As an Arlington transplant, I’m always surprised how many folks choose to remain isolated inside the Arlington boundaries. While the occasional Dallas or Fort Worth-based festival might catch your eye, we live in an awesome state — and dare I say it is begging you to explore more of it.
If you’re feeling adventurous and ready for a beer where no one knows you by name, have a look at the short list below. There’s nothing wrong with being a tourist in your own state — and you might find something cool to do with a mate, family or friends beyond the nurturing bosom of Arlington.
Texas Tourism: TravelTex.com is the official website of Texas Tourism, providing information on events, attractions, cities, and regions, plus tips and tools to help you make travel plans in Texas. Sure its their job to make Texas appear as an irresistable place to spend time in but let’s face facts — it is! It breaks the state down into seven regions where you can do a deep dive into the diversity of scenes Texas offers. From there you’ll get a great grasp of what the area is like and the attractions to explore.
For example – clicking on Hill Country and scrolling all the way to the bottom of the area description will show there’s over 30 wineries in the area. Wine produced in Texas? Yup. And it’s only a three-hour drive away. Who knows what else you’ll find with few clicks of the mouse?
It’s easy to forget about destinations that are not Austin, San Antonio, or Houston — but Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi gets great reviews for those yearning for sand between their toes.
TexasMonthly.com (Travel Section): With the popularity of BBQ at its peak, do you know who has the best smoked protein in Texas? Texas Monthly does and tells you in their top 50 list. I’m totally down to hop in the car and take a cross-state road trip sampling for myself. I love this site because their travel section gives you a great look at what you’re missing out not exploring Texas. It also includes more events, fairs and festivals than you can shake a stick at. It’s well-organized and easy to navigate. When I want to find something in Texas that interest me in or out of the Metroplex, I’m rarely left wanting for details.
And maybe your day to venture across Texas won’t be today. But that F-150 of yours has all that room for a reason. I promise it’ll still work once you cross the county line. We live in a great town but remember –there’s a great state out there just waiting for you to show it more love.
