Gulf Coast Travel Report
HOUSTON INSTITUTE FOR CULTURE TRAVEL INFORMATION
The Gulf Coast, Delta and Ozark Region
Visit the Regions | Southwest | Pacific | Go to the Map
Lost Dutchman Outdoor Adventures and Photographic Expeditions
In this travel report, you will find lists of recommended places to visit on your next trip to the region. There are also links to park websites and valuable information to help you determine a destination in the region and plan an itinerary.
The report covers a relatively broad region, so we have included links to stories about specific places we hope you will consider visiting.
The places we recommend are worthwhile destinations, with amazing scenery, hiking opportunities and educational exhibits. Many are culturally and historically significant. When you visit, we hope you will consider independent local businesses for dining or lodging, to help support the local economy and maintain the distinctive character of the area.
We will continue to add to the information provided here and improve the organization of the material. Additionally, you will find updated links to more specific information as it becomes available.
Once you are preparing to travel, see the packing list, warnings and photography tips.
Adventures
Recent Travel, Greatest Adventures
Recommendations
Great Day Hikes, Best Overlooked Sites, Best Archeological Sites
Best Landscapes to Photograph, Best Volcanic Areas, Best Scenic Routes
Places to Visit
Historic Sites, Museums, Historic Hotels
Tourist Towns, Campgrounds, Native American Powwows
Armchair Tourism
Recommended Reading, Recommended Viewing
Movies Filmed in the Delta Region, Adventure Books
Preparations
Links, Motel Towns, Motels, Restaurants
Travel Plans, Photo Equipment, Good Guides
Adventures | Recommendations | Places to Visit | Armchair Tourism | Preparations
ADVENTURES
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Upcoming Report
The King's Road
From Mexico to Louisiana, the historic route of Spanish governance of Texas follows Highway 21 through East Texas and Highway 6 into Central Louisiana. The route has been called the Camino Real and the San Antonio Trace. This report will inform readers about the historic sites of Indian communities and Spanish missions along the way, as well as French settlement and Creole heritage in Louisiana.
In Texas, this information will cover: Mission Tejas, Caddoan Mounds, Nacogdoches, San Augustin and Toledo Bend. And in Louisiana: Los Adaes State Commemorative Area, Spanish Lakes, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Commemorative Area, Fort Jesup State Commemorative Area, Natchitoches, Cane River National Heritage Area, Melrose Plantation, Kate Chopin House and Bayou Folk Museum and the Longleaf Trail.
Recent Travel
Recent Travel in the Southwest
Greatest Adventures
Adventures | Recommendations | Places to Visit | Armchair Tourism | Preparations
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Great Day Hikes
- Hemmed-in-Hollow, Buffalo National River
- Lost Valley Trail, Buffalo National River
- Indian Rockhouse Trail, Panther Creek, Buffalo National River
- Waterfowl Trail, Southwestern Arkansas
- Caddo Bend Loop Trails and Little Blakely Loop, Lake Ouachita , AR
- Mount Scott, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Lawton, OK
Best Overlooked Sites
Best Archaeological Sites
Archeological Links
Best Landscapes to Photograph
Best Volcanic Areas
Best Scenic Routes
- US 259 from Broken Bow, OK to Heavener, OK, through Kiamichi Mountains
- Natchez Trace Parkway, MS
- Talimena Parkway (Hwy 1), Talahina, OK to Mena, AR over Winding Stair Mountain
- AR 7 from El Dorado to Harrison
- Creole Nature Trail, LA 27 from Sulfur, then LA 14 or 82 to Abbeville
- US 281 from Wichita Falls, TX to Medicine Lodge, KS including trips to Wichita Mountains and Red Rock Canyon
- LA 1 from Baton Rouge to Grand Isle
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Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway, LA
Adventures | Recommendations | Places to Visit | Armchair Tourism | Preparations
PLACES TO VISIT
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Historic Sites
- San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, TX
- Presidio la Bahia and nearby Mission Espiritu Santo in Goliad State Historic Park, Goliad, TX
- Guerrero Viejo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Near International Falcon Reservoir)
- St. Mary's Church, Panna Maria, TX
- St. Francisvile and Jackson, LA
- Vieux Carre and St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA
- Fort Jackson, Triumph, LA
- Fort Sill National Historic Landmark, OK
- Old Washington Historic State Park, Hope, AR
- Louisiana Purchase Monument State Park, AR
- Arkansas Post National Monument, AR
Museums
- Whitehead Memorial Museum, Del Rio, TX
- Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, Laredo, TX
- Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
- Will Rogers Memorial, Claremore OK
- Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, TX
- Devil's Rope/Rt.66 Museum, McLean, TX
- Bob Wills Museum, Turkey, TX
- Fayetteville Area Museum, Fayetteville, TX
- Woolaroc Museum, near Bartlesville, OK
- Pioneer Woman Museum, Ponca City, OK
- Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
New Orleans Unit, New Orleans, LA
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Prairie Acadian Culture Center, Eunice, LA
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Acadian Culture Center, Lafayette, LA
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Wetlands Acadian Culture Center, Thibodaux, LA
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Chitimacha Culture Center, Charenton, LA
Chitimacha Indian Reservation
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Chalmette Unit, Chalmette, LA
- Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Barataria Preserve Unit, south of New Orleans, LA
Historic Hotels
- Cornstalk Fence Hotel, New Orleans, LA
- Hotel Turkey (1927), Turkey, TX
Tourist Towns
- Gruene, TX
- Fredricksburg, TX
- Medicine Park, OK
- Guthrie, OK
- New Orleans, LA
- Natchitoches, LA
- Van Buren, AR
- Eureka Springs, AR
- Hot Springs, AR
- Lajitas, TX
Campgrounds
Native American Powwows
- Red Earth, Oklahoma City, OK
June 10 - 14, 1999, call (405) 427-5228
- Intertribal Coucil of Houston Texas Championship Powwow
October
Adventures | Recommendations | Places to Visit | Armchair Tourism | Preparations
ARMCHAIR TOURISM
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Recommended Reading
- The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, Published by the University of North Carlina Press
- Louisian Cultural Vistas magazine published by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
- The Americas Review, published by Arte Publico Press at the University of Houston
- The Ancient Earthworks and Temples of the American Indians by Lindesey Brine (1894), Oracle
- Down the Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846 - 1847
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown
- I Fought With Geronimo, by Jason Betzinez
Recommended Viewing (Musical Heritage)
- Chulas Fronteras, directed by Les Blank, Arhoolie
- J'ai Ete Au Bal (I Went to the Dance), directed bu Les Blank, Arhoolie
- Fiddlin' Man (The Life and Times of Bob Wills), View Video Jazz Series
- Clifton Chenier: Kingdom of Zydeco
- High Lonesome, directed by Rachel Liebling
- Latcho Drom, directed by Tony Gatlif
Recommended Viewing (Indigenous Heritage)
- The Spirit of Crazy Horse, PBS Documentary
- Incident at Oglala, directed by Robert Redford
- Surviving Columbus: The Story of the Pueblo People, PBS
- Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation, directed by Godfrey Reggio
- Where the Green Ants Dream, directed by Werner Herzog
Movies Filmed in the Southcentral States
- The Road to Galveston
- Steel Magnolias (filmed in Cane River area of Louisiana)
Adventure Books
- Pretty Boy, by Michael Wallis
Adventures | Recommendations | Places to Visit | Armchair Tourism | Preparations
PREPARATIONS
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Links
Motel Towns
Motels
Restuarants
- Old School House, Comanche, OK
- Catfish Hole, Sallisaw, OK
- Thomas Barbeque, I-45, Woodlands, TX
- Seminole Inn Cafe, Hwy. 90, Comstock, TX
- Haby's Alsatian Bakery, Hwy. 90, Castroville, TX
- Rocky and Carlos, New Orleans, LA
- Morgan City Grill, Morgan City, LA
- Pepe's Mexican Restaurant, 117 S. 77 Sunshine Strip, Harlingen, TX (956) 423-3663
- Antone's Original Poboy, 8110 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX
- Mandola's Deli, 4105 Leeland Street, Houston, TX
- Cafe Piquet, Houston, TX
- Taqueria La Jaliscience, 1308 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX
- Thai Cottage, 5124 Cedar Street (Bissonnet and Rice), Houston, TX
- Van Loc Restaurant, 3010 Milam Street, Houston, TX
- Las Molinas, on Congress, Austin, TX
Travel Plans
Photo Equipment
Good Guides
- The Roads of Texas, Shearer Publishing, Fredericksburg, TX
- Texas State Travel Guide (free), 800-452-9292
- Oklahoma Travel Information (free), 800-841-6552 (800-841-OKLA)
- Louisiana Travel Information (free), 800-884-8626 (800-88-GUMBO)
-
New Orleans Information (free), 800-474-8165
- Arkansas Travel Information (free), 800-628-8725 (800-NATURAL)
Good Guides
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All images Copyright © Mark D. Lacy.
If you are in the Houston area, listen to World Music on KTRU 91.7 fm, noncommercial college radio, Mondays from 7 pm to 10 pm.
For more Lost Dutchman adventures and correspondance, send email to: lostdutchman@geocities.com
Lost Dutchman Expeditions, Houston, TX and Dos Cabezas, AZ
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