{"id":183345,"date":"2025-06-25T16:35:07","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T14:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.thehappyjetlagger.com\/roadtrip-texas\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T20:15:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T18:15:05","slug":"roadtrip-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/roadtrip-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"A Week-Long Texas Road Trip: Cowboys, Canyons & Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Actually, a trip to the USA has always been a safe bet: extremely friendly people, exciting superlatives and unusual culinary delicacies whose nutritional values ultimately make you glad that you don’t come across them too often at home.<\/p>\n\n

\"Chicken<\/figure>\n\n

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?” \u2013 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<\/strong> and, surprise, Texas definitely counts as one for me. <\/p>\n\n

\"Saddle<\/figure>\n\n

For a good week, I traveled with Travel Texas through one of the most prominent states in the USA<\/a>, and admittedly, it wasn’t always easy. The tense political situation<\/strong> 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<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

\"Colorful<\/figure>\n\n

Epic Entertainment in Grand Prairie<\/h2>\n\n

Grand Prairie is located exactly between the two Texan metropolises of Dallas<\/strong> and Fort Worth<\/strong> \u2013 and thus also near Dallas\/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), one of the largest airports in the world.<\/p>\n\n

Zavala’s Barbecue<\/h3>\n\n

Our road trip starts with an impressive introduction to Texan barbecue culture<\/strong>: At Zavala\u2019s Barbecue<\/a>, award-winning brisket<\/strong> awaits us, but their other house specialties like ribs or jalape\u00f1o cheddar sausages are equally outstanding.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
\"People<\/figure>\n\n

Epic Central<\/h3>\n\n

Bestimmt wird mein Eindruck von Grand Prairie durch Epic Central<\/a>, einem k\u00fcrzlich geschaffenen, familienfreundlichen Entertainmentkomplex mit einem Indoor-Wasserpark<\/a>, einer Boulderhalle<\/a>, Hotels wie dem Hilton Garden Inn at Epic Central<\/a>*, Gr\u00fcnanlagen und einem Gastronomiebereich.<\/p>\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n
\"People<\/figure>\n\n

Traders Village<\/h3>\n\n

In Grand Prairie, you’ll also find Traders Village<\/a>, the largest flea market in the USA<\/strong>. With many street food stalls<\/strong>, a large stage for live music<\/strong>, and numerous rides<\/strong>, a real fairground atmosphere emerges here every Saturday and Sunday<\/strong>. However, if you want to browse through the endless offerings of over 3500 vendors<\/strong> in peace, you should arrive as early as possible! <\/p>\n\n

\"Various
At Traders Village, you’ll truly find everything from food…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"Traditional
…to unusual souvenirs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"Shopping
Traders Village in Grand Prairie is only this empty early in the morning. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Food & Drink in Grand Prairie <\/h3>\n\n

My food tips for Grand Prairie: Vidorra<\/a> for upscale Mexican cuisine in a very cool ambiance, Chicken N Pickle<\/a> 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 Caf\u00e9<\/a> \u2013 but beware, the portions here are Texas-sized! <\/p>\n\n

\"Grilled
Modern Mexican cuisine at Vidorra.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Grapevine: Perfect Stopover in Dallas<\/h2>\n\n

If you ever find yourself needing to kill time at Dallas\/Fort Worth Airport<\/a> but don’t feel like the same old airport atmosphere, you can escape to Grapevine<\/strong> for a few hours or even an overnight stay.<\/p>\n\n

\"Street<\/figure>\n\n

The Trinity Metro TEXRail<\/a> takes you directly from the airport to the historic center of Grapevine<\/strong> in just 10 minutes, where you’ll find some charming boutiques, cafes, and restaurants along Main Street<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Fancy even more exciting travel tips for the USA?<\/strong>Here on the USA blog<\/a> you will find interesting travel destinations in the land of opportunity <\/p>\n\n

\"Entrance<\/figure>\n\n

Harvest Hall<\/h3>\n\n
\n

Right at the train station, you should make a stop at Harvest Hall<\/a>, 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 Hotel Vin<\/a>*. My personal tip if you ever need to stay overnight near the airport! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prefer to stay directly in the city? Find hotels in Downtown Dallas here<\/a>*<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

\"Interior<\/figure>\n\n
\"Red<\/figure>\n\n
\n

Vintage Railroad Tour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong> and sends you on a small journey back in time<\/strong> to Grapevine’s past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can book tickets for the Vintage Railroad Tour here<\/a>*<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

\"Red<\/figure>\n\n
\"Water<\/figure>\n\n

Lubbock: Art & Culture in the Texas Panhandle<\/h2>\n\n

About 560 kilometers from Dallas lies Lubbock<\/strong>, known primarily as the center of one of the world’s largest cotton regions<\/strong>. The agricultural nature of the area is already noticeable on the way to the so-called South Plains<\/strong> of Texas. <\/p>\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n

\"Fabric<\/figure>\n\n

Art District<\/h3>\n\n

Although Lubbock seems very remote, the city surprises with a young, art-interested scene<\/strong>: I would never have thought it possible that I would take a pottery class<\/a> in the newly created Art District<\/strong> in Lubbock, right in the middle of the so-called Texas Panhandle.<\/p>\n\n

\"Artist's
Lubbock: Arty and young.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"Hand
At Wild Honey Hats in Lubbock, I had a cowboy hat custom designed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\n

Accommodation in Lubbock<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hotel tip<\/strong>: The Cotton Court Hotel*<\/a>– a very pretty boutique hotel where you can stay in rooms designed in the style of old cotton barns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Modern
Tip: The Cotton Court Hotel in Lubbock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n

Caprocks Canyon State Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re more into nature, I recommend a detour to Caprocks Canyon State Park<\/a>. There you can not only admire the wild nature around the canyon<\/strong> with its impressive red cliffs, but also observe wild bison<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Green<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Caution: In the summer months, it gets very hot<\/strong> here \u2013 pay attention to the warnings from the park rangers<\/strong>. Avoid hot days and equip yourself well with water and sun protection<\/strong>. The risk of sunstroke or even heatstroke should not be underestimated. As an alternative to various trails, there is also a Scenic Drive<\/strong> that takes you by car through part of the park. <\/p>\n\n

\"Bison<\/figure>\n\n
\"Bison<\/figure>\n\n

Amarillo: Route 66 & Cowgirl Moments <\/h2>\n\n
\n

Before my trip to Amarillo, only Tony Christie’s old hit came to mind: “Is this the way to Amarillo?”<\/strong> But did you know that Amarillo is also a stop on the famous Route 66<\/a>? Having already explored some places along this formerly important main thoroughfare in Illinois<\/a>, I was all the more surprised! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you can find all articles about Route 66<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

\"Classic<\/figure>\n\n

Historical Route 66<\/h3>\n\n

The historic Route 66<\/strong> is now located right in the middle of Amarillo and is lined with small antique shops, quirky second-hand stores, and charming cafes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

There you’ll find interesting shops like the atmospheric Aunt Eeks<\/a> or Chapterhouse Books<\/a>, whose owner advocates for the rights of the LGBTQ+ and migrant communities in the area, offering a vital safe space to marginalized groups.<\/p>\n\n

\"Street<\/figure>\n\n
\"Bookstore<\/figure>\n\n
\n

Cadillac Ranch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also a tribute to the important significance of Route 66 is the Cadillac Ranch<\/a>, which is located next to today’s Interstate Highway I-40<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Colorful,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 thus, the appearance of the installation constantly changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n

If you want to channel your inner cowgirl or cowboy, I recommend a trip to Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West<\/a> just outside the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner Phyllis decided, after a successful career in the hotel industry, to trade business life for a life on her Los Cedros Ranch<\/strong>. The special thing is: On the farm, almost exclusively genuine cowgirls<\/strong> work instead of cowboys. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

\"Several<\/figure>\n\n

After a brief introduction, you can ride horses here like a real cowgirl or cowboy<\/strong>, 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<\/a>, the second-largest canyon in the USA<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"Cowgirl<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"People<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Helpful Tips for your Texas Road Trip<\/h2>\n\n

Do You Absolutely Need a Car? <\/h3>\n\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

What to Consider when Renting a Car in Texas?<\/h3>\n\n
\n

An EU driver’s license<\/strong> is sufficient to rent a vehicle, rental cars usually have an automatic transmission<\/strong>, and relaxed driving and parking are easily possible even in major cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can book rental cars in Texas here<\/a>*<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

\"Classic<\/figure>\n\n

What is the Entry Process for the USA like?<\/h3>\n\n
\n

I entered the USA via Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and can’t report anything exciting, except that the entry process<\/strong> went as it always does: Long waiting times<\/strong>, very serious-looking Immigration Officers<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entry was absolutely no problem. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

ESTA or Visa: What You Need to Apply for before Entry<\/h3>\n\n

I have a tourist visa for the USA, but it’s only nice to have and not a must. Otherwise, with a German passport you only need to apply for an ESTA<\/a>. It’s easy to do online, currently costs 21 US dollars and is valid for two years if your passport doesn’t expire before then. <\/p>\n\n

\"Workshop<\/figure>\n\n

Personally, I find the current discussion about entering the USA<\/strong> a bit too driven by the current political situation. However, entry has never been a fun highlight \u2013 even under other administrations. <\/p>\n\n

Perhaps, with a passport<\/strong> like the German one, which opens doors to almost all countries in the world, one might be a bit irritated when difficulties<\/strong> 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 potential risk of an in-depth interrogation by border officials<\/strong>. So, form your own opinion and assess the situation based on your personal circumstances. <\/p>\n\n

\"Various<\/figure>\n\n

Should one Travel to the USA or Specifically Texas Now?<\/h3>\n\n

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<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n

However, I think there are always counter-movements<\/strong> that one can join \u2013 and these are worth discovering and supporting.<\/p>\n\n

\"Various<\/figure>\n\n

From a purely logical point of view, I think now is the best time to travel to the USA<\/strong> anyway. Places that are usually very crowded with foreign tourists are significantly emptier, and the dollar is cheap: ideal conditions for a relaxing vacation. <\/p>\n\n

In any case, you should keep an eye on current events and adjust your travel plans accordingly. Check the Foreign Office website, watch the news and be vigilant – but this also applies to pretty much any other destination. <\/p>\n\n

Disclaimer: The official tourism organization of the State of Texas, Travel Texas, invited me on this trip for research purposes.<\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A road trip with a difference. Starting in Dallas, we head deep into the Texas countryside – to places you would never have expected to find in Texas. Which stops are really worthwhile, how do you plan in a relaxed manner and where is the best BBQ waiting for you? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":181881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Texas Road Trip: Top Insider Tips %%currentyear%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Authentic insider tips off the beaten path for your USA trip: Here you'll find the best spots for food, nature, and cowboy culture in Texas!","_seopress_robots_index":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2423,488],"tags":[2249,4312],"class_list":["post-183345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-trips","category-united-states","tag-route-66-usa","tag-texas-en"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2423,"label":"Road Trips"},{"value":488,"label":"USA"}],"post_tag":[{"value":2249,"label":"Route 66"},{"value":4312,"label":"Texas"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/DSCF1939-1200x800.jpg",1200,800,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Tatiana","author_link":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/author\/tatit\/"},"comment_info":1,"category_info":[{"term_id":2423,"name":"Road Trips","slug":"road-trips","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2425,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Road trips are the perfect way to truly get to know a country and its people! Here you'll find inspiration for your next travels and exciting route suggestions. ","parent":2420,"count":11,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2423,"category_count":11,"category_description":"Road trips are the perfect way to truly get to know a country and its people! Here you'll find inspiration for your next travels and exciting route suggestions. ","cat_name":"Road Trips","category_nicename":"road-trips","category_parent":2420},{"term_id":488,"name":"USA","slug":"united-states","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":490,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Road trips, megacities, or endless expanses: The USA is truly the land of unlimited possibilities. A trip to the USA leaves no one unimpressed! You can get some tips for your vacation here, especially regarding city trips in the USA. New York is one of my favorite cities! \n\nNew York<\/a> | Chicago<\/a> | Miami<\/a> | Boston<\/a> | Route 66<\/a> | Washington DC<\/a>","parent":1144,"count":21,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":488,"category_count":21,"category_description":"Road trips, megacities, or endless expanses: The USA is truly the land of unlimited possibilities. A trip to the USA leaves no one unimpressed! You can get some tips for your vacation here, especially regarding city trips in the USA. New York is one of my favorite cities! \n\nNew York<\/a> | Chicago<\/a> | Miami<\/a> | Boston<\/a> | Route 66<\/a> | Washington DC<\/a>","cat_name":"USA","category_nicename":"united-states","category_parent":1144}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":2249,"name":"Route 66","slug":"route-66-usa","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2251,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":8,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":4312,"name":"Texas","slug":"texas-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3507,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=183345"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":186691,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183345\/revisions\/186691"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/181881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=183345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=183345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=183345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}