It was a round trip of 730 miles to go to the Texas ASLA State Conference this past week. That can be a long adventure for a landscape architect, especially when driving by yourself – do you know how many cool detours are considered “scenic” and “on the way’…not to mention the seven “Exit Dairy Queens” spotted along IH45. Camera at the ready!

It’s always good to get to the coast even if you have to travel through tornado warnings and dread the lousy Houston traffic is between you and the coast (and then you and home). In Galveston, the effort was made to hit Gaido’s for lunch – a long, long time restaurant beacon of the Island. The Pelican Club (a private club behind the public restaurant) was closed so I didn’t get to see its remodel – the wait staff told me about it however. Sadly, the Club’s Maitre d’ Bruce and Julio have both died since the last time visited, probably some 10 years ago…they were pleasant fellows for sure.

Hurricane Ike can still be seen and felt around the Island 2 1/2 years later. But Galveston is bouncing back – good times through bad times!

A few pictures worthy of noting were captured on the trip. A few things might be found in your own back yard; most will only be found in Galveston. Here are the favorites photo log of the trip: