A favorite place to eat of ours is Prejeans in Lafeyette. You might be able to eat there on your way to Texas. New Orleans has fantastic food!!

I don't consider Dallas and Houston great tourist destinations. There is great food and there are some things to do and see, just not Major US attraction.

If you go to Texas, I strongly suggest Fort Worth. It has three really brilliant art museums, all by equally brilliant architects: the Amon Carter, the Kimball, and the Modern. You could spend a very long day amongst them since they are all together or a much shorter pair of days.

We stayed in the former Stockyards area, now a sort of theme-park area, but we found plenty of good food to eat and some amusement from the daily "stampede" (some slightly sleepy longhorns being gently conducted down the main street of this area.

The New York Times has done one or more articles on visiting Fort Worth with some interesting local food experiences included -- not gourmet but characteristic.

Natchez, MS is a beautiful port city on the Mississippi with spectacular antebellum mansions built when cotton was king. You could visit part of the Blues Trail and/or the Natchez Trace parkway.

In Louisiana I would recommend spending some time in the area around Lafayette for Cajun music, history and food.

Definitely come to Texas, but remember it will be HOT and HUMID in the summer and it's BIG.

Houston's very urban and big and busy and definitely representative of a sort of Texas (oil and business and such) but it's not pretty really. Is there some reason to go there specifically?

I live in Corpus Christi and here there is the beach/Gulf access, a nice aquarium, and for the real cowboy/ranch deal, a bit south is the King Ranch, once largest ranch in the world and still big and busy. There are many different cultures here (ranching, Hispanic, marine) and lots of good food. We're about 10 hour drive from New Orleans area--you could stop by Houston on your way to break up the trip if need be and then spend a couple nights here. (It's about 4 hours from Houston.)

THEN definitely go to San Antonio, my favorite big city in the world I guess (well, it's not London but what is). It's a 3 hour drive from Corpus Christi. Spend a couple nights at the least there. Riverwalk, the Alamo, WONDERFUL food and shopping, good museums, tons of accomodations of all sorts.

Dallas is about a 5 hour drive, maybe, from San Antonio. I don't know that area much other than where to stay briefly when seeing a student son there, so can't advise about sites. I think Fort Worth would be more the cowboy stuff.

Texas, just getting here from New Orleans and then doing some sort of loop, could easily take well over a week. Maybe fly into Texas somewhere, see stuff, (like start at Houston, go to Corpus maybe, or just San Antonio, then head to Dallas/Ft. Worth), then drive to Vicksburg, Mississippi, area and decide what to see along Mississippi for a couple days, drive to New Orleans area for a couple days, then drive to somewhere along the Gulf Coast for a beach stay with whatever days you have left? I don't know how long you want to drive at a time or how important the beach relaxing is, so this itinerary idea may not appeal at all. But come to Texas (at least San Antonio!!) and look at maps to see what sort of loop might have you being most efficient with driving, etc. If you want to see some of Texas and end up on the beach, I think it makes sense to start in Texas and then drive back towards New Orleans and leave from there.

We are also from Europe, and we have also enjoyed several trips to Louisiana and Texas. But please take this warning serious:

Do not go there between May and October! We usually travel to the Southern States over Christmas and enjoy beautiful weather. Last year, we spent Christmas in Texas and had 30°C in Big Bend Natl. Park on 25 December. Can you imagine the temperatures there in July?

Otherwise, the region is extremely beautiful. New Orleans is one of the most beautiful cities in North America, and you will enjoy a daytrip along the Mississippi to visit a few grand old plantations. But, again, not in summer, when it is unbearably hot and humid there.

As others have said, the most attractive destinations in Texas are:

- San Antonio - with lots of history and a most beautiful cityscape.
- Austin - the charming capital city and famous place for blues music.
- Texas Hill Country.
- Fort Worth.
- Big Bend Natl. Park (definitly not in summer).

>>and we have a very romantic view of the Mississippi itself<<

Be aware that the Mississipi is a broad stream with levees on both sides and a lot of industry behind the levees. But you will enjoy the plantations!

This one is my favourite:
www.oakalleyplantation.com

Thank you everyone for all the useful replies.

I like the idea of flying to Texas and then driving back to New Orleans and flying home from there. I like the sound of San Antonio and am keen on seeing cowboy/ranch style life.

BUT am now worried about the weather being too hot and humid - I am a teacher and so the summer holidays are the best time for us to travel. What does anyone else think?

If you have to go in summer, think about Northern New Mexico - Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque are beautiful destinations. You may also drive into Northern Arizona and Southern Utah (Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verda, Lake Powell), all high-elevated destinations which are cooler and drier in summer. Better save Texas and Louisiana for a winter trip. (San Antonio might be bearable because of the coolness of the Riverwalk.)

I'm also a teacher so I understand; we "have" to go to England in the summer next August, when I and DD have off.
(Wonder if we're gonna be there while you guys are here!)

So---just know that summer here is HOT and if that's ok and you know it going into it, don't let that be a stopper. Go absolutely as early as you can (the later in the summer, the bigger risk of tropical storms and hurricanes, too). This past summer we traveled 5000 miles to National Parks in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Arizona in July and it was mostly warm to hot even in the higher elevations (well, some mornings were definitely cool but we had hot,too--but not humid)--and that's a whole different trip, of course. We do have air conditioning EVERYWHERE so you can always cool off when indoors, in the car, and sleeping! Since you have to travel in summer, don't let the weather be a stopper--just be prepared for it. Coastal areas will be hot and the most humid but will always have a breeze, unlike inland places like Dallas. (By hot we mean mid 80's-mid 90's F usually as daytime highs. In early summer it almost never gets near 100--almost never, anyway.)

Don't know when your summer holiday is, but May can be fairly pleasant. June through Sept is indeed hot and humid (90sF during day and 70sF during night), though central Texas is usually less humid than New Orleans. Keep in mind that literally everything is air conditioned from shopping malls to cars to busses to buildings to stores to sports stadiums, etc. Whether this is intolerable to you only you can decide.

Having said that, with 2 weeks, I'd focus on New Orleans and surrounding Cajun/plantation country, Natchez (including the Natchez Trace), then San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country. From New Orleans you might also work in a few days on some of the nice Gulf beaches around Alabama and Florida Panhandle.

New Orleans to San Antonio is about an 8.5 hr drive, so very doable. And yes there are actually quite a few nice things to see and do in Houston if you wanted a day there on the way (NASA, excellent museums and galleries, nature preserves, restaurants of every ethnic background, etc).

If you consider flying there are very frequent flights from New Orleans to several cities in Texas including Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus. Usually good fares on Southwest Airlines (and often matched by Continental Airlines through its hub in Houston).

Echnaton's suggestion of Northern New Mexico is a very good one. It is pretty much all more than a mile high, and while hot, it is dry, very dry, and the evenings tend to be coolish

The culture is unique, not like anywhere else you have ever been, and the scenery spectacular. With a reasonable amount of time, you can go into southern Colorado to visit Mesa Verde and ride the narrow gauge trains into the Rockies.

If you decide on this area for this trip, do yourself a favor and read as much about it as you can before you go, both history and fiction, like Willa Cather's "Death Comes for the Archbishop" (not a mystery!).

It is a place where the Spanish, Mexicans and Indians (seldom if ever "Native Americans") are three distinct cultures, even though they all sort of look alike. Then there are the pueblos -- Taos and San Ildefonso on flat ground, Acoma like a Spanish village on top of a precipice. The church in Las Trampas (Truchas? memory fails) Do you get the idea that I love this place? If only it were not so far from the sea . . . .

Somebody mentioned Natchez, Mississippi at the Natchez Trace Parkway. I'll throw in Nashville, Tennessee and you can do all three! The 444 mile-long Natchez Trace Parkway starts at Natchez and ends in Nashville. Scenic beauty, no commercial traffic or advertising the entire way and tons of history: Old Southwest development, Native American Indian, Civil War... If driving the Trace, try to allot at least two days to make the drive and a day or two at either end in both Natchez and Nashville. For tons of info about the Natchez Trace Parkway see: http://www.NatchezTraceTravel.com

In Houston on Saturday mornings, if you plan ahead, you can sign up to take a history boat tour of the Buffalo Bayou. It is really fun to do and it is seeing Houston from a totally different perspective. http://www.buffalobayou.org/boattours.html

In New Braunfels take the family to the original Schlitterbahn to have a fun, relaxing, cool day in the water park. http://www.schlitterbahn.com/. Or check out Krause Springs or Hamilton Pool on the west side of Austin. Or Barton Springs in the city of Austin. All these places have cool, spring-fed water.

There is A LOT to do in Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country. There are relaxing cabins to rent near Concan on the Frio River, www.frioman.com; bat watching at night by the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, the RiverWalk in San Antonio. Austin has a place called Esther's Follies which is a fun revue show at the corner of 6th and Red River.

I live in Texas and I love all the state has to offer. I am also a teacher and Texas has great history!! Go online to the Texas Travel and sign up for the travel guide and map. http://www.traveltex.com/Index.aspx

Wow! thanks kkukura for the info on Texas.
I am thinking of flying to say Houston aand spending some time in Texas - it all sounds great. We can then travel on towards New Orleans and fly back from there (although there are no direct flights to London).
Unfortuately our summer hoiday cannot begin until mid July - exams/graduation ceremonies but even with the warnings about the heat the family are really keen. We all fancy the Cajun/plantation country, Natchez Trace Parkway (although not the whole stretch) and NO itself.
Any other tips/suggestions?

Texas by itself has months' worth of stuff! Are you still thinking beach time?

Can't give you any ideas for Houston but there are things to do there.

I mentioned Corpus Christi already, including a half day trip south of here to King Ranch. If you decide to head south from Houston to Corpus Christi for a bit, I can give other specific ideas.

DEFINITELY plan on San Antonio for multiple days. From there there's the Hill Country and/or Austin which has a great music scene.

From there are you still thinking the Dallas/Ft. Worth area? and then east towards the Mississippi (interstate runs pretty straight from Dallas to Vicksburg, Mississippi) and then hit the Natchez Trace towards NO? I think that makes spatial sense.

Post back with your tentative itinerary ideas in terms of time in each area and you'll probably get some specific help.

I can come up with a lot of suggestions because I love to explore Texas, so feel free to ask specific questions if you want! It will be VERY hot and humid in July, but everything is air conditioned and if you do outside activities plan the day out so you are not out in the heat of the day for long. Or do water activities during the hottest part of the day. The heat will drain you no matter how used to it you get. Drink water all the time.

Quick replies! I think I had ruled out Dallas/ Fort Worth as the Hill Country (cabins at Cocan), Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi all have more to offer. Houston is only a convienient airport from London not particularly a place to stay.
I was thinking of about a week in total in Texas - a couple of days in each place. As some of it could be chill out time (Concan cabins and beach in Corpus Christi) perhaps beach at the end is not needed. Then drive to NO and a week there.
We have about 14 days in total - the flight out lands in afternoon and returns overnight to London.
All thoughts appreciated.

In either Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, or Round Rock you should take in a baseball game. Houston has a major league team- The Astros. The other towns have minor league teams. Their stadiums are smaller and a lot of fun too.
Houston Astros-http://houston.astros.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=hou
Round Rock Express-http://www.roundrockexpress.com/
San Antonio Missions-http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t510
Corpus Christi Hooks-http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t482

Also, don't rule out Houston. We have Rice Village, the Galleria, Space Center Houston, Houston Zoo, Museum district, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo (soccer). We are close to the Kemah Boardwalk (close to where I live) and Galveston. There is a lot more to do here than people think!

I would not go to Texas, Louisianna or Mississippi in the summer. We had a great trip in that area for 2 weeks last May and the weather was perfect.

An area you may like would be the Pacific Northwest. Oregon, Washington, Idaho and perhaps into British Columbia. Vancouver and Vancouver Island where the flowers in June are beautiful.

Ocean Shores, Washington is a wonderful place to vacation. It is right along the Pacific Ocean - razor back clam digging etc. Seattle has great seafood, Pike Street Market etc.
http://www.experiencewa.com/
There is Mt Ranier, Mt St helens.
Portland Oregon would be nice to visit and the oregon shores are beautiful. Coeur d'Alene Idaho is a favorite vacation spot. It is beautiful country. http://www.coeurdalene.org/

New Orleans in the summer is going to be uncomfortable like you cannot even fathom.

Do reconsider.

Please do rule out Houston--a huge sprawling piece of concrete. Sorry, Houston.
San Antonio and the Hill Country is very interesting and worth a couple of days. Then head north to Dallas, and east for Louisiana and New Orleans. Yes, it may be uncomfortable (humid, hot), but so it goes when you travel. It is a part of the lore of a "place" and contributes to its ambience. And it is probably THE most distinctive city in the US for multiple cultural reasons.
Then if you want some beach, you could head up to the Gulf Coast at Biloxi or such. Or if you are flying out of Houston, go to the Texas gulf coast for a few days.

For nicer beaches go south in Texas to Corpus Christi or South Padre, or go east of the Mississippi. I agree that other cities are more appealing to visit than Houston, but there are plenty of things to do in and around Houston. I, myself, prefer Houston to Dallas, but then I live here!

I'm trying to logistically figure out how you can get in everything you want to do. Houston may be an option, but you end up double backing quite a bit. I suggest a slightly different alternative, that probably would be worth checking out.

Day 1-2: Fly into DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth). I'm sure there's a direct flight from London Heathrow though I'm not 100% sure. While in Dallas, go to Arlington and catch a baseball game at the Ballpark in Arlington. It's a nice park and it will be an interesting experience. Then, spend the next day at the Fort Worth/stockyards area and you'll get a taste of "Cowboy culture".

Day 3-4:From there, drive south to Austin (3.5 to 4 hours) and spend a few nights there. See the bats at night (it's a great summer event - possibly even doing a bat cruise on Lady Bird Lake). In the day, stroll along Lady Bird Lake and take in the scenery (nature and people watching, lol). Or if it's really hot, go to Barton Springs to cool off in the cold spring fed pool. At night, find a restaurant to your liking in the downtown area and tour 6th Street and the 4th Street area to see the nightlife in Austin. If you want a more laid back experience, go out to Lake Travis and catch a sunset at the Oasis, a restaurant overlooking the lake.

Next day spend a fun day at Schlitterbahn if that's your thing. It's the best waterpark in the USA and it doesn't dissapoint. Alternatively, you could go tubing down the Guadalupe River or something like that. Think cool.

Day 5-6: Then head on into San Antonio. Spend 2 or so days there. Tour the Riverwalk, Sea World, and the Alamo.

From there, plan to drive to Houston and stay in the Clearlake area near NASA for a night. Tour NASA, it's really worth it.

Day 7-9: Next day drive nonstop to Lafayette, LA. Use that as your base for Cajun Country. Sights to see include Avery Island (Tabasco Factory and Jungle Gardens), St. Martinville, Vermilionville, and a swamp tour. Include a few plantations along River Road as well.

Day 10-12: New Orleans. Need another thread for that!

Day 13-15: Drive to Panhandle of Florida and relax and unwind. Take puddle jumper plane back from FL or Mobile to DFW and then back to Heathrow.

There are other possibilities, but a Houston base causes you to "loop" around unnecessarily. I'm sure others have different ideas nonetheless...

bk's suggestion makes some sense considering your interests and possible itinerary.

In terms of flights you've got several options. Usually in the summer there are 3 nonstops between London and DFW (AA and BA) and 5 nonstops between London and IAH (CO and BA). You might even check open jaw on BA and fly into DFW and leave from IAH. Regardless, you could fly from New Orleans or Florida back to DFW (on AA) or to IAH (on CO). I'd check flights into both cities and see if there's much of a price difference, then work on your options.

I agree seeing a ball game in Arlington is great, but in July it will be extremely HOT! I waited until last September to go there for a game thinking it would be more plesant. No, I happened to go to Arlington the weekend the temperature still stayed in the high 90's and I got so sunburned (even with sun screen!). I would take in either one of the smaller fields (more breezes) or Minute Maid Park if you are interested in a ball game.

kkukura,

Usually the games in July are at night, so they should be fine. I think they only play day games there in April, May, early June, and in September.

That being said, The Round Rock Express has a great stadium, in well, Round Rock, TX (near Austin) and the games are also usually at night.

I would say that just going to Houston to see a ballgame is a bit overkill (they are probably not baseball fanatics, don't think they play baseball in the UK that much), so they should stick to Arlington or see the Round Rock Express near Austin since it's on the way of their itinerary. I think NASA is a far better representative of Houston than the Astros and they won't have time for both (NASA took me all day).

It will be a night game in July or August, I guarantee.

That would be better. I just said the game in Houston if they were flying in or out of Houston and had the time. I prefer the minor league games myself and have been to them in Round Rock numerous times, as well as Corpus Christi and San Antonio. NASA is something that is representative of Houston. I have lived in Clear Lake where NASA is for most of my life so I do recommend seeing it, although they have been to the Fl site so they might not be interested in seeing it from my end. Well, as you, I, and many others have said, there is a lot to do in TX!

thank you everyone for all the advice - some fantastic thoughts on an itinary. But having read all the thoughts we have decided not to go in summer and will go in a couple of years time at Easter.

We are now looking at alternatives for 2010 - maybe north west Pacific.

Once again thank you everyone for the advice

Fantastic places in the Pacific Northwest to visit and much better, IMO, than your previous plan. Summer is really the best time to visit. I would pick either Oregon or Washington State and go with one of those. We spent 12 days this past July in Oregon(did take one day to see the Redwoods in California)and it was a fantastic trip. This would be especially a good trip for kids. How adventurous are you and your kids? How much hiking do you like to do? This trip would be somewhat like your Yosemite trip(lots of scenery). You could easily through in Seattle or Portland for a bit of a city experience.

I think you will be much happier visiting the south in the spring. For 2010 summer you could also think about New England

One of my favorite vacations in the U.S. was a week camping throughout northern California and Oregon. Both are so beautiful! The northeast would also be another wonderful choice.

Since this is taqgged for Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, you probably would be best to pen a new topic with tags for Oregon and Washington. You would get better advice from local Pacific NW people.