Fort Worth
Cowtown is not part of Dallas. That’s partially why it’s worth a linger.

The small-town-in-a-bigger-city charm infuses spots such as the Kimbell and Amon Carter art museums, the Stockyards, and Billy Bob’s honky tonk that’s outfitted with an indoor rodeo arena. There’s also a lower-brow scene at the vegan Spiral Diner (yeah, we know there’s a location in Dallas, too; hush, Dallas), the 1919 Hemphill music venue, and Lee Harvey Oswald’s grave at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Unlike the eastern half of the Metroplex, the people here are darn friendly. And Complete, one of the weirdest all-time bands (think a male version of The Shaggs), calls Fort Worth its home. 


El Paso
All of the trash talk that’s heaped on El Paso is usually by those who have only driven on Interstate 10 and passed by ELP on their way into or out of Texas. 

Y’all should actually stop and stay a minute. ELP is crazy safe, the food is cheap and delicious and sometimes found in non-traditional spots (for instance, the H&H Car Wash and Coffee Shop), and there’s heaps of nightlife, including shows at Lowbrow Palace and drinks at The Black Orchid Lounge.

Then there’s the Franklin Mountains State Park. 24,247 acres of desert and hiking and wildlife and camping outings? About 30 minutes away from the center of town? Wait, what’s wrong with El Paso again?


Shreveport, Louisiana
The history of Louisiana’s third-largest city is unbeatable.

The temporary Confederate capital during the Civil War. The birthplace of Lead Belly. The home of the Louisiana Hayride, a radio and television program that helped the careers of Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis, who, as a local once told us, probably lost his virginity at one of Shreveport’s many brothels in the red light district.

Dude.

Today, the brothels on Texas Avenue have been preserved and turned into raw-looking living and culture spaces (such as the Minicine? art film and music venue). There’s also an abundance of street and mountain biking trails as well as supreme grub at Jack’s Bar-B-Q and Strawn’s Eat Shop.



Big Bend National Park
Big Bend isn’t overrated or underrated. It’s perfect. But the overrated thing to do is to stay for only a night or two.

The $25-per-vehicle entry fee gives you seven days in the park (or just fork over $40 for the annual pass). Take advantage.

One day and night, you can be in shorts and a tee along the Rio Grande. The next, up high in the Chisos Basin with long johns and a light sleeping bag.

See where we’re going? You’re blissed out for about two seconds and then packing up the vehicle to the next campsite. 


San Antonio
The Alamo and Riverwalk. Whatev. Texans know (or should know) that the nation’s seventh-largest city has a farther reach outside of the tourist traps.

The food (Taco Taco Cafe, Cascabel) is amazing and cheap. The handful of cocktail lounges (The Paramour, The Brooklynite) and beer bars (The Friendly Spot) rule. The art space complex on Fredericksburg Road (Nite Lite and K23 Gallery) is weird. Plus there’s 41 miles of developed anti-car paths for walkers and runners and cyclists.

And it’s not Austin.