[OT] Where to go in the USA?
- Thread starter Maldur
- Start date
orbitalfreak
Explorer
die_kluge said:
That's absolutely true. McDonald's or Burger King will be adequate if you're on the run, but nothing beats down-home cooking. I'd like to recommend one of the best restaurants I've even been to, in Lafayette, Louisiana. It's called Pat's of Hendersons, and it started out as a little restaurant, and over the years has grown into on of the best Cajun restaurants in the world.
The $25 (aroundabouts) price per plate is a very good deal for the quality (and quantity!) they serve; just make sure you've got some change left over for the antacids if you don't have a "tempered" stomach.
Visit their website, and go to "Contact Us," and you can probably get a map or directions e-mailed to you. And if you're going from New Orleans to San Antonio, it's right on the way.
MaxKaladin
First Post
I spent two weeks in St. Louis on business and the things I cared for were the Arch (with the museum underneath), Cahokia, and some little Italian restaraunt I can't remember the name of. It was off of Lindburgh near the interstate that passes the airport and right across from my hotel. It was a little hole in the wall place that was actually a converted house rather than a purpose built restaraunt. Perhaps someone can recall the name.
I'd have to say you ought to visit San Antonio and central Texas.
San Antonio has the Alamo and the Riverwalk for starters. The riverwalk is the river that runs through town. It is very built up and has restaraunts, clubs, shops, hotels, and other things like that lining it. Lots of people like it. Its very pretty at night. Downtown in general can be nice, but I haven't seen all of it. There is the Hemisfare tower, which is a big tower that sticks up over the whole town and has a slowly rotating building on top. It has an observation deck and a restaraunt in it. There is also the institute of Texan cultures. Its a museum about the various immigrant groups who came to Texas and how they lived when they got here. I don't know if the buckhorn is still open, but it was a genuine old west style saloon that had a huge collection of antlers that lots of people go to see (just throwing things out, I have no idea what you want to see). San Antonio also has Sea World, an aquatic theme park with sea animals like whales and dolphins, and Fiesta Texas, a more traditional amusement park with various rides.
Austin is an hour north of San Anonio and has a live music scene to be envied. I'm not a good guide to it though.
THe hill country is north and northwest of San Antonio. I grew up there in a very 'touristy' town called Fredericksburg. All of the hill country has great scenery. New Braunfels has Schlitterbahn, a water park. Fredericksburg has lots of different stuff. There is a pioneer museum devoted to the original settlers. There is an old toy museum. The biggest museum in town is the Admiral Nimitz State (and now Federal) Park. It is a huge museum about Admiral Nimitz (the US Admiral who led our navy in the Pacific in WWII) and WWII in general. Its divided into three parts. One is the old hotel, which his grandfather ran and where a number of famous people like O. Henry the author stayed. There is the History Walk, where they have authentic "big" stuff like original aircraft and ship parts. The third and newest part is the George Bush (the one who was in the war) Center with more artifacts, including a Japanese mini-sub. If you're the outdoor type, there is Enchanted Rock, which is a huge solid granite outcropping covers a square mile. Its popular for rock climbing and camping and there is a great view from the top. If you time things right, the county fair will be going on (4th weekend in August). It can be interesting, especially if you've never been to one. There will be a carnival, horse races, a stock show and the usual "crafts" type stuff (best handcrafts, cooking, pickeling, garden produce and so on). Main street if Fredericksburg has lots of shops, especially antique shops and "artsy" type places as well as one of the last "five and dime" stores. There are also plenty of restaraunts too. There is an old civil war fort just outside town. A little to the east (30 minute drive) is the Lyndon Johnson park. Everything you could ever want to know about the former president from the 60s. They have both his ranch and his childhood home.
Anyway, you don't mention what you're interested in so I just sorta threw a bunch of stuff from my home area out there. If you need more info, email me. Especially for Fredericksburg since I "know people"
I'd have to say you ought to visit San Antonio and central Texas.
San Antonio has the Alamo and the Riverwalk for starters. The riverwalk is the river that runs through town. It is very built up and has restaraunts, clubs, shops, hotels, and other things like that lining it. Lots of people like it. Its very pretty at night. Downtown in general can be nice, but I haven't seen all of it. There is the Hemisfare tower, which is a big tower that sticks up over the whole town and has a slowly rotating building on top. It has an observation deck and a restaraunt in it. There is also the institute of Texan cultures. Its a museum about the various immigrant groups who came to Texas and how they lived when they got here. I don't know if the buckhorn is still open, but it was a genuine old west style saloon that had a huge collection of antlers that lots of people go to see (just throwing things out, I have no idea what you want to see). San Antonio also has Sea World, an aquatic theme park with sea animals like whales and dolphins, and Fiesta Texas, a more traditional amusement park with various rides.
Austin is an hour north of San Anonio and has a live music scene to be envied. I'm not a good guide to it though.
THe hill country is north and northwest of San Antonio. I grew up there in a very 'touristy' town called Fredericksburg. All of the hill country has great scenery. New Braunfels has Schlitterbahn, a water park. Fredericksburg has lots of different stuff. There is a pioneer museum devoted to the original settlers. There is an old toy museum. The biggest museum in town is the Admiral Nimitz State (and now Federal) Park. It is a huge museum about Admiral Nimitz (the US Admiral who led our navy in the Pacific in WWII) and WWII in general. Its divided into three parts. One is the old hotel, which his grandfather ran and where a number of famous people like O. Henry the author stayed. There is the History Walk, where they have authentic "big" stuff like original aircraft and ship parts. The third and newest part is the George Bush (the one who was in the war) Center with more artifacts, including a Japanese mini-sub. If you're the outdoor type, there is Enchanted Rock, which is a huge solid granite outcropping covers a square mile. Its popular for rock climbing and camping and there is a great view from the top. If you time things right, the county fair will be going on (4th weekend in August). It can be interesting, especially if you've never been to one. There will be a carnival, horse races, a stock show and the usual "crafts" type stuff (best handcrafts, cooking, pickeling, garden produce and so on). Main street if Fredericksburg has lots of shops, especially antique shops and "artsy" type places as well as one of the last "five and dime" stores. There are also plenty of restaraunts too. There is an old civil war fort just outside town. A little to the east (30 minute drive) is the Lyndon Johnson park. Everything you could ever want to know about the former president from the 60s. They have both his ranch and his childhood home.
Anyway, you don't mention what you're interested in so I just sorta threw a bunch of stuff from my home area out there. If you need more info, email me. Especially for Fredericksburg since I "know people"
Shadowdancer
First Post
Let me also put in a plug for Central Texas. I live an hour north of Austin, and go there frequently. It's a great place, very eclectic, very unlike any other city in Texas, or most cities in the South and Southwest.
Go to Congress Ave. at dusk and watch millions of bats emerge from the colony beneath the bridge. It's pretty awesome, and there are restaurants nearby with patios overlooking the lake which are very close to the bridge. You can feel the air off the bats' wings as they fly past.
Then go to 6th Street at night. You can bar hop up and down the street, hearing great live music at every venue, or just find one place you like and watch everyone else circulate past. Funky mixture of well-off, upwardly mobile young adults and college students, and seemingly homeless street performers.
Also, in San Antonio and Austin you can find plenty of places that serve good Tex-Mex food. As someone else suggested, avoid the chain restaurants and look for the Mom-and-Pop places.
Since you live in Europe, you may have already seen the original, but in Kerrville, a nice Hill Country town northwest of San Antonio (if your driving I-10 from New Orleans through San Antonio to points west, you'll go right through it), a man has built a three-quarters size replica of Stonehenge. It's pretty cool, and in a really nice setting in a field down in a river valley. He's also erected some Easter Island heads, too.
Other places to check out in West Texas as you're driving from San Antonio to El Paso include Alpine (a very nice town in Texas' only true range of mountains) and Marfa, where you can go see the mysterious Marfa lights after sundown.
Although it's well off I-10, I highly recommend a detour to either San Angelo or Lowake (a small town east of San Angelo) to eat the best chicken fried steak in the world at any of the restaurants owned by the Zentner family -- Zentner's Steak House, Zentner's Daughter or the Lowake Inn. Actually, this wouldn't be too much of a detour. After Kerrville, you could cut across to San Angelo, continue northeast to I-20, and then head west. I-20 and I-10 merge in West Texas before you get to El Paso.
If you'd like to take a different route, and don't mind a little bit of the macabre, you can take the "Central Texas Atrocities Tour."(TM) Start in Dallas at Dealey Plaza and the Texas Book Depository to see where President Kennedy was assassinated. Then travel south on I-35 to Waco to see where the Branch Davidians compound was burned to the ground by government agents. Continue south on I-35 to Belton (wave to me as you go through Temple), then take US-190 to Killeen and see the Luby's Cafeteria that was the site of the largest mass killing by a single gunman in the history of the U.S. Then drive to Austin and tour the University of Texas Tower, where Charles Whitman used a rifle with a scope to shoot several people back in the 1960s. Hey, I said it was macabre.
One site in Arizona no one has mentioned, and it is fairly close to the Grand Canyon, is the Metorite Crater. I would suggest driving from El Paso through New Mexico, including Roswell, then across eastern Arizona to the Metorite Crater and then to the Grand Canyon.
Go to Congress Ave. at dusk and watch millions of bats emerge from the colony beneath the bridge. It's pretty awesome, and there are restaurants nearby with patios overlooking the lake which are very close to the bridge. You can feel the air off the bats' wings as they fly past.
Then go to 6th Street at night. You can bar hop up and down the street, hearing great live music at every venue, or just find one place you like and watch everyone else circulate past. Funky mixture of well-off, upwardly mobile young adults and college students, and seemingly homeless street performers.
Also, in San Antonio and Austin you can find plenty of places that serve good Tex-Mex food. As someone else suggested, avoid the chain restaurants and look for the Mom-and-Pop places.
Since you live in Europe, you may have already seen the original, but in Kerrville, a nice Hill Country town northwest of San Antonio (if your driving I-10 from New Orleans through San Antonio to points west, you'll go right through it), a man has built a three-quarters size replica of Stonehenge. It's pretty cool, and in a really nice setting in a field down in a river valley. He's also erected some Easter Island heads, too.
Other places to check out in West Texas as you're driving from San Antonio to El Paso include Alpine (a very nice town in Texas' only true range of mountains) and Marfa, where you can go see the mysterious Marfa lights after sundown.
Although it's well off I-10, I highly recommend a detour to either San Angelo or Lowake (a small town east of San Angelo) to eat the best chicken fried steak in the world at any of the restaurants owned by the Zentner family -- Zentner's Steak House, Zentner's Daughter or the Lowake Inn. Actually, this wouldn't be too much of a detour. After Kerrville, you could cut across to San Angelo, continue northeast to I-20, and then head west. I-20 and I-10 merge in West Texas before you get to El Paso.
If you'd like to take a different route, and don't mind a little bit of the macabre, you can take the "Central Texas Atrocities Tour."(TM) Start in Dallas at Dealey Plaza and the Texas Book Depository to see where President Kennedy was assassinated. Then travel south on I-35 to Waco to see where the Branch Davidians compound was burned to the ground by government agents. Continue south on I-35 to Belton (wave to me as you go through Temple), then take US-190 to Killeen and see the Luby's Cafeteria that was the site of the largest mass killing by a single gunman in the history of the U.S. Then drive to Austin and tour the University of Texas Tower, where Charles Whitman used a rifle with a scope to shoot several people back in the 1960s. Hey, I said it was macabre.
One site in Arizona no one has mentioned, and it is fairly close to the Grand Canyon, is the Metorite Crater. I would suggest driving from El Paso through New Mexico, including Roswell, then across eastern Arizona to the Metorite Crater and then to the Grand Canyon.
Heretic Apostate
First Post
If you come to the San Francisco bay area, in northern California, swing by the Napa Valley. The premiere wine-making area of the U.S. (and has beaten the French in several competitions).
Remember. Napa makes wines. Sonoma makes scenic attractions.
Remember. Napa makes wines. Sonoma makes scenic attractions.
A long term San Diegan makes his appearance.
In 2003 the San Diego Comic Con will be held the week end before Gen Con. It's huge. Recently Hollywood has discovered Comic Book Fandom, and embraced it in a big way. New Line Cinema sponsored a huge LotR pavilion at this year's affair which featured just about every company with a major Tolkien franchise.
The Gaslamp has some good places to eat. There are tons of taco stands around town (but avoid the franchises, especially anything with a "bertos" in the name). For real Mexican try the small cafes down in South San Diego and Chula Vista.
Outside of the Zoo you have Balboa Park. The Natural History Museum and the Museum of Man are both excellent regional museums. Both have special programs. You also have the San Diego Railroad Museum, and the San Diego History Museum, both of which are better than you'd expect. In terms of area, Balboa Park is bigger than some European cities.
BTW, catch a show at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center. One of the first Omnimax auditoriums ever built.
Before we leave Balboa Park let me mention the Aerospace museum. While the Spirit of St. Louis there is a replica, we do have other old aircraft, including an experimental jet ski plane, and Baron von Richtofen's Blue Max (donated by his son).
By next year the downtown ball park should be done, and the strike should be over. So you could catch a game there. I've sort of been out of circulation, so the only other spot I can think of to visit would be the new Borders Bookstore, which is but two blocks from my place.
Now, everybody around here talks about the miles of beaches. However, everybody goes to the miles of beaches (especially when it's hot), so they can get crowded. Add in the annual Zonie migration (folks from Arizona) who practically live at the beach, and things can get a tad overwhelming. Fortunately, people go to the beach to relax, so things are friendly for the most part.
On the other hand, people don't say much about the miles of mountains we have. While not as spectacular as the mountains in other parts of the country, you can find some beautiful scenery here. Just to be different, I recommend getting a room at a back country bed and breakfast, and going on day trips around the county. Check out the lakes, Warner Springs and Borrego Springs. And spend a day on Mt. Palomar. The observatory there is a good place to visit, and the rest of the mountain is pretty nifty too. Hell, from the right spot, and on a clear day, you can see clear to the ocean.
Speaking of the ocean. From the southernmost part of the San Diego coast, on a clear day, you can see Mexico's northern most territories. A few small, desert islands Mexico leases to the U.S. Navy. The American and Mexican Navies cooperate on a number of projects there. All top secret, so you can't visit. We've offered to buy the islands, but Mexico figures they make more money in the long run by renting than they ever could through selling them.
Over all, in an area halfway in size between Delaware and Rhode Island you have most every sort of terrain imaginable. Mountains, desert, forest, grassland, beaches, marshes, river bottom, etc. With planning and a good map you can start out with breakfast near the Children's Pool in La Jolla (location of a harbor seal colony), have lunch on Mt. Palomar, and finish your day with dinner at Borrego Springs.
There you have Where Mythusmage Gets to Live. A lot more to see than just the zoo. BTW, If you do decide to come visit, come in September. Sept. is actually our hottest month, which will give you a good excuse to go to the beach, and all the tourists and Zonies have gone back home, so we get the beaches all to ourselves.
In 2003 the San Diego Comic Con will be held the week end before Gen Con. It's huge. Recently Hollywood has discovered Comic Book Fandom, and embraced it in a big way. New Line Cinema sponsored a huge LotR pavilion at this year's affair which featured just about every company with a major Tolkien franchise.
The Gaslamp has some good places to eat. There are tons of taco stands around town (but avoid the franchises, especially anything with a "bertos" in the name). For real Mexican try the small cafes down in South San Diego and Chula Vista.
Outside of the Zoo you have Balboa Park. The Natural History Museum and the Museum of Man are both excellent regional museums. Both have special programs. You also have the San Diego Railroad Museum, and the San Diego History Museum, both of which are better than you'd expect. In terms of area, Balboa Park is bigger than some European cities.
BTW, catch a show at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center. One of the first Omnimax auditoriums ever built.
Before we leave Balboa Park let me mention the Aerospace museum. While the Spirit of St. Louis there is a replica, we do have other old aircraft, including an experimental jet ski plane, and Baron von Richtofen's Blue Max (donated by his son).
By next year the downtown ball park should be done, and the strike should be over. So you could catch a game there. I've sort of been out of circulation, so the only other spot I can think of to visit would be the new Borders Bookstore, which is but two blocks from my place.
Now, everybody around here talks about the miles of beaches. However, everybody goes to the miles of beaches (especially when it's hot), so they can get crowded. Add in the annual Zonie migration (folks from Arizona) who practically live at the beach, and things can get a tad overwhelming. Fortunately, people go to the beach to relax, so things are friendly for the most part.
On the other hand, people don't say much about the miles of mountains we have. While not as spectacular as the mountains in other parts of the country, you can find some beautiful scenery here. Just to be different, I recommend getting a room at a back country bed and breakfast, and going on day trips around the county. Check out the lakes, Warner Springs and Borrego Springs. And spend a day on Mt. Palomar. The observatory there is a good place to visit, and the rest of the mountain is pretty nifty too. Hell, from the right spot, and on a clear day, you can see clear to the ocean.
Speaking of the ocean. From the southernmost part of the San Diego coast, on a clear day, you can see Mexico's northern most territories. A few small, desert islands Mexico leases to the U.S. Navy. The American and Mexican Navies cooperate on a number of projects there. All top secret, so you can't visit. We've offered to buy the islands, but Mexico figures they make more money in the long run by renting than they ever could through selling them.
Over all, in an area halfway in size between Delaware and Rhode Island you have most every sort of terrain imaginable. Mountains, desert, forest, grassland, beaches, marshes, river bottom, etc. With planning and a good map you can start out with breakfast near the Children's Pool in La Jolla (location of a harbor seal colony), have lunch on Mt. Palomar, and finish your day with dinner at Borrego Springs.
There you have Where Mythusmage Gets to Live. A lot more to see than just the zoo. BTW, If you do decide to come visit, come in September. Sept. is actually our hottest month, which will give you a good excuse to go to the beach, and all the tourists and Zonies have gone back home, so we get the beaches all to ourselves.
Last edited:
hellbender
First Post
Come to Northern Idaho! I always have a kettle on and a beer or ten in the refrigerator. Coming by my house always is a chance to meet someone from another part of the world as well. Get away from it all! Visit a wolf recovery park! Breathe real air!
hellbender
(it always scares me when people from America tell people to shun hamburger from other countries, our hamburger is actually quite horrible, but it takes time to get used to the good stuff outside the country)
hellbender
(it always scares me when people from America tell people to shun hamburger from other countries, our hamburger is actually quite horrible, but it takes time to get used to the good stuff outside the country)
Roland Delacroix
First Post
Again with Chi Town
Try to spend a week to five days in chicago area, there is so much to do. Skip Medieval Times, instead check out the Bristol Ren Faire in Wisconson/Illinois border for a day. A decent scedule for Illinois could be:
Sunday- Bristol Ren Faire http://www.renfair.com/bristol/index.php
Monday-2 museaum, Art and Science and Industry?
Tuesday- 2 more museums, Field Museum (AWESOME) and another to taste
Wedsday-Fine restaraunts, other sights, finish with some fine theatre. The Shakespeare Repetoire (spelling?) has moved to Navy Pier and became the Chicago Shalespeare Theatre. Heck, spend the day at Navy Pier, good food there, boat tours, finish with Shakes. I saw Richard III there, BEST shakes i've seen done EVAR. Next summer they will be showing a condensed Midsummer Nights Dream, nice and short to go party later! http://www.navypier.com/
Thursday- More food, clubbin, rest, beaches see the Picasso's in the city, or trip over to Indiana for GENCON!
Friday+ GENCON, and wherever else you wanna go.
The main things you DONT wanna miss in Chicago are the MUSEUMS and the FOOD. Both are among the best in the country. If you can, the theatre is also among the best. Many of the hot Broadway plays start in Chicago to kind of test the waters.
Any questions feel free to email me at mostholycerebus@yahoo.com
Try to spend a week to five days in chicago area, there is so much to do. Skip Medieval Times, instead check out the Bristol Ren Faire in Wisconson/Illinois border for a day. A decent scedule for Illinois could be:
Sunday- Bristol Ren Faire http://www.renfair.com/bristol/index.php
Monday-2 museaum, Art and Science and Industry?
Tuesday- 2 more museums, Field Museum (AWESOME) and another to taste
Wedsday-Fine restaraunts, other sights, finish with some fine theatre. The Shakespeare Repetoire (spelling?) has moved to Navy Pier and became the Chicago Shalespeare Theatre. Heck, spend the day at Navy Pier, good food there, boat tours, finish with Shakes. I saw Richard III there, BEST shakes i've seen done EVAR. Next summer they will be showing a condensed Midsummer Nights Dream, nice and short to go party later! http://www.navypier.com/
Thursday- More food, clubbin, rest, beaches see the Picasso's in the city, or trip over to Indiana for GENCON!
Friday+ GENCON, and wherever else you wanna go.
The main things you DONT wanna miss in Chicago are the MUSEUMS and the FOOD. Both are among the best in the country. If you can, the theatre is also among the best. Many of the hot Broadway plays start in Chicago to kind of test the waters.
Any questions feel free to email me at mostholycerebus@yahoo.com
Maldur
First Post
I would like the following people for their contributions:
Airwolf, AlphaOmega, BigFreekinGoblinoid, BiggusGeekus, BluWolfButtercup, Cedric, Celebrim, ColonelHardisson, Crothian, dagger, die_kluge, Dinkeldogdrothgery, EnforcerEOL, Furn_DarksideGlyfair, Hand, of, Evil, hellbender, Hennet, Heretic, Apostate, James, McMurrayKilmore, Maraxle, Mark, Mark, Chance, MaxKaladin, Mistwell, mythusmage, orbitalfreak, Phowett, Piratecat, Roland, Delacroix, Seaver, Shadowdancer, Shard, O'Glase, Storminator, the, Jester, trentonjoe, Tsyr, Westwind, Wicht, Wormwood
I hope I can add some more to the list, but we have lots to think about now
thx again.
Airwolf, AlphaOmega, BigFreekinGoblinoid, BiggusGeekus, BluWolfButtercup, Cedric, Celebrim, ColonelHardisson, Crothian, dagger, die_kluge, Dinkeldogdrothgery, EnforcerEOL, Furn_DarksideGlyfair, Hand, of, Evil, hellbender, Hennet, Heretic, Apostate, James, McMurrayKilmore, Maraxle, Mark, Mark, Chance, MaxKaladin, Mistwell, mythusmage, orbitalfreak, Phowett, Piratecat, Roland, Delacroix, Seaver, Shadowdancer, Shard, O'Glase, Storminator, the, Jester, trentonjoe, Tsyr, Westwind, Wicht, Wormwood
I hope I can add some more to the list, but we have lots to think about now
thx again.
Airwolf
First Post
Maldur said:I would like the following people for their contributions:
Airwolf, AlphaOmega, BigFreekinGoblinoid, BiggusGeekus, BluWolfButtercup, Cedric, Celebrim, ColonelHardisson, Crothian, dagger, die_kluge, Dinkeldogdrothgery, EnforcerEOL, Furn_DarksideGlyfair, Hand, of, Evil, hellbender, Hennet, Heretic, Apostate, James, McMurrayKilmore, Maraxle, Mark, Mark, Chance, MaxKaladin, Mistwell, mythusmage, orbitalfreak, Phowett, Piratecat, Roland, Delacroix, Seaver, Shadowdancer, Shard, O'Glase, Storminator, the, Jester, trentonjoe, Tsyr, Westwind, Wicht, Wormwood
I hope I can add some more to the list, but we have lots to think about now
thx again.
Your welcome.
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