Shocks to Expect When Visiting Texas
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting the great state of Texas. This southern state is known for a lot of things; as they say “everything is bigger in Texas!” As with any travel destination, there are many surprises in store for Texas travelers. If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Texas, don’t be surprised at these “shocks.”
Texas Pride
How can you tell someone is from Texas? They’ll tell you! Texans LOVE Texas and have huge pride in their state, their food, their sports teams, and just about anything in Texas. The Texas flag is everywhere, and you can buy just about anything in the shape of the state of Texas: from waffle makers to coffee mugs!
Texas Proportions
You don’t just “visit Texas.” You have to choose where to go in Texas because it’s a huge state! At the widest part of the state, it’s nearly 12 hours to drive from El Paso to Galveston, Houston, or Beaumont. That’s about the same distance it would take to drive from Paris to Vienna, which takes you through at least three countries. 12 hours on a Texas road trip doesn’t even get you out of Texas!
When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they mean it! From serving sizes at Texas restaurants to gas stations and stadiums.
Texas Weather
A lot of retirees move to Texas for the mild winters, but the Texas summers can be brutal! You have heat plus humidity and that can be daunting for sightseeing, but there are also some great beaches in Texas. So, plan accordingly, because Texas weather can vary quite a bit from season to season.
Tornadoes are a real thing in Texas, especially in late spring through summer. Pay attention to tornado watches and warnings, and know what to do in the event of a tornado. (A “tornado watch” means conditions are good for spawning a tornado, while a “warning” means one has actually been spotted.)
Buc-ee’s
You might think you are just pulling into any other gas station to fill up and take a potty break. But you are in for a shock the first time you visit Buc-ee’s. Imagine if Target and a big truck stop had a baby: that is Buc-ee’s. They have amazing food inside, including brisket sliced right before your eyes! You have to try their proprietary snack, Beaver Nuggets. They are also known for having super clean restrooms, so it’s a great pit stop on your Texas road trip!
Texas Food
The food in Texas is shockingly good, and of course, most things come in Texas-sized portions. From BBQ to Tex-Mex to breakfast tacos, the food in Texas will surprise and delight you!
- Texas BBQ is fantastic, and you want to get the brisket, which is Texas’ specialty. It will probably ruin you from eating brisket anywhere else, but you have to try it! Pulled pork is not a Texas thing; we’re in cattle country!
- Tex Mex is Texas’ own take on Mexican food. It’s different from Mexican food, but it’s still delicious!
- Our favorite Texas food has to be the breakfast tacos. They come in all kinds of varieties, with additions like chorizo, cactus, bacon, sausage, and cheese. We tried a lot of breakfast tacos and our favorite was Torchy’s Tacos in Austin. But I don’t think we had a bad breakfast taco in Texas; they were all pretty tasty!
Five Foods You Have to Eat in Texas
Diversity of Texas Landscapes
Texas has a lot of varied landscapes throughout the state. There are deserts, mountains, beaches, hill country, swamp country, and cosmopolitan cities. You can drive a few hours in Texas and have an entirely different experience. That’s why you need a lot of time to really experience the diversity of Texas.
If you can spend two weeks in Texas, we’ve listed some of the best places to visit in Texas:
- Galveston is a great best destination in Texas; it’s close to Houston so you can fly in and be on the beach by afternoon. There are 32 miles of beaches in Galveston, as well as many outdoor activities. It’s not just a beach town, as they have a nice historic district, museums, and amusement parks. Learn more at Visit Galveston. Corpus Christi and South Padre Island also have fantastic beaches in Texas.
- Houston is just about an hour from Galveston and has a fantastic Museum District. They have a great Children’s Museum and the NASA Space Center you can tour. Visit Houston Texas to start planning!
- San Antonio is another worthwhile Texas destination. Of course, there’s the Alamo, but there are actually several missions in San Antonio. There’s also the Riverwalk and tasty Tex-Mex food. San Antonio was even recognized by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy!
- Austin is not just the capital of Texas, but also the Live Music Capital of the World! Visit Austin for a weekend getaway with live music, shopping, and great dining choices.
- Fredericksburg is the hub of Texas Hill Country. It started as a place with many German immigrants, and you’ll still see German influences today in the names of some of the landmarks. There are some great museums here, too!
- Dallas-Fort Worth is now a sprawling metropolitan area that includes Arlington, Irving, and Plano. Besides the Kennedy Assassination sites, there are tons of fun things to see in Dallas. There’s a lot of money in Dallas, which means the fine arts are well-funded.
Texas Football
Texans love their football. If you’ve seen “Friday Night Lights” or “Varsity Blues” you have an inkling of how big Texas football is. It’s not just the Dallas Cowboys or the Houston Texans; college and high school football is HUGE in Texas.
Friendly Texans (And How to Stay on Their Good Side)
Texans don’t just love their state, they love sharing it! They will gladly tell you what to eat in Texas, and where to go in Texas, along with their own personal tips. Texans are known for being loud and boisterous, but it’s in a friendly way, so we love Texans.
That said, there are a few ways to anger Texans, so heed our warning and don’t be an ugly tourist in Texas! After all, one of their mottos is “Don’t mess with Texas.”
- Texans are friendly but stay out of their way on the roads. They love to drive shockingly fast, so get up to speed or get out of the way!
- Don’t badmouth Texas! Whether it’s their football teams, their accents, or Bluebell ice cream, don’t diss their favorites. (this includes What-A-Burger and Buc-ee’s too!)
- Don’t question whether Texas is part of the South or not. You can’t win no matter which way you lean because Texans both defy and embrace those labels.
- It is part of the South, so manners are key! Please, thank you, and holding the door open are just basic common sense in Texas.
- Texans love visitors; they don’t necessarily love transplants, so be careful about telling them you want to move to Texas! Especially if you’re from California!
- Pretending to “know” Texas when you’ve spent 3 days in Austin might ruffle some feathers. As we’ve mentioned, Texas is pretty diverse and Austin is only one part of the puzzle. (Also, Austin is very different from most other places in Texas!)
- Don’t schedule something during football season. Football season includes Friday (high school) Saturday (college) and Sunday (NFL.)
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t let these “shocks” keep you from planning a trip to Texas; it’s full of pleasant surprises. It’s such a diverse state, with beaches, cities, museums, and friendly people! Deciding where to go in Texas can be overwhelming because it’s such a big state, but you’ll have a good time no matter which Texas destination you choose!
Want more tips for traveling in Texas? Check out some of our other blog posts: