ronan keats author at My Family Travels
Article
A Small Town Texas Bakery Keeps Czech Baking Traditions Alive One Batch At A Time

Kolaches. Klobasnek. And the smell of fresh bread drifting down the street. This Texas bakery has been keeping Czech traditions alive for generations, one batch at a time.

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A Century Old Texas Castle Looks Like It Was Plucked Straight Out Of Europe

A castle in Texas. It sounds like a fairy tale. But this one is real, and it has been standing for over a century. The architecture...

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Down A Quiet Texas Street, This Old Meat Market Smokes Beef Ribs To Tender Perfection

Down a quiet street. In an old building. A meat market that has been smoking beef ribs the same way for years. That is the...

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A Texas Restaurant Makes The Kind Of Comfort Food That Calls For An Extra Hungry Appetite

Some meals require a nap afterward. This is one of them. This Texas restaurant serves comfort food that is hearty, filling,...

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There’s A Restaurant Inside A Historic Texas Bank And The Interior Is Truly Unreal

A restaurant inside an old bank. That is not something you see every day. This Texas spot has taken a historic building and...

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A No-Frills Texas Seafood House Keeps Things Casual With Big Plates And Waterfront Views

Some restaurants want to impress you with fancy plating and complicated menus. This Texas seafood house does not. It keeps...

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This Peaceful Corner of Texas Combines a Scenic Walk, a Historic Site, and an Excellent Lunch Stop

A scenic walk, a historic site, and a great lunch spot all in one place. That is a rare combination. This peaceful corner of...

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Texans Happily Make The Drive To This Small-Town Diner For Home Cooking And Nostalgic Arcade Games

Good food and old arcade games. That is a combination worth driving for. This small town Texas diner serves up home cooking...

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Walk Through A Texas Forest Where Towering Trees Create One Of The State’s Most Underrated Nature Escapes

Towering trees. Shaded trails. And enough quiet to hear your own footsteps. That is what this Texas forest offers.

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This Tiny Texas Town Has A Historic Downtown You Can Explore Without Fighting Tourist Crowds

A historic downtown without the crowds. That is the appeal of this tiny Texas town. The brick buildings are still standing,...

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This Texas Café Serves Cheesecake So Good People Drive Across the Whole State for a Slice

A slice of cheesecake that makes people drive across the state. That is a bold claim. But this Texas café backs it up. The...

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This Texas Canyon Is One Of The Best Places To Spot Wild Bison Roaming This Fall

Bison once roamed across Texas in the millions. Now, seeing one in the wild feels like a glimpse of the past. This canyon offers...

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A Giant Mosaic Park In Texas Turns Everyday Junk Into One Of The City’s Coolest Free Attractions

One person's trash is another person's art. And at this Texas park, that idea is taken to a whole new level. Giant sculptures...

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There’s A Funky Retro Town In Texas That’s Perfect For Walking And Worth Exploring

A town that feels like it belongs on a movie set, but the people are real and the shops are open. That is what you get here. This...

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10 Texas Places That Are Free, Weird, And Actually Worth The Drive

Free is good. Weird is better. Combine the two and you have a road trip worth taking. Texas is full of oddities that do not cost...

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Texas Restaurants That Have Been Feeding The Same Communities For More Than 50 Years

A restaurant that has been open for over 50 years is not just a place to eat. It is a community landmark. The walls have seen...

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This Texas Greenhouse Café Turns Brunch Into A Garden Escape Led By An Acclaimed Chef

Brunch among the plants. That is the appeal of this Texas greenhouse café. Sunlight pours in through the glass ceiling, the...

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This Texas Theater Still Glows Beneath A Giant Neon Sign From The Golden Age Of Movies

Modern movie theaters are very good at reclining seats and enormous soda cups, but they rarely greet you with a towering neon sign that looks like the evening should require a...

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One Of Texas’ Most Old Fashioned Butcher Shops Also Happens To Make A Seriously Fresh Burger

Buying burger meat from a butcher shop is sensible. Having the butcher skip a few steps and cook the burger for you is considerably more efficient.

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The Unassuming Texas Restaurant Serving Portions Big Enough to Guarantee Leftovers

Leftovers are not an accident when the menu includes a one-pound burger, giant buttermilk pancakes, and a bone-in ham described as Texas size.

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8 Magical Texas Towns Packed With Rich German Heritage & Old-World Vibes

Texas is known for barbecue, tacos, and big skies. But did you know it also has a slice of Germany? These eight towns are packed...

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Hidden Deep In West Texas Is A Swimming Hole Few First-Time Visitors Believe Exists

A swimming hole in the middle of the desert sounds like a myth. But it exists. Deep in West Texas, this spring-fed pool is...

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This Hidden Texas Coastal Sanctuary Combines Peaceful Walking Trails With Stunning Gulf Coast Scenery

A hidden coastal sanctuary with peaceful trails and stunning scenery is a quiet escape. This Texas spot is a place where the only sounds are the birds and the waves.

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Everything at This Texas Cafe Is Completely Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free

A cafe where everything is gluten-free and dairy-free is a safe haven for those with dietary restrictions. This Texas spot proves that avoiding these ingredients does not mean...

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You’ll Never Want To Visit These 8 Creepy Places In Texas When The Sun Goes Down

You need to be careful with this one. These 8 creepy places in Texas have a way of making the hair on your neck stand up, and they only get worse after dark.

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This Texas Lake Resort Melts Away Stress with a Top-Tier Spa and Stunning Sunsets

Sunsets that look fake, a spa that actually delivers, and a view that makes you forget your phone exists. That is this Texas lake resort.

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Only In Texas Can You Find A Retro Arcade That Serves Nostalgic Cereal Favorites

An arcade that serves cereal favorites. Only in Texas. This spot is a time warp of neon lights, joystick battles, and a menu...

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This Texas Trail Offers 10 Miles Of Shaded Paths To Walk, Bike, And Unwind Without Ever Leaving The City

Ten miles of trail, a canopy of trees, and the sound of nature replacing the hum of traffic. That is what this Texas trail delivers, and it is all right in the middle of the city.

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The Homemade Biscuits At This Texas Cafe Have Been Bringing People Back For More Than 80 Years

A biscuit that has been bringing people back for over 80 years is not just food, it is a legacy. This Texas cafe has been serving homemade biscuits since long before any of its...

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This Hidden Local Spot on the Water in Texas Is the Perfect Place to Unwind

A quiet spot on the water is a rare find in a state as big as Texas. This place is perfect for unwinding. The lake is small...

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This Hidden Texas Island Has Private Cabanas, Sandy Beaches, And Water So Inviting You’ll Never Want To Leave

A private island on the Guadalupe River sounds like something from a vacation brochure. But it is real, and it is in Texas. Private...

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This Texas Restaurant Serves Dinner Inside A Restored Grain Elevator

Dinner inside a grain elevator sounds like something out of a dream. But here it is a reality. Overlooking the Guadalupe River,...

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This Remote Texas Diner Serves Homemade Pies So Huge, They Barely Fit On The Plate

Some restaurants treat dessert like the polite little finale after dinner. This Texas country café appears to consider pie a perfectly reasonable reason for making the trip in...

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These 11 Free Outdoor Adventures In Texas Prove The Best Experiences Don’t Require A Wallet

The best Texas adventures do not always begin at a ticket booth. Around the state, free trails, wildlife refuges, city greenways, public beaches, nature preserves, historic walking...

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In A Small Texas Town, This Family-Run Café Is A Local Favorite For The Best Homestyle Breakfast Around

Small-town breakfast has one major advantage over trendy brunch: nobody needs ten minutes to explain what the eggs are doing. This...

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This Texas All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Offers Fresh Sushi, Crab Legs, And Cooked-To-Order Steaks You Won’t Forget

Buffet strategy gets complicated fast when sushi, snow crab, ramen, seafood, Chinese favorites, and steak are all demanding plate space at the same time.

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A Texas Drive Through Safari Lets Exotic Animals Walk Right Up To Your Car

A normal drive gets much more interesting when a zebra walks over and starts investigating the passenger window. This Texas...

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The 11 Small-Town Barbecue Joints In Texas That Locals Have Raved About Nonstop for Years

Some barbecue restaurants become famous because a television crew showed up. Others just keep smoking meat until several generations of customers have already decided the place...

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Can You Still Have A Great Texas Weekend For $500? We Did The Math

Five hundred dollars sounds generous right up until Friday night checks in and starts sending invoices. A Texas weekend can...

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The Massive Texas Flea Market Where You Can Eat, Shop, And Wander For Hours

A flea market stops being a casual shopping trip when it covers 105 acres and has more than 1,500 vendors competing for your attention.

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It Turns Out One Of America’s Absolute Happiest Places Is This Small Texas Town

The word “happy” gets thrown around pretty freely in rankings, but this Texas town has collected enough impressive ones to make the bragging feel less random. Back in 2019,...

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This 1.3-Mile Texas Trail Is the Scenic Standout Everyone’s Talking About and It’s Worth the Hype

Short trails can be sneaky. You start out expecting a quick Texas walk and suddenly you are passing through woods, open grassland, spring wildflowers, and interpretive signs while...

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10 Texas BBQ Joints Serving Massive Portions You Can Easily Share

“Should we share something?” sounds like a reasonable question until a Texas barbecue tray arrives and suddenly sharing becomes less of a suggestion and more of a practical...

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This Legendary Texas Western Store Has Been Handcrafting Cowboy Boots For More Than 100 Years

Some Texas businesses sell cowboy boots. This one has been making them long enough to have watched entire fashion trends appear, disappear, and eventually become vintage.

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This Texas Bakery Makes Its Famous Fruitcakes Inside A Historic Building That’s Been Baking Them For Generations

Fruitcake has spent decades being the punchline of holiday jokes, which makes it especially funny that one Texas bakery built a 130-year legacy around proving people will absolutely...

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This Scenic Texas Boardwalk Is Made For Slow Walks, Wildlife Watching, And Getting Away From It All

Some walks are about getting your steps in, while others make you forget you were counting them in the first place. At this...

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A Seriously Good Old Fashioned Burger Is Hiding At This Unassuming Texas Joint

Fancy burger toppings have their place, but sometimes the craving is much simpler: beef, melted cheese, fresh toppings, a toasted bun, and absolutely no architectural engineering...

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Sandra Bullock’s Charming Texas Bakery And Deli Might Be Her Most Delicious Side Project

Celebrity side projects can feel like vanity exercises, but this Texas bakery and deli has lasted long enough to become much more than a famous name attached to a storefront.

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This Texas General Store Is Packed With Nostalgia, Old Fashioned Treats, And Things You Forgot Existed

Nostalgia is usually free until you walk into a Texas store filled with old-fashioned candy, toys, pralines, jams, souvenirs, and a working soda fountain.

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The Butcher Counter Is Only The Beginning At This Texas Shop With A Bakery Full Of Homemade Favorites

A butcher shop, bakery, and restaurant sharing one roof already sounds like somebody refused to choose a specialty, and Texas is better for it.

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This Unassuming Texas Deli Serves The Most Massive Italian Subs In The State

A sandwich so big it takes two hands to lift. That is the kind of sub waiting for you at this Texas deli. It does not look...

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9 Vintage Texas Restaurants That Haven’t Changed A Bit Since The 1960s

The vinyl booths still squeak. The menu board has the same specials your grandparents ordered. And the jukebox? Still playing...

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Inside The Quietest Grocery Market In Rural Texas

A grocery store where the loudest thing is the hum of the old refrigerator case. That is the pace of this rural Texas market. It...

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9 Vintage Upholstery Supply Stores In Texas Worth The Drive

A good upholstery supply store is hard to find. But Texas has them. Nine of them, in fact. They are worth the drive, whether...

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This Texas Steakhouse Serves Prime Rib So Cheap You’ll Check The Menu Twice

A prime rib that costs less than a fancy pizza. That is the kind of deal you will find at this Texas steakhouse. You will check...

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This Texas Craft Supply Store Is So Cheap People Drive Hours To Fill Their Trunks

A craft store where the prices are so low you will want to fill your trunk. That is what this Texas spot offers. It is a creative...

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This Texas Waterpark Hosts Grown-Up Getaway Events Packed With Live Entertainment And Child Free Water Fun

A waterpark with no kids splashing around. That is a rare thing. But this Texas spot hosts adults-only events that are exactly...

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Pull Over For This Epic Texas Buffet On Your Next Road Trip

A road trip without a good meal is a missed opportunity. And this Texas buffet is the kind of place that makes you glad you pulled over.

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7 Family-Owned Texas Food Trucks Serving Huge Portions

A food truck that serves huge portions is a beautiful thing. And these eight family-owned Texas trucks do exactly that. They...

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One of the Most Relaxing Camping Spots in Texas Is Hidden in the Woods

A campsite hidden away in the woods where the only sounds are birds and the rustle of leaves. That is what you will find here. This...

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