7 Days Trip to USA

By Shelly Clarke – email her by clicking here.

13 Nov   Dublin/Heathrow   07.05/08.40

13 Nov   Heathrow<Dallas   11.05/15.25

Our flight was delayed an hour in Dublin which left us a tight connection even though we were in and out of same Terminal (queue for security was very long)

Maybe give our client extra time as Heathrow very busy

Connected in Dallas for out flight to New Orleans

Arrived late to our hotel in New Orleans Sheraton hotel

Nice hotel about 10 mins from French Quarter and Bourbon Street in taxi

Day 1 - 14 Nov

Breakfast in the Marriott across road from Sheraton excellent food (bloody Marys and champagne for Breakfast)

Walking tour of New Orleans loads of history and info on this

Pavements and roads in very poor condition due to sea level and Catriona (hasn’t quite recovered from Hurricane)

Personally, wasn’t too keen on New Orleans but I think if our clients travel in the summer will be totally different

Good bars and music clubs though!

We had lunch in one of the oldest restaurants The Napoleon House food was amazing

Free time to wander around loads of interesting shops

Cooking Demonstration at New Orleans School of Cooking

Chef cooked local dishes and we got to eat them!

Live music on Frenchman Street

We visited 2 clubs’ great atmosphere and music

Day 2 - 15 Nov

Breakfast at Sheraton hotel

Depart New Orleans for Lake Charles by coach

3 hours

Arrive Lake Charles

Visit to Crying Eagle Brewing Company,

Independent brewery got to sample their beer and food

Pintail Wildlife Drive

Pintail Wildlife Drive is the best place to see wildlife as you drive along the 3-mile loop. A variety of different birds can be seen throughout the seasons, while alligators are year-round residents. The loop traverses canal-side hedgerow-type scrub, prairie, and marsh habitats which hold all manner of bird life from flycatchers, wrens, warblers, sparrows and buntings in the hedgerows, to ducks and geese (late fall/ winter/ early spring only) in the marsh and prairie. Between late November through early February large concentrations of Snow and Greater White-fronted geese pack into this relatively small site. Look also for less common species such as Ross’s and Canada geese. Careful perusing of the hedgerows here during the same season can also produce western flycatchers such as Vermilion and Ash-throated, among others. Be sure to stop at the half-mile loop over water boardwalk to walk right out into the marsh.

The boardwalk was closed for maintenance, so we didn’t get to walk around just drove the loop on the coach

Didn’t see any Alligators LOL

Arrive at 1911 Historic City Hall and Cultural Centre, 1001 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601.After extensive restoration, 1911 Historic City Hall opened its doors as the City of Lake Charles’ public art gallery and cultural facility in 2004. Since that time, Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Centre has showcased numerous traveling exhibitions from around the world, as well as regional and local artists. The two newest galleries in the museum include the Black Heritage Gallery and Gallery by the Lake, providing space for the community of visual artists to create, interact, and exhibit.
Group will experience a King Cake Decorating Class with king cakes

check-in. 777 Ave L’auberge Lake Charles

Loved this hotel

Huge casino but in the middle of nowhere if you didn’t want to go to the casino no reason really to go

Dinner at The James 710. Fabulous food but I don’t think there is enough in Lake Charles to offer our clients

Day 3 & 4 - 16 Nov

Depart 07.00 for Austin Texas

Arrive   13.30

Private Austin + Hill Country Panoramic Tour with local tour company AO Tours. Expect a deep dive on the history and culture of Austin from an expert guide, stopping at a few main attractions along the way while also taking you out to our beloved Hill Country just outside the city limits for some breathtaking views. (Requires waiver. AO Tours offers several public tours that operate out of the Austin Visitor Centre daily. The public cost of this tour is $51. Private tours are more expensive as you are renting out the entire van for your group alone. Private tours can be customized to your clients’ requests- add lunch, see a specific attraction, etc. Quotes for private tours are only available upon inquiry).

Check in Thompson Austin Hotel

Lovely hotel very central to all attractions

BBQ, Boot Stompin’ and Live Music private experience from local tour company

Austin Detours. Austin is known for live music, BBQ and two-stepping. Hit all three in one night. BBQ

Expect to eat a BBQ meal at a restaurant (vegetarian options available upon request), get two step dance lessons from a professional instructor, then put your practice to the test with a live band at an iconic music venue.

This was fun still can’t two step LOL

Become an Austin Street Artist with local tour company Austin Detours.

Austin is becoming just as known for its street art as it is for its food or music. This tour will take you to some of Austin’s most iconic murals to learn about the artists and the neighbourhoods they were made in. Then we’ll head to an art studio to meet a real street artist and get guidance for you to create your own work of street art.

Loads of street art around Austin

Grab lunch at El Arroyo. 1624 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703, United States

Austin is home to many global cuisines, but Tex-Mex takes the crown as the local favourite. This blend of Mexican and Texas-style comfort food can be found on just about any street, often in family-run restaurants that have operated for years. El Arroyo has been such a fixture in the Austin community for nearly 50 years and they're great for accommodating big groups. You may recognize its famously witty marquee sign out front- the perfect

Food amazing here!!

Go on a sunset sightseeing cruise with Capital Cruises and enjoy a city tour by

water. A huge selling point of Austin is that Lady Bird Lake perfectly dissects our downtown. We recommend all visitors get out on the water, whether it's renting a stand-up paddle board or a paddle boat in the shape of a swan to enjoy the stunning views of the Austin skyline.

This would be great in the Summer but bit cold in November

Live Music Crawl with Austin Detours. Visit three iconic music venues in one

night, with sounds ranging from rock, blues and country.

This was great fun Austin Detours are brilliant if your clients are looking to do tours in Austin

Day 5 - 18 Nov

Breakfast Veracruz All Natural best pancakes ever!!

Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre, spring fed pool right in the centre of town that maintains a brisk 68-70° year ‘round.

Way too cold for a dip!!

Loved Austin!!

Austin to Dallas 3 hours by coach

Visit to the sixth-floor museum

This is where JFK was shot from very interesting and well worth visiting

Wild Bill’s Western Store Loads of Cowboy boots on sale here!!

Sweet Tooth Hotel this is where artists show their work its set up like a hotel with different exhibits in each room very Pink!!

I found this a bit weird LOL

Nasher Sculpture Centre

Klyde Warren Park

Panoramic views at Reunion Tower’s GeO Deck this was cool can see the whole city from here

Dallas Mavericks VS Denver Nuggets at the American Airlines Centre

This was amazing first basketball game I’d been to we had a box courtesy of AA

Day 6 - 19 Nov

Visit the George W. Bush Presidential Library

Interesting to visit here they have a replica of the oval office and full account Bush presidency

Time for some shopping at NorthPark Centre

Bit of retail therapy but rate of exchange bad so seemed quite expensive

Patio lunch at the Bishop Arts District

Farewell drinks at The Revelers Hall

Quick Tour of the Perot Museum of Nature & Science

Departure to the CR Smith Museum

Lots of museums and art galleries

Dallas is a beautiful city so clean!!

Check in at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel

Billy Bob’s Texas - the world largest honky Tonk for dinner, refreshments, bull riding, live music, and dancing

Day 7 - 20 Nov

Fort Worth is nice loads of shops and restaurants

Depart for a tour of Fort Worth’s Cultural District – Home to 5 world class museums, the Will Rogers Memorial centre, Dickies Arena and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

We will pass by Crocket Row and admire some of the Murals along the way.

1^st stop The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth – have your camera ready - this cultural gem is recognized as one of the most beautiful museums and is home to art pieces from Andy Warhol’s, KAWS, Rothko’s, Pollocks.

Our next stop will be the Stockyards National Historic District

Once home to cowboys, cattlemen and outlaws, today the Stockyards National Historic District is one of the most popular attractions in Texas. Day and night, visitors come to the Stockyards to get a taste of the true American West. We will begin our journey on E. Exchange Avenue, here the weathered brick streets are lined with historic buildings, restaurants, shops, saloons and other attractions

Fort Worth Herd Twice Daily Cattle Drive

After we will visit Cowtown Coliseum home to the Stockyards Championship Rodeo and then we will tour Mule Alley - the new area in the Stockyards home to restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues and to the beautiful Hotel Drover, selected in 2022 as Travel & Leisure best hotel in the DFW area.

After lunch you will have time to explore the John Wayne and American Experience, the Stockyards Museum, Stockyards Station, Old Gringo Boots

Loved the Stockyards was like going back to the Wild west but with beautiful hotels and restaurants

18.55   Flight to London

BA 0192 DFW-LHR

Flight was delayed by 4 hours so missed our connection to Dublin

BA put us on the next flight

Regards

Michelle