Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

Season 20 of The Texas Bucket List kicks off February 11th

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It is time to experience everything the Lone Star State has to offer and meet the incredible people who make our state what it is with another season of The Texas Bucket List! The Texas Bucket List is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023 and we kick off Season 20 with some of host and creator Shane McAuliffe’s favorite stops from the past decade! From driving tanks to seeing the incredible night sky full of stars out in west Texas, you’ll be mesmerized by the things Shane finds while exploring our great state! So, get ready to set sail as Shane shows you the awesome things, you didn’t know you needed to see, right here in our own backyard. Tune in to your local television affiliate for the 20th Season Premiere and 10th anniversary special of The Texas Bucket List on February 11th.

The Texas Bucket List reveals the tales of the Lone Star State through one Texan’s story at a time. The award-winning TV series shares the joy, wonder, beauty, and excitement of Texas. Each week, host Shane McAuliffe sets out to add more people, places, food, and music to a list that every Texan should experience.

Shane has been recognized with numerous television broadcast excellence awards including a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, four Lone Star EMMY Awards, the Barbara Jordan Media Award, several Telly Awards, Communicator Awards, and multiple Texas Association of Press Broadcasters awards. He’s a native of Round Rock, Texas and attended The University of Houston. The Texas Bucket List is produced by McAuliffe Productions, LP located in College Station, Texas. The Texas Bucket List is made possible by Simmons Bank, Slovacek’s Sausage, Texas Dairy Queen, and Toyota.

The Texas Bucket List – Midpoint Cafe in Adrian

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Adrian – The great wide open of the panhandle plains of Texas, the road seems to go on forever, especially the world-renowned Route 66. From big steaks, painted Cadillacs, to neon covered service stations, there’s all sorts of sights to see on the 179 miles of Route 66 that pass through the Lone Star State.

Smack dab in the middle of the Main Street of America is a small café in Adrian called the Midpoint Café. “I think it’s pretty awesome. Be right smack dab in the middle. Destiny either way, right?” says customer Nykole Vance.

Brenda Hammit is the owner of the Midpoint Café, a casual eatery that sits right on the old Route 66. Despite the fact tons of traffic passes by her on the Interstate right behind the building, she still gets plenty of starving sightseers. But it’s not just BLTs and hamburgers that draw people in. They’re also looking for a taste of history. “They’re enamored with 66 period. The people along 66 are awesome man, everywhere,” Brenda said. “In every state everywhere. They’re great people. And I think that the people bring them back as well. I don’t think it’s necessarily all the road – I think it’s the people,” said Hammit.

Brenda started as a cook at the Midpoint Café in 2013 and took ownership of the place in 2018. The diner has been a fixture on the famous road since the late 40s when it was called Zella’s Café. In the 60s, the owners named it Jesse’s, and then in the late 90s, it was discovered that the midpoint of Route 66 happened to be right outside the restaurant, and the rest is history.

“There’s only one midpoint on the trip and this is the perfect place for it,” said customer Mark Stahl from Wisconsin.

“That line is special to them when I didn’t have it up last year because they paved over it. They were just, “When are you putting that line back up? When are you putting that line back up?” joked Brenda.

The nostalgia is also a big part of the roadside experience. “It’s nice to see how things used to be compared to how they are now. And it’s nice to help support some of the smaller businesses and stuff like that which almost got wiped off when they put the interstates through,” said Mark.

Midpoint’s connection to the popular Disney movie, Cars, is what really revs folks up around here. As it turns out, one of the former owners of the Midpoint Café has a close connection to the classic cartoon movie. “Miss Fran is the one that really put it on the map for the Route 66, Fran Houser. And she’s Miss Flo and the Route Cars and she’s the one that really put it on the board,” said Brenda.

Nowadays, people come by to see Brenda, and even if you have no idea who she is, be prepared for a hug. She loves to give them and loves to receive them and is known for being a really sweet lady, just like her pies. “I always come for the pie and then we’ll get lunch. And then we’re like, “Why did we get lunch? We just wanted the pie.” But it’s all so good,” said Dawn, a regular customer.

There’s nothing more synonymous with America than Route 66 and apple pie, so if you want a serving of both, stop by the Midpoint Café to fill your stomach and find a friend.

The Texas Bucket List – Horny Toad Brewing in Rowena

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Rowena – In the desolate Runnels County, you’ll find the small town of Rowena. This collection of around four hundred folks doesn’t have a whole lot going on in or around it, given its surrounded by cotton fields and farmland. But if you take a walk down main street, you’ll find the town’s most popular location to hang out, the Horny Toad Brewing Company.

“It’s very fitting to have a great brewery here in this town and holding onto that culture that founded it,” said visitor Scott Gonzales.

“We really like the way he brought back a little community in here again,” mentioned local Tony Multer.

Michael McNeill, a fellow Irishman, opened up the Horny Toad back in 2012. His wife is the one who led him to this tiny town. She was born and raised in Rowena.

Interestingly enough, Rowena’s claim to fame is being the birthplace of Bonnie Parker.  It’s also home to the last bank “Doc” Newton ever robbed in 1968. Other than that, there’s not a lot happening here, so when Mike decided to open up a brewery, some people had their suspicions of it working out.

“It’s a crazy thing to do. I mean, everyone thought I was nuts to open a brewery in Rowena, Texas.

“Maybe I was nuts. I don’t know,” joked Mike.

Mike is an army veteran and served for 13 years. He was first stationed in Germany which is where his obsession with grain, hops, yeast, and water began.  “I didn’t realize there were different kinds of beer until I went to Germany and got stationed in Germany. Every town in Germany has their own brewery. And there’s several styles that they drink over there,” Mike noted. “Where before I went to Germany, it was just the fizzy yellow water.”

After Germany, Mike went to Iraq. Then, despite wrapping up his military service, he went off to Afghanistan voluntarily. He stayed there for a year and a half doing contract work, and that’s how he saved up to start his business.  “We’re really, really excited that Mike did this and he has become, I think, pretty close to a pretty good brew master,” joked Tony.

What really makes the Horny Toad unique is a small monument that sits right out front of its façade.  According to Mike, in 1911 Runnels County voted itself dry, which was much to the chagrin of the Rowena population. “In protest, they buried a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of beer and erected a headstone that said Here Lies Our Liberty,” said Mike pointing to the monument outside his brewery.

Today  you can enjoy a delicious Texas beer while reminiscing about the history of prohibition in the shadows of that historical marker. “It’s kind of like a full circle moment. We went from prohibition to now having this awesome brewery right here in our town,” said Alisha Multer.

The Texas Bucket List – Season 19 Bite of the Season

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Season 19 of The Texas Bucket List has officially come to a close, and it’s time to reveal our five favorite bites from Season 19! This season of The Texas Bucket List was filled with flavorful and delicious burgers, BBQ, steaks, and some more good ol’ homestyle cooking. All were very deserving of recognition, and they are all well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List! But listed below are the Top 5 Bites from Season 19 of The Texas Bucket List! (CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH THE STORY!)

#5 Be Blessed BBQ

Over in Nacogdoches, there is a barbecue food truck with a unique take on the classic brisket sandwich. Brisket with peanut butter and jelly! This food truck serves the community and delicious food, earning a spot in the top 5 bites of the season.

#4 Cowboys and Indians 

Down in Houston, this restaurant combines cuisines from two cultures a world away. This fun food fusion has a wide variety of dishes to choose from. This restaurant has great food no matter what you’re in the mood for!

#3 5D Cattle Company Steak House and Meat Market 

The tiny town of Avinger brings in hundreds of hungry Texans with the Five D Cattle Company Steak House and Meat Market. At this restaurant, you are sure to get a perfectly delicious cut of meat.

#2 Brantley Creek BBQ 

Over in Odessa, this BBQ trailer has long lines of people waiting to get some delicious BBQ. And with family recipes of pinto beans and mac and cheese for side dishes, Brantley Creek BBQ earned themselves one of the top spots on this season’s Bite of the Season!

 

#1 Maceo Spice and Import Company

The Maceo Spice and Import Company in Galveston connects rich history and delicious food, all made by the Maceo’s. This restaurant takes the number one spot of this season’s Bite of the Season, with the muffuletta being one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had!

The Texas Bucket List Earns Three Lone Star EMMY Nominations

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College Station – The Texas Bucket List is honored to announce that we have been nominated for three Lone Star EMMY Awards this year! The Lone EMMY Emmy Awards is under the Lone Star Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences which strives to further advance the arts and sciences of television. The Chapter is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing the high levels of professional achievement through the annual presentation of the regional Emmy Awards. The Texas Bucket List was nominated in three categories including the Human-Interest category for segment, “A Prayer On The Wings Of A Bluebird.” The segment, “The Storm Marches On,” was nominated in the Arts/Entertainment category, and host Shane McAuliffe, “The Host With A Hearty Laugh,” was nominated in the talent category.

Over the past nine years, The Texas Bucket List has been awarded four Lone Star Emmy Awards and has been nominated 21 times. Currently in our 19th season, TBL can be seen on all television affiliates in Texas, KSLA in Shreveport, WBKO in Bowling Green, WVLT in Knoxville, and nationally on RFD-TV.

 

The Texas Bucket List – Boot Hill Cemetery in Tilden

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Tilden – The landscape of McMullen County is what you’d expect in south Texas.  It’s a desolate land covered in mesquite, brush, and the occasional cactus. Tilden is the county seat of this sparce part of the state, and it happens to be in the 5th   least populated county in Texas.

“The population’s about 800.” The whole county? “The whole county.” Wow. “Yes, that’s correct.” You’re not kidding. There aren’t- “No, there’s not. And about 1,160 square miles, so it’s a big county with few people,” said McMullen County Judge James Edward Teal.

Teal is a 5th generation Texas who was raised in this rustic region.  James has served as the County Judge since 2010. “Every ounce of soil that’s in this county, I have a huge fondness for,” James said. That includes the old cemetery located right outside of his office in the center of town. Contrary to most historic cemeteries, this graveyard isn’t grandiose or even of great notoriety.

The Boot Hill Cemetery was established in 1858 and has become an odd sight given the town has grown around it. According to James, “McMullen County, and Tilden especially, were on a trade route from San Antonio to Laredo and a lot of shady characters came around. There were a lot of people that were killed under mysterious circumstances, or by murder.”

When asked why it’s called Boot Hill Cemetery, James said that the story he was always told is because men died with their boots on.  Assassinations, gun battles, cholera, and being thrown from a horse were the ways of the west back then. Not so peaceful endings!

“A lot of them were killed on the streets, and one of them killed because he was wearing a top hat and a guy thought that he could shoot a hole in the top hat, and he ended up shooting the guy in his tracks and killing him. He’d had a little too much to drink. So that’s the story that floated around here, anyway,” said Teal with a chuckle.

There are some more established grave sites that are obvious for a reason. “What I’ve been told over my lifetime is that these graves that are covered with concrete and rock were actually graves of people that had died of cholera,” James said. “The residents were definitely afraid of the spread of cholera, so they covered the graves in hopes that the cholera wouldn’t leach through the ground.”

We also saw a grave site that was the most pronounced grave in the site, and it was very different from the rest. With a massive solid slab gravestone surrounded by a rusted iron fence, it’s the most ornate grave on the grounds. “This young man died in a horseback accident. He’d fallen off a horse. And whenever news got back to his family, his family actually shipped this wrought iron fence and the granite covering,” Jim explained. “The young man’s name was Greer. I think he was 25 years old or so when he passed, so this is a permanent monument that his family set up for him. And it’s been right here, of course, since he was buried in 1874.”

Now in their eternal rest, these pioneers have put Tilden on the map in a unique way, by kicking the bucket with their boots on. James noted, “it’d be very, very interesting to know the real truth. What the real truth is, and how accurate our stories have been passed down. It would be great to know that.”

If you’re interested in old lore and tales of Texas, the Boot Hill Cemetery is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!

The Texas Bucket List – The Menger Hotel in San Antonio

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San Antonio – The stories of old San Antonio go back centuries and on some of the most hallowed ground in the whole state, you’ll find the Menger Hotel. This hotel has been a popular place for nearly 200 years.

Garvin O’Neal is the general manager of the hotel that is located right next to the Alamo. He has worked in many prestigious properties across the Lone Star State, but the hospitality industry wasn’t his original plan. “I was in chemical engineering,” said Garvin. “I got a D in calculus my freshman year, so I said, maybe this ain’t for me.”  Garvin also does an amazing Robert De Niro impression and has even been confused for the famous actor!

After his long career, Garvin received a call from the Moody family who own the Menger Hotel to take over. Garvin answered, “I’m in… I love this hotel for years. Stayed in this hotel lots and got the Menger. Yeah, it’s a great hotel.” When asked what resonates the most with him about this hotel, he said the sense of history it has.

The Menger Hotel opened in 1859, just 23 years after the fall of the Alamo. It was built by William and Mary Menger who originally built it as a brewery with a boarding house. Ultimately, the Mengers used their profits from that to build one of the finest full-service hotels west of the Mississippi.

The hotel was redesigned around 1909, but the original 1859 lobby has the same bones. Soon after the hotel opening, the restaurant was added. The hotel then underwent more construction to add the east wing because of the large success of the place.

While walking through the hotel, you will still find some of the original furniture the Mengers had a hand in putting in. According to Garvin, “The Mengers went to Europe between the fifties and the seventies to buy great pieces of antique furniture like [the] Steinway. And as you look through the lobby, you see some pieces that are original to the Menger Hotel in the first phase and were purchased by William and Mary on their trips to Europe.”

Many people have stayed at the Menger over the years, including celebrities like Roy Rogers, Babe Ruth, and presidents Grant, Lee, McKinley, Eisenhower, and Clinton. Additionally, several Texas history authors, such as Sidney Lanier and O’Henry, have spent weeks at a time at the Menger.

The Colonial Room is one of the most famous areas where people have gathered over the years because of its reputation for serving a tasty treat. This restaurant has become known for its homemade mango ice cream, and let me tell you, it is fantastic!

There is another aspect to the Menger Hotel that is a popular topic – the spooky stories. “I think when it comes to paranormal, it’s the power of suggestions. So people come in thinking, ‘wow, this place is haunted.’ Then you walk the hallways over there and it is wooden floors and they creak, right? They creak and you’re like, ‘wow, that’s weird,” said O’Neal.

One of the most famous spots for hauntings is the King Ranch suite. In this very room and even exact bed, Richard King, the founder of King Ranch, passed away in 1885. Garvin said “it’s also the most requested room in the hotel because people want to go and have Richard King visit. He’s the most popular ghost, apparently, in the hotel.”

Garvin chalks up the creepy noises and creaks to the hotel’s old age. Although, he did mention he has had one creepy encounter of his own.  “I’ve had one fleeting moment of something very bizarre. I sensed somebody being next to me up there. But I haven’t let it get to my head.”

There is also the Menger Bar which deserves a story of its own! But this time, we only checked in on one of the most storied places to stay in our great state of Texas.

If you’re looking to see and experience Texas history, a stay at the Menger Hotel is a great spot on The Texas Bucket List. Like Garvin says, “If you want to get a sense of culture and go back in time to the late 1800s and get a feel of San Antonio from that perspective, then you probably need to stay at the Menger.”

The Texas Bucket List – Mitchell Spur Collection in Gatesville

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Gatesville – There’s not much more synonymous with our state than the spur.  Heck we’ve even got a professional basketball team named after them. But over in Gatesville they’ve got so many spurs that I’m told a horse won’t step one hoof into town.  After our visit, I can see why!

Coryell County is home to a great deal of Fort Hood. Just north of the massive military base is Gatesville, a small town with a love for spurs. “It means everything to us. It really does,” said Ervin Adams, the President of the Board of Coryell County Museum.

Established in 1985, the Coryell County Museum tells the story of the county that’s been around since 1854. Here you’ll find the county’s original jail that Sam Bass was jailed in in 1878 for disturbing the peace. You’ll see some of the most detailed and decorated doll houses I’ve ever seen. And they happen to have the largest spur collection in the world. “Pretty much the whole museum is centered around the spur collection,” stated Ervin.

The Mitchell Spur Collection is massive and it’s put Gatesville on the map. Local coaching legend Lloyd Mitchell amassed this collection of over 10,000 spurs in his lifetime. “Coach Mitchell was a special man, he did a lot of things in his life and then just did this collecting on the side,” explained Ervin.

How did a small-town football coach get into that? “Well, I married the Mitchell’s youngest daughter,” stated Grayson Wetzel, the son-in-law of Lloyd Mitchell.

Grayson knows this collection well.  He married Charlotte Ann Tootie Mitchel and he first set his sights on the substantial spur collection when he met his future father-in-law in 1965. “They sent me outside with her daddy. Out in the back of their house there were two old wooden buildings. Both of those buildings were crammed full of spurs and other western memorabilia. I spent the afternoon out there in hog heaven,” explained Grayson.

After that first meeting, Grayson knew he was saddling up for a long ride with the family. “As we were finishing up the visit that afternoon he said, ‘Young man, you’re welcome to come back anytime. Just bring a spur.’ So I made it my goal to do that from that time on,” said Grayson.

Grayson took us on a tour of this massive collection, and it sure does live up to its reputation! The museum has around 6,000 of the spurs in the museum. “It’s hard to display all of them,” stated Grayson.

The main exhibit consists of the most unique and storied spurs, even spurs owned by Jackie Kennedy. There’s even a colossal spur in this sizable spur collection. Then there’s spurs that showcase some unique artistry. “One of the display cases shows Gal-Leg spurs. And as I’ve done programs through the years, I say Gal-Leg spur just like that. I find that many people have no clue what I’m talking about. On the shank of the spur, the heel bands got decoration on it. Looks like a lady’s leg. So in history books or other books, you’ll find them called Gal-Leg, or sometimes they’ll say Lady-leg spurs,” explained Grayson.

So just what was it that made a football coach from a small-town start collecting this particular piece of ranching equipment? “As a young man, he was headed out west, headed towards Yellowstone to work, but he was working on a ranch that’s on the way in New Mexico. Says he was riding through the pasture one day and he looked down and saw something shiny. Says he got off his horse, kicked the dirt around, and sure enough there was a spur. He said, ‘I picked it up and I’ve kept it.’ And then said, ‘I’ve been looking for the mate to it ever since.’,” explained Grayson.

Surprisingly the spur collection has spurned interest in a tool that some folks don’t even know what it’s for anymore. “Everybody knew about spurs back then, past my generation I’m not sure how many know about spurs,” stated Grayson.

“A lot of people don’t even know what a spur is and when they walk through the door they just want to know what a spur is and take them and show them what a spur is. What does it do? Why’d they use them? And we’d have to tell a story about what they’re used for. I’m serious. We’ve had people walk in the door and don’t know what a spur is or what it was used for or anything,” explained Ervin.

So if keeping the western heritage and history of Texas is something close to your heart or you’re just looking for a spur of the moment trip, a stop at the Coryell County Museum to see the Mitchell Spur Collection is a surprising stop on The Texas Bucket List.  “If you’re a true Texan, you’ve got to have a little bit of interest in ranching, cowboys, horses, it can just go on and on. You got to have a spur involved somewhere in it,” stated Grayson.

The Texas Bucket List Bite of The Season 18 – Curb Side Bistro in Odessa

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Another season of The Texas Bucket List has come to a close and it’s time to reveal our five favorite bites from Season 18!  Now this season of The Texas Bucket List was filled with the flavors from burgers, sausage sandwiches, seafood, and good ol’ homestyle cooking that were definitely deserving to be recognized and are all well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!  But we did have a favorites and these are the Top 5 Bites from Season 18 of The Texas Bucket List!  (CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH THE STORY!)

#5 Nana’s Taqueria in Weslaco

Down in the valley, if you haven’t had a lonche, then you haven’t eaten in the valley! Here at Nana’s Taqueria, Roxanna Trevino and her husband have perfected the lonche and that has earned them a spot on this season’s Bite of The Season!

 

#4 Zeitman’s Grocery Store in Bryan

This is not your average grocery store, but this deli and bakery whips up unbelievable sandwiches that are quite big in size and flavor! Not only are the sandwiches all, but they have freshly in-house baked bagels that are the foundation to a delicious breakfast sandwich!

#3 Green Chile Willy’s in Amarillo

It isn’t a true Texas dish if it doesn’t have that little kick of spice! That is exactly what they do here at Green Chile Willy’s with their plate of chicken fried steak that is smothered in a mouth watering green chile gravy that has earned them a spot on the Bite of The Season!

#2 Palermo Pasta House in Round Rock

Benvenuti! In the heart of Round Rock, there is a pasta house with Argentinian and Italian fusion that has earned themselves one of the top spots on this season’s Bite of The Season! From homemade pasta and raviolis, to over 30 options of freshly made sauces, there is no doubt that you will indulge in flavors at this pasta house!

#1 Curb Side Bistro in Odessa

Taking the #1 spot on this season’s Bite of The Season are the sensational sliders and fries at Curb Side Bistro in Odessa! The flavorful sauces and spices that Chef Alejandro Barrientos has created in these sizable sliders has earned him great success as well as our pick of Bite of the Season!

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – Swimming with Sharks at Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi

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Corpus Christi – We’ve done some pretty amazing things on the Texas Bucket List over the years but there’s an adventure in Corpus Christi that ranks right up near the top. You see the Texas State Aquarium is already a great place to visit on our list but now you can do something that had my Mom and my kids all concerned, swimming with sharks!

“Probably the most successful programs we’ve launched,” said Jesse Gilbert, the president and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium. Before I was forced to swim with the fishes, I had to know how all of this came to be. Since 2003 Jesse has been part of this place and that includes the introduction of their swim with the sharks experience.

Now the Texas State Aquarium didn’t build its reputation on this unique experience but rather the years of fun and educational programs that they’ve had since the aquarium opened in 1990.  Back then the entire exhibit was dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico but today there’s a boatload more thanks to the recent Caribbean Ocean addition. “We doubled the size of the aquarium in 2017 when it opened, and from there, we went to the wildlife rescue center. So that pattern has just continued to go,” explained Jesse.

Seeing these sizable exhibits is quite exhilarating but then you realize, someone has to take care of all these fish. “There’s about 70 individuals alone that make sure that the animals are safe, the water’s good to go, the bay is in good shape. We use natural seawater from Corpus Christi Bay, and so we have to make sure that the Bay’s doing well. So there’s a lot of data that’s collected and a lot of operations that go on around the clock,” explained Jesse.

“My whole life. I have wanted to work with Marine animals, specifically sharks,” stated Jordan Campbell, an instructor here at the aquarium. Jordan took me on a behind the scenes tour of the Texas State Aquarium and that’s when you really get a scope of how big this ocean operation is.

“It’s like a small city. We have to generate our own power. When we have hurricanes and freezes, we have to make our own water, we have our own hospital for the animals, we have our own commissaries and kitchens. And so it’s really kind of a neat way to take people behind the scenes and they can see all the different facets of what it takes to operate an organization with us,” said Jesse.

Jordan then took me to the Islands of Steel exhibit, their largest exhibit that mimics just what we would see in the Gulf of Mexico. “So we’ve got some larger shark species. We have two nurse sharks.Their names are Luna and Soul. We’ve got a few larger game fish in here as well, we’ve got some crevalle jacks, we have a sheepshead, a northern red snapper, we have some tarpon. We have one barracuda kind of right there in the middle. And then of course we have Tiki who’s our loggerhead sea turtle,” explained Jordan while showing us the exhibit.Here you get to feed the fish, and they sure do go crazy for it!

Now if I can prevent myself from becoming food, we’ll be okay, so Shannon Hunt got me prepared. Shannon took me to the Caribbean Sea exhibit where I will be snorkeling with the sharks! “Yeah. There’s sharks, eels, stingrays, all kinds of really cool marine life that we’re going to get a nice close look at,” said Shannon Hunt, a staff member of the aquarium.

Fortunately, I spotted the cage I will be in. “Yes, we will be in that shark cage in just a few minutes. And when we’re in there, we’re going to be able to see our animals up really, really closely. All of the animals, the sandbar sharks, our stingrays, even our eels, aren’t shy about swimming right past the cage for an awesome view,” explained Shannon.

“Our sharks all have a nice balanced diet. It does not include any of our snorkelers or any nice, tasty snacks that you might have brought along with you today,” joked Shannon.

“So by getting up close and personal, we can remove the stigma around sharks and give people a better appreciation for the ocean. As the aquarium here, we are trying to get people to care about these animals and the quality of our ocean. And by seeing all the incredible stuff nice up and close, then you care a little bit more,” explained Shannon.

Now what I am worried about is the water being ice cold. “However, this water is right around 72 degrees Fahrenheit and that’s the optimal temperature for all of the different species in this exhibit,” said Shannon. “We’re going to get you in the water with some sharks today,” stated Cassie Gunter, a three-year employee at The Texas State Aquarium.

Cassie got me ready for the dive.  Fortunately, I love snorkeling so passing the quick swimming test wasn’t a problem, the 72-degree water on the other hand was a bit chilly. The salinity of the water was surprisingly strong, keeping me more afloat than I am used to but keeping my legs up in the water was a good thing, especially when you see sharks swimming right in front of you. “The sharks here are pretty friendly, so we get in there every day with them, so they’re really used to human interaction, but we don’t touch them unless we absolutely have to, this is their home so we make sure to respect that,” explained Cassie.

Once you settle in, watching these huge animals glide gracefully in the water is exhilarating while knowing there’s a cage around you is comforting. “A lot of people are pretty surprised, I know that sharks get a bad rep in the media sometimes. Everyone’s seen Jaws and all the scary sharks, but the whole purpose of this snorkel here is so people can get up close with sharks and say, ‘Hey, that shark wasn’t so scary, maybe they’re pretty awesome and an important part of the ecosystem.’,” explained Shannon.

“There’s that wow factor of being with sharks. Sharks aren’t dangerous, we want to make sure that people understand that. And so we were trying to come up with a way that people could get in there. It was safe, but it also kind of kept this mystique about sharks,” said Jesse.

Swimming with the sharks comes highly recommended but if just visiting the aquarium is enough to float your boat, we’ll that’s well worth a stop as well. “The Texas State Aquarium has something special, the people here have something special. Everyone, as soon as you walk in the doors, they want to share what we know about the animals, about the environment, and it’s really something you have to see and experience firsthand,” expressed Jordan.

“That’s what’s so special about Texas is that Texans love the outdoors and they love their wildlife. And so it makes telling that story easier and impactful. We’re just not saying it, Texans really understand it and go out there and do it,” said Jesse.