05mak05 Posted May 26, 2014 #26 Share Posted May 26, 2014 I agree with all of the wonderful tips you've gotten. We met a couple from Australia & their 2 children at Grand Canyon 5 or 6 years ago. We had so much fun together and 3 years ago, they flew into Dallas, rented a car and drove to San Antonio and from here to Houston finally ending up in DC. Well, anyway, I just had to laugh because I also told them "you've got to stop at Buc-ees, exit 632 between San Antonio and Houston on Int. 10. Unfortunately, there are no rental car agencies in Galveston so you'll have to park for a week at your hotel or at one of the cruise port lots. The EZ Cruise parking lot is much more convenient for Royal Caribbean cruises. A few weeks ago we used Park N Cruise which is across from the Carnival pier, not RCI. And, yes, in January/February we do have ice storms. A number of years ago, we had to cancel our Oasis Feb. 5th cruise because the airports in San Antonio & Houston were closed due to ice as were the roads. The suggestion to stick to light fail all of the way was a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pn1 Posted September 21, 2014 Author #27 Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) Thanks again for the tips and suggestions. As always, too much to fit in to the time available but this is what I've worked out based on the suggestions (and reading about railfan hotspots): Wed-Sat in Dallas (including Christmas Day). Still haven't found a Christmas Day venue but my daughter (who'll be flying in from San Francisco to meet me) is working on that! Sun: pick up rental car from DFW. Saginaw, TX, has been recommended as a place to get my fix for watching trains. (Same with Dayton, TX, later in the trip - after the cruise). Mon-Tue: drive to New Bauenfels where I've booked three nights so would be in the area Wed-Thur (NYE and New Year's Day). Is New Year's Day a public holiday in Texas? Fri: drive to Galveston then two nights (Fri-Sat) in Galveston before embarking on cruise. Have booked a hotel that offers free parking while you are on the boat. I think I'll have to be pretty selective - doing a selected number of things with sufficient time rather than rushing around trying to do too many things? On the return we get off the ship on Sunday morning and have to return the car at DFW on the Tuesday evening. Houston is the one place that won't get too much attention but I do hope to ride the light rail (I've mentioned above I'm a bit of a transit buff) so that might give me brief overview of the area? Thanks for previous tips and any further suggestions in the context of what I've outlined above would be most appreciated. Regards from Paul in Australia. Edited September 21, 2014 by pn1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudyard Posted September 21, 2014 #28 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Houston is the one place that won't get too much attention but I do hope to ride the light rail (I've mentioned above I'm a bit of a transit buff) so that might give me brief overview of the area? I would recommend that you park at the southernmost stop and take the train as far as downtown then turn around and head back. After downtown there really isn't much to see. Also, if you wanted to get off and walk around once you reach downtown, that area is in the Theater District. The Downtown Aquarium and Hard Rock Cafe are located there. Alternatively, you could just go as far as Hermann park. Plenty to do there including the Houston Zoo and the Museum of Natural Science. http://www.ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/RailSched.aspx There are two more lines opening, but not sure when. They were supposed to be opening in December, but have been pushed back to an unspecified date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Tillie Posted September 21, 2014 #29 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Yes, New Year's Day is a holiday. It's devoted to recovering from the night before and watching football (US style :D) on television! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bptex Posted September 22, 2014 #30 Share Posted September 22, 2014 New Braunfels is more of a summer destination but it's nice. Downtown is fun to walk around with all the shops and there are a couple of great German restaurants. If you are staying at the Faust Hotel they have a great brew pub on site. Gruene Hall isn't too far away if you like live music. They'll definitely have a New Years party. It's a true Texas Honky Tonk! Or if you head to San Marcos Cheatham St Warehouse is a good visit, it's where George Strait got his start. I mean it's not nice inside at all but it's very historic and they have great beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Kat Posted September 22, 2014 #31 Share Posted September 22, 2014 (edited) Yes, New Year's Day is a holiday. It's devoted to recovering from the night before and watching football (US style :D) on television! Howdy from another Texan! And don't forget the traditional eating of black-eyed peas and cabbage for good luck and money to come your way in the new year! Kat Edited September 22, 2014 by Host Kat >^..^< typo due to fat paws & skinny keys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckerDave Posted September 23, 2014 #32 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I just found this myself the other day...if you are interested in trains. http://www.museumoftheamericanrailroad.org It is in Frisco TX (in the Dallas area) and it is a train museum. I'm trying to figure out when I can slide up to Dallas for a few days and check it out myself. (Might tie it in with a hockey game.) If this was already mentioned, sorry. I didn't feel like digging through old posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted September 23, 2014 #33 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Railroad Museum in Galveston Galveston Railroad Museum i boasts one of the largest restored railroad collections in the southwest, and one of the five largest in the country, with numerous railroad memorabilia and exhibits, including more than 40 pieces of locomotives and rolling stock. South East Texas' most popular railroad museum, there is something here for everyone! Throughout the year, experience lavishly restored trains, engaging exhibits, and unique special events. Most Saturdays, the Museum offers rides aboard the "Harborside Express" train between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. boarding every 20 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted September 23, 2014 #34 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) Galveston http://www.cavalla.org Seawolf Park is home to the .WWII submarine the USS Cavalla, and one of only three destroyer escorts in the world, the USS Stewart. The remains of the WWI tanker S.S. Selma, the largest concrete ship constructed, can be seen northwest of the park's fishing pier. galvestonhistory.org Texas Seaport Museum Elissa - Official Tall Ship of Texas www.tsm-elissa.org Dolphin Watching and Port Water Tour Historical Short Films: . Pirate Jean Lafitte . Galveston Immigration "The Ellis Island of the West." . 1900 Storm Bishops Palace www.galvestonislandtours.com- Historical Island Tour of Galveston Historical Foundation www.lsfm.org- Airplane museum (Lone Star Flight Museum) http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com - Railroad museum www.oceanstaroec.com - Oil drilling rig museum San Antonio Missions in San Antonio (especially the Alamo) River Walk Gruene Texas Houston to Galveston Museum District Houston The San Jacinto Monument and Battlefield, Battleship at San Jacinto Johnson Space Center Boardwalk Kemah Galveston Pleasure Pier Moody Gardens 1894 Grand Opera House tour ...... and theater performances 32 miles of beach Old Town - Strand District Galveston Historical Foundation Properties Nature Tourism galveston.com Edited September 23, 2014 by ssb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bptex Posted September 25, 2014 #35 Share Posted September 25, 2014 There is also a railroad museum in New Braunfels. Well it's really just a caboose and a dining car and then a few models but it is technically a museum. While in the Dallas area there is a steam train that runs from Grapevine to the FW stockyards regularly. http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/grapevine-vintage-railroad/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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