DFW Road trip for photos (trying to get wife hooked)

[kkey1]

My wife has started to show interest in photography and we are looking to do a scenic 1 day road trip to shoot some photos. We tend to like like old churches, bridges, barns, Coca-Cola signs, etc. Is there a place you can recommend going to within a couple of hours of DFW for such a trip? She is not a big fan of 105 degree heat so I thought maybe a drive where we stop and shoot a few pics and move on would be a good idea this time of year. Maybe a Diners, Dives, and Drive Inns type place for a lunch destination thrown in for good measure :)

[msk2193]

Pilot Point has some great stops around the city square.
Celina has a huge Coca Cola sign one block of the square and a diner with great breakfast on the square.
Paris has a few great spots in downtown and on the ring road (Eifel Tower).
Check out this link for ideas:
Central Texas Plains North Texas Travel Guide.

[sdenman]

I like to go down 377, through tolar, bluff dale. In bluff dale there is a place call let's eat. it is a small dive on the south side of the road when you go through town. It looks like a dump but is really good food. then on to stephenville. there is a real cool barn and wagon on the side of the road there. then back to hico and glenn rose. my wife and I like to make that trip from time to time.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

On a Saturday head out to Dublin and see the old Dr Pepper Bottler there, plenty of things to see along the way mentioned above since your in Ft Worth. If you want to spend more time head out to far East Texas and into the old OIL BOOMTOWNS that have survived from the 30's-plenty of old things to shoot along the way.

You could also head down to Waco, but don't do I-35-take back roads,plenty to see along the the way.

As to the high heat there should only be a couple weeks left then the highs will be in the upper 80's for a couple months.

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by sdenman

I like to go down 377, through tolar, bluff dale. In bluff dale there is a place call let's eat. it is a small dive on the south side of the road when you go through town. It looks like a dump but is really good food. then on to stephenville. there is a real cool barn and wagon on the side of the road there. then back to hico and glenn rose. my wife and I like to make that trip from time to time.

Take I-20 out to Thurber have lunch at the smokestack, take some photo's of the old brick factory smokestack. Take 281 down thru stevenville photograph the large rocking chair on 281 (you'll know when you see it). Have dinner at the Hard 8 in stevenville

[kkey1]

Thanks all for the suggestions! The rocking chair is an interesting place near Lipan, we went there a couple of months ago. We ended up going to the Sharkarosa ranch, which was a blast. They are very photographer friendly and inexpensive also. Below is some of the pics we took there. Dublin is always a fun trip and picking up Dublin DP makes the trip worth while.
Sharkarosa 8/21/10 | FacebookSharkarosa 8/21/10 | Facebook
Thurber looks good, we will make that trip soon.

[pdsdville]

Originally Posted by kkey1

My wife has started to show interest in photography and we are looking to do a scenic 1 day road trip to shoot some photos. We tend to like like old churches, bridges, barns, Coca-Cola signs, etc. Is there a place you can recommend going to within a couple of hours of DFW for such a trip? She is not a big fan of 105 degree heat so I thought maybe a drive where we stop and shoot a few pics and move on would be a good idea this time of year. Maybe a Diners, Dives, and Drive Inns type place for a lunch destination thrown in for good measure :)

Try Jefferson, in East Texas. Great photo ops all around town and plenty of shops to drop into to get cooled off or warmed up in winter. Plenty of places to eat. I've made a number of day trips to the area and found the entire area a really target rich enviornment. Good luck.

[kkey1]

We love to go to Jefferson and always stop at the Hamburger Store for dessert. My daughter goes to ETBU in Marshall so we know that area very well.
Here are a couple from our last pass through there.
Keith Key's Photos | Facebook
Keith Key's Photos | Facebook
Keith Key's Photos | Facebook

[pdsdville]

Keith, I have a photoblog with some photos of Jefferson and Caddo Lake at pdsdville along with a bunch of others if you get the chance to look at them I'd appreciate any comments. Also if you come up with some super spots around the Dallas area, let me know.

Thanks,
Dean

[brad]

There's lots of little places off the beaten path... get out a map or GPS and just pick a direction and go... find the small towns, the ones time forgot... or the slightly larger ones that people have already mentioned.. Hico, Stephenville... add Mineral Wells or Corsicana... but whatever you do, stay off the interstates.

Here are some ideas from my blog:
Road Trip! Brad Barton Photography
Texas Flag Barn on 377 Brad Barton Photography (This is the barn outside Stephenville someone mentioned)
West Texas Sunset (Back Roads, Texas) Brad Barton Photography
Bluebonnets in Marlin, Texas Brad Barton Photography
North Texas Barn Brad Barton Photography
New Treatment on Archive Photo Brad Barton Photography
Road Trip! (New Images for My Texas Series) Brad Barton Photography (the Dr. Pepper mural on the side of the building is in Corsicana)
Crossroads – Ben Hur, TX Brad Barton Photography

[kkey1]

Great suggestions and photos all. This weekend I had a meeting at the church Saturday so we had a late start. We went to the old fallback of the Stockyards. Saunders Park was virtually empty while we were there and we were able to get some great pics. Next Saturday we are going out to Mineral Wells, Thurber and whatever can be found while getting lost. The GPS idea works very well. Last year when we made our semi-annual trip to Asheville, NC on our way back we told the GPS to avoid I-40. We saw some great scenery!
This forum and the people on it are very helpful. Thanks!

[troye3]

Good suggestions. All of you that like to head out to Jefferson, I would highly recommend the Busy B Ranch for a weekend/overnight stay. We go there quite often, and everyone we have referred there has ended up being hooked and repeat customers, too. Wonderful, peaceful cabins on private lake.

[kkey1]

Saturday we went to Thurber, Lipan, Mineral Wells, then through Decatur. The Baker Hotel had more access than what I thought it might have (no I did not go beyond any fencing or inside the hotel). MW has many opportunities for photos with a lot of old buildings and structures. Decatur had a car show going on in the square which helped enhance the trip. We capped the day off with a classic rock concert that she shot some really good pics in spite of bad lighting. Next weekend we will be going to Marshall and Jefferson, <proud parent>my daughter is performing at the ETBU game Saturday </proud parent>.
My next question is how do you deal with your spouse, which is new to photography, taking better pics than you? She has a great eye and has been getting very good pics, I have to up my game now.

[lfmerrell]

A neat drive is to Wolfe City, then turn at Ladonia going to Honey grove passing through Bug Tussel which seems present in name only. Downtown Honey Grove has a neat old section just off the town square. Many derelict structures including a large mill in Wolfe City. Then to Sherman and home.