Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slacker on February 27, 2013 at 3:43pm

http://www.risingsunbnb.com/

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Permalink Reply by LShieldes on February 27, 2013 at 4:13pm

Are you 21?

That would influence what I tell you as far as Austin/Houston/New Orleans

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Permalink Reply by Jack Bauer on February 27, 2013 at 4:44pm

When are you coming?  I'm from Houston.  Its a great place to raise a family ... but it ain't much of a vacation spot.  There's just not a ton for a tourist to do here.  Houston is built more for working and living than for tourists and nightlife.  Kind of the opposite of Orlando, Florida.

 

There are good museums and theaters, if you're into that sort of thing.  There's NASA, I guess ... which makes for an interesting enough afternoon.  Good seafood in Galveston (try Gaidos if you get down there, expensive ... but great).  Kemah Boardwalk is nice, and there are some good resort hotels right on the bay.

 

"The Taste of Texas" has great steaks -- and its right on I-10.  There are probably some night clubs and stuff in a few areas of town, though that's not my kind of thing.  Sports aren't going to be anything special.  The Astros would be bad if they were a minor league team -- they're pioneers of terrible as a major league one ... though their staduim is nice.  Texans and Rockets are alright.  Texans are better early in the season.  Heh.  (I'm a Cowboys fan).

 

If you come during the Rodeo (which is now, or a year from now) ... that's a hell of a lot of fun, and has a distinctly Texas flavor.  We saw Toby Keith at the Rodeo on Monday night.

 

JB

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Permalink Reply by Barrett Joseph Kearns II on February 28, 2013 at 11:31am

I am indeed 21 

thank you all for the suggestions 

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Permalink Reply by LShieldes on February 28, 2013 at 12:50pm

Allllrighty then.

Austin, yes, 6th street. Touristy yes, but do it. The town is different from just about any other Texas city. Some great, great BBQ joints there as well

San Antonio. Alamo is a must, across the street in one direction is the Menger Hotel, the bar in that hotel is where Teddy Roosevelt signed up his rough riders. We stayed for not too much, plus it is haunted(supposedly). Across the other way is the river walk. Cool to walk up and down, just outside of a far off part was a beautiful catholic church(soft spot for me esp as I am not even Catholic, just love the art). Do make sure to get yourself a big steaming plate of authentic Tex-Mex and just enjoy the river.
Houston - we have food and we have musuems. For a 21 yo, meh in the musuems more than likely. Lived here for 13 or so years, still not a huge fan of the city for visitors. Get some of our TexMex as well. Otherwise, as Jack pointed out, the coast is where I usually send visitors. We also have a minor league hockey team, and I think we just got a minor league baseball team(other than the lAstros)

New Orleans - I'll be there for about my 15th trip here in 10 days(woooooooo for a 37year olds spring break). If you are there during the week, when there isn't something big going on, you can stay stupid cheap inside the quarter. Check the Valentino hotels, the biggest expense will be parking. Have fun on Bourbon, it is a must. Start at one end, and go to the other. As long as it is in a cup, you can take any drink out on the street. Stick with the 3 for 1 happy hours and then buy on the street, and you won't spend much on booze. This will help you save for the best part....the food. DO NOT eat on Bourbon unless it is a lucky dog or a late night piece of pizza, most of the best places are only a few stumbling steps off of Bourbon(Oceana, Acme, Felix, Johnny's, and on and on). Branch out and eat many different things. The older I get, the more I go back for the huge variety of amazing foods. Seriously, I have 3 places lined up for our first day, and we aren't even getting there until 1ish.

Have fun, keep a journal on the road or at least keep us up to date with everything you see. Take your time, pull off the road to look at something of interest, live it up.

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Permalink Reply by LShieldes on February 28, 2013 at 6:35pm

Totally forgot, WWII DDay Musuem. Unfreaking real. We spent 3 hours there, I easily needed 3 more.

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Permalink Reply by Ross Miller on February 28, 2013 at 2:38pm

I'll add to the NOLA train here (I've spent some serious time there over the last few years).

1) The Food in the french quarter is normally junk for reasonally priced stuff. There are however, amazing 4+ star restaurants there. If you want an amazing meal, look no further than Brennans (they invented bananas foster) in the quarter.

If you want cheap, but will fill you up and amazing, look for Port of Call, as their burger is HUGE and hurricanes are poured with a VERY heavy hand. Try Dat Dog if you want a dog/weiner/sausage/etc from anywhere in the world with any topping you can think of. There is also jaquimos for good reasonably priced food, and Camellia Grill for all your late night semi-hungover greasy food needs. 

If you are there on a Wednesday night I highly recommend I HIGHLY recomend going to one of the two Bulldog locations. Bulldog's is a bar with 20+ beers on tap from all over the world. The food is really good, and Wednesday night's you buy it, drink it, and take that b**ch home. for $5 they let you keep the pint glasses, and they always have cool things on them. If you don't want them, you can give them back to the bar and .50 a glass is donated to the LASPCA, how cool is that?!

2) Places to see while you are there (that is not the french quarter)? Audubon Park is really nice, and I hear the zoo isn't bad (never been). Take a walk down magazine street where you can just chill, shop, eat, drink. I highly recommend a swamp tour on an air boat, its fun, entertaining and you'll learn about the swamps. Past that NOLA motorsports park is 30min from the french quarter where you can go go-karting.

3) Lodging in the quarter, try Place d'armes as they normally have good rooms for cheap, and you are 2 blocks from burbon, and 2 blocks from cafe du mon.

I will also recommend you take some small tools that allow you to do tire changes quickly. Seriously the stuff that comes in cars sucks and you can get it done in 1/2 the time with better tools. 

enjoy your trip!

-Ross

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Permalink Reply by Barrett Joseph Kearns II on March 3, 2013 at 10:11pm

heres my ever growing to do list 

the ones listed HAVE need to be installed 

parking brake adjustment
rear brake disks and pads HAVE
flex disk HAVE
shifter bushings
M3 motor mounts HAVE
E21 tranny mounts HAVE
rear drivers wheel bearing HAVE
camber plates front HAVE
M3 shock tower reinforcements HAVE
adjustable lower control arms HAVE
studs,lugs 75mm studs,blacknuts, 12mm spacers 
4-Nitto Motivo 225/45/17s
Belts HAVE
check the charge in the AC unit
radiator hoses Silicones HAVE
Coolant flush
air filter HAVE
Fuel filter HAVE
Cabin air filter HAVE
Valve cover gasket HAVE
power steering flush
Diff flush
Tranny flush
battery

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Permalink Reply by David F. on March 4, 2013 at 9:33am

If you are living on campus you need to rethink packing your guns.  Make sure you have trigger locks if you will have housemates.

Look up Carlsbad Caverns.  They are worth the day if you are in to natural wonders. 

You might hit New Orleans while you come through.  Plan to hit it over night so you can drink and dine then hit the morning coffee shops of fame. 

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