Canadian Tuxedo Optional ([info]michaelpop) wrote,
@ 2008-06-17 11:47:00
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Road trip!


Here's how our road trip is shaping up:

Sunday, June 29
2pm, leave Jacksonville
10pm, arrive New Orleans

Monday, June 30
Spend all day exploring New Orleans

Tuesday, July 1
10am, leave New Orleans
7pm, arrive San Antonio; spend night with Alli and George

Wednesday, July 2
Hang out with Alli and George; leave late-afternoon for Austin

Thursday, July 3
Spend the day exploring Austin; leave early-afternoon for Dallas

Friday, July 4
Go to the Dallas Aquarium in the morning, then leave for El Paso

Saturday, July 5
Leave in the morning for Phoenix; arrive in Phoenix late afternoon

Sunday, July 6
Leave Phoenix early afternoon; arrive in Los Angeles at night

To summarize, we'll be spending two nights in New Orleans, and then one night each in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, El Paso(?) and Phoenix. Lindsey's planning on meeting up with friends in Dallas and Phoenix, and we'll be going to the aquarium in Dallas, but what else should we do? So far I think my only plan is to hit up some record stores along the way, particularly in Austin. Does our trip sound feasible? Are we missing anything? Where is the world's largest ball of belly-button lint? Is that even a thing or am I making it up??? Suggestions and comments are welcome.

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[info]whatihopedfor
2008-06-17 06:58 pm UTC (link)

no suggestions, only a comment and a jealous one at that: NOT FAIR. i've always wanted to go on a road trip :(

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:00 pm UTC (link)
Um, didn't you just tour the English countryside in a fancy bus not long ago? I would totally trade you if I could!

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(no subject) - [info]whatihopedfor, 2008-06-17 07:04 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]eameschair
2008-06-17 07:05 pm UTC (link)
Too bad we're going to miss each other in NOLA by ONE DAY.

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:12 pm UTC (link)
Boo! But you're one of the folks I thought of that could give some recommendations on things to do/eat/see!

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(no subject) - [info]eameschair, 2008-06-17 07:14 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]michaelpop, 2008-06-17 07:19 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]eameschair, 2008-06-17 07:22 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]michaelpop, 2008-06-17 07:25 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]lilypads
2008-06-17 07:13 pm UTC (link)
That sounds awesome! Someday I'll get to do a cross-country trip. I've also never been anywhere in the south, but one day I'll have to get Ellen to take me.

Exciting! Have a wonderful time. :)

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:31 pm UTC (link)
The South (that I've seen, so far) is pretty awesome! Sweet tea, humidity and the nicest people ever! Hope you get to do it one day. It's definitely been a dream of mine for a long, long time.

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[info]mintyduck
2008-06-17 07:17 pm UTC (link)
I live in Dallas now and I lived in El Paso for seven years, but I'm not really enamored with either city, so the only suggestions I have are for food. Those two cities are DAMN GOOD at food.

Looks like a fun trip!! I'm really excited for you. Good luck!!

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:22 pm UTC (link)
El Paso is a question mark in the sense that we don't have any business there; it was just a place to stop after Dallas. We might be able to push on through to Las Cruces, just for the moral victory of being able to say that we're "out of Texas", but we'll see.

I have a feeling that we're going to be doing a LOT of eating on our trip. There goes the gas milage...

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]beckon_you_on
2008-06-17 07:22 pm UTC (link)
yay!!! Fit in the lake if you can!!! hahaha. George can tell you what record stores and other things to do in Austin. Maybe I'll come with you and figure out a way to the lake house after ... there's a WAHOO'S in Austin!

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:27 pm UTC (link)
Hahah, you and freaking Wahoo's! I've only ever been there with you.

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[info]beckon_you_on
2008-06-17 07:24 pm UTC (link)
P.S. Get to SA before 7 so we can BBQ!! :D

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:27 pm UTC (link)
We're going to tryyyyy. If we leave New Orleans early enough and make good time, I'm hoping to be there around that time. It'll be around there, hopefully.

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[info]ms_pooka
2008-06-17 07:26 pm UTC (link)
so, wait. do you need ideas for dallas or do the friends have everything taken care of?

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 07:29 pm UTC (link)
I think our only plans in Dallas are hanging out with Lindsey's friend that night and then the Aquarium the next morning, and then we're high-tailing it out of there. Unless you have some suggestions? I know Dallas is huge and I'm sure there's stuff to do, but we'll have to weigh it against everything else we want to do.

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off the top of my head... - [info]ms_pooka, 2008-06-17 08:02 pm UTC (Expand)
Re: off the top of my head... - [info]michaelpop, 2008-06-17 09:18 pm UTC (Expand)
Re: off the top of my head... - [info]melcore, 2008-06-18 05:20 am UTC (Expand)
Re: off the top of my head... - [info]heartofkudzu, 2008-06-18 03:05 pm UTC (Expand)
Record store in Dallas...
[info]meropa
2008-06-17 08:34 pm UTC (link)
http://www.billsrecords.com/index.html

Some of the best random bumper stickers/buttons in a box that I've ever seen.

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Re: Record store in Dallas...
[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 09:13 pm UTC (link)
Nice! Thanks!

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Re: Record store in Dallas... - [info]meropa, 2008-06-18 04:12 am UTC (Expand)
Re: Record store in Dallas... - [info]skafunkmelt, 2008-06-18 01:07 am UTC (Expand)
Re: off the top of my head... - [info]melcore, 2008-06-18 05:19 am UTC (Expand)

[info]chasewaterhouse
2008-06-17 08:40 pm UTC (link)
1) Make sure your car has plenty of coolant. Bring an extra bottle cause it gets really hot.

2) Be careful on the southern highway portions of New Mexico and Arizona because the gas stations can get pretty spaced out (i.e. like 70 miles between each).

3) Don't eat at truck stops. Ever.

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 09:10 pm UTC (link)
Yes, pragmatic advice! Lindsey's getting her car tuned up before the trip, so hopefully it'll be in tip-top shape. The collant suggestion's a good one, though.

I think we'll be doing enough eating at our destinations that we won't ever need to resort to truck stops.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
(no subject) - [info]heartofkudzu, 2008-06-18 02:01 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]skinofthenight
2008-06-17 09:17 pm UTC (link)
Ok, there is NOTHING to do in El Paso. Make sure that you actually get there, because the areas before and after there also have NOTHING. Make sure you get some good old-fashioned BBQ when you're in Texas and eat at Cafe Du Monde when you're in New Orleans! (Complete with beignets!)

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 09:28 pm UTC (link)
El Paso is simply the biggest city 9 hours from Dallas, so I figured it would be a good place to rest; nothing more!

And yes, BBQ = check. And beignets are going on the list, too! Thanks!

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[info]hipsterdad
2008-06-17 10:16 pm UTC (link)
Holy anna, day one's suppertime puts you in Mobile, home of two remarkable restaurants you must try before you die:

The Original Oyster House and
Wintzell's.

Unfortunately, the really great record store in Mobile, Satori, has closed, but at least you can get some goooood eatin' before you get too far down the road.

Also, what [info]chasewaterhouse said about the scarcity of gas stations in New Mexico and Arizona? He's not kidding - I hear you'd do well to not let the tank get below half-full at any point.

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-17 10:43 pm UTC (link)
Looks like Mobile's about 6 hours from Jacksonville, which puts us in there around dinnertime, so perhaps we'll pull off and grab something to eat! I'm not a big oyster fan, but it looks like the Oyster House has a lot of other options.

Noted on the lack of gas stations! I'll keep an eye on it.

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[info]skafunkmelt
2008-06-18 01:05 am UTC (link)
It's interesting to read the Dallas recommendations after living there (or rather south of there) for 10 years, but honestly, I can't think of anything to do there. All of the good places that I want to eat at and can't do here are also in CA. But definitely do BBQ since it's the south & everything. I'd check Yelp for the best places to check out, so you end up going to a local place and not just some BBQ chain. They're a lot of those around there. Have you ever been to Waffle House? You may want to check that out. It's an experience if nothing else.

I think the Dallas Aquarium is majorly lame and tiny, but I don't know the reason why you're going there, so I won't dissuade you from visiting or anything. (I guess I'm wrong, because there's another Dallas aquarium that is more awesome that I've never been to, so I shut up now!) I think the Ft. Worth Zoo is awesome! But alas, I know you aren't staying long.

From what I've heard there's nothing in El Paso. Although, there's this tiny art town around there called Marfa. Here's a little guide on it. (You navigate the different sections on the left and there are also other city guides there as well you might be interested in looking at.) I've never been there, but it sounds awesome!

I'll also ask my other Dallas friend if she has any recommendations, because she's currently living there and knows a lot about Austin too. Austin is amazing!

You might actually pass by my nothing town while on your way to Dallas. It's called DeSoto and it's past Waxahachie and near Lancaster. In fact, I'm sure you'll drive past it because you'll be on the highway from Austin. There's actually a Waffle House, Holiday Inn, Cracker Barrel (which I was just informed by my mother that some of these things are no longer) and tons of other smallish hotels as you drive past from the highway. Perhaps you can give it a wave for me! ;)

Oh, my mom just called and she reminded me of Half-Price books! If you like used book stores (they sell records too!) you'll love it here. There's a big one downtown that I can look up for you if you're interested. There's also a lot of neat bars and stores in Deep Ellum in downtown Dallas.

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[info]melcore
2008-06-18 05:22 am UTC (link)
most of the bars and stores in deep ellum are closed now. wouldn't recommend it. :(

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(no subject) - [info]skafunkmelt, 2008-06-18 01:51 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]melcore, 2008-06-18 03:36 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]skafunkmelt, 2008-06-19 12:37 am UTC (Expand)

[info]swth
2008-06-18 02:36 am UTC (link)
You're going on a road trip across the United States with a girl you love. Why are you talking about visiting record stores?! I mean, I love record stores as much as anyone, but I'd only visit them on a trip like this if I were passing by and wouldn't be missing out on anything else. (Besides, the American south is pretty much devoid of good record stores, though I suppose there're a few exceptions like Rocks Off RPM in NoLA and a couple spots in Austin.) Have a safe trip.

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:42 am UTC (link)
Okay, I think I over-emphasized the importance of record shopping on the trip. I think it's really going to be limited to just a couple of places, probably just in Austin. I can't promise that I won't pull over if I happen to pass by something along the way, though. But it's totally not the focal point!

I think she's just lucky that I'm not dragging her to see the Dodgers and Astros at Minute Maid. They'll be playing right as we pass through Houston. Unfortunately we won't have time to stop, but believe me, I wish we did!

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(no subject) - [info]swth, 2008-06-20 03:58 am UTC (Expand)

[info]clankyrobot
2008-06-18 03:09 am UTC (link)
we'll actually be in austin and san antonio on the same days. i bet we'll run into each other!

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:38 am UTC (link)
Are you going to hang out with Danny and Rose? We should triple-date OMG!

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(no subject) - [info]clankyrobot, 2008-06-20 01:28 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]melcore
2008-06-18 05:16 am UTC (link)
things to do in dallas:
* see where JFK was shot (corner of elm and houston in downtown dallas)
* go to good records (best record store in town. on greenville avenue, a few blocks off ross)
* eat mexican food.
(sorry, dallas isn't very exciting.)


the aquarium is awesome. i just went there for the first time for my birthday this year. it's a little smelly and crowded with obnoxious children, but worth it.

also, i'm sad i'm not in dallas now to hang out with you two!

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[info]explorationteam
2008-06-18 02:28 pm UTC (link)
I can show you around when you get to Austin.

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:38 am UTC (link)
Danny! Yes! We'll be in touch!

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[info]hobohobocamp
2008-06-18 05:13 pm UTC (link)
whatcha gonna do in phoenix?!

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:37 am UTC (link)
Probably see some catcus, talk to some rocks, not get sunburnt. Fun!

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[info]thesecretchord
2008-06-18 07:37 pm UTC (link)
i was just in austin, and i have to say you must get breakfast tacos. period. i love the food in austin.

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:36 am UTC (link)
Are breakfast tacos a thing, or just "tacos eaten at breakfast"?

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(no subject) - [info]thesecretchord, 2008-06-20 06:29 am UTC (Expand)

[info]redelvis
2008-06-18 09:50 pm UTC (link)
When you get to los angeles there's this great bed and breakfast in my pants!

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[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:36 am UTC (link)
YOU! How much sausage and eggs and man juice!

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phoenix
[info]xl1200c
2008-06-19 02:50 am UTC (link)
omg please tell me what i can do in phoenix. i'm here now and so far it sucks donkey.

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Re: phoenix
[info]michaelpop
2008-06-20 12:35 am UTC (link)
Sorry dude, I have no tips. I've been to Phoenix a couple of times the only thing I ever did was "stay out of the sun". Hope you're "enjoying" the balmy 115 degree temps! Toasty!

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Re: phoenix - [info]xl1200c, 2008-06-22 09:26 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]yankees133
2008-06-20 06:29 am UTC (link)
I can't think of a more American place to spend the 4th of July than West Texas.

Enjoy the heat in Phoenix, ha. I had a good laugh the other day when it was 50 here and 110 there.

Somewhere between El Paso and Tucson is The Thing. I've never been, but it's one of those roadside places you apparently need to stop at. You'll see the signs.

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[info]oliveurban
2008-06-22 09:38 am UTC (link)
Hey you,

Sorry this is late. However, will you be staying in Phoenix overnight? And if so, where at? A Hotel?

I'm the marketing manager at very cool boutique hotel in central Phoenix, and I would love to hook you up if you need a place to stay the night. Let me know!

http://www.goclarendon.com

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[info]heartofkudzu
2008-06-23 09:37 pm UTC (link)
we WILL be staying overnight in phoenix and we will need to get a hotel room! on michael's behalf, i am all for this hook up plan! :) we'll be there the night of saturday, july 5.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
(no subject) - [info]michaelpop, 2008-06-23 11:08 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]michaelpop, 2008-06-25 06:47 pm UTC (Expand)

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