Niagara Falls, Ontario

On Sunday, we drove to Niagara Falls, Ontario to spend the day sightseeing.  We found a great place to park and then started to explore the area.  We took a ride on the SkyWheel, which is like a large enclosed Ferris Wheel.  We were able to enjoy a panoramic view of the Falls as well as some of the other points of interest that were part of the carnival-like atmosphere.




View of Horseshoe Falls taken from Skywheel

 Kevin  and Jason found an arcade and quickly became addicted to a basketball shooting game.  They both started trash talking to one another and then the competition became rather heated.  It was so nice to see two grown men having such a great time. 

We browsed through some of the souvenir stores and then made our way to the boat, The Maid of The Mist.  This was truly the highlight of our day.  We boarded the boat and took a ride to the base of Niagara Falls.  It was a breathtaking experience.  We were able to take some amazing photographs while getting soaked in the process. 

We then returned to the downtown area and continued to do some more shopping.  Jason had never been to a Hard Rock Cafe before, so we decided to take him there.  Tina bought another pin for her Hard Rock Cafe collection, so this made her very happy.

We then had a light lunch at a local pizza parlor (yes, again!) and decided that we wanted to shuffle back on to Buffalo to Penora's for dinner. (Two nights in a row now.)  We decided to have sub sandwiches and buffalo wings this time.  Another winner!

We drove back to the Falls after dinner to catch a glimpse of  the night time light show.  We were hoping to take some more pictures, but the traffic was crazy and there was no place to park.  After heading to a local Baskin Robbins for a light dessert, we made our way back to Toronto and called it a night.

Another fun and exhausting day!  Tomorrow it's off to Syracuse, New York.

"Shuffle On To Buffa, Shuffle On To Buffa, Shuffle On To Buffaloooo"

On Saturday July 30th, we drove from Toronto, Ontario to Buffalo, New York to pick up our friend, Jason Carr.  Jason is one of Kevin's dear friends from Boise, Idaho.  He will be joining us for the next week of our journey.

We made the decision to "shuffle on to Buffalo" to have dinner at a local pizza parlor, Penora's, that also specialized in submarine sandwiches and buffalo wings.  We struck gold!!  We feasted on a pizza and each had our own baked sub sandwich.  Not only was the food fantastic, but it was extremely inexpensive for the quality and quantity that we experienced.  (We have a feeling that we will be back here in the VERY NEAR future.)

We then made the drive back across the border to Toronto to end our day.  Tomorrow it's off to Nigara Falls, Ontario.

Toronto - Rogers Centre

On Friday morning, we both exercised and then rewarded ourselves by consuming the remaining two items in our pastry box - a chocolate eclair and a chocolate chip cannoli.  We were sad to look at the empty box, but quickly reassured each other that there would be more to come.  (Did you have any doubt?)

We then made our way to Toronto, Ontario.  Our first impressions were not favorable at all.  To begin with, it took more than one hour to clear the border.  We were interrogated like fugitives and then finally let through.  We were hungry for lunch and decided to eat at a diner that boasted "world famous" this and "world famous" that.  Not true!!  We ended up spending close to $35.00 for a couple of burgers and fries.  Kevin was asked if he wanted gravy for his fries and he gladly decided to give it a try.  We were never told that there was going to be an extra charge for the gravy and were very irritated at this non-disclosure.  Needless to say, we weren't happy campers.

We arrived at our hotel, the Radisson Suites, at around 4:00 PM.  We were pleasantly surprised at how nice the room was.  Things were starting to look up.  We needed to hustle to make it to the 7:00 PM Toronto Blue Jays game and decided to take the subway to avoid the heavy traffic and potential parking issues.  Once on the subway, we talked to a nice couple who were also heading to the game.  They were very helpful in guiding us to the stadium.

This was the first stadium that we did not have tickets ahead of time.  We found a scalper and bought a pair of upper level tickets for $30.  The seats were in a nice location - not quite as good as the scalper had described, but still OK.  There was a good crowd for Toronto - maybe about 20,000.  They do a lot to keep the crowd involved and it is a nice place to watch a game, despite being such a generic overall looking stadium.  The Blue Jays scored three runs in the fifth inning and held on to beat Texas 3-2.

Detroit - Comerica Park

On Wednesday we drove from Cleveland to Detroit.  It was a pretty quick and easy drive, but there was quite a bit of traffic going through Detroit in the early afternoon.  For dinner we decided to try Buddy's Pizza, known for 'Detroit' style pizza.  We didn't know that Detroit had a pizza style but we gave it a try.  It was a square pan style pizza that was quite good.

On Thursday we awoke to heavy rain and thunderstorms.  We were afraid the afternoon Detroit game might be rained out or at least have a lengthy rain delay, but by game time the clouds were beginning to clear and it ended up being a sunny, hot, and humid afternoon.

We parked in the Detroit Opera House parking lot in downtown Detroit for $10 and it was a very short walk to the stadium.  We stopped at Cheli's Chili which is right across the street from the stadium and each had a drink and a cup of chili.  The restaurant/bar is owned by former Detroit Red Wing hockey player Chris Chelios.  The place was packed right before the game and the chili was excellent.

Comerica Park is very appealing to the eye.  There are many large statues of tigers throughout the exterior and concourses.  Inside the stadium there is a carousel where instead of ponies and zebras you can ride around on tigers.  The stadium also has a small ferris wheel that takes people around in large baseball shaped cars.

The Tigers were playing the LA Angels.  The Angels went ahead 7-2 in the fourth inning, but the Tigers scored 4 runs in the 4th to make the game close.  The Angels pulled ahead and finally won 12-7. 

After the game, we walked to Greektown in downtown Detroit.  We stopped at the Astoria Bakery and bought some amazing looking pastries to take back to the hotel.  We went back to Buddy's Pizza ( you just can't get enough of a good thing) for dinner and then enjoyed a Napolean from our pastry box for dessert.

Another full day filled with happy memories!!

Cleveland - Progressive Field

We drove from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just a few blocks to Progressive Field.  We had to circle a couple of times to find a decent place to park, but found a nice garage for $10.  We stopped at an establishment across the street from the stadium and had a beverage and discussed our amazing experience at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  We made our way across to the stadium and circled the main concourse before heading to our seats.  We had seats in the first row down the third base line that provided an incredible view of the game and the stadium.  We sat next to a nice couple of men from near Cincinnati that were having a father and son day.  It was a perfect game time temperature - warm, but not too hot.  It was a great pitching duel between Cleveland's Josh Tomlin and Anaheim's Jarod Weaver.  Anaheim was ahead 2-1 heading into the ninth inning.  Cleveland loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth, but after a double play and a strikeout Cleveland failed to score so the Angels ended up winning the game, but it was very exciting until the very end.



Outside Progressive Field



Tina with the 'Ketchup' Hot Dog before the Game



Incredible Seats!

Cleveland - Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame: "The Heart of Rock and Roll Keeps Beating!"

On Tuesday, we enjoyed an early lunch buffet at the Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant in Sheffield, Cleveland.   We then decided to spend a few hours at the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame which was located on Lake Erie.  At first, we thought we were just going to spend a few hours looking at the exhibits and kill some time before our 7:05 PM Cleveland Indians baseball game.  We both consider ourselves "non-museum" people, so we did not expect to be "wowed" at this venue.  We could not have been more wrong!!


Exterior of Building.  No photography is allowed inside the Museum due to copyright agreements.


This truly turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip thus far.  We spent close to 4 hours looking at the exhibits of the the Hall of Fame inductees.  Everything from Elvis Presley's bejeweled jumpsuits and Mark IV car to Michael Jackson's famous sequined glove and Grammy awards were available for public viewing. 

Tina especially enjoyed the "Women Who Rock" exhibit which featured the likes of Janis Joplin, Mama Cass Elliot, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Cher and all the women who had a major impact on the music industry.  Kevin enjoyed learning more about the late Jimmy Hendrix and several of the rock bands that he listened to growing up.  We also enjoyed biographical documentaries on some of the music legends who have since passed away.

This museum brought back so many good memories for the both of us.  We could have spent another whole day there.  (Tina could spend a full day just in the gift shop if she had the opportunity!)  We both made the decision to return to this museum one day in the future.

Although this day was very expensive and exceeded our daily budget (yes, we actually do try to be reasonable), we could not put a dollar value on our experience.  We had another amazing day on our amazing journey.


Note:  We are both saddened by the untimely death of Amy Winehouse at age 27.  What a waste!  May she now rest in peace.

Cleveland - Melt Challenge

On Monday, we drove from Cincinnati to Cleveland and we stopped at the Melt Bar and Grilled to try the "Melt Challenge".  We saw this on the Travel Channel's 'Man vs Food' show and Kevin thought he could complete this challenge.  The challenge consisted of a huge grilled cheese sandwich that had 13 different kinds of cheese and a mound of coleslaw and french fries.  The challenge was to consume all of the food on the plate without any help and without leaving the seat.  There is about 5 pounds of food with the sandwich being at least 3 of those pounds.  We had to wait about an hour to get a table, and then the sandwich took another hour to prepare due to the huge amount of cheese.

The sandwich arrived and it looked large, but didn't seem all that huge.  There was hot melty cheese everywhere. 

The first bites were very tasty and initially Kevin thought this would be no problem to finish all this food.  The first half of the sandwich and about half the fries and slaw went down very quickly and easily.  Halfway through, Kevin still thought there would be no problem finishing it all.


More than halfway through and still going strong.

After a few more bites, the cheese became just a bit too much.  Too strong, too much food or a combination of both started making each bite more and more difficult.  It wasn't necessarily the amount of food, but the combination of cheeses that forced Kevin into the decision to stop. 



At least 3/4 of the sandwich, fries, and slaw eaten and still alot of food left.

Although the end result was disappointing for us both, there was still a huge feeling of accomplishment.  We are confident that there will be other challenges in the future for us to attempt and conquer.  This is only the beginning.  After the initial disappointment subsided a few hours later, a consolation prize was in order.   We decided to enjoy two old fashioned milk shakes at the local Steak N' Shake restaurant and discuss our day.  It has always been  our philosophy to never go to bed mad - or hungry!

Cincinnati - Great American Ballpark

On Saturday, after a once again wonderful breakfast with Kevin's Uncle Ray and Aunt Rita, we drove the 330 miles from Murfreesboro, TN to Cincinnati, OH.  We stopped in Louisville, Kentucky for lunch, hoping to find a Mexican restaurant, but ended up stopping at Chili's since the restaurant our GPS tried to take us to didn't look so good.  There is a magnificent view driving into Cincinnati from northern Kentucky as the skyline of Cincinnati seems to appear out of nowhere once you come out of the hills of Kentucky.

On Sunday morning, Tina rode the exercise bike and Kevin went for a long run.  It was the first time in a few weeks that it wasn't hot, hilly, and humid.  We spent the early afternoon in the pool and in the sun, just before the afternoon thunderstorms swept through the area.  We stopped at Skyline Chili for a late lunch before the Sunday night game in Cincinnati.  People seem to either love or hate the Cincinnati chili, and we are among those who love it.  The mounds of shredded cheddar cheese they pile on their dishes might be part of the reason we like it so much

We arrived pretty early for the 8:00 pm Sunday night game at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.  We parked at a downtown lot that was only a few blocks from the stadium for $10.  We thought that the afternoon thundershowers might cool it down a bit, but at game time it was still pretty warm.  We strolled around the new stadium that is located right between the Ohio River and downtown.  The stadium is nice.  The concourses are very spacious and provide an excellent view of the field from the concourse which is a nice touch.  There is a large family and picnic area inside the stadium and there is a nice walkway along the river.  We had very good seats in the 5th row and we sat next to 4 guys from Nashville who were doing their own little mini three stadium tour and we all shared stories of our journeys.  It was another great game - our second consecutive walk-off win - as Drew Stubbs hit the first pitch of the ninth inning for a home run as the Reds beat the Braves 3-2.

Good Ole Rocky Top.... Rocky Top Tennessee

On Sunday, July 17th, we drove from Atlanta, Georgia to Athens, Tennessee to visit with Tina's mom for a few days.  We can sum up the visit in five words.. "Eat, Drink and Be Merry".  Tina's mother is truly the hostess with the mostest when it comes to entertaining.  We haven't seen Mother Elke since last August, so we had lots to catch up on.  We enjoyed many hearty meals and many hearty laughs together during our four day stay.  By the end of our visit, our bellies were full of food and our hearts were full of love.  We were both very grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy some quality family time together.

Thanks for the memories, Mom!



Tina, Mother Elke, and New 'Friend' Glen


We left Athens on Thursday, July 21st, and made our way to Christiana, Tennessee to stay with Kevin's Aunt Rita and Uncle Ray Tanner.  We haven't seen Ray or Rita for several years, so it was great to reconnect with them.  Like Tina's mother, Aunt Rita is a wonderful hostess.  She could give Martha Stewart a real run for her money.  We were also introduced to a new member of the family, "Obie", who is an 11 year-old, four pound teacup poodle.  We fell in love with him instantly.

We were treated like a king and queen for the two days that we spent with the Tanner family.  We were served wonderful homemade meals and were presented with luxurious accommodations.  (Tina had a hard time getting out of the feather bed each morning. She described her sleep experience as being on a billowy cloud each night!)

Ray and Rita took us to Nashville for an afternoon of sightseeing.  While there, we enjoyed a barbecue lunch at "Jacks" on Broadway with cousin David.  After lunch, we then explored the downtown area and marveled at all of the shops and eating establishments that were available.  We then were given a tour of Brentwood, Tennessee which is full of estates and mansions.  Many famous people in the music industry reside there.  We also toured the town of Franklin, Tennessee which is rich in Civil War history.

After a full day of sightseeing and casual exploration. we had dinner at Miller's Cafe with the entire family.  We were happy to enjoy the company of cousin Wendy and her husband Steve, and their two daughters, Brittany and Katie and cousin David and his wife Katie and their son, Jackson.  We both felt like we were in the middle of a feel-good, old fashioned movie that took place in a much simpler time.  We enjoyed a good southern meal and lots of friendly conversation.  After dinner, we all went back to Ray and Rita's to enjoy homemade apple pie and and homemade vanilla ice cream.

To sum up our visit with the Tanners, we were spoiled rotten and loved and appreciated every minute of it!  The southern way of life is very easy to get used to.  As we prepare to leave the South and continue on with our baseball journey, we both know how very blessed we are to have the families that we do.  We love each and  every one of you.  Thank you for being such a special part of our adventure of a lifetime.



David and Katie Tanner

  

Cousins Wendy and Steve Buchannen and daughers Brittany and Katie




Aunt Rita, Steve, Wendy,  and Brittany

Cousins Jackson Tanner and Katie Buchannen



Uncle Ray Tanner



Turner Field - Atlanta, GA

We drove into downtown Atlanta from our friend's house in Bishop, GA for the 1:30 pm game.  We parked at a surface lot that was about a half mile from the stadium for $10.00.  We entered through the center field gates where there is a large festive family area.  Throughout the concourses there were many activities for families and kids.  It was pretty busy even though there were almost two hours left before game time.

We wandered through the main level concourse and then made our way to where our seats were located in the club level.  The club level looked more like a hotel lobby than a stadium.  There were nice leather chairs throughout and it was air conditioned to a perfect temperature.  Throughout the concourse there were individual gourmet food sections - sushi, pasta, crepes, etc. Everything looked and smelled terrific.

Our seats were covered and in the shade for about the first half of the game and it was pretty comfortable.  During the second half of the game we were in the sun and it was a little warm.  It was a fantastic game against the Washington Nationals.  It was back and forth and Atlanta ended up winning in the bottom of the ninth with a walk off RBI single by Freddie Freeman.

After the game we walked through the heat back to our car and left for Athens, TN to visit Tina's mom for a few days.

Reunited And It Feels So Good.......

On Saturday, July 16th, we made an 8 hour drive from Tampa, Florida to Bishop, Georgia to visit with Tina's long-long college friend, Lisa Brull-Backs and her husband, Ronnie.  Tina and Lisa had not seen each other in 26 years!!

Lisa and Ronnie were marvelous hosts.  They have a beautiful home and we were given the entire lower level to spend the night in.  We all enjoyed a nice steak dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Athens, and then were given a tour of the University of Georgia campus by Ronnie.  Although Kevin and Ronnie had never met before, they became buddies by the end of our stay.  They have lots in common when it comes to their love of sports.

Lisa and Tina enjoyed reminiscicng about their crazy college days at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and caught up on where there lives have taken them since they last saw each other.  It was like no time had passed at all.  The bond that they once shared was still strong.  They made a promise to stay in touch on a more frequent basis going forward.

Thanks again for a wonderful evening, Lisa and Ronnie.  We had an amazing time and can't wait until our next visit.  We miss you already!!

Tropicana Field - St. Petersburgh, FL

We made the short drive from Orlando Friday morning and arrived in Tampa at about noon.  There was heavy rain and thundershowers most of the afternoon.  We left for the stadium at about 4:00 pm.  It took a little over an hour to get to the stadium in St. Petersburg as we had to drive through downtown Tampa during rush hour.

We parked at a stadium lot for $20 that was fairly close.  There was a little bit of a wait getting into the stadium.  There was a fairly large crowd since this game was against the Boston Red Sox.  Once inside the stadium we were handed an X-Large T-Shirt that was part of a promotional give away.  The main concourse was very crowded. On Friday nights they have these promo nights and $3 happy hour beers two hours before game time that seem to bring everyone out.

We had seats located in the first row of the top level, right behind home plate.  These were nice seats and they were among a large group of season ticket holders who all seemed to know each other and were pretty knowledgeable and passionate fans.  Unlike most other enclosed stadiums we have been to, they kept this place pretty cool.  Tina ended up using the give away t-shirts as blankets to keep warm. 

It seemed like there were quite a few changes at Tropicana Field since we were there 10 years ago.  That could be just due to the number of people at this game, but the stadium definitely had a much better feel.  The Rays beat Boston 9-6 in a game that lasted nearly 4 hours and had a total of 6 home runs including a grand slam by Tampa Bay's'Ben Zobrist.

Orlando, Florida: July 11th - July 15th (Heaven on Earth!!)

On Monday, July 11th, we drove from Miami to Orlando to enjoy a four day vacation away from baseball.  We stayed at the Hyatt Cypress Gardens Resort which was located close to Disney World.  This resort was one of the nicest places that either one of us have ever stayed at.   Upon check-in we were greeted with a glass of champagne - a very classy touch.  (Tina somehow managed to get two additional refills before proceeding to our room!  She even hugged the bellboy, Chris, because she was so overwhelmed with joy!   We never did see Chris again during our stay.  Was this just a coincidence? Hmm...)

For an additional $20.00 per night, we were able to upgrade to a room that had an excellent view of our resort's pool and man-made lake.  We were also able to watch the Disney World and the Magic Kingdom's fireworks display from our private veranda each night.  It was truly a magical experience for both of us.

During our four day stay we took advantage of the 800,000 gallon lagoon which had a series of waterfalls and water slides.  We both got too much sun and ended up with significant sunburns, but it was well worth it.  We also took advantage of the many amenities that this resort had to offer, including paddle boats and pitch and putt golf.  We left the resort daily for lunch and dinner and were able to enjoy many of the fine restaurants that the Orlando area had to offer.  We also spent an afternoon at Pirates Cove to play 36 holes of miniature golf.  Kevin made 6 hole-in-ones and 2 of these holes qualified for a free round of golf the next time that we are in the area.  We will definitely be back in the future.

All in all, the Cypress Gardens has become our new special place to escape to in the future.  It truly was an experience that neither one of us will ever forget.

Miami - Sun Life Stadium

We attended the Houston Astros vs. Florida Marlins game on Sunday afternoon.  This is the final year that the Marlins will play in this stadium. The Marlin fans and the Marlin's organization are very anxious for their new stadium to be built.  There was a very small crowd, maybe only 2,000 people in attendance. We arrived at the stadium about an hour before game time.  It cost $10 to park and our spot was literally just a few steps from the gates.  There was a very festive atmosphere outside and throughout the concourses.  The Marlins do a great job of keeping the few fans that are there entertained.  We had our picture taken with the cheerleaders and the mascot Billy the Marlin.

We had great seats that were really cheap to buy.  After we sat down, there was a swarm of bees circling in our general section, so we were allowed to move over one section.  We ended up sitting right behind home plate in the 5th row.  These were incredible seats that gave us an amazing view of the game.  This is the only stadium that we could get seats anywhere nearly as good.

It was quite hot out, maybe just over 90 degrees, but not extremely humid.  We had bought a bottomless soda for $11 which was a good bargain, and we filled our cup with lemonade and diet sodas five or six times and crunched on the ice to try to stay cool.  The game was very entertaining, back and forth, and the Marlins ended up beating Houston 5-4.  The few fans that were there in attendance were very passionate and knowledgeable.  It will be interesting to see what kind of support the Marlins will get at their new retractable roof stadium.

After the game, we drove to Fort Lauderdale and had dinner with Tina's cousin, Robin, at the Grand Lux Cafe that was located in a huge mall.  We had not seen her for seven years, so it was really nice to reconnect with her again.

Dallas to Miami

We spent 3 days driving from Dallas, Texas to Miami, Florida. On Thursday, we drove from Dallas to Mobile, AL - about 600 miles.  We stopped in Shreveport, LA for a lunch buffet at the Harrah's Race Track/Casino.  This was our second buffet of the trip, and hopefully the last, or else we will have to start doing some shopping for some clothes that will fit.  It was so hot and muggy in Mobile.  We went to a nearby mall area close to our hotel, looking for someplace to have a quick bite and unwind.  The only place we found was the massive Bass Pro Shop (referred to as the Disneyland for white trash by our waiter) which had a restaurant attached.  We shared an appetizer and then went back to our room. 

On Friday, we then proceeded to Jacksonville, FL which was about 400 miles.  The one thousand miles that we drove during those two days went really smooth.  After checking into our hotel, we took a short drive to Jacksonville Beach and had a wonderful dinner at the Crabcake Factory.  Jacksonville was a very nice place to visit. On Saturday morning, for the first time in a couple weeks, the morning temperature was below 80 degrees.

Saturday, we drove down the Atlantic Coast of Florida to Miami.  We stopped at Vero Beach, which was the former Spring Training site of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The complex and Holman Stadium is still there and has been renamed the Vero Beach Sports Complex.  Most all ties to the Dodgers seem gone now and the area once know as Dodgertown no longer exists. 

We arrived at our Miami hotel early Saturday evening and then went out for Sushi.  We stayed in the west side of Miami, right off the Turnpike.  The area, and the hotel, for the most part were nearly deserted.

The Rangers Ballpark at Arlington - July 6th, 2011

We spent the day driving around Arlington and some of the suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth.  We looked at some of the beautiful homes in the area and we were amazed at the affordability.  We then stopped at a buffet restaurant along the way and had a very nice and LARGE meal.  (Surprise, Surprise!)

We arrived at the stadium early and had to wait a few minutes for the gates to open.  It was sunny and incredibly hot (100+).  Inside the stadium there are large areas throughout the concourses that provide a little shade and relief from the heat.  We walked around the concourse and out to the family area in the outfield where we each had a snow cone to try to help beat the heat.

We went to our seats which were in the second level in direct sunlight.  For a Wednesday night game there was a fairly large crowd and we had a great time, despite the heat.  It just didn't seem to cool down, even after the sun went down.  The lows at night dipped down just below 90 during the time we were in Dallas.  The Texas Rangers blew out Baltimore 13-5 to the delight of the Texas crowd.  We had parked at lot that was a short walk from the stadium and it was easy to get back to our hotel. 

Deep in the Heart of Texas: July 3rd – July 5th

On Sunday, we made the leisurely drive from Houston to Austin. Before reaching our destination, we stopped at Steak ‘N Shake for some nourishment.  We made it to Austin by 2:00 PM and spent a couple of hours unwinding before heading down to 6th Street to join in the pre-4th of July festivities.  We enjoyed some interesting adult beverages and met some very eccentric people.  The atmosphere was not nearly as crazy and chaotic as it was 10 years ago during our last visit.  Due to the very hot and dry weather conditions, the fireworks were banned from the Austin area.  Many local residents went to other areas to celebrate Independence Day.  Nonetheless, we had a great time!

On Monday, the 4th of July, we decided to have lunch at the well renowned “Salt Lick Barbecue”.  This place has been featured several times on the Food Channel and touts one of the only open pit barbecues in Texas.  We had high expectations, but were left mildly disappointed.  The atmosphere was very festive.  There was an outdoor picnic area where freshly squeezed lemonade was served and a band played while we waited to be seated.  It was a very hot afternoon, but we enjoyed sitting in the sun for a while.  We both ordered a combination platter that consisted of ribs, brisket, and sausage.  The ribs were tender and moist, but the brisket was on the dry side. We were happy that we had the opportunity experience this place, but will probably not return again in the future. 

We ended the day with a light Mexican dinner and watched the movie, the Bridesmaids.  It was the perfect ending to a fun holiday celebration.

We made our way to Dallas on Tuesday, July 5th.  After checking into our hotel, we decided to take a self-guided tour of the new Dallas Cowboys Football Stadium.  Although neither one of us are Cowboys fans, we thought we should take some time to take the tour.  We were not disappointed.  We were able to go on the field and take some pictures.  The Jumbo-Tron is huge.   It was much larger than what you see on television. We were also allowed access to the Cowboys locker room, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders locker room, the Media Press Conference Room, and all of the inner workings of the stadium.

We finished our day by having a steak dinner at a local establishment that was highly rated on YELP.  The meal was good and inexpensive.

Our time in Texas has been very enjoyable so far.  We may consider moving here someday in the future.

Phoenix to Houston, Minute Maid Park

Thursday we drove from Phoenix to Sonora, Texas - just over 800 miles.  This was the farthest we can ever remember driving in one day, but we were able to take advantage of the 80mph speed limit in west Texas, which helped speed us along a little.  We stopped in Las Cruces, New Mexico for lunch at a little Mexican restaurant that was really good -the best we have come across so far.  We were in Sonora, Texas for a total of 11 hours, which was about 10 hours too long.


Best (and Spiciest) Mexican Food So Far (in Las Cruces, NM)

Friday we drove from Sonora, TX to Houston.  We enjoyed a two hour respite at the famous San Antonio Riverwalk and had a wonderful lunch at a steakhouse on the water.  After checking in at our hotel in Houston, we "relaxed" for a couple of hours at Katy's Lounge, which our server informed us was the oldest continuously open establishment in Houston - they've been in business since 1939.  We enjoyed sharing our baseball story with some of the locals.

  

San Antonio Riverwalk



  

Saturday we spent a little time in the pool at our hotel.  It was hot and muggy in Houston with the temperature and humidy both near 100.  We went to a 'New York' Deli near downtown Houston called Kenny and Ziggys New York Delicatessan.  It was a large, crowded place with a nice 'deli' decor.  Tina ordered a Smoked Salmon platter and Kevin had a pastrami and corned beef triple decker sandwich.  We both really enjoyed our meals.  Kasha Varnishkas, anyone?

We left for Minute Maid Park, which is located near downtown Houston, at about 3:30pm.  It was a 6:05pm start time for the Saturday game against the Boston Red Sox.  We parked in a lot only a couple of blocks from the stadium for $5.00 - another bargain.  We arrived at the stadium around 4:00pm, right when the gates opened.  This game, and the entire weekend series, against the Red Sox was sold out.  We had tickets in the All-You-Can-Eat section, since tickets were hard to come by and these were reasonbly priced at $25 per ticket.  The seats were located in the second level in left field.  The seats were pretty good for the price and provided a good view of the stadium and the field.  There were Red Sox fans everywhere.  Most that we talked to were from other parts of Texas.  Boston beat the Astros 10-4.  There were post game fireworks for a pre-Independence day celebration that was very nicely done.  We both really enjoyed Houston and Minute Maid Park.