Our mode of transportation would only work if we left and returned on a weekday, which typically works great for our schedules, but we did find out that staying in a major downtown area can be pricey during the week. Still, we made it work!
WEDNESDAY
We left from the Cypress Park-n-ride at around 7:45am (second to last bus for the morning.) We had purchased Metro Q Cards for this service and they worked fine, both for the parking garage and the bus.
We had to pack light - I had a small wheeled suitcase and Marc took a backpack. Arriving downtown, we got off at the nearest stop to out hotel, Club Quarters, and took the 5 block walk to leave our bags there. The staff there was very obliging and let us know that we could check in any time after 11am. So we were set to explore downtown Houston!
Marc had a good idea to visit the Chase Bank building first. They had a great observation floor on the 60th, but it;s closed now. While we were taking a picture out front, the inevitable happened... he found someone he knows... Guy from his MUD district meetings honked and pulled over. He works in a nearby building. Marc knows people everywhere!
From there, we found the tunnels. Great place to walk around in the coolness on a hot day, but I don't suggest taking a walk for exercise there... the smells from the restaurants and fast-food joints are EVERYWHERE! They made me so hungry. We found the mall area and again... the food court was the main attraction. When we exited, we found ourselves near Discovery Green, so we walked there and had a drink at a cafe outside, great place to people watch and it was a beautiful day.
We had worked up an appetite by that time, and found a place on our MUST TRY list... Hubcap Grill has won lots of awards and accolades for their burgers, but the place is TINY! We almost passed it up. We ordered... Marc a cheeseburger, and I went for something exotic... that's peanut butter and bacon (so good!) But regardless of the toppings, these burgers are they best we've ever eaten anywhere. Cooked perfectly, very tasty, and huge. Their fries are great, but good luck finding room in your tummy for them.
The huge meal caused us to want a nap, so we made our way back to the hotel and crashed for a couple of hours. Nice room (small - this place is designed for business travelers) but great accomodations, and it was the least expensive decent hotel in the heart of downtown. It very close to rail lines, and not a bad walk from the park-n-ride stops.
After our rest, we were ready to get on the train heading for Minute Maid Park. The stop was right across the street from out hotel. We took that line all the way to the end, just to see where it went, and them came back the the stop nearest the ballpark. We were early, so stopped in for a couple of cheap beers and the Home Plate Bar and Grill. Not even gonna give this place much of a comment here. It's a good place to meet up with friends before them game, but kind of a dive. Pretty dreary and dirty.
The Astros game was great - they won!... we didn't realize Gary and his friend Joe would be there, but we met up with them and tried to sit together for some of the game. Dinner was dollar hot dogs, lots of them!
Took the train back to the hotel and got a great night's sleep.
THURSDAY
Breakfast was at the Corner Bakery... love this chain - great breakfast items. We walked over to Sam Houston Park and took a tour of the homes there... very interesting and historic. Continued our walk along the Buffalo Bayou, seeing the Policeman's memorial, lots of kayakers and other things to see along the way. Our walk back took us to Spaghetti Warehouse for lunch - as good as we remembered it from years ago.
By this time, we were due for a nap, and headed back to the hotel.
Took the Metro train to several bars along the route - The Pastry War, Okra, Dirt Bar, and our favorite... Public Services. All were fantastic and different. Flyer Saucer on Main and Capitol was our last stop for a late night dinner.
FRIDAY
Our last breakfast was at The Honeymoon cafe - amazing coffee, beignets, and other delicious bites! Took a train to our son & daughter-in-law's house off of Patton, then caught a bus to the Menil. We aren't really modern art people, but it was interesting. A bus and train took us back to the hotel... picked up our bags, and caught to Cypress bus around 3ish to head back home...
Great weekend-in-the-middle-of-the-week!
No comments:
Post a Comment