The Daytripper Visits the Oldest Town in Texas
November 21, 2023 | By Chet Garner
You’d be hard-pressed to find a city more steeped in our state’s lore than Nacogdoches, a sleepy college town of 32,000 nestled deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
Chet Garner
The Daytripper Finds Small Town Charm at the Metro’s Edge
October 24, 2023 | By Chet Garner
The town of Liberty Hill, population 8,700, has embraced the Hill Country’s rapid growth without losing its down-home vibe.
The Daytripper Visits Centerville, the Land of Beef and Blackberries
August 22, 2023 | By Chet Garner
This East Texas hamlet of 905 residents is located on Interstate 45, almost exactly between Dallas and Houston, which led to the popular assumption that the town got its name due to its place between the two metropolitan giants.
The Daytripper Digs Into Gardens and Grub in Goldthwaite
July 25, 2023 | By Chet Garner
Two hours northwest of Austin, you’ll find a town that has served as a Texas crossroads since 1885.
The Daytripper’s Picks for a West Austin Adventure
June 27, 2023 | By Chet Garner
The city of Austin is a crossroads—a place where hippies and cowboys commingle, where blackland prairie meets limestone hills, and where the eastern and western halves of the state collide.
McLean Is an Underappreciated Route 66 Getaway
March 28, 2023 | By Chet Garner
Texans have loved a good road trip at least as far back as the creation of the most iconic road in the U.S.—Route 66.
Driftwood Offers World-Class Barbecue and Classic Boot Scootin’
February 28, 2023 | By Chet Garner
If you’re traveling through the Hill Country just southwest of Austin, chances are you’ll drive right past this unincorporated town unless you’re really looking for it.
The Daytripper Finds the Color of Texas in Gruene
January 24, 2023 | By Chet Garner
Tucked along the winding Guadalupe River in the Hill Country is a town that’s much bigger in legend than in size.
It’s Fruitcake Season All Year Long in Corsicana
November 23, 2022 | By Chet Garner
Corsicana boasts 25 blocks of historical structures, but you’ll fly past town on Interstate 45 and miss it all if you’re not careful.
Paint Rock’s Prehistoric Pictographs Take The Daytripper Back in Time
October 27, 2022 | By Chet Garner
Not every Texas town is full of obvious tourist destinations. Sometimes, you’ve got to flip a couple rocks to find the good spots hidden out of sight.
The Daytripper Visits North Dallas’ Eclectic Food Scene and First-Class Museums
September 29, 2022 | By Chet Garner
The biggest challenge of visiting Dallas is that it’s big. There’s enough in this bustling metropolis to fill dozens of daytrips, so my advice is to pick a section and explore its many nooks and crannies.
The Daytripper Visits Waxahachie’s Munster Mansion
August 25, 2022 | By Chet Garner
Keep your “wax” for your candles and surfboards; the name of this town 30 miles south of Dallas is pronounced “walks-a-hatch-ee.” Dubbed “Hachie” by locals, this 40,000-person town—nicknamed the Gingerbread City for its delicately designed gingerbread-style architecture—shows its sweetness at every restaurant and small business in town.
The Daytripper Explores Lake Jackson, the ‘City of Enchantment’
June 30, 2022 | By Chet Garner
The Daytripper Meets the Goat Mayor of Lajitas
May 26, 2022 | By Chet Garner
If you head west and keep going, you’ll end up in one of the roughest parts of Texas.
The Daytripper Drives a World War II Tank in Uvalde
April 28, 2022 | By Chet Garner
At the crossroads where the Hill Country meets South Texas sits a charming town with a history deeper than its swimming holes.
The Daytripper Kicks it Into High Gear in Kilgore
February 24, 2022 | By Chet Garner
Kilgore is an authentic Piney Woods town boasting the “World’s Richest Acre,” a collection of oil derricks just off Main Street that memorializes the town’s oil industry.
The Daytripper Uncovers Hidden Gems in the Sprawling Houston Suburb of Spring
January 27, 2022 | By Chet Garner
About 20 miles north of downtown Houston, Spring is a charming suburban area with a remarkable history and culture.
The Daytripper Explores Asian Culture in Houston’s Chinatown
October 28, 2021 | By Chet Garner
Houston is known as the city that sent humans to the moon, but it should also be known as the place that brings the entire earth together.
North Padre Island Offers a Quieter Gulf Coast Adventure
September 23, 2021 | By Chet Garner
South Padre Island is famous for its beachside resorts and coastal tourist attractions, but the other end of the island offers a very different experience.
The Daytripper Visits the Inspiration for ‘Lonesome Dove’ in Graham
August 26, 2021 | By Chet Garner
Most travelers are familiar with the Hill Country located west of Austin, but many don’t know about the second, hidden hill country that lies west of Fort Worth.
The Daytripper Gets Back to the Basics in Luckenbach
July 29, 2021 | By Chet Garner
If you’re looking to simply kick back under an old oak tree while knocking back a cold one, then you need to join Waylon, Willie, and the boys in this Hill Country honky-tonk town 10 miles southeast of Fredericksburg.
The Daytripper Checks Out the Heart of Czech Country
June 24, 2021 | By Chet Garner
In the rolling hills and prairies between Austin and Houston, you’ll find the heart of Texas Czech country.
The Daytripper Enjoys “Mexicajun” Eats and Gulf Coast History in Port Arthur
May 27, 2021 | By Chet Garner
There’s a part of Texas where the freshwater of the Sabine River mixes with the salt of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Daytripper Journeys to the Heart of Texas
April 29, 2021 | By
Brady, a small Hill Country town smack dab in the middle of the state, claims to be the genuine “Heart of Texas.” I can believe it; Brady is exactly what you’d want our collective heart to be—full of friendly folks, country music, piles of barbecue, and plenty of stars at night.
The Daytripper Climbs Texas’ Tallest Peak
March 25, 2021 | By Chet Garner
In all of Texas’ 268,597 square miles, there are only two outdoorsy national parks: Big Bend, known far and wide for its rugged border landscape; and Guadalupe Mountains, which features Texas’ tallest peak.
The Daytripper Seizes the Bay in Palacios
October 29, 2020 | By Chet Garner
It takes tenacity to live on the Texas coast, and perhaps nobody knows that more than the people of Palacios (pronounced Puh-lash-iss).
The Daytripper Visits the Top Three Barbecue Joints in Taylor
September 24, 2020 | By Chet Garner
The Daytripper Explores Houston’s Museum District
August 27, 2020 | By Chet Garner
“Tripping” in Houston may seem overwhelming because, well, it’s the fourth most populated city in the U.S.
The Daytripper Travels Back to the Time of Dinosaurs in Glen Rose
June 25, 2020 | By Chet Garner
A trip to Glen Rose feels like a trip back in time—and not just because its historic square is reminiscent of the pioneer days of Texas.
The Daytripper’s Top 5 in Colorado Bend State Park
April 28, 2019 | By Chet Garner
No need to travel “just around the bend” when the bend itself is the main attraction. From the tops of its panoramic vistas to the bottom of its darkened caves, Colorado Bend State Park offers more than 5,000 acres of pure Hill Country heaven to explore.
The Daytripper’s Top 5 in Belton
March 19, 2019 | By Chet Garner
When cruising I-35, far too many folks fly right past this historic Central Texas town. But with a scenic lake, iconic courthouse, and charm to spare, it won’t be long before this little burg follows in the footsteps of Waco and becomes a go-to destination. Here are my top picks to get you exploring.
Chet Garner’s 10 Favorite Daytripper Destinations
March 13, 2019 | By TH Staff
With a daytrip to Sweetwater, the March 2019 issue marks Chet Garner’s 100th column in Texas Highways. Garner, who’s hosted his Lone Star Emmy Award-winning travel show The Daytripper on PBS since 2009, started writing for the magazine in 2010 after then-editor-in-chief Charles Lohrman offered him a gig.
The Daytripper’s Top 5 in Comstock
January 29, 2019 | By Chet Garner
There are places in the far reaches of Texas where few dare to travel, which is exactly what attracted me to western Val Verde County. It’s a rugged land where the jackrabbits far outnumber the people. A place where the tales are tall, the canyons are deep, and the mysteries are even deeper. If you find yourself trippin’ to the edge of Texas, don’t miss these stops.
The Daytripper’s Top 5 on Route 66
December 19, 2018 | By Chet Garner
The top stops in Texas on the ‘Mother Road of America’
The Daytripper’s Top 5 Things to Do in Pflugerville
November 30, 2018 | By Chet Garner
Known for being stuck between a rock and a weird place (Round Rock and Austin), Pflugerville may seem like just another suburb. But hidden among the urban sprawl is a small town full of budding entrepreneurs working to make this pfunnily named community a deluxe daytripper destination.
How to Spend the Perfect Day in Laredo
November 9, 2017 | By Chet Garner
Finding the boundary between Texas and Mexico isn’t as simple as locating the Rio Grande. As I discovered on my trip to Laredo, the border between these lands is more of a gradual blending, where the best parts of Texan and Mexican traditions mix and fill the area with history, food, and pride that’s truly unique.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth in Hico
October 15, 2017 | By Chet Garner
This little town southwest of the Metroplex may be small but it’s not lacking when it comes to Texas-size tripping.
Daytripper: San Antonio
August 8, 2017 | By Chet Garner
If you follow my travels you know that I spend most of my time off the beaten path.
Daytripper: Hillsboro
July 17, 2017 | By
When burning up the highway between Dallas and Austin, it’s easy to pass through Hillsboro and see nothing more than modern gas stations and frontage-road shopping.
Daytripper: 12 Hours in Dallas
June 15, 2017 | By Chet Garner
I love trippin’ small towns, but sometimes a traveler has to go big. That’s exactly what I did on a recent trip to Dallas, better known as Big D.
Daytripper: New Braunfels
May 12, 2017 | By Chet Garner
Natives and visitors love New Braunfels for its crystal-clear rivers and the thrilling slides of Schlitterbahn.
Daytripper: Richmond
April 18, 2017 | By Chet Garner
On the far southwest side of Houston is a city on the Brazos River that’s much smaller than its big-city neighbor but predates it by more than a decade.
Daytripper: East Austin
March 20, 2017 | By Chet Garner
Austin is no stranger to DAY-trippin’. But while travelers in the past may have stopped their explorations west of Interstate 35, over the last few years Austin’s East Side has become a popular destination in its own right.
Daytripper: Sulphur Springs
February 9, 2017 | By Chet Garner
Back in the day, folks traveled from near and far to this Northeast Texas town to take a dip in the sulphur springs for their rumored healing powers.
Daytripper: Tomball
December 16, 2016 | By Chet Garner
Just north of Houston sits a town that’s hidden in the shadows of its mega-metropolis neighbor.
Daytripper: Grapevine
November 14, 2016 | By Chet Garner
Twas the day trip before Christmas and all through the state, the towns were decked out, and Chet could not wait.” We always say, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” and the phrase definitely applies to the way we celebrate Christmas, especially in Grapevine, the “Christmas Capital of Texas.” Donning my best reindeer sweater and Santa hat, I pranced to the metroplex to catch the holiday spirit.
Daytripper: San Angelo
October 14, 2016 | By Chet Garner
On a map, San Angelo sits somewhere between the Hill Country and West Texas. But what the map doesn’t show is that this town also lies between its epic past and a bright future.
Daytripper: Alpine
September 16, 2016 | By Chet Garner
While Texas may not have any alpine skiing or alpine snowshoeing, it has alpine trippin’, Texas-style.
Daytripper: Blanco
August 1, 2016 | By Chet Garner
The Texas Hill Country is full of small towns that motorists can either zoom through in five minutes or choose to explore all day.
Daytripper: Athens
June 20, 2016 | By Chet Garner
Many travelers will spend thousands of dollars for a ticket to the Mediterranean to discover historic architecture, splash in blue waters, dine on amazing food, and gaze upon heart-stopping views.
Daytripper: Balmorhea
May 11, 2016 | By Chet Garner
Amid the prickly-pear cacti and rocky hills of West Texas lies a literal oasis in the desert.
Daytripper: Devils River
March 21, 2016 | By Chet Garner
In the remote reaches of West Texas lies one of the most pristine rivers in the Southwest United States.
Daytripper: Kingsville
February 10, 2016 | By Chet Garner
Typically, a kingdom can be measured in its vast stashes of gold and millions of faithful subjects.
Daytripper: Schulenburg
January 12, 2016 | By Chet Garner
In the 1800s, European settlers flocked to Texas, with many Germans and Czechs putting down roots in the vast expanse between Houston and San Antonio.
Daytripper: Monahans
December 16, 2015 | By Chet Garner
There are times when the highways of West Texas seem to go on forever. Small towns and rest stops flash by with seemingly little to differentiate one from another.
Daytripper: Doubling the Fun in Rockport-Fulton
November 10, 2015 | By Chet Garner
While the bayfront community of Rockport-Fulton is actually two separate towns, it packs a coastal-combo punch unlike any other.
