A trip to the USA used to be a sure bet: extremely friendly people, exciting superlatives, and unusual culinary delights, whose nutritional values you’re ultimately glad not to encounter too often at home.
But the world is upside down, and lately I’ve been hearing reactions like: “What, you’re traveling to the USA of all places now?” and “Aren’t you afraid of entering the country?” – you’ll find my two cents on that at the end of this article. In any case, I still have a soft spot for exotic destinations and, surprise, Texas definitely counts as one for me.
For a good week, I traveled with Travel Texas through one of the most prominent states in the USA, and admittedly, it wasn’t always easy. The tense political situation hangs like a sword of Damocles in the air. Nevertheless, there are always two sides to a coin. Especially with destinations like Texas, it’s worth keeping an open mind and embracing a trip for what it ultimately was in this case: a rather wild adventure.
Epic Entertainment in Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie is located exactly between the two Texan metropolises of Dallas and Fort Worth – and thus also near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), one of the largest airports in the world.
Zavala’s Barbecue
Our road trip starts with an impressive introduction to Texan barbecue culture: At Zavala’s Barbecue, award-winning brisket awaits us, but their other house specialties like ribs or jalapeño cheddar sausages are equally outstanding.
Epic Central
My impression of Grand Prairie is certainly shaped by Epic Central, a recently created, family-friendly entertainment complex featuring an indoor water park, a bouldering gym, hotels like the Hilton Garden Inn at Epic Central*, green spaces, and a dining area.
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Traders Village
In Grand Prairie, you’ll also find Traders Village, the largest flea market in the USA. With many street food stalls, a large stage for live music, and numerous rides, a real fairground atmosphere emerges here every Saturday and Sunday. However, if you want to browse through the endless offerings of over 3500 vendors in peace, you should arrive as early as possible!
Food & Drink in Grand Prairie
My food tips for Grand Prairie: Vidorra for upscale Mexican cuisine in a very cool ambiance, Chicken N Pickle for snacks and drinks after a round of pickleball on the attached courts. If you’re looking for a culinary brunch spot away from chain restaurants, I recommend the Good Day Café – but beware, the portions here are Texas-sized!
Grapevine: Perfect Stopover in Dallas
If you ever find yourself needing to kill time at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport but don’t feel like the same old airport atmosphere, you can escape to Grapevine for a few hours or even an overnight stay.
The Trinity Metro TEXRail takes you directly from the airport to the historic center of Grapevine in just 10 minutes, where you’ll find some charming boutiques, cafes, and restaurants along Main Street.
Harvest Hall
Right at the train station, you should make a stop at Harvest Hall, a large dining area with many food stalls. Harvest Hall is part of a replica of the former train station building, which also houses a rather charming boutique hotel, the
Prefer to stay directly in the city? Find hotels in Downtown Dallas here*
Vintage Railroad Tour
From the train station, you can switch to a short tour on the historic train, which takes you through the vast landscape of the Cotton Belt and sends you on a small journey back in time to Grapevine’s past.
Lubbock: Art & Culture in the Texas Panhandle
About 560 kilometers from Dallas lies Lubbock, known primarily as the center of one of the world’s largest cotton regions. The agricultural nature of the area is already noticeable on the way to the so-called South Plains of Texas.
The road seems to stretch straight ahead forever, and the expanse of fields on both sides is almost endless. The landscape is only interrupted now and then by tiny villages, so small that you almost miss them.
Art District
Although Lubbock seems very remote, the city surprises with a young, art-interested scene: I would never have thought it possible that I would take a pottery class in the newly created Art District in Lubbock, right in the middle of the so-called Texas Panhandle.
Accommodation in Lubbock
Hotel Tip: The Cotton Court Hotel – a very charming boutique hotel where you can stay in style in rooms designed to resemble old cotton barns.
Caprocks Canyon State Park
If you’re more into nature, I recommend a detour to Caprocks Canyon State Park. There you can not only admire the wild nature around the canyon with its impressive red cliffs, but also observe wild bison.
Caution: In the summer months, it gets very hot here – pay attention to the warnings from the park rangers. Avoid hot days and equip yourself well with water and sun protection. The risk of sunstroke or even heatstroke should not be underestimated. As an alternative to various trails, there is also a Scenic Drive that takes you by car through part of the park.
Amarillo: Route 66 & Cowgirl Moments
Historical Route 66
The historic Route 66 is now located right in the middle of Amarillo and is lined with small antique shops, quirky second-hand stores, and charming cafes.
There you’ll find interesting shops like the atmospheric Aunt Eeks or Chapterhouse Books, whose owner advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ+ and migrant communities in the area, offering a vital safe space to marginalized groups.
Cadillac Ranch
Also a tribute to the important significance of Route 66 is the Cadillac Ranch, which is located next to today’s Interstate Highway I-40.
The colorful art installation consists of ten Cadillacs embedded vertically in the ground, which can be visited free of charge. Every visitor is allowed to artistically immortalize themselves on the car bodies with their own graffiti – thus, the appearance of the installation constantly changes.
Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West
If you want to channel your inner cowgirl or cowboy, I recommend a trip to Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West just outside the city.
Owner Phyllis decided, after a successful career in the hotel industry, to trade business life for a life on her Los Cedros Ranch. The special thing is: On the farm, almost exclusively genuine cowgirls work instead of cowboys.
After a brief introduction, you can ride horses here like a real cowgirl or cowboy, which owner Phyllis lovingly rescued, partly from other ranches, and now gives them a new home. Additionally, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the USA.
Helpful Tips for your Texas Road Trip
Do You Absolutely Need a Car?
Absolutely. Especially if you want to leave major cities like Dallas, Houston, or Austin, you won’t manage without a car. The USA is a driver’s country, and Texas even more so.
What to Consider when Renting a Car in Texas?
An EU driver’s license is sufficient to rent a vehicle, rental cars usually have an automatic transmission, and relaxed driving and parking are easily possible even in major cities.
What is the Entry Process for the USA like?
I entered the USA via Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and can’t report anything exciting, except that the entry process went as it always does: Long waiting times, very serious-looking Immigration Officers with even more serious questions, and just before I completely lose my nerve out of sheer respect, the mask drops, I’m smiled at, my counterpart might even crack a small joke, but in any case, wishes me a friendly American stay, and presto, I’ve entered.
Entry was absolutely no problem.
ESTA or Visa: What You Need to Apply for before Entry
I have a tourist visa for the USA, but it’s just nice to have and not a must. With a German passport, you only need to apply for an
Personally, I find the current discussion about entering the USA a bit too driven by the current political situation. However, entry has never been a fun highlight – even under other administrations.
Perhaps, with a passport like the German one, which opens doors to almost all countries in the world, one might be a bit irritated when difficulties arise. I myself (with my German passport) was thoroughly questioned twice upon entry and exit in another country; I suspect to this day due to racial profiling, because it’s visible that my ancestry is diverse. Since then, I can understand anyone who doesn’t want to expose themselves to the
Should one Travel to the USA or Specifically Texas Now?
If your political stance is a reason why you’re asking yourself this question, you should carefully consider whether a trip to a rather conservative state like Texas is for you. Sometimes, in conversations with locals, their views do come to light, and if you have a strong opinion of your own (and/or, like me, a Latin/South American/general migration history), that can certainly become a challenge.
However, I think there are always counter-movements that one can join – and these are worth discovering and supporting.
From a purely logical point of view, I think now is the best time to travel to the USA anyway. Places that are usually very crowded with foreign tourists are significantly emptier, and the dollar is cheap: ideal conditions for a relaxing vacation.
In any case, you should keep an eye on current events and adjust your travel plans accordingly. Consult the website of your foreign office, watch the news, be vigilant – but that applies to pretty much any other destination as well.
Disclaimer: The official tourism organization of the State of Texas, Travel Texas, invited me on this trip for research purposes.
