Hello Texas,

this summer a German guy will finally live one of his little dreams: a real Texas roadtrip.

At the end of June I’m flying from Frankfurt to Austin and starting a three-week journey across the Lone Star State. Friends will lend me a car and after two days on a small farm near Hallettsville I’ll hit the road.

The plan (so far):

Austin → Houston → Galveston → Corpus Christi → South Padre Island → San Antonio → Fredericksburg → Abilene → 6666 Ranch → Fort Worth → New Braunfels → back to Austin.

What am I looking for?

Great BBQ, country music somewhere under the stars, small town diners, hidden places locals love, and the kind of wide open Texas roads you only see in movies.

About me:
47, from Germany, work in railway technology, animal lover, roadtrip enthusiast, and someone who believes the best stories always start with “So there was this random place we stopped…”

If you’re from Texas and think there’s a place I absolutely shouldn’t miss, I’d love to hear about it.

And if our paths cross somewhere between BBQ, boots and big Texas sunsets… maybe we share a drink and a good story.

– Björn

My suggestion would to be to check out the Route 66, but that is more north than your current plans. I did the Route 66 trip from California to Oklahoma, one of those things just to say you did it.

Be careful on all the different road side foods, I was in Corpus Christi a couple years ago and driving back to Arkansas we thought the same thing and hit up a local place that was suppose to be good. My stomach is usually pretty good at handling anything, but we made a lot of gas station bathroom stops for everyone and even I only made it to the Arkansas border before I had to find a stop...lol

You look like a fairly big guy,

try this;


The biggest and most famous steak in Texas is the
72-ounce (4.5 lb) steak at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. Known for its famous challenge, you must eat the entire steak—plus a salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll—within one hour to get it for free.

Hahaha!
That's nic, but my appearance is probably deceiving. I am not the one who can devour giant portions at once. I am more the one who is constantly snacking! Besides, I am not going to Amarillo... I don't have enough time for everything. I would also have liked to go canoeing on the Rio Grande or hiking in the Guadalupe Mountains. But that is not recommended in the high summer.

Good that you tell me that! My travel pharmacy does contain diarrhea medication, but if I know that, I will stock it up !

Since you are coming through Fort Worth, it is a must to visit the Stockyards.

Everyday there is a Cattle Drive one at Noon and then again at 4pm.. Like a trip to the Old West with the Cowboys etc.. Take a picture on a Bull/horse..

There is a Rodeo Arena as well just have to check to see if they have any bull riding etc when you come through

Here is a link to check out...
http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/

Well ya can't see the Stockyards without dropping in at Billy Bobs one of the biggest Bars in Texas.. Billy Bobs is only a few blocks away as well as some good Mexican & BBQ food...

Here is the link for Billy Bobs lots of famous singers have been there and their Hand Prints in plaster are on the walls.. They have a lot of concerts there but you can just go there and walk around get a drink or a snack and check out inside.. At times they have Dance Lessons going on to learn some country moves.. like the slide etc.. You can watch or join in..

http://billybobstexas.com/


If you like Mexican Food this is a good place to eat, it is in the Stockyards area...

http://losvaqueros.com/

This is a BBQ Place that is located across the street from Billy Bobs. I have not eaten at this one but heard it is good..

http://coopersbbqfortworth.com/

And while you're out on some of Texas's lonely stretches of road, watch for some of Texas's famous speed traps. Some of those county sheriffs and hyway patrol boys are real good at hiding in the weeds.

From a lone Texan drifter living in Egypt.

Yo bro, in the return trip to Austin, if you haven't had too much barbeque. there's a city I grew up in 30 mins south of Austin called Lockhart. it's been deemed the barbeque capital of Texas.
restaurants to search or ask about ( chislom trail bbq, black's bbq and smity's bbq)
be safe out there. Germany over US.