Baytown, TX

While most simply fly past Baytown on I-10, those that know better stop and explore this incredible town where oil and water really do seem to mix quite well. To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.

Your first stop to experience the real Baytown should be the historic downtown district.  And while it’s quite obvious this area has seen better days, there are a number of businesses inhabiting these old buildings that are worth a stop.  To kick start your day, or to wind down your day, try Cork Grinders, a coffee and wine bar with great sandwiches and local brew (both the coffee and the beer).  After that, head down to Portrait of a Warrior Art Gallery where local artist Ken “The Dauber” Pridgeon is using his paintbrush to memorialize every fallen soldier from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Then if you need a haircut, shoeshine, or just to brush up on your animal taxonomy, head to the Trophy Barber Shop where old-school barbers are cutting hair surrounded by the heads of exotic animals.  This place is kind of hard to describe.  Just go check it out.  Finally, when your stomach starts growling, head over to Sav-Fer Da Flavor, a local seafood and soul food restaurant.  If it’s on special, you MUST order the oxtail.

While it may seem like this place is dominated by the oil industry without a single breath of nature anywhere to be found, but that’s not true at all.  The Baytown Nature Center is a huge outdoor park where folks can play on the playscapes, do some fishing and crabbing, or hike on its amazing trails.  Then to have a hands-on experience, stop by the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center to learn about all the amazing animals (birds, mammals, gators, snakes…) that call this part of Texas home.  If you’re less about nature, and more about speed, check out the Royal Purple Raceway.

Last but not least, every trip to Baytown should include hopping the Lynchburg Ferry across the Houston ship channel to nearby La Porte, Texas to see the San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship Texas.  San Jacinto is the place where the Texian Army, out-numbered and exhausted, beat the powerful Mexican Army in only 19 minutes to claim Texas independence.  Walk the area where Sam Houston and his men planned their final attack and claimed independence for Texas.  You take an elevator to the top of the monument peer out over battlefield and then explore the amazing museum housed on the ground floor.

While unconnected to Texas Independence, Battleship Texas is an amazing site to behold.  This dreadnought ship found in both WWI and WWII and is now in its permanent home here in Texas.  With all the guns on deck, it definitely qualifies and Texas’s largest gun show.

After your head is full of history, you’ll want to fill your belly as well, so head to the Monument Inn to eat some of the best seafood in Texas while looking out over the Houston Ship Channel.  You can go with the all-you-can-eat fried extravaganza, or try a nice fillet of blackened red fish covered in one of their signature sauces.  The “monumental” sauce will make your eyes roll back in your head.

 

 

Athens, TX

Who needs to travel to Greece when you’ve got a Texas version right here.  While Athens, TX may not have 7,000 years of history and the Acropolis, there is way more to do in this East Texas town than you might think. To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – please CLICK HERE.

To learn about the history of Athens start on the Henderson County square at the Henderson County Historical Museum.  You’ll see flags from the civil war, gentlemanly mugs with guards to protect your mustache, and details about how Athens became the “Black-eyed Pea Capital of the World.”  You’ll also learn how an Athens native named “Old Dave” and/or “Uncle Fletcher” invented a little thing we call the hamburger.  Yes!  Right here in Athens.

When your stomach starts growling, head over for a hamburger of your own at the Railway Cafe.  Whether you’re eating the burgers, pasta, crab cakes, or daily special, this modern and casual restaurant has some of the best food I’ve found in Texas.  The pimento cheese bacon burger is knock-your-socks-off amazing.  For the best pizza in town (and possible East Texas) head over to Rounder’s Pizza.  I recommend the “Hornet” with pepperoni, burger, bacon, and “bud-burner” wing sauce putting a little kick in each slice.

The town biggest attraction is definitely the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.  This is the primary place where Texas Parks and Wildlife raises many of the fish to repopulate our Texas lakes and rivers.  They give a really great tour and have tons of freshwater tanks filled with everything from alligators to catfish.  Don’t miss the SCUBA show where an underwater divers feeds and talks about our native fish.  You can also get a tour of the “Sharelunker” program aimed at raising the biggest large-mouth bass our state can stock.

If you’re looking to get into the water, then just a few blocks from the square is the Athens SCUBA park.  This Mediterranean-blue lake is full of sunken planes, boats, and obstacles that make it one heck of a fun place to dive.  You’ll love it.  They have gear rental on site, and can even get you certified if you aren’t.

Finally for a high-flying, thrilling adventure, head to nearby New York, Texas for a zip line adventure with NY TX Zipline Adventures.  You’ll be amazed at this hidden mountain range in East Texas and feel free as a bird flying through the pines.  I’ve zipped a lot in Texas, and this one is truly unlike any others.

Grapevine, TX

While this city makes for an amazing year-round destination, you definitely MUST visit during Christmas.  After all, Grapevine is the official “Christmas Capital of Texas” and if everything is bigger in Texas, that definitely includes CHRISTMAS!!! To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.

During this season, the entire town comes to life with decorations, lights, Santas on every corner (explain that to your kids), and tons of activities.  Of course all the shops are decked out from top to bottom, including that always festive Good Things for All Seasons.  One year they covered the entire storefront in tinsel.  Just walking around Main Street is an activity in itself.

As far as other activities go, check the Grapevine website for a comprehensive list.  There are simply too many to list here.  But, you definitely don’t want to miss the ICE display at the Gaylord Texan Resort.  Artists from China come in and spend countless hours making amazing displays out of solid ice, including a giant slide.  They keep the sculptures in a conference room with the thermostat set to 9 degrees.  That’s ICE cold. (rim shot please).  While it isn’t officially an “outdoor” activity, there is also a 25 foot indoor snow tubing hill that will make you think you’re on the side of a mountain.

You’ll find another can’t miss activity at Vetro Glassblowing, where visitors get a chance to be part of the glassblowing process and make an actual ornament.  And then there’s the North Pole Express which transforms the Grapevine Vintage Railroad into a train ride to the North Pole.  Santa, elves, frosty chocolate snow milk.  It’s fun for kids of all sizes (aka grown up too).

Of course the name Grapevine comes from somewhere, so there are lots of wineries in town that can all pour you a glass of merriment.  I love Cross Timbers Winery, not just for the wine, but because it’s located in an 1800’s house with a ghostly experience reminiscent of A Christmas Carol.  Just keep your eyes peeled for those merry ghosts.

Finally, when (not if) you get hungry, there are some great restaurants in town.  I always start any day in Grapevine at the Main Street Bakery and Bistro which makes the most amazing french pastries and breakfast.  And if that doesn’t sound hearty enough for you, order the croque madam a sandwich with ham, eggs, and cheese.  Let me know if you finish it….I’ll be waiting.  If the weather suits (or not), get a “Bowl of Red” (translated Chili) from Tolbert’s.  This is a Texas institution started by the famed writer and chili expert Frank X Tolbert.  Despite what some may believe, chili is the official dish of Texas, so grab yourself a classic bowl of Texas.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and to enjoy it in Grapevine may make it the most wonderful day trip too.

Port Lavaca, TX

Just about half way between the well-traveled waters of Galveston Bay and Corpus Christi Bay sits Matagorda Bay.  A lesser known body of water that’s surrounded by charming towns, full of abundant wildlife, and rife with amazing history. To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.

On the northwest side of the bay is Port Lavaca, the county seat of Calhoun County which has been a VERY important place in Texas history.  To learn about it all, head to the Calhoun County Museum which can fill you in on everything that happened here from the Native Indians, to the Frenchman La Salle, up to Indianola which was one of the biggest cities in Texas in the late 1800’s.  The museum has a number of great artifacts, including items recovered from La Salle’s ship the La Belle.  Also in town is the Half Moon Reef Lighthouse that was once located in the middle of the bay.

While you’re in town and hungry, head to Art’s Fish House, makers of the greatest cajun boiling pots you’ll ever find.  They are overflowing with crawfish, shrimp, and crabs along with corn, sausage, and spicy butter.

As you move down the west side of the bay you can still visit the place where La Salle first sat foot in Texas claiming it all for France.  He established Fort St. Louis nearby which failed to be a long term settlement which is why we don’t speak French in Texas.  Today, the spot where he landed is marked with a statue of the great French explorer.  Keep walking down the bay and you’ll arrive at Indianola, which is just a shadow of what it used to be as a series of hurricanes reduced this bustling port city to a remote fishing village.  The only remnants left of Old Indianola are a few patches of concrete and the old cemetery.  Folks say it is haunted, but we didn’t stick around to find out.

If you really want to hit the bay waters right, then head to Port O’Connor and schedule a charted fishing trip with Capt. Mike Bohac at Fishing Tales Guide Service.  He is an expert on the area and will land you a keeper or two of Texas red, trout, flounder, or whatever you might be looking for.  With your fish in hand, take it to Josie’s Mexican Food.  They’ll cook it up right with onions, tomatoes, and spice.  They also make some mean Mexican food if you don’t land the fish you want, or would rather take your’s home and cook it yourself.

The other thing near Port O’Connor I recommend is getting a charter boat (Mike can do it) to Matagorda Island which holds the Matagorda Island Lighthouse.  This cast iron beauty towering almost 100 feet tall is well worth the 2.5 mile bike ride or hike to get there.

Lubbock, TX

For those that think Lubbock is only for Red Raiders and Panhandlers, they better think again.  It turns out the “HUB CITY” has much more to do than it may let on. To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.

The most well-known attraction in Lubbock is definitely Texas Tech University.  Campus is absolutely worth a walk-around for its Spanish Renaissance architecture and numerous landmarks.  Start at the Will Rogers statue that was installed with its rear end facing directly toward College Station.  That’s something all college football fans can get behind (except for Aggies, that is).  Then head over to the Blarney Stone which is allegedly a piece for the real Blarney Stone in Ireland that bestows eloquent speech on all who brave a kiss.

If you are looking for the grub that keeps the college kids fed, just cross the street and pick a spot.  Whatever you do, don’t miss eating some fried cheese and a burger from Spanky’s or the best calzone in Texas from One Guy from Italy.  Both are mandatory on any trip to Lubbock

Just like a good Red Raider should, if you are looking to educate yourself Lubbock has lots of first-class museum.  Your first stop should be the Buddy Holly Center honoring Lubbock’s own rock and roll legend who’s impact goes way beyond the panhandle, and even Texas.  Follow up with a trip back 12,000 years to the Lubbock Lake Landmark, one of the most important archaeological sites in the new world.

Finally, when the panhandle heat gets to you, take a dip in Buffalo Springs Lake, the “oasis of West Texas.”  This spring-fed lake is tucked away in an amazing canyon just east of Lubbock.  There are some excellent swimming beaches, some excellent hiking trails, and even a jumping tower for the daring.

Finally to polish off your perfect day, head to the Star’s & Stripes Drive-In to enjoy a movie under the stars of the vast Llano Estacado.

 

 

Marble Falls, TX

Most know this town as a quaint, laid-back Hill Country berg with one of the most-famous pie joints in all of Texas.  While that’s all good and true, there’s another side to this Highland Lakes town.  One of adrenaline-pumping adventure that’s hidden just below the surface. To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.

Historically, Marble Falls was a cowboy-town crossing on the Colorado River.  These namesake “marble falls” are now sunken below Lake Marble Falls which flows right through the middle of town.  Back in the day, things could get rough.  There’s even a limestone cave outside of town known as “Dead Man’s Hole” where outlaws dumped the bodies of Union sympathizers they killed during the Civil War.  For a glimpse of history head to The Falls of the Colorado Museum.

Nowadays, the town is much more relaxed.  Downtown is full of incredible artwork on every corner along with galleries aplenty and lots of places to express your own artsy self.  My favorite gallery is the Highland Arts Guild and Gallery full of the works of artists from surrounding counties.  Don’t miss visiting the Dan Pogue Gallery and Foundry where Dan and his wife will show you his incredible bronze sculptures and walk you through the entire process of turning works of clay into lasting metal works of art.

Now that you’ve seen the artistic side, it’s time explore the adventurous side.  One of the most obvious adventures is to hit the lake.  You can jump in at Lakeside Park or Johnson Park.  But if you’re looking for something really fun, try renting a stand-up paddle board from Go Paddle Down and surf the flat waters of Texas.  For adventure junkies, next stop should be Hidden Falls Adventure Park, a 2,700 acre outdoor playground with trails for jeeps, dirt bikes, and ATVs.  If you don’t have your own, they’ll rent you one and set you loose.  It is AMAZING.  And finally, if you’re looking for something really really CRAZY – contact the folks at Fly Texas who will take you HANG GLIDING above Lake LBJ.  You’ll be comfortably pulled up to 2,000+ feet by a boat, and then cut the cord to soar down for a landing on the water.  It’s one of the most incredible things there is to do in the Lone Star State.

When you’re starving after taking in all the ART and ADVENTURE, there are a lot of great options.  Of course there is the famous Bluebonnet Cafe boasting tasty home cooking, homemade pie, and the epic “Pie Happy Hour” where $4 will get you a slice and a drink.  Downtown you’ll also find the Southwest meets Mexican grill known as R-Bar and Grill where they smoke their own fajita meat and pork that’s good on ANYTHING – salads, tacos, your arm.  And on top of all that, there’s Double Horn Brewing Company, an amazing brew pub with hoppy bears and hand-crafted food.  Everything on their menu is good, but I really recommend the Bison burger topped with bacon, bleu cheese, and buffalo sauce.

See you on the road!

State Fair of Texas

Nobody throws a party like Texas, and the State Fair of Texas is proof.  This month-long festival happens every September-October and has been going strong since 1886.  There’s just so much to love about the event that it’s hard to summarize, but I’ll try. To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.

First off, the fair happens within Fair Park which is a designated National Historic Landmark full of amazing art deco architecture and packed with halls and museums that are full of art, history, and food.  Towering over it all is the big guy himself – BIG TEX.  You could probably spend a week at the fair and barely make it through all the exhibits.

You want food, the State Fair of Texas is known as the “Fried Food Capital of Texas” and they certainly deserve the title.  Fair vendors are on the frontier of fried food and pioneered delicacies such as the Corny Dog, Fried Butter, Fried Thanksgiving Dinner, Fried Beer…the list goes on and on and on.  Check out this year’s winners HERE.  Of course if you aren’t looking for a deep-fried coma, they have all the other classics like turkey legs, cotton candy, and much more.

Finally, you want excitement, there’s plenty of it here.  You can tour the livestock area and see the blue-ribbon steers and goats.  You can watch the nightly ostrich races, tour the auto show and see the cars of the future, ride the rides of Midway including the 212-foot high Texas Star Ferris Wheel, win a stuffed animal on the games, and even see the the amazing homemade items that took home a creative arts prize.

This is just a small sampling of the fun at the State Fair of Texas.  There’s a Texas-sized adventure waiting within the gates.  So go get it!

Mason, TX

Mason is known as the “Gem of the Hill Country” as the only place in Texas where you can find Texas Topaz in nature.  But if you day trip here, you’ll find that the whole town sparkles with culture, history, great people, and excellent food.

I recommend starting your trip on the Mason Square.  Wander through lots of quaint shops and then find yourself soaking up the history at the Mason Square Museum which is packed with artifacts and knowledge from prehistoric times up to modern day.  You’ll learn about Fort Mason, Indian kidnappings, the HooDoo War, and even see the largest Topaz in North America (found in Mason County).  You’ll also learn about the local art scene and how the famed “Old Yeller” was written by Mason local Fred Gipson.  And since you’ll leave inspired to learn more, you’ll want to head immediately to Fort Mason.

Fort Mason sits atop a hill with the best view in town.  None of the original buildings are left, but there is an recreated officer’s quarters to give visitors an idea of how folks operated on a frontier post.  You’ll also learn that Fort Mason was Robert E. Lee’s last post with the U.S. Army before he joined the Confederate Army to defend his native state of Virginia.  It is quite an incredible dose of history.

If you’re more into sparkly things than old buildings, head to Country Collectibles just off the square.  This is the best place in Texas to peruse or purchase Texas Topaz as it was all collected on local farms and ranches.  To go on your own rock hunt, there are several ranches that are open to the public.  During the episode, I went out with Frank Roberts to Emerald Hill.  You can reach Frank HERE.

By this point, you’ve definitely worked up an appetite, and there are lots of great places to eat.  For some country cookin’  on the square, head to Willow Creek Cafe.  Don’t miss their homemade yeast rolls or pie.  Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm.  For some Mexican food unlike any you’ll find in the Hill Country, head to Santos Taqueria.  This fresh, Durango-style cooking is amazing and all whipped up by scratch from “Santos” herself in the back.  Que bueno.  You can even grab a bottle of wine from Sandstone Cellars next door and bring it over to enjoy with your meal.  Or do it in reverse and have your meal delivered next door to the winery or wine bar.

As the day darkens and you’ve got time for an extended day trip, don’t miss the Odeon Theater the oldest continually operating theater in West Texas.

Orange, TX

You don’t have to cross over into Louisiana to get a taste of Cajun culture.  All you have to do is head to Southeast Texas where the bayous and tall trees make the border with the neighboring Pelican State nothing but a man-made facade.

The place to start your trip to Orange is at one of the Stark Cultural Venues.  Each one can sell you a combo pass to all three which you’ll definitely want to buy.  To learn about the history of Orange’s most affluent family, visit the W. H. Stark House Museum, an incredible 14,000 square foot Victorian home built as a showroom for the forest by the family who owned the largest sawmill in Texas at the time.  While the home feels like a museum full of lavish decorations, the real museum is the Stark Museum of Art across the street housing one of the best collections of American Western Art in the country. Rather than keep their collection locked away, H.J. Lutcher Stark decided to put it in a museum that would be outstanding even in the Big Apple, but it’s here in the Small Orange.  And for a outdoor dose of exquisite beauty, head to Shangri-La Botanical Gardens with absolutely stunning gardens, greenhouses, and wildlife viewing areas to enjoy all that this tropical bayou has to offer.  I highly recommend a guided boat ride that will give you a brand new appreciation for all the beauty this part of Texas has to offer.

There used to be a much faster way to navigate the bayou on an airboat ride from Airboat Rides, Inc.  However, it looks like they’ve discontinued this service.  Maybe if enough people give them a call, they’ll start it back up.  Hey – it’s worth a try, right?

You better believe that the good folks in Southeast Texas know how to eat.  For lunch in a casual old dairy building with chef-inspired cooking head to the Old Orange Cafe.  The spicy chicken sandwich is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten.  And no matter the occasion, the time is always right to head to Robert’s Meat Market & Steakhouse with a cajun market on one side and a tasty steakhouse on the other serving hand-cut meat and cajun classics that will make you fall in love with the people and food of Orange, Texas.

Lufkin, TX

If you find yourself among the pines of East Texas, then you need to visit Lufkin.  This piney-woods town is packed with great things to do and lots to eat.

If you are looking for a dose of history, then look no further than the Texas Forestry Museum which tells the story of the Texas lumber industry.  There are tons of exhibits featuring old equipment, including an old steam engine used to transport wood from the forest to the sawmill.  If you’re looking for edible history, then head to Atkinson’s Candy Company – the home of the Chick-o-Stick.  While they no longer offer public tours of the factory, there is a small candy shop tucked away in the corner of the warehouse where you can buy all sorts of sweets, fresh off the line.

If you need more substance for a meal there are lots of great choices in Lufkin, including Ray’s Drive-In which has been serving up delicious burgers since 1959.  If you’ve got the stomach, go for the Ray’s Special with melty cheese and grilled onions.  They’ll even serve you in your car – the old-fashioned way.  Now if you’re looking for piles of delicious smoked meat, then look no further than Lufkin BBQ with its tasty brisket, ribs, and all the fixins which includes their famous fried rolls.  Once you had one (or a dozen) of these, traditional white bread just won’t do the trick.  Finally, whether you’re just starting your day, or looking for an afternoon pick-me-up, check out Standpipe Coffee House in downtown Lufkin.  It’s a unexpected and truly hip little coffee shop in a historic building.  For something sweet, go with a signature “Standpipe Latte.”  You can thank me later…

If you’re looking to spend time outdoors, then the pines trees are calling your name.  Just down the road is the Davy Crockett National Forest, one of four national forests in Texas.  For a short or long hike, step onto the 4C Trail.  It runs for 20 miles, but you don’t have to do all of it.  If you’d rather travel by water than by land, seek out the Neches – Davy Crockett Paddling Trail.

 

Abilene, TX

Abilene is the heart of Texas’s “BIG COUNTRY.”  It’s a region of our state with big skies, big prairies, and big, BIG legends.  I suggest you jump right into its history at Frontier Texas.  This amazing museum covers the entire story of the frontier, from the native Indians, to settlers, to buffalo hunters, all the way up to the steam engines that conquered the wild west.  There are holograms, a 360 degree theater, and jaw-dropping first-hand stories of the struggles of living on the frontier.

When you get hungry from digesting all this history, you’ll want to digest some food so head over to Abi-Haus, a scratch-made craft diner that you would expect to find in trendy Dallas or hipster Austin, but it’s in downtown Abilene.  You can eat dessert there (the beignets are awesome), or you can head to Candies by Vletas for some amazing candy, all made in house.  Some of the recipes go back 100 years.

Other museums downtown include the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL “nickel” for short) and the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.  Both are definitely worth a stop.  However, if you want to really dive into Abilene’s military past, I suggest you head to Dyess Air Force Base.  They have a small museum open to the public.  But if you can find an escort to get you inside the gate, you can walk around the aircraft park complete with a B-1 bomber, C-130, and B-17 flying fortress.  They are amazing.

The truly adventurous, with a SCUBA certification, shouldn’t miss the chance to dive the Valhalla Missile Silo that once housed an Atlas nuclear missile in the 1960s.  Today this silo is filled with ground water going 120 feet deep.  And those that are brave enough to head into the darkness can SCUBA dive it.  It is only open to private groups – so you’ll need to join up with a group to get inside.  Family Scuba Center in Midland can give you the details.

While there are tons of great places to eat in Abilene, those that want to partake in a legendary Texas experience can head to Buffalo Gap (pop 463).  The Buffalo Gap Historic Village is a great collection of old buildings such as the original Taylor County Courthouse and various others from the last 50 years of the frontier.  And finally, you’ll want to polish off your day trip with a big hunk of beef at Perini Ranch Steakhouse.   Folks routinely drive 2-3 hours just to eat here.  So if you’re in the neighborhood, you should definitely stop by.  Of course they have more than just beef, so enjoy!  Just make sure you get some bread pudding for dessert.

Arlington, TX

Arlington is the epicenter of big thrills and crowd-roaring excitement in Texas.  After all, it is the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and Six Flags Theme Parks.  But amongst these big-ticket items, Arlington also has tons of off-the-beaten path diversions making it a town for all trippers.

Let’s start with the big boys.  I highly recommend visiting Globe Life Park in Arlington for a Rangers game.  And while it is awesome to catch a game or concert at AT&T Stadium (the home the Cowboys), my favorite thing to do is to visit when there isn’t an event.  This is when the stadium opens up for tours.  You get to see many areas of the stadium usually off limits to the public and learn about every nerdy detail of its construction.  Did you know it contains over 1,700 toilets!  Make sure you bring a football, because the field tour is self-guided, meaning you can toss around the pigskin for hours on the actual turf.  And for an entire day trip worth of excitement, Six Flags over Texas can’t be beat.  After all, it was the first true theme park in America, and it’s still the only place you can get “pink thing.”

If you’re a sports fanatic, then don’t miss the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.  The museum here has some fascinating displays of major bowlers and the history of this sport.  If you’re inspired to step up your own bowling game, then head over to the Bowling International Training and Research Center.  It’s the home of Team USA, but also offers private lessons to the public.  Knock em down kiddo!

For some the historic side of Arlington, the Arlington Historic Society has a handful of great stops, but my favorite is Arlington Baptist College which sits on top of what used to be Top O’Hill Terrace, a speakeasy frequented by all sorts of famous characters.  A tour will take you into the tea garden and the original casino with its secret passages.

All this sporting and touring is sure to make you hungry, and Arlington has lots of food choices.  If you are looking for something completely different, let me recommend some Irish Nachos from J. Gilligans Bar & Grill.  More than just an Irish Pub, this local institution had the genius idea to use potatoes instead of tortilla chips on a platter of nachos and this truly authentic dish was born.  For Tex-Mex and a drink of historic importance, head over to Mariano’s Mexican Restaurant.  Not only does this place serve amazing Tex-Mex, but they also invented the frozen margarita machine back in 1971.  They still serve em up cold today, just not out of the original machine – that one is in the Smithsonian.

Finally, if you’re an outdoor type (like me), you’ll want to head to River Legacy Park.  It’s amazing to find so much green space in the middle of the metroplex.  They’ve got tons of paved trails along the Trinity River for hiking or biking.  If you brought your mountain bike, then you’ll definitely want to hit the 10 miles of dirt trails.

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