yaa, I meant 'South'. Was just there last month, hardly anyone there so it was really nice since the weather has been good, and fairly inexpensive too where we stayed not far from the beach. They let me have my dog there too and he dug the beach so much we couldnt get him to leave. Its not a bad drive down there from here either, we dont mind because the wifes brother is in Dallas area and I have people in the Austin and Corpus Cristi areas.
I think you will like the Alabama area. I have nothing against south Texas and I have been all over from Galveston to south Padre. The water does get cleaner the further south you go.
When I met my wife in 03' in San Francisco she lived in Tulsa and I lived in Calaveras county CA. We did the long distance thing for about a year til we married then I started splitting my time between the 2 places because my shop was back in CA as well as Des Moines where I also had an interest in another shop. I would drive to Des Moines, spend a few hours sometimes the night, then head on to CA via I-80. I usually try to get a short nap in the car in Salt Lake City or West Wendover some where. I then cut across from Reno to Carson City then up the back way to my place, about 30 minutes from Tahoe. I was still doing that drive prior to Xmas but I'm pretty much thru with Iowa besides playing music there and visiting my kid. My daughter bought me out there. And I'm about to start spending less time in CA when my tour is finished up in the fall after selling out there to my partner. Just getting to be too much. It was fun in the beginning taking a road trip every few months but now it sucks.
If you are only staying a short time, I would go to Galveston. It is a fun place and the kids can find lots of shells. Lots of good eats too. The water is just dirty, but it's still a fun place. I don't remember how long it takes me to get there, but it's not bad. I want to say around 8 hours, or so.
