Texas

Advertisement

Texas flag, Texas

Introducing Texas

If you thought, ‘Screw You, We’re from Texas’ was the state motto, not just the refrain in a Ray Wylie Hubbard song, you’d be forgiven for misunderstandin’. A certain chest-puffin’ pride does seem to go with being from the Lone Star State. It probably has as much to do with leftover independent spirit (locals are mighty proud of Texas having been its own country) as it does with all that bigness (the state is larger than Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands combined). Nevertheless, the Wild West lives on today mostly in attitude. If you’re expectin’ to see a buncha cowboys dusty from the trail, you’re about as sharp as a heapa mashed potaters. Computer-geek millionaires outnumber rich cattlemen, and you’re as likely to see a Dallas fashionista as a good ol’ gal in her tight-fittin’ jeans.

Advertisement

Sure you can (and might oughta) do some two-steppin’ in a 100-year-old dance hall, but you should also rock out at the hundreds of live-music venues in Austin or pulse to the mariachi beat in ol’ San Antone. If you imagine the nature of Texas is tumblin’ tumbleweeds, a walk along miles of undeveloped Gulf Coast beach or the sight of snow in the 8000ft-plus Guadalupe Mountains will change your mind right quick.

Of course there’s also them bright lights ‘n big cities – Houston and Dallas, with their culture and such. And if what you really want to see is ropers and riders, they’ll oblige ya. Mosey on over to Fort Worth’s historic stockyards, attend a small-town rodeo, or get your giddy-up on at Bandera’s dude ranches. Wherever you go, most folks are just as friendly as pie. Can you blame ‘em? They’re from Texas.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

Tips & articles

  1. Texas’s troubled border region

    7 February 2012

    The Rio Grande river curves between low brown hills dotted with lush sub-tropical plants. Parks and wildlife refuges are scattered...

    Read more

  2. Austin’s musical heartbeat

    3 February 2012

    Austin rocks. It may not possess the big-ticket attractions of New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco, or the culinary...

    Read more

  3. Why winter is the best time to visit the US deserts

    13 January 2012

    Winter and deserts? That’s two big strikes for many travelers: it sounds like the worst of all travel worlds, an unhappy...

    Read more

See all tips & articles for Texas

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. CascadeBob avatar
    RE: Settling and housing in Austin, TX

    by CascadeBob 12 September 2011

    I lived there in the 80's andreturn often to visit friends, so I'm sure thangs have changed a lot, but I still like the southern part…
  2. nutraxfornerves avatar
    RE: Spirit Airlines to Central America etc

    by nutraxfornerves 12 September 2011

    > a budget airline in the US, flying to nearby (ie fewer than 3 hour's travel) international destinations. The thing is, there isn't all…
  3. edwardseco avatar
    RE: Indian Visas for Australian citizens - Is this possible?

    by edwardseco 12 September 2011

    Hmm, half right. In your home country you can get a 6 month visa. On the road its 3 (some good reports that for now you can get a 6 er…

See all Thorn Tree forum discussions for Texas

In our shop

See all shop products

Hotels & Hostels

Check out all our reviewed and recommended accommodation and book online.

Find hotels & hostels

Travel Insurance

Going to USA? Make sure you're covered.

Get a quote

See all travel services

Advertisement