Re: Driving from Florida to Waco, TX. What should I not miss?

[Swingman]

The left turn to New Orleans.

[tnfkajs]

Sorry, but can't help but ask -- why???

[Ramsey]

You SHOULD miss the Interstate in LA (10?) if at all possible. Also , and listen closely, DO NOT GO THROUGH HOUSTON, TEXAS. Take a highway that runs NW of I-10 about 30 miles East of Houston. You will rise up and call me blessed if you do. I made the trip 3 years ago and it was a fun trip. Except for Houston. Locals there say it was normal. That Interstate in the swamp in LA is absolutly awful. Just be sure to go AROUND Houston.

[Preston Andreas]

In Waco -

>

[Wilson Lamb]

[Bruce]

Well, I wouldn't detour for New Orleans if it were me, unless you've never been. Take I-12 and forget that filthy place. I can't pass through Lake Charles without stopping in for some craps though, either the Isle of Capri or Harrahs are fine.

If it is dinner time when you're near the Texas border, I like Al-Ts Cajun in Winnie Texas. Be sure and have a boudin bullet.

As for the advice to detour Houston, it is good advice but there is not a good road going where you want to go. What I would do is, approaching from the east on I-10, take the Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Parkway) North, all the way around to I-45. This will bypass the worst of the traffic. Or are you planning on heading to Waco via Hwy 6? In that case, stay on the beltway till you hit 290 and head Northwest on that. The beltway is a tollroad, .75 cents between each major highway, but well worth it. It would cost 4 tolls from I-10 to 290, I think.

I would recommend heading that way also because I-45 can suck between Houston and Dallas. 290 and then Hwy 6 are fast roads, 70mph.

As for what else to NOT miss, I don't know. You've picked a hell of a boring drive :)

[Unisaw A100]

Well, if you continue to drive west, you'll not miss Texas. It's kinda big and just sitting there like Jabba the Hut.

UA100

[Bruce]

Sure is, isn't it? We just drove Houston to Colorado Springs. 16 hours total, more than 12 hours of it in Texas! Damn, Dalhart is WAY up there.

[Tom]

There's a Harrahs in New Orleans as well. Bourbon Street is something everyone should see at least once.

If you don't make it to Texas stop at Steamboat Bills on I-10 in Lake Charles LA - Good food - great bread - reasonable prices.

No tolls from I-10 to I-45 . Only one between there and 290 - toll $1.00 (soon to increase).

If you're hungry on 290 take the 43rd St. exit stay on the feeder and try the Cafe Red Onion. Great food with Caribbean flair.

[tnfkajs]

I spent 15 years there - Texas, not Florida. But Waco??? Aside from the Baylor brats - everyone I knew drove *through* Waco, not "to" Wacko.

[Lowell Holmes]

If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand:-)

[rllipham]

Thank for the info. I have printed most of the info. Leaving in 1/2 hour to miss the rains in Florida

[Bruce]

I agree. Been there, done that, got the hangover. Harrah's in New Orleans has too high table mins for my taste. I like $5 craps with odds bets, not $10 mins.

No kidding? Is it not a toll road over there? I guess you can tell that I live on the "other" side of town. There are sure as hell tolls from 45 to I-10 west and on down to 45 south. I also have an Easy Tag so I pay .75. I forgot about the difference.

Never heard of it myself. If he takes the beltway, he won't see 43rd st though.

[Dave Balderstone]

There should be somewhere near the Quarter that you can check you liver before entering...

djb

[Tom]

The whole section from I-10 to 59 is "proposed" and you actually drive on the feeder. From 59 to 45 there are no toll booths and the "last free exit" is Ella - just beyond 45. The toll booth is just beyond that and the next one is just beyond 290 around Little York. I use the Easy Tag myself but looks like we're getting ready to go to $1.00. BTW

- I don't know why more people don't use the easy tag and avoid the lines - especially during rush hour. What part of town are you in??

Oooops - you're right - it's between the beltway and the loop. They have another on Kirby just off 59 and another on Eldridge Parkway. They are owned by Raphael and Barbara Galinda and have been written up a number of times in the Wining and Dining section of the Chronicle. Good food, nice presentation and reasonable prices. Lots of chicken dishes with Mango, Plantains, etc. You should try their Cookie Loco (but plan to share). They take chocolate chip cookie dough and bake it on a plate then cover it with ice cream, whipped cream, strawberries, mango, chocolate chips and coconut - great for the waistline. Sorry to sound like a commercial but it is good.

[WC]

If you're a woodworker, you might want to stop in Acadian Hardwoods in Beaumont or Panama City

. They have a great selection of high quality lumber at greatly reduced prices than we pay here in the Houston area. They also carry a broad line of hardwood faced plywoods with similar great prices.

[Bruce]

I'm on the west side and often take the tollway from I-10 down to Pearland,

3 tolls each way.

Sounds great, I may try it for lunch since the Kirby one is near my office.

[-=jd=-]

Dateline "rec.woodworking", Fri, 05 Sep 2003 21:29:53 GMT: As it appeared in message-ID# news: [e-mail], rllipham appears to have written the following...

I'd recommend you not miss the nearest airport.

At one point in my youth, I was driving St. Augustine to Houston on a regular basis. Usually, it had to be a non-stop drive (which sucked).

There's two ways to look at it:

1. You have to get there without lolly-gagging around.
2. You've got a bunch of extra time to kill before you get to Texas.

If #1 - take a plane. I-10 stinks. There's no nice way to say that. You will be bored to tears. The Atchafalaya (?) bridge is a hypnotizing beast. There's nothing to look at but swamp and those little white-lines going by... getting sleepy... sleepy... until your tires hit the BA- DUMP, BA-DUMP strips on the shoulder.

If #2, then I'd try as many of the following as possible: A day on Panama City - Try to ride every go-cart on the miracle strip. A day (or two) in New Orleans - Just go nuts A day in Baton Rouge - eat you way through a couple of Casinos Skirt Houston as much as you can and get on to Waco.

Best of luck to you!

-=jd=-

[Tom]

We're in NW and go that way sometimes to see my wife's aunt - seems like toll booth every time you take a breath.

Tell Raphael "hi" for me. He's a great guy and really interested in his customers.