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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Bastrop, Texas: A Historic Main Street, an 1889 Opera House and the Lost Pines Next Door
Bastrop pairs a walkable historic Main Street with the Lost Pines of Bastrop State Park. Museum, park fees and holiday plans.
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Palmetto State Park: A Swampy, Palm-Filled Day Trip Just Off I-10 Near Luling
Dwarf palmettos, swamp boardwalks and a spring-fed lake make Palmetto State Park near Luling a surprising day trip. Fees, trails and tips.
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Wimberley, Texas: A Small-Town Guide to Market Days, Old Baldy and Cypress Creek
Wimberley’s shady square, monthly Market Days, a 218-step climb up Old Baldy and creekside parks make it an easy Hill Country day…
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Tyler State Park in Fall: Best Trails, When the Leaves Turn and What to Know Before You Go
Tyler State Park offers 13-plus miles of trails around a spring-fed lake. Here’s when fall color peaks and which trails to hike.
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Historic Downtown McKinney: A Walking Guide to the Square, Its Museums and Thanksgiving Weekend’s Home for the Holidays
McKinney’s 1848 courthouse square packs 200-plus shops and restaurants. Here’s how to spend a day downtown, plus 2026 Home for the Holidays…
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Texas Book Festival 2026 in Austin: Free Author Talks at the State Capitol Nov. 14–15
The free Texas Book Festival returns to the State Capitol grounds in Austin Nov. 14–15, 2026. Here’s what to know before you…
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Port Aransas in the Off-Season: Why Fall and Winter Might Be the Best Time to Visit
Short ferry lines, quiet beaches and great birding: how to enjoy Port Aransas between October and March.
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Whooping Crane Season in Rockport-Fulton: How to See the Rare Birds This Winter
From November to March, endangered whooping cranes winter near Rockport. Here’s how to see them by boat or from land.
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Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 1, 2026: What Texans Need to Know About Falling Back
Texas sets clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Here’s why Texas Time isn’t in effect yet…
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Palestine, Texas: Dogwood Heritage, a Historic Downtown and What to See This Fall
Palestine pairs a 44-block historic downtown with deep dogwood roots. Here’s what to see this fall and when the blooms return.
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.