the ultimate travel guide toTexas
It really can’t be denied – everything is bigger in Texas. From plates of food to pickup trucks, 10-gallon hats and the vast expanse of rugged terrain.
There’s no shortage of Country culture here: rodeos, line-dancing and ample opportunities for an adventure by horse or mule. And then there’s the traditional barbecue. Be sure to pack your stretchy pants.
The capital, Houston is home not only to NASA’s iconic Space Centre, but also to theatre, exquisite museums and hearty dining options.
There’s more to food in Houston than just its hearty barbecue fare, although it has to be said that it is pretty darn good; check out Jackson Street BBQ in Downtown Houston, Killen’s Barbecue in South Houston or Gatlin’s BBQ to name but a few.
The restaurant scene here is booming, with a list of award-winning eateries that stretches on forever, from Hall of Fame chefs to Restaurant of the Year recipients to those serving up some of the 100 Things You Simply Must Eat Before You Die (Garden & Gun magazine). You will literally be spoilt for choice: there are currently around 10,000 restaurants to choose from.
There are also excellent accommodation options – Hotel ZaZa is simultaneously sumptuous and mysterious while also having great whimsy and humour.
Dallas is being hailed as the “rising star of Texas” from a tourism perspective. Here you’ll discover pockets of delightful neighbourhoods such as the Bishop Arts District. It’s a village oasis 10 minutes south of Downtown Dallas – independent retailers mix it with relaxed bars, pizza joints, artisan providores and Boulevardier, a classic neighbourhood French-American bistro.
A must for food and music lovers alike, Austin is an intriguing blend of forward-thinking attitudes and Texan tradition.
In a way it’s the most un-Texas city in Texas, with a plethora of green open public spaces, recycling initiatives and enviro projects; and protests against big condo developments.
The second-fastest growing city in the US population wise, it has a cool vibe that plays out in the way the locals eat, drink and have fun: people don’t mind lining up around here for a new foodie experience, in fact waiting in line is part of the Austin social scene.
Food trucks are massively hip, with around 600 in the city.
Franklin BBQ started as a food truck but is now a restaurant where you can expect a queue every single day until the brisket and pulled pork runs out; bungalow bars are still big here, particularly along Rainey Street, where little houses are converted into bars (think backyards and ping pong tables and drinking on the porch).
While SXSW is one of the country’s premiere music festivals, there are copious venues alive every single night with music, with the ones along 6th Street humming with everything from jazz to rock to progressive on offer.
If you’d like to get away from the big cities you might like to bunk down in Camp Comfort, a refurbished bowling alley where all-American nostalgia meets modern luxury deep in Texas.
An easy two-hour drive from Austin, the sleepy town of Comfort lies in Texas Hill Country, where Stars and Stripes fly proudly and life moves at a slower pace – the ideal spot for a boutique hideaway.
Converted from an historic bowling alley built more than a century ago, Camp Comfort’s suites fuse a modern log cabin aesthetic with a touch of mid-century flair.
A place like this could stray into gimmicky territory, but quality furnishings and attention to detail make it a genuine luxe hotel rather than a quirky stunt space.
