Road trip, Texas through new Orleans to Florida
7I’ll be in the Austin,Texas area and driving through New Orleans, skirting the bottom of Mississippi and going through the Florida panhandle and Orlando.
I’m planning on most likely stopping in New Orleans. Anything I must see in Austin? Anything fun at the bottom of Mississippi? Never been through the Florida panhandle but I’ve been to Orlando plenty of times.
I’m not planning on staying long in any city, maybe an overnight in new Orleans, but I do have some extra time if there is something super important to check out.
I don’t want to say when or why I’m going, you know, for safety or something.
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There is an island off of the bottom of MS that you have to take a boat to (day trip, leave car behind). It is a state park. While I haven’t gone yet I have heard that it is really nice, nice beach… If you are interested let me know and I’ll hunt up what I am talking about.
It might (if you have time) be worth taking the ocean side scenic route along the panhandle. I know there are miles and miles of public beaches in places. Panama City Beach is nice. And driving the road to the end is pretty. I am pretty sure it is at the east end (eg vs the west end) there is a park. When I did that I saw a lot of nesting birds in the sand dunes.
@Kidsandliz the water really isn’t for me. I see so much of it in Florida already. I guess I should of mentioned that I’m looking maybe for quick indoor stops… Unless there’s something I cannot miss. The sun is not friendly to my complexion.
@Kidsandliz Dolphin Island?
@RiotDemon Southern MS is mostly ocean tourist type of development. I am not sure I realized you lived in FL. I don’t really pay attention to where people say they live.
@tinamarie1974 Don’t remember and haven’t looked it up yet.
@Kidsandliz ship island? with the fort?
@Kidsandliz @nasman6 She has to be talking about Ship Island.
Dauphin Island in off the Alabama coast and has a bridge.
Ship Island is worth a visit, but sounds like it’s not for RiotDemon.
@Limewater @nasman6 I finally looked it up. Yes that is what I am talking about.
@Kidsandliz @Limewater @nasman6
Ship Island MS
Not a place for a warehouse
Nor can it set sail
How about this? Spent the night here years ago
https://www.myrtlesplantation.com/
I’m going to the panhandle soon myself, so I take some of the center portion of your journey. And I used to go to Austin yearly until last year, so I’ve gotten to explore a bit. Pandemic makes me unsure of what all you would want to do, but here are some things that are cool in places you might be along the way. A lot of them are restaurants because I like to eat lol.
Texas, widespread: you have got to go to a Buc-ee’s at least once. It’s the biggest travel stop gas station, great snacks, just a spectacle to behold. As a former coworker said one time they had better bathrooms than he had at home.
Austin: Sixth Street is the bar scene. Big foodie town. Torchys Tacos started here (hipster gringo tacos, very good). You can find legit Mexican taquerias easily too. BBQ scene is on point and food trucks galore. Franklin BBQ is here but probably not worth the wait, I’ve never had a whole morning to go stand in line to maybe get brisket before they sell out. SoCo (South Congress street, south of downtown and the lake) is the bohemian/artsy part of town. And the Congress street bridge over the lake is where the largest colony of bats in the US comes out at sunset.
Houston is so big if you don’t know where you want to go you can’t just surf the interstate and look. By the time you see something you were already supposed to have exited. Consequently, I haven’t stopped much here
Lake Charles: There is a place called Darrell’s a little off the interstate (near the mall) with excellent po boys. The Mardi Gras museum here is closed.
Lafayette: Prejean’s and Randol’s are the most famous Cajun restaurants. George Rodriguez (Blue Dog creator) was from here, there is Rodrigue Studios and the Blue Dog Cafe if you’re into that. The Tabasco museum and factory tour is closed.
New Orleans: Too much to list. You can’t swing a dead cat without finding delicious food and drinks everywhere. So much history, cathedrals, museums, voodoo stuff that might interest you, you’d really have to prioritize what you wanted to do in just an overnight stop. Bourbon Street is a bit overrated but it’s kind of one of those things most people gotta do at least once. If you do, Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar I always found interesting, it’s been open since the 1700s. There are probably some natives who will stop by with specific recommendations. Have fun and be careful.
Mobile has the battleship park where you can tour the USS Alabama. Further east, damn near to Florida, you will see a Buc-ee’s again and think you might have gotten back to Texas. If you exit there and go south a few minutes to Foley you will find the southern outpost (the northern being in Missouri) of Lambert’s Cafe, home of the throwed rolls. (They throw rolls across the room to you.) Solid home cooking, if a bit of a tourist trap, it’s fun if it’s not a weekend and too crowded.
From there you’re fifteen minutes from Florida. In Pensacola you can go to the Naval Aviation Museum and if the schedule is right even see the Blue Angels practice. Pretty much everything else I know about the panhandle is beach related, lol. My experience stops in the panhandle, so past Destin there be dragons as far as my map knows.
Even if you don’t like anything I’ve remembered here, you’ll find no shortage of things to do or good places to eat along your route. Most of that area is among the least boring travel areas I’ve driven through, compared to other parts of the country. Hope you have a great trip!
@djslack
Lamberts and their throwed rolls!!!
@djslack
Austin used to be hip and cool. Music. Food. Arts
Mostly happy sharing the city among every different noche culturally group. Time of creativity and intelligence.
Maybe it still is. But also one will find the very worst traffic in Texas, almost about 24/7.
Many people who love the place in theory, avoid due to traffic.
@RiotDemon, what kind of things are you looking to do or see?
More into nature or prefer city stuff? Or you want a mix.
@djslack @f00l dang. I kinda wish I had more time. I started looking and there’s a bunch of evening walking tours of New Orleans that are haunted house/voodoo based that seem interesting. There’s also some pharmacy museum self guided tour.
What I was really hoping for was some year round haunted house attractions (not the ghost story kind, but the kind where you go to get scared) but most of them closed due to the pandemic.
Food is always a good suggestion since I’ll be needing to eat a few times a day.
Buccees was already on my list from the old conversations here about it.
The uss Alabama and the naval aviation museum sounds interesting.
@RiotDemon @djslack The National Naval Aviation Museum is fantastic but to do it justice, you need to make it an all day visit at least!
Currently, one needs a DoD ID to get aboard NAS Pensacola, or needs to know someone who holds one and is willing to escort you aboard. The lighthouse is pretty cool, too, and it’s haunted.
The Blues practice on Thursday mornings. Park anywhere near the Navy Point area or along by Bayou Grande and you’ll see them screaming overhead. My dad stills lives in the flight pattern, and those jets are LOUD when they’re low overhead.
There’s McGuire’s Irish Pub if you want an interesting, touri$t meal. No more kissing the moose, but I’m sure you can still staple a dollar bill to the ceiling.
If you like baseball, a home game at Wahoo Stadium can be a delight. The ballpark sits right at the edge of the water so you’ll get the cool evening breezes off the water. It’s a fun, relaxing way to spend an evening. They have implemented social distancing & mask rules, and apparently have in-seat food delivery (the garlic fries were pretty darned good when I was there before the Covid Times).
@djslack @LaVikinga bummer about needing someone with dod to get in the museum. I’m sure someone is willing to do tours for a fee.
@djslack @RiotDemon If it wasn’t for the fact I’m heading to PA for several months this summer, I’d volunteer to pop over to P’cola to escort you in.
The museum is near & dear to my heart. My husband & I were the very first couple to be married there decades ago back when it was a much, much smaller museum. He was also winged there, the cockpit of one of the jets he flew in is there, he held his retirement ceremony there, and so many other special bits of history for us are tucked away amongst the exhibits.
I really liked the aquarium in New Orleans.
Also watch it in LA as some of the parishes drop the speedlimit to 55 and hide the sign behind uncut bushes and tree branches. I am convinced the one by the 12 miles bridge gets 100% of their annual city budget income from those tickets. They got me there at 2 in the morning once and I wasn’t even going 5 over since I knew already about those speed traps.
@Kidsandliz highway 190 is the speed trap capital of South Louisiana. I’ve been (with a friend) to the shed they called a police station in Krotz Springs to have a credit card run for a speeding fine and the ticket was immediately ripped up and dropped in the trash. Total time from pulled over to wallet significantly lightened and it never happened, maybe 20 minutes.
@djslack @Kidsandliz @RiotDemon
Have also gotten one of those “you pay, then there is no ticket” tickets in S Louisiana. Decades ago.
Drive the speed limit there, and use your turn signals, and act like you just got out of driving school and that your parents are in the back seat threatening to take away your keys.
And do the same in and around small towns everywhere.
You still might get a ticket.
Also watch for sudden or frequent speed limit changes there and everywhere. With hard-to-see signs. Esp in and around small towns.
I highly recommend waze for this trip, but if you are pulled over, don’t let the cops see you are running waze.
@djslack @f00l @RiotDemon That is what my ticket was too - pay now then no problem. And the man’s wife in a red shirt, jeans and flip flops was in the cop car with him.
I heard there’s some touristy stuff in Orlando, but it’ll probably never amount to much…
@shahnm haha. Luckily Orlando isn’t that far from home so I can always go back to see.
The sand on the panhandle is really nice, white and so fine it squeaks.
Goofy Golf is a miniature golf course in Panama City Beach that’s over sixty years old. It’s old school PCB.
It’s not a month with R, and they are getting rare, but if you can find some Apalachicola oysters, they are with it.
The last time i drove the Gulf coast i found some little seafood place across the bay from Mobile (not the big ones with all the signs) and had tasty soft-shelled crabs.
A few miles south of Tallahassee is Wakulla Springs. It used to be an old-school tourist attraction but is now a state park. I think Henry the Pole-vaulting Catfish is gone, but they still have boat tours.
@craigthom the goofy golf looks fun, if not a bit creepy!
@craigthom @RiotDemon
Appalach closed the oyster beds recently. No local oysters for the next 5 yrs or so.
The Florabama bar is always fun. It sits astride… yes… the Florida/Alabama border. You just missed the mullet toss.
The Gulf Island Nat’l Seashore has a couple of nice museums, including the old Fort Pickens on P’cola beach and the Naval Live Oaks Reservation in Gulf Shores.
Seaside FL is where they filmed the Truman Show and is sort of a weird Stepford wives looking community…
NOLA has the Mardi Gras museum, and a couple of really cool plantation tours, like the Laura plantation, which was run by women.
Have a good time on the road.
@RiotDemon Goofy Golf is great. It’s all that’s left of the PCB we visited when i was a child. Even all (or most) of the motels have been replaced with big tall hotels, as they have been on most of Florida’s coast.
There was no fence the last time i passed through, so even if it’s closed you can walk around and look at the sculptures.
If you’re a no frills, on the dock, fast food seafood fan, I recommend Dewey Destin’s in Destin, FL. But go the one the locals go to, NOT the touristy one. If you drive through a junkyard and it looks like you’re about to be jumped, you’re at the right one.
@GenWithaG123 lol. That sounds exciting.
@GenWithaG123 I might go to Destin just for that!
Southern MS, coastal are. #1 rule stay out of the water, the beach is ok but don’t go in the water. Casinos, lots of em, two have separate no smoking ones. Good food, lots of choices, like the Shed for BBQ, Taranto’s for seafood, Sal & Mookies (Italian), Half Shell Oyster House for oysters. There is an old cemetery that dates back to the original settlement days in Biloxi, just off the beach, but there are only tours around Halloween. Big Play for goofy golf, carting, arcade, and bumper cars. Stay off Hwy 90 if it is raining, windy, or storming or if you are in a hurry. Downtown Ocean Springs for eclectic shopping. Unless you are coming during Crusin the Coast, all bets are off then as there are thousands of classic cars driving most of Hwy 90 and surrounding areas. It is way cool if you like classic cars.
Y’all are killing me. I want to do some kind of travel right now I can’t stand it! I’m forbidden to take any time off until some time in July…I just can’t wait! I’m taking a screenshot of all these suggestions
@mehbee yeah, i can’t get time off until July. Then I’m going to visit my parents in Georgia and hit the road.
I’m tentatively thinking about the Gulf coast to Texas, then on to San Antonio and Carlsbad too see bats, not because i love bats, but because mostly i just like to drive, but i like to have nominal goals.
@craigthom Bats are cool so that’s a great nominal goal. I live in Georgia so bless your heart for visiting your parents in July! I like driving as long as there isn’t any traffic…and 75 south to Panama City…usually has traffic. I mean do they just get to the end of the highway and go back to the beginning and start working on it all over again?? Not sure I’ve ever gotten on 75, south of Macon where they weren’t working on the highway somewhere. After that though, windows down and radio up, I don’t mind a drive. I’m usually a gotta get there now person though, so I fly a lot
I second the point about NOLA food. Can’t go wrong with just about anything there, but I am partial to the oysters from Acme and Dragos - they are to die for. On the drive from NOLA to Houston, I’m a huge fan of Fezzo’s. Its on I-10 just west of Lafayette. If you’re driving through, its a nice pitstop with good food. Love the Po Boys.
I also second the point on Buc-ees. If you haven’t been to a Buc-ees yet, you must make the stop. It’s a gas station as big as Texas. They are dotted around the major cities in Texas (also starting to pop up in FL), so make sure you stop at one. It’s worth the experience - there is no gas station that I have found in the US that comes close to the Buc-ees experience.
@kykazaa And usually the gas is cheaper than anything else around. At least it is at the one east of Houston.
@Kidsandliz it’s easy to be cheaper when you move as many gallons as they do. I don’t think I’ve been to one yet with less than 100 pumps and they’re always busy.
They’re supposed to be putting one in around baton rouge as well.
@djslack @Kidsandliz omg!!!
@tinamarie1974 it sounds crazy but I do not believe I’m exaggerating.
/image Buc-ee’s fuel islands
That’s half of one right there. If my count is right that makes 144 pumps (well, 72 dispensers, 144 positions) in those two islands, and then a lot of them have another island or two on the side.
@djslack
@djslack @tinamarie1974
Bucees is fun. And they have the cleanest bathrooms you will ever see, btw.
The funny thing is, some Bucees locations have gotten so popular that some of the biggest ones are getting to be too small.
The ones in Temple, Luling, New Braunfels (this one is ginormous) are prob too small.
All of them will be busy on them weekends.
Go anyway.
@f00l the entire business model of Buc-ee’s is founded on clean bathrooms. It’s amazing what they’ve done with that.
@djslack @f00l I am just amazed I have never heard of or seen one up to this point in my life. Although I am intrigued and feel the need to look next time I am on a road trip!!
@djslack @tinamarie1974
Until about 2 years ago, the chain was Texas only, and the northernmost locs were near DFW.
They’ve now expanded to GA, FL, AL, with more “nascar states” locations coming along.
Until you came south, you would not have been near one.
Perhaps in the next few years… : )
@djslack @f00l but I’ve traveled through Texas for work…Laredo, Dallas, Houston and Austin (well Austin was for fun). Clearly I was not observant!!
@djslack @f00l not only are the restrooms clean, they’ve got dozens of urinals. No waiting.
@djslack @f00l @tinamarie1974 Where is the one in Georgia?
@djslack @f00l @tinamarie1974 You and me both!
@f00l @mehbee fort valley, georgia, apparently. They’ve been busy, there are several in AL now as well.
7001 Russell Pkwy
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8civunT5X3cF29VM7
https://buc-ees.com/locations/
My only advice for New Orleans is stay off bourbon street unless you want to go to Lafittes. Bourbon street is like living in an IRK and not a good one. The quarter is fun but there are so many tourist traps. Especially for food. The least Louisiana po boy I’ve ever been subjected to was when I met friends visiting at a place on bourbon. It was foul. Mid city, Irish channel and garden district have some amazing restaurants. I have a friend that works a a wine rep in the city. I’ll ask him for recommends. I was actually in the channel last night but I cooked a five course dinner for them so we didn’t actually go to a restaurant.
We also got to dance with a second line that came through celebrating a baptism down the street. Miss the city so much!
My recommendations (Note, my knowledge west of the Mississippi river is mostly pretty outdated):
I have family in Mobile, so I start to have some relevant knowledge here.
4. Gator Boat swamp tours in Pascagoula, MS: http://www.airboatswamptoursofmississippi.com/index.html
We went recently and it was pretty fun. It was mostly outside (our preference with Covid), but we were able to go on an airboat ride and see some gators and be in and out in about an hour.
Pollman’s bake shop in Mobile. Well known in the area for their brownies.
Wintzell’s Oyster House in downtown Mobile. I actually don’t eat most of their menu, but they’re well regarded by people who do.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore, AL. Also probably not your thing, but it’s pretty well-known.
If you’re anything like me, though, by the time you hit Mississippi you’ll be ready for the entire trip to be over so you won’t be taking too many superfluous stops after New Orleans.
Just (within the last hour) got home from a road trip to NOLA. Been a few times by myself for conferences and never really liked it despite the ubiquitous jazz. My wife has also been a few times by herself for conferences and loves it. Gave her a week in an AirBNB in the Lower Garden section to get her away from the two 24/7 COVID hotlines she has been managing for a year. I still don’t love it but have a greater appreciation. Garden District and Mansions in particular. Happened on a BBQ joint called The Shack that served the best brisket I’ve ever eaten. And I’ve eaten a lot of brisket. In places much more likely then Louisiana. That said, NOLA is still very much in recovery mode. From storms and COVID. The French Quarter is even more tired than I remember. Lots of boarded up storefronts. If you do stop, grab a good meal or two and tip as well as you are able. They need it. I gave the guy sweeping the floor and cleaning tables at Cafe Dumonde a ten and it might as well have been a hundred. More than a little sad.
@Frcal Seconded on tipping cash. Pay with CC if you want, but let the staff know you intend to tip in cash. Still tip at least 10% on the bill if you pay by card, since a lot of places estimate taxes at that rate on their paychecks.
The whole restaurant industry just came out of lockdown about three weeks ago. So a lot of places are closed or only open on weekends. They took a huge hit for over a year. So did everywhere else, but New Orleans really got hit hard since starting over from nothing after Katrina back in 2005, and it is a hospitality/service industry town.
@Frcal @mike808
Can you clarify this? I don’t quite follow.
Are you suggesting that, if you pay with a card but plan to tip in cash, tip 10% on the card and tip additionally in cash?
I have never done this, but it sounds like you know something I don’t.
@Frcal @Limewater Yes. If you “stiff” the waitstaff on the billl paying by card, they get docked for taxes on their paychecks because the IRS assumes they get tipped in cash (I don’t know the rate the IRS assumes).
Tipping an actual amount means they are taxed on the actual amount tipped. The 10% is reasonable, but on the low side, and won’t arouse suspicion for bad service by the management or trigger the tax software to estimate income more than what was actually tipped.
So tip 10% on the card and leave the rest in cash for the waitstaff. Tell them this when you hand them the signed bill so they know your intentions. A simple “I am leaving the rest of my tip in cash, for you.” will be appreciated.
@Frcal @mike808 I’m still a little confused.
Say I want to tip 20%.
If I put 10% on the card and 10% in cash, they pay taxes on 10%.
If I give them 20% in cash they still pay taxes on 10% based on what you said above, and it’s up to them whether they’re reporting the rest.
That’s the same amount, net. And if the server’s W-4 is correct then the entire process should be invisible to them.
What am I missing?
@Frcal @mike808 Too late to edit, but really the W-4 doesn’t matter. I wasn’t thinking straight.
@Limewater
Yes, except that the taxes are taken out of their paycheck instead of being left to them to report on their own. And since a lot of them don’t make enough to pay taxes when they file, that essentially is a forced interest-free loan to the government for up to a year, being taken from from someone living below the poverty line. That’s not cool.
So if you want to tip 20% (or more), tip 10% on the card and leave the rest as cash. That cash will do far, far more good directly in the hands of the staff than being in the coffers (and control) of the employers.
That said, context is everything. At some hole in the wall with the best food and service you’ve had, do this. When you’re at McDonalds, not so much. Although cash tipping at the drive through for fast-food workers is also a “make their day” good deed.
And for folks with delivery people coming to their door - in addition to tipping, one of the things you can offer that really makes a difference is to offer them your bathroom. Many restaurants and merchants do not allow delivery staff (Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.) to use their restrooms. So they’re darting about their whole workday and have no real place for bathroom breaks. This is a problem in the urban cities more than the suburbs.
@mike808 Okay, so let’s say I go to a restaurant and get a bill for $100. I want to tip 20% which is $20.
Scenario A: All on credit card.
Server pays 1.5% service fee on $20.
Federal taxes withheld at 15%
State income taxes withheld at 5%
Server takes home $15.70.
Scenario B: 10% on credit card, 10% cash.
Server pays 1.5% service fee on $10
Federal taxes withheld at 15% on $10
State taxes withheld at 5% on $10
Server takes home $17.85.
Scenario C: 20% cash.
Federal taxes withheld at 15% on $10 (from earlier post, though it was given as an uncertain number)
State taxes withheld at 5% on $10.
Server takes home $18.00.
In both scenarios B and C the server will have $2.00 withheld for federal and state income tax.
A quick internet search suggests that the assumed minimum tip rate is 8% rather than 10%. That would tip things slightly in the favor of tipping cash only versus tipping 10% card and 10% cash.
Servers have to have taxes withheld either way. The only difference in end-of-the-week take-home pay I see between all-cash versus split-tip is the credit card processing fee.
Again, I may be missing something, but it’s still not obvious to me.
@Limewater Servers don’t pay proccessing fees, so that’s irrelevant.
Also, there is a big difference for a server making below the poverty line in taking cash home vs not seeing any of the taxes withheld until the next year as a refund.
It also doesn’t take into account the many abusive labor practices and other shady practices that are rampant in the cash-heavy restaurant business. Like withholding taxes and other illegal deductions from staff and then simply pocketing it because the mess will be on the employee to clean up with the IRS or using it to rip off the undocumented workers they knowingly hire. Not the chains and well known places, but the mom & pops.
The people that bear the brunt of the abusive labor practices are the staff. Tipping cash in hand goes directly to those in need of it the most.
Bottom line, just tip and tip generously if that’s your thing. It sucks that we, the customers, are forced to “make up” for employer’s systemically underpaying their employees a living wage.
@mike808
My brother paid them when he was a server. Maybe it’s different in your state, or has changed in the last ten years.
I agree with you that tipping cash is better. I was puzzled by the suggestion that splitting the tip between credit card and cash was better than just tipping cash.
@Limewater @mike808 I was presuming so that to the manager it looked like they were tipped and they could then pocket the cash and never report it to anyone or the IRS.
@Kidsandliz @Limewater
Surely no reputable server would do that. Just as no reputable restaurant or bar would withold taxes and fees (SSI, Disability, Unemployment Insurance, etc.) from employee paychecks and not actually deposit those funds with the IRS/Treasury/DOR. Or withold paychecks entirely, like this South Carolina restaurant owner did who now owes $500K+ and is doing time.
Or coerce laborers in other ways, particularly by illegally witholding passports, immigration visas, and fraudulent deductions from paychecks. Particularly when knowingly hiring undocumented workers, er, … “illegals”. Because that would be an “illegal” business and the “owners” would really just be human trafficking criminals and extortionists that abuse their victims for profit.
@Limewater @mike808
HAHAHAHA I presume you are being sarcastic. I know some around here who routinely pocket at least some of cash tips and only report some of each cash tip.
@Kidsandliz @Limewater
Your snark detector be broke.
It’s tough to know what’s open or pandemic-closed these days.
Some things I would have mentioned are closed. : (
If you’re in New Orleans, and it’s not Monday or Tuesday (many restaurants are closed because that’s their weekend off and deliveries to restock), in the edge of the French Quarter on Esplanade is Port O’ Call. Great burgers, better Monsoons. Monsoons are like women’s breasts. One is not enough, and three is too many.
@mike808
Excuse me MikeBob
I have seen Total Recall
3 can be just fine
This one is open. Masks req.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Austin, Texas
https://www.wildflower.org/
Poboys - Roast beef with debris at Parkway.
You can get a legit muffalatta at any Rouses grocery store. Also hot boiled seafood. Zuppardo’s in Metairie by Veterans and I-10 is a quick pitstop for making groceries if you don’t have time to hunt for local stuff.
There’s an Acme Oyster House on Veterans further down to get your chargrilled oysters on.
There’s some great Vietnamese food in New Orleans, as well as Latin American food.
Cold brew coffee from PJ’s, CC’s, or Rue de la Course. PJ’s invented it pretty much back in the 80’s.
Like others have said, you can’t swing a dead cat and not hit a dozen great food places.
@mike808 I got hooked on muffuletta when I first visited NOLA for Jazzfest around 1994. I remember my mouth literally started watering when walking past Central Grocery - the smell was fantastic.
The food sampling found at the Fairgrounds is just an appetizer for all the awe.some meals all over town.
@compunaut Jazz Fest would gave been just this past weekend. It has been postponed to mid-October, but I’m not sure if they are at the fairgrounds again or if it will be distributed around the city at “official” venues.
WWOZ broadcast/streamed some amazing “Best of Da Fest” recordings during their “Fest in Place” events these past two weekends.
@mike808 I think I might try to come back for October but it may be tricky with school for the kids. I’ll definitely hit you up when I go back and see if you’re around. Would be ace to have an old fashioned or beer and listen to a live band!
Roadtrippers.com and roadsideamerica.com are two of my fav sites for finding stuff to see on a driving trip. Have done a couple of two weekers using them and have an almost 3 week one coming up. We include a variety of “serious” stops (museum, parks, educational) along with photo-op only stops (largest ball of twine in MN, Carhenge, giant quarter)
Not sure if it’s still up or if they have moved yet, but hope outdoor gallery on Baylor St, it’s an outdoor graffiti wall. I haven’t been in a couple of years but it was one of my favorite spots in the ATX area. Got in touch with several amazing artists via IG after taking photos of the area.
Also, I’m sure that it’s been said, but buc ee’s is an absolute must for the following reasons:
“but it’s a gas station”
no
it’s buc ee’s
@riskybryzness any specific jerky I should be looking for?
I think @f00l made a thread about Buc-ees a few years ago so this was already a known stop along my way somewhere. I’ll have to dig it up because I remember there being a bunch of recommendations.
@f00l @RiotDemon I don’t eat beef, but I love their turkey jerky! @getclosure has some opinions on the best beef jerky ones.
The Bavarian Garlic and Cherry Maple are my go-to’s. The Cherry Maple is a good, softy saucy jerky. Bavarian Recipe Garlic is a little more dry but very flavorful so keep some toothpicks handy.
Also of note, Lofty Pursuits is in Tallahassee, FL. A must-stop for treats and the experience!
http://www.loftypursuits.com/
Palm Bay used to have a Russel Stover’s Outlet. Now the closest one is at the north end of the turnpike near 75. I haven’t been to one in years, but if I were driving by during business hours, I would stop.
Warning to those with cabin fever and a yearning to drive
Various industry experts are predicting large scale gasoline-at-the-pump shortages this summer.
It seems everyone is expected to hit the road, and there are some refinery issues plus a nationwide shortage of fuel transport trucks.
@f00l Or just a made-up excuse to raise prices
@compunaut @f00l The oil industry needs to recover somehow from last year’s nosedive off the cliff.
KuoH
@f00l @kuoh Every industry needs to recover, but I’m not feeling too sorry for oil companies, especially the big players. ExxonMobil has earned profits of something like $500 billion in the last decade, even after losing $20 billion last year.
Other industries are in far more dire circumstances…
@compunaut @f00l @kuoh
And let’s not forget the Moscow Mitch/Trump taxpayer giveaway/ripoff to corporations with reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.
And I also think Exxon has been on the anjual “biggest corporations that paid $0 in taxes”.
Let the shareholders suffer. I couldn’t care less.
BTW RD, not sure if museums are your thing or not, but there a several in NOLA that are worth the time if you have it.
The WWII museum is truly amazing…
@chienfou That was one of the ones I was looking at but wasn’t sure if the admission was worth it or not. I’m going to see if I can make time for that. Thanks!
@chienfou @RiotDemon
worth every Penny. It’s truly amazing!
If you’re looking for a snack and can’t find crawfish, this might satsify the craving:
@mike808 I’m really not sure how to feel about this…
@sillyheathen The Pecan Pie flavor is really good. Better than caramel/kettle corn.
@mike808 I’d buy that all day. I wonder if it tastes like the boil or if there’s an actual crawfish flavor.
I’m making a similar trip, but I’m wondering if there are any cities/exits that wouldn’t be safe/family friendly to stop at (near adult stores or on known routes that are high in crime), etc.
@GenWithaG123 just curious about the adult store. Even if it’s there, you can just avoid it? They are pretty plain on the outside, so shouldn’t gather much attention.
@RiotDemon Well I did a similar trip a couple years back and it was me and couple other single girls and we all had to go to the bathroom so we stopped at this gas station that was super sketch. (And I don’t mean like “Take on Me” sketch!) There were lots more cameras then usual and the guy at the counter didn’t say anything to us, he just stared at us the whole time with his mouth open looking confused. When we went into the bathroom it was one huge room, almost like a storage room with two sitting toilets side by side. The whole experience felt unsafe and it wasn’t until after the we got back in the car we saw the xxx places and adult stores and the motel next door and I was paranoid that we were all going to get trafficked. Obviously we were okay, but I’d like not to relive that experience my next trip. If we had waited three more exits we would have been able to visit the restrooms and feel safe. So I guess knowing the “maybe avoid the areas East of Little Rock until you hit Memphis” would be helpful and I think add to the overall positive experience of the trip for me personally. I may sound like a bit of a snob, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with single women wanting to feel safe on a long road trip in areas they aren’t familiar with. (That last bit sounded a little snarky but wasn’t meant to be.)
@GenWithaG123 ahhhh, okay. I understand now. I’m a woman and have been to several adult stores and never felt unsafe personally. What you describe is not the norm, I think.
If you are traveling I-10 in east Texas, I recommend sticking to the Interstate when passing through Vidor, which is just east of Beaumont. POC are at risk there historically, and I personally refuse to contribute to that local economy. Outside of that, I have no red-zones identified between here (Houston) and Mobile, where I generally turn north. (I grew up in Florida; it is best avoided IMO.)
@werehatrack thank you for the info!
BTW, I personally did my trip back in May shortly after I posted this topic. I want to thank everyone that contributed then.
One day I’ll recount my experience.
@RiotDemon
Please do. Travel is one of the joys in my life so always interested in other folks’ take on some of the places I have been and enjoyed. I just got back from Boston and 4 days in Maine. Had a blast. Ate a ton of lobster and fish, sailed, hiked, lazed around and generally goofed off with SWMBO and one of our progeny.
@chienfou I just have sooooo many pictures I need to sort through and write a novel.