Hey Jolly
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just a hypothetical....because i havent worked out the details....
but just say...
i was planning a road trip from the west coast of Florida near Fort Myers, to Dallas Texas, which could stretch about 4 days, say 5-6 hours highway driving a day....with extra time for some leisurely back roads.
what would be the most scenic and enjoyable, cutting west to houston and then north, or diagnolling (sic) through mississippi and lousiana via shreveport and then to dallas?
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Start in Nokomis for orange soft serve at Nokomis grove. Pretty good.
Avoid Destin if you can.
Orange Beach and Fairhope AL are both nice, especially Fairhope. beautiful southern town. The Gulf is a beachside restaurant just as you cone over the bridge on 98 into Orange Beach. Good burgers, great atmosphere.
NOLA, of course.
Might want to take US 90 through the delta. It's different. Not beautiful particularly, but different. Get a po boy.
Leaving Houston, take I 290 to Chappell Hill Sausage. Great stuff. Perfect for lunchtime. Their beans and meat bowl is killer.
Hit Austin overnight, maybe some BBQ and music.
Then south to Gruene for chicken fried steak at the Gristmill. While you are there they usually have a great selection of Texas singer-songwriter CDs. Then next door to Gruene Hall, maybe the last Texas dancehall, for a beer. It's also where they filmed the dance scene in 'Michael' about Travolta as a rather seedy angel.
You've already been to San Antonio, so skip that.
Might could hit Enchanted Rock in the hill country. HUGE (like mountain size) erratic of pink granite. Nice short hike. Maybe an hour there. Also the LBJ ranch or library. Not sure if the ranch is open to public but it's there.
Then north from there on the back roads through the hill country to Dallas.
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill
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Start in Nokomis for orange soft serve at Nokomis grove. Pretty good.
Avoid Destin if you can.
Orange Beach and Fairhope AL are both nice, especially Fairhope. beautiful southern town. The Gulf is a beachside restaurant just as you cone over the bridge on 98 into Orange Beach. Good burgers, great atmosphere.
NOLA, of course.
Might want to take US 90 through the delta. It's different. Not beautiful particularly, but different. Get a po boy.
Leaving Houston, take I 290 to Chappell Hill Sausage. Great stuff. Perfect for lunchtime. Their beans and meat bowl is killer.
Hit Austin overnight, maybe some BBQ and music.
Then south to Gruene for chicken fried steak at the Gristmill. While you are there they usually have a great selection of Texas singer-songwriter CDs. Then next door to Gruene Hall, maybe the last Texas dancehall, for a beer. It's also where they filmed the dance scene in 'Michael' about Travolta as a rather seedy angel.
You've already been to San Antonio, so skip that.
Might could hit Enchanted Rock in the hill country. HUGE (like mountain size) erratic of pink granite. Nice short hike. Maybe an hour there. Also the LBJ ranch or library. Not sure if the ranch is open to public but it's there.
Then north from there on the back roads through the hill country to Dallas.
Start in Nokomis for orange soft serve at Nokomis grove. Pretty good.
Avoid Destin if you can.
Orange Beach and Fairhope AL are both nice, especially Fairhope. beautiful southern town.
NOLA, of course.
Might want to take US 90 through the delta. It's different. Not beautiful particularly, but different. Get a po boy.
Leaving Houston, take I 290 to Chappell Hill Sausage. Great stuff. Perfect for lunchtime. Their beans and meat bowl is killer.
Hit Austin overnight, maybe some BBQ and music.
Then south to Gruene for chicken fried steak at the Gristmill. While you are there they usually have aa great selection of Texas singer-songwriter CDs. and then next door to Gruene Hall, maybe the last Texas dancehall, for a beer. It's also where they filmed the dance scene in 'Michael' about Travolta as a rather seedy angel.
You've already been to San Antonio, so skip that.
Might could hit Enchanted Rock in the hill country. HUGE (like mountain size) erratic of pink granite. Also the LBJ ranch or library. Not sure if the ranch is open to public but it's there.
Then north from there on the back roads through the hill country to Dallas.
Yeah, always ask the guy that drove everywhere as a consultant first…
I’m not kidding, either. Traveling reps learn the area better than the locals.
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I dunno man, this has a "Deliverance" vibe to it...
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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I dunno man, this has a "Deliverance" vibe to it...
No, Deliverance was filmed in Georgia.
In fact, the river was the same river they used for the rowing competition during the Atlanta Okympics. We saw what happened to Ned Beatty, what do you think happened to the French team in bicycle shorts?
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I dunno man, this has a "Deliverance" vibe to it...
No, Deliverance was filmed in Georgia.
In fact, the river was the same river they used for the rowing competition during the Atlanta Okympics. We saw what happened to Ned Beatty, what do you think happened to the French team in bicycle shorts?
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Start in Nokomis for orange soft serve at Nokomis grove. Pretty good.
Avoid Destin if you can.
Orange Beach and Fairhope AL are both nice, especially Fairhope. beautiful southern town. The Gulf is a beachside restaurant just as you cone over the bridge on 98 into Orange Beach. Good burgers, great atmosphere.
NOLA, of course.
Might want to take US 90 through the delta. It's different. Not beautiful particularly, but different. Get a po boy.
Leaving Houston, take I 290 to Chappell Hill Sausage. Great stuff. Perfect for lunchtime. Their beans and meat bowl is killer.
Hit Austin overnight, maybe some BBQ and music.
Then south to Gruene for chicken fried steak at the Gristmill. While you are there they usually have a great selection of Texas singer-songwriter CDs. Then next door to Gruene Hall, maybe the last Texas dancehall, for a beer. It's also where they filmed the dance scene in 'Michael' about Travolta as a rather seedy angel.
You've already been to San Antonio, so skip that.
Might could hit Enchanted Rock in the hill country. HUGE (like mountain size) erratic of pink granite. Nice short hike. Maybe an hour there. Also the LBJ ranch or library. Not sure if the ranch is open to public but it's there.
Then north from there on the back roads through the hill country to Dallas.
@mik wow! it looks like someone has been up that road before...
i will make a note of all your suggestions....
i have a medical conference in Dallas in March which will begin on a Wednesday. and im visiting with a friend who has property inland of fort myers the weekend before, so i thought about taking a one way rental and meandering from Sunday to Wednesday.
as for deliverance. i have no intention of getting raped in the woods and squealing like a pig....
at least its not in the itinerary.so i gather mik is in favor of the southern gulf coast route...
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@jon-nyc speaking of LBJ. ive never been to Dallas but the only sightseeing im planning is Dealey plaza, the grassy knoll, and book depository.
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I'd advise spending more of your time in Texas. maybe make it to Orange Beach or Fairhope the first day, Houston the next. I believe you have been in NOLA before.
Maybe day 1 - stay on the Beach in OB, then head to Fairhope for brunch. I recommend this place. Not fancy, but good. Great atmosphere and beignets
https://www.paninipetes.com/fairhope
Looks like taking 90 through the delta will cost you three hours. Probably not worth it.
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Mik knows this stuff better than I do. I'm impressed.
Although he may gave been arrested at AJ's, to totally avoid Destin.
Bummer...I was going to tell Bach to stop by the National Aviation Air Museum at Pensacola, but it looks like it's closed to the public, unless you have a DOD card or with someone who does. I know you've been to New Orleans, but if you haven't been by the WW2 Museum, you might want to stop in.
If you like bbq, The Shed in Ocean Springs, Mississippi is as much experience as food, but I suspect the house specialty (baby back pig ribs) will be deferred for something else.
If you like plantations, none has been photographed more than Oak Alley, in Vacherie. The oaks took a whuppin' during Ida and clean-up was extensive, but I understand they're back open.
Of course mudbug season is just about here, so if you're passing through South Louisiana, you might want to pinch some tails and suck some heads. Wash them down with some Abita beer.
If you're anywhere near Fred's in Mamou on a Saturday morning (the only time the bar is open) it's about as coonass as you can get. Local music and be prepared to dance.
I've never been much of a Houston fan, although Fannin Street has more docs than just about anywhere in the South. Shucks, M.D. Anderson may offer you a job. (Insert Hopalong Ginsberg joke here
)I second 6th Street in Austin. Not quite as boisterous since COVID, but still a lot of live music. Try Max's Wine Dive for a supper of fried chicken and collards, with a pretty big selection of wines. Some great bbq joint around Austin, too, with some great brisket.
If the wife is with you, may want to check out the Magnolia Silos and Magnolia at Waco.
While in Dallas, saunter over to Billy Bob's one evening, just to say you've been in the world's largest honky-tonk. At capacity, I think it holds over 5000 people, IIRC.
I'll add more as I think of it.
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All is being noted down. I think maybe sticking to the gulf coast until texas seems to be the consensus.
Using the coffee rooms brain trust as IT did is always a sure fire way to win…
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Been to AJ's, got out in time.
My fave place in Destin is Back Porch. Killer amberjack.
True story...Years ago, a bunch of us met up and stayed in Ft. Walton. Taking a local's advice, we went to Mexican cafe one night...seedy part of town. Absolute hole-in-the-wall. Gravel parking lot, run-down building next to the city's wastewater plant. All local plates in the parking lot, though. I waited outside with the gals, gun drawn, while BIL and SIL's husband walked in and checked the place out. Looked ckean inside, food smelled good.
Best mexican food I've ever had.
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the adventure begins. Right now near the caloosahatchee river in north fort Myers.
Weekend here with a friend. Unwind and un jet lag. Sunday start driving.
On drive here I went on route 41, across the Everglades, avoiding I75 which is boring and filled with state cop speed traps.
41 is slower pace and closer to the feel of the place. And I was amazed to see, an alligator soaking in a nearby creek, not an alligator in a tourist farm, but a wild one, just lying in shallow water. Saw him (her?, don’t want to offend the gender particular) out of the corner of my eye as I drove past. No fencing to prevent critters from the road. I could have stopped and thrown a pebble on his noggin. Not that I was looking to have my leg bitten off. But it was nice way to start the journey.
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the adventure begins. Right now near the caloosahatchee river in north fort Myers.
Weekend here with a friend. Unwind and un jet lag. Sunday start driving.
On drive here I went on route 41, across the Everglades, avoiding I75 which is boring and filled with state cop speed traps.
41 is slower pace and closer to the feel of the place. And I was amazed to see, an alligator soaking in a nearby creek, not an alligator in a tourist farm, but a wild one, just lying in shallow water. Saw him (her?, don’t want to offend the gender particular) out of the corner of my eye as I drove past. No fencing to prevent critters from the road. I could have stopped and thrown a pebble on his noggin. Not that I was looking to have my leg bitten off. But it was nice way to start the journey.
I have driven that road and seen groups of 20-30 alligators stacked up in the swamp. I have also driven that road and seen none.
I'm not sure what brings them out, some kind of food or climate I guess.
Watch for panthers too.
