Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Spirit of Texas Bank

The Texas Bucket List – The U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championship in Houston

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Houston—Every June an eclectic gang of curious people come together to celebrate their love of music. They come dressed to impressed because putting on a performance is what this collaboration of creative entertainers is all about. Just don’t expect to see any real instruments. Welcome to the U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championship!

“Texas has some great air guitar players…We have it all,” said organizer Randy Garza. Randy is big fan of Rush and the man who rushes to put this peculiar competition together each year. He’s also known as El Airachi. His alter ego has made it all the way to the National Semifinals in Chicago, a riff away from the World Championship held in Finland every year.

“When I was little, I used to always emulate playing a guitar. My mother, God rest her soul, she used to always say, ‘Someday there will be something that will have air guitar and it will pay off. You will be the winner,’” Randy recalled. The competition at the US Air Guitar is stiffer than the brisk winds coming off the gulf with great competitors like Stonehenge, Wild Child Roshi, Uncle Hot Dog, and even Xena. “I don’t know how to play the guitar,” Xena confessed.

Good news is, she doesn’t have to. These masterful melody imitators take this face off very seriously, even without instruments. “This is something that I love, and something I love to perform, and a friend of mine a few weeks ago said ‘Randy, some people get it, some people don’t. But guess what, a lot of people get it,’” said Randy.

The judges are serious too. Grading presentation, strumming, plucking, picking and playing of an abstract guitar. “I think one of the main things that a lot of our judges really look for is what’s called airness. That is your little unique qualities that no one else is possessing. That evening, or ever,” Randy explained. “The judges will see it and they’ll pick up on it.”
I guess we’ll go ahead and rock on.

“You’ll see people do it, and you’re like, ‘oh, okay.’” Said Patrick Friend. Patrick placed fifth his first time out. “I know some people, I see them try to play air guitar and I’m going ‘Wow, you’ve never even seen a guitar played, have you?’” he laughed. Patrick loves the competition because it lets him let loose and literary throw away the crutches to perform.
“I go by GimpDaddy in the air competition, primarily because I was born with spina bifida,” he explained. “I don’t like to use my handicap to an advantage, but I do understand that it does bring out a certain element that a lot of people aren’t expecting, and they’re like ‘Wow, someone like that did that.’” An extremely tough competitor, Patrick feels the music rush through him and for a few seconds he’s a rock god. “For those of us who didn’t have talent, but still have that appreciation, this is a way for us to perform…It sounds silly, but it’s a thing, and it’s enjoyable,” he said. “You’re like a rock star for just a few moments, you know? If you’ve never been a rock star, if you’ve never been on stage like that, it’s the best feeling,” confirmed Randy.

In the end, it’s a competition and only one can move on to the US Air Guitar National Championship. For a few hours it’s also just a chance for people with regular day jobs to pull a Page, keep up with Clapton, sling some Stevie or act like Angus. They come together for their love of music and leave us all with a feeling like we’re floating on air, making it well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List. “Music has been a huge part of my life, I’m always listening to music, always rocking, and this is just a huge extension of it,” said Randy. “I just have fun, you know? I suck at being a shut-in, and so I get to come out, I get to enjoy music, hang out with people who are just… really good folks, and it’s just fun,” concluded Patrick.

The Texas Bucket List – Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas

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DALLAS – When you drive through Dallas, there’s a Texas treasure that’s pretty hard to miss. You can see it from the Woodall Rodgers Freeway, and it’s filled with all sorts of amazing stuff. We urge you to go inside-just make sure you have your walking shoes.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is truly an incredible museum for all ages.

“It’s a gorgeous museum and not only for what is inside, but architecturally we get recognized around the world because it’s a very unique space,” said Krista Villarreal- Moore, Director of PR and Communications at the Perot Museum.

Villarreal-Moore is a former TV meteorologist who kept her calling for science and nature alive by taking a job at the museum dedicated to it.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, science isn’t for me,’ but if you’re curious about your world, that’s science,” Villarreal-Moore said.

The massive complex is a combination of three, long-time Dallas museums in one. The Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place, and The Dallas Children’s Museum. The three united in 2012 to form the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. With five levels and 180,000 square feet, this museum takes a big bite out of all sorts of subjects in a fun, interactive and inspiring way.

“Our mission is to inspire minds through nature and science, but the reason that’s important is that STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math careers are going to be central to, not just our region’s economy, but the nation’s economy going forward,” Villarreal-Moore said.

The learning starts as soon as you walk in and head up an escalator.

“So this is the ride up to the T. rex (Tyrannosaurus rex). We have a new T. rex that greets visitors at the top. His name is Stan,” Villarreal-Moore said. “We did not name him, but he came to us that way. He’s the second most complete T. rex ever discovered. It’s a neat way for visitors to get their sort of first dinosaur experience as they’re coming up our escalator, which sticks on the outside of the building.

He’s friendly though, harmless. He’s from South Dakota. Lots of dinosaurs, especially T. rex were found there in the Badlands.”

Don’t expect just dinosaurs. The museum has it all. We rocked out in a gallery that knocks out two birds with one stone, telling the history of our Earth while showcasing some amazing beauty.

“This is our gems and minerals hall and I’ve got to show you what we call our grape jelly geode.” Villarreal-Moore said. “You’ll see why. It’s a 2000 pound amethyst. This was the first piece installed in the Perot Museum because we wanted to make sure that we got it installed and that it would be safe, as everything else was starting to move in. What I find fascinating about this is that this is how it was naturally found. This is just nature. A lot of times you’ll find minerals in the ground, but when you see it in a piece of jewelry, it’s because it’s been cut and polished and faceted, but no, this is just nature’s beauty.”

You’ll also find a new, birthstone exhibit inside the museum and a dazzling display of gems from around the world.

But learning about our bodies and what it takes to make us tick is what we found totally mind blowing.

“This is a real, human brain,” Villarreal-Moore said. “This is one of the only places in the world to see a brain still connected to its spinal column with the nerve ending displayed this way. It’s so interesting t

o be able to see it up close, because we all see photos and pictures, but to be able to see the intricacies of what’s making us all tick, I think is just a really unusual, unique experience.”

After learning about the human body, Villarreal-Moore takes us to Dinosaur Hall. Not only will you see real dinosaur bones found in Texas, but you get to see an actual paleontologist in their element-finding fossils.

Dr. Ron Tykoski knew from an early age that he wanted to work with dinosaurs and it all started when his parents took him to museum. Imagine that!

“I remember when I was five years old, they said, ‘Maybe someday if you do really well in school, you can come and work here and work on the dinosaurs’ I said, “Okay,” Tykoski said.

Today he’s living the dream, a rock star when it comes to digging into rocks. Folks get to watch him work all day.

“You can watch, in real time, our paleontologists and volunteers doing their research so they may be right in front of your eyes discovering a new species of dinosaur because our paleontologists have thus far identified several new species that were previously not known to science,” Villarreal-Moore said.

“We really don’t know what comes out of these rocks any given moment, any given day, something can appear out of here. You can be the first human being to ever see some element that appears out of one of these rocks,” Tykoski said.

Being able to see the exhibits and exhilarating history of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is the perfect family outing, but getting to see actual science is a bonus big enough to make this wonderful world of all things wondrous well worth a stop.

“I’m pushing science and knowledge forward,” Tykoski said. “What greater contribution is there than that?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – The Coffee MUGG in Corpus Christi

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Corpus Christi – There’s not much better than the smell of roasting coffee beans in the morning. It wakes you up, starts your day and then gives you that extra pep in your step. Now, think about mixing that with a temporary escape from reality. That’s what you’ll find at The Coffee MUGG in Corpus Christi, Texas.

“It was something that I always wanted to do, and thought it would never happen,” The Coffee MUGG owner Susana Almaaguer said. “I pretty much would pitch people ideas about it. I let them know about it and they would just be like, “Really? Why can’t you just do a regular coffee shop?”

That did not stop Almaaguer, who was born in Corpus Christi and graduated from W.B. Ray High School. Following her divorce, she longed to work at a local coffee shop to support her and her two children-but her search came up short. She was working several odd jobs to make ends meet when she decided to take the leap of faith. In 2018 she made a choice to do it on her own.

“So when I opened this place up it was just me, I was my only employee. And I look back at it now, that really wasn’t smart,” Almaaguer said. “I thought we’ll start small because I could barely even afford myself. I was the cahier, I was the barista, I was the owner, I was the manager, I was everything.”

The Coffee MUGG is not your ordinary coffee shop. You step in and you are immediately transported into the world of Harry Potter. Whether you’re familiar or not with the popular book and movie series by J.K. Rowling, the atmosphere of The Coffee MUGG is just, plain fun.

“I didn’t want Harry Potter’s face everywhere. I didn’t want that,” Almaaguer explained. “I want it to look like you’re walking into a common room. We’ve had people come in dressed up just to have a cup of coffee. They just want to sit down in their Harry Potter garb.”

Almaaguer wasn’t even allowed to see the original Harry Potter movies. It was her brother, her partner in crime, who introduced her to the series.

“I wasn’t allowed to see the movies. I went behind my mom’s back because I was a bit of a rebel,” Almaaguer said. “My brother was the one who said we were going and that we better not tell mom. It is the greatest movie ever. I had a very, very rough childhood. It wasn’t the greatest, and that was my outlet. I could relate to someone who didn’t have the best childhood but he had love, that that’s what help him to get through all of that. I get customers in here and they tell me that all the time. They’re like, “Harry Potter saved me.”

When you visit The Coffee MUGG feel free to bring your broom, your wand and to just be yourself while enjoying those specialty drinks with a Hogwarts flair.

“I created a spot where customers can just come and have a cup of coffee and not feel judged, but actually feel that comfortable that they are like, “ I can go somewhere and be who I am and I won’t get judged for it,” Almaaguer said. “And I love that. I love that people feel comfortable to do that.”

 

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – The Chairy Orchard in Denton

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Thanks to a collection of colleges and an eclectic feel, Denton, Texas has been called a mini Austin of sorts and the stop we found fits right in.   Along the banks of Copper Creek on the city’s northeast side is a chairy orchard but we’re not talking delicious fruit, this chairy orchard pulls the seat out from under ya.  Turns out it’s field full of chairs!

“A lot of them think it’s cherries. They’ll say, ‘Where are the cherry trees?'”, joked Anne Pearson.

Pearson and her friend Judy Smith got my hopes up about my favorite fruit, fortunately I was able to find a seat to hear them tell me about the quirky collection that initially got folks thinking they were off their rocker.

Friends since 1973, the two met in the meadow that happens to be in the middle of their two homes.

“So you guys always had this space between you?”, I asked. “Yes. Yeah. Always”, they said. “Our kids built forts in that tree and we had soccer games happen out here, I mean our kids are older than you. My son is going to be 58. What can I say? You’re almost the age of our grandchildren”, the two explained.

I was on the edge of my seat to hear what the family thought of their little business!

“At first my kids were like, “Oh, mother, you have always embarrassed me, But this is it. … but now,  their like, “Oh, I’ll help you do this and help you do that”, Judy explained. “They’ve seen it be a success?” I asked. “Yeah. “And I think they’re proud of us now”..

“What has your relationship been like over those years?” I asked. “We’ve never had an issue. We’ve traveled together”, Anne reminisced.

The two hang out everyday, despite the fact that Ann still works.

The way I see it, you two decided to put two chairs out here, you were drinking some wine and you said, “Let’s just leave the chairs out there.” Is that what happened? “No”, Anne corrected. “Judy had chairs hanging in the tree and then we were at work one day and said, ‘Well, why don’t we put some on the ground?’ We call that the Chairy Tree”.

“Our goal was a hundred chairs and I bet it didn’t take us three months. Not even. We got a hundred chairs and went, huh, we’ll get more”, Judy bragged.

That’s when it grew, and grew and grew.

Where do all these chairs come from? “Garage sales. Thrift stores. Dumpsters. Dumpsters. Curbs.  Yeah. And people donate. Sometimes- Sometimes. … not very often. People come and think they can take a chair. But no, it’s not like that”, Judy said.

Red chairs, blue chairs, black chairs, old chairs, new chairs.  One has a little star, man what a lot of chairs there are.

“People have said, there’s an aura here. Now some people don’t get it, but some people really feel like it”, Judy explained. “Every one of these chairs was chosen by somebody, by a family. It has a history. They were in a kitchen, they were in somebody’s dining room, they were in their bedroom. They all had a previous life. And now we’ve brought them here”.

The imagination and humor these two can put together makes meeting them a worth while stop on The Texas Bucket List, heck they even have titles!

“We’re the Chairy Fairies, but also lately we’ve been calling ourselves the Chairwomen too”, Judy said excitedly. “You all are the boss”, I joked. “We are! We’re really tough!” they joked back.

Don’t let them fool you.  Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter while people play musical chairs around the chairy orchard is what they consider the best seat in the house.

Is that the best part for you guys? Just seeing people come here and smile. “It is! Oh yes! Because, we don’t know they’re coming. It’s all a surprise.  We come out, we, it’s really fun to talk to them because- To see why they came. They don’t understand why, why is this here? They say Dallas would never allow this Fort Worth, Austin would never. We checked before. Would never allow this”, they explained.

“Why do you think it speaks to people? Why do you think people find it so amusing?”, I asked. “Because it’s just silly. It’s so unusual. There is- It has no reason.” Anne laughed.

But there is a reason, their friendship is the reason.  Taking the time to sit down and enjoy one another helps bring a light hearted look not only into their lives but others as well.

Well, what would you guys do without each other? “I think my life would not be nearly as fun. We have a lot of fun. Sometimes people have asked, if, “Say, haven’t you ever had a fight?” And I said, “No, not really.”  And I can tell you one thing that why it works, Ann will probably agree. If Ann doesn’t want to do something that I do, we don’t do it. We both have to agree”, Judy said.

After being friends for 45 years, these guys have figured it out.

“I think my life would be half empty if it weren’t for her. Because we do so much together. We do. You know, she- It’s just the best. It’s just wonderful to have a good friend. Yeah. A lot of people don’t. You don’t need 10 good friends. No. You need one or two good friends. We just have a good time”, they said.

 

The Texas Bucket List – Mom’s Kitchen in Van Horn

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Van Horn is a small town that feels sort of stuck in time. That’s probably because it happens to be the last stop in the central time zone for Texans travelling west on Interstate 10, but before you head into the past or back to the future, you’ll want to take the time to stop and get some darn good Mexican food at Mom’s Kitchen.  Despite the fact owner Maggie Espinoza is not a professional chef, the food there is as delicious as it is authentic.

Maggie’s been cooking Tex-Mex meals since she was little girl but she took a completely different career path as a hairdresser for most of her life. After 40 years of lobbing locks, her hands had had enough, and she knew she had to make a major lifestyle change. “I had carpal tunnel on my hand. So I went to the doctor and she said, that’s it. 40 years is more than people do hairdressing,” she explained. “Was it hard for you to have to give up hairdressing?”, I asked. “Oh yes”, she replied. “It was heartbreaking for me … [but] this is something new… and I love it”.

Before she dove headfirst into serving her delicious dishes, Maggie and her husband Oscar decided that after nearly five decades of marriage, it was about time they traveled the world together. So, they did just that. The couple jetted to Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria, to name a few of their destinations, and along the way Oscar picked up a quirky habit. Everywhere they went, he would pick up a coffee cup.  Now proudly displayed in her restaurant, to the delight of Oscar, Maggie never really warmed up to the idea of the coffee cups.  But now she has one that’s close to her heart. “[The] one from Paris”, she said, explaining that it was a dream come true to go there. And, like the proud Texan she is, the cup from Oklahoma is her least favorite of the entire collection.

Eventually, Maggie got tired of being away from home and decided she wanted to be home with the armadillo, so she and Oscar happily moseyed back to their hometown to start a new chapter of life. When we asked Oscar if he would rather still be trekking the globe, he assured us, “It’s better seeing Maggie happy”. So now they run Mom’s Kitchen together with daughter, Betty, at their side.

Mom’s is well-known in these parts for their Mexican food, so we had Maggie make us one of her trademark combo specials. And let me tell you, she really put all her love into this one. It featured her red and green enchiladas, a crunchy taco, a scrumptious side of rice and beans, and a generous helping of their homemade salsa. “I dedicate myself to doing things the right way because … I go to places and I think, nope, this is not right”, Maggie said proudly. And I can attest, this is truly Mexican food done right.

The taco alone proved how the flavors across the Lone Star State are completely different, and the green sauce had a good combination of the regional flavors local to this area in West Texas. With a little bit of that green chili flavor from New Mexico, a little bit of Tex-Mex from the state, and then a hint of El Paso flare to  it. The red enchilada was right up to par as well, made with cheese, a corn tortilla, and their own home-made red sauce.

Whether you’re driving two hours to El Paso or six hours to San Antonio, Mom’s in Van Horn is the perfect stop because this will fuel you up for the drive. “You’d be surprised how many people come off the interstate and find this little place”, Maggie bragged. With food this good, it’s easy to understand why.

 

10 Romantic Stops on The Texas Bucket List

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If you’re still trying to plan the perfect date or weekend getaway for you and your honey, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of some of the most romantic places we’ve visited over the years, and you won’t want to miss ‘em.  To see our visit to each location, click on the title or picture!

1. Chinati Hot Springs (Ruidosa, Texas) 

If you’re looking for a place to relax and unwind with your Valentine this weekend, Chinati Hot Springs is the place for you. The resort is located off FM 2810 near Marfa, and despite its desirable remedial qualities, it remains secluded and intimate. Caretaker, Diane Burbach, promises “no traffic, no trains, no planes … nothing but the wildlife”.

Truly an oasis in the middle of the Chihuahua Desert, the bubbling waters of the spring come out of the earth at 110 degrees soaked with healing minerals like arsenic and lithium. The resort offers a fully stocked kitchen, overnight accommodations, and some incredibly scenic views of the Chinati Peaks. After just a few hours in this all-natural hot tub, you’re sure to feel cured of all of life’s aches and pains!

2. Janie’s Record Shop (San Antonio, Texas)

For many, music is the language of love, so if you’re going to find yourself in San Antonio this weekend, we have the place for you! Janie’s Record Shop is a quaint store that sells music the old-fashioned way, that’s right, in classic vinyl form. Janie herself runs the store with her youngest son Robert, and together they work to preserve the timeless music medium.

At Janie’s, they sell the greats from every era and embrace the nostalgic value of music for their guests. “Everyone that comes in here to buy something, they have a story, and that’s what’s amazing,” Robert said. “I love what I do.”

Just like love, good music never goes out of style.

3. Val Verde Winery (Del Rio, Texas)

There’s no better way to celebrate true love than with a glass of wine in a place that’s already withstood the test of time. Lucky for you, hidden deep the fertile soil of Val Verde Country, just a few miles from Mexico, is Val Verde Winery.

This vineyard’s roots were planted all the way back in 1883, making it the oldest winery in the Lone Star State and the 9th oldest in the entire country. Currently running the place is Thomas Qualia, the third generation to take over this family business. He claims that running the winery is “a labor of love”, but just like in romance, the hard work pays off.

4. Gage Hotel (Marathon, Texas)

There’s nothing like the beauty and majesty of west Texas. With its expansive landscapes, more stars than most see in a lifetime, and stories of the old wild west, traveling to this part of our state is a must stop on any bucket list, but especially a Valentine’s Day one.

Marathon is a charming town about 140 miles southwest of Odessa, and in the heart of it is the charming Gage Hotel. Restored to its former 1920’s glory, the hotel is the perfect place to stay on a romantic getaway with your Valentine!

 

5. Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue (Tomball, Texas)

Nothing says “I love you” like house made chocolate, but pair that with some good old Texas barbecue, and you’re ready to rock this Valentine’s Day. In Tomball, Texas you’ll find Tejas BBQ, a chocolate-shop-turned-barbecue-joint that truly does it all.

Having won Season 11’s Bite of the Season award, this shop has some of the tastiest culinary confections we’ve ever tried, and if you don’t have plans this weekend, we highly recommend you pay them a visit. Because when the question is dinner or dessert, the best answer is always “why not both”.

6. Lee’s Daffodil Garden (Gladewater, Texas)

During the month of February, the trees are still waking from their winter slumber in northeast Texas, but we know of a garden that springs into action a little earlier than others, and it’s called Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden.

During most of the year the garden looks like your typical east Texas terrain, but for a few weeks in February, as if just for Valentine’s Day, the beautiful daffodils bloom in a colorful and dynamic display. Visitor Dennis Phelps said, “if I could pick my dream, I’d pick this one”, and we think you and your sweetheart will agree!

7. Basecamp Terlingua (Terlingua, Texas)

 The Big Bend is one of the most remote and remarkable regions of the Lone Star State. The natural, God-given beauty surrounding this desolate area draws people from all over the globe, and when they arrive they want to stay a while. Enter: Basecamp Terlingua.

This camp site offers some amazing facilities from which to enjoy the great outdoors. Their most romantic option is their unique “bubble rooms”, or clear, plastic units that allow you to stargaze from the comfort of your own room and fall asleep under the stars. If you and your Valentine want to enjoy the beauty of Big Bend from the coziness of your own bed this weekend, Terlingua Basecamp is the place for you!

 

8. Messina Hof (College Station, Texas)

 No matter what quarter of the state you go to, Texans are always willing to raise a glass to their favorite vino, especially on Valentine’s Day, and there’s no better place in the Brazos Valley to do it than at Messina Hof winery. With beautiful trails to stroll through the vineyards and ½ price flights on Fridays, this is the perfect destination for you and your Valentine, or whoever you’re spending the day with!

9. Hotel Paisano (Marfa, Texas)

Along the city streets of Marfa, every sunset seems to tell a story. Surrounded with so much history, it’s hard to pick a specific place to put yourself back in time – that is, until you come across Hotel Paisano, a place with nearly 100 years of history with a connection to Hollywood lore.

It was the summer of 1955 when some of the biggest stars of yesteryear walked the halls of the elegant hotel while filming the movie classic, Giant. To this day you can still stay in rooms once inhabited by James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor, and what better way to celebrate love than to stay in the very hotel where some of Hollywood’s most infamous heartthrobs once laid their heads?

 

10. Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles (South Padre Island)

The sands of South Padre Island are always a stupendous stop, but when you’re down on the island it doesn’t all have to be about the sand and surf.  If you’re up for something that will get you out of your shell, situated smack dab on the center of South Padre is Sea Turtle, Inc.

Throughout the year, injured sea turtles make their way to Sea Turtle, Inc. via volunteers and regular folks who come across turtles in a tight spot along Texas beaches.

If you love animals and the beach, this could be the perfect stop for a romantic weekend getaway!

Well, I hope this list helps you plan the perfect surprise for your Valentine this year! And as always, we’ll see you this weekend on The Texas Bucket List.

The Texas Bucket List – Rocket Brews in Amarillo

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Over in Amarillo there’s a place for adults to get a to-go drink that really lifts off your engines for an evening out.  It’s called Rocket Brews, and when it comes to big, bold, boisterous drinks, they take things into another orbit.

Along the old Route 66 in Amarillo you’ll find a new way to get you kicks and I’m not talking about taking the highway that’s the best, it’s more like shooting off into space.

“I see why you call it Rocket Brews,” I said after taking a sip of the seriously stout drink.  “Yes, sir,” laughed co-owner Alex Morales.

Alex and his good friend Jesse Murguia grew up in Amarillo but took different career paths in life.  Alex is an occupational therapist while Jesse is a schoolteacher and when these two shared a dream of owning their own business, they knew they had to follow their own advice and shoot for the moon.

“Everyday I will tell them follow your dreams,” said Alex, refering to his job as a teacher.  “Do what you want to do and stuff. And it kind of got me to thinking maybe I should do the same, you know? And maybe one day I’ll go back to teaching, but for now we’re pursuing our dreams. Both of us,” he said.

“The elderly folks, they say minimize all your regrets by the time you’re 80 so you can die peacefully. Because they’d be like, ‘You know what, I wanted to go to Italy. Never got to it. Now I regret it,” said Jesse.

The two started a restaurant that required 19-hour days and didn’t amount the success they had hoped to have, so they decided to open something a bit more unique.  A drive through daiquiri dispensary that also dished out some mighty micheladas and crazy party trays.

I’m assuming there’s nowhere else in Amarillo like this place. “Not like us,” said Jesse. Yeah, you kind of cornered the market up here. “Yeah,” he said with a smile.

Rocket Brews is all about making some of the most bizarre but bodacious bebidas in the bomb city.

“We’re simply the best michelada,” said Jesse proudly.  Saying you’re the best michelada in Texas, man, them fighting words.  “In this mighty state of Texas. I’m a proud Texan, and it’s a big state, you know? But I’m willing to compete with anybody for micheladas,” he stated.

They start their recipe off with a signature michelada mix, add some cold beer, and then move on to the toppings. Peanuts, cucumber, beef jerky, hot Cheetos, celery, and shrimp are put in a cup on top of the drink. Top it off with a little tahini for kick, and you’re ready to toast to Texas with the most gourmet michelada I’ve ever seen.  The taste was terrific as well, the perfect blend of spicy tomato juice with just the right spice.

We promptly had to cool things down so the next thing we tried, “This is the craziest daiquiri we make”, said Alex.  Comprised of their secret daiquiri mix, rainbow candy, and cherries topped off with an energy drink and, yep, even more rainbow candy toppings. It’s truly a daiquiri with some rakakaka. At a whopping 17% alcohol, this drink, and all others offered at Rocket Brews, are bagged up for the road to be consumed safely once you reach your evening destination.

Supplying some leaded gasoline on Route 66,” I said after a small sip.  “There you go. Exactly. In old Amarillo, Texas,” joked Jesse. “You give me a daiquiri that’s 17% alcohol, you never know what’s going to come out of my mouth,” I let him know.

And to close out our orbit around Amarillo, the party tray. Offering six cold beers in a tray topped with chamoy, tajin, jerky, cucumbers, and cocktail shrimp.  This is what they need at baseball games.

 

So if you’re in Amarillo looking for an out of this world experience with elixirs, Rocket Brews is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“A lot of people always say there’s nothing to do in Amarillo. There’s nowhere to go. And I decided to stay in Amarillo, and we want to make a difference,” said Jesse.

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – The Zilker Zephyr Faces the End of the Tracks

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Zilker Park, located in the heart of Austin, is a tranquil getaway for residents of the Lone Star State’s capital. It offers an abundance of outdoor activities for anyone who enjoys getting out of the house. It includes kayaking, swimming and hiking trails. It’s even the home to the infamous annual music festival, Austin City Limits. Even more unique than a sprawling park located in the centerof a metropolis, is one specific attraction that’s won the hearts of locals and tourists alike for the last 22 years – the Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train that’s chugged at hearts of Texans deep in the heart of the state we love.

The Zephyr, owned by the Rodriguez family, was always Austin’s own little-engine-that-could, and has been attracting families and television shows like us for over two decades. But on January 29, 2020, the family officially announced their permanent closure. Why would such a well-loved attraction be facing the end of its tracks though? According to their official Facebook page, it took a combination of bad weather and bureaucratic roadblocks.

The battle to keep the Zephyr open began in May 2019, when an unprecedented amount of rain instigated a consequential amount of erosion and runoff around the river. It was immediately clear that if the children’s train was to be kept running, major renovations and revamping were going to be necessary. Conversations with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and freelance professional engineers began immediately upon the start of the problems in May and continued through October. During this time, the family says it spent tens of thousands of dollars working with experts to create a plan, prepare paperwork, and negotiate an extension contract with the city to keep the Zephyr open for another 5 years. But, despite the Rodriguez family’s best efforts and constant optimism that their business would someday reopen, by the end of the year they said it was clear that closure was their only financially viable option. After reportedly spending months trying to get in contact with the Parks and Recreation Department and with reportedly no response, the Rodriguez family finally received an email in December of 2019 with the park director’s final offer. He offered only short-term, 1 or 3 year contracts instead of the 5 year one they were campaigning for, and unfortunately the family decided those just weren’t realistic options. The cost to repair and maintain the tracks after the inclement weather would be great, and the family decided a return on that investment wouldn’t be probable, let alone guaranteed, in the mere 1 or 3 years the city was offering to extend their contract and keep them open for.

The closure of The Zilker Zephyr will certainly leave a hole in Austin’s culture, and will be dearly missed by its regular visitors. The quaint attraction was many things to many people – an escape from the hectic lifestyle of the big city, a wholesome adventure for children, and a fond tradition that reminded guests of simpler times. The Zephyr will be remembered for years to come, always running full-speed-ahead in the hearts of those who loved it.

Slovacek’s named one of the best food stops at gas stations in the U.S.

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Kolaches!  We know them.  We love them.  And once again, we know where to get the best in Texas and the country!

These sweet treats have quickly become a staple of Texan cuisine and our favorite places to fill our kolache craving is Slovacek’s.

According to USA Today 10Best , Slovacek’s is one of the best food stops at gas stations in the country!  As if we didn’t know.

“These Czech pastries are popular breakfast items that made their way to the United States via immigrants, eventually finding themselves in Texas. There are a number of popular places to get them, but gas stations are one easy option like the ones at this Texas Exxon,” wrote Caroline Eubanks with USA Today 10Best.

With over 35 flavors to choose from, it’s easy to see why Slovacek’s should be your go to spot for these delicious breakfast pastries. While you’re there, check out their numerous other baked goods, sandwiches, BBQ and of course, their sausage!

“Like a beacon shining over I-35, so shines the sign for Slovacek’s in West, Texas,” is stated on their website, and we couldn’t agree more.

Slovacek’s has been helping to bring you The Texas Bucket List since 2013.  One of our longest tenured sponsors! Along with their sponsorship, they have been literally fueling our crew’s countless long road trips around the Lone Star State. So if its an empty tank, or an empty stomach, stop in at Slovacek’s on your next roadtrip to see why it’s one of the best gas station food stops in the US.

The Texas Bucket List – Mary’s Cafe in Strawn Earns the Title of Bite of the Season

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Season 13 of The Texas Bucket List has been filled with many delicious stops, but only one eatery can take the title of Bite of the Season. Chicken fried steak, barbacoa and birria burrito, beef steak, BBQ and chili are all the foods that find themselves as finalists. After reflecting on the top 5 bites, it’s time to crown the winner of The Texas Bucket List Bite of the Season!

Click on the images or titles below to watch more about each of these delicious stops.

Bite #5- Underwood’s BBQ in Brownwood

#5: Since 1946, Underwood’s has been known for serving up southern meals with savory BBQ and a substantial amount of sides. This old-school cafeteria is full of smoked meats, sausage, sides, and cobbler, making it a must taste stop on The Texas Bucket List.

Bite #4 – Texas Chili Parlor in Austin

#4: Known for its famous Texas chili, Mad Dog margaritas, being in movies and songs by Guy Clark, the Texas Chili Parlor is a legendary stop to add to your bucket list! Visit to get a taste of true Texas chili from an Austin icon that has been a part of the Lone Star State lineage for over 40 years.

Bite #3 – Ponderosa Restaurant & Motel in Snyder

Bite #3: In the small town of Snyder sits a Mexican restaurant with sizable portions. Ponderosa Restaurant & Motel is owned and operated by Luis Conteras, who is known for his memorable meals and making sure his customers get their money’s worth. Ponderosa’s large portions and incredible taste make it well worth a stop on any Texan’s bucket list!

Bite #2 – Henderson & Kane General Store in Houston

Bite #2: On the corner of Kane and Henderson in the historic 6th ward of Houston is a small general store with a surplus of savory BBQ. Along with their delicious BBQ are breakfast tacos, baked goods, and coffee, making for an incredibly tasty combination! Henderson & Kane General Store is a stop that doesn’t disappoint!

Bite #1 – Mary’s Cafe in Strawn

Bite #1: In small town Strawn, sits a little café with a big reputation for legendary chicken fried steak. Mary’s Café is owned by Mary Tretter, the lady behind the massive meals that bring in big crowds. The café serves over 50,000 pounds of chicken fried steak every year and over 200,000 pounds of potatoes! It is easy to see why Mary’s Café has earned itself the title of The Texas Bucket List Bite of the Season!