Rave: Texas

[heyzeus]

Honestly, I love St Louis and my upbringing there. But Texas is just too much fun for me to probably ever leave. There aren't a ton of places anymore that have their own distinct culture. Even here, the Home Depots and Applebees have taken a lot of it away. But it's still a unique place.

Has anyone here ever been to Wurstfest in New Braunfels? "The Three Week Tribute To Sausage"? If not...oh my sweet lord...you need to.

[Radbird]

I like the stark wide open spaces of West Texas: Guadelupe Mountains, Marfa, Marathon, and Big Bend.

Chris Rea has some nice things to say about Texas.

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That's a great song and video. I lived in Texas for close to 20 years (Dallas 1972-76 and Houston 1979-93). Went to college there, began married life and had our kid there (she was born in Texas City). Houston isn't the garden spot of Texas to be sure, but we lived in Clear Lake by the Space Center, so we were halfway to Galveston and it was fairly isolated from the things most hate about Houston. We honeymooned on South Padre Island, and I visited the Valley often during college to see a friend who was from there. About the only regret is that we didn't see much of far west Texas, especially the Big Bend area. And we didn't spend nearly enough time in Austin.

[cardinalkarp]

I spend a couple months in the Dallas/Irving area and loved it. Although if you think St. Louis summers are hot, you ain't seen nothin.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I've always hated their arrogance especially regarding bbq and how great they are, and the law of being able to be given a public intox if you're drinking in a bar and holding the bartender responsible for drunk people never sat well with me. But, it also has its perks, I guess.

[Freed Roger]

I know its not fair to assess the state based on my limited view.
I've been disappointed with Dallas area - granted have only been there a few days in the outer burbs. Flat as heck. Mostly I saw sprawl. (Coppell, Flower Mound, Plano) Chain restaurants, strip malls on main drags then brick fenced-in neighborhoods full of McMansions. Not much in the way of trees.

I was looking forward to seeing the wide open vastness - but Dallas seems fenced-in like a jail. In Dallas they seem to have eradicated all the aspects of Texas that I might like.

The Texas I'd like to see would be the Quadelupe Mtns and Big Bend. Shiner sounds good. Austin as well. Houston - no.

[lukethedrifter]

Robert Earl Keen has a great story about how he tried to give Nashville and country music stardom a go.
One day, he was on the phone with a friend back in Texas telling him about how tough things were trying to make it as a country music songwriter and that he was missing home. So to make him feel better his friend tells him about how he was driving around one day and spotted a group of Mexican dudes hanging out in a back yard with a long extension cord coming out the window leading to a window unit air conditioner cranking full blast on the picnic table.

After that REK knew it was time to move back home to Texas.

[Hungary Jack]

I like the stark wide open spaces of West Texas: Guadelupe Mountains, Marfa, Marathon, and Big Bend.

Chris Rea has some nice things to say about Texas.

That's a great song and video. I lived in Texas for close to 20 years (Dallas 1972-76 and Houston 1979-93). Went to college there, began married life and had our kid there (she was born in Texas City). Houston isn't the garden spot of Texas to be sure, but we lived in Clear Lake by the Space Center, so we were halfway to Galveston and it was fairly isolated from the things most hate about Houston. We honeymooned on South Padre Island, and I visited the Valley often during college to see a friend who was from there. About the only regret is that we didn't see much of far west Texas, especially the Big Bend area. And we didn't spend nearly enough time in Austin.

I got a little brother, several meters high
He's built just like a quarterback and he swears he'll testify
He says he's been to Texas and it's the only place to be
Big steaks, big cars, no trouble, yea that's the place for me.

[TimeForGuinness]

Dallas mostly, but it was a really short trip. I feel like I've been driving since Friday morning. 90% of my extended family lives in either the Dallas or Tyler area.

The highways are hysterical. The one I drove from Parker to Sulphur Springs this morning was great. It's just two lanes, but a 70mph speed limit and people drive their trucks like maniacs. I love it.

Were you in the Buick?

[haltz]

Dallas mostly, but it was a really short trip. I feel like I've been driving since Friday morning. 90% of my extended family lives in either the Dallas or Tyler area.

The highways are hysterical. The one I drove from Parker to Sulphur Springs this morning was great. It's just two lanes, but a 70mph speed limit and people drive their trucks like maniacs. I love it.

Were you in the Buick?

No, it would've blown up.