road trip destinations?

[arlon]

Curious if there are any semi serous "road trippers" out here. Now that kids are self suffecient and I have more opportunities at three day weekends I need to find some decent photogenic destinations.

I live in Houston so I'd consider anything within 8 leisurely hrs of driving to be fair game. I'd like to find some interesting venues for saturday with a decent scenic drive to and from. Drive fridays and sunday. Cheap hotels and sandwiches are ok.

Current plans:
Trip to Vicksburg MS to visit the civil war battle field there.
Trip to south padre.
Trip east to the naval air museum in Pensacola (maybe 4 days for that one).
Day trip some friday to Texas Military Musem at Camp Mabry in Austin.
Bird trip to south texas someplace (know any camera friendly ranchers?).
Another day trip through the "painted churches".
San Antonio Missions for a long weekend.
Hmmm, maybe I don't need anymore ideas!


There has to be a lot more I haven't thought of. Any suggestions for day trips or weekend trips from Houston appreciated.

[rockin-photos]

I haven't been there yet, but there's supposed to be a new Japanese garden in Beaumont. Maybe someone has been there and can share info on it.

[MT Stringer]

Thanks for starting this thread, Arlon. I'd like to do some of the same. Especially while my wife is out of school for summer break.

We are heading out next weekend for Denver, Co. and then on to Sandy, Utah. Our neice and grandaughter are playing in the Sparklers fastpitch softball tournament in Denver, but in different age brackets. I hope to get a few snapshots along the route. I'm thinking about taking another route home so we can see more of the countryside.

I like your thinking about semi-local stuff to do within a fair driving range.
Mike

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by rockin-photos

I haven't been there yet, but there's supposed to be a new Japanese garden in Beaumont. Maybe someone has been there and can share info on it.

The Beaumont Garden Club garden, in Tyrrell Park, suffered severe damage from Rita. They have been doing major reconstruction for months. Some areas look familiar, but the overall look has changed. A lot gone, a lot new. There is a small portion that had been converted to a Japanese look, before the storm, but not to any great degree.

I haven't been out there in a month, or so. I'll run out and check today. Otherwise, I'm not aware of anything else for a Japanese garden. However, I am a simple man, with a simple mind, with simple ways. There could be a Japanese garden in my front yard, and I wouldn't even know it.

[venchka]

Texas, not N.Y.C.

From Joe Myers Ford @ FM 529 & US 290 it's 4 hours to Hawkins, TX on state highways: TX 6, TX 90, TX 21, US 287, TX 155 and TX 14. From Hawkins it's not too far to Mineola, Grand Saline, Jefferson, Paris, Caddo Lake, etc., etc. I'm partial to Wood and Upshur counties. Probably because that's my "backyard." The drive there and back is interesting too.

Grimes County: It's amazing how rural this county still is and yet so close to Harris & Montgomery counties.

Loop Trip: East to Anahuac, south to the water, west to Galveston Island. That would make nice 3 day trip.

Painted Churches: 3 day trip for sure. Fridays & Mondays are probably the least crowded. Call ahead to make sure there are no activities (weddings, fairs, etc.) planned for Saturday.

If you go to Vicksburg, try to take in Natchez as well.

STAY OFF of INTERSTATE highways whenever possible. I've been criss crossing Texas since forever and make good time and see more by avoiding major highways whenever possible. US 80 from Shreveport to Terrell ain't too shabby for seeing what Texas was like once upon a time.

Enjoy!

[arlon]

Mike, I know there has to be a lot of interesting stuff around (other than BBSP) if we can find out about it. I found the painted churches totally by accident.

I'd just rather spend some time driving to new places than sitting on the couch on weekends. Lot of day trip stuff to do (why I'm looking for the ultimate road tripper vehicle). Few weeks ago we went to Beaumont, Sabine Pass back to High Island, across the ferry to Galveston and back to houston. Took all day but it was a lot of fun with a jillion stops for cranes, shrimpers, birds, boats, people, etc.. gallery HERE.

[arlon]

Thanks for the input Wayne. Stuff you "country folk" see everyday and get tired of might be pretty interesting to those of us stuck in the city. Probably works both ways.

[venchka]

The beauty of the country: It never gets old. OK, some of it is real old. It never gets boring.

[toverman]

The distance may start to be prohibitive for a weekend, but I like the West Texas region. Head out toward Lubbock and Amarillo, and visit Palo Duro Canyon (the country's second largest). Read up on some of the small towns out there, maybe plan to visit during a festival or event of interest.

I remember heading out there from Fort Worth one time, missing my turn, and then stopping my car, turning off the engine and stepping outside. There was no sound. No dogs barking. No airplanes overhead. No traffic. No electric hum. No nothing. It was the quietest environment I've ever been in. Makes it worth the trip alone. But the caprock, the biggest sky anywhere on land and friendly people make it even better.

[Torrey]

How about a road trip to hit all 50 of the top bbq places as rated by Texas Monthly?

http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/bbq

And a BBQ Google Map to get you started.

You could knock out the top 5 just in the Austin area.

[arlon]

BBQ is always a good thing!

[Torrey]

Originally Posted by arlon

BBQ is always a good thing!

Some of those places (particularly #1) have some pretty good stories to go along with them too. Could be a good chance to improve on your food photography as well. I've tasted some pretty decent bbq in my time, but that article makes me wonder what I've been missing.

[arlon]

Stopped at the book store on the way home and grabbed a book called "Back Roads of Texas" Hodge/Syers. Just glanced so far but it has some interesting info on small towns and a lot of suggested "trips". Another tool!

[rockin-photos]

Does anyone know if the Ren Fest site is accessible in the off season? I'd like to take a day trip out there and get some photos.

[iCe]

The problem that I have with road trips is not wanting to come back...

Take 82 south out of Port Arthur and into Louisiana. If you like coast roads this one is cool. Not much traffic. Lots of beach that you can drive on once you get clear of the LNG terminals. At Oak Grove you have the option of turning north on 27. Just after you cross over the ICC look for Pintail Loop. It's best seen in the fall / winter though.

Take 80 south out of Luling to Helena. Read the historical markers in Helena. That'll give you an idea or two.

Palacios, TX is a cool little town. It's starting to get infested with people so you might want to hurry. Check out the shrimp boats at the docks.

Matagorda is pretty cool. Not exciting. Just a little different.

FM-3005 out of Galveston is a nice drive. The beaches near Rollover Pass are drive on...

Buzz on out to Abilene to see the big fans. Go south of Abilene on 84, veer right on 83, At Tuscola take FM-613 to Buffalo Gap, then FM-89 to Nolan. Then on to State 153. If you can't get a good shot of a fan there you need to trade all your gear in on a cardboard camera from Walmart

Take a ride up to Glenrose and hang out where the dinosaurs used to. Personally I like to head up 77 out of La Grange, take a left on 7 just north of Lott (used to be a heck of a western store in Lott. Might still be), at Moody turn north on FM-317, as you drive through Crawford don't forget to wave at the President. I'm sure he's there somewhere. Or not... At Valley Mills you'll pick up Highway 6, just outside of Meridian you'll turn right on SR 22, then North on 144 in Meridian... There are some cool little towns in and around the area south of Glenrose but I can't tell you how to get to them... just have to stumble in...

None of these are particularly earth shattering unless your interested in small town America off the beaten path...

Delorme Street Atlas USA 2008 with the little USB GPS works great on a laptop. The Garmin Nuvi's are cool too but I prefer to pull the laptop out when I'm in a bind rather than follow an electronic trail