Most people have an opinion on whether or not they’d like to visit Texas – and most are based on old stereotypes. There’s no denying some remain today, but the Lone Star State truly does offer something for everyone. Two stereotypes that shouldn’t surprise you are the state’s weather and size. Regardless of your interests and dislikes, the State of Texas has an activity for you. 

I spent four weeks there in March and would HIGHLY recommend you do the same. While most days were pleasant, there were a few that melted me at 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The classic weather debate between hotter, dryer summer temperatures in the Western USA vs comparatively cooler days and more humid weather in the Southeast doesn’t apply here. If you’re from Texas, you’ll know this is because the state gets to experience both at the same time. Imagine heat similar to Phoenix and humidity comparable to Florida. Unless that sounds like fun, please take my advice and travel to Texas in March. 

Another fact you likely already know is the massive size of Texas. It’s the second-largest Continental US state, only smaller than California in both size and population. Speaking of California, did you know El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than the opposite side of the state? According to Google Maps, El Paso is 858 miles from Orange, Texas and 802 miles from LA. Did I blow your mind yet? If not, Orange is significantly closer to Jacksonville, Florida than El Paso (762 miles vs the same 858 miles already listed). It’s such a massive place, that, when entering Texas from Louisiana, you’ll see Exit 880, which is the highest exit number in the United States. 

If you’re thinking about where to travel this year or next, here are 8 Reasons to Mess with Texas:  

• Big Bend National Park
• Marfa
• Buc-ee’s 
• Houston’s Chinatown 
• The BBQ (obviously) 
• Driving TX-130 
• San Antonio murals 
• BEER!  

Have you switched tabs to book a journey yet? If not, keep reading below!

Big Bend National Park is located in Far West Texas and shaped by the Rio Grande, the border between the US and Mexico. Located five hours from the nearest cities (a three-way tie between El Paso, San Antonio & Chihuahua, Mexico), Big Bend’s sheer isolation provides a unique National Park experience you can’t recreate at a more crowded park. I’d recommend planning ahead since the park only has three official campgrounds, and there isn’t much accommodation outside of Big Bend. Once you secure a site, the vistas are truly special. Being in such a secluded park, you’ll get to enjoy some spectacular scenery without dealing with spectacular crowds. Seeing the alpine Chisos Mountains summits, soaring Santa Elena Canyon and barren desert landscapes for yourself will leave you in awe of the varying terrain – all in Texas. Classified as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the night skies here are almost guaranteed to be unforgettable. Astrophotographer or not, the majesty of Big Bend is even more magnified at night.

I spent 10 days here and stayed in all three campgrounds, Chisos Basin, Cottonwood & Rio Grande Village. With the park being larger than Rhode Island, each provided better proximity to key activities and hikes. Panther Junction Visitor Center does have a gas station, but spending an entire vacation filling up the tank and driving – after driving there – isn’t fun for anyone. You can also plan your trip around knowing Rio Grande Village hosts the only showers in the park. I wasn’t aware of this going into Big Bend, so finding them was a very pleasant surprise. 

I’ve linked the highlights of my Big Bend National Park trip and added the closest campground to each, to help make an efficient trip from a fuel perspective. Each activity and hike was special in its own way, but you’ll need 5-7 days to complete them all. 

• Ore Terminal Trail (Rio Grande Village)
• Santa Elena Canyon (Cottonwood)
• Lost Mine Trail (Chisos Basin) 
• South Rim Trail (Chisos Basin)
• Black Gap Road (Rio Grande Village)
• Big Bend Hot Springs Trail (Rio Grande Village)
• Balanced Rock (Chisos Basin) 
• Boquillas, Mexico (Rio Grande Village)

Big Bend ended up being a magical place to explore and quickly became one of my favorite national parks. Adapting to poor cell signal and becoming one with nature for 10 days was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything and can’t emphasize enough how awesome it was making the trip. Don’t sleep on nearby Big Bend Ranch State Park either.   

Marfa is the arts haven in the middle of a desert I didn’t realize I needed to visit. Before my visit to Big Bend, I was completely unaware of Marfa and the craziness of its displays, including the Marfa Lights. To this day, what causes these lights to appear over the nearby mountains remains unsolved and sparks mystery for all who visit. If you want to stay here on a budget, the parking area also allows overnight parking. I stayed for two nights, both to feel entranced by the lights and to enjoy car camping for free. 

During the day in Marfa, you’ll find a plant shop that doubles as a liquor store, a museum in someone’s home, a bar with a school bus, and, of course, the art displays. I’ll admit I’m not really into galleries and skipped most of them, but the displays here are unreal. Their payphones play Taylor Swift, there’s a Prada store, the murals feel like hallucinations and they even took advantage of making an abandoned gas station an exhibit. 

• The Museum of Electric Wonders, labeled as House Bar on Google Maps, has fuzzy walls, the creepiest bathroom you’ve ever seen and a shrine to KFC’s Colonel Sanders. If you’ve ever wondered about the effects of LSD, The Museum of Electric Wonders is a textbook definition that I’ll never forget about wandering through. 
• Cactus Liquors is where I discovered a new type of liquor. If you didn’t know there is a smokier Chihuahuan Desert alternative to Tequila, you do now. Sotol comes from a plant similar to Agave, yet has its own special flavor and taste profile. One taste had me leaving Cactus Liquors with an entire bottle of the stuff. 
• The Sentinel, Marfa’s local newspaper, also doubles as a vibey coffee shop, restaurant and souvenir spot. If you’re looking for a reason to venture to The Sentinel, they open at 7:30am and will serve you a sunrise sip that has more than caffeine. 
• Marfa Spirit Co is a cool place with friendly patrons, knowledgeable bartenders and, obviously, dope spirits. Duh, it’s in the name. They’ll even serve you a flight of four liquors to sip on during your visit. If that wasn’t enough, Marfa Spirit Co provides delicious mixed drinks as well. The Desert Gin made sure my time at their bar was longer than originally planned. 
• Planet Marfa. Wanna drink in a Tipi? What about in the driver’s seat of an old school bus? Embrace the spirit of Texas by sipping on a Lone Star Beer (or two or three or six) from both. 
• Marfa Burrito has breakfast so good there’s usually a line out the door. They do move quickly but there’s a reason it’s the most famous burrito spot in Marfa. Just make sure to have cash and keep in mind the staff doesn’t speak English. But, don’t let this be a deterrent because someone in line will be able to help. 
• Howard Petroleum is in the center of town. The pumps have been closed for some time but old gas prices were replaced with a very “nice” sign. Dozens of people saw my photo and asked where it was, even mere blocks from Howard. Just doing my part to eliminate any more missed opportunities.  

Despite being located in the Far West Texas desert, you won’t be leaving Marfa thirsty. 

Buc-ee’s, for anyone who somehow hasn’t heard of the Texas-founded and based convenience store chain, is more than busy beaver jokes and gas. Since its inception in 1982, Buc-ee’s has grown a cult following, which I’m guilty of becoming entranced within. Each store boasts a beef jerky bar (try the Ghost Pepper), quirky souvenir t-shirts & various BBQ items made on site. 

It has also earned both the world’s largest convenience store and world’s longest car wash. At 255 feet, I can personally confirm the car wash in Katy will leave cars extra squeaky clean. Everything’s bigger in Texas and a visit to Buc-ee’s is no exception. It’s more like a small Walmart than just another gas station. When you visit, notice how Buc-ee’s tongue in the logo is, cleverly, a heart. “Friendship” is the official state motto and Buc-ee really is a busy beaver spreading love in Texas and beyond. 

Houston’s Chinatown. Be honest, these weren’t words you expected to hear consecutively. Sure, the Chinatowns in Boston, New York & San Francisco aren’t surprises, but I was ecstatic to stumble upon one in Houston. From road signs in Chinese to shopping centers with a true Hong Kong feel to unforgettable bites, Chinatown was a highlight of my time in Houston (but not for my waistline). 

After fighting the crowds at NASA and the notorious Houston traffic, I found myself at Two Hands Corn Dogs & Popfancy Dessert Bar. At the time, I didn’t realize Two Hands is a chain. But, saying their Spicy Dog, a half hot dog & half mozzarella stick from heaven smothered in hot Cheetos, didn’t leave me wanting to get straight back in line for another would be an outright lie. A more unique experience came from Popfancy, who decorates their store based on current events and movies. I’m sure any Waffle Pop would have been amazing enough on a regular day, except I also got to enjoy their decorations for Marvel’s Quantumania, which was in theaters during my visit to Houston. 

My last surprise was another seasonal dish, just one that incredibly fused Chinatown with the local culture. On the Gulf Coast, March marks the beginning of Crawfish Boil season. Cajun Kitchen brilliantly merged the iconic fried rice with fresh-from-the-nearby-gulf Crawfish. Not only was the dish unbelievably amazing, it also came in Texas-sized portions. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, maybe the pictures below will help.    

The BBQ (obviously). Everyone knows the BBQ in Texas is legendary. I’ll keep this section short, sweet and tangy. 

• The Salt Lick BBQ. There’s a reason people drive to their location in Round Rock, just under 30 minutes from Downtown Austin. Yum. 
• Terry Black’s BBQ is right in the heart of Austin and is exactly what you’d expect. Two sides, a drink & brisket cooked so perfectly that it could be reasonably eaten with a spoon. Nothing bad on the menu at Terry Black’s. 
• If tailgating for BBQ is your thing, Franklin Barbecue in Austin is exactly the spot to visit. Seeing lawn chairs, music & beer, it’ll appear to be University of Texas Longhorns football game or a concert, but people in line keep their sites set on the real prize: mouth-watering Texas BBQ! Just make sure to get there early since Franklin frequently runs out by 11am. 
• Buc-ee’s. Each location has a proper smoker and serves brisket sandwiches made on site. Find one along your road trip and you won’t be disappointed.
• Curry Boys BBQ is home to another fusion item that guaranteed I wouldn’t need to wear a belt after lunch. As the name suggests, Curry Boy’s signature dish is the Brisket Smoke Show, an Oak-smoked Prime Brisket paired with a delicious Green Curry. Get there. Try it. That’s all.  

Driving Texas 130 might seem like any ordinary highway in a state that’s nearly 1,000 miles wide. While driving from Austin to San Antonio or vice versa, it’s not even the primary route provided by Google Maps. Originally created to ease traffic between the two top-10 American cities, Texas State Highway 130 quickly embellished itself as a must-drive for any speed enthusiast. 

When the Texas Department of Transportation coined the phrase “Don’t Mess with Texas” in 1985, they weren’t talking about speed. The road justifiably brags a speed limit of 85mph, the highest posted speed limit in the United States and all of North America. It’s, in fact, the third highest in the world. Keep in mind this doesn’t include roads like Germany’s autobahns since they don’t post limits, but I don’t get the feeling TX-130 is heavily patrolled as they didn’t seem to have an issue with – random example – speeds over 110mph. Safe to say any speed demon or thrill seeker needs to include this route on their bucket list when traveling through the Lone Star State. 

The San Antonio murals were a big shocker for a vagabond Midwesterner mostly unfamiliar with the area. I have to confess a chilly Monday morning in March might have been less than ideal timing to wander the famed River Walk. The good news was that day’s cloud cover more than rectified itself when giving me perfect lighting for fantastic shots of the murals at Essex Modern City.

Having the murals to myself for about an hour allowed me to soak in the spirit of local artists and attempt to decipher their meanings. Some highlighted local culture, some displayed creativity of their painters and the rest leave you delightfully gazing in wonderment at the paintings. Anyway, stopping here during my trip to San Antonio was well worth the detour. If you’re already in the area, nearby Freetail Brewing Co. offered some local libations to quench my thirst after all that wandering. If you’re heading to San Antonio from the east, Luling Lavender Fields was a peaceful stop to taste some flavorful ice cream.  

BEER! Beer here, beer there, beer everywhere! No Drunk Explorer blog is complete without highlighting beverages from the area. These three craft breweries were my favorite after exploring The Lone Star State. For many of us, traveling includes visiting local watering holes and sipping tastes of the city. Because it’s stressful on your gut and wallet to try every spot in town, start here!  

• Lazarus Brewing Co.
• Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom
• Meanwhile Brewing Company

A lot of stuff fits into Texas, a state that’s similar in size to France. A lot of mountain-y, desert-y artsy, city, tasty, fancy and speedy stuff. I mainly went to Texas for Big Bend National Park but ended up finding more than enough to remain fully captivated by the scenery and activities for almost an entire month. Even the park itself ended up blowing my mind straight into space, which astronomers at The University of Texas’s McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis might have seen on a clear night. From the fast drives on State Highway 130 to scenic, slow scenic jaunts on State Highways 118 and 170 to the skyscrapers in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, there’s positively no lack of views in the Lone Star State. 

If you’re on the cattle rancher’s fence about traveling to Texas and saying “Howdy” to everyone you meet, I can’t encourage you enough to take the jump and book a ticket here. Even if you can’t decide on mountain summits with Post Office monuments versus beaches at sea level, some of the largest American cities versus barren desert, or Barbecue versus Mexican cuisine, there’s a piece of Texas for everyone. My trip was a thrill ride filled with unexpected and pleasant surprises at every turn and I can’t wait to Come Back to Texas when it’s not too hot.

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