Texas Trip 2008

We took a rather intimate 75-minute tour of the caverns(there were only five of us in the group) and it was well worth the money (just over $16 with my AAA discount). The caverns were breathtaking - better than the ones I saw in Virginia many years ago. If you are driving past I would definitely spring the money and make a stop. Just be sure you have on GOOD WALKING SHOES as the passages are narrow and slippery!! I would NOT recommend this for small kids at all, or the elderly.

My friend and I went and were really impressed by the beauty of the mansion, both inside and out. Our guide was very informative and knowledgeable. The tour lasted two hours, so be prepared to stand for most of that time. The tour takes you to the first and 2nd floor, plus the basement of the home. The third floor is not open to the public and used for storage.

I would highly recommend this tour to kick off a visit to Galveston. It will give you a sense of history for the city, and though no photographs are allowed, I will certainly remember the tour as being one of the more interesting ones I've taken. Cost $6, but $3 for students with ID.

This cafe came recommended to me because it was gay owned and operated. We were greeted by a friendly gentleman at the counter who handed us a menu and told us to help ourselves to seating. My friend and I both ordered delicious pasta dishes, and the sodas had unlimited refills.

The cafe prides itself on it's homemade sandwich and pasta dishes. Breakfast is also apparently one of their specialties, but we did not have that (though they serve breakfast ALL DAY on Sundays, and until 11:00AM all other days). They also serve burgers, salads and soups, "Little Bites" of the kiddies, and a variety of blackboard specials, as well as wines and assorted spirits.

This is a great place on the edges of one of Galveston's historic districts. It's not on the main drags of the Strand and Seawall, so you'll have to do some walking (or a little driving) to get there, but it is well worth it. There is seating indoors as well as an outdoor patio, which is where we sat. We had a very enjoyable time and I would most definitely go there again.

This is a place run by two sisters out of an old Avion trailer, with seating outdoors near Zilker Park. The crepes were out-of-this-world, and well worth the long line. We had heard about the sisters on either the food network or the travel channel - I don't recall, but decided we had to check it out when we got here.

If you are traveling to Austin, this is a must-visit for breakfast. It was so delicious I could have eaten the entire menu of crepes if I had the room for it. Definitely go and check it out!!!

My friend and I stayed here for one night and the motel was decent. The wireless internet signal where we were (and paid $2.99 for) was very weak and was in and out, so I would not recommend paying for it. There are a lot of wi-fi hotspots in Austin, so go for those, including a Starbucks not too far from the motel. Otherwise though, it was clean and comfortable, as was the pool. The service was friendly as well. No loud noise, and it appeared the rooms had been recently renovated (maybe in the past year or two). Not the Ritz, but certainly a good stay for a night if on a budget, was my friend and I were. Convenient too - right off of I-35.