Post Reply
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

Helpful Gardener Coming to Your Town?

I'm moving from the West Coast to the East. Starting on the first of June my wife and I are heading on a road trip and hitting the following towns.

Santa Fe, NM
Carlsbad, NM
Austin, TX and Lockhart, TX
Memphis TN
Nashville, TN

We're interested in regional food. I don't want to eat at Tennessee's best Thai restaurant, know what I mean? I want smoked pork or whatever it is that Tennessee or wherever does best. :)

New Mexico
We have Santa Fe pretty well planned. It's the only stop where we're spending more than one night. Carlsbad we're going to wing it on lodgings. We intend to see the caves and maybe some bats. Any tips or experience to share?

Austin, TX
Our lodging for Austin is already booked. We're going to hit a BBQ joint in Lockhart (about 20 mins from Austin), although supposedly one of the best BBQs in Texas is a little further south in Luling, the City Market. If anyone has any eating suggestions for Austin I'm open to suggestions. I have heard that breakfast tacos are a regional thing out there. I've eaten at Lamberts and wouldn't mind going back but I am interested in hearing of any local places off the beaten path, including Tex-Mex.

New Orleans
Our lodging for our one night is already reserved. Where we're eating is still up in the air. Anything to do with Po Boys or oysters can rise quickly to the top of my list. Any and all suggestions are welcome! :)

Memphis
Going to Graceland. Am considering eating at Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. Also considering eating at Jim Neely’s Interstate Bar-B-Que. Any suggestions?

Nashville
Am touring the Grand Ole Opry. After that my intinerary is not yet set. Any suggestions for where to eat or a decent place to lodge at?

Harrisonburg, VA
After Nashville I'm staying at a town called Harrisonburg in Virginia. I'm not staying there for any particular reason other than it seems like a good place to rest before the final leg to Massachusetts. If there is some place better or more interesting then I'd like to hear about it. :) I found a place called Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint which seems like a good place to stop and get some eats. If anyone is familiar with this part of Virginia and has suggestions for where to eat or lodge, I would be very interested. Our intinerary hasn't been set for here.

Thanks!
Susan W
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:46 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

Ah Memphis!
Suggest: hit Graceland (south side of town), drive to downtown and take a stroll in the park on the Mississippi. Then stop at Sun Studio (Union Ave) From there go a bit west (still in town) and eat at Central BBQ (Central Ave) Easy from there to Sam-Cooper aka I-40, straight 200 mi drive to Nashville.
Susan W
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1858
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:46 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

I can't even tell direction! Graceland, then N to downtown/riverfront, a few blocks East to Sun Studio, then a few more blocks EAST to Central BBQ, jog over a few blocks, then straight E on I-40.
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

I have a bottle of Salt Lick BBQ rub. Didn't have a chance to hit the restaurant in town but did sample some at their airport location. I'll put the Salt Lick on my list. Bob Bullock Museum is a good suggestion, I'd never heard of it before.

Thanks for the Memphis suggestions. Graceland is our number one goal but certainly Sun Studios should be on our list, thanks!

Any other suggestions are welcome!

:)
User avatar
SPierce
Greener Thumb
Posts: 732
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Oh hey, just noticing this. What part of MA are you moving to? ;D
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

Amherst. :)
User avatar
SPierce
Greener Thumb
Posts: 732
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

webmaster wrote:Amherst. :)
OMG- You're quite literally 15 minutes away from me! Welcome to MA, even though you aren't here yet :D If you ever want to meet up for some tea or coffee or something (not to be creepy) at Kristinas (AWESOME place for breakfast) in Belchertown, let me know :D

You'd also probably enjoy the New England Small Farm Institute, also located here. They're a community garden in addition to leasing out their land to farmers, I got a plot there this year :) Depending on when you get here if you have a compelling need to garden, they've got plenty of open space left also.

On another note, if you need a good massage in santa fe, check out the spa 10,000 waves. Its amazing. Taos as well!
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

Oh yeah, I'm familiar with Belchertown, it's on the way to the lake. :)

I've been to 10k waves, that's a great place for an outdoor hot tub! :)
User avatar
tomf
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 3233
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 8:15 am
Location: Oregon

I was born in Mass, are you going to teach at Amherst Collage?
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

I'm self-employed. My clients are all over the place. I just need an Internet connection and I'm good to go.

The main reason for moving to the East Coast is to be driving distance to my mother in law. We chose Amherst because the location is close to many of the amenities of a larger city but the location itself is small, the pace of life slower and more relaxed. I've spent a few months in the area and the people are as nice as can be. Truly a pleasant area that I feel comfortable in.

The proximity to the fishing at Quabbin reservoir is a plus.
User avatar
GardenRN
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1102
Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:01 am
Location: Chesterfield, Va

When in Harrisonburg, I don't know about eats. It's a college town. James Madison University presides over that area. However, you are close to some neat sight seeing areas.

Luray Caverns, Skyline Caverns and Endless Caverns are all in the area. Really neat if you like that sort of thing. I recommend Luray Caverns first. Its a little more expensive but not much, and the tour is longer and there are more neat natural formations to see.

The Town of Luray has nice little antique shops, ice cream and is a nice stroll depending on what time you come into the area.

Skyline Drive is a very nice drive through Shenandoah State Park. You're likely to see wildlife and if nothing else there are some beautiful views from the mountain tops. VERY nice drive. We do it a few times a year.

Hope your short stay here in Va leaves an impression. Sounds like an amazing road trip!!
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

Wow, Jeff! Thanks for the note about Virginia. I was hoping someone would point out some local sites for this area. :)
orgoveg
Green Thumb
Posts: 468
Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:06 pm
Location: Ohio

While in Nashville, I recommend at least a visit to see the Opryland Hotel. It's now known as the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. It blows my mind. I stayed there before the expansion and it was very impressive back then. Now I hear it is basically a City unto itself. I've never been to the casino resorts in Vegas so maybe they are even more impressive but this one definitely takes the cake in the eastern half of the Country. The conservatory (indoor gardens) were perhaps the best part.

The word above that was replaced by "spam" was a place where games of chance are played.


Post Reply

Return to “Non-Gardening Related Hoo-ha and Foo”