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Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 11:50 am
by DSafetyGuy
Aside from Giff's recommendation of Torchy's, anyone else with suggestions? Going next weekend with some friends to get drunk and sweat for a few days.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 12:03 pm
by Sabo
DSafetyGuy wrote:Aside from Giff's recommendation of Torchy's, anyone else with suggestions? Going next weekend with some friends to get drunk and sweat for a few days.
For Houston? I'd recommend getting together with Giff.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 12:27 pm
by The Sybian
Sabo wrote:
DSafetyGuy wrote:Aside from Giff's recommendation of Torchy's, anyone else with suggestions? Going next weekend with some friends to get drunk and sweat for a few days.
For Houston? I'd recommend getting together with Giff.

Nobody sweats like Giff.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 12:28 pm
by A_B
You should drop by just to check on him at the least.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 12:29 pm
by The Sybian
AB_skin_test wrote:You should drop by just to check on him at the least.
Especially with Boko Haram still running around

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 1:01 pm
by Giff
Austin or Houston?

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 1:04 pm
by Gunpowder
If I have some time in Toronto tomorrow, where should I RAGE and where would Rob Ford be hanging

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 1:47 pm
by Brontoburglar
rehab?

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:11 pm
by degenerasian
Gunpowder wrote:If I have some time in Toronto tomorrow, where should I RAGE and where would Rob Ford be hanging
Could you make the Jays game against Oakland? Tons of bars and restaurants around the skydome.
Or go find Pruitt.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:46 pm
by DSafetyGuy
Giff wrote:Austin or Houston?
Austin.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 8:10 am
by Pruitt
Gunpowder wrote:If I have some time in Toronto tomorrow, where should I RAGE and where would Rob Ford be hanging
Rob Ford is out of town drying out, and he tends to hang out in scummy bars and greasy spoons in Etobicoke, so the idea of a Rob Ford bar crawl isn;t really too enticing...

You could come watch my daughter's soccer team in an epic battle for second place. As one of the coaches, I am psyched.

And my wife and I are heading out for our anniversary dinner this evening, but...

Looks like the first really nice day of the year. Head to college street - start at Bathurst - walk around go west to Trinity Bellwoods area. Hit the Bellwoods brewery... some great restaurants on Dundas west... all easily accessible via street car or cab..

Like Deli? Hit Caplansky's on College. Want a cool cd store? Soundscapes a bit further west in the heart of what is still known as Little Italy but which is hip (in a good way). Siciliian ice cream for gelato and espresso too.

Enjoy the west end of the city. It is great this time of year.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 2:41 pm
by Giff
DSafetyGuy wrote:
Giff wrote:Austin or Houston?
Austin.
Where are you staying? I've been busy at work, so not as much posting, so send a PM if you want. I'm sure to have several suggestions.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:53 pm
by Ryan
What's the best way to get around DC for a road trip? GMaps says 295 from just south of Ballamer all the way through to Alexandria. That can't be right.

No earthly idea what time of day we'd be in the area, but it will likely be a weekday morning.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:00 pm
by mister d
Helicopter.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:08 pm
by rass
"Get around" means avoid in this context?

I usually end up just staying on 95/495, but I take great pains to schedule trips to make sure I'm no where near DC at rush hour. Yuck.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:24 pm
by tennbengal
Ryan wrote:What's the best way to get around DC for a road trip? GMaps says 295 from just south of Ballamer all the way through to Alexandria. That can't be right.

No earthly idea what time of day we'd be in the area, but it will likely be a weekday morning.
Completely avoiding? On your way further south? If your goal is to completely avoid DC then:

If so, 95 to 895 to 97 to 301. Take 301 all the way through Maryland and it hooks you back up with 95 about 40 miles north Richmond. 301 is 4-lane highway, lights, etc. But depending on day and time, avoids the Baltimore and DC traffic morass.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:33 pm
by Ryan
Going all the way to Florida. We did this 3 years ago but stayed with family in DC, so I didn't get to circumvent.

301 looks like it goes all the way to Richmond. If you kind of follow the shortest path though, it turns into 207 and hits I95 between Fred'burg and Richmond. I assume that's what you were thinking. Google says that whole thing only adds 15 minutes vs. the 95/Beltway route so you're in the lead, I think.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:18 pm
by rass
I got my one and only speeding ticket on 301 in Maryland. It was North of the Bay Bridge, though.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:47 pm
by wlu_lax6
Ryan wrote:What's the best way to get around DC for a road trip? GMaps says 295 from just south of Ballamer all the way through to Alexandria. That can't be right.

No earthly idea what time of day we'd be in the area, but it will likely be a weekday morning.
From the North be agile. 95/495 or 295 or 301 are all route. Traffic stinks going to the city so you will want to try and skip rush hour, but if you are not going to DC keep an eye on 301 as you will miss most of the DC Traffic via that approach

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:07 am
by tennbengal
Ryan wrote:Going all the way to Florida. We did this 3 years ago but stayed with family in DC, so I didn't get to circumvent.

301 looks like it goes all the way to Richmond. If you kind of follow the shortest path though, it turns into 207 and hits I95 between Fred'burg and Richmond. I assume that's what you were thinking. Google says that whole thing only adds 15 minutes vs. the 95/Beltway route so you're in the lead, I think.
Yup, jogging over to 95 like you have ID'd is what I do south of Fredricksburg - staying 301 all the way into Richmond is not necessary. With my daughter at Guilford for college, I have made the route I laid out my default means of getting around DC when I have to make the drive during daylight hours.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:57 am
by Shirley
Definitely use Google Maps on your phone, if that's an option. With their recent acquisitions, Google has gotten very good at recognizing exactly where bad traffic starts and stops and then routing around it.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:06 am
by A_B
I use the Waze app for that too. It's crowdsourced by people actually on the roads.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:22 am
by tennbengal
+1 on Waze. Hugely helpful on long road trips.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:52 am
by Shirley
AB_skin_test wrote:I use the Waze app for that too. It's crowdsourced by people actually on the roads.
Google bought them and integrates that data into Google Maps. That way you get the data without the annoying Waze interface or prompts to Facebook where you are at any moment.

Google already had pretty decent traffic and accident data, but the purchase of Waze made it even more precise.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:52 am
by A_B
Shirley wrote:
AB_skin_test wrote:I use the Waze app for that too. It's crowdsourced by people actually on the roads.
Google bought them and integrates that data into Google Maps. That way you get the data without the annoying Waze interface or prompts to Facebook where you are at any moment.

Google already had pretty decent traffic and accident data, but the purchase of Waze made it even more precise.
Did not know that!

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:54 am
by Shirley
AB_skin_test wrote:
Shirley wrote:
AB_skin_test wrote:I use the Waze app for that too. It's crowdsourced by people actually on the roads.
Google bought them and integrates that data into Google Maps. That way you get the data without the annoying Waze interface or prompts to Facebook where you are at any moment.

Google already had pretty decent traffic and accident data, but the purchase of Waze made it even more precise.
Did not know that!
Yup. And it made Google Maps noticeably better. http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/20/google ... t-reports/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:40 am
by The Sybian
Plus Google Maps gives you directions to GPJ's erections.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:47 am
by rass
The Sybian wrote:Plus Google Maps gives you directions to GPJ's erections.
Meat Wayzer

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:01 am
by Ryan
Alright, heading out around 12:30 this afternoon for Florida. How far will we make it today before stopping? Closest town guess gets $wampbuck$. Some things to consider:

3 and 6 year olds in the back seat.
Will probably want to stop by 8 PM
Going for the Tappan Zee-Garden State-Turnpike/95 route
We like Hampton Inns

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:25 am
by Sabo
Newark, Delaware

ETA:
Ryan wrote:We like Hampton Inns
I would like them more if their free breakfast didn't consist entirely of powdered eggs, microwave bacon and those horrible fake cheese omelet things that taste like they have 4 tablespoons of salt in them.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:28 am
by rass
Sabo wrote:Newark, Delaware
I'd say it's definitely worth the couple of extra hours to power through and get past DC tonight.

Fredericksburg or bust!

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:33 am
by Sabo
rass wrote:
Sabo wrote:Newark, Delaware
I'd say it's definitely worth the couple of extra hours to power through and get past DC tonight.

Fredericksburg or bust!
Well, there is a Hampton Inn in Stafford, VA. Just in case he busts while trying to get to Fredericksburg.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:33 am
by govmentchedda
Your final destination tonight is the Hampton Inn & Suites Robbinsville in Robbinsville New Jersey.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:45 am
by rass
Sabo wrote:
rass wrote:
Sabo wrote:Newark, Delaware
I'd say it's definitely worth the couple of extra hours to power through and get past DC tonight.

Fredericksburg or bust!
Well, there is a Hampton Inn in Stafford, VA. Just in case he busts while trying to get to Fredericksburg.
Fucking sabo just pulled a Price is Right on me and topped my guess.


Hampton Inn Dumfries/Quantico!

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:03 am
by The Sybian
Trick question with the Hampton Inn. First stop is Chelmsford, NH. 6 year old nearly has an accident, emergency stop necessary.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:04 am
by govmentchedda
I think you guys are greatly underestimating the amount of times children will need to stop on an afternoon/evening drive. And the traffic around NYC.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:06 am
by Pruitt
I'm going with Richmond Virginia. Home to three Hampton Inns.

Just bring a lot of patience for the drive around DC. It ALWAYS sucks.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:08 am
by mister d
Unless you're receiving $100K upon reaching Florida, this isn't worth it. Turn around.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:09 am
by rass
govmentchedda wrote:I think you guys are greatly underestimating the amount of times children will need to stop on an afternoon/evening drive. And the traffic around NYC.
I was assuming that "stopping" meant "stopping for the day", otherwise, as you suggest, "things to consider" #s 2 through 4 are pretty much irrelevant.

Re: Swamp Travel Guide

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:19 am
by Sabo
rass wrote:Fucking sabo just pulled a Price is Right on me and topped my guess.


Hampton Inn Dumfries/Quantico!
I only knew that because I stayed at that hotel about 6-7 years ago!