Saturday, June 30, 2018

Road Trip #291 - US-90 West - Harris County Line to I-10 Exit 773A: N Wa...

We continue west on US Highway 90 in Harris County, approaching the city of Houston. We pass through the census designated places of Crosby, Barrett Station, and over the San Jacinto River through Sheldon, and into the Houston city limits. US-90 merges with I-10, and since Hwy 90 is either concurrent with I-10 from Houston to Seguin, we divert to US-90 Alternate through Houston, and save I-10 for another series.


Friday, June 29, 2018

Road Trip #290 - US-90 West - FM-770/Raywood to Harris County Line

We continue west on US Highway 90, beginning in the unincorporated community of Raywood in Liberty County, then through the town of Ames, Liberty, and Dayton, finishing at the Harris County line. Texas State Highway 146 runs concurrent with US-90 through about half of this video.

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Road Trip #289 - US-90 West - Beaumont to FM-770/Raywood, Texas

We continue west on US Highway 90, beginning at Beaumont's Western City Limits in Jefferson County. We go through the cities of China and Nome, and then enter Liberty County. We pass through the city of Devers, and conclude in the unincorporated community of Raywood.


Saturday, June 23, 2018

Road Trip #288 - US-90 West - I-10 Exit 869: Bridge City through Beaumon...

Since this video is really about US Highway 90, we continue along the US-90/I-10 concurrency at warp speed until we get to the city of Beaumont, where US-90 travels through town. Here, we slow down and see the town.

At exit 855A, we leave I-10 and head into downtown Beaumont. Beaumont was founded as a town in 1835. The early European-American settlement had an economy based on the development of lumber, farming, and port industries. A big change occurred in 1901 with the Spindletop gusher, which demonstrated the potential of the huge oil field. With Spindletop, several energy companies developed in Beaumont, and some continue. The area rapidly developed as one of the major petro-chemical refining areas in the country. Along with Port Arthur and Orange, Beaumont forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the Texas Gulf Coast. Beaumont is home of Lamar University, a national Carnegie Doctoral Research university with 14,966 students, including undergraduates and post graduates. Over the years, several corporations have been based in this city, including Gulf States Utilities which had its headquarters in Beaumont until its takeover by Entergy Corporation in 1993. GSU's Edison Plaza headquarters is still the tallest building in Beaumont.

Prior to the birth of the Interstate Highway system in 1956, the US Highways were the main method of cross-country automobile travel, and in Beaumont, some reminders still remain here on the Old Spanish Trail. Vintage motels and gas stations still remain on what was once the most heavily traveled east-west corridor in the southern United States. Of special note is a former Alamo Plaza Hotel Courts on the right, originally opened in 1938, now operating as the Deluxe Inn. This was one of their 29 locations, and it still retains the unique Alamoesque facade. As I've mentioned in other videos, as a child, I spent many summer weekends at the Alamo Plaza in Gulfport, Mississippi, and it's interesting to see that some of these are still standing. We'll see another one later on in this series.
More about the Alamo Plaza and other vintage hotels:
http://www.highwayhost.org

Some points of interest in Beaumont: Since 1907, Beaumont has been home of the South Texas State Fair and Rodeo, held at Ford Park during March. It is the second-largest fair in the state, attracting more than 500,000 visitors in 2009. The fair features a livestock show, a commercial exhibition, a carnival midway and numerous food choices. The Fair moved from the Fair Park Coliseum to Ford Park in 2004, a new, larger facility on the west end of Beaumont. The fair was previously held in the fall but was moved to spring after hurricanes Rita in 2005 and Ike in 2008 caused its cancellation twice within three years. The YMBL Championship Rodeo is held at Ford Park during the South Texas State Fair. The rodeo is an annual event and is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Admission to the rodeo is included in fair admission.
The Gusher Marathon, organized in 2010 by the local nonprofit Sports Society for American Health, is the city's first annual marathon. The Gusher takes place in March and includes a 5K, half marathon and full marathon. The course begins at the Montagne Center of Lamar University and tours Downtown and Lamar before returning to the Montagne.
The Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest is a Jazz festival held in downtown Beaumont since 2005.
The Boomtown Film and Music Festival is a film and music festival that began in 2008 to replace the Spindletop Film Festival.
Dog Jam is a rock concert held annually at Ford Park.
Each year, a July 4th celebration is held in downtown Beaumont. The celebration includes live music in and around Riverfront Park, a concert by the Symphony of Southeast Texas in the Julie Rogers Theatre, followed by a fireworks display viewed from Riverfront Park.
Each Monday starting in March, the City of Beaumont provides live music and seating at the Event Centre in downtown Beaumont. Ten vendors feature a wide choice of food selections.
On the first Saturday of December, downtown hosts the Beaumont Downtown Winter Parade. The parade features floats that travel down Main, College and Pearl streets. In recent years the parade has also featured a lighted boat parade that travels down the Neches River; spectators can watch from Riverfront Park.


Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Road Trip #287 - US-90 West - LA-3063 / Vinton, Louisiana to Exit 869 / ...

We drive the last few miles of US-90 in Louisiana and then merge with I-10 to cross the Sabine River into Texas. We make a quick stop at the Texas Travel Information Center to put new film in the camera, and then back onto US-90/I-10 through the city of Orange, finishing this video at exit 869, Bridge City, Texas.

Hotel Review #033 - Homewood Suites San Antonio Airport

A room tour of our One King Bed Studio Suite Nonsmoking room at the Homewood Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport, in San Antonio, Texas.



Sunday, June 17, 2018

New Orleans Neighborhoods #12 - Canal Street Scenes

A walk up New Orleans main street, Canal Street from the Mississippi River to Rampart Street and back, with some detailed views of different blocks and buildings along the way.

Road Trip #286 - US-90 West - Sulphur to LA-3063/Vinton, Louisiana

Our final stretch of US-90 before we reach the Texas border (where things will get interesting again). We drive through the city of Suphur, and finish up in the town of Vinton, all in Calcasieu Parish

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Road Trip #285 - US-90 West - Iowa through Lake Charles to Sulphur, Loui...

We continue west on US Highway 90, beginning at the southern terminus of US Highway 165 in the city of Iowa, Louisiana in Calcasieu Parish. We pass through the city of Lake Charles, and join I-10 to cross the Calcasieu River where it empties into Lake Charles. After passing through the town of Westlake, we exit I-10 and continue to the eastern border of the city of Sulphur.



Saturday, June 9, 2018

Road Trip #284 - US-90 West - Jennings through US-165 / Iowa, Louisiana

We continue west on US Highway 90, beginning at the western city limits of the city of Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish. We pass through the towns of Roanoke, Welsh and Lacassine. We enter Calcasieu Parish at the eastern limits of the town of Iowa, concluding at the southern terminus of US Highway 165.



Thursday, June 7, 2018

Road Trip #283 - US-90 West - Estherwood to Jennings, Louisiana

We continue west on US Highway 90 beginning at the village of Estherwood in Acadia Parish, and through the village of Mermentau, and into Jefferson Davis Parish. We conclude after driving through the city of Jennings.



Monday, June 4, 2018

Road Trip #282 - US-90 West - Rayne through Crowley to Estherwood, Louis...

We continue west on US Highway 90 leaving the city limits of Rayne, and through the city of Crowley, the county seat of Acadia Parish. We conclude as we reach the village limits of Estherwood, Louisiana.