A favorite pasttime for many college students is the unforgettable road trip taken with good friends. With the fading of summer and Fall Break just around the corner, an inexpensive road trip is the perfect excuse to get away.
First stop: Fort Worth
Look no further than Fort Worth for some fabulous, inexpensive and unexplored restaurants.
If you enjoy unique cuisine, then try Hui Chuan Sushi, Sake, Tapas. It was voted best sushi by Fort Worth, Texas magazine in September. Hui Chuan is located on Camp Bowie Boulevard and has a large range of sushi, sashimi, tataki and tapas. Sushi enthusiasts can eat for around $15, according to Hui Chuan’s Web site.
“As for cuisine, sushi fanatics will love the fish that’s so fresh you would swear it could flop, while those with a more conservative palate can order from the tapas menu or the grill,” said Allison Hatfield, AOL City Guide 2005.
If comfort food is what you want, then Kincaid’s Hamburgers is for you.
One of the best, most inexpensive hamburgers in the city, try Kincaid’s on Camp Bowie Boulevard. The restaurant has a laid-back atmosphere with picnic tables and fun mobiles hanging from the ceiling.
“Kincaid’s is where friends meet to eat, and it has the best hamburgers I’ve ever eaten,” A.J. Chambers, a senior sociology major, said.
Down the road on Camp Bowie Boulevard is a delicious cafe, Blue Bonnet Bakery. The bakery is filled with tempting cookies and cakes making, it hard to have just one.
“Some of our most popular bakery items are chocolate fudge cake, sugar cookies and party squares,” bakery employee Barbara Williamson, said.
If you are not craving sweets, sitting outside on the Patio with friends during happy hour at Blue Mesa, one of the best restaurants in Fort Worth, can be a great end to a long day.
Fort Worth, Texas magazine voted Blue Mesa one of the best places for margaritas in its September issue.
“There are around 40 different types of tequila here, and they change all the time,” said Dennis McFarlin, proprietor of Blue Mesa.
The Top Shelf margaritas, Cazadores Reposado tequila and Sauza Hornitos tequila are the most popular drinks at Blue Mesa, McFarlin said.
Second stop: Dallas
A popular southern food destination for many SMU students is Bubba’s Cooks Country, SMU graduate Ross Miller said.
“It’s finger lickin’ good, and I love the fried chicken,” Miller said.
The restaurant is located across the street from the SMU campus in a old Texaco gas station and has a variety of southern comfort food.
Looking for a great spot with new music?
Try the Deep Ellum area, which contains a unique concert venue, the Gypsy Tea Room. The Tea Room provides a relaxed location to see up-and-coming bands as well as some big names. Music lovers can be front and center to see their favorite bands because the Tea Room is small enough to be an intimate venue.
According to the Gypsy Tea Room Web site, some of the bands or artists playing in October and November are: Better Than Ezra, O.A.R, Keller Williams, Liz Phair, Nickel Creek, Martin Sexton and Busta Rhymes. Concert tickets are usually under $25, according to the Web site.
Dallas not only has good food and music, but it also has a fantastic history museum, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
According to www.jfk.org, more than 2 million visitors come to tour the museum and view the location where President John F. Kennedy was shot.
“The Museum contains a permanent historical exhibition dealing with the life, death and legacy of John F. Kennedy with a focus on the impact of his death on the nation and the world,” according to the museum’s Web site.
The tour is an emotional retrospective on JFK’s life, and the $13 for the audio tour is well worth the money.
Third Stop: Austin
Trying to stick to the motto, “keep Austin weird,” the city offers some unique places to visit.
For a quick lunch, Jimmy John’s – Worlds Greatest Gourmet Sandwich Shops has cheap, fresh and yummy sandwiches in a fun college atmosphere.
“My favorite sandwich is the BLT. It’s great because it’s not super filling,” Marisa Dunagan, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, said.
Jimmy John’s has three locations in Austin, one near the UT campus. There are even colorful slogans posted on the store walls such as, “Your mom wants you to eat at Jimmy John’s!”
After lunch, walk down Guadalupe Street for some interesting people-watching. The afternoon and evening are some of the best times for this.
This street also has many different stores and restaurants to browse.
One inexpensive women’s clothing store, Manju’s, is located on Guadalupe Street.
Manju’s has trendy, edgy clothes for a good price. The store is packed with accessories and clothes and is a great find for people who like the boho-chic look.
Manju’s is “a unique stop for fashion on the drag,” according to The Daily Texan, UT’s paper.
A little farther down Guadalupe Street, also known as the drag, is a wonderful, laid-back restaurant for late-night food, Kerbey Lane CafÂ.
“We bring round-the-clock dining to the University area. It is a lively place, populated with students, staff, faculty and neighbors,” according to the Kerbey Lane Web site. The restaurant is so popular there always seems to be a wait, especially after a late night of partying for college students.
“At Kerbey Lane, I always get chips and queso; it’s a must. Then I opt for the migas, a Tex-Mex breakfast food or their amazing, huge buttermilk pancakes,” TCU student Laura Anderson, a junior advertising/public relations major, said.
Austin is a city with a personality, it has the potential for a great college road trip.
So the next time you are sitting at home with nothing to do, keep these restaurants and road trips in mind.
