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San Antonio Cathedral light show.
Riverside Walk, San Antonio
Wide-eyed in the U.S. of A. Last month, the pleasure was all mine when I got to revisit Texas for 10 days. Yes, I’ve been there before … but not post-Trump. Advertorial by Adrienne Witteman of Trendsetter Travel and Cruise Centre. Texas certainly makes an interesting visit if you follow American politics and sociology – and it's easily accessed since QF flies direct to Dallas or Air New Zealand to Houston via Auckland. Landing in the geographical heart of the US offers an altogether marked contrast to the bright city lights of New York or the Hollywood glamour and chic beach vibe of California. Texas is big. And getting bigger. Four of the 12 most populous US cities are in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. They’re among the fastest growing too – they attract young people to careers in business services, education and health, manufacturing, energy and more. As a consequence, the political outlook is changing and Texas is predicted to be more blue than red in the 2020 election. As a holiday destination – I love it. My only exposure to Texas, before visiting six years ago was via the TV drama Dallas, and the shenanigans of the filthy-rich Ewing family. And yes, you will see moustachioed Texans in big hats, boots, and fancy belts with equally fancy buckles – just like I saw on TV way back then, in authentic Mexican restaurants when visiting. These Texans live and work on ranches – vast expanses not unlike New Zealand sheep and Australian cattle stations. Most Texans you meet will be like you and I, albeit with slight differences. Gun
ownership is around 35% with 19% of urban dwellers owning a gun. This makes Texas 18th for gun ownership out of 52 states. Should you find this a disincentive to visiting Texas, bear in mind that Alaskans have more guns per capita than any other US state. And Australians love Alaska. Texans are also quite religious with 64% Evangelical Protestant and 21% Catholic. About 38% of the Texan population are of Hispanic/Latino descent. It all makes for a fascinating experience.
“You can stroll for two miles along verdant, sweet-scented pathways that bisect San Antonio central.” In Dallas and Houston, you get the big city stuff. Dallas, you’ll recall, is where JFK met his untimely death and a visit to The Texas School Book Depository, from where he was reportedly assassinated, is one of the must-do activities although mystery surrounds the event. The Dallas Museum of Art is highly rated yet art in Dallas is not confined indoors. Among the most beloved street art is a bronze bench seat you can share with a statue of Rosa Parkes who in 1955 refused to give up her bus seat to a white person. I’ve sat there myself.
The famous line ‘Houston, we have a problem’ was actually ‘Houston we’ve had a problem here’ but altered for Hollywood. You may not know that NASA Mission Control is actually in Houston and consequently, the Space Centre is on every Houston visitor’s list. Museum aficionados will enjoy the Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts so all tastes are catered for. The best discovery this trip was San Antonio and the charms of its famous Riverside Walk, The Alamo and the revitalised Pearl Neighbourhood. The Riverside Walk is fabulous testament to the forethought of Mr Robert Hugman, who in 1929 had a vision to make this a beautiful waterway central to the city. It worked. You can stroll for two miles along verdant, sweet-scented pathways that bisect the heart of San Antonio. Or cruise and soak up the fascinating commentary. A Google search on the Pearl district will entice you to visit, and stay as we did at the excellent Emma Hotel (privileges via Trendsetter Travel’s Virtuoso affiliation). Finally, you must not miss Austin, home to the LBJ Presidential Library within the University of Texas, and to thousands of students and an exciting music scene that spills out onto the streets most nights. What else might you expect from a city with the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’? Don’t be put off – it’s more funky than weird, and I loved it! Texas has great food be it big barbecues or spicy Mexican – and lots of avocado. It has wide open spaces, expansive sunsets and people are genuinely welcoming. If you’re looking to find real America, let my team help you book and create a trip you’ll remember forever.
Lane Cove Shopping Plaza and 3 Northwood Road, Longueville Phone: (02) 9428 5900 www.trendsettertravel.com.au TVO AUGUST 2019 29
