About The Texas Porch
Howdy, Y’all. Come On In.
The Texas Porch is a home for the people, places and flavors that make the Lone Star State feel like home, written by two native Texans who would rather take the back road than the highway.
Our Story
Born Here. Still Exploring.
We’re Abbie and Joshua Clark, a husband-and-wife team and Texans born and raised. For us, the best part of any trip has never been the big-city skyline. It’s the courthouse square two exits past where everybody else turns around, the diner where the waitress already knows the regulars’ orders, and the small-town festival with a parade that lasts all of ten minutes.
We started The Texas Porch to share those finds with you: the sleeper towns, the honest-to-goodness diners, the festivals and fairs, and the stories behind them. Think of this place as a front porch. Pull up a chair, stay as long as you like, and leave with a few new places to put on your list.
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“The best of Texas usually isn’t on the billboard. It’s down the farm road, past the water tower, at the place with the hand-painted sign.”
— Abbie & Joshua
Meet the Folks on the Porch
AC
Abbie Clark
Co-Founder & Editor
A Texas native with a soft spot for small-town main streets, Abbie leads The Texas Porch’s stories and keeps an ever-growing list of places worth the drive. She’s happiest wandering a courthouse square, chatting with shop owners and finding out what the locals really order.
Can’t pass up: sleepy main streets, antique shops, a good slice of homemade pie and any festival with a funnel cake stand.
JC
Joshua Clark
Co-Founder & Road Trip Scout
Born and raised in Texas, Joshua is the one who says “let’s see where this road goes.” He scouts the back roads, sniffs out the hole-in-the-wall diners and BBQ joints, and never met a county fair he didn’t want to walk end to end.
Can’t pass up: chicken-fried steak, roadside BBQ, rodeos, county fairs and towns most folks drive right past.
What You’ll Find Here
Sleeper Towns
The small towns that fly under the radar, with the history, main streets and local spots that make them worth a stop.
Diners & Local Eats
Cafes, BBQ joints, kolache bakeries and the kind of places where the pie case is the main event.
Festivals & Fairs
Rodeos, county fairs, peach festivals and holiday parades, plus what to know before you go.
Day Trips
Scenic drives, swimming holes and easy weekend getaways you can plan in an evening.
Texas Life
News, history and the everyday stuff that matters to folks who call Texas home.
Local Stories
The people, families and small businesses who keep Texas towns going, one front porch at a time.
Our Promise to You
- We check the details. Hours, dates and prices change, so we confirm them with official sources before we publish and note when something is subject to change.
- We keep it honest. If a place isn’t worth your gas money, we won’t pretend it is.
- We fix mistakes fast. Spot something that’s out of date? Let us know and we’ll correct it.
- We’re upfront about how we earn. This site is supported by ads and, sometimes, affiliate links. They never decide what we recommend.
Know a Sleeper Town We Should Visit?
Tell us about your favorite diner, festival or hometown gem. Some of our best stories start with a reader tip.