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Texas Sheepdog Trials Are the Ruff-est Sport You’ve Never Heard Of
Donna Rock’s eyes follow the three Dorper sheep as they make a tight curve at the base of a mesquite tree 300 yards in the distance. They turn in unison to the south, their hooves cleaving the clover and bunchgrass that mottle the pebbly frozen soil. A triangular metal whistle pursed between Rock’s lips blows shrill notes downrange; a 5-year-old border collie named Emily comes into view, a speeding black speck on the horizon, flanking the flock on the left. The dog hears Rock’s whistle—from 250 yards away now, and in the face of a gale-force wind from the north—and expertly interprets the instructions to keep the sheep moving.
The Making of Luck, Willie Nelson’s Old West Town
The Western movie set located on Willie Nelson’s property about 30 miles west of Austin was, well, down on its luck. A few years removed from its construction in 1985 to serve as the town of Driscoll, Montana, in the Red Headed Stranger, starring Nelson, and then as Fort Smith, Arkansas, in the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove, the set—including a church, an Opry House, and a saloon—was falling apart.
Author Tim O’Brien On His Great American Road Trip Novel
Acclaimed author Tim O’Brien made his highly anticipated return with his first novel in 20 years, America Fantastica, last October. The rollicking satire follows chameleon-like protagonist Boyd Halverson and his road trip sidekick, Angie Bing, a born-again Christian intent on saving Boyd’s soul. The high-speed, high-wire narrative begins with Boyd’s decision to rob a bank in the fictional town of Fulda, California, and then to kidnap Angie, who works as a teller there. “Hunter S. Thompson meets Sacha Baron Cohen,” praised Publishers Weekly in a starred review. This new book is a significant departure from O’Brien’s 1990 novel-in-stories classic, The Things They Carried, a series of fictional portraits of American soldiers fighting in the jungle of Vietnam and their lives upon returning to the states. America Fantastica revolves on the axis of moral consciousness—a tug of war between reality and a madcap existence made up of lies.
Who Needs Venice When There Are Gondolas in Irving?
Gliding across Lake Carolyn in Irving, I sip a flute of sparkling cider while watching suburbia unfold around me. Runners whiz by, apartment dwellers lounge on balconies, a man and his Great Pyrenees stroll along the sidewalk—the dog curiously staring at me. There’s even another man with his phone out, taking photos of me as I float by, making sure to walk across a small bridge to get a shot as I make my way underneath. Normally I’d be alarmed at the staring but seeing as I’m in an authentic Venetian gondola complete with a singing gondolier in the middle of a Dallas-Fort Worth urban lake, I get it.
Shorty’s in Port Aransas Is a Blast From the Past
Musician Jim Dugan grabs a Seagull acoustic guitar from his Ford F-250 diesel pickup in the gravel parking lot at Shorty’s Place, ready to play his standing Sunday gig at the new location of the wood-frame bar that has been a local institution in Port Aransas for almost eight decades. He chats with loyalists who gather on its deck, shielded from the bright afternoon sun by a mesh awning. They sip cheap bottles of Lone Star or partake of the bar’s signature “Golf Shot”—an invigorating concoction of whiskey, coconut rum, banana liqueur, and Red Bull. Without a formal introduction, Dugan launches into “Bloody Mary Morning,” substituting “Port Aransas” for “Houston” in the lyrics of the Willie Nelson standard, bringing chuckles and applause from the flip-flop-clad crowd.
The Top 50 Recordings in Texas History
And he specifies that his list is greatest recordings, not songs. That means influential melodies like “The Entertainer” by Texarkana’s Scott Joplin doesn’t make the list. Sure, that song created a ragtime revival in the 1970s as the theme of The Sting, but Joplin passed away in 1917 before ever recording it.
Brighten Up Your Road Trips with the 2024 Wildflower Forecast
Last summer, months of brutal temperatures and drought parched Texas, baking the landscape into a crisp dead brown. But as spring dawns across the Lone Star State, those fields are once again blooming with wildflowers. The explosion of color along highways and pastures is due to the rains that arrived...
Capturing the Spirit of Townes Van Zandt in Fort Worth
It’s a blustery, dark, cold January day at an old cemetery in Dido. Were it not for the two Texas Historical Commission markers and the signage for the United Methodist Church, this ghost town 40 minutes northwest of downtown Fort Worth on the shores of Eagle Mountain Lake would be all but imperceptible to passersby. The cemetery occupies a couple of acres, its lake view now obscured by a golf course. In front of the cemetery, a sign reads: No Benches, Smoking, Alcohol, Glass Containers, Trees, Plants, Items on Grass.
Eating With My Ghosts
A Whataburger regular finds comfort in combo meals. No. 11 Combo: Grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato, no mayo, no Whatasauce. Diet Coke. I may be slowly going pescatarian—bacon and chorizo don’t count in my mind—but you will have to pry my favorite Whataburger order out of my cold, dead hands. No place else has anything like it, especially not a fast-food chain with a drive-thru that’s reliably open 24 hours a day. The chicken breast is tender, juicy, marinated, grilled. The veggies are crisp and fresh. It’s served on a toasted wheat bun. I’m not a fan of most condiments, and this sandwich doesn’t need them.
Catch a Wave in Port Aransas
Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas is one of many vacation destinations along the 367 miles of our state’s coastline. Though better known as a fishing location, it’s also a popular spot for all levels of surfers, according to Morgan Faulkner, director of Texas Surf Camps in Port A. “The T-head at the end of the pier is for advanced surfers who have experience in busy lineups, while the inside break on either side is great for beginner and intermediate surfers,” he says. In March, expect water temperatures to hover around 65 degrees. For families heading to the area for spring break, Texas Surf Camps offers lessons for kids 6 and up. “It’s a lot of fun, and they learn about the ocean and build confidence in themselves,” Faulkner says.
Frolicking Among the Bluebonnets at Fort Parker State Park
This photo from the Texas Highways archives shows a handsome couple—and their handlers—frolicking in a bumper crop of bluebonnets at Fort Parker State Park. Located in Limestone County, east of Waco, the park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935 to 1942 and is steeped in Texas history. Texas Highways covered the park for its May 1957 issue, which is likely why this photo was taken. The fellow wearing a grin and a pressed Stetson is Jack Forrest, from just down the road in Mexia. His gaze falls on Mary Ann Osburn, from nearby Dawson, who looks past the flowers to the horizon. Forrest has a fistful of reins—he’s holding his horses—but they’ll saddle up and ride again once the perfect pose is struck. The park is still open today, offering hiking and biking trails, two lakes stocked with blue catfish, kayaking, and air-conditioned cabins for even the most fairweather camper.
History of the Trailblazer: How Texas Birthed the Modern Monorail
Texas is known for many inventions—Dr Pepper, Liquid Paper, the frozen margarita machine, and even silicone breast implants. But one of the most impactful and longest-lasting inventions of Texan origin rarely gets its recognition as such: the monorail. In fact, most people attribute the invention and popularization to Walt Disney, who was a good friend and contemporary of transportation visionary Murel Goodell.
A Texas Bouquet
This article is from the Texas Highways archive. It first appeared in the June 1974 issue. As part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we’re revisiting early stories from the magazine. Mother Nature was no fool when she signed on the Texas Highway Department 40 years ago to help cultivate...
Mastering the Fort Worth Burgers Trail
As you might’ve guessed from its nickname, beef is a big part of Cowtown’s identity. From the post-Civil War stockyard days all the way to the annual Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival—which has a full day is dedicated to burgers (Burgers, Blues and Brews) —the folks of Fort Worth are fanatical about their bovine. I got a firsthand taste of this back in 2022 when I was invited to judge the first annual Cowtown Burger Showdown at the River Ranch Stockyards, where 100 chefs vied for the title of North Texas’ best burger purveyor. That brief glimpse was enough to incite some overdue revisits. Today, I can confidently say that Fort Worth is the biggest sleeper burger destination in all of Texas. Here, just a sampling of sizzling standouts to get you started.
Editor’s Note: The Primrose Path
The first bluebonnet and second wildflower cover of Texas Highways, shot by Jack Lewis, featured a hillside in Central Texas. The photo credit acknowledged “the bluebonnets have given in to the summer heat, but the tranquilizing appeal of this scene is timeless.” The cover story detailed summer blooms that could still be found across the state, including sunflowers, horsemint, and red yuccas.
Good Line Beer Co. Dazzles on the Dust Coast
Beyond West Texas’ ranch-style manors and Seventh Day Adventist churches, past the Caprock’s monolithic, ever-revolving windmills, and across the cosmic plains of lotebush and shin oak, there is a destination: the Texas Dust Coast. Lubbock. Hub City. A place as dry as Spoon frontman Britt Daniel’s vocals.
Longtime North Texas Chain El Chico Serves Warm Memories
It’s now accepted wisdom within the state: The words “hot plate!” roared by a server is something of a culinary covenant guaranteeing Tex-Mex transcendence. As soon as that steaming dish hits the table, you just know it’s going to be good. El Chico. 503 I-30, Rockwall.
Find Your Place in the Sun at These Total Solar Eclipse Events
On April 8, the daytime sky will turn twilight when a total solar eclipse passes over Texas around 1:30 p.m. From Del Rio in the southwest to Texarkana in the northeast, communities along the path of totality will go dark as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun for a duration of a few seconds to more than four minutes depending on your location. It’s a rare phenomenon to experience, and the United States won’t see another celestial event like it until 2045.
Texas Treehouse Retreats Bring Guests Closer to Nature
For travelers seeking experiential accommodations, staying in a Swiss Family Robinson-style treehouse retreat is a thrilling opportunity. In Texas, these options range from rustic cabins to whimsical hideaways to luxury glamping getaways. Head toward the Hill Country, Piney Woods, and North Texas, where tree species like live oaks, cypress, and loblolly pines thrive. When staying in a treehouse, just remember: The trees are alive, growing, and going through seasonal cycles. A treehouse may sway on windy days, shed bark, and release sap. But being this close to nature is what the experience is all about.
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Texas Highways is the Official Travel Magazine of Texas, and your ultimate guide for exploring the Lone Star State's people, places, & wide-open spaces.
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