Welcome to
The Texas Porch
Pull up a chair, y’all. We’re your front-porch guide to small towns, good eating, weekend road trips and the everyday stories that make Texas feel like home.
Fresh Off the Porch
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Colorado Bend State Park: Hiking to Gorman Falls, One of Texas’ Most Beautiful Waterfalls
How to hike to 70-foot Gorman Falls at Colorado Bend State Park: trail length, what to bring, fees, reservations and other hikes…
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Archer City, Texas: Larry McMurtry’s Hometown and the Real-Life Setting of ‘The Last Picture Show’
Visit Larry McMurtry’s hometown, where his old Booked Up store is now a literary center and the Royal Theater from the film…
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Space Center Houston: How to Plan Your Visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Tickets, tram tours, Mission Control and the Saturn V: a practical guide to planning a day at Space Center Houston.
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Shamrock, Texas: The Art Deco U-Drop Inn and a Route 66 Stop Worth Making
Shamrock’s 1936 U-Drop Inn is one of Route 66’s great landmarks. Here’s what to see in this Panhandle town just off I-40.
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Free Tours of the Texas Capitol in Austin: What to See Inside and How to Visit
The Texas Capitol offers free guided tours seven days a week. Here’s what to see inside, where to park and how to…
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Kilgore, Texas: Oil Derricks Downtown, the Rangerettes and an East Texas Boom Town Story
Kilgore keeps its 1930s oil boom on display with derricks downtown, an oil museum and the Rangerettes. Here’s how to plan a…
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The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo: The 72-Ounce Steak Challenge and More
The rules of the Big Texan’s famous 72-ounce steak challenge, plus what else to see at Amarillo’s giant Route 66-born steakhouse on…
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Turkey, Texas: The Panhandle Town That Keeps Bob Wills’ Western Swing Alive
Tiny Turkey honors Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing, with a museum, a 1927 hotel with live music and a big…
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Garner State Park and Concan: The Frio River Getaway Texans Keep Coming Back To
Clear Frio River water, CCC-built cabins, Old Baldy views and summer jukebox dances. How to plan a trip to Garner State Park…
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Bishop’s Palace in Galveston: Touring the Victorian Mansion That Survived the 1900 Storm
Galveston’s 1892 stone mansion rode out the 1900 Storm and sheltered survivors. Here’s how to tour Bishop’s Palace on Broadway.
Plan Your Texas Weekend
Day Trips
Scenic drives, hidden swimming holes and getaways within a tank of gas.
Events
Festivals, rodeos, fairs and what is happening around Texas this weekend.
Texas Life
News, history and everyday living for folks who call the Lone Star State home.