Texas

Stop me if you’ve heard this before – ‘Everything is Bigger in Texas’. That’s a statement of geographic fact as well as an attitude. Texas joined the US as an independent state, the Lone Star State. The single star represented pride, defiance, and the assertion that Texas was strong enough to stand on its own as an independent nation.

Despite its state pride, Texas is big enough for everybody including Austin artists and Dallas debutantes. You’ll find oil barons and cowboy kings, the endless Gulf coast beaches and rugged canyons of the Rio Grande. Just remember to look up when the sun goes down to see for yourself if the stars at night are really that big and bright.

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Language(s)

English

Currency

US Dollar

Exercise Increased Caution
Summer Winter
El Paso 97 34
Dallas 96 39
Houston 95 47
Outlets
Type-A
Type-B

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall are the best times to visit Texas, so you avoid the summer storms and heat. Winters can be mild and pleasant, especially in the low country.

Fun Facts

  • Texas is larger than any European country
  • Texas is the most tornado-prone state in the US with an average of 139/year!
  • Highway 130 outside of Austin is the fastest road in America (85 mph)
  • The Texas State Capitol building is the largest capitol in the nation, 7′ taller than the US Capitol building
  • Amarillo is the ‘Helium Capital of the World’ with 90% of the world’s recoverable helium supply
  • Dr Pepper was invented in Texas in 1885
  • Texas uses its own power grid
  • The 1st frozen margarita machine was invented in Dallas
  • The largest known bat colony in North America is in Texas

Bucket-List Activities

  • Kayak Big Thicket Swamp (Beaumont)
  • Ride the rapids at Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels)
  • Watch the bat flight at the Congress Street Bridge (Austin)
  • Walk the Riverwalk (and remember the Alamo) (San Antonio)
  • Kiteboarding at the beach (Galveston)
  • Raft the Rio Grand (Big Bend National Park)
  • Explore Palo Duro Canyon (Canyon)
  • Texas State Fair (Dallas)
  • Watch the stars at night big and bright at the McDonald Observatory (Fort Davis)
  • Climb Mount Cristo Rey on Easter (El Paso)
  • Scuba dive and watch the coral spawn (Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary)
  • Attend a Day Party at SXSW (bonus points for dancing a two step to what ever music is playing) (Austin)

Natural Wonders

  • Boquillas Canyon (Big Bend National Park)
  • Palo Duro Canyon (Canyon)
  • Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve (Dripping Springs)
  • Padre Island National Seashore
  • Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
  • Natural Bridge Caverns

Major Attractions

  • Alamo / River Walk (San Antonio)
  • Space Center Houston (Houston)
  • Galveston’s Beaches & Strand Historic District (Galveston)
  • Dallas Arboretum (Dallas)
  • Spindletop (Beaumont)
  • Hill Country (Austin)

Native Foods

  • BBQ Crab (deep fried blue crab)
  • BBQ (Texas BBQ is all about the brisket)
  • Puffy Taco (made with deep fried tortillas)
  • Steak (the stories of Texas sized steak are real)
  • Tex-Mex (lots of cumin and hold the cilantro)

General Travel Tips

Common Phrases

  • Howdy – A cowboy way to say hello
  • Soda pop – When you can’t decide if you should say soda or pop
  • This aint my first rodeo – but it might be your last if you keep talking about mama like that
  • You can hang your hat on that – Something you can count on
  • Texas size 10-4 – Everything is bigger in Texas, even trucker talk
  • West of the Pecos – The Wild West starts on the other side of the Pecos River
  • Big D – Dallas
  • Metroplex – The conjoined cities of Dallas and Fort Worth
  • Central Distressway –  Hwy 75, aka the Central Expressway
  • High-5 – The five-tiered, jumbled mess where 635 and 75 meet
  • Keep Austin Weird – What people in Austin want, and how the rest of the state sees them
  • Dallas /  Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW ✈✈✈✈) – Gateway to the Metroplex and American Airlines Hub
  • Houston / George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH ✈✈✈✈) – Texas’ biggest city
  • Dallas / Dallas Love Field (DAL✈✈✈✈) – If you want to fly SWA to the Big D
  • Austin / Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS ✈✈✈✈) – Everybody wants to keep Austin weird
  • Houston /  William P. Hobby Airport (HOU ✈✈✈✈) – The SWA gateway to the Space City
  • San Antonio / San Antonio International Airport (SAT ✈✈✈✈) – Home to the Alamo and River Walk
  • El Paso / El Paso International Airport (ELP ✈✈✈✈) – As far west as you can go in Texas
  • Midland-Odessa/ Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF ✈✈✈) – In the heart of the oil fields
  • Lubbock / Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB ✈✈) – Home to Texas Tech
  • Amarillo / Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA ✈✈) – Gateway to Palo Duro Canyon
  • McAllen / McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE ✈✈) – Any farther south and you’d be in Mexico
  • Corpus Christi / Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP ✈✈) – Gateway to Padre Island
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Here at Coleman Concierge, we encourage everyone to travel responsibly and believe there is potential for tremendous good for the world following that ethos. There is also the potential for horrific consequences from irresponsible travel.

Before you go, please check out the latest CDC recommendations for travelers.

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Meet Ed & Jenn

Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman, and together we are Coleman Concierge. It is our goal to inspire you to get out, expand your world, and to seek adventure, even in your own backyard.

We deeply believe in the transformational power of travel. Our tagline is amazing adventures for ordinary people because we believe that you don’t have to be super rich, super fit or super anything to have an amazing adventure. Expanding your comfort zone and trying new things will pay huge dividends in both health and happiness.

We advocate for sustainable and ethical travel and truly believe in the power of travel to transform both ourselves as well as the world around us.

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