I just got back from spending four days in Texas. It was my first visit to the state.

[bunnies]

Unfortunately it was for business, so I wasnt able to get out as much as I wanted BUT... I wasnt expecting to love it as much as I did. Our conference was in Austin, and companies from all over Texas were there as well as some of us from far away states.

The people, the food, the weather (Texas weather doesnt fuck around!) I couldnt have asked for a better time. I look forward to coming back and spending more time. Politics aside, though Im assuming Austin is blue, Texans are some of the nicest people Ive met in the US.

However I may have wrongly stereotyped the people of TX before, I sincerely apologize. I cant wait to go back! Love from NH.

[villager]

1. You should read some Joe Lansdale, about East Texas.

Austin, in and of itself, however, is pretty easy to love.

[bunnies]

3. Im sure there are parts that I would enjoy much less than where I was.

Such a big state and all. Ill take your advice on the reading suggestion. Seems every time I visit a new state I become enthralled with it for a spell.

[AuntPatsy]

28. I would move back to East Texas, I never did meet an East Texan I did not enjoying

Talking to...I had heard the stories as well, have found ignorant, rude selfish people everywhere I've been except East Texas."just saying...

[villager]

33. Everywhere *except* East Texas?

Well, if you insist.

[AuntPatsy]

37. Oh no, I have no doubt there would be the same there, I just never met one, I loved the area

I honestly do not have faith in that the majority of our species are any more worthy opposite that of say the animal kingdom, I just really enjoyed the are and the people I did meet 😏

[Kip Humphrey]

2. Being a non-native (which means as much in Texas as it does in New England), I am loathe to say

anything negative so... Austin rocks!

[bunnies]

4. Those damn bats under the bridge never did really come out though.

[Kip Humphrey]

6. We always stay at the Hyatt so I can say with authority that the margaritas consumed while waiting

often have something to do with missing the bats!

[bunnies]

7. I was at the Raddison. haha.

Bar faces the bridge. Hmmm. Maybe thats what happened. All three nights!

[LiberalArkie]

5. Travis county (Austin) went for Bernie.

[bunnies]

8. Ah ha! I knew it!

They have way too much fun for it to have gone any other way.

[WhiteTara]

9. You were definitely in the sweet spot

The rest of the state, not so much.

[bunnies]

10. In that case...

the rest of TX owes Austin (and the employees of DFW) a great big thank you for making the state look so good.

[WhiteTara]

11. I lived in Dallas for a couple of years

(work related) and the people I worked with were great, and the city has some cool night spots, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is not republicon.

[bunnies]

12. I definitely got the feeling that most of the Texans at my conference..

who did *not* live in Austin were Republican. I try hard not to mix politics and business but I heard lots of talk about "the wall" and how great Trump is. I dont understand how otherwise nice, intelligent people can be pro-Trump. Too bad all of TX isn't like Austin.

[WhiteTara]

13. At one time it was

then KKKarl Rove washed it blood red. Ann Richards was an incredible governor and of course Molly Ivens was from Dallas/Ft Worth. LBJ was from Texas too and the state was quite blue.

[bunnies]

31. I hope, for the sake of Texans, it turns blue again.

Fuck Rove.

[redstatebluegirl]

23. College towns are usually a blue haven in a red sea.

We lived in Indiana, Missouri and now Oklahoma and found that if you stay in the college town you are golden, the minute you go outside that bubble beware. Austin is a little bit of blue heaven in a big old sea of really red and crazy.

[cannabis_flower]

55. Much of Houston

is also blue. Sheila Jackson Lee, Gene Green and Al Green all represent Inside the Loop Houston. Suburbs of Houston are Red. I think the same can be said about Austin, Dallas and San Antonio - suburbs Red

[kentauros]

14. I'm glad you liked it here, and we do welcome you when you come back :)

I also recommend that you take a look at the site for our state travel magazine, Texas Highways. Plenty of ideas on places to visit and things to do (not to mention just to look at it for the beautiful photography)

[bunnies]

16. Thank you so much!

Ill take a look at it tonight when Im not *cough* working.

[kentauros]

18. My parents gift me the print edition every Christmas

so the photographs are even more spectacular (some things are just better than digital-viewing.) And right now the wildflowers and bluebonnets are blooming, so taking a drive through the country is can lift one's spirits quickly

[mike_c]

15. East Texas seems surreal to me....

Too many people, way too much public religiousity, flat, hot and humid, little or no public land. The list goes on. I have relatives-in-law in Dallas-Ft. Worth. They're nice enough people, but I dislike visiting because Texas. I do like the southwestern part of the state better, but why travel to Texas when there is plenty of great desert throughout the west, much of which I pass through in route to Texas? Even the Hill Country pales in comparison with California's foothills country and oak woodlands. Give me the open west instead!

[bunnies]

17. I LOVED the humidity.

I was totally not expecting it. That and thunderstorms. Seems like TX has no shortage of either. The prospect of tornadoes yesterday did freak me out a bit, I wont lie. But yeah, I love the southwest too. And California? Dont get me started.

[jtuck004]

19. Humidity in April. Hold on to that opinion until you get a chance to visit

Houston in August.

It may be different.

[bunnies]

30. So I hear.

I'd never been anywhere that my weather app said 100% humidity and it wasnt raining. I can imagine that with 100 degree temps. Phew.

[jtuck004]

38. There is nothing like waking up to 95% humidity, 100 degrees. And then it gets hot. n/t

[TxGrandpa]

20. Settled here in the Houston area back in 1978 after retiring from the Army.....

....because the people made me feel welcome when visiting. It was mostly Democratic back then. Not in Houston but in a small city about 50 miles away. Good people for neighbors and my family hasn't regretted it one bit.

[Major Nikon]

21. Most of the cities in Texas are pretty solidly blue

[tapermaker]

22. As nice as you think it is in texas just remember as a woman

at anytime driving in the state , you could easily had your private parts invaded by law enforcement officers looking for contraband .ITs Usually in some gas station parking lot or on the side of the road. ssssoooo no thanks , I will stay put in my sane state of Oregon.

[bunnies]

29. Geezus.

No thank you.

[kentauros]

46. Could you please cite the news story about that,

Last edited Fri Apr 22, 2016, 04:51 AM - Edit history (1)

and how widespread it is. Because, other than the few well-reported incidents I remember reading, I've never heard of any of my women friends experiencing that (and they have driven across the state.) Please stop the fear-mongering.

[tapermaker]

50. just because some white women can make it across state unharmed

does not negate the fact that the LAW in Texas says its fine to explore womens vaginas on the side of the road.All in their perverted attempt to combat drug trafficking . Just because it only seems to happen to black women doest mean your safe, or Texas is a safe place for minorities and women in general. I am all for Texas succeeding from the union . We as a nation would be better off .

[kentauros]

52. Your comments remain to be extreme generalizations.

But, as I read the rest of your post, it's typical of the haters

[tapermaker]

53. Ya , i guess i am a hater

I just cant seem to love blatant racism,or using religion to put others down, Or ignorant drug laws that Put everyone that isn't rich , or white at risk for invasive life changing cavity searches on the side of the road. I havnt even mentioned the obvious glee republicans in your state take in destroying their environment .I especially hate the way they try to keep everyone safe by putting guns in everyones hands .Finally ,fucking with history books to keep Texas as stupid as its rep. Gomert . Face it, your Texas is a poster child of how a fucked up state operates.
I wont go searching for specific stories ,If you really need them, just type in If its fucked up It happened in Texas.

[kentauros]

54. Your post reads like a conglomeration of all of DU's Texas-haters.

Broad-brushes and continued generalizations. Hopefully, the OP realizes this, too.

[malokvale77]

57. Don't bother with that one.

He/she tried to get me booted from the Texas Group because I refuse to see Texas as heaven on earth.

I've been here since 1966 and know full well what you are saying is the absolute truth.

I soldier on, but it is not easy when even the so called Democrats in this state are complicit.

[kentauros]

58. I agree.

Don't bother with those who base their opinion on a state or region strictly on the bad news they read from outside of said area. Because the best way to garner a bad opinion of a place or a person is to focus only on the bad while dismissing any of the good. As we all know, the negative always outweighs the positive.

By the way, if you are referencing me in your post, you need to know for the record that I have never asked anyone be booted from a group I do not host. If you're not constantly disruptive, then you're just as welcome as any of the other DUers who visit our group

[LanternWaste]

59. You imply incidents such as this is specific to Texas only.

You imply incidents such as this is specific to Texas only. Can you validate your premise with objective evidence, or does Oregon produce brightly plumed Ostriches known for keeping their heads in the sand when asked to do so?

[Paladin]

60. Well said. (nt)

[kentauros]

61. From observing only those who post to DU,

The Pacific Northwest does seem to produce quite a few people who look for the worst in other states and regions, presumably to show that they aren't be nearly as bad as the rest of us.

In their minds, the bad always outweighs the good. No. Matter. What.

[Paladin]

62. Texas absorbs abuse from smug DUers on both east and west coasts.

The west coasters may be a tad more snotty and self-satisfied.

[mac56]

24. I have kin in San Antonio.

Moved there from Austin, which is wonderful, but San Antonio is also a delight.

[bunnies]

32. Ill put it on my list!

I hope to get back in the fall after the heat dies down a bit.

[ananda]

25. Texas is really blue when the bluebonnets are out.

I especially love the bluebonnets and orange paintbrush
that wash through our fields.

[ViseGrip]

26. Austin is great! A world of it's own, in TX

[ptownbro]

27. For Fun... Eddie Murphy had a Similar Experience

[TxDemChem]

34. Glad you enjoyed your trip

We're not all loony right-wingers.

[dpatbrown]

35. Night and day

Don't judge Texas based on your visit to Austin.

[dpatbrown]

36. Night and day

Don't judge Texas based on your visit to Austin.

[Javaman]

39. come back in mid july

then decide if you still like the weather. LOL

I refer to that time as "face of the sun" living.

[bunnies]

40. Im one of those people who gets cold if its under 75 degrees.

My other half jokes that Im part lizard. For me, the hotter the better. And your plants are SO gorgeous that I would tolerate it *just* to have those in my yard.

Saturday night we were walking around and everyone was in t-shirts. Except me. I wore my sweater and jacket. I was born to the wrong part of the country for sure.

[Javaman]

41. then you'll love it here.

However, sometimes, when the heat is constantly over 100 for several weeks on end, (not all the time like that, just during the bad heatwaves), it will make you go a little nutty. LOL

[bunnies]

42. I can imagine that might be a bit much.

Sounds oppressive even to me.

[Javaman]

43. about 4 or 5 summers ago. it was bad. like crazy bad...

there was something like 45 days straight over 100, 15 or so days over 105 and a handful of days over 110.

and as the song goes, "it was a long hot summer and not a drop of rain"

it was nutty.

this is why we folks in the south move slower. LOL

[Paladin]

44. Don't buy into the "Austin is the only cool place in Texas" myth.

There are charming places all over the state. Give San Antonio a try, and the Gulf coast is fun as well; the Rockport/Port Aransas area has a lot going for it.

So glad you enjoyed your first visit. Please come back.

[kentauros]

47. I'm not sure if it's possible at this point to dispel the Austin Myth on DU.

We could attempt a thread in GD, with plenty of examples of the cool places to visit (or live) in Texas that don't include the expensive Austin

[Paladin]

48. It wouldn't bug me so much.......

if it weren't spewed by people who have never visited the state.

[kentauros]

49. And never intend to do so.

I guess it would take the news media (and news media that they trust) to report more about the other cities here and report on what Austin is more like today. Because I get the impression they just don't believe us natives

[RussBLib]

45. 40% of Texas citizens are reasonable and nice people

Unfortunately, we don't have enough critical mass yet to oust the Cro-Magnon GOP.

If we could just figure out how to get the Hispanics to fucking SHOW UP at the polls.

[griffi94]

51. Good for you

you were here and got to see it rain.

I live in Austin but I've been to NH several times.
I love it there but only in the summer lol.

[alarimer]

56. Austin is definitely great, but it might skew your view just a bit.

I lived in Corpus Christi for a long time and it was...okay. Not very dynamic or exciting. Mostly reddish.

I moved 4 years ago, and at the time, Perry was governor and it was bad, but not that bad. They elect the most regressive, batchit insane Republicans anywhere. I defy you to find a worse bunch of conservative assholes anywhere. Ted Cruz, Louie Gohmert, Dan Patrick (as Lt. Governor he has more power than the gov, weird as that is), Abbott. Patrick is the most regressive asshole of the bunch I think.

So glad I left. I moved to NC, which has suddenly turned batshit insane as well. I'm starting to wonder if it's me. Three years later, I left it for MD. I'm sure it will turn nuts after I leave. If so, I apologize in advance.

[MissV]

63. Glad you had a nice time.

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A mural by a local artist, Britney Samford.