Day Five route
Houston, Texas
The Drive
Happy to leave Fort Stockton
Happy to leave the dusty motel in Fort Stockton, we headed out at 8:54 AM. The drive was a pretty easy seven hours, but the scenery change is dramatic. You start the day in the dry, brown desert of West Texas and end it in the lush, humid green of the Gulf Coast.
We arrived at 4:00 PM, which was strategic — we wanted to beat the worst of the notorious Houston rush hour traffic.
If you are driving I-10 East into Houston, try to time your arrival before 4:30 PM or after 7:00 PM, or you will be sitting in a parking lot. We cut it close at 4:00 PM but just made it.
Night Five
The Hotel Win
Tex-Mex at Pappasito's Cantina
We checked in to Candlewood Suites Houston I-10 East. This place was awesome. They waived the pet fee because the room we reserved wasn't available — and they gave us adjoining rooms.
This setup was a luxury. We had a room with a king bed and kitchenette, and the pups had their own room with two queen beds. Having two bathrooms was nice, but the real perk of Candlewood Suites is the extended-stay layout. A full-sized fridge meant we could easily refreeze our ice packs and store opened dog food cans without hassle.
They didn't have a hot breakfast, but a "Cupboard" store on site where you can grab oatmeal, yogurt, and snacks. There isn't much green space for walks but enough to get the job done. The full kitchen is what makes this chain a smart choice for a multi-dog road trip.
"They waived the pet fee because our room wasn't available — then gave us adjoining rooms. Sometimes travel karma is real."
The Reward
Dinner in Houston
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Since we checked in so early — and saved money on the pet fee — we were able to finally get a real night out. We had gotten over the anxiety of leaving the pups alone at this point. You can't be in Houston and not eat Tex-Mex. We ventured out to Pappasito's Cantina, a local legend for a reason. The fajitas and margaritas were exactly the reward we needed after 1,600 miles of driving. |
A well-earned night out |
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!