While most people believe that speakers who switch languages within a sentence are linguistically deficient, language specialists argue the opposite. No problem. Thats it. For example, did you know that the Atkinson Candy Company has been making one of Americas favorite candies in the little town of Lufkin, Texas, since the 1930s? John Spong, 68. You aren't a true Texan until your tires have been covered in mud. Yup. It's the largest ranch in the entire country and the birthplace of the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle. Texas Dr. Pepper is Dr. Pepper. His protgs, Dick DeGuerin and his brother, Mike DeGeurin (the former reverted to the older spelling of the name), have taken up a string of celebrity clients, from Kay Bailey Hutchison to Tom DeLay to various Branch Davidians. Texas is awash in bills aimed at fending off critical examinations of the states past. But the best place to drink it is at the Dublin Dr Pepper Museum, where a soda jerk still serves it ice-cold from a fountain. Dont forget to spring for onion rings and a cold bottle of beer, and leave your window up just a bit for the tray. The park doesnt really work. Get more stories delivered right to your email. In the end, though, the only thing that matters is that because of what happened here, Texas is a state that was onceand alwaysa nation, and that makes all the difference. 872 Words4 Pages. The ringing of those bells reminds me that three centuries ago Texas was a small, rebellious Mexican province and in some ways still is. . The Broken Spoke, AustinLong before Austin began dubbing itself the Live Music Capital of the World, this honky-tonk was busy playing host to the best country acts in the worldup-and-comers like Willie Nelson and George Strait, progressive cowboys like Asleep at the Wheel, and later still, alt-country rockers like the Derailers. You probably guessed those. The most expensive, though, was always the Ricardo, a Mi Tierra exclusive named for the baker whod created this delicacy. Where else do smokers this big exist?! Shes lucky. John Morthland, 4. Brian D. Sweany, 45. Inside, one sees why: Intricate designs in wood parquetry embellish every surface. The term is often used to describe the state of Texas, with phrases like Im fixin ta head down Texas way. Texas is a great state to be in. Each time wed stop in, Id try to impress her by answering the daily trivia questionranging from SMU history to current events to Russian literaturewhich would have earned me a free glazed doughnut and untold admiration. Career trouble? For even more cool facts about Texas, check out our article filled with 12 things you didnt know about the history of Texas. Languages come together in the same creative style that cultures do. Paul Burka, 54. Sprouting talent like mesquite, Lubbock is Texass cool and homely subcapital out west. With its unprecedented preponderance of helictitesneither stalactites nor stalagmites but growths that twist and turn out from the caves wallsnearly every inch of Sonora, not just the floors and ceilings, bursts with complex colors and formations. Mimi Swartz, 47. The hike is by no means a cinch, but almost anyone can make it with enough will and a comfortable pair of shoes. The Presidio County Courthouse is seen on December 27, 2012 in Marfa, Texas. Sip coffee at the hip Empire Cafe or the even hipper Brasil and watch the parade of gays, straights, street people, and society matrons, or sample the best food in town at Da Marco, Churrascos, or Marks. Yes, they are a clich. After you spend time watching the animals, head to the on-site restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal. Cecilia Balli, 59. But, heywere wasting timeor, burning daylight: lets get right down to the lick-log, with a few examples of how to talk Texan. And no, they dont smell particularly good, and you arent supposed to pick them on the highway, under penalty of something like death. . Its that Walkers tone, touch, dynamics, note selection, harmonies, and emotional expression have rarely been improved upon in the ensuing six-plus decades, only refined. Your teeth may fall out, but it's totally worth it! These two songs tell you what that world looked liked. How do you feel about this list? You can catch him on one of the religious channels on cable, but to understand what he can really do, you need to see him live. For the perfect day trip, visit Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. But what keeps me coming back to the University of Texass unplumbable cultural repository are its more intimate gems: John Steinbecks original draft of East of Eden. San JacintoOkay, lets admit it. We never got that picturewell, we did; the three of us in midair and him peering skeptically over the sidebut we had a great time, as we always do. The rituals harken back to a time when politics was intensely personal and political rallies were a form of entertainment. But the years pass and the skin shrivels into beef jerky and the hair flattens to the shape and consistency of a thatched roof and you do come to looove Austin precisely because it is not dryyyy. For example: Who else thinks we're just "Nice And when he received his Oscar in March for best adapted screenplay, he wore jeans and boots. There Are No Two Sides in Texass Fiery Truck Debate, At Brownsvilles Annual Grito Contest, Its All About Yelling Your Heart Out, Step Aside, Perrys: This 30-Ounce Smoked Pork Chop Is Ready to Take the Crown, Willie Nelsons Son Lukas on Ancient Texts, Pearl Jam, and I Never Cared for You, Love and Death in Silicon Prairie, Part I: Candy Montgomerys Affair, I Biked the I-35 Hell Route From Austin to San Antonio So You Dont Have To, Texas-Style Pulled Pork Is Embarrassing, The Astrodomes Decline From Eighth Wonder to Eighth Blunder of the World, 15 Treasure-Filled Spots to Antique in Small-town Texas, Mosquito Hawks Are Flitting All Over Texas, Matthew McConaughey Is Monetizing His Whole Vibe, Love and Death in Silicon Prairie, Part II: The Killing of Betty Gore. Shes a couple sandwiches shy of a picnic. Expressions for homeliness are the most common of Texas sayings. Most of the canvas is eggshell white. Theres various ways in which the Mexican culture has cemented itself in Texas culture, such as with food. Some words that start with the letter U that may be used to describe the state of Texas are: Unique, Universal, Useful, Urban, Ultimate, and Underestimated. . Quail huntingIts the most exhilarating and most dangerous type of hunting this side of going after big game. All you get is a metal rocker on a wide porch overlooking the emerald-green Comal and the drunken tubers floating byin other words, near-perpetual serenity. Fixin ta: This means someone is about to do something. Mimi Swartz, 48. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Christopher Keyes, 50. All I do is flash a photo ID, and the world is mine. Just show up on a Thursday night at about ten-thirty, when the house band launches into Boot Scootin Boogie. Skip Hollandsworth, 51. Duh. Evan Smith, 16. This trail will lead you to a fascinating abandoned mine. It hardly seems like much at first. Charlie Llewellin, 67. When my family has a few spare days, we sneak over to New Braunfels and (mostly) ignore the insanity of Schlitterbahn, preferring instead a cottage at the Other Place.