What are some cool things to do in and around these cities? I'll be making the tour next month.

Food is one of the biggest things all 3 of these cities are probably best known for. I live in Dallas and there are lots of things to see and do. It all depends on your taste of what you like.

If you like the arts, Dallas has a really nice arts district: http://www.thedallasartsdistrict.org/. There is also Victory Park, which is in the heart of Downtown Dallas. There are several restaurants down there. There are also several nice restaurants in Addison, Arlington, Frisco, Plano, and Allen.

If shopping is what you want to do, we have The Galleria mall that has several shops. If outlet malls are more of your thing, be sure to head to Allen. They have a very nice outlet mall there. They have a little bit of everything.

Since you are going to Austin, you can skip the Allen outlet shopping experience and go to the Austin area. They have an even better shopping selection. They have a big shopping area in Round Rock (which is north of Austin) and one in San Marcos (which is south of Austin and is one of the best outlet malls in the country).

Austin is known for 6th street for their night clubs, bars, and live music.

How much time are you spending in EACH city?

daPrettyman said:

Food is one of the biggest things all 3 of these cities are probably best known for. I live in Dallas and there are lots of things to see and do. It all depends on your taste of what you like.

If you like the arts, Dallas has a really nice arts district: http://www.thedallasartsdistrict.org/. There is also Victory Park, which is in the heart of Downtown Dallas. There are several restaurants down there. There are also several nice restaurants in Addison, Arlington, Frisco, Plano, and Allen.

If shopping is what you want to do, we have The Galleria mall that has several shops. If outlet malls are more of your thing, be sure to head to Allen. They have a very nice outlet mall there. They have a little bit of everything.

Since you are going to Austin, you can skip the Allen outlet shopping experience and go to the Austin area. They have an even better shopping selection. They have a big shopping area in Round Rock (which is north of Austin) and one in San Marcos (which is south of Austin and is one of the best outlet malls in the country).

Austin is known for 6th street for their night clubs, bars, and live music.

Make sure you go to The Domain in Austin too. there is a neiman marcus there.

When in Dallas, you HAVE to eat at Campisi's Egytian Restaurant on Mockingbird. Best pizza I've ever had!

It's called "Egytian" because in the the 30's it was first an Egyptian-themed lounge. Then Joe Campisi changed it to a Mafia hangout....errrr, an Italian restaurant. But they kept the "Egyptian" in the name.

Again, best pizza I've ever had!

In Austin, hang out on Sixth Street on Saturday night.

SCNDLS said:

How much time are you spending in EACH city?

Maybe a week in Austin (staying with friends). A day or two in Dallas if it's interesting enough. 2-3 days in New Orleans. And driving in between all these cities, hopefully.

Thanks for the ideas! I'm not much of a shopper, especially if I have to carry stuff back. Plus I live in a metropolis already (San Francisco) for that kind of thing.

Into the arts - art museums, theatre. Also love touristy quirky things unique to the area. In New Orleans, I hope to take plantation and ghost tours. I also love natural landmarks, animals, hikes, strange cultural phenomena, history.

getting excited

Dallas:

http://www.jfk.org/

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets the Dealey Plaza National Historical Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history.

http://oldred.org/

Dedicated to inspire and educate visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County Area, the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture serves as a symbol of Dallas heritage. Built in 1892, the beautifully restored Old Red Courthouse contains some of Dallas County’s most fascinating historical artifacts. There is a special exhibit gallery located on the first floor, while the second floor of Old Red is filled with exhibits, 41-touch screen computers, an educational learning center and four mini theatres.

Dallas Arts DistrictThe Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the nation with 19 blocks (68 acres) of culture. It is home to a variety of festivals, performances, museums and local art organizations, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center and most recently the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Where: Bound by Woodall Rodgers, St. Paul and Ross
Phone: 214-744-6642

NorthPark Center (this is actually a mall with world-class shopping that was designed by a local billionaire to look like an art gallery. So while walking throught the mall you will see many Warhols and other art sculpture by major artists)

NorthPark's 1.4-acre landscaped garden, CenterPark, doubles as a serene, urban retreat and an exciting venue for free community events. Relax and dine amid world-class sculptures, canopies of trees and green expanses of lawn. The collection includes Corridor pin blue – a larger than life safety pin, by Claes Oldenburg and Coosie van Bruggen among others. The collection carries on NorthPark’s tradition of showcasing major works by world-renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella and Jonathan Borofsky.
Where: North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway; complimentary shuttle to/from Park Lane DART Light Rail Station.
When: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays (department store, restaurant, theater, spa and holiday hours vary)
Phone: 214-361-6345

Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest entertainment areas in Dallas and is home to many boutique and eclectic shops as well as live-entertainment clubs, great bars and restaurants. Greenville Avenue is home to Granada Theater, a perfect spot to catch live music, as well as enjoy foodie favorites like The Grape. It also hosts the ever-popular Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade and Taste of Greenville Avenue.
Where: Greenville Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Ross Avenue
Phone: 214-363-6722 (Greenville Avenue Area Business Association)

Main Street Come explore the historic nucleus of downtown Dallas. Take a stroll down Main Street and shop at the flagship Neiman Marcus store; dine at the restaurants of Stone Street Gardens and top if off by spending some quality time with nature at Main Street Garden.
Where: Downtown Dallas, Main Street between Akard and Harwood

Deep Ellum Just east of downtown is Deep Ellum, a collection of bars, retail, galleries and restaurants. With roots steeped in the blues era of the 1920s the area is a regular spot for patrons enjoying everything from midday lunches to midnight live music performances.
Where: Elm, Commerce and Main streets, between Good Latimer and Hall

Other resources:

http://listings.guidelive.com/

http://dmagazine.com/

heartbeatocean said:

So so helpful, SCNDLS! Thank you.

I'll get to Austin (my hometown) and New Orleans (my favorite city) this afternoon.

There's tons to do in Austin but these are my fave

The Capitol Building

Visitor's Center: 112 East 11th Street
This architecturally stunning building opened in 1888 to much pomp and circumstance and remains one of the great symbols of Texas history and politics. It is also a major Austin attraction and major tourist spot. It is a favorite part of the Austin skyline, and there are actually building restrictions to keep it easily viewable from all parts of town. Come in for a free tour and you just might catch a few politicians roaming the halls.

Lady Bird Lake and Hike and Bike Trail

My high school was on the lake and we'd have class out there all the time. Sometimes Governor Ann Richards would jog by and join us.

Once called Town Lake, this beautiful body of water on the south border of downtown was renamed Lady Bird Lake after the former first lady in 2007. Most motorized watercraft are forbidden on the lake, so it is a popular spot for kayaking, canoeing, and rowing. Additionally, the lake is surrounded by the popular Hike and Bike trail, which is around 10 miles long. The surface is mostly crushed granite and is quite flat, so it’s very easy on the legs. Hundreds of locals flock here every day to exercise, many with their dog. Auditorium Shores, the park on the south bank, is expansive and is host to many open-air music festivals and activities. It’s also a very popular spot to bring the dog and play catch

Congress Avenue bats

YOU MUST WATCH THE BATS!

Each year around March, about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats migrate to Austin and make their home under the Congress Avenue bridge. From March until September, if you come out at dusk, you can watch the creepy creatures emerge en masse for a feeding of insects. On summer nights, tourists and locals alike line up on the bridge for a look. August is one of the best months for viewing the bats – especially when the nights are hot and dry. Some nearby restaurants, such as Shoreline Grill, offer incredible views of the bridge. Be sure to reserve a table on the patio near sunset!

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q

801 Red River Street
This downtown Austin attraction is half barbecue joint and half live music venue. The tiny restaurant serves delicious and tender barbecue in a warm Texas atmosphere. The live music side has both a small indoor stage and a large outdoor stage. The venue was a major music icon in the 1970s and featured artists such as Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker. It still features internationally-known music acts in genres ranging from electronica to rap. Whether you are in the mood for brisket or want to see a great concert, Stubb’s is a gem of downtown Austin.

Austin Museum of Art

823 Congress Avenue
This art museum displays primarily twentieth-century and contemporary arts. There are frequently new exhibits in addition to hands-on, public education opportunities. These include performances, lectures about art, guided tours, art response activities, and a hands-on art lab for children.

If you like the outdoors, Austin is your city. Lots to do outside.

Zilker Park http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/

Located at 2100 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Metropolitan Park is considered "Austin's most loved park." This 351 acre park is home to a variety of recreation opportunities and special events for the individual or the whole family.

Barton Springs Pool http://www.ci.austin.tx.u...prings.htm

Within Zilker Park's 358 acres, lies one of the crown jewels of Austin, Barton Springs Pool. Three acres in size, the pool is fed from under ground springs and is on average 68 degrees year round. Over the years, Barton Springs Pool has drawn people from all walks of life, from legislators who have concocted state laws there to free-spirited topless sunbathers who turned heads in the seventies. Even Robert Redford learned to swim at the pool when he was five years old while visiting his mother's relative in Austin. Today, Barton Springs still attracts a diverse crowd of people.

The Austin City Limitis Festival is held in Zilker Park every year September. They have a great lineup this but most tix are sold out. http://lineup.aclfestival.com/

Mount Bonnell is one of the highest point. It's kinda our Inspiration Point/makeout spot
http://www.austinparks.or...parkId=287

Mount Bonnell also known as Covert Park (I didn't know they renamed it Covert Park. The Coverts are a prominent family in Austin. I went to school with some of their kids. Really cool people ) , is a prominent point alongside Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. It has been a popular tourist destination since the 1850s.The mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969, and bears Marker number 6473.

THE ABSOLUTELY BEST SPOT TO EAT, HAVE A MARGARITA AND WATCH THE SUN SET IS THE OASIS.

http://www.oasis-austin.com/

[Edited 8/30/11 10:32am]

[Edited 8/30/11 10:47am]

SCNDLS said:

Dallas:

http://www.jfk.org/

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets the Dealey Plaza National Historical Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history.

http://oldred.org/

Dedicated to inspire and educate visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County Area, the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture serves as a symbol of Dallas heritage. Built in 1892, the beautifully restored Old Red Courthouse contains some of Dallas County’s most fascinating historical artifacts. There is a special exhibit gallery located on the first floor, while the second floor of Old Red is filled with exhibits, 41-touch screen computers, an educational learning center and four mini theatres.

Dallas Arts DistrictThe Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the nation with 19 blocks (68 acres) of culture. It is home to a variety of festivals, performances, museums and local art organizations, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center and most recently the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Where: Bound by Woodall Rodgers, St. Paul and Ross
Phone: 214-744-6642

NorthPark Center (this is actually a mall with world-class shopping that was designed by a local billionaire to look like an art gallery. So while walking throught the mall you will see many Warhols and other art sculpture by major artists)

NorthPark's 1.4-acre landscaped garden, CenterPark, doubles as a serene, urban retreat and an exciting venue for free community events. Relax and dine amid world-class sculptures, canopies of trees and green expanses of lawn. The collection includes Corridor pin blue – a larger than life safety pin, by Claes Oldenburg and Coosie van Bruggen among others. The collection carries on NorthPark’s tradition of showcasing major works by world-renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella and Jonathan Borofsky.
Where: North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway; complimentary shuttle to/from Park Lane DART Light Rail Station.
When: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays (department store, restaurant, theater, spa and holiday hours vary)
Phone: 214-361-6345

Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest entertainment areas in Dallas and is home to many boutique and eclectic shops as well as live-entertainment clubs, great bars and restaurants. Greenville Avenue is home to Granada Theater, a perfect spot to catch live music, as well as enjoy foodie favorites like The Grape. It also hosts the ever-popular Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade and Taste of Greenville Avenue.
Where: Greenville Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Ross Avenue
Phone: 214-363-6722 (Greenville Avenue Area Business Association)

Main Street Come explore the historic nucleus of downtown Dallas. Take a stroll down Main Street and shop at the flagship Neiman Marcus store; dine at the restaurants of Stone Street Gardens and top if off by spending some quality time with nature at Main Street Garden.
Where: Downtown Dallas, Main Street between Akard and Harwood

Deep Ellum Just east of downtown is Deep Ellum, a collection of bars, retail, galleries and restaurants. With roots steeped in the blues era of the 1920s the area is a regular spot for patrons enjoying everything from midday lunches to midnight live music performances.
Where: Elm, Commerce and Main streets, between Good Latimer and Hall

Other resources:

http://listings.guidelive.com/

http://dmagazine.com/

All this, and also eat at Campisi's!

RodeoSchro said:

SCNDLS said:

Dallas:

http://www.jfk.org/

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy; interprets the Dealey Plaza National Historical Landmark District and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza; and presents contemporary culture within the context of presidential history.

http://oldred.org/

Dedicated to inspire and educate visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County Area, the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture serves as a symbol of Dallas heritage. Built in 1892, the beautifully restored Old Red Courthouse contains some of Dallas County’s most fascinating historical artifacts. There is a special exhibit gallery located on the first floor, while the second floor of Old Red is filled with exhibits, 41-touch screen computers, an educational learning center and four mini theatres.

Dallas Arts DistrictThe Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the nation with 19 blocks (68 acres) of culture. It is home to a variety of festivals, performances, museums and local art organizations, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center and most recently the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Where: Bound by Woodall Rodgers, St. Paul and Ross
Phone: 214-744-6642

NorthPark Center (this is actually a mall with world-class shopping that was designed by a local billionaire to look like an art gallery. So while walking throught the mall you will see many Warhols and other art sculpture by major artists)

NorthPark's 1.4-acre landscaped garden, CenterPark, doubles as a serene, urban retreat and an exciting venue for free community events. Relax and dine amid world-class sculptures, canopies of trees and green expanses of lawn. The collection includes Corridor pin blue – a larger than life safety pin, by Claes Oldenburg and Coosie van Bruggen among others. The collection carries on NorthPark’s tradition of showcasing major works by world-renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella and Jonathan Borofsky.
Where: North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway; complimentary shuttle to/from Park Lane DART Light Rail Station.
When: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays (department store, restaurant, theater, spa and holiday hours vary)
Phone: 214-361-6345

Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest entertainment areas in Dallas and is home to many boutique and eclectic shops as well as live-entertainment clubs, great bars and restaurants. Greenville Avenue is home to Granada Theater, a perfect spot to catch live music, as well as enjoy foodie favorites like The Grape. It also hosts the ever-popular Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade and Taste of Greenville Avenue.
Where: Greenville Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Ross Avenue
Phone: 214-363-6722 (Greenville Avenue Area Business Association)

Main Street Come explore the historic nucleus of downtown Dallas. Take a stroll down Main Street and shop at the flagship Neiman Marcus store; dine at the restaurants of Stone Street Gardens and top if off by spending some quality time with nature at Main Street Garden.
Where: Downtown Dallas, Main Street between Akard and Harwood

Deep Ellum Just east of downtown is Deep Ellum, a collection of bars, retail, galleries and restaurants. With roots steeped in the blues era of the 1920s the area is a regular spot for patrons enjoying everything from midday lunches to midnight live music performances.
Where: Elm, Commerce and Main streets, between Good Latimer and Hall

Other resources:

http://listings.guidelive.com/

http://dmagazine.com/

All this, and also eat at Campisi's!

Yes, eat at Campisi's

I also forgot to mention the tour of Cowboys Stadium. You went on that didn't you?

http://stadium.dallascowb...urInfo.cfm

SCNDLS said:

RodeoSchro said:

All this, and also eat at Campisi's!

Yes, eat at Campisi's

I also forgot to mention the tour of Cowboys Stadium. You went on that didn't you?

http://stadium.dallascowb...urInfo.cfm

Oh yeah! It's awesome - if you like football. If you take the tour, take a football with you because they let you play on the field as long as you want.

And you MUST do a food trailer crawl while in Austin. Some of the country's well-known chefs rave about the food that can be found at various "trailer parks" around town. Get ready to strap on your feed bag! Man Bites Dog is my fave http://manbitesdogaustin.com/

http://austin.culturemap....e-is-here/

Austin, Texas has been on the forefront of the still-emerging trailer food culture. The vendors here in Austin have taken the age-old concept of street food, and turned it into an art project with their unique cuisines and decked out trailers. They bring an element of nostalgia and mystique to the dining al fresco experience.

Yes, technically they are mini-kitchens on wheels; but there is a common misconception on just how mobile these vendors really are. With the exception of a few true food trucks that roam and a few trailers that stand alone, most of the vendors are nestled in groups (trailer parks) in different enclaves throughout the city as permanent as their lease agreement.

Since food-trailer parks offer a variety of chef-cooked cuisine in one location, you can take a group of friends with different taste preferences and still find something for everyone, while all sitting together. Although you’ll have to check with each vendor on hours and days of business, here is an overview of just some of the major trailer parks in town. You’ll want to add these to your ‘ATX-to-do list’.

While you're in Austin, be sure to do the tour of the bat cave. It is located underneath the Congress Street Bridge. It's really cool to see.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/animalsnature/bat-cave/

Also, if you're a meat eater, you have to go to Coopers BBQ. They have a location in New Braunfels and one in Llano, TX (both are not too far from Austin).

http://www.coopersbbq.com/

If you like wine, be sure to go to the Driftwood Vineyards in Driftwood, TX. It's not too far east of Austin. They make some really nice wines and it's a great way to see the hill country of Texas.

http://www.driftwoodvineyards.com/

While you're in Dallas, you might want to make a drive over to Fort Worth. They have lots of great things that are well worth visiting. The Stockyards are a great place to visit.

http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/

Also, Sundance Square in Fort Worth is beautiful and fun!

http://www.sundancesquare.com/

Grapevine also is a great tour attraction here in the Dallas area. They have a historic part of downtown that you can tour. They also have an old-fashioned steam train you can ride from Downtown Grapevine to Downtown Fort Worth.

http://www.downtowngrapevinetexas.com/

The Austin-area aka the Hill Country was home to a large German, Polish population so you'll see all kinda European names all over and German influenced food and culture. For instance, Tejano music is polka-inspired.

The best waterpark ever is called Schlitterbahn and is in New Braunfels south of Austin. (BTW if you can work in a day trip to San Antonio you should. It's only 90 minutes drive from Austin.)

The name Schlitterbahn is a made up German word loosely translated as "slippery road". Schlitterbahn is a family-owned and operated company based in New Braunfels, Texas, USA. Schlitterbahn began its first park, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, in 1979.[1] Since then Schlitterbahn has developed three waterparks located in Texas and one in Kansas City, Kansas. Schlitterbahn Waterparks are summer seasonal parks. They operate typically from late-April to mid-September.

http://www.schlitterbahn....tractions/

Check out this PBS show called Daytripper. This guy features locales that are less 1 day's travel from Austin. He did a great ep on Austin and profiles a lot of the places I listed here.

http://video.klru.tv/video/2022477008

I forgot about Baby A's in Austin. They have some great Mexican food.

http://www.babyacapulco.com/

I also forgot about another great bbq place in the Hill Country. The Salt Lick has some pretty good food. They are not as good as Cooper's to me, but they are extremely popular. They have tons of people on a regular basis.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Another cool thing to do in Central Texas is go to the Blue Bell creamery. They make Blue Bell Ice Cream and snacks there.

http://www.bluebell.com/t...enham.html

daPrettyman said:

I forgot about Baby A's in Austin. They have some great Mexican food.

http://www.babyacapulco.com/

I also forgot about another great bbq place in the Hill Country. The Salt Lick has some pretty good food. They are not as good as Cooper's to me, but they are extremely popular. They have tons of people on a regular basis.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Another cool thing to do in Central Texas is go to the Blue Bell creamery. They make Blue Bell Ice Cream and snacks there.

http://www.bluebell.com/t...enham.html

Baby A's has a Purple People Eater margarita that FUCKED my ass up

SCNDLS said:

daPrettyman said:

I forgot about Baby A's in Austin. They have some great Mexican food.

http://www.babyacapulco.com/

I also forgot about another great bbq place in the Hill Country. The Salt Lick has some pretty good food. They are not as good as Cooper's to me, but they are extremely popular. They have tons of people on a regular basis.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Another cool thing to do in Central Texas is go to the Blue Bell creamery. They make Blue Bell Ice Cream and snacks there.

http://www.bluebell.com/t...enham.html

Baby A's has a Purple People Eater margarita that FUCKED my ass up

Another COOL spot near Austin is the Inner Space Cavern. In elementary/middle school we took field trips here every year to learn about stalagtites and stalagmites. Growing up in Austin was da SHIT!

http://www.myinnerspacecavern.com/

Hidden for 10,000 years, Inner Space Cavern is one of the best preserved caves in Texas and one of the few places where remains of prehistoric animals were unearthed.

Inner Space Cavern was discovered by a Texas Highway Department core drilling team in the Spring of 1963. While drilling through 40 feet of solid limestone, the bit broke into what is now known as Inner Space Cavern. An adventurous employee of the highway department was lowered into the hole while standing on the drill bit and holding tightly to the stem. He was the first human being to enter INNER SPACE. What an exciting voyage this must have been!

daPrettyman said:

SCNDLS said:

Baby A's has a Purple People Eater margarita that FUCKED my ass up

Really, one of only 3 or 4 times I've ever been drunk in my life. And I didn't drink that much but I found out I can't drink a lot in extreme heat. I was at the Baby A's on Barton Creek sitting outside in 90+ degree heat knockin' 'em back and bayyybayyyy that shit sho nuf caught up with my ass.

SCNDLS said:

daPrettyman said:

Really, one of only 3 or 4 times I've ever been drunk in my life. And I didn't drink that much but I found out I can't drink a lot in extreme heat. I was at the Baby A's on Barton Creek sitting outside in 90+ degree heat knockin' 'em back and bayyybayyyy that shit sho nuf caught up with my ass.

I'm going to have 2 try that one when I go back there. I love their foor, but have never had their margaritas.

I might end up in Austin this weekend. My brother lives there and I love it.

daPrettyman said:

SCNDLS said:

Really, one of only 3 or 4 times I've ever been drunk in my life. And I didn't drink that much but I found out I can't drink a lot in extreme heat. I was at the Baby A's on Barton Creek sitting outside in 90+ degree heat knockin' 'em back and bayyybayyyy that shit sho nuf caught up with my ass.

I'm going to have 2 try that one when I go back there. I love their foor, but have never had their margaritas.

I might end up in Austin this weekend. My brother lives there and I love it.

I love it too. I haven't been back in awhile and skipped my 20th reunion 2 months ago. But I've been looking at buying a house on Lake Travis in the next few years, so I'll have a reason to go and stay long periods of time.

Another fun spot in Austin is Rusty Spurs. It's a Country & Western gay bar that features great live lounge acts, including the mother of one of my BFFs, Margaret Wright. She's one of Austin's premiere lounge singers and does events for the governor and former Pres Bush all the time. Ms. Wright is the bizness.

http://rustysaustin.com/index.html

I'll do NO when I come back from Curacao next week.

HOLY COWBOY!!!

Man, prince.org is way better than Google.

This is fantastic!

BATS and CAVES are totally my thing! I had no idea! Woooo-hooooooo