Part 1 of 3

On my first road trip, where there were multiple stops, we decided to travel down eastern Texas. We hit all the major cities including: Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, Houston, and Galveston. In total it was about ten days of travel and adventures. We found a pace that we liked but I found myself feeling a little rushed at times to keep to the schedule. I plan to revisit some of these places in the future. For now I’ll share what I experienced on the first run through.

Fort Worth

If you go to Fort Worth, Texas you have to go to the stockyards and watch the twice daily longhorn cattle drive. This happens at 11:30am and 4:00pm everyday. The cowboys are wearing traditional clothing and using phrases that cowboys have been using for many years. It is a very neat experience to be so close to these huge animals. You really appreciate them and those famous horns of theirs. Not only can you stand within feet of them as they walk by but you can sit on top of one and meet a real cowboy/cowgirl (you do have to pay for this). Walk up and down the street for shopping, bars, music, and food. You could also go to the rodeo, or the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. It is Texas after all. It wouldn’t be a complete trip without a little longhorn/rodeo action.

Things to do in Fort Worth, Texas

For a quick stop that is sure to be entertaining go to the Water Gardens. This is an art piece of architecture and water features that will blow your socks off. Not only can you enjoy its splendor from above but you can walk down into this 360 degree waterfall. 

The Fort Worth Zoo is great for animal lovers and families as most zoos are, but this was a great zoo! They have a wide variety of animals and all enclosures have great views of the animals within. They also have a western themed “village” with shops, restaurants, and a Texas themed museum with fun facts. The staff members are very friendly and willing to answer questions. I especially loved the African enclosure with more than 8 giraffes of all ages, ostriches, and other animals all together in a very large enclosure that you can walk all the way around to see each one up close.

Eats + Treats of Fort Worth

Cane Rosso

If you’re looking for a restaurant away from the animals, Cane Rosso is a great place to get a Neapolitan pizza. The modern industrial vibe mixed with the unique Star Wars art is refreshing along with the burst of flavors from the fresh ingredients on the pizza. We got the cane rosso pizza of course, because if they named the food the same as the restaurant it must be good! It did not disappoint.

Eats +Treats of Dallas

Pecan Lodge

We didn’t spend as much time in Dallas but we did experience the best BBQ shredded pork we’ve ever had and probably will ever have at Pecan Lodge. You will have to pay for parking nearby but it’s worth it. Pecan Lodge has been in business for many years and they know what they’re doing. The shredded pork is orgasmic! You can taste the attention and care they put into their meat. You can smell it smoking. I love when you can see where the smoke penetrated the meat and the seasoning that compliments it. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! The mac n’ cheese is a great pairing, anything with bacon bits on top is going to be good. The potato salad is very yummy and anything with mayo or cheese is good for cooling your mouth off if you decide to go with spicy foods. The Pecan Lodge is casual dining and I recommend sitting out on the patio to enjoy the live music with the meat smokers roaring behind the small stage. This was the perfect end to our day listening to great music, and stuffing our faces with one of the best meals we had in Texas!

Hypnotic Donuts

We enjoyed staying just outside the city at an Airbnb which was a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel anywhere near downtown. We went to a place called Hypnotic Donuts to get a quick bite before we hit the road. I loved the “ski accident” which is a long, powdered sugar covered donut with raspberry filling. They remind me of beignets. The regular glazed donuts are vanilla cake-like yumminess. The donut place is also near the botanical gardens which you have to have a reservation to enter, but I hear great things about it. Maybe next time we visit we will take a peek.

Things to do in Dallas, Texas

Dallas World Aquarium

The Dallas World Aquarium is unique in that you feel like you are fully immersed in the rainforest as you walk in. Hear the roar of the waterfall and the various bird calls making you feel as if you entered a tropical paradise. Some of the birds are free flying in the space, so look up, down and all around so you don’t miss anything. I enjoyed feeling like I was a part of their natural habitat, seeing them in their element. Some of the enclosures are designed so well they blend into the surrounding décor. Different species were occasionally in the same enclosure which gives it even more of a real outdoor feel as they would be cohabitating in the wild. This aquarium has 4 levels but it was easy to navigate for all ability levels. If the ramps are too much there’s an elevator for even easier access.

Eats + Treats of Waco

If you’re a Fixer Upper fan or just a Chip and Joanna Gaines fan in general, you will definitely want to stop by Magnolia Table and the Silos. Expect long lines but it is all well worth the wait. I highly recommend the 542 burger at Magnolia Table; the pimento cheese takes it to another level. The burger is very large (splittable even) but one of the best burgers we’ve ever had! The restaurant has a very clean look, great lines and minimalistic; the classic Joanna Gaines look. After your meal head over to the silos and walk around the grounds where you’ll find many food trucks, a wiffle ball field that you can play on anytime, a beautiful church that is open for you to walk through, the magnolia store full of décor, and a shopping area that has something for everyone (man, woman, kids, and artist). 

No matter how you spend your time here you must get a cookie from the bakery before you leave. The silo cookie was the best cookie I’ve ever had; it’s large, thick, and a little chewy just like I like it. It is like having 3 cookies all in one with oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. They will run out of things as it gets close to closing so get there a little early. If you want some coffee with your sweet treat, head over to Magnolia Press Coffee Co.

For the second part of this trip read East Texas Road Trip Continued.