This past week Michael and I packed up our wagon and went out west – well, our Jeep wagon that is! Michael grew up on a farm outside of a small town in West Texas, where the stars gaze and the cattle graze. It was a trip back home to visit his parents and we had fun exploring his hometown and the surrounding area. Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite destinations while discovering West Texas.
Plainview, Texas
Named after the unobstructed view of the countryside, the area surrounding Plainview has cattle and cotton farms for as far as the eye can see. I loved getting to see cattle up close with many of the baby calves at their mother’s side.
The city of Plainview includes friendly people, cute boutiques and a local favorite coffee shop, The Brew. It was so special getting a personal tour of Michael’s hometown and seeing filming locations from the 90’s movie, Leap of Faith.
One highlight of Plainview were the incredible sunsets! Oh my, with an open sky as far as the eye can see, the summer sunset ignites the sky with brilliant colors. Stay up a little later for the constellations to make an appearance.
Olton, Texas
About 25 miles outside of Plainview (which is only about a 20 minute highway drive in the Texas country), we went to a small town called Olton for barbecue. We learned about Rejino’s Barbecue in Texas Monthly Magazine’s list of Top 25 New Barbecue Joints in Texas. The turkey was good, but the baked beans and potato salad were scrumptious! Bring your bib!
Lubbock, Texas
Home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, this college town is a mix of suburbia and small town feel. One of the traditions for Texas Tech students is to visit Chimy’s Restaurant. Order at the front, fill up cups with salsa or pico, and sit down for some Tex-Mex lunch. The alcoholic beverages may just outnumber the food items on the menu. You won’t leave hungry or thirsty.
Another local gem is actually one of my favorite stops, Bahama Bucks! Founded in Lubbock there are several locations around town that are serving up ice cold snow-cones! My personal favorites include thin ice (splenda) sour apple and watermelon topped with chili salt. Or for a more indulgent snack, try the raspberry and cherry snow cone with Blue Bell ice cream! Have mercy!
Palo Duro Canyon
Within the Texas Panhandle sits the country’s second largest canyon, Palo Duro Canyon. The beautiful landscape is about 120 miles long and includes colorful rocky cliffs that reflect time periods from over 200 million years ago. The canyon has since become the Palo Duro Texas State Park and includes campsites as well as hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Nearby facilities offer zip lining, which I am hoping to do on my next trip.
We went to go see the Texas Outdoor Musical – an incredible experience! The canyon is used as a natural amphitheater and includes singing, dancing, live animals and fireworks. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
This vacation discovering West Texas and visiting Michael’s family was so much fun. A special thank you to his family for opening up their home and hearts to me. I made many memories to reflect back on in the years to come.
Live your life joyfully so,
Ashley
