Where in beautiful Texas would /trv/ recommend going if they had a week? What are the absolute can't-misses to get the quintessential Texan Experience. Does The Beautiful Lone Star State live up to the hype?

You have to get invited to a private barbecue or house party to get the quintessential Texan experience. Texans don't live their leisure life in public spaces like many other people do. Most downtowns in the state are bleak and dull as can be. 95% of the countryside is private property and strictly off-limits. Big Bend is the only part of the state with vast stretches of public parkland. It's become very popular in recent years.

>>2804691
This.
You need to already know people in Texas. Family is best

You’ll eat some of the best food of your life at a gas station

Go to Amarillo, lovely town :)

>>2804681 (OP)
It's kinda dogshit for tourism. Most of it is the same middle American city you can get anywhere. Its cities are good place to work and live.

>>2804681 (OP)
Native here. Texas is not a tourist state. A week here should be spent around the San Marcos, Fredericksburg and Austin area. Everywhere else is not built for tourism. The only places that are worth a visit are NASA, Galveston, the Fort Worth Stockyards, and Bigs Bend. Don't forget that All of those are minimum 4 hours drive apart. with Big Bend being 8 hours from everywhere.

I'll write a quick list geared towards history, culture, nature, authenticity over packaged tourist experiences. I would focus on the Southwestern area of the state.

>Rent a car with 4 wheel drive, fly into austin or san antonio
>Rent a bike and do mission reach trail, starting with Mission Concepcion and working down to Espada
>Visit Presidio La Bahia in Goliad
>cut across to San Ygnacio near the RGV, to see the Treviño-Uribe ranch
>keep driving north along the border, visit Republic of the Rio Grande Museum in Laredo and Los Regios Mexican Restaurant
>Drive north and away from border to Frio Town Cemetery outside Pearsall
>Up to Ruins of St Dominic Catholic Church in D'Hanis, and the D'Hanis Clay Products brick foundry
>Continue to Garner State Park
>Then drive to Rocksprings, visit historic town center
>Then from there drive to Devils River State Natural Area
>Then drive down to Del Rio and visit Cemetario Loma de la Cruz and Whitehead Memorial Museum
>Go west on highway 90 to Roy Bean Museum in Langtry
>Do the Cactus Capital hike in Sanderson
>in Marathon get BBQ and supplies from French Grocer
>Drive down to Big Bend and do hikes and/or camp in the Chisos Basin, other Big Bend stuff
>Leave by driving FM170 west along the border
>Outside Presidio, stop at Fort Leaton
>keep driving on FM170 for hours until you hit the town of Candelaria
>congrats you've reached the edge of the map
>turn around and go back to Rudiosa, check out the Sacred Heart Church
>Drive Pinto Canyon Road / FM2810 up to Marfa
>Continue on into Fort Davis
>Drive 118 up to McDonald Observatory
>Continue on and do Davis Mountains Preserve hike at the picnic area, or visit preserve if it's an open weekend (recommended)
>Continue up the road until you hit I10
>Take I10 east and exit for Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale
>Take I10 east back to airport in Austin or San Antonio
>(optional last stop) Swim/hike at South Llano state park in Junction