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Day Trips to Help You Celebrate America
Happy Independence Day! We wanted to give you a way to celebrate your love for America and your Texan pride this July 4th — and since the holiday lands so close to the weekend — here are a couple of the most America-themed day trips you can take in Texas.
George Washington Museum – Laredo, TX
You already knew Laredo was home to some of the best tacos Texas has to offer…but did you know that it’s also home to the largest George Washington Birthday celebration in America? It’s true. And it’s based off a crazy folktale that involves Washington and Pocahontas visiting town. Check out the museum about this birthday celebration to see the handmade dresses locals wear in the Martha Washington Ball each year!
Hillsboro, TX
Hillsboro is your one-stop-shop for all things Americana. Trip through nostalgia at the Roadside America museum with classic cars and memorabilia or sip a milkshake at the old-timey A-Tiskit-A-Tasket Soda Fountain. Make sure to see the Texas Heritage Museum, which tells the story of brave Texans who fought for American independence. It’s an amazing place to pay respect to these incredible men and women for their sacrifices.
Portrait of a Warrior Art Gallery – Baytown, TX
Head to Baytown to see the gallery of Ken Pridgeon who has painted beautiful portraits memorializing every fallen soldier from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the paintings include special details about each soldier’s life and family. It’s incredible.
Nokona American Ballgloves – Nocona, TX
You can’t have 4th of July without America’s favorite past time. Tour the last true American ballglove factory to see how these gloves are handmade with care, just like they have been since 1934!
Space Center Houston – Houston, TX
One small step for tripper, one giant leap for tripper-kind. Spend the day playing astronaut and celebrating the final frontier at the nation’s main control center for space exploration since the 1960s. See rockets, check out mission control and maybe even eat some astronaut food.
Presidential Archives & Leadership Museum -Odessa, TX
This just might be one of Odessa’s best kept secrets. This museum has a unique collection of exhibits dedicated to the Office of the president, with artifacts like the president’s chair in Marine 1 (the helicopter that flies the presidents from place to place). And out back is the Bush family home. While you’re in the area, check out George W. Bush’s childhood home in Midland.
Route 66 – Texas Panhandle
It doesn’t get more Americana than this. Take a trip down the Texas stretch of the iconic highway that winds its way across the states to see roadside attractions from yesteryear and eat plenty of homemade pie.
WATCH: Best Western Business Advantage Means MORE PERKS!
Traveling for business has never been easier (or more awesome)!
With Best Western Hotels & Resorts Business Advantage, you can get sweet rewards and perks for your whole team like preferred rates, 10% more points per stay (for you AND the company) and so much more!
Learn how you can hook up your business with a Business Advantage membership here: http://bit.ly/2EowU7N
WATCH: I Climbed to the top of the Port Isabel Lighthouse
This lighthouse is the only remaining one open to the public, and let me tell you — the views of the coast from up top are one-of-a-kind.
Flat Chet Challenge
Hitting the road this summer? Take Chet along on for the ride! All summer long, we’re hosting a photo contest to see who can get some of the most creative and fun pictures with “Flat Chet.”
All you gotta do to enter is print him out and take him on your summer adventures. Take a picture with Flat Chet in front of an iconic landmark ANYWHERE. Seriously, we’re not just talking Texas landmarks…take your Flat Chet EVERYWHERE– to the Eiffel Tower, Times Square or even THE MOON (you’ll get extra points if you can figure out how to get to space). We want to see Flat Chet eating barbecue, tubing a river, or even just chilling on the back porch. Anything is game.
Post your pictures to Instagram or Facebook using #FlatChet (make sure your profile is public so we’re able to see your photos).
On August 15, we’ll pick winners who’s photos are the MOST TEXAN, MOST CREATIVE, and MOST …. (to be determined category). Just get creative, have fun, and the best photos will be rewarded. We’ll announce the award-winning photos on our Facebook and Instagram. All winners will receive a special prize package full of awesome products from the brand new Daytripper World Headquarters!!
WATCH: Son’s Island, An Island Nowhere Near the Ocean
Who’d have thought I’d find an island in the middle of Texas — hundreds of miles away from the coast?
Son’s Island in Seguin, TX, has all the tropical fun of a beach — without that pesky salt water. I took my family for a weekend, and we had a wet and wild getaway!
#DaytrippinPoppies Photo Contest
It’s time for Georgetown’s 20th Anniversary Red Poppy Festival and to celebrate this milestone, we’re partnering with the folks at Visit Georgetown for a fun photo contest.
We’ve made a list of the 5 Things You Gotta do at Poppy Fest, and to enter the contest, all you gotta do is take a picture doing one of the 5 things below and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #DaytrippinPoppies. We’ll pick one winning photo from each item on the list the following week and the winners will receive a Red Poppy Festival Souvenir Shot Glass!
5 Things You Gotta Do at Poppy Fest
1. Take a picture with a red poppy
2. Listen to live music
3. Visit The Daytripper World Headquarters during its Grand Opening Weekend
4. Catch the Paint Georgetown Red Poppy Festival Parade on Saturday morning
5. Eat something crazy at the Food Courts
The Texan’s Guide to Last-Minute Romance
I hate to be the bearer of bad news (and I’m hoping you already knew this) but it’s probably too late to get reservations at that nice fancy restaurant down the street for Valentine’s Day. But that doesn’t mean your evening has to be completely devoid of romance… Texas has some pretty swoon-worthy date spots if you know where to look. Check out this guide of last-minute ways to show your sweetheart how much you care for them — with little to no effort, cash or reservations required!
Pick Out Chocolates Together
Smooth your forgetting-to-buy-chocolates crisis into a fun date night. Texas has a wide range of creative confectioneries like Maggie Louise Confections, which offers glittery gourmet shapes and Wiseman House Chocolates that has delicious truffles, so visit with your Valentine and let them fill up on their choice of sweets. Check out the full list of gourmet chocolates across the state.
Toast a Glass of Wine or Beer
Merlot is red, rosé is pink. Get your Valentine a glass (or two or three!) of fine wines to drink. Since the Texas wine industry is rising in the national ranks, spending Valentine’s Day sipping through a wine trail is a no-brainer. There are tons of wineries in Texas with amazing views and luxurious wines! More a beer kinda-couple? Texas is packed with amazing craft breweries that require no reservations to visit their taprooms, and some even give tours! Here’s a list of Hill Country breweries to get you started.
Pick Flowers Together
Flowers are hard to find in the winter, but don’t sweat it. Take your Valentine to one of the state’s beautiful gardens. You can stop and smell the roses (literally) at Tyler’s Municipal Gardens or enjoy live music at The Dallas Arboretum. If you’re looking for a date that really sticks out, wander through East Austin Succulents‘ wide selection of cacti.
Get Outdoors
It just so happens that Valentine’s Day this year is gonna be a warm one. Take advantage of that great weather with a hike or picnic at one of the various state parks in Texas. Check this calendar for romantic park events that are ALL FREE and require NO RESERVATIONS, or start exploring with this list!
Stargaze
It’s the traditional old-Hollywood kinda date that’s pretty cheap and very romantic. You can hike to one of Texas’s prettiest sights at night and see the stars untouched by city lights, or, the less tiring option is to let the professionals do all the hard work for you at a star party at the McDonald Observatory or George Observatory.
Two-Step with your Sweetheart
Always a go-to Texan date! Grab your dancin’ boots and your Valentine, and head out to one of Texas’s historic dance halls for live music and a great time! There’s nothing quite as romantic as twirling across old, wooden floors with the one you love.
Catch a classic flick
Bring back the memories of young puppy-love and taking your high school crush to the movies by catching a classic black and white flick with your Valentine. It’ll be warm enough to hit the drive-in theater or check out one of Texas’s historic theaters that are still showing movies.
Win a Chance to Meet Me!
I’m partnering up with the folks at Best Western Texas to give you the chance to win a trip to San Antonio, where you’ll get to visit some of my favorite spots AND MEET ME!!
All you gotta do is register HERE and stay at a Best Western hotel in Texas between now and April 30th, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win!
ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL GET:
- 2 Nights at a Best Western Hotel in San Antonio
- a $100 Gift Card to Mi Tierra Cafe
- 4 Vouchers to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
- 4 Vouchers to Natural Bridge Caverns
- 4 Vouchers to Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum
- 4 Vouchers to the Witte Museum
- BREAKFAST WITH ME (Ready for Texas-shaped waffles???)
Visit www.bestwesterntexas.com/MeetChet for the details and get to trippin’ so you’ll have a chance to meet me!!
17 Texas Coffee Shops to Warm You Up
So maybe Texas can’t make up its mind about whether it’s hot or cold, but when those chilly days do hit, we’ve got 17 shops to help you stay nice and cozy. No matter if you’re a coffee purist, a latte lover, a sugar fiend or you want some alcohol with your caffeine, there’s something on this list for everyone.
It’s All About the Roast
Coffee purists, rejoice! If the words “venti-soy-mocha-caramel cappuccino with extra whip” make your head spin and the thought of adding sugary creamers to your coffee is giving you a stomach ache, then you need to try these simple shops with a focus on the process, not just the cup.
At Amarillo’s Evocation Coffee, the mantra is “Coffee is art” with a menu focused on pour-over brews that feature the micro-roastery’s smooth signature coffees. Each cup is brewed individually and is so naturally sweet, no additions are needed.
In Waco, Common Grounds features a “Slow Bar” where rotated weekly brews are made with the brewing methods that best bring out the flavors of the roast, because coffee snobs know that a truly great cup of joe is worth the wait.
And if the art of coffee is truly in the process, then Siphon Coffee in Houston might just be on to something. Named for its extremely rare brewing method, each cup of “Siphon” coffee is made in a science-experiment-esque process as what looks like a beaker is placed over a bulb-like halogen burner to pull out certain notes in the beans.
Don’t Forget the Classics…
For a roast that always hits the spot, try the Fort Worth’s AVOCA Coffee, San Antonio’s local favorite Merit Coffee or the Austin-born Summer Moon Wood Fired Coffee (and don’t forget a “Moon Milk”). And for classic roast with a twist, try what’s probably one of the most recognized coffee roasters in Texas, Cuvee Coffee, Spicewood’s roastery that’s always putting out something new and delicious.
Learn the Art of Coffee
If it’s not enough to just taste a great cup of coffee, you want to master making it like a pro on your own, then head to Greater Goods Roasters in Austin. Not only are they coffee-roasting artists who donate to local charities with each bag of coffee they sell, but they’ll help you step up your coffee skills with a variety of classes from Brewing Methods to Latte Art.
And if you want to be the envy of your caffeinated cohorts, Dallas’s Noble Coyote hosts monthly tasting and cupping classes at their Roastery.
Latte Artists!
Houston’s Southside Espresso has made national news for its inventive latte art. Venturing past the usual swans and hearts, this coffee shop takes requests from customers to create some of the most intricate art works using just steamed milk.
Sip Stir Coffee House in Dallas takes the latte art one step further, using chocolate syrup to add detailing to their milky creations. Try a creamy S’mores Latte for a treat that’s both beautiful and delightful!
Alright, so this one’s less of a coffee shop and more of a bakery, BUT Fluff Meringues & More serves up creamy hot cocoa and warm lattes topped with massive homemade marshmallow cubes. Honestly, how can you say no to that?
Brews & Beer
Because there are those times when you want a good cup of coffee or a nice craft beer, the Red Horn Coffee House & Brewing Co. in Cedar Park has made all our dreams come true. Not only do they craft a wide selection of beers in-house, they also roast their own coffee beans — and both are great. If you’re having trouble deciding between brew or beer, split the difference with a Specialty Coffee Stout.
BREWED in Fort Worth is called “The Locals’ Living Room” because it’s got a little bit of everything you need to relax. Especially really, really great coffee and Texas beers on tap. Mix it up with a cowboy coffee (a glorious concoction of coffee and whiskey), or go for the cold brew, served with the creaminess of a beer on tap and the sweet, smooth flavor of an excellent roast.
Try Something NEW!
Coffee Box in El Paso is worth visiting just for the fact that it’s in a cool shipping container, and serves great coffee and giant cinnamon rolls. But they’ve got a peculiar latte that’s worth mentioning: the Activated Charcoal Latte made from char-coaled coconut shells. Whether you’d be brave enough to try it or not, you gotta admit it surely is an interesting sight.
Ever drank coffee and thought it could be a whole lot sweeter? Than head to Black Sugar Caffe in Cedar Park for the Puff Cloud Coffee where they literally put cotton candy on top of your unsweetened latte and let it melt in to sweeten the coffee.
McAllen’s Reserva Coffee roasts up coffee beans that stand on their own, but what truly sets them apart is how they use their expertly crafted coffee to create new drink combinations, like Coffee Lemonade (cold brew, tonic water, lemon juice and simple syrup) or a Wildflower Honey Latte.
100 Things Every Texan Must Do!
1. Remember (and also visit) The Alamo
2. Leave your mark in spray paint at Cadillac Ranch
3. Stop at the roadside attractions on the Texas portion of Historic Route 66
4. Tube the Frio, Comal, Guadalupe or San Marcos River
5. Take a tour the of the AT&T Stadium and throw a football on the Dallas Cowboys field
6. Go Two-Stepping at a historic dance hall
7. Take a walk on the weird side down South Congress in Austin
8. Ride a mechanical bull at the Stockyards in Fort Worth
9. Catch a beautiful West Texas sunset
10. Visit the Eiffel Tower replica in Paris, Texas
11. Gorge yourself on some good ol’ Texas barbecue (extra points if you wait more than an hour for it)
12. Balance on the top of Balanced Rock in Big Bend National Park
13. Take in the city from the top of Reunion Tower in Dallas
14. Eat a Fletcher’s corny dog and fried-everything at the State Fair of Texas
15. Wave at Sam Houston’s Statue in Huntsville
16. Eat a Texas-sized Chicken Fried Steak at a small town diner, and finish off with a slice of pie
17. Try your luck paddling the winding and treacherous Devils River
18. Learn how to properly pronounce “Burnet,” “Waxahachie,” “Mexia,” “Palestine” and “Boerne”
19. Get artsy at Prada Marfa
20. Pretend to be an astronaut at Space Center Houston
21. Go wine-tasting through the Hill Country
22. Figure out the best way to eat a Pittsburg Hot Link
23. Attempt the Lockhart Barbecue Challenge
24. Tour the Painted Churches
25. In the spring, take the Willow City Loop to see fields and fields of bluebonnets
26. Eat pie at Pie Happy Hour at Blue Bonnet Cafe
27. Eat Watermelons from Luling, Tomatoes from Jacksonville and Cantalopes from Pecos
28. Go on a fall hike through Lost Maples State Natural Area to see the beautiful fall foliage
29. Say hi to the “Fixer Uppers” at Magnolia Market in Waco
30. Drive past Luck, TX, and see if you have any luck finding the Red Headed Stranger, himself
31. Eat a Texas-sized Round Rock Donut
32. Get your antique on in Round Top during Antiques Week
33. Hike to the iconic Lighthouse in Palo Duro Canyon
34. Travel to the Geographic Center of Texas
35. Drive the entire length of North Padre Island
36. Attend the FIESTA San Antonio celebration
37. Get a glimpse of the galaxies at one of Texas’s many observatories
38. Climb to the top of Texas at Guadalupe Mountains National Park
39. See the “TEXAS” Outdoor Musical in Palo Duro Canyon State Park
40. Wander through the Davy Crockett National Forest
41. Paddle down the El Camino Real Paddling Trail in Bastrop
42. Toast a mug of mead at the Texas Renaissance Festival
43. Have a Holly Jolly afternoon in Grapevine, “The Christmas Capital of Texas”
44. Boat your way through the eerie tangled trees at Caddo Lake (just don’t get lost!)
45. Take a boat ride down the San Antonio Riverwalk
46. Experience the mystifying Marfa Lights
47. Rock out at a Texas music festival
48. Tour the Texas State Capitol
49. Attempt to drive or motorcycle ride the Twisted Sisters (Ranch Roads 335, 336, 337)
50. Learn about Texas’s favorite drink at the Dr Pepper Museum
51. Watch a race at the Texas Motor Speedway
52. Stop for Kolaches in West, TX
53. Make a pit-stop at every Buc-ee’s you pass on road trips
54. Attempt a Food Challenge like The Mega Mel at Mel’s Country Cafe and the 72 oz. Steak at Big Texan Steak Ranch
55. Go CrAzY for Crazy Water from Mineral Wells
56. See what’s underground at one of Texas’s many Caves
57. Peer into Jacob’s Well in Wimberley
58. Spend the day at Six Flags and eat a Pink Thing
59. Cheer loudly at a Rangers, Astros, Cowboys, Mavericks or Spurs Game
60. Stand in dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose
61. Admire the beauty of the San Jacinto Monument
62. Climb to the top of Enchanted Rock
63. Hear live music at Gruene Hall
64. Eat at the OST in Bandera
65. Win a stuffed animal on the Kemah Boardwalk
66. Dance to Texas Country at the Broken Spoke
67. Giddy on up to The Houston Rodeo
68. Gather on the Congress Bridge to watch the Austin Bridge Bats fly out
69. Get fresh scoops of Homemade Vanilla at the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham
70. Catch a “Friday Night Lights” game at Permian Basin high school in Odessa
71. Eat at the double-decker Whataburger flagship location on Shoreline Dr. in Corpus Christi
72. Tailgate before a college football game
73. Get stuck in traffic on I-35
74. Eat proper Texas chili (aka beanless chili) at the spot where Chili Powder was invented: the Phoenix Saloon in New Braunfels
75. Get lost behind the Pine Curtain of East Texas
76. Catch a wave on a Texas beach
77. Begin a day with breakfast tacos in Austin or end your day with any kind of tacos in San Antonio
78. Learn the proper conjugations of “y’all”
79. Explore a Texas waterfall like Gorman Falls
80. Dive into a Texas swimming hole on a scorching summer day
81. Get late night tacos at Chico’s Tacos
82. Say hi to the stuffed goat who was once the mayor of Terlingua at the Starlight Theater
83. Shop underground at Houston’s Lamar Tunnel
84. Honor our state heroes at the Texas State Cemetery
85. Drive across the Regency Bridge, the last drive-able wooden suspension bridge in Texas
86. Lounge on the lawn of the “Texas White House” in Johnson City
87. See where Texas began at Washington-on-the-Brazos, aka “The Birthplace of Texas”
88. See why “Everybody’s Somebody” in Luckenbach
89. Eat German food and shop for antiques in Fredericksburg
90. Smell the roses at Tyler’s Municipal Rose Garden
http://www.toddwhite.org
91. Find the desk on top of Hancock Hill in Alpine
92. So “sand sledding” at Monahans Sandhills State Park
93. Visit Shiner, TX for a beer and a tour of the brewery
94. See the “Come and Take it” Cannon at the Gonzales Memorial Museum
95. Toast a frozen margarita at the place that invented the frozen margarita machine, Mariano’s Hacienda in Arlington
96. Admire the only glass toilets in America in Sulphur Springs
97. Test your bravery at the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup
98. Discover the rock art in Seminole Canyons State Park
99. Stop by Prairie Dog Town in Lubbock
100. Be prouder than proud that you live in the best state in the world
Frisco Premiere Party!!
Get ready to party Frisco, TX!!
We’re throwing a special party to premiere our NEW Frisco, TX Episode on Feb. 1 from 6-8 p.m at Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q, and we’ll be hosting a special Cans for Q Fundraiser!
All you gotta do is bring a canned good for Frisco Family Services Food Pantry and we’ll give you 1/4 lb. of brisket for FREE! (You may bring as many canned goods to donate as you’d like but we are limiting it to only 1 FREE 1/4 lb. of Brisket PER PERSON.)
We’ll premiere our brand new episode, give away raffle prizes, eat delicious barbecue, and have tons of fun!! Find the party at 9828 Dallas Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034.
Come join us and invite your friends. We’re so excited to hang out with you North Texas! See you there!
