Rest of Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin: best city, hairstyles, how much)

[orionid]

OK, so most of us are agreed that Austin truly is the best city in Texas ... but of course it still IS Texas. Sometimes by reading and doing web-only research I get the feeling that Austin is an island in a sea of rednecks (no offense to those of you with actual red necks).

I'd like the real picture from those of you who have lived or currently call Austin home. Is Austin really an island where the lucky residents dare not travel more than 20 miles from the city limits for fear of the fate of "Deliverance", or are the surrounding areas just fine thank you? Where do you all (y'all) go for a weekend or driving vacation? How far do you have to go before the banjos start playing? When do you start choking on the dust? When do you seriously risk getting a spur up your a** just 'cause you're with a purdy woman?

No offense intended of course ... but it is a serious question!!

[traceyr13]

I'm sure you'll get some interesting replies to this!

First, I'm a new Austinite. I've only lived here since the end of June, AND I'm coming with the New England bias/mentality. I need to throw that out there because I'm sure it gives me a different take on it than native Texans.

For ME, I'm surprised how much of Texas really is the "stereotypical" Texas that I always heard about. I make the drive from Austin to Houston to see my sister every other month, and I still think it looks "funny" to see the ranches and fields and steer for miles and miles, and then have it broken up every 30 minutes by a "town" that seems to have a Sonic and gas station for its main thoroughfare (in fairness, I'm only driving through on 1 highway).

I drove from Austin to Corsicana (north) to get our puppy, and I remember thinking that it would be neat to see Waco. I kept saying to my husband "That was IT? THAT was Waco? They consider that a small city in Texas?!?"

I totally can't attest to the people in those areas, but as far as the topography and "attractions" - yes, it can be desolate for this lifelong New Englander outside of Austin city limits. (of course not counting Houston or Dallas)

[ripley]

Tracey,

To be fair to Waco, you only skirted the eastern edge on your trip up I-35. The opinions vary on whether a trip through the rest of the city is of any value, but there is nonetheless much more you don't see from the interstate. The trip east on Hwy. 31 to Corsicana doesn't offer you much variety in the sightseeing category, but would improve if you continued east on toward Tyler.

[traceyr13]

Duly noted, thanks!!

[southaustingal]

Originally Posted by traceyr13

it can be desolate for this lifelong New Englander outside of Austin city limits. (of course not counting Houston or Dallas)

And some people prefer it that way. In fact, I have several friends who would choose to live in West Texas, my version of hell. Then others prefer to live in deep East Texas, my teen stomping ground. I'm originally from New England, so I can appreciate the hustle and bustle, but don't sell ranch land short. It's kinda nice to kick back occasionally with nothing but a clear view of the horizon, a few beers, and, yes, even a banjo.

[roaring-rox]

This does not specifically address the questions re: the rest of Texas and types of people outside Austin, but it is a neat animal preserve I saw on TV yesterday that is near Glen Rose, TX (1 hour southwest of Ft. Worth).

It is called 'Fossil Rim Wildlife Center'. They keep many kinds of rare and endangered African species that they are trying to save from extinction-rhinos, antelopes, etc. They also have a rare Texas prairie chicken/partridge they are trying to save. The range the animals were on looked very pretty, fairly lush and open.

In a way it shows the quality of these particular people who run the place.

[traceyr13]

It's kinda nice to kick back occasionally with nothing but a clear view of the horizon, a few beers, and, yes, even a banjo.


LOL! I have a very good friend who just moved from Spring (just north of Houston) to Leakey, TX. They don't even have a streetlight in Leakey, just a blinking light! I would, literally, lose my mind, but she loves it, and gets her "city fix" by coming to Austin or Houston every month or so. So yes, to each his or her own!

[iguanas4]

Originally Posted by orionid

I'd like the real picture from those of you who have lived or currently call Austin home. Is Austin really an island where the lucky residents dare not travel more than 20 miles from the city limits for fear of the fate of "Deliverance", or are the surrounding areas just fine thank you?

We live in Georgetown, and while it's far, far from Deliverance-level scariness, it is different than Austin! I see people around here who look like the stereotypical Texan - men with cowboy hat, big belt buckle, and tight Wrangler jeans. Not the majority, though, I don't think, but hardly anyone who looks Austin-weird. Most people look more or less "normal." (but waaaaay different than SoCal, where we came from.) I also see a lot of older people around here. That's probably due to our proximity to Sun City, a HUGE retirement development.

When we first moved here, we took a day trip out to Fredericksburg. That was unremarkable, but somewhere between here and there, we stopped at a big flea market/swap meet. I can't recall the name of that town, but MAN, it was a culture shock. We got SO many stares walking around there, it was a bit uncomfortable. And we look pretty normal, I think - we had no tattoos showing, we were wearing jeans and t-shirts, we don't have crazy hairstyles or piercings or anything... but those Texans could sure tell that we weren't from around here! They weren't Deliverance-scary either, just different.

So that's my very limited experience. I'll be interested to hear what others who've been here longer have to say.

[cruickies]

Originally Posted by iguanas4

I can't recall the name of that town, but MAN, it was a culture shock

I sure would love to know where that was!

[LastDallasNative]

Half of all the adult residents in Texas were born outside the state (2000 census).

I miss native Texans here in Dallas (Yankeeland).

I often wonder what would happen if we Texans moved en masse to New Jersey.