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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Austin Trail of Lights 2026: Free Nights, Ticket Prices and Parking Tips for Zilker Park
Austin’s Trail of Lights runs Dec. 10–23, 2026, at Zilker Park, with seven free nights. Here are tickets, parking and shuttle tips.
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Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights 2026: What to Expect at the East Texas Holiday Festival
Marshall’s courthouse lights up each holiday season. Here’s what to expect at Wonderland of Lights 2026 and when it usually opens.
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Llano, Texas: A Granite Courthouse Town on the River, and the Pit Barbecue at Cooper’s
Llano pairs an 1893 courthouse, a 1935 river bridge and old-time downtown with Cooper’s, where you pick your barbecue right off the…
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Goliad, Texas: Visiting Presidio La Bahía and Mission Espíritu Santo
Remember Goliad: how to visit the 1749 Presidio La Bahía, Mission Espíritu Santo and the quiet courthouse town nearby.
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National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock: 55 Historic Ranch Buildings You Can Tour for Free
Lubbock’s National Ranching Heritage Center has 55 historic ranch buildings, free admission and Candlelight at the Ranch Dec. 11–12, 2026.
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Glen Rose Day Trip: Dinosaur Tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park and Giraffes at Fossil Rim
Walk in 113-million-year-old dinosaur tracks, then feed giraffes from your car. How to plan a Glen Rose day at Dinosaur Valley and…
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Weikel’s Bakery in La Grange: Kolaches, History and How to Spend a Morning in Town
Weikel’s has baked kolaches on Highway 71 since 1985. Here’s what to order and what to see in La Grange while you’re…
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Monahans Sandhills State Park: Sledding West Texas Sand Dunes in the Fall
Rent a sand disc, roam dunes up to 50 feet tall and catch a West Texas sunset at Monahans Sandhills State Park…
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San Antonio River Walk Holiday Lights and the 2026 Ford Holiday River Parade: Date, Tickets and Free Viewing
The 2026 Ford Holiday River Parade is Nov. 27, and San Antonio’s River Walk lights glow nightly into January. Here’s how to…
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Johnson City’s Lights Spectacular 2026: Dates, Free Displays and How to See the Blanco County Courthouse Lit Up
Johnson City’s Lights Spectacular runs Nov. 27, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027. Here’s how to see the courthouse square and PEC lights.
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.