Texas Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/texas/ Blog of a Traveling Coffee Addict Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:52:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://i0.wp.com/caffeinatedexcursions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wp-1555570621336.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Texas Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/texas/ 32 32 141833777 Fort Worth, Texas: A Weekend Getaway Itinerary https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/fort-worth-texas-a-weekend-getaway-itinerary/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/fort-worth-texas-a-weekend-getaway-itinerary/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2023 18:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=27096 If you are planning a weekend getaway to Fort Worth, you’ve come to the right place! My friend Ismael and I recently spent a three-day weekend in Texas’s fifth-largest metropolis. I was very impressed with the food, the architecture, and Panther City’s friendly vibe...

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Fort Worth, Texas: A Weekend Getaway Itinerary

Published January 26, 2023
Last updated October 8, 2024

If you are planning a short trip to Fort Worth, you’ve come to the right place! My friend Ismael and I recently spent a three-day weekend in Texas’s fifth-largest metropolis. I was very impressed with Panther City’s food, architecture, and friendly vibe!

Fort Worth is a prime candidate for a weekend destination. That’s because it’s right in the middle of the US and is served by one of the busiest airports in the country. The city itself is large, but you can check out the main attractions in 48 or 72 hours. We didn’t do everything Fort Worth has to offer, but we did leave feeling like we had seen the major highlights.

Since it’s the start of a new year, I really want to change up my travel habits and do more long weekend getaways. That used to be my primary mode of travel back in 2017 and 2018, but the pandemic made short trips less feasible. Now that things are basically back to normal, I plan to get into it again!

This post is broken down into the following sections. While this itinerary is based on a three-day visit (Saturday morning arrival and Monday evening departure), we covered about 90% of what’s featured here within the first two days. To skip down to any section, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Explore Downtown Fort Worth

Some American city centers can be a little underwhelming, especially post-COVID. Luckily, that’s not the case for Fort Worth! Downtown is a compact and walkable district with some beautiful public spaces. This section will feature what I liked most about Downtown.

Amazing Architecture

Perhaps my favorite thing about Fort Worth is its very impressive architecture. This is something I wasn’t aware of before visiting, but Panther City is great if you love eye-catching, ornate buildings!

A variety of styles are represented Downtown. Apparently, many of the most prominent structures were built in the 1920s and 1930s. There are significant art deco elements, plus Southwestern stylistic motifs.

Sundance Square

This beautiful open-air plaza is the very center of Fort Worth. It’s a great place to explore first if you’re staying downtown. There’s a fountain, a mural on its north side, a giant shiny cowboy hat to take pictures with (although I’m not sure if that’s permanent or not), a stage for live music, and a pretty Art Deco building along its western edge.

Fort Worth Water Gardens

You can find this unique park on the south side of Downtown, but I recommend exercising caution if you decide to visit. That’s because the park actually seems pretty dangerous. We were shocked that the Water Gardens include massive steps and elevated sections with steep, multi-story drop-offs that have no guardrails.

In addition, one of the main attractions includes a fountain built into a depression in the ground with stone steps leading down into the center. It looks cool, but one misstep could easily result in injury. This part of the Water Gardens also has no handrails. Some of these steps are very small and wet due to splashing water. We saw parents carrying toddlers, elderly people, and women in high heels all descending precariously into the bottom of this basin.

The Fort Worth Water Gardens looks cool, and some of its pools and fountains are picturesque and serene. In spite of its aesthetic, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this attraction.

West Lancaster Avenue (Fort Worth T&P)

This southern end of downtown feels pretty quiet, but I love the gorgeous architecture in this area. In particular, the Fort Worth T&P Station (Texas & Pacific Lofts), the Post Office, and the Old T&P Warehouse are three stunning historic structures all along the south side of West Lancaster Avenue.

Fort Worth T&P Station (Texas & Pacific Lofts)
United States Postal Service
Old T&P Warehouse

According to Visit Fort Worth, the T&P Station is an example of Zigzag Moderne, a specific type of art deco. Both the station and the warehouse were originally built for the Texas and Pacific (T&P) Railway Company, dating back to the 1870s.

Other Neighborhoods to Visit

The city of Fort Worth is pretty spread out, so hopping between neighborhoods isn’t the easiest thing to do without a rental car. However, below are three additional areas that you could check out via Uber or Lyft.

Fort Worth Stockyards

The Stockyards are probably Fort Worth’s biggest tourist attraction. This area used to be one of the country’s biggest livestock markets along the old Chisholm Trail. Its history dates back to the 1840s, and its use has slowly shifted over the decades, especially once rail was replaced by trucking as a means of livestock transportation.

Today, the Stockyards are home to bars, restaurants, hotels, a rodeo arena, museums, and more. Centered around East Exchange Avenue, this district offers a fun but commercialized wild west experience. In all honesty, restaurants here seemed like tourist traps, so we never ate here. On top of that, the recommendation lists we saw online didn’t mention anything in the Stockyards.

However, we did happen to catch the cattle drive! Apparently, it happens at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. every day. An announcer gave a brief introduction, then the cattle came through. Stand anywhere along East Exchange Avenue a few minutes before the scheduled time. Other visitors had already started clearing the streets and finding a place on the sidewalk to watch a few minutes before it started.

In terms of going out, the Stockyards just wasn’t my vibe. The western end where the bars are (at the intersection of North Main Street and East Exchange Avenue) felt rowdy and chaotic on a Saturday night. Someone spilled a beer on my leg out on the street. On top of that, we felt a little underdressed.

I’m sure many people would find the Stockyards to be a fun place to bar-hop, but I liked going out more on Magnolia (more on that neighborhood below) and Downtown.

Cultural District

This neighborhood west of Downtown feels like an up-and-coming area. We didn’t have time to visit any of the museums located along Gendy Street, nor did we go out for drinks on West 7th Street (which we heard was a popular area for nightlife). However, we did get lunch here one day. I also enjoyed seeing the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

The Cultural District has some interesting art to take pictures with.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Address: 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://fwbg.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortWorthBotanicGarden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortworthbotanicgarden/

Even though we visited in January when the trees were barren, this huge garden was still pretty cool. In particular, the Japanese Garden here is absolutely stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more impressive Japanese garden anywhere else!

There are koi ponds where you can feed the fish, beautiful bridges, a gift shop, and lots of little nooks and crannies to explore in the Japanese Garden. I loved that it was still beautiful despite the mostly barren trees.

In addition to the Japanese Garden, the Lower Rose Garden is another highlight of the Botanic Garden. However, workers were landscaping it when we passed by. I’m sure it’s even prettier in spring when the flowers are blooming and no longer under construction.

West Magnolia Avenue

The commercial strip along West Magnolia Avenue between 8th Avenue and Hemphill Street has lots of interesting bars and restaurants. It’s got more of a laid-back vibe than the Stockyards, and it feels more walkable than the Cultural District.

If you plan to spend a night bar hopping on Magnolia, try to arrive a little early. Many places here seem to do last call around 11:00 p.m. or earlier.

Fort Worth's Food Scene

The two things I absolutely loved about Fort Worth were the architecture and the food! There are so many delicious, decadent Southern and Southwestern specialties to try here. Below are some of my recommendations.

BBQ

I will try barbecue almost anywhere I can find it. I love that so many US states and cities have their own unique style. The brisket and ribs we had in Fort Worth were excellent! We tried two different places: Panther City BBQ and Heim BBQ.

Panther City BBQ

Address: 201 E Hattie St, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Website: https://www.panthercitybbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/817PantherCityBBQ/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panthercitybbq/

This BBQ joint ended up being our first impression of Fort Worth, and it was an excellent one! There was a somewhat slow-moving line to order, but it was absolutely worth the wait. I loved the ribs, brisket, pork belly burnt ends, mac and cheese, and smoked pecan bread pudding. Their collard greens were a little salty but still had a ton of flavor.

Heim BBQ

Address: 1109 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Website: https://heimbbq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heimbarbecue
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heimbarbecue/

We ended up trying Heim because it’s centrally located on Magnolia, and they’re open longer hours and more days than most other places. However, we did encounter much of their menu sold out when we tried to go for a slightly late lunch. Nonetheless, we still managed to get some delicious smoked meats! As a general rule, it might be a good idea to go for an early barbecue lunch. Some other places are only open for a few hours on the weekends.

Burgers

Another classic Fort Worth specialty is a good old-fashioned cheeseburger. This is probably because the city’s history is deeply intertwined with cattle ranching! We only had time to try one place, but it was amazing!

Rodeo Goat

Address: 2836 Bledsoe St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://www.rodeogoat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodeoGoat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodeogoatfortworth/

Rodeo Goat is a chain, but they only have locations in Texas. Their large menu of unique burgers made my mouth water, and we took a while to decide what we wanted. I got a seasonal one with jalapeño. It was so tasty and juicy! Ismael and I also split a “Cheese Fries Surprise” (pictured below) that was just as good as the burgs.

On top of amazing food, Rodeo Goat offered excellent, friendly service and delicious cocktails. We couldn’t stop ordering them (more on that below)!

Other Burger Joints to Consider

If we had an extra day or two, we probably would’ve also tried M&O Station Grill and Fuego Burger. Based on photos online, all of these burger joints seem to add their own flair to America’s most iconic meal, and all are highly rated.

Mexican & Tex-Mex

After researching Fort Worth’s food scene, we basically came to the realization that the three must-try dishes here are BBQ, burgers, and Tex-Mex. (I guess if you don’t eat meat, that’s something to keep in mind! We did see one or two vegan restaurants on Magnolia, but not a ton of options.) We had a delicious Mexican dinner at Los Asaderos, a little bit south of the Stockyards.

Los Asaderos

Address: 1535 N Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Website: https://losasaderos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asaderos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asaderosfw/

This cozy place is known for their margaritas and tasty Mexican food. Both Ismael and I ordered the chicken and beef fajita combo with rice and beans. The meat was tender and flavorful, and their house margaritas were just right – not too sweet, which is a major plus in my book!

Local Fine Dining

I typically look for casual restaurants when I travel. But I’m always open to splurging at least once per trip, especially for a nice meal that you can’t get anywhere else. The obvious choice for a fancy dinner was Reata, which you can read about below!

Reata Restaurant

Address: 530 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://www.reata.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReataRestaurant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reatarestaurant/

Reata’s website says that they specialize in “legendary Texas cuisine,” which immediately piqued my interest when we were looking for an upscale place to have dinner. Their menu is a nice mix of homestyle southern cooking, Mexican-inspired dishes, and steaks.

One appetizer here really stood out to me: the calf fries (pictured in the foreground below). The menu doesn’t explain what they are, but our waiter made sure to ask us if we knew what we were getting. We looked it up earlier, so we did! I suggest you do the same if you’re curious, because the name is definitely a euphemism. With that said, I am the type of adventurous eater that would have to try them!

They were a little chewy, but other than that, the dish sort of reminded me of popcorn chicken. They came in two giant onion rings (perhaps symbolically?) and were served with a sort of unusual gravy that looked like ranch dressing. We also shared a starter of bacon-wrapped shrimp that was deliciously crunchy.

For our main dishes, I got a blackened buffalo rib eye and Ismael ordered a cowboy bone-in rib eye. I honestly thought his steak was a little better, but I still liked my dish. Our waiter advised that buffalo is a leaner meat, and this was definitely true.

Pearl Snap Kolaches

Address: 4006 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://pskolaches.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PearlSnapKolaches/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearlsnapkolaches/

This rich Czech pastry is apparently a Texas thing, so we had to get some! Fort Worth’s best-known shop is Pearl Snap Kolaches, which is named after the type of button that can often be found on cowboy western shirts.

Kolaches come in sweet varieties (the four on the left with fruit filling in the picture above) and as a savory sausage roll (the two on the right). All of them were great and made for an excellent breakfast.

Drinks & Bars

In Fort Worth, we did our fair share of drinking, but the weekend didn’t center around alcohol. Instead, we used bars as a kind of baseline for getting a sense of some of the neighborhoods discussed above. Below, you’ll find some fun places to consider.

Cocktails at Rodeo Goat

Address: 2836 Bledsoe St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://www.rodeogoat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodeoGoat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodeogoatfortworth/

All of the drinks we tried at this popular burger place tasted amazing and packed a punch! We tried a couple fruity and sweet cocktails, so they were all easy to drink. This is a great place to have a few rounds while enjoying a filling meal.

Refinery 714

Address: 714 Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76102 (Kimpton Harper Hotel Lobby, 24th Floor)
Website: https://www.theharperfortworth.com/restaurants-fort-worth/refinery-714/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kimpton/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimpton/

Refinery 714 is a rooftop bar that offers panoramic views of Fort Worth, located in the lobby of the Kimpton Harper Hotel. Look out the south windows to see the Fort Worth Convention Center, or peer north to see some of the impressive architecture surrounding Sundance Square.

Thompson's Bookstore

Address: 900 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://thompsonsbookstore.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thompsonsbookstore/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thompsonsftw/

This book-themed bar with a speakeasy (which unfortunately was not open when we visited) is one of the more memorable places we found. I ordered a “From Dusk Till Dawn,” which included mezcal, cold brew, mole bitters, and a smoked chili. It was definitely complex, and its dark brown color was striking.

The Magnolia Wine Bar

Address: 1101 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Website: https://themagnoliawinebar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMagnoliafw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themagnoliafw/

When we realized that Magnolia has a few wine bars, we figured we’d try one. Their chardonnay flight seemed like an interesting option. I’m no wine expert, but trying to discern the different subtle flavors was fun!

The Chat Room Pub

Address: 1263 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104

The Chat Room Pub is a casual, cozy bar: the perfect place to get a few rounds of vodka soda. They have an outdoor patio and an indoor section with a sporty vibe.

Coffee Ideas

I’m always looking for cool coffee shops whenever I travel! I liked the two mentioned below that are both Downtown.

Pax & Beneficia Coffee

Address: 101 W 5th St Suite 105, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://paxandbeneficia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paxandbeneficia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paxandbeneficia/

This modern cafe was right next to our Airbnb, so I got a cold brew here one afternoon. I loved that even in January, Fort Worth was warm enough for an iced coffee beverage! That simply isn’t the case for Chicago where I currently live.

Vaquero Coffee Co.

Address: 109 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Website: https://www.vaquerocoffeeco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaqueroCoffeeCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaquerocoffeeco/

This coffee shop near the Tarrant County Courthouse has a retro vibe and a lot of charm. I ordered an iced lavender oat milk latte here (yeah, I know, I’m basic sometimes). It was delicious!

Transportation, Where to Stay, and Other Tips

Allow me to be upfront: Fort Worth is lacking in public transportation (like many American cities). We used Uber and Lyft to get from one part of town to another, and found that this was significantly cheaper than renting a car. However, we never ventured super far (i.e. more than a twenty-minute drive) from the city center.

The one nice thing that Fort Worth has is a train (TEXRail Trinity Metro) that travels between Downtown and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. We took it both ways and enjoyed the ride! You’ll get to see some of the north suburbs on the way if you decide to try the train.

In terms of where to stay, we chose an Airbnb in the Kress Building. This beautiful example of art deco architecture is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also in the very heart of Downtown, which meant we could reach any part of the central business district on foot within about ten minutes.

The Kress Building is the white structure on the right.

Other places you might stay include the Stockyards and the Cultural District. However, I’m glad we found a beautiful, spacious loft in the city center.

Should You Visit Fort Worth or Dallas?

I spent a weekend in Dallas back in 2019, and I have to admit that I liked Fort Worth more. Now, keep in mind that I’ve only spent one weekend in each city, so I’m basing this on first impressions. With that said, I found Fort Worth to have a more unique overall vibe. The food scene and the architecture really stood out to me.

If you’re a travel enthusiast like I am, you should eventually see both Dallas and Fort Worth. Someday I hope to become acquainted with all of Texas’s major cities, including San Antonio and Houston. I’m also intrigued by the geography of West Texas, and would love to check out the Rio Grande Valley at some point!

Enjoy Your Weekend in Fort Worth!

Hopefully this travel guide serves as a starting point for anyone who already has tickets to visit Fort Worth! And if you’re on the fence about a weekend here, I hope this blog post convinced you to go immerse yourself in Panther City’s unique buckaroo vibe.

Have you been to Fort Worth? Is there anything I missed that you recommend? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading, y’all!

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This post was published on Jan 26, 2023
This post was updated on Oct 8, 2024

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

Support the Blog!

The post Fort Worth, Texas: A Weekend Getaway Itinerary appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/fort-worth-texas-a-weekend-getaway-itinerary/feed/ 2 27096 A City I Can’t Quite Put My Finger On: Dallas, TX https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/a-city-i-cant-quite-put-my-finger-on-dallas-tx/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/a-city-i-cant-quite-put-my-finger-on-dallas-tx/#comments Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:00:42 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=4843 Since I started blogging in January of 2018, I’ve taken dozens of weekend trips to cities and towns in the US, Mexico, and beyond. In almost every case, the atmosphere or vibe of the city was easy to pinpoint after only a few hours of exploring. But for whatever reason, that wasn’t the case with Dallas, a city with an elusive character...

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A City I Can’t Quite Put My Finger On: Dallas, TX

Published January 26, 2019

Since I started blogging in January of 2018, I’ve taken dozens of weekend trips to cities and towns in the US, Mexico, and beyond. In almost every case, the atmosphere or vibe of the city was easy to pinpoint after only a few hours of exploring. But for whatever reason, that wasn’t the case with Dallas, a city with an elusive character that I visited with my friend Ismael earlier this month.

Perhaps we were thrown off by the fact that it was only a few degrees above freezing one of the days we were there, which every local we met confirmed was indeed not normal. We knew not to expect tropical weather this time of year in Northern Texas, but having to bundle up and brave the bone-chilling wind was certainly disorienting.

Did it feel southern? In some ways, yes, but Dallas is roughly 1,000 miles away from South Carolina (where I lived from June 2017 to June 2018), so it wasn’t very similar to the South that I’m familiar with. Maybe it was just the landscape, but Dallas reminded me more of the Indianapolis area, where I spent much of my childhood.

Did it feel like a big city? Dallas certainly has a large downtown with skyscrapers, but it was almost eerily empty on the Saturday and Sunday we were there. It looked like the urban center was almost exclusively office buildings, so there didn’t appear to be many other attractions to draw people in on the weekend. I’m sure the unusual cold also kept people indoors.

So for these and other reasons, Dallas ended up being a disorienting destination for a weekend trip. Maybe another visit during the summer months would clear things up… In any case, we still had a fun time, and below are some of the things we did!

1. Drinks and BBQ in Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum is the neighborhood where we spent most of our time if only because we booked our Airbnb here. However, it’s safe to say that this is the most lively neighborhood we encountered, so I’m glad we stayed here.

It’s a short walk from downtown, although as I mentioned above, there didn’t actually seem to be a ton of reasons to venture towards the wide avenues and tall, generic office buildings of the central business district.

With that said, Deep Ellum has enough to do that you won’t need to venture far to find something interesting. For readers from my hometown of Seattle, Deep Ellum is Dallas’s Capitol Hill. For readers from everywhere else, I mean that it’s the area where all the millennials congregate in hip bars and restaurants.

Have a BBQ Feast at the Pecan Lodge

If you visit Deep Ellum, be sure to check out the Pecan Lodge. This famous BBQ joint may have a line out the door and around the block, but it’s worth the wait! Keep an eye out for employees offering seats at the bar: if you’re willing to sit there, you can skip the line and still get anything on their full menu.

We ordered the combo, which comes with three different types of meats. The side dishes were also delicious. I really liked the mac and cheese and collard greens, but we could hardly finish everything we got since it was so much food!

A Couple of the Bars I Liked

There are dozens of bars in Deep Ellum to check out, and they run the gamut from quiet places to sip on a drink to all-out clubs. My favorite was definitely Armoury, D.E., a lively yet not-overwhelming place with a cool interior design and a huge list of creative cocktails.

I especially liked the memorable “Rainy Day in Kyoto,” a gin-based cocktail with matcha and pistachio that tasted amazing. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you can find something interesting to try here.

Another bar I liked was The Free Man, a Cajun bar and restaurant with some overtly New Orleanian vibes. The live band was great, and the audience was actually quiet while they played, so it was really relaxing. I would’ve really liked to try their lunch or dinner, but we didn’t have time.

2. A Quick Look Around Bishop Arts District

A couple people told us to check out Bishop Arts District, so we did. It was an interesting but small neighborhood in the suburbs southwest of Downtown Dallas. We ducked into a coffee shop to escape the cold for a bit, and then checked out the Bishop Cider Company, where we tried two flights. If you’re a fan of cider, this is a cool little place with tons of different flavors.

All in all, Bishop Arts District only takes about an hour at most to explore. It isn’t close enough to Deep Ellum to walk, so you’ll need to catch a ride over here if you’re interested in checking it out.

3. Photo Shoot at Rainbow Vomit

This was a super random thing we decided to check out, but I’m so glad we did! Rainbow Vomit is a temporary art exhibit in Southeast Dallas that is going on until February 17th, 2019. The various art exhibits inside are meant to be interactive, and they’re a great place to take pictures! Be sure to try to find the secret room with a unicorn, which was definitely our favorite.

We were able to purchase tickets on arrival, but you should book online, which you can do here (more information here and here). I can’t say for sure, but this exhibit implies that the city might have other quirky and artsy things to check out, so do a bit of research about events going on even if you’re visiting Dallas after Rainbow Vomit closes!

4. A Classy Dinner at Fearing's Restaurant

Sometimes the best way to explore a city’s culinary scene is to visit the high-end restaurants in additional to popular, casual places like the Pecan Lodge. To complement our BBQ experience there, we decided to try Fearing’s Restaurant for dinner one night.

Although they had an extensive menu, we decided to be adventurous and try locally sourced antelope and an appetizer of foie gras. Everything was really tasty, and they also had a wide variety of nice cocktails. The head chef even walked around and introduced himself to all the diners, and really made us feel welcome. Be sure to make a reservation if you’re interesting in trying this fancy restaurant!

5. Mexican Brunch on the Edge of Uptown

For our last full meal in Dallas, we ended up meeting a former coworker of mine, Sigfrido, at Meso Maya Comida y Copas, an authentic Mexican restaurant with a couple of locations in the area. Although I would’ve liked to try Tex-Mex in Dallas, I really liked the dish I got here, which had a lot of meat, cheese, and flavor (and is something I’ve yet to see in any restaurant in Mexico).

Their salsa that they served with chips was also really amazing; I asked our waitress what was in it that made it so good, and she told us a pretty standard list of peppers, garlic, and the like. I’m convinced that they had a secret ingredient though, because it really had a rich, smoky flavor that I’ve never tasted before!

In Short: A City That Can't Be Reduced to a Label

Dallas was certainly interesting, and although it was hard to compartmentalize, we still had a fun time here! Having visited Austin twice, I have to admit that I like that quirky town a little bit more. You can read my guide to Austin by clicking here.

With that said, my Uber driver on the way to the airport told me that despite not being originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he absolutely loves living there. I can totally see that it could be a very comfortable place to settle down. We also heard that Fort Worth has a totally different vibe despite being only about an hour away, so I’d like to visit someday to compare.

So there you have it! Are you a Dallas native? Did we miss anything iconic that we need to visit next time? Let me know in the comments below! Keep an eye out for my next post, which will discuss how to take a day trip from Mexico City to the world-famous pyramids at Teotihuacán! Thanks for reading!

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I spent a freezing weekend in Dallas and found it to be an intriguing city that can't be reduced to a tagline. This post goes over some of the highlights, including bars and restaurants, neighborhoods, and overall impressions! #dallas #dallastexas #dallastx #visitdallas #visittexas #texastravel #thingstodoindallas #deepellum #bishopartsdistrict #bishoparts #restaurantsindallas #barsindallas #dallastravelguide #dallastravel #travelblog #travelblogger #caffeinatedexcursions I spent a freezing weekend in Dallas and found it to be an intriguing city that can't be reduced to a tagline. This post goes over some of the highlights, including bars and restaurants, neighborhoods, and overall impressions! #dallas #dallastexas #dallastx #visitdallas #visittexas #texastravel #thingstodoindallas #deepellum #bishopartsdistrict #bishoparts #restaurantsindallas #barsindallas #dallastravelguide #dallastravel #travelblog #travelblogger #caffeinatedexcursions

This post was published on Jan 26, 2019

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Upcoming Trips

  1. Bangkok (Sept)
  2. Istanbul (Sept)

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]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/a-city-i-cant-quite-put-my-finger-on-dallas-tx/feed/ 9 4843 Austin, TX: Southern Hospitality, Quirky Vibes (and Tex-Mex) https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/austin-tx-southern-hospitality-quirky-vibes-and-tex-mex/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/austin-tx-southern-hospitality-quirky-vibes-and-tex-mex/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:00:00 +0000 http://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=2426 As a travel blogger who started this blog in January of 2018, I am always tempted to write about places I’ve been in years past. One such place is Austin, Texas. I first visited in June of 2017 to see a good friend from college...

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Austin, TX: Southern Hospitality, Quirky Vibes (& Tex-Mex)

Published August 10, 2018

As a travel blogger who started this blog in January of 2018, I am always tempted to write about places I’ve been in years past. One such place is Austin, Texas. I first visited in June of 2017 to see a good friend from college (Sophie) who grew up in a suburb of the state capital. I was captivated by all the fun things Austin has to offer, which is why I was so happy to visit again this past weekend – plus I finally get to write about a fun city that I really enjoy!

(On a side note, I generally don’t write about places I’ve visited before 2018 because I want my posts to incorporate fresh memories to paint an honest and detailed snapshot in that moment. I’m sure that many of the countries and cities I’ve been to have changed quite a bit, and I worry that retroactively written blog posts might end up sounding like an outdated, generic laundry list of tourist attractions. If I revisit a place though, like I did with Austin, I will combine my previous knowledge of the destination with my most recent experiences there. Some other places I’d love to revisit someday and write about in my blog include New Orleans, Seoul, and Shanghai.)

I think the reason I like Austin so much is that it reminds me of both of my former homes (Seattle and South Carolina). It’s a perfect mix of Southern hospitality and that quirky vibe that reminds me of the Pacific Northwest. My favorite things about Austin include the delicious Tex-Mex, Rainey Street for bar-hopping, and all of the outdoor activities.

Tex-Mex Heaven

As I’m sure you know, the state capital of Texas is a great place to get some amazing Tex-Mex. I know it’s ironic that I came all the way from Mexico back to the US just to have more Mexican food, but I can now confirm that Mexican and Tex-Mex are pretty distinct flavors.

My favorite place is Chuy’s. There are multiple locations around Austin. Come ready for one of their signature frozen margaritas and a big plate of ridiculously satisfying food!

Another favorite of mine is called Torchy’s Tacos. They also have multiple locations. If you make it to one, you have to try their famous “trailer park” tacos with fried chicken. Ask for them “trashy” if you want extra cheese on top!

It’s not exactly Tex-Mex, but the last time I was here we went to Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q, which was pretty good. They serve the meal in a big plastic crate and at least the location we went to (on Research Boulevard) was attached to a gas station.

Here’s a little secret: both Chuy’s and Torchy’s Tacos have locations far and wide (I’ve been to Torchy’s in Denver, and I saw a Chuy’s in Nashville), so if you’re dying to try either, see if they have a location in a city near you! I wouldn’t be surprised if either chain eventually expanded to the coasts since both are so “damn good!”

Rainey Street

This is my favorite place to drink in Austin, and although the bars are concentrated within a few small blocks, there are quite a few and they are all unique. My favorite is Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden, which has a ridiculously huge selection of beers on tap. Whether you want a sour, a porter, or an IPA, you’ll have multiple options at Banger’s.

The glorious wall behind the bar showing everything they have on tap.

They also have live music!

Another bar we had a fun time at was Unbarlievable, a circus-themed joint that reminded me a little bit of Unicorn in Seattle (for readers from the rainy city). The cocktails were good, but they also had a bunch of fun little extras including hula hoops and a slide.

This random guy also brought puppies in a wagon!

Rainey Street has at least a dozen more bars to explore as well as a food truck lot and an Indian restaurant, so there’s a little something for everyone here! I haven’t been to Rainey after dark, but I can definitely say it’s a good place to bar hop on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Activities

Barton Springs

If you visit Austin during the summer, it’s going to be hot. You’ve basically got two options: you can stay indoors as much as possible, or cool off with some swimming or tubing! The first time I visited a year ago, Sophie and I ended up going to Barton Springs, a unique swimming pool in the centrally-located Zilker Metropolitan Park.

What’s interesting about the pool is the fact that it’s basically built right into Barton Creek, so it’s like a hybrid between a river and an outdoor pool. It’s perfect especially if the temperature is in the upper 90s or over 100 degrees.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmPpMpsncne/?hl=en&taken-by=sophiegoodie

Don's Fish Camp

For this visit, we went to Don’s Fish Camp, a place to go tubing on the San Marcos River (it’s about a 45-minute drive south of Austin). What I really liked about Don’s is the fact that they do a lot of the work for you. You’ll tell them how many tubes you want to rent, park your car, and then take old retro-fitted school busses to a drop-off point upstream where you get in the river. That way, by the time you reach the end, you’re right back at the parking lot!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmFGgbMHrKZ/?hl=en&taken-by=sophiegoodie

From start to finish, it’s about a four-hour commitment, but floating down the river is so relaxing. Be sure to bring a cooler of beverages and snacks (and ask for a cooler tube at the rental station).

This is the perfect place to try a Lone Star Beer if you haven't already!

I would recommend leaving phones behind unless they’re waterproof, and don’t forget the sunscreen!

Once you see Austin for the first time, you’ll realize that everything I’ve covered in this post is just the tip of the iceberg (if icebergs could exist in Texas heat). Overall, the vibe is laidback, but it’s clear that this city is growing at breakneck pace, so options for recreation and delicious cuisine are endless. Despite having been twice now, I’m eager to come back again soon! Shout-out to Sophie for being an awesome tour guide two years in a row and introducing me to her always-fun hometown!

(And for hanging out with me in New York, Chicago, Shanghai, and hopefully many more cities around the world 🙂 )

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This post was published on Aug 10, 2018

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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