ronan keats author at My Family Travels
Article
This Texas Vintage Store Covered in Leopard Print Feels Like a Retro Fashion Jungle

Walking into Leopard Lounge feels like stepping through a time portal lined with wild cat spots and retro swagger. I had heard...

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A Tropical Escape on the Texas Coast That Feels Like Traveling the World in a Day

Imagine seeing pyramids, tropical birds and penguins, all in one day! That is exactly what happens at Moody Gardens, where three massive glass pyramids rise along the coast and...

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The Texas Italian Restaurants That Bring a Taste of Rome to the Lone Star State

When I first started exploring Italian food across Texas, I honestly didn't expect to find anything close to what I'd tasted in Rome. But the Lone Star State has this surprising...

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This Texas BBQ Spot Has People Waiting in Line for Hours and Still Selling Out Every Single Day

I showed up at Franklin Barbecue around nine in the morning, and honestly, I thought I'd be early. There were already thirty people stretched out in folding chairs along the sidewalk,...

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A Quiet Fishing Village On The Texas Coast That Still Feels Old-School

Driving into Port O'Connor feels like easing into a slower gear. Weathered boats rock gently in the harbor, bait shops sit close to the water, and the air carries that steady coastal...

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Mediterranean Food Spots in Texas That Locals Don’t Want Tourists to Find

Texas might be famous for barbecue and Tex-Mex, but I've learned there's another food scene quietly thriving here that locals guard like a secret recipe.

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The Quail Legs At This Texas Steakhouse Are Next Level Delicious

There is nothing subtle about walking into Lytle Land & Cattle Company. The mesquite smoke hits first, followed by the sight of cowboy hats lining the walls and a dining room...

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Texas Farmers Market That’s Worth Planning Your Saturday Around

Saturday mornings feel different at the Plano Farmers Market. By the time I got there, families were already walking in with...

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This Legendary Texas Buffet Will Be Everyone’s 2026 Obsession

I wasn't prepared for what I found when I pulled into the parking lot at Hutchins BBQ in McKinney on a random Tuesday afternoon. The smell hit me first, that unmistakable wood...

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This Iconic Texas Restaurant Has Been Feeding Generations Since 1866

Standing outside Scholz Garten, it is easy to forget you are anywhere near a busy campus. The wooden exterior and old signage look like they have been there forever, and in many...

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This Legendary Texas Reuben Sandwich Is Simply Unforgettable

Katz’s on Westheimer has a way of pulling you in the moment you step inside, especially late at night when the rest of the city is winding down and this place is doing the opposite....

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This Texas Canyon Is Perfect for a February Day Trip and Stunning Photos

The hike to Gorman Falls is one of those walks that quietly pulls you in before you realize it’s happening. You start out surrounded by cedar and limestone, the trail dipping...

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Texas Taco Trucks That Are Seriously Dangerous to Your Diet

I spent a week chasing taco trucks across Texas, and honestly, I wasn't prepared for what I found. Every city from McKinney down to San Antonio has its own take on what makes a...

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This Legendary Texas BBQ Spot Was Featured in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Film

Pulling off TX-304 into the quiet stretch of Texas countryside, it became immediately clear this stop was going to be different. The Gas Station sat there exactly as it appears...

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This Texas Store Has Treasures for a Fraction of What You’d Pay Anywhere Else

The building of Treasures For Less looked plain from the outside, like just another industrial space among many. But the moment I stepped through those doors, I realized this wasn't...

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These 10 Hidden Texas Restaurants Where Southern Comfort Still Comes First Are Must-Visit in 2026

I grew up believing Texas was all about barbecue and Tex-Mex, but the deeper you travel into the state, the more you realize Southern comfort food runs just as deep. These hidden...

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7 Texas Food Spots That Prove Simple Menus Are Better

I've spent years chasing down the best food across Texas, and somewhere along the way I learned that the longest menus rarely deliver the best meals. The spots that stuck with...

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12 Romantic Texas Getaways for Couples Who Hate Crowds

I used to think romantic escapes in Texas meant fighting through weekend crowds at popular spots, but a few years back, I stumbled onto a different side of the state entirely....

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Texas Restaurants Where the Décor Is Just as Wild as the Food

When I first started exploring Texas restaurants, I expected big flavors and generous portions, but what caught me off guard was how many dining spots turned the atmosphere into...

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This Texas Town Is Calmer, Cheaper, and Better in February

I didn't expect much when I first rolled into Grapevine on a mild February morning, but something about the quiet streets and the way the light hit those old brick storefronts...

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These Texas Mom-and-Pop Restaurants Still Do Things the Old-Fashioned Way

I've always believed that the best meals come from places where recipes are passed down through generations, not printed on corporate laminated menus.

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A Hidden Texas Market Where $20 Can Score You Vintage and Unique Finds

I have driven past Winnie more times than I can count without realizing what I was missing. Then I finally stopped at Larry’s Old Time Trade Days, and that was a mistake in the...

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You’ll Never Guess Which Texas Town Locals Call “Heaven on Earth”

Wimberley is one of those towns you do not expect to fall for, and then somehow you do. I almost drove right past it the first time, not realizing how much was tucked away just...

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Small-Town Texas Steakhouses That Make Any Road Trip Delicious

Some of the best steaks in Texas are not anywhere near a big city. They are sitting off highways you almost skip, in towns where the sign has more character than the skyline.

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Locals Say This Texas Thrift Store Has Hidden Treasures You Won’t Believe

I went into Top Drawer Thrift expecting a quick browse and walked out wondering how this place is not constantly packed. Sitting at North Loop and Airport Boulevard, it feels nothing...

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The Breakfast Tacos at This Texas Spot Are So Good You’ll Wish You Could Eat Them Every Day

Kerbey Lane Cafe feels like the Austin people miss when they talk about the city the way it used to be. Found in a converted house on a quiet street, it has been serving breakfast...

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This Texas Amish Market Has Homemade Foods You Cannot Find Anywhere Else

Veal Station Amish Market is the kind of place you drive out of your way for on purpose. Sitting on a quiet country road in Springtown, it feels more like stopping at someone’s...

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10 Texas Places to Visit in 2026 Before Everyone Else Does

Texas is massive, and for a long time I realized I was seeing the same parts over and over again. Austin, Houston, San Antonio. Great...

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A Texas Café Where You Can Drink Coffee Surrounded by Rescue Cats

I walked into El Gato Coffeehouse thinking I was just grabbing a drink and somehow ended up sitting on the floor while a kitten tried to crawl into my hoodie. Tucked into a colorful...

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Locals Say This Texas Town Is Tourist-Ruined Beyond Recognition

Gruene still looks like the kind of place you expect to stumble upon in a postcard. Weathered buildings, the Guadalupe River nearby, live music floating through the air.

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This Texas Sinkhole Has an Unsettling Silence You Can’t Explain

The first time I stood near the Devil’s Sinkhole in the Texas Hill Country, the quiet stopped me in my tracks. Not peaceful quiet, but the kind that feels heavy, like the land...

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Discover 8 Enchanting Castles on a Magical Texas Road Trip

You might think Texas is all about cowboys, oil wells, and endless stretches of desert, but hidden among the rolling hills and lakeshores are some of the most enchanting castles...

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Feel the Thrill of Formula 1 at This High Speed Go Kart Track in Texas

Tucked away in the rural plains of Caddo Mills, Texas, the Dallas Karting Complex at 5025 FM1565 delivers an adrenaline rush that rivals the world's most famous racetracks.

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This Underrated Texas State Park Feels Like Your Own Private Escape

Tucked away in the rugged desert landscape just northeast of El Paso, Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site at 6900 Hueco Tanks Road No. 1 offers travelers a rare blend of...

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This Is Where Texas Locals Go for All-You-Can-Eat Without Regret

Texas knows how to do big, and that includes its all-you-can-eat dining scene. From sizzling Brazilian steakhouses to sprawling Mediterranean buffets, the Lone Star State has mastered...

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This Texas City Locals Say Has Changed Too Fast

Frisco, Texas sits in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, a place where shiny skyscrapers now tower over land that once held quiet farms and open fields.

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This Texas Ghost Town Feels Watched Even in Daylight

Lajitas sits in the far reaches of West Texas, a stone's throw from Big Bend National Park, where the desert stretches endlessly and the Rio Grande carves its path along the Mexican...

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9 Texas All-You-Can-Eat Spots Locals Still Trust in 2026

Texas knows how to do big portions, and all-you-can-eat dining takes that philosophy to a whole new level. From smoky barbecue joints to sizzling Brazilian steakhouses and bustling...

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These 10 Texas Towns Make Living on Social Security Totally Possible

Stretching your Social Security check doesn't mean sacrificing quality of life, especially when you know where to look in the Lone Star State.

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This Tiny Texas Park Is Proof That Good Things Come in Small Packages

Tucked away in the heart of Gonzales, Texas, Palmetto State Park at 78 Park Rd 11 is a little slice of paradise that punches way above its weight.

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These 10 Beautiful Places Are Texas’s Best Kept Secrets

Texas stretches across so many miles and climates that even lifelong residents discover new corners worth exploring. Beyond the famous cities and tourist hotspots lie pockets of...

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This Texas Town Is Surprisingly Good for a First Solo Trip

Waco sits along the lazy Brazos River in the heart of central Texas, a place most folks zoom past on their way to Austin or Dallas without ever knowing what they're missing.

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If You Love Long Romantic Dinners, This Texas Spot Gets It Right

Tucked away on a quiet street in Austin's Clarksville neighborhood, Jeffrey's has been drawing couples from across Texas since 1975.

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Texas Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants Locals Say Are Better Than Fancy Places

Texas has always been a place where authenticity beats pretension, especially when it comes to food. Forget white tablecloths and overpriced menus; the real magic happens in tiny...

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The Texas Restaurant Locals Say Is Definitely Worth the Price

Houston stands as a sprawling, diverse metropolis where food culture runs deep, and travelers seeking an unforgettable dining experience know exactly where to turn. Pappas Bros.

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Locals Swear This Place Is One of the Most Haunted in Texas

Tucked away in the historic heart of Mineral Wells, Texas, stands a Victorian home that has earned a chilling reputation among paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics alike.

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These Texas Cities Make Exploring Easy Whether You Have Kids or Not

Texas is a land of endless horizons, where sprawling deserts meet vibrant cities and historic sites blend seamlessly with cutting-edge attractions.

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Texas Towns Locals Say Outsiders Romanticize Too Much

Texas has long captured the imagination of travelers with its wide-open spaces, cowboy culture, and small-town charm. Visitors flock to quaint communities hoping to experience...

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This Texas Town Locals Say Newcomers Are Pricing Everyone Out

Boerne, Texas sits nestled in the rolling Texas Hill Country, about thirty miles northwest of San Antonio. This charming town,...

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This Texas Café Locals Gatekeep for Its Homemade Pies

Tucked along Highway 281 in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Blue Bonnet Café has been serving up comfort food and legendary pies since 1929.

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