Moving from CT to Houston, TX area
Replies: 19 - Last Post: Nov 12, 2012 3:02 PM Last Post By: texasbound
jump to
Moving from CT to Houston, TX area
HelloI will be moving from CT to the Houston, TX area by car on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Now I know that is a terrible day to travel but it is a detail I cannot change. This is not a leisure trip and I want to do it as quick as possible making as few trips as needed, so no detours. What I want to know is good places to eat and safe places to stay, since my car will be crammed full of a lot of stuff, most of which I would be very sad to find missing.
my route is as follows:
84 from CT through NY into PA onto 81 S
81 S through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and into Tennessee
from there I will take 40 W to 75 to 24 W which will take me into Georgia
then I will get onto 59 S into Alabama
I would then hop on to 459 S to hop back 59 S and take that through Mississippi into Louisiana
from there I would get onto 12 W which becomes 10 W into TX
and from there I am fine.
So my real interest is in safe and hopefully Cheap lodging considering its a post holiday weekend. I would of course love to try some real authentic food on the way down but that is not nearly as important getting down there as quick as possible.
I have already been warned about not speeding in the south or really anywhere outside my home state, but any other advice for a northern yankee moving to the south, beside don't call myself a north yankee would all be very welcome.
I thank you for your time and your brains that I am picking.
1
Cheap lodging
What is "cheap," in numbers? My "cheap" may be your "too expensive."See FAQ 243.
I would of course love to try some real authentic food on the way down
Cuisine? Atmosphere? Budget?
2
I am on a college student budget, I am going down with not much more then 2000$Cuisine? local, I realize that is vague but this is my first time doing anything like this and I am in the dark as to where to even look for the light switch to stop being in the dark, so to speak.
Atmosphere? Friendly but I don't want to be sitting down for 1/2 hr before I get food. Speed is important here and I want to enjoy my food but be in and out as quickly as I want to be.
Budget? Like I said I don't have much money but I really don't want to be eating fast food the whole way down, besides how unhealthy it is, it makes my stomach sick.
4
Try this place. They're fairly quick, and very good.You should be there around dinner.
Down in xBaton Rouge, try this, or this. They do tend to be slower (the latter more so than the former).
You should also ask on Chowhound.
Remember to be specific, or you won't get many useful answers.
5
I would take the George Washington Bridge to I-78 to Harrisburg instead of I-84 if you time it to avoid traffic you'll save an hour.Once you get to the Bethlehem Allentown Harrisburg area there are a number of good roadside Pennsylvania Dutch Restaurants. The food is not particularly memorable, it's more like a hearty "real food" alternative to McDonalds.
Harrisburg is about 5 hours from CT which is as much as I can drive without making a major effort. The Days Inn in Harrisburg just off I-81 once treated me really really well. (I had booked a room via the Internet. the clerk said "you paid to much" He cancelled that reservation and got me one for much less.)
If you are willing to travel longer, you should probably push it as far as the Maryland border, Hagerstown I guess.
If for some reason you want to slow down and take the scenic route, while in VA switch from the interstate to Skyline Drive and/or the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are slow (a winding 35 mph or so) but so beautiful people take vacations just for the pleasure of driving on them.
Edited by: LongIslandBob
6
Longislandbob
I know I am gaining an hour, but its black Friday and that would take me down a major route to Manhattan which I have driven enough to know I would lose more then an hour sitting in traffic. Hmm more specific. Ummm I was told that Alabama or maybe Tennessee has the best BBQ so I would be interested in trying that
Edited by: texasbound
8
oops that is not suppose to be a quote
Did you use a ">" in front? THat's how quotes are made on this site.Ummm I was told that Alabama or maybe Tennessee has the best BBQ so I would be interested in trying that
Whomever has told you AL has the best bbq must be from AL, because I can't think of anyone else who'd say that. They do have their own style made with a mayo-base.TN on the other hand... the best places are in the western part of the state, particularly xMemphis. You could try this.
11
I think that I took Highway #6 bridge in Westchester County over the Hudson River within sight of West Point when I drove from CT to Interstate-81 South. I recommend that you drive straight west on Interstate-40 from Knoxville to Oklahoma City, then south on Interstate-35 through Dallas/Fort Worth, then Interstate-45 to Houston. The route will also take you through Nashville and Memphis, if you like country music. I like Quality Inns, which fit into my budget and include a large buffet breakfast, indoor swimming pool, and fitness room. Watch out for the neighborhoods to determine security of your car and belongings before choosing a budget motel. I like the Country Kitchen Restaurants usually attached to the Flying J travel center/truck stops. They have large, budget-priced, buffet meals that are usually for local appetites -- grits, biscuits and gravy, greens, BBQ ribs, etc. Also plain American food. The local town families also enjoy eating at the Country Kitchens, especially on Sunday. The Flying Js have security video cameras focused on their parking lots.12
Note: Don't panic when you are on I-45 approaching Houston and notice the shear ugliness of all the strip malls and billboards. It gets much better once you cross into Houston proper, and the city itself also has some very pretty neighborhoods. If your final destination has you taking Alan Parkway from I-45, you'll pass through the greenbelt for the Buffalo Bayou, which is full of bike paths and is quite lush.This is really a fun city with a low cost of living and a vibrant art and foodie scene.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hotels & Hostels
-
Houston Marriott Airport at George Bush Intercontinental
Houston(3 star Hotel)
From US$269.00 per night
Book now
-
Book now
-
Book now