I'm heading to Texas from 3/17 to 3/22 -- who wants to meet up?

[shelleybell]

ok
now tell me 1 more time.
when will you be at SFOT?
We will be there on 03-18 and possibly part of the day 03-19
Are you still planning 03-18?
aack!
sorry, just need to be clear!
shelleybell

 

[BarryHom]

I'll be at SFOT on 3/18 and 3/19. I'll post a new thread on each of the meet times on the DIS Meets board so everyone can sign up at one place.

 

[BarryHom]

All Texas meets are now on the DIS Meets board. Please sign up there! Click on the links below to get there.

Six Flags AstroWorld, 317

Six Flags Over Texas, 3/18 and 3/19

All American Grille, Texas Rangers Ballpark, Arlington TX, 3/19

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, 3/20

Sea World San Antonio, 3/21

Thanks!

 

[BarryHom]

Well, I hit Priceline and got some hotels:

Microtel Dallas North Garland, Garland, TX: $25/night
Homestead Studio Suites Houston Willowbrook, Houston, TX: $27/night
La Quinta Windsor Park San Antonio, San Antonio, TX: $31/night

I tend to use Priceline and Hotwire. My concern is not the place I stay, but the fun I will have outside the room.

It feels like I'm talking to myself in this thread.

 

[Planogirl]

Nope, not talking to yourself.

It's our Spring Break so we're gone all week but have a nice time in Texas. Don't expect much from Astroworld and watch the Superman thing at Six Flags over Texas!

By the way, could you post a review of the Microtel if you end up staying there? We keep seeing these all over and I'm wondering what they're like.

 

[Kirby]

Are you sure you want to stay in Garland? Not that there is anything wrong with staying there but you are about an hour away from Six Flags if the traffic is good. You are looking at the totally opposite side of Dallas from Six Flags. Is there not another Microtel closer? Maybe in Grapevine, Grand Prairie, Irving?

Planogirl, my sister-in-law likes staying at Microtels.

 

[KristaTX]

Garland really is way far from Six Flags , and in Dallas traffic.

Kirby - are you coming to Six Flags or to the Ballpark for the meet?

Krista

 

[wickey's friend]

Wish I could be there on Wed. at Astroworld. It's our Spring Break too, but we won't be able to make it.

Have a great time in Texas!!! We will want a full trip report when you get back.

 

[BarryHom]

Well, it's kind of late now to change hotels since I won it on Priceline.

 

[KristaTX]

. I know - I wasn't going to say anything when I saw that you'd gotten it on Priceline. But I thought I'd warn you anyway that you're going to be doing some driving. Hopefully traffic won't be so bad. Just plan on avoiding driving through Dallas at rush hour times.

 

[BarryHom]

I'll wake up at 6 am and head to the parks then. Are there any back roads?

 

[KristaTX]

Looks like Six Flags Over Texas is scheduled to open at 10 a.m.
( http://www.sixflags.com/parks/overtexas/ ) on the two days you'll be there. Unless you get stuck in standing-still traffic, you'll get there way early if you leave at 6:30 or 7. You could probably leave at 8 and get there in plenty of time - maybe really early if traffic isn't bad. Do you have the address of your hotel in Garland? If so I'll try to tell you a couple of options for getting over to Arlington.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hey-not fair! Even San Antonio is 4 1/2 hours north of me! Why aren't you coming down here to South Padre Island? It's going to be a real happening kind of place that week (Too much for some of us!). Then at least we could have met.

 

[BarryHom]

If I had more time, I would explore more of Texas.

 

[Kirby]

are you coming to Six Flags or to the Ballpark for the meet?

No, I won't be able to make it.

Are there any back roads?

You'll probably do fine, just don't go through the High Five area (I75 and 635). That's on the north side of Dallas. It's under construction. I don't know where in Garland the Microtel is located but probably your best bet is to take 635 south to I30 and then I30 west all the way to Six Flags. Once you get past downtown Dallas the traffic won't be too bad but that is your biggest hurdle since that's stretch is over half of the drive. Maybe you shouldn't leave until about 8:30. I live east of Dallas and when we have gone to Six Flags, the traffic has died down enough between 8:30 and 9:00. Also, just a side note, I30 is under construction in some parts between Dallas and Arlington.

 

[BarryHom]

Here are the addresses of everywhere I'm staying:

Homestead Studio Suites
13223 Champions Centre Drive
Houston, TX 77069

Microtel
1901 Pendleton Drive
Garland, TX 75041

La Quinta Windsor Park San Antonio
6410 I-35 North
San Antonio, TX 78218

So for the locals, what's the best way to avoid traffic?

 

[Kirby]

I grew up in Dallas and the whole east side from downtown over was my running grounds so what I previously told you is probably your best bet. Maybe someone else has a better idea but if you head north and around I think that you will run into some pretty heavy traffic plus the High 5 construction and drive way out of your way.

 

[RhondaS]

Barry, I agree with Kirby.

635 South (or West, whichever it is at that point) to I-30 West to the Hwy. 360/Six Flags exit. That exit is a big loop. You'll go under Hwy. 360, and straight ahead is the entrance to Six Flags. It's about a 30 - 35 mile drive, and will take almost 1 hour. The worst part is right in downtown Dallas...make sure to follow any signs that say Ft. Worth or 30 West (at one point, there is a 3 way split in the freeway).

I would leave between 8 - 8:30 to help insure getting there before 9:30 for the Friday meet. You'll be coming from Houston for the Thursday meet, right?

I'm expecting the parks to pretty crowded this week, because of the local Spring Breaks (Dallas, Ft. Worth and Arlington are all out this week).

Parking will probably be $9 for regular parking, $12 for VIP. At least that's what they charged last year. Usually, there is parking at a little strip shopping center right before you enter Six Flags property that is cheaper and the walk really isn't bad if you want to save a few bucks.

When leaving Six Flags to go to the hotel, Turn left out of the Six Flags parking lot and follow the signs to I-30 (you'll go by the Judge Roy Scream coaster (wooden out & back, painted white). Be very careful as you go under Hwy 360, the signs and lanes can be confusing. Follow the signs to I-30 East (Dallas). You'll be on 30 for about 25 or so miles. Take 635 North (or East, whichever it is at that point). 635 to Northwest Hwy, Right on Northwest Hwy and Right on Pendleton.

 

[BarryHom]

Now I'm even more confused with the directions! I'll print them out and figure it out. With the way I drive, I think I need to leave 2 hours early!

 

[RhondaS]

Oops! I didn't mean to confuse you. Sorry!

Six Flags address:

Six Flags over Texas
2201 Road to Six Flags
Arlington, TX 76011

You can use mapquest.com or maps.msn.com for some printable directions and to look at the road maps.

It's really not as bad as I probably made it sound. You just have to be on your toes, especially in the Downtown Dallas area where several freeways intersect.