Weekend ideas from DFW

[bobinch]

What are you into? Mountain activities? City stuff? Food?

For city stuff, there is Austin and New Orleans are quick flights. It'll be way too hot in both at the moment. Vegas sucks. Not fun as a solo trip IMO.

There are daily direct flights from DFW to Durango and also Santa Fe. Both are good for a weekend. Santa Fe has really good food, especially if you like spicy food. Durango has more dramatic mountain nearby. Both have good trail running and mountain biking.

You can also fly direct DFW to Gunnison (Crested Butte), Montrose (Telluride), Aspen, Vail and Hayden (Steamboat Springs).

If I was visiting from out of the country I'd bring trail running gear and go to one of those places in CO or New Mexico.

I'd say Telluride would be the #1 most beautiful spot out of those that I listed, followed by Aspen, Crested Butte and then the others in no particular order.

Another option- fly to Flagstaff and drive to the Grand Canyon.

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that you can fly to some really nice beach locations in Mexico within 2.5 hours flying of DFW. Cozumel. Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, etc.

Thanks! Some great ideas there. I went to Tulum and Cozumel on a previous trip and it was fab. Have booked flights to New Orleans so will do my best with the heat. The missus also suggested Colorado but reckons you need a bit more time to get out to the good spots… Grand Canyon also on the bucket list

[Kevo]

Thanks! Some great ideas there. I went to Tulum and Cozumel on a previous trip and it was fab. Have booked flights to New Orleans so will do my best with the heat. The missus also suggested Colorado but reckons you need a bit more time to get out to the good spots… Grand Canyon also on the bucket list

Right on. Hope you have a good time in New Orleans.

For a future trip, Rim to river to rim trail running is possible in the Grand Canyon one a one or two night trip in the spring and fall when it isn't too hot down in the canyon. I did an impromptu solo 18 or 19 mile Grand Canyon run between a Vegas work conference and a Vegas bachelor party. It ended up being one of the best trail runs of my life.

I checked out of my hotel in Vegas on a Thursday morning, drove to the Grand Canyon in a rental car and spent the night on the rim on a Thursday night. I started running down the South Kaibob trail early AM Friday and made it back up the Bright Angel trail by mid day. I met up with bachelor party that evening in Vegas.

Logistics are even easier from Flagstaff than Vegas. I'd think it should be doable to do a solid Grand Canyon trip from DFW over a two day weekend.

[billyk]

I recommended it as a pit stop - as in grab some good coffee or lunch there on your way to Austin. Sounds like you've been there now - did you read the history of the deadliest tornado in Texas, that hit town, knocked all the buildings down except the Alico? When they rebuilt guess who got the destroyed part of town - it wasn't the white people.

Yeah, there are some OK places to stop and eat in Waco - Collin Street Bakery, Rudy’s, etc. And there is Chip & Joanna’s Magnolia Silos compound which might appeal to some fans of the TV show Fixer-Upper. Went there once, but probably not going back.

Thanks for the info about the tornado, I hadn’t heard about that.

[singlesline]

Thanks! Some great ideas there. I went to Tulum and Cozumel on a previous trip and it was fab. Have booked flights to New Orleans so will do my best with the heat. The missus also suggested Colorado but reckons you need a bit more time to get out to the good spots… Grand Canyon also on the bucket list

It sounds like you'll be there over a weekend--Try to swing a reservation for the Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace (and note the dress code--no shorts or t-shirts even if it is swelteringly hot outside). Put in advance order for the Bread Pudding Soufflé.

Famous old Creole restaurant dating back to the 1800s, its the place that built up Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse.

I haven't been since the new chef took over, but I have no reason to doubt it is still fantastic and a very-New Orleans experience.

[bobinch]

For a future trip, Rim to river to rim trail running is possible in the Grand Canyon one a one or two night trip in the spring and fall when it isn't too hot down in the canyon. I did an impromptu solo 18 or 19 mile Grand Canyon run between a Vegas work conference and a Vegas bachelor party. It ended up being one of the best trail runs of my life.

I checked out of my hotel in Vegas on a Thursday morning, drove to the Grand Canyon in a rental car and spent the night on the rim on a Thursday night. I started running down the South Kaibob trail early AM Friday and made it back up the Bright Angel trail by mid day. I met up with bachelor party that evening in Vegas.

Logistics are even easier from Flagstaff than Vegas. I'd think it should be doable to do a solid Grand Canyon trip from DFW over a two day weekend.

Thanks! That sounds like a plan for next time. IÂ’m not really a runner but is it possible on a MTB?

[bobinch]

It sounds like you'll be there over a weekend--Try to swing a reservation for the Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace (and note the dress code--no shorts or t-shirts even if it is swelteringly hot outside). Put in advance order for the Bread Pudding Soufflé.

Famous old Creole restaurant dating back to the 1800s, its the place that built up Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse.

I haven't been since the new chef took over, but I have no reason to doubt it is still fantastic and a very-New Orleans experience.

Couldn’t get a table for 1. Looking into Escorts ;-)

[singlesline]

Couldn’t get a table for 1. Looking into Escorts ;-)

Staying at a hotel? That's a town that definitely still has old school concierge's that can pull strings and make stuff happen. Even if you're not staying there, you could always try to call the French Quarter Ritz Carlton concierge and say "I am planning to stay with you on X date and would really like to go to the Jazz brunch".

Or just book for 2 and only show up as 1.

[muted reborn]

My unsolicited advice on N.O. - French Quarter is fun but it's all designed for tourists. You are not going to get a real NO music experience there, but there is great cover bands, buskers, etc. Same with Frenchman street, which is more mellow for cruising around and pretty nice. Bands play covers to get people in the door and buy food and beer, it's not authentic - but it's great. Defintely got to go to both places anyways.

I went to this bar to see locals play for locals - I sat next to the owner and he told me I was probably the only tourist there - https://dosjefes.com/ I'm sure there are more places like this around, it was awesome, if you want to see real N.O. people and performances.

There are a bunch of 'must go' places that are good that people will tell you, but there are plenty of places that have good beignets, muffalettas, etc. so don't kill yourself and wait in line for something that could be better a block away, yelp will point you right. If you are near the Turkey and the Wolf, I highly recommend the Collard green Melt. If you are downtown/French Quarter, I presume that's where u are staying? it's a trolley ride and a walk from there but Uber would be better for a weekend trip. Garden district is cool IMO. renting electric bikes is also a good idea if you want to get out of downtown. Hot Tin rooftop bar in the Garden Dsitrict has a great view of downtown - but maybe the Ace or other rooftap bars closer to where you are staying will do the trick, too.

Swamp tours are a bit hokey with the guide feeding alligators and kissing them but it's cool anyways with the fan boat and all. You can get picked up from your hotel and be back by noon. The big national park closes at 5pm btw, that SUCKED in my opinion. (The drive thru daiquiri store on my way to the closed park was nice though.)

All cemeteries are worth going to, but this one you can only see with a guide https://cemeterytourneworleans.com/ which explains a lot of cool shit you'd never know walking around a cemetery by yourself (I visited a few by myself too). You can see Nick Cages tomb there too, the only thing the IRS couldn't claim of his NO properties after he went broke.

[bobinch]

Staying at a hotel? That's a town that definitely still has old school concierge's that can pull strings and make stuff happen. Even if you're not staying there, you could always try to call the French Quarter Ritz Carlton concierge and say "I am planning to stay with you on X date and would really like to go to the Jazz brunch".

Or just book for 2 and only show up as 1.

Good idea. Worked a treat!

[bobinch]

My unsolicited advice on N.O. - French Quarter is fun but it's all designed for tourists. You are not going to get a real NO music experience there, but there is great cover bands, buskers, etc. Same with Frenchman street, which is more mellow for cruising around and pretty nice. Bands play covers to get people in the door and buy food and beer, it's not authentic - but it's great. Defintely got to go to both places anyways.

I went to this bar to see locals play for locals - I sat next to the owner and he told me I was probably the only tourist there - https://dosjefes.com/ I'm sure there are more places like this around, it was awesome, if you want to see real N.O. people and performances.

There are a bunch of 'must go' places that are good that people will tell you, but there are plenty of places that have good beignets, muffalettas, etc. so don't kill yourself and wait in line for something that could be better a block away, yelp will point you right. If you are near the Turkey and the Wolf, I highly recommend the Collard green Melt. If you are downtown/French Quarter, I presume that's where u are staying? it's a trolley ride and a walk from there but Uber would be better for a weekend trip. Garden district is cool IMO. renting electric bikes is also a good idea if you want to get out of downtown. Hot Tin rooftop bar in the Garden Dsitrict has a great view of downtown - but maybe the Ace or other rooftap bars closer to where you are staying will do the trick, too.

Swamp tours are a bit hokey with the guide feeding alligators and kissing them but it's cool anyways with the fan boat and all. You can get picked up from your hotel and be back by noon. The big national park closes at 5pm btw, that SUCKED in my opinion. (The drive thru daiquiri store on my way to the closed park was nice though.)

All cemeteries are worth going to, but this one you can only see with a guide https://cemeterytourneworleans.com/ which explains a lot of cool shit you'd never know walking around a cemetery by yourself (I visited a few by myself too). You can see Nick Cages tomb there too, the only thing the IRS couldn't claim of his NO properties after he went broke.

Thanks! Staying in a Virgin hotel on Baronne street. Seems to be relatively close to the action. Have a Saturday brunch reservation at Commanders Palace and a late Friday night dinner reservation at GW Fins. Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday are currently free. Would love to catch some music and just have a wander round soaking up the atmosphere. Like the bike rental idea although it’s going to be hot 🥵

[zion zig zag]

Go to the Sazerac bar at the Roosevelt hotel before dinner at Fins. Have a Sazerac, and enjoy watching them make it. A few(?) blocks away from GW Fins I believe.


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[singlesline]

I find the coffee weird down there (who wants chicory in their coffee?) but beignets Sunday morning from café du monde is classic (but touristy).

Or try to get them somewhere else and see if they make them better…competition is good, right?
https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-bei...s-sweet-savory

sorry, My trip’s have all been for work so I got to eat lots of great food, but don’t have any daytime activities to recommend and I’m not sure I can offer any nightlife besides basic tourist fare.

[muted reborn]

Like the bike rental idea although it’s going to be hot 掠

I was thinking the electric bike rental would be minimal pedaling, but I never tested any out while i was there to see if I was right. I had a rental car instead.

I find the coffee weird down there (who wants chicory in their coffee?) but beignets Sunday morning from café du monde is classic (but touristy).

Ha, is that why the Cafe de monde coffee sucks? I had no idea.

[Kevo]

Thanks! That sounds like a plan for next time. IÂ’m not really a runner but is it possible on a MTB?

No mountain biking is allowed in the Grand Canyon (or most other US national parks).

For a MTB trip from DFW I'd say go to Durango or Crested Butte.

[babybear]

Had a fab weekend in Jackson Hole a few years back off recommendations on here. In Fort Worth for work in a couple of weeks over a weekend and would love to go exploring somewhere. A mate suggested Las Vegas? All ideas appreciated. As before, reciprocal ski accommodation in Verbier, Switzerland on offer. Thanks in advance! Sorry if I’m in the wrong place.

I was going to suggest that you should come back up to Jackson since the last time it was winter
Summers here are pretty primo too
Enjoy your travels!

[bobinch]

I was going to suggest that you should come back up to Jackson since the last time it was winter
Summers here are pretty primo too
Enjoy your travels!

Haha I did look at Jackson after that memorable winter trip! Tricky timings and $1000 flights kiboshed it but would love to another time! Have you been back to Europe? I recall you did Cham but missed out on the jewel in the crown that is Verbier 😎