If you live in the United States you definitely need to travel to Texas for vacation at least once in your life. It is quite possibly one of the most unique places in the nation with an amazing history, wonderful culture and fabulous food. But don’t just hop on a plane and go there, check out these top 5 tips from Longhorns on the best places to visit and keep in mind when going to Texas.
5. Gas Station Foodie
That’s right – surprising to most visitors, gas stations often have incredible food in Texas. If you’re looking for tex-mex / southern / fried awesomeness, look no further than the largest gas station you can find near you. Often these fueling stops employee full-time cooks and take pride in their own interesting dishes, becoming locally known for specific menu items. If visiting Austin, San Antonio or Houston keep your eyes open for a Buc-ee’s station. These enormous stores are very well known for their extremely amazing cuisine. If the Panhandle is in your travel plans, hit up an Allsup’s for a burrito. These tightly packed tubes of goodness are fried to a golden brown with cheese oozing out of every available area. Sure it’s easily over 1,000 calories but you’re on vacation and they’re well worth it.
4. You Can Do Anything So Do What You Like
One of the great things about Texas is that you can really do anything you can think of. As the largest State in the continental U.S. it has attracted people from all over the world for decades, each bringing their own flair, culture and entertainment to The Lone Star State. To ensure you have the best time possible be sure to visit the attractions that fit your interests. This site has a great tool that lets you pop in your interests and it spits out a Texas Travel Guide. Whether you like the beach, great food, rodeos, concerts or the city life, you can definitely plan your entire trip with this handy guide.
3. The Great Outdoors Are Greater In Texas
Texas has mountains, deserts, beaches and nearly everything in between. This makes it a Mecca for outdoors enthusiasts. Even if you’re not the “outdoorsey” type, be sure to take a tour or a hike through one of the many canyons, mountains or trails in Big Bend National Park. The #1 ranked attraction in the park are the Chisos Mountains known for incredible birdwatching, hiking and viewing wildlife. Texas is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife with the nation’s largest whitetail deer population and largest bat & bird species diversity in the country. While in the park also be sure to check out Balanced Rock – a very cool geological formation that’ll leave you wondering “how did that happen?”
2. Take In The City Life
Texas’ cities each have their own uniqueness and offer different things to different visitors. One of the best cities to “taste” is San Antonio which is known for its incredible restaurants and local dishes. If you’re into live music from amazing performers then Fort Worth is for you. Bass Performance Hall features such stars as Tony Bennet and Kenny Rankin. Billy Bob’s Texas is a great place to get rowdy if you’re into country music and a honky-tonk good time. If boutique hotels are more your flair then you’ll definitely want to visit Houston. It’s known for several unique hotels with classic features. Hotel ICON resides in the newly renovated 1911 First Union National Bank Building and features the classic charm of yesteryear. You can also visit Hotel Indigo Houston which changes its artwork, flowers and music to match the season. Be sure to leave them wonderful reviews online to encourage other travelers to visit these distinctive spots.
1. Remember The Alamo
Yes it may sound a bit cliché but The Alamo is one of the most important historical landmarks in all of Texas and a proud part of Texan heritage. This incredible museum has exhibits and artifacts from the Texas War of Independence and the Battle of the Alamo. No trip to Texas is complete without stopping by this iconic spot.
Robert Grossman is rated as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers and featured in Newsweek Magazine’s 20 Leaders Showcase.
