FAVORITE town in East Texas? (Houston, Tyler: neighborhoods, school, university)

[momof2dfw]

Jeffereson is cool. Must go to Jefferson to see the Christmas lights. Jefferson is also a huge place for Dallasites to go spend a weekend at a B&B and shop. Lots of old homes in Jefferson that are all kept up. Pretty place.

[speedoflight]

Jefferson is a very cute town which is trying to draw some tourism in. As mentioned in my previous post, it has many stores and little eatery shops.

Look at these links:
http://www.jeffersongeneralstore.com/

http://www.jefferson-texas.com/

I'd love to visit Jefferson again and take the ride the little train. It wasn't working when we visited.

Originally Posted by Bound for Texas

DTexas85, I found a house in Jefferson. Do you know anything about Jefferson?

Thanks

[jread]

I really like Tyler as far as East Texas goes. The old, victorian homes are just beautiful.

I was born and Port Arthur and raised in Orange, but I only go back to that area when I have to....

[catman]

Jefferson is great. If you like antiques, it's the place to go. I'll never forget the store window full of cylinder phonographs. There are also lots of collectible cameras and such.The Excelsior Inn is a wonderful place to stay.

[Just Lookin]

That sounds wonderful. I do like antiques. When I married my husband I stop taking classes in photography. Maybe I can get back to it when I move to Texas. I am sure Texas has lots of wonderful things to take pictures of.

[enri]

Originally Posted by jread

I was born and Port Arthur and raised in Orange, but I only go back to that area when I have to....

I'm researching a job opportunity in Orange and found this post. Please tell me what's wrong with the Orange/Port Arthur area! All of the descriptions of East Texas sounded great, but does that only apply to Northeastern Texas?

I understand it's insanely hot and muggy in Orange County and there are hurricanes. It's sparsely populated, and there isn't a Calvary Chapel for roughly 100 miles in any direction (I'm from CA, so this could be a sticking point for me).

But what other social, cultural, economic, geographical, and zoological issues are there?

Thanks in advance for your full candor!

[txbuilder]

enri, a
All of the golden triangle(bmt,PT Arthur,Orange) is not bad. It has good employment because of the peto chemical industry. The landscape is flat and relatively unattractive in comparison to 50 miles north of Orange.

Port Arthur,with the exception of the area that is really more Nederland than Pt Arthur) is scary. Port Neches and Nederland have some very nice additions. Orange has a great theater with big name entertainment for such a small venue. The area is predominatly Baptist and Catholic.

It has a strong Cajun influence which means great accents and marvelous food in the independent restaurants. It is an easy drive to the Gulf.

I lived 35 years there and had 2 hurricanes come in on Port Neches area when I was a child. Now ,of course we have had Rita. I live 85 miles north and even we had massive wind damage. This is not the norm.

It is hot, humid and has mosquitos but everywhere else has minuses also.

I havent been down there in years and maybe it has improved but I wouldn't go into Pt Arthur on a bet.

Txbuilder

[DTexas85]

Originally Posted by Bound for Texas

DTexas85, I found a house in Jefferson. Do you know anything about Jefferson?

Thanks

Bound,

So sorry it has taken me this long to respond, we just got back from a long weekend in Lubbock, and boy did I have tons of work to do when I got back!

I LOVE Jefferson, and I go there often. Jefferson is my place to go when I want to get away for a while. My favorite place to shop is Amazing Grace and my favorite place to eat is Auntie Skinners and the Hamburger Store.
I have stayed at several B & B and love them all. Our friend, is the former mayor there and is on the fire dept. and owns the big beautiful funeral home there. We just love it! We even shopped for a house there, before finding the one on the lake where we live now. What I like about Jefferson, is that it's only 30 minutes away, but makes me feel like I am miles away on vacation. You would be very happy there....

oh and btw... I love to go antiquing, as they have a huge antique barn by the railroad tracks there ( mind is blank, can't think of the name)...it is huge and has tons of stuff!

And one more thing we have done is put the see doo's in there at Jefferson and go to Caddo Lake....it's an all day thing and absolutely so much fun! We turn around at Uncertain and eat at Big Pines Lodge (catfish) to die for...and then head back. A wonderful day trip...or if you don't have see doo's...you can put your boat in also. They also have a boat ride tour you can take that is great.

I could go on and on....but I am at work and gotta get busy!!! Good Luck!

[Just Lookin]

DTexas85, thanks so much for telling me what it is like there. Sounds great. I am a little worried about what txbuilder said above.

Quote: I lived 35 years there and had 2 hurricanes come in on Port Neches area when I was a child. Now ,of course we have had Rita. I live 85 miles north and even we had massive wind damage. This is not the norm.

I am not sure if he is saying Jefferson is close to that or what. So, I am still looking around.

Thank you

[ripley]

No, Jefferson is nowhere near that area. It is in northeast Texas, 4-5 hours away.