Helping our Kids Move Cross Country: From Florida to Texas (Part 1)

Welcome to Texas

These are exciting times for our youngest son John Carl and his wife Allie. He recently finished his training as a Naval aviator, receiving his wings of gold on June 28. That same day he received his orders for San Diego where he will be flying Navy helicopters.

The Drive from Florida to Texas

Moving day finally arrived this past Thursday. Keith and I rented a car in Huntsville Wednesday afternoon and left at 5:15 on Thursday morning headed towards Pensacola where we met the kids. Keith rode with John Carl in his car, and I rode with Allie in hers as we set off on part 1 of our cross-country adventure from Florida to Texas on I-10.

We stopped at the Mississippi welcome area for lunch. We had packed meat and cheese and lots of fruit, so we enjoyed a quick, healthy lunch and let Captain, their beautiful Dutch Shepherd, stretch his legs a little bit.

John Carl and Allie with Captain in Mississippi.

Then it was back on the road to Baton Rouge where we spent our first night at a lovely La Quinta Inn and Suites on the east side of town. We looked for a restaurant with patio seating that welcomed furry friends, and we were thrilled to find The Chimes East. If you're traveling through Baton Rouge, this place is a must-stop! John Carl had crawfish etouffee, Allie had red beans and rice, and Keith and I had shrimp and grits. Everything was delicious!

Texas is Really Huge!

After a filling breakfast with real scrambled eggs at La Quinta, we headed to Texas. I-10 runs 877.5 miles through Texas. We stopped at the rest area for a quick photo and potty break. Then we pressed on toward San Antonio where we spent Friday night at the Wyndham Garden Inn on the Riverwalk. Despite the fact that it is currently undergoing renovation, it was lovely. We settled into our room and headed out to explore the Riverwalk. It is a lovely well-shaded walkway that winds along the San Antonio River. A variety of restaurants and night spots dot its shores. We found Hops and Hounds, the perfect spot for us to enjoy Chicken Flautas with Captain. Keith even found a hammock!

If you're in San Antonio, you have to see the Alamo. There's no way my military son was going to miss that! After yummy breakfast tacos, we set out on a 25-minute walk to the Alamo. It was comfortable and pretty shady on the way there. Learning about the brave soldiers who fought to protect the Texas settlers from the Mexican invasion was fascinating. Their sacrifice incentivized the US army to resist Santa Ana and his troops once and for all.

West Texas has a beauty all its own.

We hit the road a little after 10:00 on Saturday morning and drove all the way through west Texas. What a lovely surprise the terrain of West Texas was. Rolling hills, desert plateaus, and even a mountain range or two entertained us as we made our way toward New Mexico.

However, we were shockd to see the stark difference between Mexico and the United States as we drove through El Paso. At one point on I-10, Ciudad Juarez is just off to the left with humble houses clinging to the hillside.

All in all, our first three days of travel, though exhausting, gave us wonderful memories that we will treasure. What a privilege it is to be able to help John Carl and Allie on this move?