT!!!!

I just went in the woodmans home a few nights ago. I have always wanted to go into the home, but for what ever reason didnt. Fear of what was in the home or maybe that i would get caught by the police could be the reasons why i didnt. The other night while i was talking to a friend for whatever reason i thought about going into the home. My friend said he also wanted to go into the home. When we went into the home i found it to be like right out of a scary movie with walls falling down the roof caving in and dusty. Also alot of bad things written on the walls. The home is very much a scary looking place. My friend and i were in the home for about 45 minutes and i must say that i never once felt fear of anything bad happening. Now i must say that i dont believe in goast, but i do believe as the bible says demonic spirits. I would say that this place does have alot of demonic spirits not because of the people who have died in the home, but because of all the crazy satan loving people who have come in and wrote all the bad things and performed there perversions inside the home. I can say with all confidence that the home is not haunted, but if you believe in what the bible says about demonic spirits then you will find that the home is full of those, but its nothing to be scared of if you follow the lord.

yah i live right there behide it%26#39;s on the corner of 75 and n hwy 1417 can,t miss it

here is a website with more information and great pictures www.pinballrebel.com/woodman/woodman.htm

i for one would love to have seen this house restored. i no longer live in the Sherman area (been in Austin since i was 11) but i still remember driving past it on Saturday mornings going to girl scout meetings. for some reason the building has always been on my mind.

The mansion was not only an orphanage but it was also a hospital and an insane asylum...my boyfriends mom and dad went in there when they were teenagers and they have footage....the sponge room is still in there and there are still a few strapped beds. The bathrooms are rusted over really bad and it stinks horibly. Its pretty much scary looking all the way around.....MY boyfriend mom said it was the scariest place she has ever been in in her entire life. I want to go in there....lol

fish

Austin area - bass fishing

I am looking for someone to recommend a guide for any of the lakes in the Austin area. Also which lakes are better for winter (Feb)bass fishing? Thanks!

Austin area - bass fishing

I wonder if the folks on this link might be able to answer you. We don%26#39;t get a lot of fishing questions here.

www.texasfishingforum.com

Austin area - bass fishing

Here%26#39;s a link with a list of local guides. I%26#39;m sure you can get advice on the various lakes from them. gorp.away.com/gorp/location/tx/wa_austin.htm

This is a great resource for Austin area bass fishing.

http://www.austinbassfishing.com/

Bachelorette Party

I%26#39;m throwing my sister%26#39;s Bachelorette party and she wants to go eat at a fun restaurant then go dancing somewhere in Dallas. I need clubs or bars that people under 21 can get into and that have cheap drinks.

Bachelorette Party

Y%26#39;all could hang out in Deep Ellum - Monica%26#39;s for dinner and then Lizard Lounge for dancing. It%26#39;s the only place I know of where under 21 can get in.

http://thelizardlounge.com/index.php

http://www.monicas.com/

How has Galveston recovered from Ike?

Considering a trip to Galveston in late June, how has the area recovered from Ike? Never been there, also looking for a recomendation on a 1 - 2 BDRM condo, upscale / new, walk to beach. Thanks!

How has Galveston recovered from Ike?

Just went there this weekend. Please see my list of openings on my review and photos. Don%26#39;t know about the condo. We always stay at Gaido%26#39;s.

Good luck.

How has Galveston recovered from Ike?

See the Galvestonian - it is right on the beach, beautifully-decorated, and very quiet most of the time. http://www.galvestonian.com/

Thank you boilingintexas and terryyahoo for your responses, very helpful. I am suprised I did not find the Galvestonian in my many hours of web searching. Sounds like a great property, they need to update their marketing. We booked a renovated condo at By the Sea Condos www.vrbo.com/183447 and it looks amazing, cant wait to get there.

Will definately try Gaidos as it seems to get great reviews. I saw somewhere you can buy fresh shrimp right off the boats, any tips on this?

Thanks!

You can usually buy shrimp off the boats, but I didn%26#39;t see any this time. But, I didn%26#39;t get on the bay side this time and that is usually where they come in.

I just left the beach last week and already I am ready to go back. I didn%26#39;t get enough beach time.

Maybe I%26#39;ll get a chance to go down to the sandcastle competition June 4th.

Have a great time.

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i17271-Best_Sho…

My mom and stepdad are still living in their RV. The last time we went shopping for furniture (20 years ago) she was incredibly excited. Now she seems to drag her feet and not want to get started.

Many touristy places have reopened or found new locations to open, but some landmarks like the Balinese are gone for good. Grace Episcopal discovered lovely wooden floors beneath the carpet they had to trash and hopefully will be getting their restored pews back soon. These are the same pews that drifted away in the 1900 storm, only to be brought back by islanders as they were found even weeks after the storm. Please consider taking a tour of Grace along with all your other vacation plans.

Thanks again! I will be sure to get to the bay and look for the shrimp boats.

State Fair?

I did a quick search to find several threads on the State Fair. My husband and I are form Corpus but we%26#39;ll coming from the West. We%26#39;ve never been to Dallas.

So I guess my question(s) are more of...

How many days do we need to see the Fair? Is one enough?

I%26#39;m reading about your DART system...but I%26#39;m not familar with mass transit. So is there a hotel we can stay at that%26#39;s near a DART station that would get us to the Fair? Or should we just suck it up and drive there and deal with the parking?

Thanks in advance if you can help.

State Fair?

One day is generally enough to see the highlights of the fair. However, if you have a particular interest, a second day won%26#39;t hurt! Keep in mind that weekends can be very busy, especially on Texas OU weekend (Ocotber 17 this year). Best to go on a weekday if you can swing it.

If at all possible, I would avoid driving/parking to the fair- it%26#39;s a zoo. The Green Line for the DART light rail is on schedule to open in September- this will be the line that goes to Fair Park.

You can stay anywhere downtown and have fairly easy access to the DART light rail lines that will interconnect and make tranfer to the Green Line easy. Some of the downtown hotels include the Adolphus, Fairmont, Sheraton, Hyatt Regency, Springhill Suites, Magnolia, Lawrence, Indigo, Joule.

However, since you have a car, you can stay in other areas that might better suit your trip plans, such as the Market center area, or the Best Western or La Quinta off of Central that are often mentioned when the Fair is discussed in this forum. You could park at a DART station such as Mockingbird Station, Union Station or Cityplace and connect to the Green Line for your ride to the Fair.

In years past there was a bus shuttle system to the fair but that has been retired in favor of the light rail.

State Fair?

We always drive ourselves and park in the lots off Fitzhugh. But...during TX-OU, you need a special pass to park there. I would avoid that particular weekend if you can.

On weekdays, there are entrance specials. Usually Tues is $3 w/ a Dr Pepper can. Wed is $1 or 2 with 3 cans of food. And Thurs is $4 with a certain Coke product.

Also, be aware that certain days are for students and High School day is pretty much to be avoided.

As far as I know DISD is the only school district in the country that gives students a day off to go to the fair. The fair gives all the students and teachers a pass, not just DISD, but apparently other surrounding school districts, too.

DISD used to get both the HS day and the elementary days so kids could go with their siblings on whatever day they wanted, but I think they quit that a few years ago.

I%26#39;ve never had trouble parking at the fair, but if I were a visitor I%26#39;d probably go the light rail option as suggested. We live down the street from the fair and this year I%26#39;m not sure if I%26#39;ll park as usual or try the rail option.

One day is normally good, but keep in mind it can be an extremely busy day and to see everything/do everything you need to get there when it opens and plan the day out so you get to see all the shows you want. When I do it in one day it%26#39;s a 12 hour day from 10AM to 10PM. The State Fair website has some neat tools for planning your visit. Or you can just show up at 1000, grab a program, and plan it out then and there.

You can also check the band schedule on the website as there might be someone you%26#39;d really like to see that you should plan your trip around being there on that day. The current year%26#39;s list isn%26#39;t up yet, but here%26#39;s some of who%26#39;s been here in the past. ';Headliners run the gamut of genres and have included the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, the Dixie Chicks, Jars of Clay, Destiny’s Child, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Boyz II Men, Garth Brooks, Selena, the Mavericks, the Beach Boys, Lou Rawls, Willie Nelson and Jay Perez.'; http://www.bigtex.com/

Also, all the museums that are in Fair Park are included with your Fair entrance fee. If you%26#39;re interested in any of them, you might want to take two days, because the fair itself will definitely take up all of one day.

If you%26#39;re here on opening day weekend, the State Fair parade downtown is always fun to attend.

I love the State Fair! I hope you have a great time!

Dallas ISD high school day is also best avoided in the evening. I thought it wasn%26#39;t going to be a big deal...I don%26#39;t usually belive most of the stuff I hear, but this legendary day turned out to be true after witnessing a gang fight in the food court.

Dallas Area Activities for a 2 1/2 year old

We will be in Irving in late July for a week. Would appreciate any suggestions for day activities for our 2 1/2 year old. We know about the zoo, but were hoping for more ';local'; activities. Swimming lessons, play centers etc.

THANK YOU!

Dallas Area Activities for a 2 1/2 year old

Things like swimming lessons are usually through local Y%26#39;s and are week-long sessions. You%26#39;d have to check the Y closest to where you%26#39;re staying for achedules.

The most fun for a 2 1/2 year old (to me) would be the former Science Place, now known as the Children%26#39;s Museum of the Museum of Nature and Science. www.natureandscience.org/dcm/default.asp

It%26#39;s fun going on your own because there are always other kids to play with and your child can spend as much time as they like doing what they%26#39;re interested in. On Wednesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 they have special programs.

They also have special camps, but your child may be too young.

Another fun place would be the Dallas Arboretum. Right now they have a special storybook display.

dallasarboretum.org/Events/…20Playhouses.htm

Dallas Area Activities for a 2 1/2 year old

I don%26#39;t know about Irving, but in Dallas we have free splashparks:

dallasparks.org/Downloads/Spraygrounds.pdf

http://www.dallasparks.org/main/home.aspx

We like the Lake Highlands location best.

Frontiers of Flight of Museum at Love Field has a good play area.

Some of the malls have play areas - the Galleria has one on the 3rd floor near Nordstrom and Saks.

spots

migrating existing portal

Connecting at DFW...

Hey,

I%26#39;m flying from Brussels to Lubbock in July, and have to change planes in Toronto and Dallas. In Toronto I have about 3 hours, so this is not an issue (though I would like to know whether i%26#39;ll have to recheck my luggage).

In Dallas however, I only have 40 minutes, due to rescheduling (I had an hour at first). I will fly to Dallas with American Airlines and to Lubbock with American Eagle.I am in the a4 seat, so I won%26#39;t have to wait very long to get out of the plane. Will I be able to catch my plane?

More important, I also have the same short connection going from DFW to Toronto, and 40 minutes for connecting to an international flight seems quite short to me. Is it still possible though (again, I%26#39;ll be in front of the plane).

I would appreciate yopur help very much!

Connecting at DFW...

Those are tight time frames and American has a pretty bad on-time rate. That said, I can%26#39;t remember the last time I missed a connection, and I%26#39;m thinking it was a weather problem more than anything else. I fly about 120 segments or so a year.

Normally, you do not have to re-check luggage on international flights. You go through customs and then your bags are left in the baggage drop off area and transited to your plane by the baggage staff.

All international flights use Terminal D. American Eagle flights are exclusively out of Terminal B, rarely may be A or C, but the likelihood is you%26#39;ll be transiting from D to B inbound and B to D outbound.

You%26#39;ll be going through customs in Dallas, too, and it%26#39;s usually quick. Our baggage check-in time is 40 minutes before the flight, so I%26#39;m thinking there%26#39;s a possibility that you might make the flight, but your baggage may make a later flight. In that circumstance the airline will deliver your bag to you. If you%26#39;re staying in the Lubbock area that%26#39;s not a problem, but if you%26#39;re going a distance by car, too, then you might want to wait until your luggage arrives. Really don%26#39;t know what the turn-around time for luggage from D, through customs, and to B might be.

From Lubbock to Dallas is not a problem at all as your luggage will automatically be sent to the next plane and you just have to get yourself over to the gate.

If you really think you%26#39;re going to have issues you might touch base with American and tell them your booking was changed and you need to look at alternatives. You should not be charged a change fee when the airlines has made the first change. But the agent may tell you they don%26#39;t expect a problem and to stick with your current arrangements.

The Skylink (normally the fastest way to get from different terminals/gates takes and takes about 10 -15 minutes (including walking time to the skylink and wait time). A train runs about every two minutes.

www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do…

Connecting at DFW...

Thank you for your answer! I%26#39;m a little aay from Lubbock, but not that far, I%26#39;ll have to make sure to take some extra clothes in my carry-on then. I was more worried about me not making it, especially when connecting on the way back, there is only oe flight from Toronto to Brussels a day.

Artania Equestrian Circus in Dallas now until July 26

I saw this in the DMN this AM and the photo on B1 has got me enthused about seeing this circus. It looks like a great entertainment option and I can%26#39;t wait to go! If anybody%26#39;s seen it, please let us know what you thought. Also, tickets are pretty reasonable $35 - 65 and a family four-pack for $109 (no indication in the article what that covers).

They did pick a pretty iffie location, though, so that may be a factor in attendance. I wonder why they didn%26#39;t go with Fair Park where Cirque de Soleil has been very successful.

www.artaniashow.com

Artania Equestrian Circus in Dallas now until July 26

I saw that tent by Fuel City and was wondering what it was.

Top 40 R&B booty moving dance clubs

Hello everyone,

My husband and I will be visiting Austin next week and we love to get our groove on. Any suggestions on what clubs might offer great dancing music?

Top 40 R%26amp;B booty moving dance clubs

OK Mr.Ted I%26#39;m waiting for your recommendation on booty moving dance clubs?!?!?!? :)

Top 40 R%26amp;B booty moving dance clubs

You might try Spin Nightclub(used to be Sky Lounge) at 416 Congress Ave. If they are still around.

Jodi - no fair saving Mr. Ted ! :)

I%26#39;m still interested in what she%26#39;s going to say too!

(sorry whiro2, we all really enjoy helping people on this forum, not trying to take over your thread)

Ok, guys, I don%26#39;t do much booty shaking to Top 40 music, but for the most likely places to have rockin%26#39; music I would just start wandering down 6th Street and listen for something that sounds good. If you want live music, Emo%26#39;s at 6th and Red River is most likely to have a rock or punk or some sort of variation thereof. If you want to dance to music put on by a DJ, your choices may be a bit more limited. There is a dance club on 6th Street called Vice (I think), but I%26#39;ve never been there and know nothing about it. Spiro%26#39;s on Red River just up from 6th Street also plays dance music and when I%26#39;ve been in that area, it always seems lively.

On second thought, Spiros may not be the place to go -- statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs鈥?/a>

Don%26#39;t let this discourage you from visiting downtown Austin. For the most part, I think Austin is incredibly safe and there is a large polic prescence in the 6th Street area. Spiros just may be a bit more lively than I originally thought.

Thanks for the suggestions. I%26#39;ve been doing some of my own research. What do you think about these clubs?

The Marq

Gruv

6 Lounge

Union Park

Canvas

Barcelona

Red Fez

Pangea

Pure Ultra Lounge

I really prefer DJ%26#39;s to live music when it comes to dancing. However, I don%26#39;t like a lot of mixing and scratching of the music. I prefer to dance to the music I hear on the radio.....Top 40.

Sorry I%26#39;m being so picky. It%26#39;s just that when my husband and I get away on vacation from the kids I don%26#39;t want to be disappointed by not being able to find a club to dance at. Dancing fills my soul and I just want to have fun! I%26#39;m not there to drink and act crazy. I go to let loose and ';get my freak on.'; =)

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

***Robin

Pangea and Pure are ';ultra lounges.'; They have high covers, specialize in bottle service, and from what I%26#39;ve heard walking by, play mostly house music, not so much Top 40 radio stuff. A club that plays Top 40 is going to be kind of hard to come by here . . . there just aren%26#39;t a lot of dance clubs to begin with and fewer that are along those lines. Honestly, the best dance places are really gay bars. Oil Can Harry%26#39;s and Rainbow Cattle Company are very lively dance places that attract a pretty mixed crowd on weekends. Gruv, Union Park, and Red Fez are more drinking and hanging out places than dance clubs in my mind, but there will be music playing. I haven%26#39;t heard of the others. Sorry! Try asking at your hotel when you get to town. The valet staff at any hotel usually has the best suggestions. I hope you find what you%26#39;re looking for.

Personal Safety at BBNP

Ok this may sound like a very strange question, but here goes: My husband is freaking out about the drug violence reported in Mexico and is thinking we should cancel our trip to Big Bend for spring break. I keep telling him, it%26#39;s a national park. We will be safe.

Can anyone on the forum comment on this topic and suggest any evidence to convince him all will be well?

thanks!

Personal Safety at BBNP

yes, a definite overreaction...and sorry to tell you this but the overall problem is likely closer to the midwest than he would suspect

..think about it ..drugs follow the money....i.e. the cities Plus, who is taking wads of cash and jewelry on their camping trip? It wouldn%26#39;t be worthwhile. Did he watch a Coen brothers film recently? It is definitely a safe place.

Personal Safety at BBNP

Here%26#39;s a view from Texas. There%26#39;s no problem in the Big Bend region, not because it%26#39;s a national park but because the Mexican side is incredibly difficult to access from Mexico due to geography. Don%26#39;t cancel - it%26#39;s amazing!

Thanks for the responses... hubby actually grunted and grinned when he read them, I think he was just yanking my chain. Houston we are go and I can%26#39;t wait to get there, it%26#39;s been a long 2009 already know what I mean?

I agree with the other posts and I%26#39;ve been to BB several times and always felt completely safe. That said, when hiking, more than a few hours from a trail head, or in a particularly isolated area I would recommend carrying a pistol. This requires training and licensing, but I think it is well worth the effort to afford that protection.

Let me just note that it%26#39;s illegal to carry firearms in National Parks.

Thank you for asking that question? My husband and I were concerned about the safety of BB too. We like to stay at the more primitive sites and were also thinking about cancelling because I could not find any information about the safety issue. Thank you all for replying to the original question. You have relieved our fears. We love BB. If anyone has had or heard of any problems with camping in primitive sites please comment.

As of early 2009, the firearm laws in national parks reflect the laws of the state they are in. So Big Bend%26#39;s firearm laws are Texas%26#39; firearm laws. See Big Bend%26#39;s press release at nps.gov/bibe/…20Release.pdf or, better yet, talk to a park ranger. The most important thing, period, is to be well trained. I%26#39;m on the way to Big Bend this week and the only ';threats'; I%26#39;ve read about are the very, very rare mountain lion or bear. Therefore, I%26#39;ll double-check with a ranger, but at this point I%26#39;ll be leaving my weapon locked up in my truck. Don%26#39;t carry it if you%26#39;re not prepared to use it.

I%26#39;m pretty sure that the PDF you linked to is outdated. Before Bush left office, they tried to repeal the gun ban in national parks, but the courts blocked it. I think the PDF is addressing that, because it is several months old.

The new law, passed by Congress, does not take effect until next February (2010). I was just in Big Bend last week, and it most definitely was posted that firearms are NOT allowed in the park as of now. I%26#39;ve been to several others as well in the past two weeks, and they have all had posters up in visitor centers explaining that nothing changes until next year.

How's the ocean?

Seaweed?

How's the ocean?

We were there 5/28-5/31. The seawead seemed to be heavier on the beach closer to town. There was some seawead in the water the first 2 days we were there but not bad really. Altho on Sat (our 3rd day) there was alot of seawead in the water too.

leave the hairdressers

Which hotel,Beachside Inn or Travelodge/ other suggestions??

Now that we are planning a family trip to SPI, the rates are very high for late June(I guess since it%26#39;s the summer and weekend). I have narrowed it down to these 2 hotels. I have looked for a condo as many suggest and they are all over $600 for our 3 nights. Have any of you stayed at the Beachside or Travelodge? Is there anything nice and clean and more affordable in Port Isabel? Thank you!

Which hotel,Beachside Inn or Travelodge/ other suggestions??

My husband and I just booked a room at The Palms for mid June. We thought the price was great for a King Suite. You might check out their website

http://palmsresortcafe.com

Which hotel,Beachside Inn or Travelodge/ other suggestions??

I agree- the Palms is a neat old hotel on the beach. It has a pool and restaurant/bar overlooking the ocean. Usually pretty good rates compared to other hotels. Also, all the rooms I%26#39;ve seen there have a fridge in them- good to have for snacks, food for kiddos.

spots

Omni Galleria or Courtyard Galleria?

Hi all

i%26#39;m having a tough time deciding which is the nicest most comfortable hotel out of these two. Any help would really be appreciated!

many thanks

Davina

Omni Galleria or Courtyard Galleria?

If you mean the Courtyard Marriott, Omni is the better hotel. One thing I don%26#39;t like about the Omni is that it is there with 3 other office buildings and getting in and out can be a problem. Other than that Omni also has much better amenities.

Omni Galleria or Courtyard Galleria?

The Omni is a general 4 star, with a nice wooded setting in a highrise office park just off I-610 and Woodway drive. Nice outdoor poor, good security and aimed at business travelers, including families of foreign oil companies and the like. Shopping, food and drink and any entertainment locations all require driving as there is nil except for the hotel%26#39;s food service. Rush hour driving on Woodway Drive can be taxing at peak times, but the distance to be covered is short and so is tolerable.

The Courtyard is a high 2 or low 3 star but is still quite comfortable, and is closer to the above mentioned outside amentities. The hotel is also targeted at a broader mix of travelers.

We went to South Padre Island for the day 5/30/09

Just thought I would share my experience at the beach last Saturday for anyone interested... There were people but it wasn%26#39;t crowded. We parked in Beach Access #3 I think, it was a free access area and there was hardly anyone around compared to the main access. The only bad thing was there were no restrooms nearby and the parking area was very sandy. The beach had a lot of seaweed but it was in small pieces at least. The weather was perfect 90s, it was hot but cloudy so we didn%26#39;t have to deal with the sun beating down on us. The water was so wonderfully warm, it was like laying in a bathtub. It was pretty windy, actually I don%26#39;t think I have ever seen it not windy, it would be perfect for flying a kite. The waves were large at times but not huge.

Afterwards we ate at Dirty Al%26#39;s, the fried shrimp was the best I ever had. It was about $40 for our family of four.

We went to South Padre Island for the day 5/30/09

glad you had a good time. We%26#39;ll be Thurs. can%26#39;t wait!!

June 11-13 Dallas Trip

My husband and I will be in Dallas for a couple of days in June. What are some things we should definitely see or do? We love the outdoors, good food, some of the arts, and general sightseeing. Thanks!

June 11-13 Dallas Trip

First question- where are you staying?

June 11-13 Dallas Trip

Try the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie. Check out their website and get reservations in advance. Terrific opportunity for great entertainment in a small theatre.

Also Irving has some great live entertainment and it is much less expensive. The Irving Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Stage and Irving Arts Center at 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Check out their website at irvingartscenter.com Great entertainment in a small intimate venue where every seat is a great seat. Broadway shows and a whole lot more.

Thanks for the info!

We are unsure as to where we still stay. My DH is going on business. They have placed him at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel previously. It is usually a short distance from the business buildings in town. We should find out for sure within a week or so.

Thurs nights at Dallas Museum of Art are free after 5 pm and there is live music. Do you know exactly when you%26#39;ll be in town?

Nasher Scuplture Center across the street from DMA - has free admission on first Sat of month until noon or 2 pm. Plus they have other events in the evenings...music and movies. Again...depends on when you%26#39;ll be here.

if you are interested in museums, you should check out Fort Worth - they have outstanding museums, the beautiful Bass concert hall (you could catch the symphony or a show there) and a GREAT downtown for walking around shopping/eating at night.

my other suggestion would be to get a fantastic steak at Three Forks (III Forks) www.iiiforks.com in North Dallas - the filet mignon cooked medium is the best steak I have ever had

Thanks to all for your advice.

The steak sounds awesome!

Shows/Nightlife for the over 40 crowd

Going to be in little ole Texas in mid-July and we are driving down to Corpus from San Antonio. Wondering if their are some cool Shows going on at night that us older more gentle folk would enjoy. Things like Jazz and Dixieland bands would be cool. Thanks

Shows/Nightlife for the over 40 crowd

You are looking for something that is hard to find here. I suggest you check the event calendars of the two venues below:

http://www.executivesurfclub.com/

http://www.brewsterstreet.net/wiki/BST/Home

Both feature Texas bands and local acts for the most part but you might find something to your liking.

You might find some Celtic music at

http://www.cassidysirishpub.com/music.htm

On top of the Omni Hotel is the Republic of Texas Bar and Grill and there is a Piano Bar that might be to your liking...Republic of Texas has nice views but probably the most expensive eating establishment in the city. You can enjoy the piano lounge and snack without using the restaurant itself.

http://www.omnihotels.com/republic/

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i19763-Corpus_C…

server

day trips from austin

hi

i,m going to austin and would like to visit san antonio for a day, possibly two days if nescessary , is this feasable, i%26#39;m not sure of the distance? i%26#39;m not intending to hire a car so would be relying on public transport. also recommendations for other places that are suitable for daytrips from austin would be appreciated

day trips from austin

If you are not planning to hire a car, day trips from Austin will be difficult, if not impossible. There has been much discussion on these forums about transportation options from Austin to San Antonio and back without a car, and the consensus seems to be that you can do Amtrak (rail) and hope that it is running on schedule, or take a Greyhound bus. The Amtrak takes three and half hours (from 7:00pm until 10:25pm) for what would be an hour and a half drive at most. The train is very often late getting to Austin, and thus late getting to San Antonio. There are several more options if you travel by Greyhound bus and it does get you there a bit faster. Here is the website for Greyhound -- http://www.greyhound.com/home/

Any other day trips would really require a car. We just don%26#39;t have the public transportation system here in Texas that you would see on the East Cost of the United States or in Europe.

day trips from austin

totally agree with the previous post - San Antonio is a one hour drive from Austin but I%26#39;m sure a bus would take a bit longer - the only ';day trip'; I can think of from Austin (if you drink wine) would be to hire a limo to do a tour of the Texas vineyards in the Hill Country west of Austin - yes, we do have quite a lot of vineyards here in Texas which people seem to forget about

You really should see San Antonio. Hire a car and make the drive. It is just over an hour, Interstate highway all the way to downtown San Antonio, where you can park the car and spend the entire day walking and using the trolley. Even if you have never driven on the ';wrong'; side of the road it should be quite easy to manage...nothing like driving in London or Los Angeles.

Restaurants in the area?

My wife and I live in the Grapevine area and have been trying new restaurants around here for three years now and have not been ';blown away'; by any of them. Can anyone tell us where to get really good food around here? Price/atmosphere does not matter - we just want good food (Tex-Mex, Italian, Steakhouse, Pizza, French, Thai, Chinese, etc) - it could be a hole in the wall or a fancy place - no matter. Any suggestions would be much appreciated

thanks!

Restaurants in the area?

We lived in NRH for 21 years and found a few that brought us back many times over the years. I am definitely NOT a foodie but some of our favorites are:

Chef Pointe Cafe in Watauga is wonderful- has recently been on the Food Network

www.chefpointcafe.org

La Bistro in Hurst is ';our place'; for lunch, dinner, special occasions.

Hunan Wok in NRH off Rufe Snow/820 is a nice place for Chinese, YEA! no buffet.

Sandy%26#39;s in NRH on Rufe Snow for chicken fried steak

Ifratelli pizza in Colleyville off of Glade Road because I like the super thin St. Louis style crust

In Fort Worth, I love lunch at the Modern museum, Reata in Sundance Square and Cattlemens in the Stockyards for steak

spots

Best restaurants to try?

I%26#39;ll be in the Plano area for the weekend. What are some of the best local restaurants I should try? Thanks!

Best restaurants to try?

There are lots of great mexican restaurants!

Best restaurants to try?

Three Forks in north Dallas www.iiiforks.com

fantastic

The sad thing is, I can%26#39;t think of any local restaurants in Plano, only chains, except for the Bavarian Grill. If you like German food, go during lunch, unless you are into the whole ';chicken dance'; kind of atmosphere, then go at dinner.

www.bavariangrill.com

Oh, I did think of one that gets decent reviews but I haven%26#39;t eaten there

http://stevefieldsrestaurant.com/

Perhaps Greek?

www.zorbasplano.com

hurricane possibilty in July

We are planning on visiting family in Houston in July. Our 9 year old daughter is very worried about hurricans. What is the likelyhood that there will be hurricanes in mid july? What about rain in general It is really the only month we can go. How scared should we be?

thanks,

A

hurricane possibilty in July

Come! Do not be afraid. Hurricanes rarely come to Houston and if something was headed our way, you%26#39;ll have plenty of warning.

Rain is generally short-lived afternoon storms.

Welcome to Houston.

hurricane possibilty in July

Is it possible - yes. What is the likelyhood - maybe less than getting hit by lightning. Huricanes are very rare and keep in mind that Houston is a good 50-miles form the gulf. Usually in July we are hoping for rain!

June/July -- storms generally form in the Atlantic, and veer towards the East coast.

September/October -- storms begin forming in the Caribbean, and are more likely to hit the Texas coast. Texas will typically see a couple of tropical storms make landfall each year, but hurricanes are far less likely. They can come at any time in the season, but it was over 20 years between the last two major storms.

Why would you allow a 9 year old to set the tone for a vacation? Adults should do that. There are risks in virtually all activities, rational, adult folks weigh the risks to benefits and make a decision. Adults shouldn%26#39;t be scared.

Children lack the experience and knowledge to make those decisions. I%26#39;m not saying to discount her fear, however teach her about hurricanes, their likelihood, precautions that can be taken, and plans for reacting to the threat. Armed with knowledge not emotions you can go on vacation and enjoy yourself.

To put it another way - think about earthquakes. Are you scared about earthquakes, or are you choosing to live in an earthquake area knowing the risks and benefits.

As to chances of a hurricane - if anyone here could predict with accuracy, they could make a bundle selling that knowledge.

The direct hit of a significant hurricane on Houston is roughly a once every 75 year event. Therefore, your odds of being there a week or so and seeing one are very small. Would you not go to California because there might be a fire, or to New York because you might get mugged? Common sense, please!

Hurricanes are not a once every 75 years or so. It is more like a major hurricane strikes every 20 years or so. We get lots of tropical storms or minor hurricanes, but not major ones.

Hi Swim,

Your having watched the televison coverage of Katrina and Ike, I can see why the rest of the world is concerned about Hurricane Season. Children and adults have natural fears, so just talk to your child, and assure her that you probably won%26#39;t run into a hurricane, and if you do, there will be plenty of warning to head for safety.You willbe there For her!

To put it into perpective, Ike was headed Right at us, but we had Two days to get to higher ground, so both of my kids headed to relatives in Dallas. We stayed, due to proprty and jobs, but we are an hour inland.

So, please allay your fears and come visit us! Like the rest of us, you will watch our great Frank Billingsley and other weathermen, who keep us informed on the local tv channels.

cc,

Cupcake

p.s. I have kids. and I am the one afraid of bears..ok, not rational, I know, but my kids will soothe MY fears, if we are headed to Canada.Everyone deserves to be heard and validated, and then go and enjoy! :)

motel

I have reserved a room at your Royal Inn there in sulphur Springs, Tx. I was told it was remodeled and very nice but old. I just read reviews on the net that it was dirty, and unfit to stay in. Do you have further info about this motel? Has it actually been remodeled?

i enjoy an extra barrier

looking for lodging near DFW airport with a free shuttle +

I%26#39;m trying to plan a mini reunion with friends during July and would love to stay somewhere close enough to the airport to take advantage of a free shuttle service. We are looking for adjoining rooms with King size beds,sofa,refrigerator,coffeemaker in room with a pool in or out doors. We%26#39;d love for it to be close enough to do some shopping or ? Any suggestions?

looking for lodging near DFW airport with a free shuttle +

One area to consider would be north of the airport in Grapevine, near the Grapevine Mills Mall. Some that have pools and free shuttle include Embassy Suites, Comfort Suites, Homewood Suites, Springhill Suites and Hilton DFW Conference Center. The Springhill and Hilton also have a complimnetary shuttle within 5 miles so you could head into Grapevine for more shopping and activites.

looking for lodging near DFW airport with a free shuttle +

Thanks. I noticed the Hilton Garden Inn in Grapevine online but they say they won%26#39;t be open until June 10th. I%26#39;m planning the trip for July 4 weekend am afraid something might delay their opening but may try their 800 # instead of phoning direct.

The Hilton Garden Inn and The Hilton DFW Conference Center are separate properties.

It looks like the Hilton DFW lakes doesn%26#39;t have all the features we are looking for but I may go ahead and call them to double check.

Do you know anything about the Hilton Garden Inn?

Amarillo neighborhoods

My husband and I may be moving to Amarillo sometime in the near future and would like some guidance on the safest areas of town to live. We also have a high school aged son and any info on good high schools would be appreciated as well. I have done some research on Canyon as a possibilty as well, so any feedback on that would be appreciated too. Thanks!

Amarillo neighborhoods

unfortunately, relocation topics are not part of the travel forum.

.you might try the web page for the Amarillo newspaper....Amarillo Globe ..there should be some type of message board there.

Weather in July/August

I%26#39;m from the Washington, DC area so I%26#39;m use to hot and humid summers....should I really avoid visiting Houston in July and August....is it really that hot and miserable!??

Weather in July/August

It is hot and miserable, probably a bit more hot and humid than DC. But, everything here has A/C. I think you%26#39;ll do fine.

Weather in July/August

Not that much different, except Houston public places (shopping, museums, movies, restaurants and the like) tend to turn the AC down a bit more your area, so bring a light top or wrap.

I agree with the other replies. If you know what to expect it isn%26#39;t too bad. Get any outdoor activity finished by noon.

Having lived in both DC and Houston, I can tell you that Houston is worse. It%26#39;s hotter and more humid. Think of the stickiest day you%26#39;ve ever experienced in DC and that%26#39;s what Houston is like all summer. That being said, people in Houston aren%26#39;t crazy enough to try to walk outside in the heat and humidity and everywhere you go will be very air-conditioned.

There%26#39;s a saying in Texas that the best parking spot is determined by the amount of shade you can find.

Also, watch out for the afternoon showers. They fool you into thinking that they will cool things off a bit, but all they do is boost the humidity a bit more.

It%26#39;s really not all that hot, compared to inland Texas, but the humidity makes you not care all that much. It%26#39;s brutal, and you will feel the difference.

Mornings and evenings are the times to be outside, and not noon-five or six.

Having lived in both places . . .

Houston is hotter (humid).

Hi MB,

If you are staying somewhere with a pool,and can get your outdoor activites done by noon, I say come on down! Best to head indoors for lunch and after...one of our great museums, etc, where the a/c is plentiful. Movie theaters are on %26#39;deep freeze%26#39; in the summer here, so as suggested bring a light jacket for everyone!

If you can wait, I might suggest coming in early October, when we get some cooler, sunny days. Some good local festivals,too. That%26#39; s also an ';R'; month, so you can take advantage of the great Gulf oysters then..head to a Pappas Seafood for oyster on the half sheel and a frozen Hurricane.

It might get hot and humid here, but we like sunshine..you don%26#39;t have to shovel it off the driveway! :)

CC,

Cupcake

It%26#39;s hot but there are a ton of indoor activities to do and every car has AC. Just wear shorts, T-shirt and sandals or bring your swimsuit and go for a dip in a hotel pool or the ocean.

Galleria - best shopping in Houston

Katy Mills Mall - indoor outlet mall

Space Center Houston and NASA - all pretty much indoor

Houston Museum of Natural Science and Butterfly center and IMAX

Kemah Boardwalk - go around 7 pm for dinner on the boardwalk and sunset view of the Gulf of Mexico.

Moody Gardens Galveston - all indoor atractions

Rainforest Cafe in Katy Mills Mall or on Galveston Island

spots

Visiting Rice Univ. & Houston for 2 days - a few questions

We will be visiting Rice Univ. and Houston for 2 days next month for my daughter. In addition to visiting the campus we want to get a feel for Houston. We will be exploring Rice Village as well as Uptown Houston (the Galleria).

Are there any other interesting neighborhoods with coffee shops, restaurants and shopping that would be of interest to a future college student??

What part of town would you recommend we stay in?

Should we rent a car? We will be flying into IAH.

Thanks!

Visiting Rice Univ. %26amp; Houston for 2 days - a few questions

Rice University web page for visitors has lots of useful information so review that if you%26#39;re not done so. Rice is right next to Houston%26#39;s museum district, which is fairly substantial.

Rice Village is a well defined, clean cut area for shopping, meals and the like but there is not a lot of other action going on there.

Interesting and close by neighborhoods to check out are the Montrose and Midtown. The Montrose is a fairly large and rambling area just west of center city. Its main street is Westheimer Road ( east end is X Smith Street) running west 4 miles or so to just west of X Kirby Drive, where Chuy%26#39;s鈥?(Tex Mex) rules (2706 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX鈥?(713) 524-1700鈥?. Big crowds of college and post college hang out here, so fighting the crowds is worth it if you%26#39;re looking for college preppy. Closer to the center of the Montrose (Westheimer X Dunlavy) are a couple of gritty but classic Houston coffee houses, Brazile on one side of and Agora on the other side (a former 2 story house, with a tiny sign over the front door). The Montrose is home to many different alternative life styles, and a good many of the locals there are not in the college set, which some visitors find a bit too much. East of the Agora along Westheimer for about 1/2 mile are a good collection of clothing resale shops, tat parlors and the like.

Midtown is a small area vicinity of Babgy and West Gray, just 1 mile southeast of center city Houston. This area is mostly new built in the last 10 years or so, and has many restaurant/bar settings, and a couple of bar/clubs. Most of the traffic here is post college to post retirement, but some of the clubs just east of here off Smith and Louisiana do draw from the college crowd I%26#39;m told.

Depending on your budget and lifestyle, you can find a wide variety of hotel options. A good middle of the road choice is Galleria area (aka Uptown). I would rent a car.

A good guide to events, music, restaurants and the like for the 18 to 30 set can be found on the weekly www.houstonpress.com web page.

Happy hunting.

Visiting Rice Univ. %26amp; Houston for 2 days - a few questions

Just wanted to remind you that if you%26#39;re coming in June, it will probably be quite hot, especially compared to what you%26#39;re used to in Oregon. Houston weather is really fine except for the summer months, so don%26#39;t let the heat and humidity turn your daughter off to Houston and Rice.

Rice has a three-mile walking/jogging loop surrounding it that might be fun to try out. Just across Main Street is Hermann Park, with the Museum of Natural Science and zoo.

If it%26#39;s in your price range, I%26#39;d stay at Hotel ZaZa. It%26#39;s very close to Rice and a great location.

Definitely look around Rice Village for shopping. (Bordered by Kirby, University, Greenbriar, and Bolsover.) Variety Fair on Rice Blvd. is an amazing 50s-style variety store.

My kids always have loved Goode Company Mexican on Kirby for breakfast on the weekends.

The Montrose/lower Westheimer area around Brasil and Empire Cafe (both good places to eat) is interesting.

The restaurants I mentioned can be checked out on www.b4-u-eat.com.

Check out other goings-on at www.artshound.com.

The Heights (19th street) is another interesting shopping area, but not really close to Rice. Worth checking out if you have time.

Rent a car for sure. Public transport here is not all that good. It will be a lot cheaper than taxi%26#39;s.

As far as an area to stay - Galleria area, downtown or even medical center (in that order). Rice Village and West U area have the quaint feel to it (coffee shops etc.). Galleria and the area called %26#39;Uptown%26#39; - just North of the Galleria are nice but you know you are in a city.

As the other post mentioned - it will be hot and humid - so if you are used to Oregon weather don%26#39;t plan much outdoor activities during the day.

Back in March had the exact same question - search for it and you can get more information from that thread and others.

If you need specifics let us know.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and info. Yes, we know it will be hot and humid and have already warned our daughter that it won%26#39;t always be like this, but in the summer yes.

We will definitely rent a car.

Thanks for the recommendation of Hotel ZaZa. It looks cool, but there have been several poor reviews on TA for its service, so will need to look into it a bit more.

We are also considering Modern B%26amp;B (www.modernbb.com) located at 4003 Hazard St. (x-street Branard St.) Is this a good location? I believe it is in the Montrose district(am I correct?) but a bit concerned about the';gritty'; coffeshops and tat parlors. Those areas can be fun to visit during the day but what about at night?

Kingwood - I found that other post. thanks for suggesting it.

There%26#39;s the Upper Kirby/Greenway Plaza area. Close to Rice and close to Uptown/Galleria area as well. Simply go west on Richmond Avenue towards 610 Loop, turn right on Post Oak Blvd and The Galleria will be on the left (less congested this way). No need to get on the freeway. In the Greenway Plaza there%26#39;s the Renaissance Hotel (Marriott chain), Holiday Inn Express, La Quinta, and probably others as well.

Definitely stop by Empire Cafe. The B%26amp;B you mentioned seems to be in a charming neighborhood. Not sure about it at night.

There is free entertainment at Miller Outdoor Theater (Museum District) walking distance from Rice. www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/default.asp鈥?/a>

Check out their schedule. Something for your daughter to keep in mind as something to do in the evening that%26#39;s free. The outdoor theater has covered seating (for which you can get free tickets ahead of time) and outdoor seating on a ';hill'; (Houston generally does not have actual hills). On summer nights, the outdoor seating is best as it does cool off in the evenings and there is a breeze up on the hill. You can bring your own food %26amp; drink (no glass containers) and even bring a lounge chair. The folks with chairs seat facing nea left of stage and folks with blankets seat facing near right of stage.

A quaint place to go eat and relax is Te House of Tea (they have food too) http://www.teaagora.com/

Enjoy your visit!

I talked to several people last weekend who were staying at the Zaza while in Houston for a wedding, and all were very happy with their experience there--and their kids (older teens) loved it. I can%26#39;t personally vouch for it, but the location is perfect.

I also don%26#39;t know about the B%26amp;B you mentioned, but wouldn%26#39;t worry about the location. I%26#39;m not sure what a ';gritty'; coffee shop is, but will say that I have dinner and/or breakfast at Brasil regularly and enjoy the food and the atmosphere.

You asked about:

We are also considering Modern B%26amp;B (www.modernbb.com) located at 4003 Hazard St. (x-street Branard St.) Is this a good loction?

I looked up the website and it%26#39;s definitely a rather quiet neighborhood far away from any tattoo parlors or other stuff. It%26#39;s among some nice, quaint houses/duplexes and nicely situated. You mention coffee shop, and while not technically a coffee shop, it%26#39;s one of the best places in town, The Chocolate Bar (http://www.theoriginalchocolatebar.com/). Some of the best ice cream, chocolates, and desserts in town, especially the $10 slice Aunt Etta%26#39;s chocolate cake that no sane person could eat in one sitting! The one minor downside to the area is different patches of construction projects in the area. Otherwise, it%26#39;s not a far drive to Rice University and you%26#39;re close to the Menil Museum, Rothko Chapel, and the University of St. Thomas.

As mentioned, and if you%26#39;re familiar with UWashington and the U District in Seattle, Rice has something similar called West University with many shops like Gap, Banana, American Eagle, a brand new Chocolate Bar, and a bunch of good restaurants, cafes, and student hangouts.

Depending on what she is studying, if she%26#39;s interested in medicine and the biomedical sciences, the Texas Medical Center is right next door to drive around check out. For fine arts, there are a bunch of museums also not to far in the Museum District, such as the Museum of Fine Art and Museum of Contemporary Art. For theater and performing arts, you can venture to the the northern part of downtown by the Aquarium Restaurant and be in the Theater District such as the Hobby Center, Wortham Center, and Jones Hall.

Hope that helps a bit!

Thanks guys. All this info. is really helpful. Mariana, thanks for your current comments on Hotel ZaZa. It really does look like just what we would like, so glad to know a large group was pleased!

You should rent a car.

Houston is HUGE!

The Galleria shopping Mall is fun.

Just drive down Westheimer from 610

out to Beltway 8.

There is every sort of restaurant you can imagine and a Starbucks on every corner nearly.

If you drive down Richmond near the Galleria you will see all the bars and dance clubs.

There are malls all over Houston. My favorite

is Memorial City Mall on I-10 at Gessner.

You might stop by Kemah boardwalk which has lots of seafood restaurants and shops.

Galveston is not too far away either with the beach and lots of restaurants and Moody Gardens.

Rice University is excellent! I had alot of co-workers who went there and loved it.

Is downtown Houston lively and safe at night?

I do not live in a big city, so when I vacation I like to go to a big city. I have never been to Houston. I have been to Chicago and I could leave my hotel and walk around town day and night. It was so active that I had no fears of walking from the hotel to a pub or the theater. Is Houston that way also? or is it a daytime area only. Are there people walking around at night? Pubs near the hotels?

Is downtown Houston lively and safe at night?

Unfortunately, Houston is not very walking friendly, neither during the daytime or night time. People drive everywhere here, so I would definitly recommend renting a car to explore Houston to the fullest.

Having said that, there are areas of Houston that are safe and beautiful to walk around in (for example around Medical center/Miller thatre where you have the Zoo, Memorial park and downtown during the day).

Generally speaking, I would not recommend just randomly start walking downtown at night, but it will of course depend on where your hotel is. If you are into clubs and bars, there is an area on lower Main street that is very lively (and safe) Friday and Saturday night. Be careful though because Houston neighbourhoods are very intertwined - you can be perfectly fine one moment, and then walk 200 yards and suddenly be in a bad neighbourhood.

Good luck!

Is downtown Houston lively and safe at night?

There are areas of downtown houston that are fine for walking around at night. If your staying close to the theater district, you should be able to walk to restaurants or clubs most evenings. The hotel will be able to advise you to pedistrian friendly areas and activities.

You didn%26#39;t mention how many days you%26#39;re staying, but there is limited activities in downtown other than evening theater,restaurants, and a couple of live music venues. The baseball field is also downtown and would be a summer time options if the Astros are playing during your visit. The museum district can be reached from downtown via light rail. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Contemporary arts museum are nice to visit.

Also, remember Houston is very warm and humid in the summer months.

Cannot add more to what the other post has said - but as they say if you give more info we can be more specific. Going just 20 miles from H you will think you are in a small village!!

My newly graduated college daughter has decided she wants to move to a big city but does not want the expense of New York or Chicago as a new hire or the bitter winters of Chicago since she is a Florida native. We thought Houston would be a good possible choice due to lower cost of living and weather. But she really wants to live downtown and I do not know if Houston is a good place for downtown living for a single lady.

Hi Jax,

I woould suggest your daughter live in the Midtown area; it is close to downtown proper, but much safe and walker friendly, day or night. We go there often, and will walk from restaurant to club, and on to Coco%26#39;s for crepes,at the end of the evening. But, like ANY city, one must be aware of their surrounding and stay way from very dark areas, and get off the streets before it gets too late...for a young lady, also avoid walking alone.

My supervisor at work is 29, very cool, and he lives in this area, and loves it--lots of young singles and couples, many professionals. There are lots of nice condo and apartment complexes, and some small homes to rent in that area, and there are more reasonable than NYC or Chicago,no doubt!

CC,

Cupcake

You are definitely limited in downtown. There are a couple restaurants that we will go to before walking to the theater, but then we will head out - usually to Midtown.

The theaters in Houston are actually pretty nice and my wife and I will go occasionally. We typically grab dinner and a drink at Sambuca beforehand and then walk to whichever theater we need to. Sambuca has live jazz music every night of the week and usually has a good after-work crowd.

You can easily get to Midtown in a cab for a few dollars, its just outside of downtown. There are quite a few bars and restaurants in Midtown all within a few blocks of each other. I recommend the Tipsy Clover for a late night bar stop. Its right next to El Patio, which has decent Mexican food.

And I would like to reiterate what someone already posted -- it can be hot and humid during the summer (even at night), so be mindful before heading out to walk to several locations.

good luck.

She would not have to live downtown to go to school here.

Houston is huge and people commute from all over Houston to the different universities.

She could live in Pearland which is a nice smaller town that is only 25 min drive into downtown.

Which college?

I personally would not like to walk alone downtown at night I go with other people.

I%26#39;m a HUGE advocate for Midtown! I live here and love it! I%26#39;m in my early 30s and have lived here since 2002 when the area was mainly known for the Spec%26#39;s Liquor store in Downtown Houston. Seven years later, there are so many bars, restaurants and apartments popping up all over the place! The initial light rail line is a few blocks walking and will eventually connect to the other lines that will be built throughout the city. Midtown is very young and professional. Wish there was a bit more shopping, but those are not too far to go to. For the most part it%26#39;s one of the safest places in the city, but still one has to be mindful of the surroundings. Midtown is real close to Downtown/Theater District, Museum District, Hermann Park, and Texas Medical Center, while Memorial Park, Reliant Park, and the Galleria just a short drive.

Basically I love it here and can%26#39;t think of a more interesting area to live in!

hair gel

Texas in September - Dallas, Houston, Austin - advice needed

Hi all,

would appreciate your advice on our holiday this year. We will we be coming to Texas for 10 days in September. We%26#39;d like to visit Dallas, Austin and Houston. How should we split the days between these 3 destinations? I was thinking Dallas - 5 days, Austin - 2 days and Houston - 3days?

I%26#39;ve decided we%26#39;re going to stay at the Rosewood Mansion in Dallas, but would appreciate your views on nice (4/5 star) places to stay in Austin and Houston, and what to do in those cities.

My wife loves shopping and we both enjoy eating out at nice restaurants, if that helps. I%26#39;d also like to take in either a baseball game or NFL game if possible.

Thanks.

Texas in September - Dallas, Houston, Austin - advice needed

To determine which professional sports team to see, you will need to consult the schedules for the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros (baseball) and the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans (football), then match it up to your dates.

Other than a sports event, what are you wanting to see/do in Dallas?

What are you wanting to see/do in Austin? I would take a day from Dallas and add it to my Austin stay but I enjoy the live music scene there- that may or may not appeal to you. Austin is more historic and walkable.

You won%26#39;t find anything in Austin to compare with the Mansion- Austin is much more laid back than Dallas. However, the Omni is a very nice, higher end downtown hotel. I%26#39;d like to recommend the Driskill since it has the historic, old time hotel vibe but it gets very mixed reviews. Same with Four Seasons- nice hotel, mixed experience.

Texas in September - Dallas, Houston, Austin - advice needed

Hi,

thanks for the swift feedback. We%26#39;re looking at early September to mid. I%26#39;ll check out the sports team websites to see if they are in town.

We%26#39;re just planning on doing tourist type attractions (museums, local sites etc), some shopping, eating out and relaxing.

I%26#39;ve read that the weather is quite hot in Houston this time of year. What is Dallas and Austin like?

Thanks.

Yes, Texas is often quite warm is September and, of course, Houston is more humid so the heat is magnified. However, it is better than July/August!

Might be too late in the month but the State Fair of Texas runs in Dallas September 25-Oct 18.

www.bigtex.com

If you like museums, a couple favorites in Dallas are the Dallas Museum of Art and the Sixth Floor Museum. The Old Red Courthouse Museum is also very interesting for local history. Riding the light rail around downtonw is quite easy and there is a streetcar that goes around the Uptown area.

www.jfk.org

wwww.dallasmuseumofart.org

www.oldred.org

www.mata.org

If you care to ride the train over to Fort Worth, there are several wonderful museums including the Kimbell and the Modern.

www.trinityrailwayexpress.org

www.kimbellart.org

www.themodern.org

When in Austin, definitely take time to see the bats emerge from the Congress Ave bridge at night- it is quite amazing.

austin360.com/search/…bats_batfaq.html

Recommendations for museums in Austin include LBJ Library, Blanton Art and Bullock State History. A tour of the capitol is very interesting as well.

www.lbjlib.utexas.edu

www.thestoryoftexas.com

www.blantonmuseum.org

www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/capitol/texcap.htm

You might also want to order the travel guide from this link

www.traveltex.com

The Four Seasons in Austin should be where you stay. On Lady Bird lake and close to the downtown scene.

Restaurants in Austin to try would be Jeffery%26#39;s (sp?), Chez Nous, Hudson on the Bend, and Fonda San Miguel.

I lived 11 years in Houston but that was mostly back in the 80s. The Houstonian was one of the better resorts in Texas back then. I haven%26#39;t experienced it but I understand the downtown area has been substantially revitalized. A really happening scene as I understand it.

Restaurants in Dallas that are must try are Lola, Fearing%26#39;s, Stephen Pyle%26#39;s, York Street, Local, and the French Room.

I, too, would take a day from Dallas and add it to Austin. In Austin: Four Seasons, Hotel San Jose on South Congress, or the Driskell will fit your needs just about right - although San Jose is less in service, but it%26#39;s a great part of town in the old funky Austin way.

Four Seasons in Houston is very near Discovery Green. http://www.discoverygreen.com/ The Grove restaurant is very good in the area.

One of the jewels of Texas, San Antonio, isn%26#39;t far from Austin. It would be a shame to miss it. I suggest you schedule one night at a hotel on the river walk there. If history interests you, the Alamo is just a short walk away. www.visitsanantonio.com

Assuming you%26#39;ll have a car, SA is about three hours drive from Houston on Interstate 10 West. Spend the night there, then go to Austin the following day. Rather than a somewhat boring drive on I35 for an hour to Austin, Hwy 281 North toward Johnson City will give you a taste of the Texas Hill Country. If you wish, you could go all the way to Johnson City, about an hour and a quarter from SA, to visit the hometown of US President Lyndon Johnson. Or, take Hwy 290 East a few miles south of J City on to Austin. The drive would take about two hours.

For a longer look at Texas Hill Country, you could drive I10 West to Hwy 87 North to Fredericksburg, then Hwy 290 to J City and on to Austin. That would add roughly an hour not counting stops in Fredericksburg and perhaps at the quite good Becker winery at Stonewall (yes, Texas produces good wine).

Many thanks Texhills. That sounds like a great plan. I%26#39;ll shave a day off Dallas and add San Antonio, taking the route you suggest via Johnson City between Austin and SA.

Thanks to all for the swift and knowledgeable feedback.

I%26#39;d stay at the Intercontinental in Austin.

Haven%26#39;t stayed at a hotel in Houston in ages, as we have family there.

If the pro sports don%26#39;t match up when you%26#39;re in TX, do look at college sports. A football game at Texas A%26amp;M is always a fabulous experience. Be aware that you need to get tickets fairly soon.

When in Dallas take at least one day for Fort Worth (it%26#39;s only about a 45 minute drive, straight shot on I-30). Very lovely city with lots of wonderful things to do. And very different from Dallas.

If you like gardens, both cities have wonderful arboretums.

i would definitely try and make a cowboys game while you are in dallas - the brand new stadium will have just opened and it is a MUST see! the mansion is an excellent choice for hotel. beautiful, classic choice and the service is impeccable.

if you like nice restaurants, while in dallas i would highly recommend nick and sam%26#39;s and hibiscus. both are excellent, excellent fine dining choices. shopping for your wife will not be a problem - highland park village, north park mall, snider plaza, the west village, mockingbird station, are all within minutes of the mansion, so you should be set there.

while in austin, i would HIGHLY recommend hotel st cecilia on south congress and academy st. it is a newly renovated, historical hotel and i can%26#39;t say enough about how great this place is. the driskill is nice, but st cecilia is a one-of-a-kind experience, a MUST visit/stay! i%26#39;d also recommend jeffrey%26#39;s for a nice meal in austin. and don%26#39;t get out of austin without a breakfast taco. they are the best!

if it were me, i%26#39;d just do the dallas area and austin and skip houston, but i%26#39;m biased. ; )

Miravilla Condos........Fire

In case anyone has reservations here....breaking news showing this condo complex on fire. Looks like it is confined to the back half of the complex.

2 half days & night in Houston

Hi Houston experts. Am travelling from Mexico back to Australia on Continental through Houston. Seems a shame not to see anything of the city/Texas and wondering whether to try and stop over. Would arrive mid a.m. on 5/8, spend night, and fly out p.m. on 6/8. Therefore would have an afternoon, night,and morning in Houston. What would be the must see%26#39;s, where to stay, eat/go at night, if you were sole traveller on that itinerary. Is airport a long way from town etc. Not likely to be back again so probably one only opportunity. Or would it be too hard? Advice appreciated. Thanks. K

2 half days %26amp; night in Houston

It would be tight, but you could make a go of it.

After clearing customs, etc, you realistically wouldn%26#39;t get out until closer to lunch.

You could take a run to the Shanghai River Restaurant (fantastic) for lunch, pop over to the museum district, and take in some activities there. Then, head out for some Texas BBQ for dinner, and rest up (long day), or try to catch a symphony, play, or opera, if that is up your alley. If the timing is right, there is often a good free show in Memorial Park.

The next day, you could do more museum district, or try to make a dash to the Space Center. If you get there early enough, you can definitely fit it into a long morning.

For lunch, if you%26#39;re in the Clear Lake area, look for SW Tookie%26#39;s -- I haven%26#39;t heard if it received hurricane damage, but if not, this is the best burger joint I think I%26#39;ve ever been to. All the burgers are unusual, like a squealer (bacon blended into the meat), or an ice house (lots of onions and spices). Top notch...

Houston has some of the best restaurants in the US, believe it or not, so if you have time, you might want to try to catch one.

2 half days %26amp; night in Houston

Thanks Mike in Tx. I would like to go to the Space Centre. Also see there is a baseball game on afternoon 5/8 at 1pm somewhere, which might be an experience for an Aussie - or not? Would like to go to the Space Centre. Could I do that in the afternoon?

If you have never seen a baseball game, it might not be the thing to do by yourself. Going to the ballpark is a social experience -- very laid back, and possibly boring if you are alone. If you are an avid fan, then, sure. One must experience each stadium in the sport!

You can certainly do the Space Center in the afternoon, but the crowds are far larger, and the outdoor tours (to see the rockets, etc) are hotter. Pedestrian traffic is not well managed there, so avoiding crowds is key to getting the best experience.

I would say do go to a baseball game - not as good as cricket - but not five days either or even a full day on a 50 over match. You will enjoy the game and also the stadium which is quite neat. The next of course is NASA (if you are into space). The thing to do would be straight to the game. Then after the game you can go to the Miller Outdoor Theatre and see Pericles (Shakespeare) for free or head out towards Kemah and goto the Kemah Boardwalk and stay the night in the Kemah / Clear Lake area. That is close to NASA. Then in the AM go to NASA and back to IAH and back to downunder. Unless you are into arts - Kemah would be a better option. What I cannot figure out is your baggage and transport - so the thing to do would be to rent a car and keep the bags in the car. Just remember to drive on the other side. One word of caution - Aug it will be hot. Friends from Melb were here one summer and was having a tough time - it is the humidity. BTW Kemah has a nice boardwalk / restaurants, water, bars - great place to people watch, eat, drink relax. Lastly, when you say 5/8 - to us it is May 5 (not Aug 5th). Enjoy Houston. How long in Mexico and what part of Mexico?

You should definitely stop for a visit. Don%26#39;t see there is any unusual time pressure, expecially if you%26#39;re an experienced traveler from Oz.

Your best home base is a hotel in central Houston, which TripAdvisor has well covered in its reviews. The Houston Astros are home at Minute Maid Park for a day game August 5, starting at 1:05 PM, against the San Francisco Giants. If you have some experience at watching cricket but not baseball, you%26#39;ll find you will have the basics figured out in short order. MMP is an enclosed ball park, so it%26#39;s a cool place to circulate and interface with some of the natives. MMP has cheap tickets for the far upper decks that can be purchased day of game, and with that as an admission you are free to roam at will to several of the lower level decks where snacks and beer is sold, the field of play can still be seen and using your best Oz accent to ask a few questions about the local team%26#39;s stars, you%26#39;ll soon have your own posse for evening and after hours that day. Only downside to MMP is the very expensive food and drink, compared to just outside the ball park.

So if you don%26#39;t want to go into MMP, there are a number of Sports Bars in the immediate area with big screens, less expensive fare and more local nationals.

Travel to and from IAH to downtown is either rental car, taxi, Blue Shuttle, or Metro Boss. Search this site using ';Airport Transportation'; for plenty of details.

NASA for the morning of the 6th would be best use of the morning. It%26#39;s about a 40 minute drive south of central Houston on I-45. Details on NASA also abound with a quick search here. Easiest transportation is of course a rental call, which you can then use to travel back to IAH.

Do be mindful of Houston traffic, especially if you plan to drive north on I-45 to IAH after 3 PM. A 1 hour drive and rental car drop can become double that or more at 4:30 or later.

Thanks all, am starting to get excited about this. Don%26#39;t think I%26#39;d be brave enough to hire a car and try and find my way about - wrong side of the road for starters!. But have read on Tripadviser that city is really spread out. So assuming taxis or bus... How long does a baseball game go for? Also have read on this site a lot of recommendations to stay in Galleria area b/c of access to restaurants etc at night - this seems to be about 6km from downtown - what%26#39;s the difference? In Melbourne, Australia, arts/theatre etc is all in what we would call %26#39;downtown%26#39;. Would seem that morning would be good time to go to Space Museum (we downunder all know ';Houston we have lift off';). Toss up is whether the afternoon would be best at baseball or is there some other must see in Houston for the afternoon?

In response to question about how long in Mexico - am travelling overland from Costa Rica to Yucatan Peninsula for one month, then proposing 4 days in YP before flying out of Merida or Cancun.

Thank you so much for the advice - keep it coming!

Galleria area is indeed a nice place, but you are not going to have time for it. Public trasnport is very poor so you will have to depend on taxis. The rental car is really the best option - it is not that bad and once you get on the freeway no way you can get to the other side of the road. NASA and the baseball game will be very unique. Galleria area - as nice as it is - you find similar places in other parts of the world. Baseball game will last about 3 hours.

Your timing will be perfcet to get from the airport to the baseball stadium and maybe get a pint and a bite to eat (cheaper outside - so eat and then go). The game will be over around 4:00p - you can hang around in the general area (to avoid the rush hour traffic) or leave around 3:30p. The you can go to the Galleria area if you wish - but that is out of the way from NASA. You need to set aside at least 4 hours to see NASA. So rather than go to Galleria area and then to NASA in the AM - that is why I suggested Kemah (much closer to NASA). There is a Hilton and several other hotels / motels in the general area.

Houston is unique when it comes to %26#39;downtown%26#39;. We seem to dissect downtown into smaller areas - such as mid-town, up-town, museum district - really all are within a few KM within each other. Galleria area is %26#39;another downtown%26#39; about 10-miles away.

If you can - you should plan to spend maybe another day or two.

Thank you so much for all your advice. Seems like there%26#39;s a bus and train to the Minute Maid, and a bus to NASA. It%26#39;s looking good and I hope I can do it - just trying to make the flights work too. Thanks again.

You should definately go to NASA.

Kemah Boardwalk is not far away either

you just go 1-45 South to Nasa Rd 1 and NASA

is on that road and Kemah is near.

Just take Nasa Rd 1 till the end turn right go over the bridge and Kemah is on the left under the bridge.

Kemah has great seafood. There are lots of restaurants and attractions.

I might rent a car if I were you.

Houston is HUGE!

The best restaurant in Houston is Fogo de Chao

on Westheimer. It is a brazilian steakhouse.

The best Steakhouse in Houston is

Taste of Texas on I-10 just past Beltway 8.

The best barbeque in Houston is Goode Company Barbeque on I-10 near Voss.

You should try barbeque or steak before you leave it

is what we Texans do best.

If you%26#39;re a big sports fan, I would try to do the Astros game. It%26#39;s not as intimidating for a first timer. Chat up with the neighbors next to you who may give you pointers to understand the game as well as things to do in the city.

While NASA and Space Center Houston would be a blast, especially if you have kids, if mobility is a problem, then I would stay in Downtown Houston and then get around the city on MetroRail. While not as extensive as the trams in Melbourne, you can take the rail from Downtown to the Museum District, Zoo, and Medical Center. Museum District is home to a number of museums including Fine Arts, Contemporary Art, Natural Science, Children%26#39;s, Medical Health, and Holocaust to name a few. You can then end your evening in Midtown with dinner and checking out a few places to drink, though would be a bit slow for a Wednesday night. The big hotels in Downtown have shuttle vans that can pick people up for those wanting to check out Midtown at night. That%26#39;s something to suggest. If you%26#39;re going to rely on public transportation, you may want to look into getting a MetroCard and put money on the card to make it easier to get around.

As others have said, Texas BBQ and steak are not to be missed, as well as Tex-Mex. If you pinpoint where you%26#39;d like to stay, someone on here will give you some places to try that are not too far.

Summer Trip to Boerne, Texas

Planning a trip to Hill Country for June or July, thinking of using Boerne as home camp. Would like recommendations on RV park, restaurants and things to do with 13 yr. olds. Anywhere around Boerne for tubing? Thank you.

Summer Trip to Boerne, Texas

Guadalupe River State Park about 14 miles east of Boerne.

Cave Without a Name

13 Year-olds - Schletterbahnn, Six Flags, Mall at La Cantera

Summer Trip to Boerne, Texas

There is Alamo RV park in Boerne itself. The State Park is about 20 miles away. No place around Boerne to tube really, you can in the State Park but it not that great, and if we do not get a lot of rain the river will be down to a trickle. You will need to head to New Braunfels or San Marcos for good tubing, but its a poor season.

Places to eat. There not really what I would call child friendly in Boerne, they all have kids menus but thats about it. In Leon Springs, Scenic Loop Cafe is very kid friendly, outdoor play area, live music on weekends, and very good food too. Also in Leon Springs, Rudys (excellent BBQ and the origional location), Longhorn Burgers (soso Burgers), Papa Nachos (Fajitas are very good the rest of the menu soso), The Grill (way overpriced, Angelos (good food here, locals mainly, if you are lucky you might see a spur or two here) Fralios Art of Pizza, (good pizza but not really to my taste for pie).

In Boerne itself you have Tin Roof steak house, it gets great reviews, but I do not think its that great. The Creek, its very good, Limestone Grill, its ok, they are way to pushy on the wine and they are not the good, Peachtree, only open for lunch, its good, Boerene Vistro is ok, then of course Chilis, Wendy, McD%26#39;s etc. Also North of town at the walfare exit is Popo%26#39;s (Great fried chicken, pan fried, not deep fried)

There are two caves in Boerne, my favorate is Cave Without a Name. Fishing in the Town lake, but the water is low and the fishing is not good there until after a small flood. If the water is not going over the dam pass on the fishing there and head to the City Lake just outside of town. Enchanted Springs racnh is just out of town on 46 heading the Bandera its ok.

Outside of Comfort is the Bat Train Tunnel. Arrive early, seating and parking is very limited.

Thank you very much for the information. Really appreciate the detail.

spots

Hotels? Good

Family coming to CC in July. Looking for good low cost ($100 or less) hotel for 4 nights. Would perfer LaQuinta; but any advice will be helpful

find wildlife envelope seals

Where do the Mets stay when in Houston?

Does anyone know what hotel the Mets stay in while playing the Astros?It would be greatly appreciated ..thanks

Where do the Mets stay when in Houston?

Ed,

I just asked the same question on this board.

I think that they stay in the dumpster, just outside Minute Maid park.

Where do the Mets stay when in Houston?

Two sources told me so far that It may be the Hilton America.

which is where I have wanted to book.

Very True, Very True, but this location is not 100% confirmed yet.

Maybe, Krank Fazaks, would know the answer!

Better yet, maybe Mike can call Alou, (Not Boog), and find out!

Customs wait time arriving from Mexico to US

We will be flying back thru Houston from Cancun and then on to Cleveland, OH via Continental Airlines.

Right now, we have about a 90 minute layover and wondered if that is enough time to pass thru customs and immigration. We will be flying back on a Sunday afternoon and getting into Houston around 3pm.

Customs wait time arriving from Mexico to US

It is somewhat of a busy time but you should be okay (gather you are a US citizen). The fact you are flying CO (both sectors) they will know that you are at IAH. The lines usually move pretty fast. Once you go through customs you can drop off the bags as you exit.

Customs wait time arriving from Mexico to US

The lines can be frustrating. Last month our wait was about 1-1/2 hrs. This past Monday is was about 55 minutes. My suggestion is that if the plane is the least bit late, I would speak with your flight attendant as you exist your plane. They might be able to let your connection know your status. Both of our arrivals were around 2:30 in the afternoon (also coming from Mexico) and I noticed a number of planes arriving from Europe around our same arrival times. Customs is quick, it is immigration that has the long lines but at least by the time you clear immigration your bags will be waiting for you on the carosle and you can run through customs.

Hi P,

Sundays during the summer are very big in CBP. You all will be landing at a peak time; not only for Continental, but also Emirates Airlines, and others, to be processing through CBP.

There is a possibility you can make your outbound Cleveland flight, but it will be tight. Any way you can change to the later Cleaveland flight, just to take the pressure off?

cc,

Cupcake

Yeah 3pm arrival is one of the busier times for international arrivals. If you have no checked luggage you should have no problem. If you do, it%26#39;s slightly pushing it.

Since you%26#39;re going to CLE, a hub flight, if you miss it they may put you on the next CLE flight. Yet many times, the gate agents know who have checked in and boarded. For those who have not boarded they check to see if they are connecting passengers coming from international flights or connecting flights that may run late. If time permits they would be willing to hold a flight so those passengers make their connecting flights. If you miss your connection once you arrive, I have seen CO agents at the baggage claim from international flights meet up and hand out new boarding passes for those to take the next available flight.

Hmmmm short answer - you will be fine (as I said before). 100% sure - no.