TripAdvisor Review Archives 17 -- 2018

Fort Ticonderoga (Ticonderoga, NY) – June 2018

The day was overcast when we arrived at the Fort.  It had been more than twenty years since I’d been here last.  So much of the Fort had been improved, so it was like seeing it for the first time again.  There’s plenty of parking, and the admission fee gets you the necessary coin to also go up Mount Defiance (so be sure to do that).  Volunteers dressed in period costumes wandered about the area or were stationed in specific locations to give information and do demonstrations.  It was nice that they weren’t “in-character” because it made the presentations much more effective.

Inside the buildings are many exhibits showing not only the daily life at the fort, and what types of weapons and equipment the residents would use, but an entire section dedicated to the World War II-era aircraft carrier of the same name.  That was an interesting, if anachronistic, find.

Some of the fort walls are noticeably crumbling, and parts of the structure are closed to the public.  This is for your safety as there’s an effort to go a restore the fort.  After the battles the fort participating in, it was left in ruins for decades as the Americans of the time period had their version of “ancient ruins like they have in Rome.”  Sure while the fort had a lot of work done on it to make it what it is today, there’s still a lot more which needs to be done in order to preserve this.  Coming and visiting the site will help with that.

Mount Defiance (Ticonderoga, NY) – June 2018

When purchasing admission to Fort Ticonderoga, you’re provided a coin which can be used to access nearby Mount Defiance that day.  When standing in the Fort, you can see Mount Defiance, and the drive over takes only a few minutes.  There’s a toll gate which the coin is used for, and w winding road takes you up the rest of the way.  The outlook is breathtaking as not only can you see the Fort, but much of the countryside for miles.  There’s cannon placements to give you a sense of the conflict which happened here.  You can come to Mount Defiance other times without visiting the Fort, and enjoy the pavilion with a spectacular view.

Stewart’s (Whitehall, NY) – June 2018

Stopped here for ice cream.  What else can I saw that I haven’t already said about this regional chain of convenient stores which serve ice cream.  I have a one-track mind.  I came here for my peanut butter pandemonium milkshake, and it was good.

Auction Barn (Route 40, Argyle, NY) – June 2018

Located on Route 40 near the Argyle-Greenwich town borders, this used to be the eating establishment of the nearby livestock auctions.  The auctions are long gone, but this is still a popular location for diner-fare for those passing through.  I was her with my parents and their retired friends for their weekly breakfast gathering.  I had a great meal of over-easy eggs, home fries, English muffin, and a chocolate milk.  There’s plenty of parking, although the space inside can be limited when large parties come in.  It’s a great place to get breakfast.

Stewart’s (Route 50, Ballston Spa, NY) – June 2018

During the week I was visiting the area, I was determined to go to “a Stewart’s” every day to get a milkshake.  Since I was in the area, I stopped here to get my new favorite peanut butter pandemonium milkshake.  It was awesome, as I’ve come to expect from any Stewart’s locations I’ve gone to.  Sure you can get gas and other convenient store items here, I just came for the ice cream.

Chapman Museum (Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY) – June 2018

This is a piece of Glens Falls history which most people simply drive by every day and pay no notice too.  This Victorian-era house sits unassumingly on the corner, surrounded by trees.  In years past, the main portion of the museum was the house which was a “snapshot in time” from when it was a dwelling.  During X-mas time, it would be decorated for the holidays.  Many of the artifacts were fragile to keep being displayed, so the main house portion is currently closed to the public as it was being renovated.

The connecting annex remains open, and it worth viewing as it contains much local history of the Glens Falls region.  During my visit, the special collections had an exhibit of various business signs in the region.  These ranged from paintings on brick buildings to motel signs, as well as some famous local landmarks (like the Martha’s chicken).  The special collections are always changing, so there’s always a reason to stop by.  This is an excellent place to go and spend an afternoon.

Peppermill (South Glens Falls, NY) – June 2018

We were looking for a place to get lunch as we were on our way to our next destination, and this was suggested.  Sounded good to me, as I was told I could get a good meal here.  This place lived up to the expectations.  Located in the plaza across the street from where Joy Store used to me many moons ago, this had plenty of parking, and was easy to reach.  The interior space was small, but good layout kept it from being cramped.  This has decent diner-fare, and the service was friendly.  I had a chicken wrap with fries, which was very good.  This is a nice place to go for good food at reasonable prices.

Grant’s Cottage (Wilton, NY) – June 2018

This is one of those hidden gems you’ve probably driven by hundreds of times and didn’t know it was there.  That was true for me.  Since this was located on the same property which had the Mount McGregor Correctional Facility, it wasn’t high on my list to go there when the facility was still in operation.  Now that it’s been decommissioned, there’s easy access to this historical place.

Once you get past the winding road hilly roads passing prison buildings, you arrive at an old cottage.  A guided tour takes place to give you a lot of historical information about the last days of US President Grant that you would’ve missed if you went without the guide.  The cottage is very old with all the original furnishings, so you get to see a “snapshot of history.”  You’ll see where Grant sat to write his memoirs, the infamous “medicine bottle,” and his funeral wreaths.

Nearby is a short path which takes you down to an overlook which Grant was wheeled down to frequently.  The views are nice.  This is a nice way to spend an afternoon to learn about how the life of one US President became part of local history.

Argyle Brewing Company (Cambridge, NY) – June 2018

Tucked away in what used to be a railroad station is this great tap room.  All that is served here is beer, and it’s done so in a nice location.  The historic building has been restored and updated, so it’s a good venue for small musical acts to perform.  There’s also an outdoor covered patio section where you can sit with your brew.  A local food truck is parked nearby, so you can wander over to get grub.  You can’t take your beer off the patio, but you’re welcome to consume the food truck goodies on the patio.  It’s a nice partnership that works good for both.  A.B.C. also has a small selection of locally-made pre-packaged food products, so it enhances the ability to spend your money to support local small businesses.

Fitzgerald’s (Route 9, South Glens Falls, NY) – June 2018

When I’ve visited the region in the past, I’ve driven past this place a dozen times and never gave it a second look.  My mistake, as it’s such a great place!  Parking could be a little tough, but the interior space is nice as it really has the nice pub feel going on.  Each booth had an individual monitor for sports watching, which was nice.  The service was friendly and the portions were huge.  I ordered the shepherd’s pie, and that was enough for two meals.  The layer of potatoes were so thick, that was filling by itself.  I ended up having to scoop underneath it to get to the meat and veggies underneath.  This is an excellent place, and one I look forward returning to when I’m in the area again.

Southwest Flight 5254 (Albany to Baltimore) – June 2018

This was the first leg of my return trip.  As my flights at the beginning of my vacation ended up being a total cock-up, I expected more of the same on the way home.  This has always been a short hop, so I didn’t expect there to be any issues getting here (as getting out I surmised would be the problem).  The flight crew was friendly, but not in the welcoming way Southwest used to be.

Southwest Flight 3252 (Baltimore to Austin) – June 2018

Considering the current model of Southwest has been to delay and/or ground flights for any reason, I was rather surprised we departed on time.  I was even more surprised that the crew was attentive to the needs of the passengers and that we arrived at our destination on time.  If I had this experience on both the start of my vacation as well as the end, then I’d be inclined to believe that Southwest had turned themselves back around.  While this flight was okay, I was only on it because it had been previously booked before the crappy experience I had on the outbound part of my trip.  I got home safe and on time.

PF Chang’s (Jollyville Rd, Austin) – June 2018

It was a Saturday evening we were in here on, and it was surprisingly empty.  With our table secured via reservation, we were able to get seated quickly and easily.  Our server was very nice, and we enjoyed an excellent meal in a nice atmosphere.  We had the entries of the Chilean sea bass and the sesame chicken, which were great.  The dining area is nice and roomy, even though the tables are a reasonable distance apart.  Getting in and out of the parking lot is easy, and the parking is good.  We’ve found making a reservation ahead of time has made everything.  We enjoy going to this place.

Caspian Grill (183 & Oak Knoll, Austin) – July 2018

This was a nice “hidden gem” we’d discovered, but no longer.  The chef had changed, so what formerly had really exotic tastes were very bland.  My wife had the beef barg kabob, and I the chicken koobideh.  The savory flavors we were expecting were not present at all.  She couldn’t even finish hers that it was so bad.  The service was practically non-existent, as we had to ask multiple time for napkins and for our waters to be refilled.  When we did mention how things weren’t very good to our server, he didn’t seem to care as there was no apology or offer of amends.  Certainly as it had taken an unacceptable time just to get beverages, and there was nothing going to be done about an adjustment on the bill, we simply paid cash and left.  It’s been a rare occasion where we leave a restaurant looking for another place to get a snack.  We’d liked this place because it was nearby and easy to park, but now there’s no reason to return to it.  It was very obvious they didn’t care about providing a positive customer experience.  We’re scratching this off of our list of places to eat.

Manuel’s (Jollyville Rd, Austin) – August 2018

This is a place we’ve frequented, as it’s (to my knowledge) the only place in the city you can get “interior Mexican” food, as opposed to Tex-Mex.  The parking here is always ample, the interior always clean, and the staff always friendly.  Making reservations on OpenTable is always good, especially for peak times.  What was odd on this visit, it was a Saturday evening (thus “peak time”) and it was barren.  We commented that the hostess, who’d pointed out how unusual it was.

We always get the queso, as the hot melted white cheese (with some bell peppers thrown in) is very good.  That could be quite the meal in itself.  On this visit for my main course I got the chicken fajitas for the first time.  The meat and peppers were sizzling when it came out, and the sides of pico, quac, and cheese were ample.  (I could use more cheese, because I like cheese.)  One thing I’ve always liked about this place is how the rice has carrots in it.  Everything was tasty and fabulous.  This is an example of how good food can still be found in this city.

Mimi’s Café (Mopac, Austin) – October 2018

After a long flight to get into town, my parents were looking for a nice place for lunch which was near their hotel.  Based on past experiences I’ve had with this place, and the variety of the menu, I knew this would be good.  They enjoyed the food they got.  I had a cheeseburger with fries which was very tasty.  It was pretty basic, but it was filling, so it was satisfying.  The interior décor is warm and inviting, and the staff was friendly.  That was a good experience to have.

Springhill Suites (Mopac, Austin) – October 2018

I spent a lot of time here as my parents stayed on this property.  The staff was very friendly, and assisted the guests, especially since Austin’s “boil water” emergency happened during this time.  The staff provided clear instructions about not using the fountains and ice makers, and provided bottled water.  The indoor pool was refreshing for the short time we got to swim in it (due to the water emergency, not the fault of the hotel).  I was able to eat breakfast here occasionally, and found it filling for the traveler (scrambled eggs, muffins, etc).  The room had a nice layout, with a separate seating area from the beds.  My parents were right next to the elevators, and reported no noise from that.  Good and quiet.  The room also had a small fridge and sink, which was helpful to keep goodies during a week-long stay.  The only quibble was the drawer space was too small.  The drawer doubled as the TV stand (good placement), but a third of the drawer was an empty space for a vase.  Nice piece of artwork, but having wider drawers would’ve been nicer.  But that was really the only issue.  My parents had stayed here in the past, and would do so again when they come to Austin.

Newk’s Café (Jollyville Rd, Austin) – October 2018

A quick and light dinner was what we were looking for, and this was a perfect place to go.  My Mum didn’t recall the name, but she remembered the place once she walked in, so she knew there’d be good food.  The staff was good about doing some menu modifications to fit my father’s dietary needs.  I had a bowl of the wonderful chili and it was awesome.  My parents had the soup and sandwich combinations, which they enjoyed.  I’ve been coming to this place for a number of years now, and the quality continues to be good.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen (183, Austin) – October 2018

It had been a while since I’d been here.  The sign outside had changed, but the interior and the menu had not.  That was good, as I wanted some place casual with a varied menu of American fare for my parents for lunch.  Our server (Andy) was very nice in assisting making modification to fit the needs of my parents.  My Mum had the grilled salmon, my Dad had the blackened whitefish, and I enjoyed my favorite buffalo chicken wrapper.  Everything came out promptly and correctly.  It was a great experience!

Bob Bullock Museum (Downtown Austin) – October 2018

Every time my parents come to visit, my Mum wants to visit here because she says it’s one of the best museums she’s been to.  It has its own parking garage, so that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.  The current special exhibit on the history of the rodeo was something my parents enjoyed.  In the main museum, much of the first floor was closed as the exhibits were being reconfigured.  So much Texas history was packed in here, and we did notice some new things since the last time we were here (like the theatre featuring ACL acts).  A museum docent gave a very detailed history of the conclusion of the Texas War of Independence that was as interactive as it was informative.  This continues to a great place to visit, and highly recommended.

Wendy’s (IH-35, Waco) – October 2018

This was on the way to our destination, and served as a good place to get lunch.  The design of the parking lot was a little difficult to get into, but the food had the same good quality as I’ve come to expect from this chain.  It was tasty, filling, and fast, exactly what we wanted.

Mayborn Museum of Science (Baylor Campus, Waco) – October 2018

Here was a museum I hadn’t been to yet, and it was advertised as a “science museum” so naturally I wanted to check it out.  Location was easy to find, and parking was good.  The staff told us about the many interactive exhibits on the second floor, but what they didn’t tell us that it also doubled as a children’s daycare.  That was not the museum which was listed on the website.  That takes up a full two-thirds of the indoor space of the place.  The eastern portion of the first floor had actual exhibits for adults, the best of which was the mammoth fossil.  Outside was the historic village was far more enjoyable, especially as there weren’t hordes of screaming kids running all over the place.  These buildings showed what life was like in a frontier town, and we found that very interesting.  Overall this was an okay place to visit, but this primarily was not meant to be place for adults who want to expand their knowledge.  Keep in mind if you go you will have to deal with the chaotic mess of uncontrolled elementary kids running rampant over the area.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame (Baylor Campus, Waco) – October 2018

This is a small place which could be easily overlooked, but is so worth visiting.  All the athletes featured within are from Texas, but it was nice to see people represented other than those who played football.  The gallery portion was nice seeing all the various people, as it brought back lots of great memories.  Dallas Cowboys were primarily featured in the Tom Landry Theater (which has one of his hats).  There’s also sections devoted to the teams of the Cotton Bowl and some notable high school athletes.  This place can also be rented as a venue for gatherings, so the exhibits made a nice backdrop.  Easy to get to, and lots of good parking.  Consider this a hidden gem that you need to check out.  Fun for even non-sports fans.

Applebee’s (LaFrontera, Round Rock) – October 2018

Thanks to the “boil water” emergency in Austin, we needed to find safe places to go for dinner, so this old standby was tonight’s choice.  Applebee’s is the same no matter where you (as it’s a national chain), but the quality was always good, and I always found the staff at this locale welcoming.  My parents went for the larger meal of getting entrees and burgers, but I wasn’t as hungry so the appetizer of the boneless chicken was sufficient enough for me.  Good tangy BBQ sauce tasted well.  I’ve spent a lot of time at this location, because it’s a good one.

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library (College Station) – October 2018

No review can do this justice as this was so awesome!  This is a storehouse of information which goes into great detail of the family life of President Bush, as well as his WWII service before even reaching his political portions.  The layout has a nice flow, so everything unfolds chronologically.  The recreation of the Oval Office was nice, because no other President had so many family pictures present.  I really liked the mock-up of Camp David, something which I hadn’t seen in other Presidential Libraries.  A nice exhibit detailed the entire history of the Gulf War.  There’s so much to see here, and worth the time to explore everything.

Kerbey Lane Café (IH-35, Round Rock) – October 2018

Due to Austin’s water emergency, we came to this location rather than the one which was closer to us.  This is a good place, as there’s a lot of parking, and the seating area was good sized.  The menu had gotten considerably smaller since the last time I’d come here, so the selection of American fare and dinner-type food Kerbey Lane was famous for wasn’t the selection my guests were looking for.  The food we ordered was so-so, but not the quality it used to be.  I got the cheese enchiladas, which I pointed out to the waitress they weren’t very melted (so not the “gooey cheesey” consistency the enchiladas should be).  I did mention that to the server, who just shrugged it off.  I did mention that again when the bill came, and again the server made no comment about it.  I did look for the manager, but that person was unavailable, and my guests didn’t have the time to wait around to debate this.  Since it was clear the staff didn’t care, and couldn’t (or wouldn’t) locate someone who would assist, I’ll just plan on not coming back here, and hope that all other Kerbey Lane locations haven’t adopted this attitude too.

Stagecoach Inn (S Main Street, Salado, TX) – October 2018

When we arrived in town, the first thing we wanted was lunch.  Considering that it was raining, we opted for the first place we saw (and something which was close to the visitor’s center).  The exterior showed this was clearly a historic building which had been renovated, but still kept the original feel.  The interior had a great layout, as there were many small dining rooms so the place didn’t feel crowded.  The soup special we’d ordered they were out of (probably due to the large party in the front room).  The soup and sandwiches we did have were good, but not the thick-and-hearty ones we wanted.  The service was very friendly, and the atmosphere very nice.  This is a place worth going back to for a more elegant dining experience.

Salado Museum (S Main Street, Salado, TX) – October 2018

This is a nice little museum within the visitor’s center which gives some good history about the town (especially the Scottish heritage).  It is confined to a single room, but has a large map on the wall of various places in the town you could drive to see.  It won’t take you long to look through, but you should.

Old Fashioned Burgers & Ice Cream (N Main Street, Salado, TX) – October 2018

Once I saw the name of this place, I knew I had to go and check it out.  We’d already eaten lunch, and our plan had been to come here for snacks.  Located in a strip mall, it’s easily viewed from the road and has decent parking.  The interior was cozy, so a good hangout spot.  My mum got a float, where they put the ice cream in the mug and she poured the soda herself from the fountain.  I got a chocolate milkshake, which was very tasty.  The smell of food cooking was very nice too.  Nice little establishment.

Cracker Barrel (S IH-35, Round Rock) – October 2018

On a wet night, we went looking for some comfort food and this appeared as the logical choice.  It was crowded that night, but we were able to get seated right away.  It’d been years since I’d been to one of these, and I’d forgotten how huge the portions were.  The chicken-fried chicken I got came with mashed potatoes, double sides of corn, plus salad and cornbread biscuits.  I felt like I was going to explode afterwards.  Everything was good, and the server very attentive.

Dick’s Classic Car Garage (Hunter Rd, San Marcos, TX) – October 2018

Since I’d been here before, I knew what to expect, so I knew this would be a treat for my parents (who got to drive many of the vehicles here when they were new).  While this was still a great collection, there had been some notable differences since my last visit, as the Tucker was gone, but there was now a Batmobile present.  Each of the cars has been restored to prime condition.  I would love to be able to look inside at the dash boards or under the hood, just to be able to compare to modern vehicles.  Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, you’ll find this interesting for the historical aspects.  One of the best parts is to see what was a “brand new feature” on some models then which are standard now (like a backlight on the dash board items).

Centerpoint Station (S IH-35, San Marcos, TX) – October 2018

This was the hidden gem I found years ago and visited frequently when I came that way a lot.  Since I knew I would be looking for lunch in the area, I had the chance to return to a favored spot.  On one side is the country store with ice cream parlor, and the other side makes great burgers.  The seating areas are many scattered about, and the décor of the old signs is great to see.  The atmosphere is very friendly, and continues to be a great place.  The building has so much history, it’s worth taking the time to look around.

B.J.’s Brewery (E Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park, TX) – October 2018

Due to Austin’s “water emergency” we ended up here for a place which had a varied menu of American fare.  The service was friendly, and allowed some alterations in order to meet my Dad’s dietary needs.  The layout was open, and was not at all noisy.  I had the BBQ chicken bites, which had a great tangy sauce.  It was also nice that this was one of the few places in area where I could be a decent cider.  The location is easy to get to with lots of good parking, so this is worth coming to.

Airport Diner (Fredericksburg, TX) – October 2018

I found a pamphlet for this in the visitor’s center, and thought it sounded like a fun place to try out for lunch.  Wow, what a find!  An airport hangar had been converted into a diner, and had a great a view of the tiny airport.  The décor was full of flying themed items, food was great, and the servers all had smiles.  It got very busy right after we arrived, so we knew this was a place which was doing well.  Put this on your hidden gem category, as it was a fun place!

Hangar Hotel (Fredericksburg, TX) – October 2018

We didn’t stay here, but they were allowed us to look around.  I thought this was such a great find, I needed to make people aware of this.  An airport hangar was converted to a stylish hotel, and the foyer had a 1940’s feel about it.  It had a nice porch complete with rocking chairs in order to watch the planes take off and land.  The “officer’s club” was an outdoor bar with a nice tropical feel to it.  This place had so much class, it’s certainly now on my list to actually have a weekend stay.

Pioneer Museum (W Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX) – October 2018

This is hidden and easily missing when going down Main Street, but it is so worth stopping.  A number of historical buildings (some in their original locations) dot the area, each with specific history to the settlers of the area.  One nice feature is pre-recorded informational briefs play when you enter, which makes the self-guided nature more enjoyable.  All the buildings are filled with artifacts of the time period when Fredericksburg was settled.  While the area is open, there’s many shady spots and places to sit too.  Very informative!

290 Wine Castle (Johnson City, TX) – 26 October

What a great thing to stumble upon!  A medieval castle overlooking the countryside was enough to make me want to stop.  There were gearing up for their grand opening, and were letting people look around.  Wines by the glass or bottle were available.  Great patio view, as well as some small meeting areas.  Loved the décor.  There are many places you can go and experience wine tours in the area, but this was the only one I was aware of to feature a selection of Spanish and Italian wines (not the run-of-the-mill Texas local wines).  Great parking.  Worth the drive!