As we start out the New Year at The Daytripper Headquarters, we’ve made a list with a few of our travel ambitions for 2019, because as we explore new parts of Texas together to make new episodes for you, we each have a couple spots of our own that we’d like to visit. Here are some of the places in Texas we each hope to explore this year!
Chet – “I’ve still got 48 counties to visit in order to pass into the 254 club. I don’t expect to knock them all out in 2019, but I’m aiming to hit up at least 10 more. Starting with Canadian, TX in Hemphill County.”
John Mark – “I want to trip to the McDonald Observatory in West Texas. I have a fascination with the night sky and I’ve heard this is the best place in Texas to take it all in.”
Ben – “In 2019, I want to go to Big Bend because I’ve never been there . It looks awesome, and it’s also almost my name.”
Alaina – “My bucket list is to take the European tour of Texas – Edinburg, Stockholm, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, London, Florence, New Sweden, Holland, Dublin, Newcastle, Rhome, Italy, Athens, Paris, Manchester, Naples, Geneva, Belgrade, Nederland, and Liverpool.”
Linsey – “I’d like to explore San Antonio a little more this year. Like a true Texan, I’ve been to the Alamo a million times and eaten my weight in Tex-Mex, but I’d like to check out The Pearl district and stay in Hotel Emma. And if I happen to be in town for Fiesta San Antonio, well that’s just an awesome bonus.”
Daniel – “I would like to travel out to West Texas and take my family to the McDonald Observatory to a star party so they can see how bright the stars really are far away from the big city.”
Richie Lozano – “I would like to spend a week in Marfa, Alpine and Fort Davis because in the over 100 episodes we’ve produced, these towns are the most peaceful, enveloping and comfortable towns we’ve gone to. Between the landscapes and the people, it’s a favorite part of Texas for me.”
Now that you’ve read our Texas Travel Bucket List, we challenge YOU to make your own. So, where do you hope to trip this year?
At this point, you’re probably running around trying to find the perfect gift for Aunt Sue, decking the halls with ALL the boughs of holly and prepping for the five-course meals you’ll be making for all those Christmas parties. Yet, before the spirit of Christmas gets lost, here’s one last road trip full of giant trees, the brightest lights, and even a few ice rinks to bring you and your family together in the midst of the Holiday season craziness. This road trip is as magical during the day as it is at night, and you might even get some Christmas shopping done along the way. MERRY TRIPPIN’!
Of course your first stop on this merry road trip is the “Christmas Capital of Texas.” Shop along Main Street, with stores as full of Christmas gifts as they are decorated with wreaths, garland and lights. Sip hot chocolate and people-watch at Main Street Bistro’s sidewalk cafe or celebrate Christmas like the early Grapevine residents with crafts and historic tales at the Settlement to City Museums. At night, see Main Street aglow with hundreds of lights, and stop by the gazebo where a light show plays continuously from 6-11 p.m.
Dreaming of a White Christmas? To make all your snowy dreams come true, stop into the Great Wolf Lodge nearby where it snows in the lobby during story time and every inch of the rustic “lodge” is decked out for the Holidays. For true Christmas magic, stay at the hotel to splash around the indoor water park and dine in a giant Gingerbread house!
Destination 2:Enchant Christmas in Arlington, TX
Next you’re on to fill your sleigh with gifts and fill your heart with Christmas cheer. At Enchant Arlington, there’s something for everyone! Ice Skate, wander through the giant dazzling lights maze, and peruse tons of authentic German goods straight from the famous Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village in Rothenburg, Germany.
Picture by Sundance Square.
Destination 3:Sundance Square in Fort Worth
In the heart of downtown at Sundance Square is a live 56-foot tree so decked out in Holiday Cheer, you’d expect the Who Village Choir to be holding hands around it, singing gibberish Christmas songs. Down in front, Santa sits in his sleigh in the Plaza waiting for you to come share your Christmas desires, but he’s got a tight schedule (preparing for that big Christmas Eve flight and all) so check here before arriving. Surrounding the tree and plaza is the beautiful downtown skyline outlined in twinkling lights — quite a sight to see!
Christmas Cheer Around The Square: Wander around downtown to see incredible Christmas window displays at Haltom’s Jewelers, Flowers To Go and LOFT. Bring out your inner child at Houston Street Toy Company or just gawk at the giant moving Ferris Wheel in the window. Nearby, wish a season’s greeting to the iconic angels adorning Bass Performance Hall.
Picture by Trinity River Vision Authority.
Destination 4:Panther Island ICE
Your final stop is to slip…err, um skate around the ice rink at Coyote Drive-In. Fort Worth’s favorite summer hot spot has been transformed into an outdoor rink in Fort Worth so grab a pair of skates, the arm of your favorite family member or friend and hit the ice for a cool time. If you’d rather watch folks slide around the ice than partake in it, sit back and sip hot cocoa from the Coyote Drive-In Canteen.
Everything’s bigger in Texas and that includes our festivals! All across the state, folks are breaking out the Wassail, lighting up the city streets and putting on their elf hats to celebrate the Holiday season! Check out these festivals to make sure your December is filled with Christmas Cheer!
Light up your Christmas season with this incredible lights display at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX from now until Dec. 30. It includes the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze, where visitors can wander through a magical labyrinth to help Santa find his eight missing gifts, an ice skating rink and the authentic German ChristKindl Market filled with handmade crafts and German cuisine! Find more information here.
Have a Texas-sized Christmas at this Winter Wonderland in College Station where it SNOWS every night! There’s no shortage of countrified-holiday cheer from a hayride through dazzling lights and campfire stations for roasting s’mores to a Santa Mechanical Bull Ride and tons of shopping! The festival runs until Dec. 30 and you can purchase tickets here.
Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas at the annual live nativity scene put on by the First Baptist Church of Burnet. Wander the crowded streets of ancient Bethlehem, shop in the bustling marketplace and visit the cave where Christ was born to Mary and Joseph in a manger. The event truly brings the story of Christmas to life. Visit FBC Burnet’s website for details and dates.
“Yule” love this Yuletide event at Zilker Park, where you can wander through the 2 million lights strung across the 300+ acres of the park. Along the 1.25 mile trail are lights galore, gourmet food vendors, live music and more! The trail is open Dec. 10 – 23. Click here for more information.
Things get wild during the Holidays at the Houston Zoo. Each night, after the animals have gone to bed, the zoo comes alive with vibrant lights and Christmas cheer! As you explore, you’ll find all kinds of wonders like life-sized light-up giraffes and zebras, an enchanted forest and a train village! Zoo Lights is open until Jan. 13. Purchase tickets here.
Throughout the month of December, the town of Hidalgo will have live music performances, Christmas fun, a carnival and even an ice skating rink! In addition to the Yuletide events, the Festival of Lights also features a nine-mile lights trail that you can explore by train, trolley or from your own car! See the full schedule here.
During the Christmas season, the Amarillo Botanical Gardens lights up with Holiday Spirit — and over 200,000 lights! Each section of the garden in transformed into a dazzling wonderland mixed with twinkling lights displays and beautiful flowers. Christmas in the Gardens lasts until Dec. 23.
Along the banks of the Concho River in San Angelo is a 2.5 mile Tour of Lights with giant Christmas cards and Holiday scenes galore! The displays of over 3 million lights along the trail depict The Twelve Days of Christmas, a nativity scene, poinsettias and more at the Concho Christmas Celebration! The Tour of Lights lasts until Dec. 31.
Marshall, TX, is full of holiday magic at the Wonderland of Lights until Dec. 30. Glide on the outdoor skating rink, decorate cookies, take photos with Santa in his workshop, and hop on the carousel, horse-drawn carriages or Wonderland Express for a truly festive view of the glowing Square.
It’s Christmas in West Texas! Sure, there may not be snow…but there is an Ice Skating rink, a Winter Market where you can get your shopping done, and tons of Holiday events like Gingerbread House decorating contests, Christmas movies at the Plaza and Breakfast with Santa! The festival lasts until Jan. 6, so check it out here.
There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a real life Christmas tree decked out in glimmering lights and dazzling with ornaments. And if you’ve never had any experience with a real tree, it’s not too late to start your family’s tradition. Texas has plenty of fun Christmas tree farms across the state where you can choose-and-cut your own tree or pick from a variety of pre-cut trees shipped in from North Carolina. Browse this list to get started on finding your perfect Christmas tree!
Elgin’s Christmas Tree Farm is bringing more than just a huge selection of Texas-grown Christmas trees and imported Fraser Firs this year — they’ve got tons of Holiday fun! After you hop on the hayride and pick out your perfect tree, you can get lost in the hayride, visit the petting zoo and more!
Choose and cut your own quality Texas-grown Christmas trees and select a live wreath at this farm near San Antonio. And since it’s also a pecan farm, you can purchase shelled or unshelled pecans.
It’s an old-time Christmas, indeed. Texas-grown trees, train rides, giant bounce houses, slides and pictures with Santa all await you. You can even make an appointment for a session with a photographer to capture your memories at the farm.
Take a walk through this Christmas wonderland to cut your own tree, buy fresh ornaments, find ornaments to decorate your tree, eat with Santa, roast marshmallows and so, so much more. There’s enough fun at this 40 acre tree farm that you can make it a full day trip!
Fresh wreaths and Texas-grown trees just waiting to be cut are what you’ll find on this beautiful piece of land. Take a hayride out to the trees, pick out the perfect one, and then cozy up to a roaring campfire with a complimentary cup of mulled cider or hot chocolate. And if you can’t stand to leave the ranch, rent out one of the “tiny houses” on their property for the weekend.
If you’re dreaming of a colorful Christmas, then this is the place for you. Along with a wide selection of Christmas trees, you can also get Flocked Christmas Trees (aka trees painted in the color of your choice, from pink to gold to black)! End your day with a hayride and some complementary cider or coffee!
These lots in Colleyville & Keller are your one-stop-shops for all things Christmas decorations. Deck out your home with their selection of yard decorations, live wreaths and pre-flocked trees. Can’t find the color tree you want? Pick your tree and they’ll gladly custom flock your tree!
Up near the Texas Panhandle, the Double Shovel farm is serving up tons of Christmas fun! Choose between choose-and-cut Afghan trees or pre-cut Fraser Fir Trees, and shop for live wreaths. Kids will enjoy a scavenger hunt through the trees and a visit from Happy the Christmas Elf on Saturdays!
Get in the Holiday spirit at this West Texas farm, where they’ve got old-fashioned hay rides, a shop full of local goods and tons of Christmas events throughout the season — including a showing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas!” You’ll be sure to find the perfect tree!
Since 1989, this family-run farm has been a part of countless Texans’ holiday traditions, and it’s never too late to start making it a part of yours. Shop their line of pre-cut trees or cut your own, then hop on the hayride, get lost in the Maze and partake in a few Holiday arts and crafts. Top it off with free Apple Cider — and that’s a great way to began the season!
This year, the Wakesurf Championships took place on the Brazos River in Waco, TX. And if you aren’t already familiar with it, wakesurfing is a water sport where you’re basically surfing on the waves made by a boat.
On September 28-30, the best wakesurfers from around the US came to Waco to compete in an epic National competition sponsored by General Motors Marine Technology, a proud partner of Chevy. The coolest part is that the boat used to create the waves for the surfers, the Super Air Nautique G23 featured GM’s world-class powertrain Gen-V Series engine, which is similar to those found on some Chevy Trucks, like the all-new 2019 Silverado!
That just goes to show that whether you’re trippin’ by road or by water, Chevy engines have the power to get you there!
Find more information about the Wakesurf Championships here.
This past Tuesday was National Name Your Car Day, and here in Texas, we know that a car is more than just a vehicle — it’s part of the family! And in the Lone Star State, there’s no bond stronger than the one between a Texan and their pickup truck.
In honor of the fun holiday, Chevy worked with Harris Poll to survey hundreds of Texan pickup truck drivers to see how Texans feel about their trucks — and even what they name them! Below are a few of the results.
63% of Texas pickup drivers consider their pickup truck a part of the family
91% of Texas pickup truck drivers have used their truck to help others
44% of Texas pickup drivers say they love their pickup more than any other object they own
31% of Texans would rather give up TV than their truck
And of course, every cowboy’s gotta have a name for his horse. Here’s an info-graphic showing the Top Truck Names in Texas!
Find more of the stats from Chevy’s fun survey here.
While visiting a winery is already an awesome experience, all around the state dozens of wineries are welcoming in the harvest season with Grape Stomping festivals where YOU get to lend a helping hand (or should I say foot?) to produce some of Texas’s best wines. So grab some old clothes and get ready for a toe-squishing great time at one of these Texas Grape Stomps!
Head to Seguin, TX this Saturday for a traditional Grape Stomp from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Blue Lotus Winery. Not only will you get to squish around in a bucket of grapes, you’ll get a special shirt for stamping your grapey footprints on afterwards. The event also includes a meal of sandwiches, salad and pie paired with your choice of two glasses of Blue Lotus wines. Buy tickets here.
In celebration of the harvest, both locations of Messina Hof are hosting special grape-stomping events. Each Saturday in August, the Bryan, TX location will have Daytime Harvests with grape stomps, wine tastings and lunches. Each Saturday night features a special Harvest Festival themed-dinner. The Fredericksburg, TX location starts with a Sunset Harvest on August 24 featuring a Blessing of the Vines, grape picking and stomping, and then a Daytime Harvest Festival, Grape Stomp & Brunch on August 25. Find more information on tickets for both events here.
On August 4, this winery in Round Mountain, TX is inviting you to become a member of the “Purple Feet Club.” Join them for a full day of FREE grape stomping, live music and wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Souvenir shirts will be available for purchase at the event. Learn more here.
Join the folks at this Brenham, TX winery for grape “crushing” each Saturday & Sunday until August 12 for wine-stomping galore. The event features food trucks, and each ticket comes with a wine stomping souvenir shirt, and kids’ tickets also include grape juice! Find more information here.
This New Braunfels, TX vineyard is turning up the fun with a Grape Stomping Duo Competition: one person stomps and the other collects the juice for the grand prize of….bragging rights and a really good time! Squishing grapes between your toes not your idea of fun? You can also attend as a spectator and still enjoy live music, food trucks, a swag bag, wine, truffles and more! Purchase Stomper and Spectator tickets here.
Head to Stonewall, TX for an educational grape stomping experience! Each Saturday and Sunday during the grape stomp, visitors will get a little lesson in harvesting and a tour of the winery’s harvesting and crushing equipment, before — of course! — getting to squish the grapes themselves. Buy tickets here.
Windy Winery is hosting a Grape Stomp every weekend in July through August, so no matter how busy you are this summer, you’ll still find a time to schedule in some squishing! This grape stomp allows you to start by picking grapes in the vineyard and then stomping away to live music! Each adult ticket comes with a complimentary glass of sangria and a shirt. Children’s tickets include a grape slushie and shirt. Find more information here.
Head to Stonewall, TX for a FREE grape stomp two weekends in a row! Both weekends, souvenir shirts and wine tastings will be available for purchase, but the actual stomping is free and first-come, first-serve. On the last Sunday, September 2 at 3 p.m. there will be a “Lucy & The Italian Woman Costume Contest,” where participants are judged on their enthusiasm, stomping ability, and costume. Find details here.
Join the folks of Winnie, TX for an afternoon of grape stomping, wine and a delicious meal! You can buy your $20 ticket at the door, and it includes food, a glass of wine or frozen wine and a grape stomp. Souvenir shirts will also be available for purchase. Find more information here.
If you didn’t know already, Round Top is the perfect getaway, and I was already obsessed with it. Homemade pie, cute colonial-looking houses turned antique shops and enough country hospitality to fill a ten-gallon hat are just a few of the reasons it’s one of my favorite Texas towns.
BUT over the weekend on a girls’ trip, I discovered one more reason to love this quaint town. I stayed at the Flophouze Hotel, Texas’s first Shipping Container Hotel.
Now, it may look like just a metal box. Oh, but friends, it’s so much more than that. Owner Matt White, who also opened Recycling The Past, has used his love of all things antiques to create an entire hotel made out of recycled and reclaimed materials.
From the walls made with the wood of an old Kentucky distillery to the kitchen cabinet tops crafted from the floors of a Texas bowling alley, each aspect of these hotel rooms was once something else, and has been re-purposed into a comfy living space.
This hodgepodge of reclaimed pieces is fittingly located in the “antiques kingdom” of Round Top. And it’ll be your new favorite retreat.
As we opened the door to our home for the weekend, I was shocked at just how much luxury was comfortably stuffed into this one little space.
From the outside, it looked like we’d be squished in like sardines, but somehow, the shipping container magically opened up into three spacious rooms: a living room/kitchenette with fridge, sink and microwave; a bathroom complete with a very large rainfall shower; and a master bedroom with a queen bed and plenty of storage. Never once did we feel cramped.
Master bedroom, complete with ridiculously comfortable bed and stylishly hipster robes.
And if you were scared it was all looks and no comfort, you should know that the bed (which I will lovingly refer to as a billowy pile of down-feathers and pillows) was actually the best night’s sleep at a hotel I’ve ever had. Though we were sleeping in a shipping container, we definitely weren’t “roughing it.” No indulgence was left out.
The kitchen was stocked with complimentary Mexican cokes, Topo Chico, and coffee and hot tea for the mornings. Each room had air conditioners with portable remotes so you didn’t even have to get up to change the temperature. The walls were covered in unique art pieces. And scattered throughout the shipping container was literature for the knowledge-hungry Texan, including Willie Nelson’s autobiography — of course!
A little light reading anyone?
Let’s be real: this would definitely be my ideal bunker during a nuclear explosion.
Even the doors are reclaimed and cool. Check out the bathroom door!
The only thing this place didn’t have was a TV…and honestly, I was more than happy to take a break from my binge-watching addiction. In its place, the living room had a massive window, a record player and a carefully curated collection of albums spanning from classic jazz to 80’s rock for sitting back and watching the world pass by. We had Louis Armstrong on loop all weekend long.
On the other hand, though it was quite luxurious, the whole experience was centered on unplugging in nature. Each “houze” has its own hammock, fire pit and porch with an incredible view of the stars. We especially loved the pool made by Modpools. It was also converted from a shipping container into an epic pool with a glass side and a hot tub!
The hotel is in the middle of building a deck for the pool…but that didn’t keep us from splashing right in!
One word: views.
Flophouze Hotel was the ideal weekend retreat. It’s the perfect mixture of seclusion and convenience. We felt like we were out in the middle of nowhere, though in reality, we were close enough to make a late night s’mores-run to the HEB 15 minutes away in La Grange, and enjoy karaoke and pie in nearby Round Top.
Flophouze already has 6 shipping container “houzes” on site, and has plans to continue building new and innovative shipping container hotel rooms. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway (and maybe also some antiques and pie), this hotel might just be perfect for you!
While the five-star restaurants and exotic cuisines of the ever-changing big cities are great, some days you just need a comfy atmosphere, a great conversation and a smorgasbord of fried foods. If it’s down-home and country cookin’ you’re looking for, than look no further than these 11 small-town cafes. Sure, they may not be the flashiest or the most famous, but at these cafes you’ll find honest, welcoming folks, comfort food cooked with family recipes and homemade desserts to die for.
Cluttering the walls of Utopia’s favorite cafe are props from it’s famed days as a location in the 2011 movie, Seven Days in Utopia. Yet, even after hosting movie stars like Robert Duvall, not much has changed at Lost Maples Cafe. In fact, since it was built in 1904, this little cafe has been everything from a classroom to a drugstore, but one thing’s always remained the same — it’s the center of the community. Join the locals in this tightly-packed diner as they shoot the breeze over a hearty breakfast of giant fluffy biscuits, thick slabs of bacon and a mason jar of freshly made salsa — yes every breakfast plate is served with an entire jar of salsa — or stop by for a quick slice of creamy fudge pie after a day of road tripping to nearby Lost Maples State Park.
Decking the pastel pink walls and window sills of Abilene’s oldest restaurant are all sorts of piggy paraphernalia collected by customers and waitresses over the years. This cafe turns 86-years-old in July, and it’s the kind of place where you can “pig” out on giant platters of country cooking without any modern distractions…like cell phones (this old-fashioned diner still uses a rotary phone) or Wi-Fi (no computers either — it’s cash or check only). And don’t be surprised if you leave with a couple of new Abilenian friends.
Though this cafe has only been around since 1985, the black and white photos of family reunions and kissing sweethearts on the walls paired with the mini jukeboxes over the tables at each of the faded green floral booths call back to a much simpler time. At Ginger Brown’s, customers and waitstaff mingle into one big family, Monday-night BINGO and Cinnamon Roll Happy Hour are the main events each week and enormous portions of fried chicken and pot roast will transport you to Sunday dinners with your family.
Leave your diet at home, and be sure you’ve packed your fat pants for this cafe. At the Koffee Kup in Hico, hand-battered chicken fried steak, over-sized onion rings and homemade pie are the three main food groups that provide nourishment (well, maybe just satisfaction…) to travelers from near and far. Their Cream Cheese Jalapeno Burger has even made one of Texas Monthly’stop burgers list. And since 1968, this cash-only cafe has served pies under a belief that “pie fixes everything.” Just one bite of their Doctor’s Office pie and you’ll be a believer, too.
The 1921 general store in Leona, TX has been converted into the best steakhouse you’ve probably never heard of — but plenty of folks have since a line almost as big as the town, itself, begins forming at 4:30 p.m. for the opening of the cafe at 5:30 p.m. The menu is limited, but the food is out of this world. Choose between a juicy, thick rib-eye (really this should be your choice) or grilled catfish or chicken on Friday and Saturday nights, and gorge yourself on hand-breaded All-You-Can-Eat catfish on Thursday nights. While the meats are a meal in themselves, the house-made sides like jalapeno hush puppies on catfish night and twice-baked potatoes on steak night are also worth the immense post-dinner food cramps.
This throwback cafe is the perfect place to eat when you’re tripping through a town that has the one of the best antique shows in the US. The walls are a hodgepodge of old photos, hometown trophies and magazine articles, and at your checkered picnic table you can enjoy thick pork chops or succulent grilled quail with food-coma-inducing sides like creamed corn and jalapeno cheese soup in a laid back atmosphere. But don’t let the extensive dinner and lunch menu full you, you’re really here for pie. With flavors like strawberry rhubarb, apple pie and Texas Trash, if you can’t choose — get three slices (we won’t tell…)
Enjoy a full country breakfast at Hill Country Cafe.
Right outside of the hustle and bustle of Main Street, this cafe, though small, is the central meeting place for many folks — from business men grabbing a home-cooked breakfast before heading off to work to old folks catching up over a cup of coffee. And that’s the way it’s been since it opened in 1942. But more than just a place to grab a delicious homemade cinnamon roll, Hill Country Cafe sits on some pretty historic ground as well. Look closely at the news articles on the wall near the cash register and you’ll in find out that in 1905, Mrs. Florence Butts opened a little grocery store that would soon grow to be Texas’s favorite grocery store — HEB!
Drive through this sleepy little town in the southern Panhandle, and you’ll find that the Rock Inn Cafe is almost always hoppin’. Since 1933, this home style joint has been the place where cowboys and farmers alike can catch up over a cigarette and a plate of chicken fried steak, and hot fried pickles and hefty cheeseburgers await travelers weary from trippin’ across Texas. Dine on heaping plates of fried pork chops and collard greens that would put your grandma’s cooking to shame and wash it down with the sweetest of sweet teas.
This is the epitome of a small town cafe. Beneath the looming shadows of the granaries for this farming community’s Feed and Seed store, where the land stretches out for an eternity on every side, farmers gather daily at the dark-paneled diner to discuss the town news. Each platter of fried chicken or cheesy burger comes with your choice of fries, onion rings or okra (always choose the crisp okra), and if you’re lucky, a ginormous pan of freshly baked Texas chocolate sheet cake will greet you at the cash register on your way out (this, too, you must always take.)
This place looks like a tavern and is a great place for a frosty beer during happy hour, but don’t let the bar vibe fool you — it’s got all the flavors of a laid back hometown cafe. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu — fried catfish, humongous burgers, smoked fajitas, you name it it’s good — and in the evenings, you can enjoy your meal and conversation with live music from local artists!
Atop a hill with wide, sweeping views of West Texas sits this hidden gem in plain sight. You can get heaps of classic country cooking (big-as-your-face chicken fried steak and fried chicken galore), the fresh rolls were made to be drenched in honey and homemade buttermilk pie is the best way to end the meal. On the walls, you’ll find the history of the nearby ghost town Thurber, and learn about it’s booming days in the mining industry of the early 1900s. After you eat, head to the bottom of the hill where you can explore a historic miner’s home and an old mining caboose!
There’s just something special about a tattered building with a rust-worn tin roof coming back to life as the flickering shadows of two-steppers spills out into the gravel parking lot packed with pickup trucks. And no sound beats the steady pumping of the band and the faint squeak of the rattling, old floors underneath clonking boots. The historic dance halls on this list are the makings of a truly Texan night.
Built in 1878, it’s Texas’s oldest continually operating dance hall and possibly, its most famous — which is apparent every night, when the place becomes packed wall-to-wall with folks looking for a good time, no matter if the band is an up-and-comer or a returning legend like Willie Nelson. Gruene Hall (pronounced “Green”) has live music every single day, so no matter when you’re in town you can catch a show!
Though it was built in 1871, Luckenbach didn’t receive its musical claim to fame until the entire town was bought by John Russell Hondo Crouch in 1971 and — of course — Waylon Jennings made the hit tune “Luckenbach Texas” in 1977. Two-step your way to “Where Everybody’s Somebody” for one of their monthly dances or stop in for a historic “picker circle” each Monday through Thursday.
You can leave your cowboy boots and hat at home when you “Czech” out this place. Schulenburg’s historic 1894 dance hall was renovated and reopened in 2009, and continues to play the authentic polka music that first made it popular. Upstairs is the dance floor where you can get your polka on and downstairs is Momma’s, an eatery that serves up authentic German food and — surprisingly — hand-tossed pizzas!
This Austin venue is definitely more honky-tonk than dance hall, but it’s also as country and historic as they come. It’s been the place to hear good country music every single night since it opened in 1964, and not much has changed since. The dance floor is scuffed from over 50 years of two-steppin’, the beer is cheap and there’s always a good band playing and a crowd of folks braving the heat of the summer to enjoy it. Not too confident in your dancing abilities? Attend dance lessons from 8-9 Wednesday through Saturday to become a pro!
On the first Saturday every month, the Twin Sisters Dance Hall lights up the town of Blanco once again, a tradition since it opened in 1870. The next public dance is July 7, so head on out to see Gary P. Nunn perform as you two-step the night away!
Looking for something to do tonight? Every Friday and Saturday night in the summer, the second oldest dance hall in Texas has live music and dancing from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Since it was built in 1890, it’s been a hot spot for a good time in Goliad, and has hosted Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty, and its impressive list of music artists continues to include country stars like Kyle Park and Randy Rogers Band.
If you’re in Bandera any given weekend, this is the place to end the day with an ice cold beer. During its 50 years as a Texas dance hall and honky-tonk, it has hosted many country greats like Hank Williams, Jr. and Willie Nelson. So stop in to spend a Saturday night the cowboy-way!
This truly Texan dance hall sits alone in the center of a small town, which — during the day — can seem like a ghost town. However, this place becomes busy on a Saturday night. Stop in on the weekend to see the abandoned building come to life, with hoards of folks and country tunes pumping through the air. On dance nights, grab some chow for $5 a BBQ plate at London Grocery & Grill.
This Helotes dance hall is as quirky as the dozens of cowboy hats and shoes hanging from its ceiling. It started in 1942 as a dance and honky-tonk. Despite its name, it has never been a country store. And along with country tunes, this place serves up a mean plate of tamales and homemade bread. In addition to shows on Friday and Saturdays, each Sunday night is Family Night & Free Dance.
Summertime means the freedom to trip wherever you’d like. Explore Texas and take in some fun at these 14 festivals across the state. And because it’s Texas, just expect that more than half of these are food festivals (which is NEVER a bad thing…)
This is one can’t-miss festival on June 8-9 in Dallas! I mean it’s basically two days of chowing on BBQ from the best pittmasters North Texas has to offer and washing it down with Texas craft beers, plus more food from local food trucks and a car show! So get your taste buds ready and purchase your tickets here.
This festival in Brazoria on June 8-9 may not have a name, but it’s got ALL the fun. Literally, you name it, the No-Name festival’s got it. Enjoy a BBQ Cook-Off, a youth Hamburger Cook-Off, a Texas-themed carnival, a craft fair, helicopter rides — and that’s just to name a few! Find the full schedule here.
Fill up your summer nights in June and July with live music in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. And these ain’t your typical concerts — along with incredible live music, some feature a stellar lights show like the “Star Wars and Beyond” performances on June 15-17 and epic themes like “The Music of Michael Jackson” on June 8. Find more information here.
Thanks to Forrest Gump, we all know there are a thousand different ways to cook shrimp…but Aransas Pass, TX is hosting a Shrimporee on June 8-10 to show you the many different ways to celebrate shrimp. Stop in for a Shrimp Eating Contest, a Mr. & Mrs. Shimporee pageant, arts and crafts and a country tribute concert. Get your shrimp on here.
Blanco’s Lavender Fest might just be the best-smelling festival in Texas. And it’s free. So head on down to Blanco June 8-10 for tours of local lavender farms, free lectures on beekeeping and gardening, live music and all the lavender products you can fit in your car. Find more information here.
Who doesn’t love a good food fest? Especially one dedicated to all things Cajun, Crawfish and delicious! June 15-17. Galveston is hosting a Cajun Festival to celebrate Texas and Louisiana-style food, fun and live music! There will be Crawfish Eating and Crawfish Racing contests, live music and plenty of food! Click here for more information.
Need a fine time sippin’ wine? Head to Lubbock on June 23-24 for more than just incredible wines from the Llano Estacado Winery. The Llano Estacado Clay Guild will be filling the wine cellars with the amazing clay creations from local artists. Wine, art, live music — the perfect way to spend a weekend! Find more information here.
Texas heat got you screaming for Ice Cream? Then get more than your fill of the icy treat at this Ice Cream Festival on June 23. There’s so much fun to be had, that the festival offers a day time festival pass and a night time festival pass. During the day, enjoy ice cream samples from various companies, eating contests, games and more! The “After Dark” fest includes live music, local food trucks and boozy ice cream cocktails. Find more information here.
Time to get your eat on in Luckenbach, TX on June 23 at the Hill Country Food Truck Festival! The festival features 16 different food trucks from fajita to lobster trucks and 3 dessert trucks with cupcakes, ice cream and funnel cakes! To wash it down, grab a glass of wine from one of the 13 Texas wineries and enjoy live music all day! Buy your tickets here.
If your idea of summer is eating your weight in watermelon, then you’re in luck — Luling is hosting their Watermelon Thump for the 65th year! Join them on June 21-24 for four days of watermelon eating and seed spitting contests, concerts nightly, a parade and juggling show and more! Click here to see the full list of fun activities!
It ain’t summer without the McDade Watermelon Festival, and this is the festival’s 69th year! Head to town on July 14 for all kinds of festival fun from a parade and street dance to a car show and a McDade Queen pageant! And no watermelon festival would be complete without a Seed Spitting Contest, a Prize Watermelon Auction and, of course, plenty of fresh watermelon! See more details here.
The Texas heat ain’t got nothing on this spicy festival in Three Rivers! If tasting salsa all day sounds like your dream come true, then head to this festival on July 6-7 where you’ll spend the day judging homemade salsas in 4 different categories. Along with salsa for days, there will also live music, craft vendors and fireworks! Click here for more information.
Forget Austin City Limits, Viva Big Bend is just as cool — and it’s spread out over 4 towns! On July 26-29 the towns of Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis and Marathon will transform into one giant music festival with over 10 music venues hosting live performances by 50 artists. Come for the intimate concerts, stay for the cheap beer and good company! See the lineup here.
The beach is getting artsy on July 7-8! Rockport is hosting its 49th Annual Art Festival where the increidble creations from local painters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic designers (and more!) will be on display and for sale throughout the weekend. Peruse the art to live music and stop by the kids’ activity tent for family fun! Check it out here.
On our road trip down the Texas part of Route 66, we stopped into this iconic fill-up station in Shamrock, TX, that was featured in the Pixar movie “Cars” as “Ramone’s House of Body Art.”
