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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Hruška’s in Ellinger: The Highway 71 Stop for Kolaches, Burgers and Country-Store Goodies
Halfway between Austin and Houston, family-run Hruška’s in Ellinger serves 16 kinds of kolaches and a well-loved cheeseburger.
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Waco Mammoth National Monument: See Ice Age Mammoths Right Where They Were Found
At Waco Mammoth National Monument, a walkway looks down on Columbian mammoth bones still in place. Hours, fees and tips for your…
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Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive: Daily Times, Where to Stand and What to Know Before You Go
The Fort Worth Herd walks East Exchange Avenue at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Here is where to stand and how…
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Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the Fall: Trails, Day Passes and Tips for Your Visit
Planning a fall trip to Palo Duro Canyon? Here’s what to know about day passes, the Lighthouse Trail, scenic drives and closures.
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Bellville, Texas: A One-of-a-Kind Courthouse Square, a Castle and Pioneer History Down the Road
Bellville pairs an unusual 1960s courthouse, an 1896 jail museum and kolaches with nearby San Felipe de Austin’s recreated colonial village.
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How to Plan a Day on the Hill Country Wine Trail Along US 290 From Johnson City to Fredericksburg
Wine Road 290 runs about 45 miles from Johnson City to Fredericksburg. Here’s how to plan a relaxed day of Hill Country…
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Natural Bridge Caverns Near San Antonio: Which Tour to Pick and What to Know Before You Go Underground
Natural Bridge Caverns, discovered in 1960, is Texas’s best-known show cave. Here’s how to pick a tour and plan a visit near…
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Moody Gardens Holiday in the Gardens 2026: Dates, ICE LAND and the Mile-Long Lights Trail in Galveston
Moody Gardens’ holiday season runs Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 2, 2027, with a mile-long lights trail, ICE LAND, skating and a…
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Monument Cafe and the Georgetown Square: Breakfast, Pie and a Stroll Through One of Texas’ Prettiest Downtowns
Start with breakfast and pie at Georgetown’s Monument Cafe, then stroll the 1911 courthouse square. Hours, fall events and tips.
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Texas State Parks in Fall: How Day Passes Work and How to Get In Free or for Less
Popular Texas state parks fill up in fall. Here’s how TPWD day passes work, plus the $70 State Parks Pass and free…
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.