asa whitlock author at My Family Travels
Article
A Texas Forest Area With Tall Pines And Quiet Trails Is Perfect For Hiking

The air smells like pine needles and cool earth, and the only sounds you hear are birds and the soft crunch of the trail beneath your feet. This Texas forest spreads across more...

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A Texas Lake With Sandy Shores And Camping Areas Feels Like A Mini Beach

You do not expect to find sandy shores and clear water in Texas without driving all the way to the coast. But this lake has been hiding a mini beach experience for years, and the...

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A Texas Pizza Shop Serving Square-Cut Pies And Crispy Edges

You take a bite and the crust shatters. Not in a dry, crumbly way, but in that perfect thin, crispy, almost delicate way that makes you look at the slice and wonder how they did...

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This Texas Cafe Is Known For Massive Omelets And All-Day Breakfast Plates

Texas does breakfast big. That is not news. But this cafe takes big to another level. The omelets here are the size of your...

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This Texas Harbor Area Combines Boardwalk Views, Dining, And Boat Watching

Texas has coast. Not as famous as Florida or California, but it counts. This harbor area makes the most of it, with a boardwalk...

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A Texas BBQ Spot Known For Smoked Pork Steak And Classic Sides

You order the pork steak without knowing what to expect. Beef is the usual star at Texas BBQ joints. But this place figured out...

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Maryland Amish Market with Homemade Goods and Fresh Produce

You walk in for a single tomato and somehow walk out with a pie, a jar of honey, and a hand carved spoon. That is the danger of this place.

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This Texas Cultural District Is Packed With Galleries, Murals, And Local Shops

You turn the corner and suddenly the walls are talking. Bright murals stretch across entire buildings, each one different from the next.

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This Texas State Park Delivers Lakefront Fun And Overnight Stays Without Breaking The Budget

A weekend getaway should not require a second mortgage. This park gets that. The lake is small but perfect, 14 acres of calm...

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Authentic Tacos And Consistently Long Lines Make This Texas Spot Worth The Wait

A line down the block is usually a sign of something good. Or a sign of poor planning. But at this spot, it is definitely the...

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This Texas Food Store Is Packed With Hot Sauces For Every Heat Level

A shelf of mild sauces. Another shelf of medium. Then a whole section of bottles that come with actual warnings. This place...

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The Yarn Selection At This Texas Shop Feels Like A Treasure Hunt For Knitters And Crocheters

Skeins stacked on shelves. Cubbyholes filled with colors that do not exist in nature. A wall of hand dyed luxury fibers that...

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Float the Texas Heat Away On These 9 Refreshing Lazy Rivers

The Texas sun has a mean streak. No denying that. When the temperatures climb and the humidity sits on a person like a wet...

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People Walk Into This Texas Cafe Planning To Eat Light And Instantly Change Their Minds

A salad sounds reasonable. Maybe a bowl of soup. Something light, something responsible. Then a plate of chicken fried steak...

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This Texas Smokehouse Has Brisket So Tender People Show Up Before Opening Time

A line before opening time is a good sign. A really good sign. This smokehouse has people waiting on the sidewalk, coffee in...

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This Texas Botanical Garden Offers Free Admission And The Kind Of Scenery People Usually Pay To See

Twenty three acres of blooming flowers, koi ponds, and themed gardens. A conservatory filled with tropical plants. A rose garden...

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This Texas Bohotique Feels More Like A Psychedelic Treasure Hunt Than A Regular Store

One minute a person is looking at a tie dye hoodie. The next, they are holding a lava lamp and questioning all their life choices. That...

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10 Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg, Texas You’ll Want to Visit

Fredericksburg, Texas is one of those places that sneaks up on you in the best possible way. The Texas Hill Country town sits about an hour and a half west of Austin, and the moment...

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This Texas Deli Has The Kind Of Menu That Makes Deciding What To Order Weirdly Difficult

A person walks in and immediately freezes in front of the menu board. Too many choices, too little time. This Texas deli does...

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This 1-Mile Enchanted Texas Trail Is Home To A Magical Village Of Small Fairy Homes

A short loop trail where tiny painted doors appear at the base of trees, and small fairy homes peek out from behind roots and rocks. This Texas path has become a local treasure...

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This Tiny Texas Town Feels Like It Hit Pause Sometime In The 1950s

The only real landmark is a weathered building that has been standing since the late 1800s, housing a general store, a saloon, and a defunct post office under one creaky roof....

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This Iconic Texas Biker Bar Is Known For A Wild Roadside Vibe And A Loyal Crowd

Bikes rumble into the parking lot by the dozen, especially on weekends when the live outdoor stage is shaking. This place is more than a bar, it is a full on motorcycle empire.

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Walking Into This Texas Restaurant Feels Like Accidentally Stepping Into An Old Ranch Gathering

The smell of smoked meat and buttery rolls hits before a person even finds a seat. Reclaimed barn wood covers the walls, vintage cowboy gear hangs between windows, and a massive...

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8 Eerie Texas Destinations That Feel Unsettling Even In Daylight

The kind of places where a person feels watched even when nobody is around. Empty hallways, flickering lights, and shadows that move on their own.

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10 Texas Towns Residents Believe Felt Different Before The Crowds Arrived

Every local has that one story. The one about the time before the stoplight showed up, before the weekend traffic, before the souvenir shops multiplied.

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A Texas Restaurant Where Big Portions And Casual Small-Town Atmosphere Go Hand In Hand

A 1.5 pound chicken fried steak demands serious respect and a very loose belt. This family-run spot started as a humble drive-through in 1994, slinging barbecue and deer corn to...

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This Texas Burger Joint Has a Monster Burger With a Full Pound of Meat That Is a True Test of Appetite

A Texas burger this size is a serious commitment, a full pound of beef, a quarter pound of crispy bacon, and four melty cheese slices all stacked between a butter soft bun. This...

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A Texas Antique Store That Has Been a Hidden Gem for Over 20 Years

This place is a full-blown maze, and getting lost is the entire point. Spanning a massive 30,000 square feet across two beautifully restored 1924 buildings, it's packed with over...

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A Peaceful Corner of France Is Secretly Found Within This Texas Sanctuary

A slice of French peace exists right here in Texas, built by priests who wanted to bring a little European tranquility to the Lone Star State. This hidden sanctuary is an exact...

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This Texas Puerto Rican Restaurant Is Known For Pernil, Mofongo, And Huge Portions

A little blue building off a busy street. Does not look like much. But the smell? Oh, the smell will stop a person mid stride.

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A Texas Cuban Cafe Serving Authentic Sandwiches, Espresso, And Homemade Plates

A good Cuban sandwich should crackle when pressed and drip just a little when bitten. This Texas cafe nails that every single time.

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This Indoor LEGO Wonderland In Texas Is Perfect For Building Memories Together

The line between parenting and playtime disappears the second a kid spots a life sized LEGO dragon. Inside this massive indoor playground, the official rules state that every adult...

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This Must-Try Texas Taco Spot Serves Farm-Fresh Ingredients And Tex-Mex Worth Trying

A taco spot that has kept a college town happy for decades must be doing something right. This Texas favorite serves up Tex-Mex with produce that actually looks like it came from...

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Float the Day Away on Texas’ Epic Lazy River For the Ultimate Relaxation

A lazy river that actually delivers on the lazy part is harder to find than it should be. This Texas spot gets it right. The...

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This Texas Spot Beat Out Every Other Restaurant in Town for the Best Lunch Award

A restaurant does not beat every other spot in town for best lunch by accident. This Texas bistro earned that title the hard way, through homemade soups, fresh sandwiches, and...

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A Shopper’s Dream Come True, This Texas Outlet Is Packed With Name Brands And Discounts

A mall with over 140 stores sounds like a marathon, not a shopping trip. But this Texas outlet makes it worth the effort. Major...

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This Texas Beach Is Probably One Of The Most Underrated In America, And Locals Love It That Way

No high rise hotels, no crowded boardwalks, no person yelling at anyone to buy a giant beach towel. Just sand, waves, and a whole lot of space.

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The 9 Best Burger Restaurants In Texas That Are Worth Every Single Calorie

A diet starts tomorrow. Today is for burgers. Texas has plenty of places to eat a mediocre patty and feel nothing. But these...

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Inside The Texas Seafood Market Setting The Standard For Fresh Catch

Walk past the grocery store seafood counter. Just keep walking. That sad fish has been on a truck longer than a cross country...

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7 Texas Nature Trails That Stay Quiet Even On Weekends

Everyone loves a good nature trail until they have to share it with fifty other people and their Bluetooth speakers. That is the problem with popular spots.

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A Mom-And-Pop Texas Breakfast Spot Where Biscuits And Gravy Still Bring In Crowds

Let us be real. Most of us have driven past a hundred old buildings and never thought twice. But this one used to be a Safeway...

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8 Texas Burger Joints That Don’t Look Famous But Absolutely Should Be

You could drive right past these places and never think to stop. They hide in strip malls, old gas stations, and buildings that have seen better days.

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This Giant Crystal Lagoon Near Houston Feels Like A Beach Vacation Without Leaving Texas Soil

You want a beach day but you do not want to drive for hours or fight ocean waves. This place gives you the best of both. The...

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This Tiny Texas Town Blends Route 66 Nostalgia With Irish Charm and Quirky Finds

You roll into a tiny Texas town and see a leprechaun crossing sign next to a vintage Route 66 gas station. That is your first clue this place is not like the others.

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This Old-School Texas Tavern Has Been Serving Locals’ Favorite Bar Pie The Old-Fashioned Way

You slide into a worn wooden booth and the smell of bubbling cheese and crispy pepperoni hits you like a warm hug. The menu is short, because they only do one thing, and they do...

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This Absurdly Large Texas Blade Is a Roadside Stop That Actually Matches the Hype

You have seen oversized roadside attractions before, a giant ball of yarn or a big fiberglass cow. This one is different. The...

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A Family-Owned Texas Restaurant With Authentic Cuban Flavors Worth the Drive

You order a Cuban sandwich and suddenly understand why people are willing to drive so far. The bread is pressed just right, the pork is juicy, and the pickles add that perfect...

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This Tiny Texas Catfish Shack Fries Up A Plate Worth Driving For

You pull into a small building that does not look like much. The smell coming out of the kitchen tells you everything you need to know.

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This Massive Indoor Playground In Texas Is A Family Fun Wonderland

You hear the squeals before you even open the car door. Inside, kids are climbing, sliding, and disappearing into tunnels like little ninjas.

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The Fascinating Aviation Museum In Texas You Never Knew You Could Visit

You have probably driven past it a hundred times and never once thought to stop. That is a mistake. This aviation museum hides...

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This Old-School Texas Butcher Shop Makes Sausages From Family Recipes Passed Down Since the 1968

You walk in and the first thing you smell is smoke and spices. The second thing you notice is a glass case near the register holding a handwritten book in Czech, pages stained...

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This Laid-Back Maryland BBQ Joint Serves Loaded Smokehouse Plates That Almost Don’t Fit on the Tray

You know you are in the right place when they hand you a tray and you immediately question its size. The meat is piled so high that you have to walk slowly like a waiter carrying...

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This Cuban Restaurant In Texas Offers A Tropical Escape That Takes You Straight To Havana

You step through the door and suddenly the air feels thicker, warmer, like someone turned up the humidity and the charm. The walls are painted in bright colors that belong on a...

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This Pay-What-You-Want Texas Art Store Is A Thrifter’s Paradise for Creative Supplies

You know those art supply stores where a single tube of paint costs more than your lunch? This place is the opposite. You walk...

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This Secret Salt Cave In Texas Will Leave You Feeling Refreshed And Completely Revitalized

You have been to a spa before, maybe some candles and soft music. This is not that. You walk into a room made entirely of salt,...

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The Best Homemade Breakfast In Texas Is Waiting Inside This Unassuming Small-Town Diner

You could drive past this place and never guess what is waiting inside. The building does not scream for attention, no flashy signs or giant parking lots.

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People Drive Hours for the Klobasneks and Kolaches at This Texas Gas Station

A gas station is the last place you expect to find life changing pastries. But here we are. People drive hours out of their...

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7 Hidden Texas Fishing Spots That Locals Try to Keep Quiet

You know those fishing spots where locals look the other way when you ask for directions? These are those places. The ones...

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A Drive-In Where You Order Pit Beef Through a Window and Eat in Your Car

Some people think fancy restaurants are the peak of dining. Those people have never ordered dinner through a window and eaten it behind the steering wheel.

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The Maryland Waterfall That’s Less Than a 10-Minute Walk From the Parking Lot

You know that hiking fantasy where you get a stunning waterfall without breaking a sweat? This one actually delivers. Exactly...

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