15-22 July: Photography, diving, dinner and more!

[sealskin98]

There is a Denny's (eww) right by the hotels I mentioned and the Holiday Inn also has a restaurant inside. Just walk over for breakfast. I believe the majority of the hotels in that area provide shuttle service as a perk.

Looks like I'll miss you on the dates you are there; it appears Firefyter and I are going June 18-25 so will be a month earlier.

 

[alcina]

Yikes, Denny's. Sorry wouldn't eat at Denny's for any reason! Dallas has a good delivery system if I remember correctly.

 

[RayJayJr]

I'll be in coz at the Allegro from the 15th-29th, and plan to do a fair share of diving while im there.


Will be my first open ocean diving (don't some cold water lake dives here locally + my OW). I don't know if you'd be comfortable with a noob diving with you, but I'd definitely be interested in getting some good times for UW photography. I'm a younger guy too (18), so that might make it even more awkward for your more experienced people, *laughs*.

Oh, apparently I'm also the only diver in my group, so that complicates things!


Cheers,

Ray.

 

[WallDiver77]

Let me know if this group finds a common meeting time/place. I'm diving with Jeremy (LU) and would also like to match a few faces with handles!

Pat

 

[Crazyduck]

Ok,
The problem I have when traveling is transportation.
Either you are renting a car, walking, or using hotel transportation. Texas is about as spread out as you can get.

So what I suggest- Just north of the airport is Grapevine by Bass Pro Drive.
They have recently developed an area that is very interesting.

Grapevine Mills Mall- Outlet (need I say more.)
They have a food court galore for cheaper food. They have a few sit down restaurants, Movie Theater and everything else that goes along with a huge mall.
Including ice skating, and ice cream parlor

Bass Pro Shop- a huge outdoor place that is indoors and is nice to walk around when it is steaming outside.
Big Bucks is next door to Bass Pro shop. They have a brewery and the upstairs bar is great. Reasonable beer and great meats. Link below

Whataburger is across the street from the two newer hotels.
Southern hamburger joint- great value for the money.

Also a Fuddruckers sits next to Bass Pro shop (they specialize in big hamburgers, shakes, steaks, home fries, and massive salads. Not as cheap ($7-$10 each) but they have TV’s and it’s comfortable- self serve.

Couple of Miles a way-
Gaylord Texan Hotel and center.
The Gaylord Texan is a site into its self. When I say it’s large- oh man it’s huge. I have a link below. It does not take long to see the scope of the facility that is all in doors. They have a few places to eat but it is pricy! I am pretty sure they have transportation or the grapevine shuttle (bus) runs down there. If nothing else it is a site to see and to walk a round.

Hotels-
Homewood Suites Dallas Grapevine-http://travel.travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDateLessDetail.do?propertyId=58590&Service=GOOGLE

AmeriSuites Dallas DFW Airport North
http://travel.travelocity.com/hotel...19005315552006&hotelQKey=-6000439202929457095

Goggle map of the neighborhood- http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&f=l&q=2220+GRAPEVINE+MILLS+CIRCLE+W+&near=Grapevine,+TX&btnG=Search

Hotel on the other side of the highway-
Holiday in Express
http://travel.travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDateLessDetail.do?propertyId=44372&Service=GOOGLE

Restaurants-
Grapevine Mills Mall- http://www.grapevinemills.com/static/node527.jsp;jsessionid=ayXsdjFJKi39LqkZKU (Look under the events tab.)

Big Buck Restaurant- www.bigbuck.com/
Whataburger- http://www.whataburger.com/
Fuddruckers- www.fuddruckers.com/
Gaylord Texan- http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordtexan/

If you have any questions or thoughts please feel free to give me a buzz.
I would normally offer to help out and visit but I will be in South Texas getting married and then we fly out the 10th for Cozumel.

Later, Andrew

 

[Vic McAlister]

Hello Alcina & all SBr's.

My wife and I will be at Hotel Coz & Diving with Papa Hogs 7/17 - 7/23. I am shopping for a good camera to get started. I would love to get some good points while in Coz.

Looking forward to diving.

Alcina, welcome to our neck O' the woods.

Vic

 

[alcina]

Don't mind newbies at all the more the merrier. I think we are diving with Christi at Blue XTSea for at least three of the days.

Vic - drop me a PM if you want help with cameras.

All - we can have a photo & drink session one evening if that sounds good? Nerds are us with the laptops, but you gotta do what you gotta do

 

[RayJayJr]

I'm booked for a few dives (5 I think?) with dive palancar - would it be a good idea to book with blue sea xt so I can get in on a dive with you guys?

 

[alcina]

Probably would be as we will be doing all of our diving with them (I think one day not) and not sure if we will have much time for any shore dives...though I would like to do at least one if I can squeeze it in!

So either we all set up to go with Christi on a day or we arrange to meet for a shore dive.

And for anyone who can't join us on the dive itself, I think we should have a drink or dinner and we can go through photos then, too - if that works for ppl...

 

[RayJayJr]

Planning for a shore dive would be fun - it would save other people the hassle of having to book with cristi.

I dont have a qualm with making a booking - but a shore dive might be fun.

Any objectors?