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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Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q in Tyler: A Decades-Old East Texas Barbecue Landmark
Barbecue has been smoked on this Tyler corner for about 70 years. Here’s what to order at Stanley’s, from the Brother-in-Law to…
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Sulphur Springs, Texas: A Courthouse Square, a See-Through Restroom and Small-Town Charm
Sulphur Springs pairs a castle-like 1895 courthouse with famous mirrored-glass restrooms and a walkable square, about 80 miles east of Dallas.
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Big Bend National Park in Winter: Best Time to Visit, Where to Stay and Trails to Try
Cool days make winter Big Bend’s best hiking season. Here’s when to go, where to stay in and near the park, and…
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Marfa, Texas: Art, Mystery Lights and the Tiny West Texas Town That Draws the World
Minimalist art, a pink 1886 courthouse and the famous Marfa Lights: how to plan a visit to the little West Texas town…
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Cadillac Ranch and Route 66 in Amarillo: How to Visit During the Mother Road’s 100th Year
How to visit Cadillac Ranch, paint the Cadillacs, and cruise Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District during the highway’s centennial year.
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Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls: Mile-High Meringue Pies, All-Day Breakfast and a Lake Town Worth Exploring
Marble Falls’ Blue Bonnet Cafe has served comfort food since 1929 and bakes pies fresh daily. Here’s how to plan a visit,…
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Lankford Grocery in Houston: The Old Fourth Ward Grocery That’s Been Flipping Burgers for Decades
A 1937 neighborhood grocery turned burger landmark: what to order at Lankford Grocery in Houston, when to go and where its newer…
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Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia: Inside San Antonio’s Market Square Landmark Since 1941
Mi Tierra has served Tex-Mex and pan dulce in San Antonio’s Market Square since 1941. Here’s what to order and how to…
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Jacksonville, Texas: Love’s Lookout, Lake Jacksonville and the Story of the Tomato Capital
Take in the Piney Woods from Love’s Lookout and learn how Jacksonville, Texas, became the Tomato Capital of the World.
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Caddo Lake State Park and Uncertain, Texas: A Day Trip Into the Cypress Swamp
Paddle among moss-draped cypress at Caddo Lake State Park, then explore tiny Uncertain, Texas, on the lake’s western shore.
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.