SpinDoctor 0 #1 November 4, 2003 A friend and I are coming to Texas and I thought I would try and get some suggestions for places to go and things to see. Unfortunately, I am not planning on jumping My reserve would be out of date - and I don’t want to take all that kit for a week... and my mate is not a jumper... so we’re having a road trip My mate is flying in this weekend (to Dallas Ft Worth) and I am flying out to meet him Thurs 13th Nov. Here's our rough route... He wanted to go to Rio Grande and do some white water rafting. But he's not so sure we can make it (because I am travelling out after him) - so we're looking at travelling down towards Waco - Austin - San An - (down towards that corner) then up maybe thru' Corpus - Houston and back up for a couple of ‘touristy’ days in Dallas before flying out on Sunday 23rd. Is that a good route? Suggestions for a better one? Would we have time to check out Big Bend / Rio Grande - or are there other white water rafting sites in TX? NOW.... *if* I do feel the need to jump… Do DZs hire out 'experienced kit? I don’t fancy doing a jump on a 200+ canopy I am planning to bring my docs out - just in case... Where might be a good DZ that we could chill and say hi? Many thanks in advance... I know TX is a big place - It would be like you asking me where to go in the UK for a week.... ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk ----------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #2 November 4, 2003 Howdy! There are tons of things to do in Texas. If you're planning on coming to Austin, you have to visit 6th street. The capitol is here as well! There's a ton of little things to do as far as live music/famous restaurants, which Austin is known for. I just need an idea of what ya'll want to do. If ya go to San Antonio, ya have to go to the River Walk & check out all the bars/restaurants, etc. The Alamo is there as well! If ya go to Corpus, you can always visit Port A or South Padre, however won't be crowded this time of year. There's also the USS Lexington Battleship you could visit. It's pretty KEWL! I jump at Skydive San Marcos & it's in between Austin & San Antonio. You could rent their top of the line rental gear to jump. Hope to meet ya!~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #3 November 4, 2003 White water rafting out in the big bend area has not been so good lately. Serious drought the last several years. There are a few places you could rent rafts and kayaks on some other rivers just north of San Antonio. I can't speak for other dz's in the area, but ours only rents student gear and the smallest main we have is a 190 i believe. Going from the Big Bend area to Corpus and back up to Houston, then Dallas? That is one HELL of a road trip, you would definately get an idea of the size of TX It's over 800 miles from Big Bend to Houston and that is going directly there I would sugest leaving dallas and heading south on 35 to Austin, New Braunfels, and San Antonio, then heading down to the coast into Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. Then over to the Houston area then back up to Dallas. That would give you a huge idea of the different types of terrain we have here. Of course you would only see about 1/4 of the state but that is ok. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #4 November 4, 2003 Hey Phil, nice to see you posting Whatever you do, stay away from Jessicakes...... she's trouble. Have fun!Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #5 November 4, 2003 QuoteHey Phil, nice to see you posting Whatever you do, stay away from Jessicakes...... she's trouble. Have fun! Good call Remster, i forgot that part. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpinDoctor 0 #6 November 4, 2003 Don't even go there.... jeez.... ( but I managed in the end...) Jess... i heard she was a pussycat edited: for smelling pisstake----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk ----------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #7 November 4, 2003 Skydive Dallas Skydive San Marcos Skydive Spaceland et.al. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #8 November 4, 2003 I can't speak for other dz's in the area, but ours only rents student gear and the smallest main we have is a 190 i believe Oops, sorry, forgot to mention that.~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpinDoctor 0 #9 November 4, 2003 Cheers dude.... It sounds like the route I posted earlier is similar to the one that you are suggesting. I take it it's 'do-able'? We dont want to be driving for hours and hours every day - but we would like to see a good proportion of the state in the time available. What things are available to us on that route?----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk ----------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #10 November 4, 2003 Without pulling out the maps, Dallas to San Antonio is about 5.5 hours drive time. San Antonio to Corpus Christi (coastal) about 2.5 hours. Houston to Dallas probably 5.5 hours also. With that said, There is tons of stuff to do in all those places and everywhere in between. Are you wanting to do touristy things or more local hang outs/ local culture things? Like bars/clubs or more fine dining? Wives coming along or just two single guys having fun? Help me with a few details and i can send you some suggestions via pm. Jeff Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpinDoctor 0 #11 November 4, 2003 I have a map of TX - and it's a big ol' place We're not expecting to do all this in one day... we're in it for the long haul. No wives or SOs - just 2 guys having a craic on a road trip We're not museum / art gallary types - but be good to check out some local stuff... Bars are good... but we want to be able to look around - not sleep off big hangovers. Priorities are: 1) Have fun! (we're on vacation goddamit 2) See loads of stuff (neither of us have been to TX) 3) Activities: Rafting if poss. Skydiving if poss. Whatever... 4) Get back to Dallas to check out the Dealy Plz, grassy knoll and the picket fence, Deep Ellum etc etc, touristy for a couple of days before flying back to the UK on Sunday 23rd.----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk ----------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 November 4, 2003 Hey now! SD Aggieland has some non-student type rental rigs as well. Not only that, but folks tend to lend out their rigs if its an experienced jumper looking for something a little more like their personal rig! As for stuff to see...You've GOT to go to San Antonio, see the Alamo, do the river walk. Big Bend is a 8hr drive from SA, although it kicks ass, may not be a go due to your short schedule. For something different, go float the Guadalupe (bring lots of beer), then go to Gruene for dinner at the Grist Mill and for some dancing and fun at Gruene Hall. That is about as Texas as you get! If you'd like to pull through College Station and jump at Aggieland, I've got a couch you can crash on.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #13 November 4, 2003 QuoteWhatever you do, stay away from Jessicakes...... she's trouble. Not true, I'm nice. I got your PM, and I'm not sure what to tell you. I'd map it all out with approximate travel times, but leave some flexibility in there. Dallas to San An is around five hours. If you need a place to crash overnight in San Antonio, I run a home for wayward skydivers. Hey, if it's on a night that I'm off and in town, we should all go out drinking! Texas is a great place. Y'all will have some fun.Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #14 November 4, 2003 QuoteI run a home for wayward skydivers. Its amazing how DZ.com has turned skydiver's homes into bunkhouses, eh? I get a big kick out of being able to offer skydivers a place to crash when visiting/passing through, whatever. Honestly, I think the willingness of a lot of folks on DZ.com to offer places to crash says a LOT about our sport, the folks in the sport and this site.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #15 November 4, 2003 QuoteI'm nice Most nice people are trouble...Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trent 0 #16 November 4, 2003 If you DO decide to jump in the Houston area, Spaceland has rental rigs down to the 150 sizes, and I'm sure, like Dave said, you'll find more than enough people willing to let you use their rigs. Have a nice trip... it's gonna be a long long drive!Oh, hello again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #17 November 4, 2003 This might be of some use: www.traveltex.com~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #18 November 4, 2003 Quote4) Get back to Dallas to check out the Dealy Plz, grassy knoll and the picket fence, Deep Ellum etc etc, If you do make it down to Deep Ellum check out club DNA off of Good Latimer.Its a cool little techno club that my friends and I hang out at every now and then (after a good bar crawl through DE it takes a few weeks to recover before we do it again). The last time we went one of the Dallas radio stations (Wild 100.3)showed up and had thong/boobie contests and "whos most wild/freaky/erotic?" competitions..pretty interesting.It usually doesn't get to rockin til about 11-12 and stays open til 4AM. If you don't like it there are tons of other clubs,bars etc within walking/staggering distance. "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #19 November 5, 2003 QuoteA friend and I are coming to Texas and I thought I would try and get some suggestions for places to go and things to see. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/news/tpwcal/index.htm I've spent the last year traveling around, and have done a *lot* of stuff in Texas. The big three, in my opinion, are: Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Palo Duro Canyon. There are state parks everywhere. Check out the web site for something that matches your interests. Call ahead if you're expecting whitewater in Big Bend. The water level has been a trickle for several years. But they got some rain just a few weeks ago, so water levels were up on the Rio Grande at Del Rio last week. There are mountain lions and bears, mountains to climb, canyons to hike, dinosaur footprints in riverbeds, Indian caves with pictographs, and tons of other cool stuff to see. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpinDoctor 0 #20 November 5, 2003 Quote I run a home for wayward skydivers. QuoteIts amazing how DZ.com has turned skydiver's homes into bunkhouses, eh? I get a big kick out of being able to offer skydivers a place to crash when visiting/passing through, whatever. Don't tempt me... It means we'll have to have beer and good times.... and we wouldn't want that to happen now, would we?----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk ----------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #21 November 5, 2003 USS Lexington Battleship Suppose to be USS Lexington Carrier.~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpinDoctor 0 #22 November 5, 2003 Does anyone know if it is worth going (or easy to get into) into Mexico? Why...? Just to say that we have really.... Assuming we get that far down... (looking to you guys for guidance here) in the time, where might be a good place to cross... I simply looking at a map to where might be close to where we might be... Eagle Pass / Peidras Negras or Laredo / Nuevo Laredo. Thanks----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk ----------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #23 November 5, 2003 It is not overly difficult for US to go in and out of mexico. Not quite sure how it would be for someone who is not a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico though. I would expect that you might get a little hassel. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rfarris 2 #24 November 5, 2003 Quoteand back up for a couple of ‘touristy’ days in Dallas before flying out If you decide you want to jump during this time, I can turn you on to a nice little DZ located in a historic town about 1 hour drive from Ft. Worth. Nice small friendly dz under new ownership. They have some rental gear. Awsome visuals of the town and lake from the air. PM me if you want more details. And as others may have mentioned, there is Skydive Dallas. Bigger dz, bigger planes, nice atmosphere, high volume dropzone. Will probably have the newer rental gear that you are after. Have fun in Texas..Damn, you're planning on some serious driving. That's more driving in Texas than, well, most Texans ever drive in their own state during a lifetime. Rod Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoShitThereIWas 0 #25 November 6, 2003 If you go to San Antonio, check out downtown and the RiverWalk. There is good shopping and great restaurants. Speaking of restaurants, if you are in Dallas, there is a fabulous Cajun Restaurant called Papados. Visit the Stockyards if you go to Ft. Worth, they also have a cattle drive there. Deep Ellum is one of my favorite places to hangout in Dallas, there is a neat restaurant that is great for breakfast called Cafe Brazil, they serve Brazilian food and over 100 different blends of coffee and it is all you can drink!!! Yeah, talk about a caffeine buzz... There are some good clubs to check out, Club DaDa is one of the many and some neat art and antique galleries if you are into that sort of thing. Dallas has some decent nightlife and a beautiful skyline, there is this one building I remember going to as a kid. You can see it from anywhere and it looks like a ball in the sky. There is an elevator that goes to the top and it has a restaurant/bar/disco with a great view of the city that is pretty cool. Another interesting historical spot to visit is the street that President Kennedy was shot. If you have ever read or seen movies that depict Kennedy's assassination it is sort of weird just being there. I have heard Austin is a great city, I haven't made it there yet but I have heard Hill Country is beautiful and to check out 6th Street. That is supposed to be the place. Texas is a great state. Hope you have a blast!!! Oh and I forgot to write: Don't forget to go to the Alamo!Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
