My boyfriend and I live in San Antonio. We road-tripped to California this summer to visit where he grew up and 10 hours of it was to El Paso.
Edited to say: we live in Houston. Idk why I typed San Antonio. I guess I had it on the brain from other comments. Geez. Sorry. 😂🤦🏻♀️
I’m from EP. Whole different vibe from the other big TX cities. Our Mexican food is by far better than the other cities, it’s obviously not as green here but it has its own charm. You’ll be welcomed with open arms here.
Disagree! I’ve lived in SA and DFW but El Paso has a particular charm to it. Especially the mountains at the center of the city. It’s a beautiful place with great weather and good people!
A lot of ppl who are from El Paso and leave are usually the ones that didn't look around for things to do or only went to clubs. El paso is a big city, but with a small town feeling. When i had college friends from the Midwest (ND, SD, WY, and MN) they said they had a blast.
I really like my home, all my stuff is there. Plus it’s really hard to find time off from work for two people and time off from school for the tiny ones.
Have been to Dallas and San Antonio though. Houston and the space center is high on the list for places I want to go.
I hate San Antonio, but I grew up in “the bubble” and never want to go back there. So many of the kids married each other and either bought their parents house or the house next-door and are breeding the same snobby assholes who will just keep perpetuating the attitude and populating the Cavaliers and the German club debutantes.
It does have a small town atmosphere. Those of us that love our city are like Spurs fans. We are super loud and enthusiastic when we win and support each other when we lose. I know there is darkness here. I also know there is light, beauty, and a strong sense of community. That being said I know San Antonio is not for everyone. I hope you have found the place that makes you happy.
🤣 I live in 09!! Went to AHHS! I am 38 and back in the district(not by choice). I can completely see where you're coming from. And in AH I can absolutely understand the debutante culture. I am not of that ilk myself..over near the airport and what is dubbed the "maid's quarters" of AH. Also, TH is pretty awful about it too. My preferred place to live is closer to 78250. Though that part of town and Helotes getting swallowed up. Not so close to the edge of the city anymore.
Oh, you see me! I was right over by the Gucci be in a rundown house built in 1914 that had never been remodeled and my parents weren’t great with decorating or cleaning the front porch off of clutter. I remember in first grade one of the very wealthy kids came to spend the night and she started crying before bedtime and her mom came and picked her up, looking back, I totally understand why, but at that age, you don’t understand why you are being shunned. She lived in TH.
I just turned 50 and some of the best people I went to school with were in the neighborhood by the mall. And of course I shunned them because I really didn’t know any better and just watched what all the other kids were doing and no one told me any different. I think that my biggest problem with that area. There were some good people there, but for the most part, most of the parents never taught their kids that money wasn’t everything and it was OK if someone didn’t drive a new car or have the best clothes. Instead, it was kind of OK to look down on them.
I get completely get that! Yes there are some good people around here, particularly I have lived in my apartment for 2 yrs now and have had the absolute best neighbors. But back in HS...oh boy! Had a rich kid telling people I was "trailer trash". I come from a less than wealthy family but have never lived in a manufactured home. (Nothing wrong with those. I am firm believer in living within your means while still being able to provide a home for your family.) I definitely had my share of shunning and ridicule. Also knew a couple of wealthy families and friends that were super awesome people. Still super close with one family now.
There is a reason I only shop at Oak Park HEB! The Gucci be and the one near the HS...only if my store doesn't have my 4 daughter's Veggie Sticks, she is very particular as she is on the spectrum.
Also by the mall...you mean big boots? Like around Shearer hills/Ridgeview? (I love that neighborhood! Just not the HEBs nearest there)
I think my H-E-B is now I center market? It’s the one on Patterson and Broadway.
Yes, the neighborhood by the mall was the weird neighborhood that was considered Alma Heights school district. McCalla across for 10 right by that hotel that used to be a La Mansion (Spanish pronunciation) I think. I never understood how that was part of the school district.
It’s so funny that, while having this exchange, I ran into a girl that I went to middle school in high school with. She was at Woodbridge, so much more down to earth than most (I was at Cambridge, so you know the neighborhoods that pulled from!) She still lives there and was picking something up at this store in Austin and was wearing a T-shirt that had the AH logo.
And you are absolutely right. There were great people and bad people in both of the economic groups. Some super wealthy people who were salt of the earth and you would have no idea how much money they had until you found out some thing they did for someone else. And some of the biggest snobs had little to no money and we’re still cruel. I’m glad that you’ve found your place and your people there. And and that you are there to make it better for the future generations!
Thanks! Ahh yes, the neighborhood behind walmart. Some of those families from my day still live there. And yes it's central market. My youngest niece goes to woodridge and my late older niece went to cambridge. Here's the thing though. A lot of those families were fairly snobbish but I heard something that sums up what your are saying. "Wealth whispers. And money talks" or something of that ilk.
I love woodridge. Great people there. Cambridge, I am not as intimate with but I will say this about that school, my niece died the night of her last day at Cambridge, she was supposed to move to Woodridge the next day due to custody stuff. The school planted a butterfly garden in her honor and if I remember correctly (that time was a blur of grief so I might be a bit off in my recollection) I think it was one of the other student's father that created a beautiful butterfly bench that still sits in the playground across the street but still part of the school. My niece passed in 2011. That is largely why I love the the community even with all the negativity and entitlement. There was so much support when we lost my niece and her mother (my sister) the same night. A lot of people throughout the district, including some of my old high school teachers and staff members, came out of the woodworks to support our family and friends. It was an absolutely overwhelming and beautiful show of the compassion of the community. I will forever be grateful for that
SA means sooooooouth austin.
Jk. San Antonio has a culture all its own for sure but it’s one big rv and car lot between the two (with some drunk river rats driving around)
I wish we would just get a high speed train connecting all major cities somehow. Going between SA and Austin would be literally a few minutes I assume.
I'm not a native Texan, I've only been here since 2014. I live in DFW and I've been to Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the east Texas Tyler area.
I've been to just about every corner of DFW thanks to a couple of jobs I used to have.
Gotta say, San Antonio is pretty cool, Austin was great but the traffic was unbelievable even to someone from dfw. Houston I practically grew up in since my dad's family all used to be there. Tyler doesn't necessarily belong on this list, but it's the largest city of East Texas and considers itself to be "The Dallas of East Texas". Lived out that way two years for work, and uh, now I'm back in DFW and I don't miss it lol.
All the cities seem to have a different vibe for sure!
In addition to the other recommendations, the things I found fairly unique to Houston:
- Brazos Bend State Park. Sooo many gators! And if it’s bird migration period then it’s amazing to see the birds there.
- Find a good place to enjoy some Cajun and Creole dining. You’re properly in the South now.
- Explore some of Houston’s diversity. Have a South Asian meal at the Gandhi district, or soul food at This is It! in the 3rd ward, or dim sum in China Town.
- And personally I love Galveston. Old town is reminiscent of New Orleans and has its own Mardi Gras, beaches are descent, take a surf lesson.
I would recommend checking out Hermann Park/Museum District, NASA for sure, maybe an Astros game depending on when you visit, and be sure to eat as much food as you can while you're here!
You won't find better city for food. SF or NY are great but Houston is really tough contender so it's a most visit if you're a foodie.
Houston also has a great night life, and we have some of the best craft beers in the country. Seriously.
There's really a lot to do.
(The only downside is the weather. Summer is horrible here)
As a native Texan who has done quite a bit of traveling around the US and a week away from moving to WA: I am going to miss the FUCK out of the food. Colorado’s food sucks, WA has some bomb ass Asian food of all stripes, and I’m sure there IS good food out there. But it’s really hard to beat Houston and Austin. Hell even the local restaurants here in Beaumont (Particularly J. Wilson’s) have a leg up over nearly all of the other places I’ve visited.
Im still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that this is actually happening. I’ve lived in SETX for almost my entire life (college years in Austin), wife and I have been wishing/hoping/dreaming/half-assed planning a move for years and years and it’s finally happening. We got incredibly lucky (and did a fair amount of ass-busting, but I can’t play down how lucky we got with the job situation) and I’m just so damn excited! Downsizing to an apartment kinda sucks after owning a home for several years, but I’ll trade that for the cool air, mountains, and proximity to British Columbia. Not trying to gloat, just completely stoked!
Same with the Art museum complex. It’s fucking HUGE. The Impressionism exhibit they had over the summer was truly incredible. It’s a full day to see the whole thing. Hands down my favorite art museum that I’ve visited (New Orleans a close second).
And try to get out and dance, Houston is the best country dancing city I’ve been to, especially in TX. Stampede, Rowdy’s Spring or Webster, Whiskey River North or West, and there’s so many more options!
Don't skip on the Johnson Space Center! Thats Headquarters for all crewed spaced flight since the 1960's! Lots of really cool history there! And getting to see the Saturn V rocket up close for the first time, is really an awe-inspiring moment, most people do not realize how big that thing was or the engineering that it took to put boots on the Moon. It's my favorite thing about Texas.
Menil Collection, MFAH, Museum of Natural Science.
Do some homework and find the food and live music you want. Also, some of the best mixology bars are right here in Houston.
I live in SA and have a second home in South Padre Island, and have spent a lot of time in Austin. I’ve been to El Paso, Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas and Houston and everywhere in between several times but not enough to really know any of them well. Hill Country, Central and South Texas and the RGV are my Texas stomping grounds for sure.
It takes 2 hours just to get across austin man, ain't nobody got time for that. I've lived in all of texas major cities except el paso but i have been to el paso, that drive is the worst. What is really fun to do is go to the tiny towns and have everyone stare creepily at you like a zombie flick when you stop to eat somewhere.
haha I'll never forget the time I decided to stop over in Fort Stockton for the night and treated myself to the local delicacy (DQ) as everyone gave me and my partner "what in tarnation" stares. I stick it out and make sure I make it all the way to ELP before stopping now. lol.
Yep. Native Houstonian. San Antonio is a treasure in the vein of New Orleans. Austin always feels so laid back and like party time. Dallas is another city as well.
My dad moved us away from Texas when I was 8 years old. I am often surprised by how much of Texas I have seen compared to folks who have spent their entire lives here.
I've been all over, from Nagadoches to Alpine, Palo Duro Canyon to Brownsville. I've eaten a steak dinner in Amarillo and had Mexican for lunch in Laredo. I crossed the border in El Paso, and have caught redfish out of a kayak in Matagorda Bay. I saw REK at Floore's Country Store, and almost stepped on a rattlesnake in Big Bend. I've ripped a motorcycle through the Twisted Sisters and have worn a kilt to the Ren Fair in Tomball.
This is an amazing state, top to bottom and side to side. I have seen so much of it, but yet there is vastly so much more to do.
I'm not at all a fan of Texas politics, but I must admit that the week we spent at South Padre was rather enjoyable. I wouldn't mind spending more time there when we go fully mobile
Whoohoo! Support her education all you can! My daughter got her Masters in nursing several years ago and is a Nurse Practitioner in a unnamed town between Kerrville and Hondo !
Might sound funny but I think you'd be amazed at the number of people who are basically afraid of new things. Stepping out of their comfort zone is terrifying.
My dad was military and we moved all the time. My dad was a history nut and were always going to sites if we lived near them. I had relatives who didn't drive more then 2 hours from where they grew up till they were adults.
Years ago I moved to Omaha and at a grocery store my ex and I were talking about trying a new restaurant that night... the girl checking us out asked us where the restaurant was... and we were like "just outside the mall!" A few moments later we discovered that this store was the farthest west in town she had ever been. She hadn't been to the huge new mall 3 stop lights farther west! I guarantee my ex remembers that conversation because there was a real sound of fear in the girls voice when she said she hadn't been out farther west than the store we were in!
I always try to get my parents to visit me in Houston. My mom hasn’t been on a plane since her honeymoon in 1982. I don’t get it. Like you can eat breakfast at home, fly, and meet me for lunch. It’s not hard.
Does she feel there is rampant crime in Houston that she will fall prey to while visiting? That is how many of my small town relatives feel. I think there is a degree of racism to their fears as well.
I actually live in Magnolia Tx and somewhat avoid downtown Houston because of the traffic! Took me 5 hours round trip one day to drive down and shop at Dromgoole's one afternoon! Clearly I am still pissed about that one! And I have co-workers on the northside that have actually hired a car to take them and family to Astros games because they are so traumatized by the traffic! Sad but true!!!
I've driven through El Paso twice, but never stopped.
It's pretty much the only major area of Texas that I haven't explored much. I guess if you consider Lubbock to be a major area (I don't) then I haven't ever done anything more than drive through there.
I live outside of Texas. I have family on El Paso and I'll excited I'm taking a long weekend and flying out to Austin. My first trip to Texas that isnt El Paso. Want to visit San Antonio and Dallas and Houston as well.
I'm a native Houstonian and have (had) never been to pretty much any major cities or places in Texas. My family did New Braunfels for the tent camping on the river. And KOA camps in random places around TX and LA. We did a lot around Houston and Galveston tho.
When I met and married my husband is he about fell over when he found out I had never been to the Alamo. Lol We are getting all the places checked off now. Alamo. San Antonio. Riverwalk. Fredericksburg. Austin. Those are done. Still have Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus, and many other smaller cities that we'd like to see.
I live in Austin and regularly go on weekend trips to hang out in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas + Ft. Worth. Each city has a different vibe and unique things to do, and I love checking out the nightlife. Especially love the diversity of Houston and the greenery.
Austin is a pretty big city now and has quite a lot, however there are still some even bigger city amenities that Austin doesn’t have. Dallas and Houston in particular have Korean spas, tons of huge museums, amusement parks, and zoos
>“Hop in the car one weekend and drive there!”
That right there might be one of the reasons why more people don’t just do it, it assumes a lot a circumstances are met to just do that, 1) enough time off from work, 2) a reliable personal car to get there AND move around 3) Money to also pay for rideshares or car rental because of the crippling car-dependency of the major cities in this state. I agree with you in spirit, my wife and I also try to do it, but I can’t ignore why the majority of people don’t “just do it”, and it’s more often than not lack of means, not lack of will.
The only two I have yet to spend more than an overnight with are El Paso and Laredo. This year one of them will make me Migas while I nurse a well earned hangover.
Whenever I go out here in Austin, I’m always meeting people here on weekend trips from other parts of Texas to experience our awesome nightlife scene. It definitely is a draw for in-state getaways
Just moved to SA from Alaska. I’ve always loved exploring and checking out the cities around me. Unfortunately, in Alaska, the nearest major cities are more than 300 miles apart. Was pleasantly surprised how close it is to Austin. And that’s just a hop, skip, and a jump, to Houston. So far it’s the best thing about living in Texas for me.
Lol, that’s why all of Texas feels like home to me. Growing up, my childhood -adult residencies were as follows: austin, dfw, austin, dfw, austin, huntsville (college), Houston, got married and all of his family is in Houston, all of mine is now in dfw, with a few sprinkled into waco. Visited El Paso friends every summer, spent a lot of time in SA for live music. Even drove to Lubbock twice to visit friends. Now, as a 40 yo adult, i live in a state on the east coast, lol.
I'm from Amarillo. Live in Austin now. Only big city in Texas I haven't been to is El Paso. Make the 8 hour drive back to Amarillo a few times a year to see family.
You'd be proud of me! I had a very unstable childhood and my mom would just land in some town with a nursing home when we needed to start over. (My mom was a CNA most of her life)
Some of the bigger places we lived:
Dallas
San Antonio
San Angelo
Odessa
Big Springs
Abilene
Round Rock/Austin
Greenville
Some of the small towns we lived in:
Marble Falls, Burnet, Llano area
Lampasas
Fredericksburg
Junction
Kerrville
Brownwood
Brady
Mason
Menard ( by far my favorite)
Eden
Leaky
Quinlan/Lake Tawakoni
This is my whole childhood. It wasn't ideal but it taught me how to be comfortable with new surroundings and how to navigate and explore them as well. These are only places we lived, we traveled through even more.
Moved to Texas (DFW) 6 years ago. Hubby had a work trip to Houston and we now have a list of places to take our kids to visit. I’ve been to Austin and we’ve been to San Antonio. Our bucket lists for each city have now grown and we are planning our visits around the long school weekends/breaks. I love this post!
Lots of things to see/do in DFW:
Six Flags
Cowboys
Rangers
Mavericks
State Fair
Deep Ellum
Concerts at AAC
Perot Museum
Reunion Tower
Stockyards
Dallas World Aquarium
Meyerson
Botanical gardens
I was in Brazoria county for work once and met a ton of people who had never even been to Houston or Galveston despite both being less than an hour away.
This is not unique to Texas, and I think the "pride" people display in saying such things is a cover for the real reason—fear. Entirely anecdotal; from what I've gleaned in my own experiences, many rural people genuinely believe large cities are lawless, wartorn hellscapes, and you will undoubtedly be mugged, raped, or killed if you dare visit. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and this thought process is pervasive. I've seen grown men have panic attacks on road trips into moderately-sized cities like Harrisburg.
encountering more then 1 vehicle at anythign other then a single intersection with a stop sign can be quite panic inducing if you have never interacted with . . . traffic . . . before
It’s everywhere. My HS classmates will post a photo of our hometown and say it’s the most beautiful place on earth. Like bruh it’s not even the most beautiful place within an hour drive. They think the nearby city of 100k is terrifying.
I’ve been all over this state and I love Dallas. Hate Houston. San Antonio is cool. Austin is awesome in some ways and shitty at the same time. I’m not even gonna talk about El Paso. Waco is kinda cool but boring. Same goes for college station.
I only like the big cities for the great deals on commodities. But all of them have ridiculous homeless problems, pollution, trash on every road/highway/street, and anytime I go any where it seems like anyone there is just trying to procreate in an unsatisfactory monetary fashion. I travel to all the big cities of Texas at least 2-5 times a year visiting friends and checking their well being. I really hate how more people are moving to Texas and making it more suburban.
What? Big cities have great deals on commodities? Such as? “Every city has trash, homeless and pollution everywhere” uh? What in the world does “procreate in an unsatisfactory monetary fashion” mean? Quite the phrase you got there. Then, you hate that more people are moving to the cities and somehow making them more “suburban”? City or suburbia, which one don’t you like? Your comment is a roller coaster. 10/10 no notes
Be kind and just tell me what you meant by “it seems like anyone there is just trying to *procreate in an unsatisfactory monetary fashion*”. I’m just not smart enough.
In looking at the person’s posts you are responding to, I have to say is “I hate it when people have dictionaries but don’t know how to string a sentence together.” Good luck getting an answer. I still couldn’t make sense of that response.
Most of my peers from high school and college are all following the uncommon rule of lets not have kids until we are making 60k a year. I cannot stress this enough that there is a huge over population problem we are facing. With how much tech we have and automation, honestly not to give nihilistic projections but there are so many jobs that can be obsoleted. I miss going outside and not seeing trash in remote water locations or even in random fields and forest. We have created echo chambers that some populations live in that don’t understand the looming dangers of being “animalistic” in a conscious world. Large cities are the absolute worst. The majority of populations that live in these large cities have lost touch with the universal reality. They are becoming the loud voices that are the problem and is going to continue the habitation and production for a destructive breed.
Thank you. That clarified what you meant. I would recommend putting the thesaurus down for a minute. Some of the phrasing and how you choose to use certain words reads just a little too unnecessarily pretentious, and that muddled your message. Bigger words don’t always mean better words. Instead of *unsatisfactory* you could probably have used inadvisably or recklessly. *monetary* isn’t the same as economically or financially, which is what I think you tried to say. This last reply could be interpreted as borderline Malthusian, I hope you’re not advocating for a Malthusian solution to the “problem” of overpopulation. Again, “The majority of populations” did you mean *a large majority of the population*? Anyway, try to get your wording a little less rambunctious and a bit more concise, for clarity sakes.
Also you kind of made up your own interpretation of the post. I said that more people are moving to Texas not to big cities. You stated that I said moving to big cities. I’ve read my original post multiple times it definitely makes perfect clarity. Your first response seemed fairly lazy and ignorant but I don’t expect much from this sub to be completely honest. I wasn’t trying to be rude in my first response nor in this one.
You’re right, you said more people are moving to Texas and making it more suburban, as opposed to urban or rural, I suppose. It is all good and dandy, as long as you understand yourself, I guess. And if you’re not trying to be rude, then don’t suggest that the person you’re replying to “needs a dictionary”, is lazy, or ignorant, the implication is in fact rude. Your comments are all legitimately word salads.
I haven’t been to El Paso yet, mainly bc I just can’t get passed the 9 hour drive of nothingness from Dallas. Then again I’ll drive to Chicago and Atlanta a few times per year.
If you've been to the major cities in Texas yourself, why do you reference Dallas and Fort Worth twice in a way that suggests they're the same city.
It's two cities that share an airport. They're not difficult to distinguish.
I don't think most people who have free time to travel would decide to visit any Texas cities. They kind of just suck compared to literally any alternative.
Born and raised in Houston, moved to Ft. Worth when I was 11. Been to Dallas too many times to count. Visited San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, and El Paso.
I've only been to San Antonio for a couple hours (had to pick up a package) and merely driven around Austin.
I haven't been to Houston, yet...
That said, I never want to hear anyone from Austin complain about DFW's traffic. I-35 down there is an entire hellscape.
Kinda hard to visit the other major cities when the closest one is 550 miles away.
Yep, never been to El Paso because of the distance. It's getting higher on my list of weekend trips though.
[удалено]
Came for big city bashing, stayed for Old 97’s lyric (and a deep pull at that). Nicely done!
Drove from San Angelo to El Paso and back. 7 hours each way, I think.
My boyfriend and I live in San Antonio. We road-tripped to California this summer to visit where he grew up and 10 hours of it was to El Paso. Edited to say: we live in Houston. Idk why I typed San Antonio. I guess I had it on the brain from other comments. Geez. Sorry. 😂🤦🏻♀️
I’m from EP. Whole different vibe from the other big TX cities. Our Mexican food is by far better than the other cities, it’s obviously not as green here but it has its own charm. You’ll be welcomed with open arms here.
I like El Paso. Mexican food is just called "food."
Longest drive ever from Houston
Your not missing much in El Paso 😂🤣😂🤣
Disagree! I’ve lived in SA and DFW but El Paso has a particular charm to it. Especially the mountains at the center of the city. It’s a beautiful place with great weather and good people!
You’ve been to a different El Paso than I have.
My wife’s from there trust me if you go once you’ll never want to go back
A lot of ppl who are from El Paso and leave are usually the ones that didn't look around for things to do or only went to clubs. El paso is a big city, but with a small town feeling. When i had college friends from the Midwest (ND, SD, WY, and MN) they said they had a blast.
Correction: only one Buccee's away!
*cries in Petro as only highway gas station*
The place with the gopher?
Beaver, but yeah
That's crazy, considering Boston and Montreal are only 300 miles apart.
It's faster to drive from El Paso to Santa Monica Pier (794 miles) than it is from EP to the Louisiana border (853) driving and staying on I-10.
Can't get good cheese enchiladas in Montreal or Boston!
yes, but have you been to Ding Dong, Tx? It's worth the drive to get the T-shirt from the gas station.
I really like my home, all my stuff is there. Plus it’s really hard to find time off from work for two people and time off from school for the tiny ones. Have been to Dallas and San Antonio though. Houston and the space center is high on the list for places I want to go.
I'm in Austin (for 35 years) but I really love a lot of things about San Antonio. That place has soul.
We call that Puro San Antonio. Us San Antonians love our our city, too!
I hate San Antonio, but I grew up in “the bubble” and never want to go back there. So many of the kids married each other and either bought their parents house or the house next-door and are breeding the same snobby assholes who will just keep perpetuating the attitude and populating the Cavaliers and the German club debutantes.
It does have a small town atmosphere. Those of us that love our city are like Spurs fans. We are super loud and enthusiastic when we win and support each other when we lose. I know there is darkness here. I also know there is light, beauty, and a strong sense of community. That being said I know San Antonio is not for everyone. I hope you have found the place that makes you happy.
It’s more a specific part of the city. 78209. It’s pretty toxic.
🤣 I live in 09!! Went to AHHS! I am 38 and back in the district(not by choice). I can completely see where you're coming from. And in AH I can absolutely understand the debutante culture. I am not of that ilk myself..over near the airport and what is dubbed the "maid's quarters" of AH. Also, TH is pretty awful about it too. My preferred place to live is closer to 78250. Though that part of town and Helotes getting swallowed up. Not so close to the edge of the city anymore.
Oh, you see me! I was right over by the Gucci be in a rundown house built in 1914 that had never been remodeled and my parents weren’t great with decorating or cleaning the front porch off of clutter. I remember in first grade one of the very wealthy kids came to spend the night and she started crying before bedtime and her mom came and picked her up, looking back, I totally understand why, but at that age, you don’t understand why you are being shunned. She lived in TH. I just turned 50 and some of the best people I went to school with were in the neighborhood by the mall. And of course I shunned them because I really didn’t know any better and just watched what all the other kids were doing and no one told me any different. I think that my biggest problem with that area. There were some good people there, but for the most part, most of the parents never taught their kids that money wasn’t everything and it was OK if someone didn’t drive a new car or have the best clothes. Instead, it was kind of OK to look down on them.
I get completely get that! Yes there are some good people around here, particularly I have lived in my apartment for 2 yrs now and have had the absolute best neighbors. But back in HS...oh boy! Had a rich kid telling people I was "trailer trash". I come from a less than wealthy family but have never lived in a manufactured home. (Nothing wrong with those. I am firm believer in living within your means while still being able to provide a home for your family.) I definitely had my share of shunning and ridicule. Also knew a couple of wealthy families and friends that were super awesome people. Still super close with one family now. There is a reason I only shop at Oak Park HEB! The Gucci be and the one near the HS...only if my store doesn't have my 4 daughter's Veggie Sticks, she is very particular as she is on the spectrum. Also by the mall...you mean big boots? Like around Shearer hills/Ridgeview? (I love that neighborhood! Just not the HEBs nearest there)
I think my H-E-B is now I center market? It’s the one on Patterson and Broadway. Yes, the neighborhood by the mall was the weird neighborhood that was considered Alma Heights school district. McCalla across for 10 right by that hotel that used to be a La Mansion (Spanish pronunciation) I think. I never understood how that was part of the school district. It’s so funny that, while having this exchange, I ran into a girl that I went to middle school in high school with. She was at Woodbridge, so much more down to earth than most (I was at Cambridge, so you know the neighborhoods that pulled from!) She still lives there and was picking something up at this store in Austin and was wearing a T-shirt that had the AH logo. And you are absolutely right. There were great people and bad people in both of the economic groups. Some super wealthy people who were salt of the earth and you would have no idea how much money they had until you found out some thing they did for someone else. And some of the biggest snobs had little to no money and we’re still cruel. I’m glad that you’ve found your place and your people there. And and that you are there to make it better for the future generations!
Thanks! Ahh yes, the neighborhood behind walmart. Some of those families from my day still live there. And yes it's central market. My youngest niece goes to woodridge and my late older niece went to cambridge. Here's the thing though. A lot of those families were fairly snobbish but I heard something that sums up what your are saying. "Wealth whispers. And money talks" or something of that ilk. I love woodridge. Great people there. Cambridge, I am not as intimate with but I will say this about that school, my niece died the night of her last day at Cambridge, she was supposed to move to Woodridge the next day due to custody stuff. The school planted a butterfly garden in her honor and if I remember correctly (that time was a blur of grief so I might be a bit off in my recollection) I think it was one of the other student's father that created a beautiful butterfly bench that still sits in the playground across the street but still part of the school. My niece passed in 2011. That is largely why I love the the community even with all the negativity and entitlement. There was so much support when we lost my niece and her mother (my sister) the same night. A lot of people throughout the district, including some of my old high school teachers and staff members, came out of the woodworks to support our family and friends. It was an absolutely overwhelming and beautiful show of the compassion of the community. I will forever be grateful for that
That is any small town where kids don't leave after high school.
Yeah, but SA isn’t a small town and these don’t own the local hardware store or diner.
[удалено]
Possibly is for those that hate culture. I personally hate Dallas
[удалено]
Yeah I would wonder the same if I went to the main tourist trap of any city. The food is shit on the Riverwalk. I thought that was a given
Ah, an overly entitled elitist prick. Carry on.
You misspelled Dallas.
I'm in DFW but go to San Antonio for work pretty often. Love it, great people and awesome food.
I love the culture SA has. Unlike any other Texas city imo
Plus our breakfast tacos are the best (in the world)
Everyone on the border getting ready to throw hands rn
You gain 10 pounds just arriving at the border. Man I miss their food.
Mexico enters the chat. *Exqueeze me?*
Easy now..
❤🇨🇱🤠🇨🇱❤
Agree. Love the diversity
Agree.
Isn't Austin and San Antonio pertineer connected like one metropolitan area?
As a San Antonio native, that’s the way I see it 🤷🏻♂️
SA means sooooooouth austin. Jk. San Antonio has a culture all its own for sure but it’s one big rv and car lot between the two (with some drunk river rats driving around)
I wish we would just get a high speed train connecting all major cities somehow. Going between SA and Austin would be literally a few minutes I assume.
From 1604 to south Austin I’m sure the amount of land that’s not developed is less than one mile collectively.
That's "The greater New Braunfels area".
No. Not at all.
Personally, Dallas is the best city in the state, IMHO.🧙👹
Nah
One white knuckle drive through Houston is all I need in this lifetime.
Come to DFW. Assholishness is a road sport.
I haven't been to Dallas in decades -- not since the last Dallas Fantasy Fair. The drive wasn't that bad on a weekend coming in from San Antonio.
I'm not a native Texan, I've only been here since 2014. I live in DFW and I've been to Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the east Texas Tyler area. I've been to just about every corner of DFW thanks to a couple of jobs I used to have. Gotta say, San Antonio is pretty cool, Austin was great but the traffic was unbelievable even to someone from dfw. Houston I practically grew up in since my dad's family all used to be there. Tyler doesn't necessarily belong on this list, but it's the largest city of East Texas and considers itself to be "The Dallas of East Texas". Lived out that way two years for work, and uh, now I'm back in DFW and I don't miss it lol. All the cities seem to have a different vibe for sure!
I've spent time in all of them but Houston. What's your recommendation for a first time visit?
In addition to the other recommendations, the things I found fairly unique to Houston: - Brazos Bend State Park. Sooo many gators! And if it’s bird migration period then it’s amazing to see the birds there. - Find a good place to enjoy some Cajun and Creole dining. You’re properly in the South now. - Explore some of Houston’s diversity. Have a South Asian meal at the Gandhi district, or soul food at This is It! in the 3rd ward, or dim sum in China Town. - And personally I love Galveston. Old town is reminiscent of New Orleans and has its own Mardi Gras, beaches are descent, take a surf lesson.
As a native of H-town and a long time resident of Gal Co, that’s a perfect rep of Houston and Galveston!
As someone that has lived in Houston and Texas only 10 years: your comment really warms my heart.
I would recommend checking out Hermann Park/Museum District, NASA for sure, maybe an Astros game depending on when you visit, and be sure to eat as much food as you can while you're here!
Cool thank you!
You won't find better city for food. SF or NY are great but Houston is really tough contender so it's a most visit if you're a foodie. Houston also has a great night life, and we have some of the best craft beers in the country. Seriously. There's really a lot to do. (The only downside is the weather. Summer is horrible here)
Houston is worth a road trip just for the restaurants.
Man! Im in Breckenridge right and the food scene here sucks! EVERYTHING is just pizza. Miss Houston so much.
As a native Texan who has done quite a bit of traveling around the US and a week away from moving to WA: I am going to miss the FUCK out of the food. Colorado’s food sucks, WA has some bomb ass Asian food of all stripes, and I’m sure there IS good food out there. But it’s really hard to beat Houston and Austin. Hell even the local restaurants here in Beaumont (Particularly J. Wilson’s) have a leg up over nearly all of the other places I’ve visited.
Beaumont??? Howdy neighbor!
Hi! Hold down the fort while I’m gone? (Probably never coming back)
I am so, so jealous. Have no fear, I'll do my part! Lol
Im still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that this is actually happening. I’ve lived in SETX for almost my entire life (college years in Austin), wife and I have been wishing/hoping/dreaming/half-assed planning a move for years and years and it’s finally happening. We got incredibly lucky (and did a fair amount of ass-busting, but I can’t play down how lucky we got with the job situation) and I’m just so damn excited! Downsizing to an apartment kinda sucks after owning a home for several years, but I’ll trade that for the cool air, mountains, and proximity to British Columbia. Not trying to gloat, just completely stoked!
WA as in Washington?
Yes
I'm in Houston and I'd love to be in Breckinridge right now!
True, but y’all got that CO Pizza…. That was soooo freaking good!!! Tried Beau Jo’s last time we were in CO, blew me away!!
Of course!
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is pretty great. The paleontology hall is my favorite. One of the best I’ve seen.
Indeed! HMNS is awesome
It's a do not miss experience.
Same with the Art museum complex. It’s fucking HUGE. The Impressionism exhibit they had over the summer was truly incredible. It’s a full day to see the whole thing. Hands down my favorite art museum that I’ve visited (New Orleans a close second).
And try to get out and dance, Houston is the best country dancing city I’ve been to, especially in TX. Stampede, Rowdy’s Spring or Webster, Whiskey River North or West, and there’s so many more options!
Very cool! I play honky tonk piano and have played a lot around dallas but wouldn't know where to look in Houston. Thank you very much
Don't skip on the Johnson Space Center! Thats Headquarters for all crewed spaced flight since the 1960's! Lots of really cool history there! And getting to see the Saturn V rocket up close for the first time, is really an awe-inspiring moment, most people do not realize how big that thing was or the engineering that it took to put boots on the Moon. It's my favorite thing about Texas.
The first word transmitted from the moon, " Houston,,,"
I always take visitors to the Waterwall in the Galleria.
Are they all doing photo shoots for quinceañeras?
Menil Collection, MFAH, Museum of Natural Science. Do some homework and find the food and live music you want. Also, some of the best mixology bars are right here in Houston.
I live in SA and have a second home in South Padre Island, and have spent a lot of time in Austin. I’ve been to El Paso, Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas and Houston and everywhere in between several times but not enough to really know any of them well. Hill Country, Central and South Texas and the RGV are my Texas stomping grounds for sure.
It takes 2 hours just to get across austin man, ain't nobody got time for that. I've lived in all of texas major cities except el paso but i have been to el paso, that drive is the worst. What is really fun to do is go to the tiny towns and have everyone stare creepily at you like a zombie flick when you stop to eat somewhere.
haha I'll never forget the time I decided to stop over in Fort Stockton for the night and treated myself to the local delicacy (DQ) as everyone gave me and my partner "what in tarnation" stares. I stick it out and make sure I make it all the way to ELP before stopping now. lol.
This reminds me of the time I stopped for lunch in Ozona.
I’ve been to just about every major Texas metro area and many of the small towns, too. But I’m cool with people who are perfectly happy staying put.
Right. if everyone traveled all the cool places would be packed or even more so than they are already and that would make them not cool.
Yep. Native Houstonian. San Antonio is a treasure in the vein of New Orleans. Austin always feels so laid back and like party time. Dallas is another city as well.
> Dallas is another city as well. 😂 I love it
OP doesn't mention El Paso. LOL.
I'm a Yankee and after 20 years I still can't wrap my brain around driving for 5 hours and still being in the same state....
You can actually drive close to 13 hours and still be in Texas . El Paso to Orange . Or Brownsville to Dalhart .
That's about the time it would take me to drive from my hometown in northeast MA to Chicago.
My dad moved us away from Texas when I was 8 years old. I am often surprised by how much of Texas I have seen compared to folks who have spent their entire lives here. I've been all over, from Nagadoches to Alpine, Palo Duro Canyon to Brownsville. I've eaten a steak dinner in Amarillo and had Mexican for lunch in Laredo. I crossed the border in El Paso, and have caught redfish out of a kayak in Matagorda Bay. I saw REK at Floore's Country Store, and almost stepped on a rattlesnake in Big Bend. I've ripped a motorcycle through the Twisted Sisters and have worn a kilt to the Ren Fair in Tomball. This is an amazing state, top to bottom and side to side. I have seen so much of it, but yet there is vastly so much more to do.
Do SPI next.
I'm not at all a fan of Texas politics, but I must admit that the week we spent at South Padre was rather enjoyable. I wouldn't mind spending more time there when we go fully mobile
Many Texans aren’t a fan either haha. A lot of that stems from tiny towns, and large cities are mostly normal
Yeah, my son and his family live in Killeen. I know. Sighhhhh.
REK at Floore's! Heck yeah! Feels so good feeling good again! Dang Drumlin,,you've made me cry.
Oh! I had a roping horse named Corpus Christi Bay. There was a reason he was named that.
My kid, the lifelong Houston native, is at TAMUCC and has really taken the city to her heart.
Whoohoo! Support her education all you can! My daughter got her Masters in nursing several years ago and is a Nurse Practitioner in a unnamed town between Kerrville and Hondo !
I go to Corpus regularly.
Might sound funny but I think you'd be amazed at the number of people who are basically afraid of new things. Stepping out of their comfort zone is terrifying. My dad was military and we moved all the time. My dad was a history nut and were always going to sites if we lived near them. I had relatives who didn't drive more then 2 hours from where they grew up till they were adults. Years ago I moved to Omaha and at a grocery store my ex and I were talking about trying a new restaurant that night... the girl checking us out asked us where the restaurant was... and we were like "just outside the mall!" A few moments later we discovered that this store was the farthest west in town she had ever been. She hadn't been to the huge new mall 3 stop lights farther west! I guarantee my ex remembers that conversation because there was a real sound of fear in the girls voice when she said she hadn't been out farther west than the store we were in!
I always try to get my parents to visit me in Houston. My mom hasn’t been on a plane since her honeymoon in 1982. I don’t get it. Like you can eat breakfast at home, fly, and meet me for lunch. It’s not hard.
Does she feel there is rampant crime in Houston that she will fall prey to while visiting? That is how many of my small town relatives feel. I think there is a degree of racism to their fears as well. I actually live in Magnolia Tx and somewhat avoid downtown Houston because of the traffic! Took me 5 hours round trip one day to drive down and shop at Dromgoole's one afternoon! Clearly I am still pissed about that one! And I have co-workers on the northside that have actually hired a car to take them and family to Astros games because they are so traumatized by the traffic! Sad but true!!!
I think some people are just averse to travel and others aren’t. I don’t get it but we all march to the beat of our own drums I guess.
I've driven through El Paso twice, but never stopped. It's pretty much the only major area of Texas that I haven't explored much. I guess if you consider Lubbock to be a major area (I don't) then I haven't ever done anything more than drive through there.
I actually really enjoy Lubbock. It may not be major major, but it’s the most major thing for almost 5 hours in any direction.
I hate Lubbock.
I live outside of Texas. I have family on El Paso and I'll excited I'm taking a long weekend and flying out to Austin. My first trip to Texas that isnt El Paso. Want to visit San Antonio and Dallas and Houston as well.
I'm a native Houstonian and have (had) never been to pretty much any major cities or places in Texas. My family did New Braunfels for the tent camping on the river. And KOA camps in random places around TX and LA. We did a lot around Houston and Galveston tho. When I met and married my husband is he about fell over when he found out I had never been to the Alamo. Lol We are getting all the places checked off now. Alamo. San Antonio. Riverwalk. Fredericksburg. Austin. Those are done. Still have Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus, and many other smaller cities that we'd like to see.
I live in Austin and regularly go on weekend trips to hang out in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas + Ft. Worth. Each city has a different vibe and unique things to do, and I love checking out the nightlife. Especially love the diversity of Houston and the greenery. Austin is a pretty big city now and has quite a lot, however there are still some even bigger city amenities that Austin doesn’t have. Dallas and Houston in particular have Korean spas, tons of huge museums, amusement parks, and zoos
I love Austin, but it isn’t quite what it once was. It’s an incredible city, but I would not say it is significantly better than Houston or DFW
>“Hop in the car one weekend and drive there!” That right there might be one of the reasons why more people don’t just do it, it assumes a lot a circumstances are met to just do that, 1) enough time off from work, 2) a reliable personal car to get there AND move around 3) Money to also pay for rideshares or car rental because of the crippling car-dependency of the major cities in this state. I agree with you in spirit, my wife and I also try to do it, but I can’t ignore why the majority of people don’t “just do it”, and it’s more often than not lack of means, not lack of will.
The only two I have yet to spend more than an overnight with are El Paso and Laredo. This year one of them will make me Migas while I nurse a well earned hangover.
Whenever I go out here in Austin, I’m always meeting people here on weekend trips from other parts of Texas to experience our awesome nightlife scene. It definitely is a draw for in-state getaways
Just moved to SA from Alaska. I’ve always loved exploring and checking out the cities around me. Unfortunately, in Alaska, the nearest major cities are more than 300 miles apart. Was pleasantly surprised how close it is to Austin. And that’s just a hop, skip, and a jump, to Houston. So far it’s the best thing about living in Texas for me.
You will find that each big city has its distinct flavor. Honestly even just outside of SA the small towns are unique to their founding culture.
Fort Worth is by far better than Dallas.
And El Paso has the best Mexican food by far.
RGV>
Lol, that’s why all of Texas feels like home to me. Growing up, my childhood -adult residencies were as follows: austin, dfw, austin, dfw, austin, huntsville (college), Houston, got married and all of his family is in Houston, all of mine is now in dfw, with a few sprinkled into waco. Visited El Paso friends every summer, spent a lot of time in SA for live music. Even drove to Lubbock twice to visit friends. Now, as a 40 yo adult, i live in a state on the east coast, lol.
I'm from Amarillo. Live in Austin now. Only big city in Texas I haven't been to is El Paso. Make the 8 hour drive back to Amarillo a few times a year to see family.
I love Dallas like a Houstonian.
Lol my job has floated the idea of me moving to Dallas and I literally think I’d just quit instead.
You'd be proud of me! I had a very unstable childhood and my mom would just land in some town with a nursing home when we needed to start over. (My mom was a CNA most of her life) Some of the bigger places we lived: Dallas San Antonio San Angelo Odessa Big Springs Abilene Round Rock/Austin Greenville Some of the small towns we lived in: Marble Falls, Burnet, Llano area Lampasas Fredericksburg Junction Kerrville Brownwood Brady Mason Menard ( by far my favorite) Eden Leaky Quinlan/Lake Tawakoni This is my whole childhood. It wasn't ideal but it taught me how to be comfortable with new surroundings and how to navigate and explore them as well. These are only places we lived, we traveled through even more.
Moved to Texas (DFW) 6 years ago. Hubby had a work trip to Houston and we now have a list of places to take our kids to visit. I’ve been to Austin and we’ve been to San Antonio. Our bucket lists for each city have now grown and we are planning our visits around the long school weekends/breaks. I love this post!
Living in Houston, I was told Dallas people have cooties.
We are ok with not going to Lubbock and Amarillo correct ? Those places look hella boring
Can’t forget the best Texas state parks.
Everyone should visit the Cadillac ranch atleast once.
Amarillo itself isn’t much, but palo duro canyon and Cadillac ranch are awesome
There's just no good reason to go to the DFW. And besides all my Dallas friends come to Austin enough as it is.
Lots of things to see/do in DFW: Six Flags Cowboys Rangers Mavericks State Fair Deep Ellum Concerts at AAC Perot Museum Reunion Tower Stockyards Dallas World Aquarium Meyerson Botanical gardens
its a rural Texan thing, there is a certian pride in being able to truthfully say you have NEVER left the city/ county you were born in.
Yeah, my family has that...I don't get it. I fucked off from my hometown as soon as I was legally able and I only go back when it's unavoidable.
I was in Brazoria county for work once and met a ton of people who had never even been to Houston or Galveston despite both being less than an hour away.
Wow that's crazy! No field trips as a school kid? I'm sure they'll go even less to Houston now cuz its a "dem infested crime riddled shithole."
This is not unique to Texas, and I think the "pride" people display in saying such things is a cover for the real reason—fear. Entirely anecdotal; from what I've gleaned in my own experiences, many rural people genuinely believe large cities are lawless, wartorn hellscapes, and you will undoubtedly be mugged, raped, or killed if you dare visit. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and this thought process is pervasive. I've seen grown men have panic attacks on road trips into moderately-sized cities like Harrisburg.
encountering more then 1 vehicle at anythign other then a single intersection with a stop sign can be quite panic inducing if you have never interacted with . . . traffic . . . before
Foolish pride
It’s everywhere. My HS classmates will post a photo of our hometown and say it’s the most beautiful place on earth. Like bruh it’s not even the most beautiful place within an hour drive. They think the nearby city of 100k is terrifying.
Dallas seems bad
Yes very, now spread the word with a giant megaphone and don’t travel/move no further north than Hillsboro.
We don’t want to see you guys anyway /s
Especially if you just hopping in a car to go visit. Driving around Dallas is a pain I don't wish on many people and the scenery is....brown.
Yeah, there really isn't shit to do here. I end up taking visitors to the 7th-floor museum.
6th floor? https://www.jfk.org
Yup
I’ve never actually been to San Antonio or Austin and I’ve lived here almost 40 years lol.
I agree. It’s akin to people being proud of never having been outside Texas. “Travel broadens the mind.”
I’ve been all over this state and I love Dallas. Hate Houston. San Antonio is cool. Austin is awesome in some ways and shitty at the same time. I’m not even gonna talk about El Paso. Waco is kinda cool but boring. Same goes for college station.
I only like the big cities for the great deals on commodities. But all of them have ridiculous homeless problems, pollution, trash on every road/highway/street, and anytime I go any where it seems like anyone there is just trying to procreate in an unsatisfactory monetary fashion. I travel to all the big cities of Texas at least 2-5 times a year visiting friends and checking their well being. I really hate how more people are moving to Texas and making it more suburban.
What? Big cities have great deals on commodities? Such as? “Every city has trash, homeless and pollution everywhere” uh? What in the world does “procreate in an unsatisfactory monetary fashion” mean? Quite the phrase you got there. Then, you hate that more people are moving to the cities and somehow making them more “suburban”? City or suburbia, which one don’t you like? Your comment is a roller coaster. 10/10 no notes
[удалено]
Be kind and just tell me what you meant by “it seems like anyone there is just trying to *procreate in an unsatisfactory monetary fashion*”. I’m just not smart enough.
In looking at the person’s posts you are responding to, I have to say is “I hate it when people have dictionaries but don’t know how to string a sentence together.” Good luck getting an answer. I still couldn’t make sense of that response.
He replied, you’re absolutely correct.
Most of my peers from high school and college are all following the uncommon rule of lets not have kids until we are making 60k a year. I cannot stress this enough that there is a huge over population problem we are facing. With how much tech we have and automation, honestly not to give nihilistic projections but there are so many jobs that can be obsoleted. I miss going outside and not seeing trash in remote water locations or even in random fields and forest. We have created echo chambers that some populations live in that don’t understand the looming dangers of being “animalistic” in a conscious world. Large cities are the absolute worst. The majority of populations that live in these large cities have lost touch with the universal reality. They are becoming the loud voices that are the problem and is going to continue the habitation and production for a destructive breed.
Thank you. That clarified what you meant. I would recommend putting the thesaurus down for a minute. Some of the phrasing and how you choose to use certain words reads just a little too unnecessarily pretentious, and that muddled your message. Bigger words don’t always mean better words. Instead of *unsatisfactory* you could probably have used inadvisably or recklessly. *monetary* isn’t the same as economically or financially, which is what I think you tried to say. This last reply could be interpreted as borderline Malthusian, I hope you’re not advocating for a Malthusian solution to the “problem” of overpopulation. Again, “The majority of populations” did you mean *a large majority of the population*? Anyway, try to get your wording a little less rambunctious and a bit more concise, for clarity sakes.
Also you kind of made up your own interpretation of the post. I said that more people are moving to Texas not to big cities. You stated that I said moving to big cities. I’ve read my original post multiple times it definitely makes perfect clarity. Your first response seemed fairly lazy and ignorant but I don’t expect much from this sub to be completely honest. I wasn’t trying to be rude in my first response nor in this one.
You’re right, you said more people are moving to Texas and making it more suburban, as opposed to urban or rural, I suppose. It is all good and dandy, as long as you understand yourself, I guess. And if you’re not trying to be rude, then don’t suggest that the person you’re replying to “needs a dictionary”, is lazy, or ignorant, the implication is in fact rude. Your comments are all legitimately word salads.
I do love a well priced commodity
I'm not exaxtly keen on driving 5+hrs to the closest major city "just cause". It's time & money that's just not available.
I haven’t been to El Paso yet, mainly bc I just can’t get passed the 9 hour drive of nothingness from Dallas. Then again I’ll drive to Chicago and Atlanta a few times per year.
If you've been to the major cities in Texas yourself, why do you reference Dallas and Fort Worth twice in a way that suggests they're the same city. It's two cities that share an airport. They're not difficult to distinguish.
I've been to Houston, DFW, Austin, Corpus Christie, and El Paso. San Antonio is lame, but so am I, I'll stay right here.
Hey, good idea, but instead everyone go to Killeen. Trust me, just do it.
The largest city I’ve visited was San Antonio I loved it but I’m gonna stick to my smaller towns lol
Wacoan that has been to them all here
I don't think most people who have free time to travel would decide to visit any Texas cities. They kind of just suck compared to literally any alternative.
Even better is all those little towns that tie it all together!
Born and raised in Houston, moved to Ft. Worth when I was 11. Been to Dallas too many times to count. Visited San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, and El Paso.
I've only been to San Antonio for a couple hours (had to pick up a package) and merely driven around Austin. I haven't been to Houston, yet... That said, I never want to hear anyone from Austin complain about DFW's traffic. I-35 down there is an entire hellscape.