As y’all know, I’m a Texas gal born and raised! All you have to do is mention the word Texas and it brings a big smile to my face. When people ask me what I miss most about Texas, it’s definitely the people and the community. My roots are Texas - tried and true. I like to think that I carry my Texas sensibility with me in my heart everywhere that I go, even here to Los Angeles where I have lived for the last 14 years. That’s actually why I named my blog Lemonade to Lace. I felt that those two things represented where I had come from and where I was residing. Lemonade as a symbol of my down home Texas roots, and Lace as a nod to the fancy-ness you find in Los Angeles.

I’ve been feeling really nostalgic about Texas lately after someone recently asked me for some travel recommendations. Since I was already putting together a list of locations to share with a friend, I thought I would share them with all of you as well! Most of my time living in Texas was spent in Houston, Austin and San Antonio - so those are the cities I am going to focus on. You might be thinking “What about Dallas?”. Well the truth is, I’ve never spent a lot of time in Dallas so I think there are plenty of other people out there who are better qualified to make recommendations there than I am. I’m going to stick to what I know best - where I grew up, where I went to college and where I raised my family.

Where It All Began

I was born in Houston and one year later, my family moved to San Antonio where I spent most of my childhood. I have so many fond memories of San Antonio in general. It’s a great city to live in and visit. I spent my summers at sleep-away camp in the Texas Hill Country where I enjoyed horseback riding, water skiing, sailing, swimming in the lake and so much more.  I will always remember these fun memories and summer moments, even though it was hot as heck.

Right before I started high school, my family moved to Houston. The best part of high school was making lifelong friends that have remained an important part of my life. Many of these gals I still talk to regularly. They’re actually like family to me because I’ve known them for so long. 

I left Houston to go to college in Columbia, Missouri which was a real growing experience for me.  When I was putting together my college wardrobe for a midwest climate, I realized I needed to buy different kinds of clothes than I had in Texas. The midwest gets cold and I needed to add some warm wool sweaters and a heavier coat for the snow and colder temperatures. I will never forget one special piece that I took with me that was my absolute favorite. I bought a pair of dressy blue jeans (think party outfit material) that had a gold embroidered state of Texas on the back pocket. After all, the state of Texas is always recognized for its distinct shape and I thought they were really cute and different. It labeled me as a Texas gal and I thought they were a conversation piece. Talk about Texas pride!

After a year and a half in Missouri I came to the realization that I was done being out of state. I missed being closer to home and transferred to the University of Texas in Austin and never looked back. It was there that I met the love of my life which I’m forever thankful for and because of this, I will always have a special place in my heart for Austin. If you haven’t been there, you’ve got to put it on your list. It’s a great city with a variety of fun things to do all year round. After college, we moved back to Houston, got married and raised our own family there. 

I feel so grateful for the 47 years I spent living in Texas. I love everything about my home state and I hope that everyone gets a chance to visit it someday. If a trip to Texas is in your future, I humbly submit some suggestions on what to see and where to eat! National chains have not been included in the ‘where to eat’ sections below in case you might be wondering why a particular restaurant missed the list. I hope you enjoy!

Traveling to Houston - Everything to Do, See and Eat!

Houston happens to be a very hip city with an amazing art scene, world class museums, great shopping, and art galleries galore. It also has a fabulous performing arts scene with the Houston Ballet, the Houston Symphony and the Houston Opera. Houston is a dining out city so there are a slew of different restaurants all over town. Because the cost of living is so low and the lifestyle in Houston for the most part is easy, more and more people are moving there by the day. 

Houston Shopping & Sights

For all of you art lovers, The Menil Collection and The Rothko Chapel are two gems in Houston that I personally love. If you’re into alternative art I’d suggest a unique outing like the mural tour of all of the art walls in town - it’s really impressive! On the same day you could also go to The Art Car Museum located in the Heights which is one of the hottest restaurant and shopping districts in town. You can walk around 19th Street afterwards browsing the antique shops, galleries, thrift shops and restaurants that are one-off’s and different from the typical shopping mall brands.

Another fun outing is touring the NASA Space Center which is just outside of Houston. If you’ve never been, it’s really interesting. You could then drive to the Kemah boardwalk not too far from there and grab lunch at one of the many restaurants on site.

For the sports enthusiasts, the Houston Texans, the Houston Rockets and the Houston Astros will surely entertain you if you’ve got the time.  And last but not least, if you’ve never been to The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, that’s a must! You’ve never seen anything like it in your life! There are more cowboy hats, cowboy boots and fried everything including fried Oreos, ice cream and pickles! The music performances are always great every evening as are the rodeo activities.

For the shopping enthusiasts, you’ve got to go to the store Kuhl-Linscomb. It’s a must see! Kuhl-Linscomb is a lifestyle / gift / design store on steroids that has been curated beautifully. There are showroom buildings all on one campus covering two city blocks. You will find a vast selection of gifts for the home such as bedding, bath accessories, china, crystal, table linens, candles, coffee table books, gadgets, jewelry, gifts for him, gifts for her and for the baby, lighting, furniture and more! It’s truly a sight to see, and a store where you will want one of everything because you immediately think ‘I need this’ or ‘I need that’ so make sure you leave some extra room in your suitcase to bring home all of your finds!

Houston Eats

When it comes to dining, the culinary scene in Houston is the most exciting that it has ever been. Because more people eat out in Houston than most other cities in the country, there’s a ton of culturally diverse restaurants. From Vietnamese food to Argentinian food, it’s all there!

BBQ: If you’re a fan of BBQ, you can’t go wrong with these two spots.

• The Pit Room - Handcrafted Texas BBQ

• Goode CO. BBQ

TEX-MEX: I can’t take a trip to Houston without getting a fix at one of the many Tex-Mex restaurants there.

• El Tiempo Cantina

• Little Papasitos

• Los Tios (on San Felipe): known for their puffy quesos

STEAK HOUSE: I know you can get steak anywhere, but I can assure you that these two steakhouses will satisfy your appetite.

• Steak 48

• Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

SUSHI: With so many different cultures in Houston, yes - sushi is very popular. Two great choices are:

• Sage 400

• Uptown Sushi

BRUNCH / LUNCH: Any of these three spots would be a great place for lunch or weekend brunch with your friends or family. 

• Tiny Boxwoods

• Common Bond Cafe

• Local Foods

DESSERT: So this is a must if you’re a chocolate lover! Presented beautifully, your sweet tooth will definitely be satisfied here.

• The Chocolate Bar

*** A big thank you to Jeanie, Joanne and Joni who helped me with dining suggestions on Houston

TRAVELING TO AUSTIN - EVERYTHING TO DO, SEE AND EAT!

Austin sights

Austin seems to be at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to favorite Texas cities. It has a few official mottos, “Live Music Capital Of The World” and “Keep Austin Weird”. They call Austin Silicon Hills because tech talent is moving there from Silicon Valley at a rapid pace. Tech gurus seem to be trading high rent and home costs for great music and a brand new tech scene! There’s so much to do in Austin especially if you love the outdoors. The beautiful hills and lakes are part of what has attracted many newcomers to the city. There is great hiking and biking in the hills and a variety of outdoor activities around town. The Barton Springs Pool is a three acre pool that is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, ideal for year-round swimming. It’s a favorite on everyone’s list!

Another unique experience is seeing the bats come out at night at the South Congress Bridge (yes, I said bats 🦇). About 20 minutes before sundown every single night from March to November you can witness this spectacle as these bats put on an aerial show for 45min to an hour as they feed on insects in the area. From the observation center next to the South Congress bridge you can witness the nightly occurrence of over a million bats flying out from under the bridge all over Austin. Pro Tip: Be sure to wear a hat or bring something to cover your head to avoid bat droppings.

If bats are not your thing, have no fear! The nightlife in Austin is very lively and full of excitement. This is why they call it the live music capital of the world. There’s an assortment of live music and honky tonk all over the city every single night. Be sure to take a trip over to Sixth Street one night after dinner. There’s an assortment of fun sing-along bars on this street which always keeps people coming back for more, so check it out. Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar is one of these sing-alongs and is an absolute blast. You will find two piano players at two baby grands facing each other while they play anything from Billy Joel to Journey. And, If you throw down enough money on stage (as a tip) they’ll literally play anything you want. You might even get to go onstage and sing along with them while the audience sings along too. It’s really a lot of fun with a drink in hand, or not!

Austin Eats

BBQ: Austin has amazing BBQ and in Texas, people are passionate about their BBQ. County Line and Lambert’s take reservations but Franklin’s does not. They open at 11 every morning but rest-assured, the lines start forming every morning by 9 and when the meat is gone for the day, it’s gone. 

• County Line

• Franklin’s

TEX - MEX: Two Austin favorites for Tex-Mex are:

• Maudie’s

• Manuel’s

STEAK

• Vince Young Steakhouse

• Perry’s

SUSHI

• Uchi

BRUNCH / LUNCH

• Magnolia Cafe

• Kerby Lane Cafe

*** A big thank you to Lisa who helped me with all of the fabulous dining suggestions for Austin.

TRAVELING TO San Antonio - EVERYTHING TO DO, SEE AND EAT!

San Antonio Sights

You may not be as familiar with San Antonio as you are with the other big cities in Texas, but when you really think about what makes the state of Texas so great, the city of San Antonio is up there on the list. It is rich in Texas history and Hispanic culture which the city is beyond proud to call its own. I remember as a kid there was no shortage of field trips to take because there are so many historical places to see in the city.

If you’re looking for a place to take a family trip, San Antonio is a great spot. Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Sea World are amusement parks there which all kids love. Another great spot to bring the little ones is the Quadrangle at Fort Sam Houston where the kids can feed the ducks, deer and peacocks. The Kiddie Park was just relocated to the zoo, so don’t miss that! My dad used to take me there every Sunday morning!

If you’re a fan of live music, more specifically jazz, you need to check out an underground club called Jazz Tx. It’s located in the basement of the bottling department of The Pearl Brewery, and is the perfect spot to spend an evening out and listen to some live jazz. 

If you can plan your trip around the ten day Fiesta San Antonio festival, you’re in for a real treat. It’s San Antonio’s signature event that is held every April. There are events going on throughout the entire city, so many that it’s impossible to attend all of them. You know how everything is BIG in Texas? This festival is just that! Every year there are three big parades that take place during the 10 day stretch. The Battle Of Flowers Parade rivals the Tournament Of Roses Parade in size and grandeur, and is the only parade that is organized and planned by women.

The River Parade is a floating party on the San Antonio River and The Fiesta Parade is the biggest illuminated night parade in America. These are the two other parades that take place annually on Fiesta Week. You can be guaranteed that there will be lots and lots of people and lots and lots of fun going on in the city during this time. In addition, don’t miss the four-night event that takes place during Fiesta called  “Nights In Old San Antonio”. Pick a night and go. There are fifteen themed areas with lots of food, drinks and fun. Think ‘one big party’ and who doesn’t love that? Be sure to try some bunuelos when you’re in San Antonio. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a round, super crispy fried treat with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled all over it. It’s so delicious!!

San Antonio Eats

*** A big thank you to Karen who helped me with all of the fabulous ‘things to do’ and dining suggestions for San Antonio.

BBQ

• Big Bib

• Smoke Shack

• Augies

TEX-MEX

• El Mirasol

• Blanco Cafe

• Paloma Blanca

• Soluna

STEAK

• Barn Door Restaurant

• Bohanans

BRUNCH / LUNCH

• Magnolia Pancake Haus

• Bakery Lorraine

• The Bread Box

A Couple Of Things People From Texas Always Need To Explain To Out-Of-Towners

• “You Guys” Makes No Sense - Especially if you’re talking to a group of gals! So brush up on your “Y’all” while you’re in town!

• Austin Is Very Different Than The Rest Of The State - They also have a little saying there: “Keep Austin Weird”. Austin has a very unique flair that only adds to the charm of the city. Go there and live it up in the live music capital of the world!

• You Haven’t Had a Margarita Until You’ve Had One in Texas - Did you know that the frozen margarita was invented in Texas? Yup, it sure was. Take a stroll down Margarita Mile in Dallas for a tequila experience you won’t soon forget (depending on how many margs you have).

• Manners Are Always Minded in Texas - People in Texas are very polite. You may not be used to hearing “please” and “thank you” all the time, or “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir” but that’s the way Texans talk. So mind your P’s and Q’s!

• Ordering a “Coke” Doesn’t Mean You Want A Coca-Cola - For all the soda lovers out there, here is the scoop! When you want a Sprite, you order a Coke. When you’re asked what kind of Coke, then you say Sprite.