Best Texas

Barbecue beef ribs, often nicknamed dino ribs due to their massive size, consist of thick cuts of beef plate or short ribs. The preparation method involves slow-smoking the meat for eight to ten hours at low temperatures to render the heavy fat content. This style of barbecue was heavily popularized...

Texas smoked brisket is the central dish of the Central Texas barbecue tradition, consisting of a whole beef brisket cooked low and slow over post oak wood for 12 to 18 hours. The raw meat is typically seasoned with nothing more than coarse salt and black pepper, a preparation method often called a...

Rice University is a leading private research institution located in Houston, Texas. Established in 1912, it’s recognized for its strong academic programs across engineering, natural sciences, and humanities. The university emphasizes undergraduate teaching alongside significant research initiatives...

The Big Island is a prominent boulder problem located at Hueco Tanks State Park in Texas. It’s recognized as a classic V12 route demanding powerful dynamic movements and precise footwork. The problem’s difficulty and style have made it notable within the bouldering community, particularly for experi...

The White Shaman Mural is a complex petroglyph and pictograph located within the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas. Created by Indigenous peoples associated with the Pecos River culture, it’s notable for its intricate blending of styles – including the distinctive Pecos River motif – and represents o...

Quetzalcoatlus northropi was a giant azhdarchid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of what is now Texas. It is known from limited remains of a very large individual discovered in Big Bend National Park, so estimates of its exact proportions remain uncertain, but commonly cited wingspan estimates are...

Lake Austin Spa Resort is a destination wellness resort located on the shore of Lake Austin in Texas. It combines overnight accommodation with spa treatments, fitness and movement classes, outdoor activities, cooking and nutrition programming, and access to the lake. Its relatively contained waterfr...

The University of Texas at Austin is a leading public research university located in Austin, Texas. Established in 1883, it’s the principal institution within the state's comprehensive higher education system. Known for its extensive research programs and diverse academic offerings, the university s...

Big Bend National Park encompasses over 800,000 acres of Texas desert landscape adjacent to the U.S.-Mexico border. Its notable features include the Rio Grande River, dramatic mountain ranges, and extensive undeveloped wilderness. The park provides opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife vie...

King of the Hill is a long-running animated sitcom depicting the daily life of the Hill family residing in Arlen, Texas. The series, created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, gained recognition for its realistic portrayal of working-class American values and humor. It’s notable for its consistent char...

Pantera is an American rock band formed in Texas in 1981. The group’s signature style—often categorized as groove metal—is recognized for complex rhythmic patterns and intense vocals. Their music significantly influenced heavy metal and continues to resonate with audiences who appreciate powerful, t...

The Lone Star Showdown is the traditional college football rivalry between the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University. The annual matchup was played continuously from 1915 until 2011, when Texas A&M University left the Big 12 Conference to join the Southeastern Conference. The game w...

Established on the Texas Gulf Coast in 1937, it is the primary wintering ground for the endangered whooping crane, whose wild population recovered from fewer than 20 individuals in the mid-20th century.

Established in southeastern Texas in 1974, this national preserve protects a region where eight distinct ecosystems converge, producing one of North America's highest concentrations of plant and animal diversity.

This Coen Brothers masterpiece captures the terrifying, unstoppable nature of modern violence. Following a drug deal gone wrong, the film tracks the fallout through a desolate Texas landscape. Its less about the action and more about the creeping dreadthe sense that a brutal, indifferent force is sw...

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is an American football stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. It opened in 1924 as a memorial to Texans who served in World War I. The stadium is home to the Texas Longhorns football team and has a seating capacity of over 100,000, making...

Slashface is a well-known boulder route located within Hueco Tanks State Park in Texas. It’s notable for being a classic V12 problem requiring precise dynamic movement and sustained effort. Climbers seeking challenging bouldering experiences, particularly those interested in Texan granite routes, fr...

The Liars' Club is Mary Karr's 1995 memoir about her childhood in an unstable family in an East Texas oil-refining town. It recounts family conflict, alcoholism, mental illness, sexual abuse, and the stories told by Karr's father and his friends at the local Liars' Club. Written with a child's persp...

The Chevron Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held in Houston, Texas, typically in January, first run in 1972. The race features a flat, fast course through downtown Houston and surrounding areas, making it popular among runners seeking personal best times, and it has hosted the United States O...

Established in 1992, the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Texas Hill Country and protects the rugged canyon ecosystems of the Edwards Plateau. The refuge was specifically created to preserve crucial nesting habitat for two endangered migratory birds, the golden-cheeked...

Mary Karr’s *The Liar's Club* is a powerfully honest memoir detailing her upbringing in the Texan oil country of the 1950s and 60s. The book explores themes of family dysfunction, religious questioning, and childhood trauma with unflinching detail. It gained significant attention for its raw portray...

Hell or High Water is a 2016 political thriller set in West Texas examining themes of family loyalty and desperation. The film follows two brothers engaged in a dangerous scheme to reclaim their inherited farm by robbing banks. A determined Texas Ranger relentlessly pursues them, creating a suspense...

Too Far to Care is the major-label debut studio album by the American alternative country band Old 97's, released on June 17, 1997, through Elektra Records. Recorded in Austin, Texas, the album captures the band's blend of punk rock energy with traditional country music structures, featuring promine...

"Honky Tonk Masquerade" is the third studio album by Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely, released in 1978 on MCA Records. The record blends traditional honky-tonk country with rock and roll, featuring instrumental contributions from musicians such as Lloyd Maines and Jesse Taylor. Rooted in the Lubbock...

Aaron Franklin’s *Franklin Barbecue* offers a detailed look at the craft of producing exceptional Texas barbecue. The book explores his methods for smoking brisket and other meats, emphasizing precision and patience. It is particularly valuable for serious home cooks and aspiring pitmasters interest...

Bluebird, Bluebird is a 2017 crime novel by American writer Attica Locke and the first book centered on Texas Ranger Darren Mathews. Mathews travels to the fictional East Texas town of Lark to investigate the deaths of a Black lawyer from Chicago and a local white woman. The novel combines a murder...

Election is a darkly comedic film about teenage ambition and political maneuvering set in a 1990s Texas high school. It examines the intense rivalry between a popular student and a dedicated debate coach as they compete for power. The movie’s sharp satire and exploration of social dynamics resonate...

Housed in a beautifully restored historic brewery, Hotel Emma offers a unique and immersive experience in San Antonio. Guests can explore the hotel's industrial heritage, enjoy craft beers brewed on-site, and dine at award-winning restaurants. Located on the River Walk, it provides easy access to th...

Agapostemon texanus is a species of green bee native to Texas and parts of North America. It belongs to the sweat bee group, notable for collecting perspiration as a primary food source for its larvae. These bees are particularly interesting to entomologists studying bee diversity and pollination be...