I don’t know how I’ve gotten away with visiting Texas twice and not making a must-see list, but before I visit a third time, I think I better get to it! Texas is a large state but it also has a lot of wide open space, and while I do enjoy city activities, I usually prefer to spend more time in nature than big cities. This actually made it pretty easy to make a nice, concise list of things to see and do!
Spookies
I usually save paranormal things for later sections, but anytime you find yourself in the wild west, there is ghost stories abound! Texas is no different, so there were plenty of spooky and haunted attractions to make the list. In fact, that might be the majority of the attractions I’ve included here. We’re talking cemeteries, old hospitals, roads, bridges, and hotels.
The first and pretty popular spot I plan to visit is Goatman’s Bridge (or rather, the Old Alton Bridge). The legend of the Old Alton Bridge is rooted in racism and the clash between the KKK and a successful black businessman. Lore says that if you knock three times, honk three times, or drive with your headlights off that you’ll see anything from specters to orbs. It’s been investigated by multiple paranormal investigators and makes for a spooky time, regardless of how true the history is.
Another outdoor haunt is that of Bragg’s Road. The haunt is actually known by several names – Ghost Road of Saratoga, Saratoga Light, or Bragg Light. The road itself is located in Big Thickett National Preserve. When driving the pitch-black road at night, its rumored that you’ll see a light appear and disappear at random. The story says the lights are from a railroad worker who was decapitated while laying the rail. The light is his lantern as he haunts the area looking for his head. Spooky!
If its not ghosts you want, there is also a little town by the name of Marfa that is said to have some UFO activity. When I say UFO, I truly mean “unidentified” because these are not your ordinary space craft. Claims include basketball sized lights that range in color from white to red, yellow, or orange. For the skeptics and non-believers, its believed they are distorted headlights, swamp gas, or piezoelectric charge (or perhaps ball lightning if those aren’t the same thing?) I’m a pretty rational person, so I’d like to try my luck and see how unidentifiable it truly is.
Great Outdoors
I love when I get to look up hiking trails and really dial it in. Often times I choose where to visit by the hiking trails that are available and how pretty they look. Big Bend National Park is one of two National Parks in Texas (and several other national designations). The Santa Elena Trail is one of its most popular – for good reason! This hike travels along a creek and is surrounded by enormous canyon walls. I also found a trail called the Ernst Tinaja trail that looks really pretty, but on the NPS website I wasn’t able to find any great information about it.
The other National Park is Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I visited and hiked there during my last trip to El Paso. It was a side quest kind of a visit so we didn’t do much research on trails. While compiling this list, I found a gorgeous looking hike called the Devils Hall Trail. It also features large canyon walls to create sort of a “hall” feel.
Don’t worry, my friend, that’s not all for the Texas outdoors! There are a few really cool caves I think are must-see for my list. The first is Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve. This is a very popular spot. Its not only beautiful, but a great place to cool off in the Texas heat. There’s a short hike to get to the grotto and cave and once you’re there, you can soak in the natural pool and bask in the beauty of a cascading waterfall. Longhorn Cave State Park is another gem if you like exploring caves. Its interior structure look very different from the caves I’ve been to previously, so it will be fun to explore something new.
Bringing it back to national designations is Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and Waco Mammoth National Monument. If bird-watching is your jam, then the place to be is Laguna Atascosa! It has more recorded species sighted on the refuge than any other national wildlife refuge in the United States. Their website lists 772 species that can be found on the refuge and that’s not just birds – that includes the Texas tortoise, long-tailed weasel, and the ocelot! There’s even rumors that the jaguarundi might make an appearance once in awhile. I added a few birds to my bird list last time I was in El Paso and this would be a fun place to take a tally.
As for Waco Mammoth National Monument, its a relatively recent addition to the NPS system. It was dedicated as such in 2015 by President Obama. Through their excavation efforts, the remains of almost 30 animals have been unearthed. Twenty-two of those excavated have been mammoths! When you’re visiting, you can walk through the dig shelter, where you can see the fossils of mammoths that are still encrusted in rock and earth.
Roadside Attractions
There were a couple of roadside attractions that stood out to me in my research. The first of which is the world’s biggest cowboy boots. I love that these are in Texas! They are over 30 feet tall and wide making for one enormous pair of boots.
The other is the famous, or perhaps infamous, Cadillac Ranch. I was only perhaps an hour or two away from the ranch on my way back from El Paso last summer, but unfortunately I couldn’t add on the extra time during that trip. The best part? You can spray paint the cars as part of the art installation!
The ghost town of Terlingua is less “haunted” and more “tourist stop”. It used to be a mining town until the mercury mine stopped being productive. Now, there’s some quirky things you can explore, including a pirate ship and various random art installations. You can explore abandoned buildings and there’s even a restaurant and general store. It seems like a fun place to explore for a little while!
Boots, cadillacs, and pirate ships, oh my! How about taking a break for some good ole fashioned crazy water? Perhaps I should include this in the food section but I think “crazy water” (its actual name) has to be considered a roadside attraction! It’s the only mineral water that comes out of Texas and I hear the taste is…well…bad but I’ve had natural spring mineral water before and I can affirm you…all of it is! That isn’t going to stop me from trying it, though. Side note: Mineral Wells (home of Crazy Water) is also home to Haunted Hill House, which is supposedly very haunted. We call that a two for one special!
Food
Nothing in Texas is as quintessential Texan as some good ole Texas barbecue. Brisket isn’t usually my go-to for barbecue, but I hear its a Texas staple. I’m not sure if they have the same claim to fame, but both Texas chile (think chile con carne) and pecan pie also seem to be oh-so-Texan.
Pecan Pie is actually the Texas state dish, so I know I can get my hands on some and perhaps pit pie-against-pie in a slice off. I think I may have only had pecan pie once, so I don’t know if anyone should trust my judgment! As for other desserts, Texas sheet cake is something that’s piqued my interest and seems to have made a name for itself. I’m not sure how much it could differ from regular chocolate cake, but it sure looks tasty!
In addition to pie and cake, my favorite Texas export (and also a dessert) is Blue Bell ice cream. Their wedding cake flavor and Krazy Kookie Dough are hands down some of my favorite ice cream flavors across the board. When visiting Blue Bell, there’s plenty to do other than just try the ice cream. You can also take a trip through their museum, watch the ice cream being made and filled at their observation deck, and they even have an ice cream parlor and country store. Their best selling flavors are kept on hand at the ice cream parlor along with exclusive flavors you can only get there!
There’s a lot to do in Texas and I’ve barely scratched the surface, so make sure to check out my must-see list above! Are there any “musts” I should add to my list? Let me know in the comments!
Leave a Reply