It’s always a bummer when it rains in the summer. Instead of splashing through swimming holes or trekking through State Parks, you find yourself stuck indoors, watching TV or snoring the day away. But we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way! Turn off the TV, grab your rain coat and make your way through our list of Texas attractions that are epic rain or shine.
“What sort of gear do you use?” is a question we get a lot over here at “The Daytripper.” It’s not an easy one to answer, because it takes a LOT of gear to make our show. We need big cameras, small cameras, still cameras, audio gear,…etc. etc. etc. Not to mention a MacGyver-like box of cables, attachments, and C-47s (a fancy film word for clothespins). Oh, and you can never forget about the smartphone.
A good smartphone is critical “GEAR FOR THE ROAD.” We use it to call locations and set up appointments. We use it as a walkie-talkie amongst the crew. We use it as a GPS when we’re completely lost. It’s a scouting guide. It’s a camera. It’s a social media tool. It’s a lifeline to the world. Recently, AT&T sent me a Samsung Galaxy S7 to take on the road. So, I ditched my Galaxy S5 Active and tried it out.
OVERALL – the S7 is pretty darn amazing. Here are some high points.
FASTER – It does everything my S5 did, but snappier and faster. (who doesn’t love that?)
GREAT DESIGN – It feels good in the hand. Oh so good. So good that I didn’t want to put on a case – which made me nervous I was going to drop it the entire time, but it was worth it.
BETTER CAMERA – The camera is incredible. And they’ve made a HUGE improvement in the front-facing one. Bring on the selfies.
FINGERPRINT – it lets you login with your finger. So better security. Just in case you leave it behind at that BBQ joint.
WATERPROOF – Or at least water resistant up to a certain point. So don’t worry about taking it to that swimming hole. A little splashin’ around won’t hurt it.
REMOVABLE STORAGE – It takes a microSD card, meaning you’ll never run out of photo space on the road.
If you want to really dig into the specifics and nitty-gritty, you can find a great review on Android Central. But as far a daytrippin’ goes, this S7 might be the best phone yet. Plus, you can put them in the cool Samsung VR goggles. That way you can go DAYTRIPPIN’ all over the world without leaving your couch.
Soon the days will get shorter, the summer sun will fade away to cooler weather and school will be back in session — and that means that you’ve got to make the most of these last few days of freedom and sunshine. So here’s a few epic festivals around Texas to help you end summer with a BANG!
Greetings Earthlings! If you love aliens, space crafts and otherworldly fun, then this festival is for you! Join the town of Edinburg on Aug. 12 and 13 for the free “Out of This World” Festival. Dress up in your best alien costume for the costume contest and parade on Friday evening starting at 7 p.m. and a Laser Show at 9 p.m. The conference, which starts at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, features educators, publishers and other guests speaking on all things alien! Tickets for the conference cost $25.
Put on your dancing shoes and join the Baile International Grand for the 5th Annual San Antonio Salsa Festival! This four day event from Aug. 11-14 features live music from global recording artists like Tito Nieves, Ray de la Paz and more! Not sure how to dance? Don’t worry, each day there will be workshops ranging from Beginner to Advanced where you can learn classic dances like the Cha Cha and Mambo. Find more information here.
Join Navasota for two days of good ol’ blues on Aug. 12 and 13. The concert starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, and includes performances by the Chris Beard Band, Justin Johnson, Rob Roy Parnell and a dozen other artists! Pre-fest activities begin at 9 a.m. on Friday with a dedication of a historical marker for the “Father of Blues” Texas Alexander, as well as a free guitar workshop with Bernie Pearl.
If you’ve always dreamed of soaring high above the world, then join the Highland Village Balloon Festival for the adventure of a lifetime. This three-day festival Aug. 19-21 is filled with high-flying fun including multiple Balloon Mass Ascension where dozens of 100-ft. tall balloons take off together, Balloon Glow where the vibrantly-colored balloons are lit at night and Tethered Balloon Rides where YOU can ride in a hot air balloon. The event also includes live music, vendors and a Kids Zone.
There’s no better way to end summer than by attending the North Texas Fair and Rodeo. Along with all your favorite rodeo events like mutton busting, calf roping and bull riding, there will also be a carnival, a kids zone, and even an exhibit with live Bengal Tigers! Throughout the event, there will be live music performances by various country artists, including Josh Abbott Band, Randy Rogers Band, Prophets & Outlaws and Zane Williams. The rodeo lasts from Aug. 19-27 and you can find more information here.
Things are gonna get batty in Austin, and you’re invited to join for their 12th Annual Bat Fest on Aug. 20. The festival is a celebration of the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that “hang out” under the Congress Avenue Bridge and features a bat costume contest, arts and crafts vendors and three stages with live music by American Authors, Blue October and more! The festival lasts from 4 p.m. to midnight.
This may be one of the most beautiful festivals you’ll ever attend! On Aug. 25-27, Big Bend is hosting a festival featuring nature hikes led by famous guides like the “Birds of the Big Bend Desert & Lowlands Walk” guided by Southwest bird enthusiast Greg Lasley and the “Dragonfly & Damselfly Walk” guided by insect experts Dr. John and Kendra Abbott. There will also be a barbecue dinner and live music to conclude the weekend at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Chisos Mountains Lodge Restaurant.
Join the folks of Burton for a night of Texas fun in the historic Texas dance hall La Bahia Turn Verein! This festival on Aug. 27 starts at 6:30 p.m. with a car show, and dancing featuring Kountry Chick DJ. Then from 8 p.m. until midnight, you can enjoy live music by The Texas Unlimited Band as well as dinner from Burton BBQ. There will also be an Old Fashioned Live Auction that will benefit the Burton Area Chamber of Commerce. Find more information here.
Come join the folks of El Paso and the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for a three-day festival on Aug. 26-28 celebrating the Greek culture and their delicious foods. Besides amazing homemade food vendors, the festival will also have live music, dancing, vendors and Greek souvenirs for purchase. For more information, click here.
This past week, the new Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center opened in Georgetown, and we were so excited to be invited to the Grand Opening! We attended the ribbon cutting ceremony where we heard special guests like the Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross and Sheraton General Manager Rita Healy speak. This new 16,000 sq. ft. Conference Center is right in time because Georgetown is now the fastest growing city in the U.S.!
Afterwards we attended a reception in one of the ballrooms of the Conference Center where we met tons of awesome people, enjoyed delicious food and got to look around the Sheraton. This Conference Center is so big, we bet it’ll be hosting the Williamson County Comic Con in no time…
And as we explored, we found that the hotel is decorated with local art from Georgetown.
Chet got the honor of being the first guest to check in to the Sheraton and I got to stay in the hotel as well. Here’s Chet receiving the first Sheraton key card!
The rooms were very spacious and those beds were so comfy, I had a hard time getting up in the morning…which is never a bad thing! The hotel pool was quite refreshing on a hot Texas day and Jack’s Lounge, the hotel bar, is a great place to sip wine or enjoy a beer on tap.
Chet enjoyed his own little convention in the center’s lobby, but it mostly just involved napping on the comfy chairs….
We’re so happy that Georgetown has the new Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center so people from all over Texas (or even the world!) can discover what we already knew — that Georgetown is an amazing place to trip!
In this month’s newsletter, we have great tips for spending your last days of summer! Learn more about Harper Frontier Days, the next Chet Chat featuringfamed CBS sports announcer, VERNE LUNDQUIST, our Big Bend Podcast and more! Here’s the link to the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/b_qTin
You knew about the beauty of Texas and of course, the BBQ and Swimming Holes, but we bet you didn’t realize that some of Texas’s attractions are out of this world…literally. From alien landings and meteor craters to monumental trash and deadly swimming holes, here’s a list of the strangest, quirkiest and most interesting spots in Texas.
Greetings, Texans! This abandoned spaceship was built in Italy, TX as a tribute to “The Starship Enterprise,” from Star Trek. It was originally built to live long and prosper as an arcade and restaurant, but that never stuck. Now it’s just a selfie stop. But you better hurry if you want to trek here, rumor has it that this ship will be demolished soon.
In prehistoric times, a meteor shower struck the town, leaving behind various craters in the area, including the 500 ft. diameter Odessa Meteor Crater, which is the second largest meteor crater in the U.S. Though the crater is now mostly filled, there are trails and signs showing where the impact was, as well as a nearby museum where you can learn more about meteor sites in Texas. Other crater sites in Texas include the Sierra Madera near Fort Stockton, TX and Marquez Crater in Leon County.
Forget traveling to the UK to see the mysterious Stonehenge monument, you’ll find that Stonehenge II is alot closer and just as epic. Over 20 years ago, Al Sheppard and his neighbor, Doug Hill, built their own version of the famous stone figures in the Texas Hill Country, but theirs also includes two 13-foot Easter Island heads…take that UK! It’s located on the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation.
Jacob’s Well may be one of the most hauntingly beautiful sites in Texas. It bubbles up where the limestone of Cypress Creek dips down to the dark shaft of one of the largest underground caves in Texas creating an enchanting sight. Yet this wonder can turn deadly for those who attempt to explore the 120 ft-deep cave, and since 1970, multiple people have lost their lives in its rocky depths.
This leg statue is the most outstanding…in a field… (sorry, had to!) The same eclectic millionaire who commissioned Cadillac Ranch, Stanley Marsh 3, paid artist Lightnin’ McDuff to create this strange statue that was modeled after an Egyptian statue. And though it looks broken, the legs were actually built to look incomplete just like they are in the original statue. Check out our day trip through Amarillo here.
This is one designer store that won’t cost you a penny! The Prada Marfa art installation, which has no actual connection to the designer Prada, was created in 2005 by artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset. It is filled with real Prada bags and shoes picked out by Miuccia Prada and perfectly symbolizes the kind of creativity that makes up this West Texas desert town. Check out our time in Marfa here.
It may be made of junk, but there’s nothing trashy about this cathedral. Vince Hannemann’s Cathedral of Junk contains everything you can think of from wheels to signs to surf boards all tangled together to form this towering structure that’s gained fans and fame since it began in 1988 with just Vince’s junk. Over the years, people from all over the world have brought their random items to add to Vince’s wacky castle in his backyard. Check out our time in South Austin here.
Yes, you read that right…there is an alien buried in the Aurora Cemetery. On May 9, 1897, an alien aircraft was spotted flying over the town of Aurora where it hit a windmill and crashed. The original newspaper article about the incident in The Dallas Morning News described the ship as “traveling due north, and much nearer the earth than ever before.” Being kind as Texans are, the Aurora citizens held a funeral for the alien pilot and he was buried in the cemetery on Cemetery Road, where visitors still visit in search of the little guy’s grave.
In the 1920s, sculptures Katherine Stubergh and her daughter created a life-size, wax version of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper,” complete with glass eyes and human hair that was hand-sewn onto each figurine. The odd part is that over the next few years, this beautiful art work was displayed in a shopping center in Fort Worth! The sculpture moved all around town and in 2009, it was finally moved to the Christian Arts Museum, where you can still view the iconic scene.
You probably knew about Cadillac Ranch, but did you know that there is also a VW Slug Bug Ranch along the Historic Route 66? This car-art installation features five Volkswagens that have been buried nose-down in the ground. They make for a pretty psychedelic selfie, and don’t forget the spray paint, so you can leave your mark on the cars! While you’re there, check out the rest of Historic Route 66…
The Art Car Museum in Houston is dedicated to a new kind of self-expression. The gallery showcases dozens of cars that have been decked out in graffiti, beads, lights and even giant creepy rat-dinosaur heads and roach shells. This place is a must-see for sure!
In Waco, you can see the only recorded discovery of a nursery herd of Columbian mammoths in America! On a guided tour of the park, you’ll see the bones of 22 Mammoths that were uncovered at this site between 1978 and 1997, as well as the remains of a prehistoric camel. All the fossils are still sitting in the ground exactly where they were found. In 2015, President Obama issued a proclamation that made the Waco Mammoth Site a National Monument.
Are y’all getting hyped up for Season 8? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the awesome time we had while filming our Boerne episode! Check it out below:
And click here to see our Behind-the-Scenes video in Taylor, TX!
You may be planning your weekend trips to finish out the last weeks of summer, so you’re wondering what to do next to keep cooled off. Well, if you don’t have time for a pricey tropical getaway — don’t worry! All the sunshine, exotic sea life and crazy weekend adventure you need is right here in this great state! Here is a list of just a few of our favorite SCUBA Spots across Texas to help you DIVE IN this weekend!
Athens SCUBA Park – Athens, TX
Just half a mile from the Athens, TX square, you’ll find a glimmering Mediterranean-blue lake full of sunken planes, boats, obstacles and more. It’s a great place for beginners because if you aren’t certified, Athens SCUBA Park can teach you and they will rent you the gear you need. CLICK HERE to read our trip guide on Athens.
San Solomon Springs – Balmorhea, TX
The San Solomon Springs in Balmorhea State Park is a spring-fed, clear-blue oasis in the middle of the desert, and at a constant 72-degrees, it’s just the right temperature to keep you cool. This is the perfect spot for divers and non-divers. If SCUBA isn’t your thing, you can splash near the surface on the shallow, concreted end, while SCUBA divers can explore the rocky depths and natural sea life (like the Comanche Springs Pupfish) on the deep end. Forget your SCUBA gear? The Toyahvale Desert Oasis shop across the street can rent you some. CLICK HERE read our Balmorhea trip guide.
Valhalla Missile Silo – Abilene, TX
The Valhalla Missile Silo is one of the most trare (and adventurous) places to dive in Texas. In the 1960’s, the silo housed an Atlas nuclear missile but today its concrete walls hold 120 ft of ground water that are ripe for exploration. At 58 degrees, it’s a cold — and not to mention dark — swim, but this Abilene SCUBA spot is a perfect way to dive deeper into the history of Texas. It’s only open to private groups, so call the Family Scuba Center in Midland to make reservations. CLICK HERE for our Abilene travel guide.
Blue Lagoon – Huntsville, TX
Beneath the trees of Huntsville is a beautiful swimming hole with pure turquoise waters and sandy beaches that rival the shores of Cancun. At Blue Lagoon you can spend your afternoon diving to the depths or swim through sunken wooden ships. They even allow non-SCUBA divers in the water, but the capacity is limited so call ahead. And if you aren’t a diver, they offer SCUBA lessons on the weekends and you can rent gear from them. CLICK HERE to read our Huntsville trip guide.
This could be your desk!! Ever wanted to work for the strangest travel show in Texas? Looking to gain experience in production, editing, marketing, journalism, and being on set of a TV show? Well then listen up!
We are currently looking for our next intern for the FALL OF 2016. Here are the criteria.
Must be enrolled in school and seeking credit for the internship
Must show interest in aspects of television production (filming, editing, writing, marketing, etc.)
Knowledge and/or experience with non-linear editing preferred (Premiere, Avid, FCPX)
Must be available to work for 15-20 hours/week at our offices in Georgetown, TX
This is a PAID internship at $8/hour. If you are attending one the following schools, apply through the links below. All others, please send your resume to tosha (at) hogaboomroad.com.
We love Texas (because it’s the best state…) but we also love the good ol’ USA! We’ll never pass up a chance to celebrate America’s birthday and honor the veterans who bravely risked their lives for our freedom. So this weekend, grab your friends, family and lawn chairs and get ready to party at one of these 4th of July celebrations around Texas! This list isn’t comprehensive, but it will get your Independence Day party started!
HEB Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks –
Austin, TX
Picture by Roadway Productions.
Join the folks of Austin for their traditional 4th of July Celebration at Vic Mathias Shores on July 4. Local arts and crafts vendors will be set up at 4 p.m. and the Austin Symphony will perform starting at 8 p.m. Watch fireworks over Lady Bird Lake from 9:30-10 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.roadwayevents.com/event/symphony-july-4th/.
Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration – Granbury, TX
Picture by Granbury.
The town of Granbury is having a weekend-long celebration for Independence Day staring at 6:30 pm on Thursday, June 30th with a concert at Acton United Methodist Church. The festivities continue all day on Saturday and Sunday with events including arts & crafts vendors, a chili cook-off, car shows and multiple live performances. On July 4, the party kicks off with a “Kiwanis Firecracker 5K” at 8 a.m. and a parade down Pearl Street at 10 a.m. There will be a fireworks show over Lake Granbury at 9:45 p.m. To view the full schedule of events, click here.
Freedom Over Texas – Houston, TX
The city of Houston is having a huge extravaganza to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th from 4 – 10 p.m. Country music stars Darius Rucker and Eli Young Band will perform, and there will also be performances and games for children at the Walmart All American Kids Zone. In the evening, there will be a fireworks display. Tickets are $8 before the event and $10 at the gate. Find more information here.
Fort Worth’s Fourth – Fort Worth, TX
Picture by Trinity River Vision Authority.
Enjoy floating the Trinity River while watching fireworks at Fort Worth’s Fourth on July 4, from 2-10 p.m. This festival boasts the largest fireworks show in North Texas. The event is free admission all day, and will feature live music from Gary P. Nunn and Party Machine. Throughout the day, there will be flyboard shows as well as an F-16 flyover. Tubes are provided for free on a first come, first serve basis. Click here for more information.
Fourth of July Celebration – San Antonio, TX
Picture by City of San Antonio.
The party starts early in San Antonio on July 4th. Head to Woodlawn Lake Park for a Zumbathon and 1K at 8 a.m. and a 5K at 8:30 a.m. The Carnival opens at 10 a.m. and a Children’s Red White and Blue Parade starts at 11 a.m. After the Opening Ceremonies at noon, there will be live music, food and games all day. At 9:30 p.m. the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza starts. The entire event is free and you can find more information here.
26th Annual 4th on Broadway – Lubbock, TX
Picture by Broadway Festivals, Inc.
This weekend is the 26th Annual 4th on Broadway @ Mackenzie so get ready to party. The festivities begin with the Lubbock Friday Art Trail on July 1 and La Raza on the Plaza on July 2nd featuring live performances. Then on July 3rd is a Texas Country Street Dance at the Lubbock County Courthouse Square from 6:30 p.m. to midnight. Monday, July 4 is filled with events including a Parade at 9 a.m. and Picnic in the Park from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. with live entertainment, hot dog eating contests, petting zoos and more! That evening watch a performance by the Youth Orchestras of Lubbock and the Fireworks Extravaganza.
Star Spangled Salute – Midland, TX
Picture by Midland.
The city of Midland is hosting a free celebration at Hogan Park on July 4 with plenty of activities the whole family will enjoy! There will be a Children’s Parade at 10 a.m.. At 7 p.m., kids can enjoy bounce houses, face painting and more at the Fun Zone while parents can enjoy a cold one and live music at the Beer Garden. At 10 p.m., the Spectacular Fireworks display begins. Find more information at http://www.midlandtxchamber.com/events/star_spangled_salute.aspx.
Freedom Fest – Nacogdoches, TX
Picture by Nacogdoches Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.
Celebrate Independence Day with the folks of Nacogdoches at a free festival from 5-9:30 p.m. on July 4 at Festival Park. There will be family friendly activities like a Hot Dog Eating Contest, the “Star Spangled Pitch Off” washer-pitching contest, sack races and more! . The fireworks show will begin 30 minutes after dark. Find more information here.
“Coolest” 4th of July – Fort Davis, TX
Head to Fort Davis to join this four-day Fourth of July celebration starting on July 1 with a performance by Tumbleweed Smith at 7 p.m. The festivities on July 2 include a Pancake Breakfast to honor Veterans at 7:30 a.m., a Pie Contest, a gunfight and more! The party continues on July 3 and 4 with street vendors, live performances, historical demonstrations and a fireworks show on Sunday evening. Find more information at http://fortdavis.com/2016-fourth-of-july.html.
88th Independence Day Annual Celebration – McAllen, TX
Picture by City of McAllen.
McAllen is hosting their 88th annual Independence Day Celebration and you won’t want to miss it! The festivities begin on July 4 with a performance by the McAllen Town Band and Patriotic Program honoring veterans at 8 a.m., and then the Main Street Parade at 9 a.m. Throughout the day, the Freedom Festival will be set up with live performances, games and the Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Little Miss Fourth of July Pageant will take place from 1-4 p.m. and at 9 p.m., the Concert in the Sky Fireworks Extravaganza will begin. Find more information here.
In case you missed it, a few weeks ago we did the unthinkable…we ate at ALL SIX Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q locations around Houston in one glorious (and crazy) day! To everyone who came out for “Dia de Rudy’s” in Houston on May 21, thanks for meating with us! We loved hanging out with y’all and eating all that delicious food!
Mmm, there’s nothing like the smell of BBQ at 9 in the morning! We started the day at the Spring, TX location with breakfast tacos and met a bunch of awesome folks.
From there it was on to the Tomball, TX location for a nice brunch of spicy sausage.
And not even bumper-to-bumper traffic could stop us from having a lunch of ribs at the Houston, TX location and a second lunch of chopped beef in Katy, TX.
We met so many awesome folks and had an amazing turn out across the six locations. Some of the folks made pretty awesome signs, like this one we saw at the Webster, TX location.
To end the day, we headed to the Richmond, TX location at 3:30 p.m. for an awesome dinner of prime rib and we watched the premiere of the Richmond episode.
In addition to the awesome Rudy’s swag that we gave folks who won our Bingo challenge and the $50 Rudy’s gift cards we gave to everyone who made it to all six locations, we also gave out a BIG Grand Prize at the end of the day. Using the playing cards folks collected at each location, we played a game of 5-card stud for a $250 Rudy’s gift card. Congratulations to our winner Bryan, who won with a full house!
Shout out to the 19 of the folks that were brave (and crazy) enough to join us at ALL SIX LOCATIONS. If you ever need to know what to get at Rudy’s, ask these guys because they are now Rudy’s experts.
We had such a blast that we can’t wait to do it again! Thank you so much for joining us on this meaty trek and thanks to Rudy’s for having us!
Hey Y’all!
You guys are so awesome that we almost have 100K followers on our Facebook Page!! Thank you so much for sticking with us! To show our appreciation for such amazing fans we are hosting a 100K FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY!When we reach 100K Facebook followers (please like our page here), we will give away 100 “Daytripper” car stickers, and ONE LUCKY WINNER will receive a box of “Daytripper” swag filled with our custom Nalgene Water Bottle, Hat, Pint Cup, 2 Koozies, Journal, T-Shirt and Car Sticker! Scroll down to enter!
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN, FILL OUT THIS FORM AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN, FILL OUT THIS FORM AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
