Where to stay in New Orlean / Where to from Corpus Christi

[David Morrow]

Around mid September, I'm going to ride south down The Great River Road ( south along the Mississippi ) ending in New Orleans.   Any suggestions on good central, safe locations to stay ? I don't mind spending more for a nice motel / hotel as long as it's not too over the top price wise. I'd like to spend a day or two just walking around the city.

From there, I'll follow the coast to Galveston & Corpus Christi. I'd like to spend a night in each.

The next question is where to go from there. My time is pretty open but my route is generally northwest. But detours for good roads and interesting towns ( smaller is better for me ) would be nice.

Any suggestions ?

[Orson]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn, one block off Bourbon Street. It was nice, but i wasn't on a bike, so I don't know what their parking situation is like.

I used to live in Corpus, and as far as motorcycling goes, it's not very exciting, being as it's so flat. The nearest twisties are 3 hours away in the Hill Country. Further afield is Big Bend National Park, which is a long day's ride from Corpus. I split it into 2 days.

[satxbonneville]

Yep, the riding along the coast is pretty much a snoozer so you'll have to head north to the Hill Country to get to the crooked roads.

If you have the time, cruise down HWY 77 out of Corpus, past Kingsville and make your way to the King's Inn for some of the best seafood anywhere. Served up fried and family-style. Go hungry.

You can see a good chunk of the South Texas brush country by heading from Kingsville (Texas A&M Kingsville - coeds!) to Hebbronville (eat at Frank's Cafe) and then up Hwy 16 into and through San Antonio and on up into the western Hill Country.

Watch out for javelina packs, feral hogs and the ever popular deer.

[David Morrow]

Yep, the riding along the coast is pretty much a snoozer so you'll have to head north to the Hill Country to get to the crooked roads.

If you have the time, cruise down HWY 77 out of Corpus, past Kingsville and make your way to the King's Inn for some of the best seafood anywhere. Served up fried and family-style. Go hungry.

You can see a good chunk of the South Texas brush country by heading from Kingsville (Texas A&M Kingsville - coeds!) to Hebbronville (eat at Frank's Cafe) and then up Hwy 16 into and through San Antonio and on up into the western Hill Country.

Watch out for javelina packs, feral hogs and the ever popular deer.

Javelina ? Never heard of one until I Googled it. On first blush I figured it was a small cup at Starbucks

Thanks for the food tip. I love hearing about good local eating places. I think the best two questions to ask in a strange town are :

1) where's the best place to eat ? and

2) what dish on your menu is your claim to fame ?

[spd2918]

David-

The wife and I are making the same trip in June, but are starting in Minneapolis (my hometown).  Our goal is the take back roads the whole way, stay as close to the river as possible, to never eat in anything like a chain restaurant, and to stay in locally owned small motels.  We enjoy the feeling of the local towns we visit and the people we meet.

We were going to take the bike, but after many cross country 2 up bike trips the wife asked if we could take the Miata.  I agreed as I am getting tired of her suggesting I slow down in the corners    I tend to get too focused on the bike and we would both enjoy it if I relaxed a bit more.


I suggest two books for you to help you with your trip planning:  Feasting on Asphalt by Alton Brown and Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen.


http://www.amazon.com/Feasting-Asphalt-River-Alton-Brown/dp/1584796812/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269699825&sr=8-1
Brown did this book to compliment his cable series of the same name.  It is, of course, totally food based and will show you the best local mom and pop eateries for the true road trip experience.  I have a good friend from Memphis whom I asked about "real BBQ."  The three places he suggested were the three places Brown suggested.


http://www.amazon.com/Road-Trip-USA-Cross-Country-Adventures/dp/1598801015/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269700172&sr=8-1
This book contains 11 eleven different USA cross country trips.  It is a little less flavorful than Feasting, (j/k) but answers questions like yours about lodging and also were the tours are.  We are going to hike and take a lot of photos.

[David Morrow]

Thanks for the info.

It was in Road Trip USA that I first found The Great River Road. I used that and the Experience Mississippi River Travel web site to plot my route.

It sounds like your method of travel is exactly the way Sherri & I do it - back roads, small towns, etc. (Sherri is on a VFR but won't be with me on this trip unfortunately.)

You can email the people at this web site and they will send you the usual map and stuff. You can also download a PDF map but the printed version in the mail is far better and is free.

http://www.experiencemississippiriver.com/home.cfm

[spd2918]

Thanks!  Bookmarked.