Anyone been to Shangri La?

I'm planning a road trip around Texas this Spring to visit some gardens and parks of interest. I only recently heard about Shangri La Gardens and wondered if anyone has been and what your impressions were?

Also open to any other recommendations.

http://www.shangrilagardens.org/

Some of the structures at Shangri La were designed by the architecture firm Lake/Flato who is well known for innovative, sustainable regional designs.



http://www.lakeflato.com/projects/shangrila/01.asp

I'd love to visit it too. And this paradise is in Texas too! Orange, Texas. The Scarecrow Festival in Oct-Nov would have been fun.

Thanks for the tip!


Sonia

ecosystems. And I fully support efforts to live/plan/design in a way that allows us to live in closer harmony with these natural wonders.

I'd love it if we could compile a list of all the natural and/or special places to visit in Texas. I'll bet everybody has at least one place to contribute to the list that may even be just a small niche within their town or city.

On our way to Baton Rouge for a few days. Mom has been; says it's wonderful.

of it. I'm most interested in the sustainable systems they included.
But it also just looks like a fun and beautiful environment to spend time.

They say it's pretty cool. BTW down the street from there is a restaurant called Spankys. I recommend the Spicy Grilled Shrimp dish. Delicious. That's what I end up getting there every time I've been (two or three times a year I'm down in Bridge City visiting family).

http://www.spankysgrill.com/index.php?mod=includes&action=menu

Also over in Pt Arthur is Larry's. OMG I was in Cajun seafood heaven last weekend. The buffet is totally worth the price. :)

http://www.larrysfrenchmarket.com/

Esther's was a favorite place of mine, but was really damaged during Ike. I don't think it's opening back up. :(

Really enjoy shrimp AND Cajun. The closer I get to the bayou, the stronger the cravings.

The buffet was $22, but it had: shrimp gumbo, chicken & sausage gumbo, shrimp etouffee, crawfish etouffee, fried shrimp, fried catfish, fried alligator, fried frog legs, fried crab, boiled crab, boudain, boudain balls, boiled shrimp, boiled crawfish.... Needless to say, I was stuffed and in heaven. You can't get good shrimp like that up in the DFW area without paying an arm and a leg.

Larry's also has bands, but you need to call ahead to reserve a table in the band area. Be sure to go if Eazy is playing, I'm a fan cause my uncle's in the band. ;)

There's also Pine Tree Lodge over in Beaumont down on Taylor Bayou. http://www.johnnyve.com/pinetreelodge.htm

restaurants have sprung up in Austin after some of the folks who left New 'aulins during Katrina ended up here? I know their musical influence has been felt. I need to investigate cause now I've developed an appetite for it.

Great information for anyone taking a road trip in that direction! Thanks!
I'm bookmarking this thread.

Family's the first reason to visit, the food's the second. ;)

If you like boudain & boudain balls, there's a place called Boudain Hut over in Pt. Arthur. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g56477-d516372-Reviews-Boudain_Hut-Port_Arthur_Texas.html It's really a bar with a walk up window for food. A little strange the first time (really? Grandma? How did you discover this place?) but the boudain is good.

Drive a little further and you can go to Nick's for boudain. I prefer Nick's, plus they have awesome green onion sausage. Yum http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=nick's+grocery,+port+arthur&fb=1&gl=us&hq=nick's+grocery,&hnear=port+arthur&cid=7584530333257071585

edited to add: Here's a website I just found (when looking for Boudain Hut's address): http://www.boudinlink.com/

mmm, mmm, now I wish I had brought home some boudain. Thank goodness I'm heading back down there in a month.

..although my tummy is really growling now.... boudain....