Texas, the Lone Star State, is a land of diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. Before you embark on your first visit to the great state of Texas, it’s essential to dispel some stereotypes, understand the unique aspects of Texas culture, and be prepared for the vastness of this incredible place.
Contrary to the Hollywood image, not everyone in Texas rides horses to work or school. Neither is cowboy boots and hats a daily uniform for everyone! Whether it’s the delicious BBQ or ranches and cowboys, Texas is pretty different from what’s depicted in the popular media.
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Texas is cowboys riding on horses into the sunset. Texas is a sea of gorgeous blue wildflowers. Texas is amazing restaurants and food trucks in Dallas. Texas is Houston’s ever-growing skyline and the colorful riverboats on the San Antonio Riverwalk.
Texas is the rust colored chasm of Palo Duro Canyon. Texas is the powdery soft beaches of the Gulf Coast. Texas is the hot desert full of cacti. Texas is beautiful fall foliage along the river banks and evergreen pine trees that reach to the sky.
That’s right, all those things exist together in Texas. Texas is huge and as a result, diverse. Whether we’re talking about landscapes or ethnicities or cuisines, Texas is the ultimate melting pot.
Same goes for accents. Texas accents vary widely, and not everyone speaks with a thick Southern drawl. In fact, you might hear more Spanish than Southern accents in certain regions. At the same time, hearing a true Texan twang is a beautiful beautiful thing.
Many visitors fail to realize this before they visit – and are in for a big surprise!
Texas-sized is not a joke. Texas is huge. More than you’d think.
This one stereotype is true. Everything is really bigger in Texas.
You will be continually surprised by the size of things – whether it’s sprawling cities, number of freeway lanes, portion sizes in restaurants, enormous ranches, and off course – the enormous distances!
How does that matters? Don’t expect to see Texas in one bucket list trip, it’s impossible. What would make it easier is to plan multiple smaller trips and exploring one region of the Lone Star State in detail. And that’s why every Texas trip will look different than the rest. Keep an open mind and just enjoy what you can see on your trip!
An unsaid part of this saying is that, everything is also better in Texas. We Texans truly believe this. See the next point about Texas pride below.
Texas Barbecue is a religion. And we’re fanatics.
Yes, the rumors are true. Texans take their barbecue very seriously. So please don’t come and say, “I’ve tried barbecue but not in Texas.” (Yes, I have out of friends who said this) When we say barbecue we mean Texas style barbecue, specifically brisket.
Brisket is the undisputed king of Texas barbecue, and you’ll often hear phrases like “fatty” or “lean” when ordering—referring to the different cuts of brisket. This slow-cooked, smoked beef brisket is what dreams are made of. The bark, the smoke ring, the tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness—it’s a carnivore’s paradise.
Texas is a vast state, and regional bbq styles vary significantly. Central Texas is known for its focus on beef, particularly brisket. Cities like Austin and Lockhart are famous for their Central Texas barbecue. East Texas focuses more on the sauce and on meats like pulled pork.
Tex Mex is from breakfast to dinner.
The other cuisine that you must try while in Texas is Tex-Mex food. This is not just a meal but an entire experience. You can have Tex-Mex for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Looking for the perfect late night snack after spending a night of drinking and dancing? Hit a taco truck!
Tex-Mex is a fusion cuisine that evolved in Texas during the 19th century. It is a blend of Mexican and American culinary elements, reflecting the cultural exchange between Texas and Mexico.
Tex-Mex favorites include nachos, chili con carne, fajitas, puffy tacos, and the ever-popular burrito. Burritos, in particular, are larger and often contain rice, beans, cheese, and various meats.
If you want the ultimate Tex-Mex dining experience, have a waterside meal on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Here you can have tableside guacamole prepared fresh in front of you and you can be serenaded by a Mexican Mariachi band as you eat your meal and sip on a beerita – mix of beer and margarita!
You are the donut to my kolache (and klobasnik)!
If you’re new to Texas, you will see donut stores on every corner. Many of them are Asian-run and along with donuts, sell kolaches too. In fact, donuts and kolaches are our favorite breakfast foods and rank right at the top with breakfast tacos!
The kolaches sold in this shops have sausages stuffed in slightly sweet dough. You can get several variations: sausage and cheese, sausage and garlic, boudin sausage, and jalapeno boudins! They make the perfect filling delicious breakfast.
However, they are not actually kolaches but klobasnik – a savory cousin to the sweet creamy kolache! Together, these are the Lone Star State’s favorite breakfast. They were brought to Texas by Czech settlers.
To find authentic kolaches and klobasnik’s, you will need to take a trip to Czech towns in Texas. West, Ellinger, La Grange, Ennis, and Schulenberg are some places where you can get these tastiest Czech pastries! The sweet and savory items work really well with each other and fill the stomach for quite a long time.
Chicken fried steak is steak. And chicken fried chicken is well, chicken!
This one confused me for a long time. After some tries, I got chicken fried steak but what the heck was chicken fried chicken and how was it different from regular fried chicken?!
The first time we saw chicken fried steak on a menu we spent a good hour wondering what the heck it was.
Turns out, it’s just breaded and fried steak.
It’s called that because it’s cooked similar to breaded chicken.
Which kind of makes the name chicken fried chicken redundant!
The next time you see it on a menu, recognize it for what it is: good old Southern fried chicken!
Order one with gravy and you won’t regret it.
“The only way to see Texas is on a road trip”
Texas is huge and has almost no public transport.
You do need a car to get everywhere and yes expect to spend lots of time in traffic during rush hour.
Even the big cities of Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are best seen by driving your own car around the attractions.
Most of the things to do are spread far and wide from each other plus the intense heat makes walking an unenviable chore.
But don’t worry: a road trip in Texas is the best way to experience the state.
You will be treated to amazing views, jaw dropping roadside attractions, and hole in the wall places serving delicious food.
“There is really no other place you’d rather fill up than Buc-ee’s”
Your car and your stomach both, we mean!
See the beaver wearing the red hat along the highways? That’s Buc-ee’s!
Buc-ee’s is a Texas institution.
It is everywhere and it is so much more than just a gas station.
Some of the Buc-ee’s that we have visited are bigger than the Walmarts in the Midwest.
They sell everything from food, souvenirs, clothes, groceries, essentials, decor, and more.
And when we say food we don’t mean typical gas station goodies but real gourmet meals.
They have a deli section which serves excellent pulled pork sandwiches and their beef jerky is just fantastic.
Other things to buy at Buc-ee’s includes Beaver Nuggets (a type of puffed corn snacks), roasted pecans, fresh fudge, toys, and more.
They also have the world record for having the cleanest bathrooms ever!
Visiting a Buc-ee’s is an essential Texas experience.
Expect to spend anything from an hour or two in this ginormous store.
“The Texas pride is a very real thing”
All the legends about Texan pride are pretty much true.
The swagger, the drawl, the immense pride in everything Texan from BBQ to oil and from the music to the rodeo is quite real.
Texas might not have been a republic for over a hundred years but if you hear a Texan talk about it, it might as well have been yesterday.
When we say ‘Remember the Alamo’ we mean it with our whole heart.
We get emotional when we visit the San Jacinto Monument.
We celebrate Fiesta on the San Antonio Riverwalk with as much pride as New Orleans does Mardi Gras.
“…..So is the famous southern hospitality”
Texans are very friendly and will wave at you every once in a while.
They will say hello and ask you how you’re doing.
They will chat you up and ask you questions: where you are from, what you are doing in Texas, and what do you plan to see on your trip.
They will give their recommendations on restaurants, destinations, hikes, and even shopping.
They will hold doors open for you and wish you a good day.
They will compliment you about your outfit, about your hair, about your appetite (yes, we have actually had this happen to us) and about your kids.
It is really a wonderful thing!
“Only cowboys dress up like cowboys. The rest dress up like normal people.”
…because that’s what we are!
We don’t know why but many tourists expect to see every other Texan dressed up as a cowboy.
That’s not going to happen.
Only real cowboys dress up as cowboys in Texas.
And to them, it’s not dressing up – it’s wearing their everyday work clothes!
And if you’re primarily visiting the cities of Dallas or Austin then you won’t really see any cowboys.
Unless you’re visiting Houston during the rodeo in March. That’s a whole other story!
But what you will find is people from all walks of life dressed up in a variety of ways.
Dallas is much more fashionable while Houston and the Gulf Coast has a relaxed laid back vibe.
In Austin and College Station you will find the latest fashion trends and a spunky youthful style.
But overall Texas is very laid-back when it comes to fashion and clothing.
“The heat will do its best to kill y’all.”
Temperature in most parts of Texas hovers around 100 F in the summer.
It’s felt even more intensely in the panhandle and in the desert of West Texas than on the Gulf Coast.
Visitors often make the mistake of underestimating the Texas heat.
There are several cases of sunburns, dehydration, and heat strokes every year among tourists.
So, what to know about Texas summers?
To make the best of a summer trip to Texas you need to respect the heat.
Pack a nice floppy sun hat and sunscreen.
Plan your itinerary such that you are indoors during the most hot parts of the day.
Carry sufficient water when hiking and keep yourself hydrated throughout the trip.
“Yes, we say y’all in real life. And yeah, the drawl is also real.”
Visitors often wonder if Texans really say y’all or it’s a myth.
Well here’s the truth: yes, we do! It’s just our way of talking and you’ll get used to it pretty fast once you come here.
So much so that you won’t even notice it!
Texans also have the slow draw that makes it difficult to distinguish words as they tend to run into each other.
We also speak using unique expressions which make understanding us just a little bit more difficult.
“Speaking of weather, it will change at least 15 times every day.”
The unpredictable Texas weather is the subject of a hundred jokes and memes.
The weather is unreliable and changes every often throughout the year.
On the hottest summer days, you will encounter unexpected thunderstorms and tornadoes.
In winter, you might come here to escape the severe cold of the north and be greeted by a winter storm that drops several inches of snow over a majority of the state.
Also Read: Best Places to Spend Winter in Texas
Fun fact: It can snow in Houston! The last time was in 2021. Yeah, not so long ago.
Though the most unpredictable days definitely come in the spring and fall.
In these months you can even experience all four seasons in one day!
The best way to deal with it?
Pack a light waterproof jacket and a couple of long sleeve shirts along with your shorts and dresses, irrespective of when you plan your trip.
“Our love for guns is very real.”
In general, Texas is pretty big on guns.
You will encounter concealed weapons, gun stores, gun ranges, and gun exhibitions throughout your trip to the Lone Star State.
However, almost everyone follows the rules regarding carrying weapons and stores them safely so it’s not something that you need to worry about.
Along with guns, Texans also love hunting and if you are into it then hog or deer hunting is an excellent experience to have in the Lone Star State.
“Sometimes, Spanish will get you a lot further than English”
About 40% of the Texas population is Hispanic.
There are a lot of Spanish speakers in the state.
Some are born here while others have immigrated from countries like Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and the rest of Central and Latin America.
Many of these people don’t understand English well and you can communicate most effectively with them in Spanish.
This is especially true in small towns near the border, in small mom and pop stores, family owned eateries, flea markets, food trucks, taquerias, and while communicating with hired help.
We have found that learning a few basic phrases of Spanish goes a long way in understanding each other and making friends in Texas.
“We measure distance in hours, not miles.”
I personally honestly believe this one came about solely because of the traffic on I-45 in Houston!
As we mentioned before, Texas is vast and the rush hour traffic can get pretty intense.
There is no point knowing that you are just 2 miles away from work when you won’t be reaching there for another 15 minutes!
Measuring the distance in hours is just more accurate and convenient.
“Texas is not Southwest or West or Deep South. Texas is Texas.”
The great state of Texas was once a country all on its own.
Since the times of the Republic of Texas, the state has developed its own culture and traditions that are quite distinct from the rest of the country.
That’s why lumping Texas together with the Southwest or the West or the South is doing the state a great disservice.
Texas has been famously called ‘a state of mind’ by John Steinbeck.
We think that comes pretty close to encapsulating the feeling of being a Texan.
Texas is and will always remain Texas. A pretty unique state with its own distinct identity!
That’s it. Our ultimate post on the things that you absolutely need to know before visiting Texas!
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.
Also Read: Things that No One Tells You About Texas!
Pretty darn accurate from my experience, I live in the Hill Country and have yet to visit Houston or Far West Texas but everything else is on point. Texas swimming holes are like no other.