FREE "ON THE WATERFRONT" TOUR
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2008 * 9 A.M.-5 P.M.

The tour is free, but advance reservations are required.

A ROAD TRIP HEADING SOUTH

We'll meet at Cafe Flores in the East End, then carpool south on I-45 to the Clear Lake area.  Along the way, we'll pass Gulfgate Center, Almeda Mall, Friendswood, Baybrook Mall, and Baybrook Square.

Our first stop will be at the Bay Area Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau in Webster, where we can use the restrooms and pick up materials about the Bay Area.

Next, we'll head east on the NASA Parkway to Frenchie's Italian Restaurant.  Enjoy a cup of coffee while you look at the photos tacked on every possible surface -- they're signed by Astronauts and NASA employees. 

We'll continue east on the NASA Parkway, passing through Webster, the City of Nassau Bay, League City, Taylor Lake Village, El Lago, Seabrook, and Clear Lake City. 

NASA Parkway is also home to the Pelican Path, so be on the lookout for some really unusual pelicans on both sides of the road.

At about noon, we'll stop for a Dutch-treat lunch at the Villa Capri, a great Italian restaurant with reasonably-priced food in a location overlooking Clear Lake.  Be sure to stroll around the grounds before we leave.

Still heading east, we'll pass the Lakewood Yacht Club and Seabrook Yacht Club on our way to the intersection with Highway 146.  Look for a Cajun Pelican, Astronaut Pelican, Scuba Pelican, Captain Kidd Pelican, Firefighter Pelican, and more.  There'll be enough time so that you can pull over and take some Pelican photos.  

We'll head south on Highway 146 and spend some quality time at the Kemah Boardwalk.  Stop in the Kemah Visitors Center for area information, shop in the Kemah Lighthouse District, ride the Boardwalk Beast out into Galveston Bay, or take a spin on the new Boardwalk Bullet.

At about 4 p.m., we'll meet at the Marble Slab Creamery, then head north on Highway 146.  After riding over the Kemah Bridge and passing through Pasadena, Shores Acres, and La Porte, we'll turn west onto the La Porte Freeway (Highway 225).  You'll be amazed at the size of Houston's $15 billion Chemical Coast bordering the Houston Ship Channel, a  complex second in the world only to that in Rotterdam. 

Highway 225 becomes Lawndale, taking us back to Cafe Flores by about 5 p.m.

If you like, stay longer in Kemah or take a side trip to the San Jacinto Monument and Museum.