The official reason for this particular weekend road trip was an appointment with an IKEA closet designer. Naturally, it also involved beer cheese, a scenic drive along the Louisiana coast, conveyor-belt sushi, historical artifacts, LSU football, an urban forest, backyard inspiration and some of the best sno-balls in New Orleans. Apparently, we are incapable of running simple errands.
Starting the Weekend in Lake Charles
We left after work on Friday and drove as far as Lake Charles, where we stopped for dinner at a favorite spots: Crying Eagle Brewing Company. We prefer the campus location, and if you visit, do yourself a favor and order something involving the beer cheese. We are not here to tell you how to live your life, but we are strongly suggesting that beer cheese should be part of it.
Stopping in Lake Charles also meant we could enjoy dinner, get some much-needed rest and begin Saturday morning without facing the entire drive to Houston at once. The next day, we were especially grateful that our Friday-night ambitions had ended with food and sleep rather than a late arrival in Texas.
Taking the Scenic Route to Houston
Instead of heading directly to Houston on Saturday morning, we decided to take the scenic route through Southwest Louisiana. Our drive brought us through Holly Beach and along the Creole Nature Trail. Between the marshes, coastal scenery and wide-open stretches of road, it was a much more interesting way to begin the day than immediately joining interstate traffic. It added some time to the drive, but unexpected detours are rarely a problem for us—especially when they involve a Louisiana beach and one of the state’s most scenic byways
Conveyor-Belt Sushi in Houston
By the time we reached Houston, we were ready for lunch and headed to another favorite: Kura Revolving Sushi Bar.
Is it the best sushi in a city filled with excellent sushi restaurants? Probably not. Is it still one of our favorite places to eat? Absolutely.
The conveyor-belt format makes it easy to try new things without committing to a large order. Small plates continuously pass the table, allowing us to grab whatever looks interesting. It is fun, casual and perfect when we want variety—or when neither of us wants to make one more decision. Considering what came next, conserving our decision-making energy was probably wise.
The Closet Appointment That Started It All
The primary reason for our Houston trip was an afternoon appointment with an IKEA closet designer. We are still trying to determine exactly what we want to do with the primary closet in the house we are rebuilding. We arrived with measurements, ideas and plenty of questions, but we had not yet settled on the best way to use the space. Meeting with a designer was incredibly helpful. We explored different layouts, saw how the storage components could work together and gained a much better understanding of which ideas might actually make sense in the finished room.
We did not leave IKEA with a fully installed closet—which was probably for the best—but we did leave with several useful ideas and a clearer sense of what we want. At this stage of the house project, clarity feels almost as valuable as furniture.
Labor Day Sales and an Unexpected Collection
From IKEA, we headed to REI to take advantage of the Labor Day sales. Between traveling, hiking, cycling and training, we can generally find a reason to wander around REI even when a sale is not involved. A holiday discount simply makes the wandering feel more responsible.
On our way out of Houston, we made one final unplanned stop at the Collectors store. Inside, we discovered a fascinating collection of historical helmets and other memorabilia.
It was exactly the kind of place we had not built the day around but were very glad we found—the ideal final detour before beginning the drive home.
A Rain Delay Works in Our Favor
For once, a rain delay actually improved our plans. The LSU game was pushed back just enough for us to make it home in time to watch the Tigers stomp Clemson. It was a very satisfying way to end Saturday—and proof that occasionally the weather does cooperate with our adventures, even if not in the way originally intended.
Still Not Ready to Sit Still
After Friday’s drive and a very full Saturday in Houston, we could have spent Sunday recovering at home. Instead, we still felt like moving. So we drove to one of our favorite places in New Orleans: City Park. There is always another corner waiting to be explored. This time, we headed into Couturie Forest.
Walking through Couturie Forest feels surprisingly removed from the rest of the city. Its wooded trails, waterways and dense greenery create an entirely different experience from the more familiar open spaces of City Park. It is wild to remember that all of it exists in the middle of the park—and in the middle of New Orleans. We hiked around the trails, explored an area that was new to us and once again appreciated how many small adventures are available surprisingly close to home.
Collecting Ideas for Our Future Backyard
After the forest, we headed to the New Orleans Botanical Gardens. With our house rebuild underway, we are beginning to think about what we eventually want the backyard to become. The Botanical Garden gave us plenty of ideas for plants, layouts and the overall feeling we might want to create. Admittedly, visiting a beautifully established garden for inspiration can make a future backyard project seem deceptively manageable. Still, it was fun to begin picturing what our outdoor space might look like once the construction dust finally settles.
The Only Appropriate Ending
We finished the afternoon at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, home to some of the best sno-balls anywhere. After wandering around in the New Orleans heat, a sno-ball was less of a treat and more of a necessary recovery strategy. At least, that is our official position.
One Appointment, One Very Full Weekend
The weekend began with one practical goal: meet with an IKEA designer and gather ideas for our closet. Along the way, that appointment became a road trip filled with favorite restaurants, coastal scenery, sushi plates, outdoor gear, historical artifacts, football, forest trails, garden inspiration and sno-balls.
We may still be deciding what to do with the closet, but the weekend itself worked out perfectly. Sometimes the errand is merely the excuse. The detours are the real destination.
Join the conversation—leave your thoughts, tips, or your own detours below. We’d love to hear from you.