You HAVE to stop into a small town Dairy Queen somewhere out there. It's a Texas road trip tradition!
I drove from Friendswood to Austin and back last night, about 2 hours and 20 minutes each way via I-10 to 71. San Antonio is about 2.5 hours if you drive 75-80.
Actually, I forgot to mention a burger joint called Franks. It's about halfway and gives the family a chance to stretch and eat. The Luling BBQ place sounds good though.
When people ask me "what is the best place for BBQ in Houston," I answer this one. There are a few other restaurants (not BBQ restaurants, just restaurants in general) I would suggest over Luling, but it is a short list.
Don't forget to check out the Nudist colony along I-10 about half-way. They have strict membership requirements so the women are attractive and there is no fence to speak of between it and the freeway. So, when you get to the part where everyone is slowing down, make sure you look South and see if you see any hot, naked chicks.
Thanks for the tips. Maybe Oakridge smokehouse on the way to Houston, on Friday http://www.oakridge-smokehouse.com/ And a stop at the actual Luling City Market in Luling, TX on the drive to the SAT airport on Saturday http://homepage.mac.com/ravnhaus/BBQ/joints/lulingcitymkt.html Luling looks good. I am curious to see how the original compares to the Luling City Market on Richmond. The one on Richmond is consistently one of the best bbq places I have been to, I've been to many. I will have to check out the Seafood Shoppe either on this trip or when I am in Houston again in June. The Cubs are dreadful this year, I am not looking forward to the Cubs-Astros game this Friday. Hopefully, the game will be over quickly and I can hit the bars. For bars, I will hit MM Park bars, clubs & bars on and near Main street and if necessary the bars near Rice Village.
BBQ? I've had them all along I-10. EXIT 661, JOEL'S BBQ is the BEST! Mikeska's is second place, then Oakridge...imo BTW: 2hrs45min doin 70 with one stop at Joels and get some gas across the freeway. 180miles exactly.
One more quick question....how safe is the area around this hotel? Courtyard Marriott 2504 North Loop W Houston, TX 77092 USA http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dl...id=6298&spsh=&spsi=&crti=1&&zz=1114753993352&
Much better than Sonic. Not saying a lot, but still... And if you're going to do 85 most of the way, get into the middle of a bunch of other cars and trucks doing it. When the folks in front of you start to hit their brake lights, then slow down to 75. They've probably detected radar, or seen a cop. People coming the other way used to flash their headlights when they saw one, so oncoming traffic would be warned, but that courtesy seems to have died out. Also, a cop on the side of the road with flashing lights expects passing traffic to slow down drastically, until they get past them. Do it. It's safer, and they will write you a big ticket if you don't. Good luck, have fun, and try Pappas for seafood. Not bad at all.
