Travel & Outdoors
April 30, 2021
“Chubby Diaries” Documents the Realities of Vacationing While Fat and Black
With contagious positivity, Austinite Jeff Jenkins uses his popular platform to advocate for plus-sized travelers.
Travel & Outdoors
Travel & Outdoors
April 28, 2021
The Implausible Experience of Kayaking the Trinity River in Downtown Dallas
Since moving to Dallas a few years ago, I've wanted to paddle the glittering water I'd pass while driving.
Where to Stay Now
April 27, 2021
The Great Roadside Motel Comeback
Motels were once a reliable respite for budget-conscious road warriors or transitory locals, but today's motel owners are seeking a younger generation of travelers who have more cash to spend.
Critters
April 23, 2021
The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again?) of the Texas Ostrich Industry
In the ’90s, Texans lost their minds—and their shirts—investing in ostriches and emus. But some think the industry could take flight again.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
On the Road Again!
Call it a collective case of cabin fever. Over a year into the coronavirus pandemic, with more and more of us vaccinated, we Texans are ready to get out—out of our homes and, yes, even out of our beloved state. The open highway beckons with the promise of socially distant
Where to Stay Now
April 15, 2021
Even New Hotels Are Steeped in History in New Orleans
These recently opened or renovated options are ready to welcome you back to the Big Easy.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
A Texan’s Guide to Telluride
This town is full of thrills—especially the Via Ferrata (hint: don't look down)—and necessary chills.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
Bentonville Is a Mountain Biking Paradise
With more than three hundred miles of dirt trails, the city has a wonderful arts scene to boot.
Critters
April 15, 2021
Chasing Down Birds of Prey With Ornithologist and Musician Jonathan Meiburg
His new book traces the evolution of caracaras—a strange and beautiful type of falcon.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
How to Get a Few Kicks on Oklahoma’s Route 66
The state has more than four hundred miles of the Mother Road, but you don’t need to travel all of them to get into the spirit.
Where to Stay Now
April 15, 2021
A New Luxury Resort in Santa Fe Has a Dallas Touch
Chef Dean Fearing and architect Nunzio Marc DeSantis play big roles at Bishop's Lodge, the new retreat from Auberge Resorts Collection.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
Looking for Bison in the Wichita Mountains
Herd immunity means something different at this wildlife refuge in Oklahoma.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
Uncovering Hidden Gems on New Mexico’s Turquoise Trail
The scenic byway offers a lot more than just the way to Santa Fe.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
Encountering Crawfish and Wonder in Cajun Country
Swampland adventures in the heart of Louisiana make the RV life worth it—even when things go wrong.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
Hiking the Mountain Trails Less Traveled in Colorado
The hills are alive with socially distant adventures.
Travel & Outdoors
April 15, 2021
Finding the Healing Power of Travel in Eureka Springs
This magical Arkansas town in the Ozark Mountains brims with discoveries.
Travel & Outdoors
April 12, 2021
Where to Eat, Shop, and Groove in Gruene
Come for the famous dance hall, stay for the outdoor adventures, charming boutiques, and local wine in this river-fringed Central Texas town.
Business
April 6, 2021
The Off-Grid Business Has Never Been Better
When demand surged for pandemic-friendly RVs and camper vans, Austin-based rental company Outdoorsy was ready to capitalize on the trend.
Books
April 5, 2021
How the Elephants at the Houston Zoo Helped an Austin Author
S. Kirk Walsh used her time with the animals and their caretakers for her new book, ‘The Elephant of Belfast.’
Travel & Outdoors
April 2, 2021
Texas Monthly Recommends: A Wildflower Drive
It’s one of the great rites of spring in Texas.
Where to Stay Now
March 26, 2021
First Look: Houston’s Charming Little Art Hotel Harks Back to Bohemian France
La Colombe d’Or reopens with a glistening new tower and redesigned garden bungalows, but the heart of the hotel is its historic 1920s mansion.
Travel & Outdoors
March 18, 2021
How to Spend a West Texas Weekend in Roscoe and Sweetwater
Sample tasty barbecue, gape at one of the world’s largest wind farms, and get a dose of state history in these neighboring West Texas towns.
Where to Stay Now
March 17, 2021
Practice the Art of Staycationing at Three New Dallas Hotels
With packages designed for Texans, these new luxe lodging options feature museum-quality paintings, sculpture, and other artwork.
Travel & Outdoors
March 16, 2021
Sometimes It’s Hard to Be a Garden
Houston’s newborn Eden survives its first major weather event.
Travel & Outdoors
March 3, 2021
How to Care for Plants Damaged by the Texas Freeze—and Prep for Spring
Patience is key, but go ahead and trim those mushy bits.
Travel & Outdoors
March 3, 2021
Inside the Ambitious Plan to Redesign Houston’s Biggest Park
A ten-year, $205 million renovation is transforming Houston’s Memorial Park from a dense and dying thicket into a lush oasis. But is this restoring nature or replacing it?
Critters
February 28, 2021
Axis Deer Had Overrun the Hill Country. The Winter Storm Devastated Them.
Exotic species brought to Texas from Africa and Asia fared poorly in freezing temperatures.
Critters
February 17, 2021
In South Padre, Texans Have Rescued More Than 4,000 “Cold-Stunned” Sea Turtles
Conservationists worked to bring the endangered animals to shore—but getting the turtles warm amid a blackout is the next challenge.
Parks & Recs
February 12, 2021
Finding Respite at Davis Mountains State Park and Its Historic Indian Lodge
In the heart of hard desert country, this welcome refuge features hiking, breathtaking vistas, and proximity to must-visit West Texas attractions.
Parks & Recs
February 12, 2021
Where to Eat, Shop, and Stargaze in and Around Fort Davis
With Davis Mountains State Park as your home base, you can find a lot to explore in the area.
Travel & Outdoors
January 26, 2021
As More Novices Head to the Wilderness, Rescues Are Spiking at Some Texas State Parks
Big Bend Ranch State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area both saw a 50 percent surge in backcountry rescues last year.
Hunting & Fishing
January 21, 2021
In Search of the Chachalaca, the Least-Hunted Game Bird in Texas
With its distinctive, raucous call, the chachalaca is often heard in South Texas—but good luck spotting one.
Hunting & Fishing
January 20, 2021
Where to Hunt, or Photograph, Exotic Animals in Texas
From the Big Bend to East Texas, the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas ranches have been transformed in recent decades by the proliferation of exotic game animals, many of them rare and endangered in their native habitats. With the rise of “Texotics” has come an army of
Wildlife
January 20, 2021
How Texas Hunting Went Exotic
Sprawling ranches. Rare animals. Rich folks with guns. Welcome to the state’s booming business of stalking wildlife from around the globe.
Travel & Outdoors
January 16, 2021
Sanderson Is an Underrated, Adventurous West Texas Escape
This scrappy town on the edge of the Big Bend region has a trendy motel, pistol-packing waitresses, and starry nights aplenty.
Travel & Outdoors
December 30, 2020
Houston Shut Down Its Biggest Biking Event for Pandemic Safety. The Indie Bike Scene Is Less Concerned.
Social cycling clubs have resumed their group rides, with tricked-out bikes and spotty mask-wearing.
Travel & Outdoors
December 17, 2020
It Snowed Across America, and We’re Not Jealous. We Swear.
It’s beautiful! Enjoy shoveling all of that.
Travel & Outdoors
December 10, 2020
Cold-Water Paddling Is for the Brrrave
Winter kayaking and canoeing are catching on, even among heat-loving Texans.
Travel & Outdoors
December 8, 2020
Jupiter and Saturn Will Soon Align in a Rare Astronomical Marvel, and You Can Start Watching Now
With help from the McDonald Observatory in West Texas, we share seven beginner stargazing tips.
Travel & Outdoors
December 8, 2020
An Old Pecan Tree Is a Beacon of Hope at the Holidays
With 60,000 white lights sparkling in the night, it draws hundreds of people each year in the tiny town of Bartonville, near Dallas.
Travel & Outdoors
December 3, 2020
Ten Great Vacation Rentals Vetted by Texas Monthly Writers
From a stargazing spot in Terlingua to a lakefront cabin in the Hill Country, these are a few of our writers’ favorite getaways.
Travel & Outdoors
December 1, 2020
Where to See Holiday Lights and Meet Santa (Safely) This Year
Across Texas, Santa is staying jolly this year with contact-free visits, drive-through light displays, and more pandemic-proof festivities.
Critters
November 20, 2020
Meet the Carrion-Craving Falcon That’s Taking Over Texas
Crested caracaras used to range no farther north than Texas’s southern tip, but now they’re expanding across the state—perhaps because of climate change and habitat loss.
Travel & Outdoors
November 19, 2020
First Look: Dallas’s Newest Luxury Hotel Revives a Historic Bank Building
The Thompson Dallas hotel has transformed the First National Bank tower into a sleek and sophisticated space. Luxury residences and shops are coming soon, too.
Travel & Outdoors
November 17, 2020
What’s Growing in My Garden Now: Images From Backyards Across the State
Texas gardeners share photos of their fall crops, plus tips for preparing for the winter season.
Travel & Outdoors
November 13, 2020
Paddling the River Walk, and Seeing a New Side of San Antonio
The stretch of the San Antonio River that runs through the city’s downtown has been off-limits to canoers and kayakers for years—until the pandemic provided a rare opportunity.
Travel & Outdoors
November 5, 2020
Meet an Intrepid Texan Who Spends Winters at the South Pole
Rockport resident Wayne White has worked for much of the last three years in Antarctica, where temperatures of minus 100 degrees don’t keep him from taking his daily walk or jog.
Travel & Outdoors
November 5, 2020
Now Is the Time to Plant Wildflowers in Texas. Here’s How to Do It Right.
Eight tips from expert gardeners.
Travel & Outdoors
October 30, 2020
Tour de Texas: I Just Biked Around the Entire State
I finished my crazy adventure after two months, circumnavigating Texas—all 3,000-plus miles—by bicycle.
Travel & Outdoors
October 21, 2020
Tour de Texas, Week 7: Tough Climbs and Spectacular Views in West Texas
Bicycling the Big Bend region was an unforgettable experience, with beautiful desert and mountain vistas making up for the painful hills.