Hi all, I've got some buddies coming in to Austin for Thanksgiving this year, and instead of doing a meal this year, we're talking about doing a road trip. Any ideas what we should do? We talked about going down into Mexico, but not too sure what to look for. Juarez came up. I'm open to all suggestions. We've got 4 days to do it.

 

fill up the tank go till it runs out and drink beer till ya fall over fill up the tank and go home!!!

 

Texas is a great state! Get a Texas travel guide and go over it with your friends. There are many places they may like to visit, and many historic areas. Take them to the Hill Country, the desert, or wherever. Gas up the truck and take off!!!!

 

I wouldn't do Mexico...some people ain't gittin' out alive.

 

X2. Based on reports, seems to be an increase in violence related to drug smuggling along the border. And its a fair piece from Austin to Juarez.

 

With 4 days why not go north? Get up into Colorado high country and goof around in the snow. You guys don't get a lot of snow in Austin. Would be different in any case.
The alternative would be to hang out at Lake Travis and hope some girls show up at Hippie Hollow. A bit late in the year for that anyway.

Have fun

 

Any direction but south. Mexico is nothing but trouble for a group of guys. If the crooks don't get you the Federales will. Go get some fishing rods, several cases of beer and find a place to enjoy.

 

gonna have to throw my .02 in for the avoid Mexico like the plague. why not a little camping, fishing, hunting etc at the end of the day whichever direction you end up going. whats better than some buddies hangin by a fire, enjoying a beverage of choice. we do it on our motorcycles all the time! Dan

 

Put a map of the general area of the part of the U.S. you live, on the wall;
turn your back towards the map, and throw a dart at it.

Where the dart lands................head in that general direction; unless it's Mexico.

 

I think the general idea of just winging it is a good idea. Might find out if they are interested more in fishing, camping, hiking or the mountains or whatever to help decide where to go. I will also go along with the idea of staying out of Mexico. Nothing there that you can't find in the states except trouble. Get some tents or a cabin and enjoy yourselves.

 

I like the idea of driving till you are on empty as well. Hang out in the town you wind up at for a day or two and then drive back. It was suggested above and also in a previous post. The idea has stuck with me and I'm going to do it one day, but with the mileage my truck gets I don't think I will be too far from home

 

I'd have to agree with a number of the posts here, in that a specific destination isn't necessary, unless that's exactly what you're after.

As for Mexico, I wouldn't chance it during the holidays (or any other time, for that matter). Ciudad Juarez is a tough town, and it's getting worse with all of the narcotics trafficking upheaval going on there lately. It's similar to that of Tijuana, insofar that the traffickers are basically at war with each other, and in the midst of taking each other out, a lot of people are in harm's way.

Now, you pair that up with Juarez even during less violent times, whereas if you spent any time in that town by yourself, you could end up out in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road with no pants (a favorite trick of the local taxi drivers), or dead....it's less appealing still.

I spent an evening down in Juarez with a few other guys, and we stuck together during our night of drinking and debauchery, but we kept an eye out for trouble. Every so often it would seem we were being followed by a couple guys if it appeared it was only one or two of us together, but when all five of us regrouped, they'd magically disappear. We were told not to use the taxis by the Border Patrol personnel at the port of entry, and we avoided them like the plague as well.

Just my $0.02, but border towns in Mexico aren't worth the potential for harm nor trouble, when you have plenty of area in the US that's available to explore....at a substantially lowered risk. Besides, the beer is better here, and the exchange rate isn't enough to justify needing to go to Mexico anymore anyway.

One thing my dad and I did just for giggles one year, we took 3 days and just drove around the state of Washington on the old highways. We stayed away from any interstates, and just let the back roads take us where they will. We ended up driving for over 2700 miles, went through 97 towns, and never left the state except for once where we crossed over into Oregon, then back up into Washington. Was fairly entertaining...besides, Washington State is about as picturesque as it gets in the late spring/early summer (but I'm biased).

 

You enjoy a beverage of your choice on the bike? DAN! I am shocked!
J/K. I agree with Dan, although the difference is the bikes mostly only go where roads are, trucks can get much, much deeper into the unknown.

Onr thing I used to love doing when I lived in Nevada was to just pick one of the many dirt roads off the side of the highway and see where it would go. Good times and very relaxing!

 

Hey guys, thanks so much for all of the ideas! Mexico is definitely out of the picture...thank you all for looking out and the heads up. Looks like we are all leaning on going to Big Bend in west Texas. Anyone ever headed out that way before?