15 Unspoken Rules About Texas That All The Locals Know

From Redditor u/crazitaco:

Small recommendation, but if you're near San Antonio and like nature-type stuff like caves and bats, you could check out the Devil's Sinkhole and the Natural Bridge Caverns. I've been to both, very fascinating stuff that you don't see every day. Plus, with the caverns, you won't have to worry much about heat since it stays comfortably cool below ground.

The farther into summer it gets, the more oppressive the heat will be. The best times to visit Texas, in general, is early spring (January-April) and fall (September-November, august tends to still be very hot). It will probably be incredibly humid the closer you get to the gulf but wear lots of sunscreen, drink plenty of water, take occasional breaks in the air conditioning and you won't [perish] of heat exhaustion :P

Plenty of places for cheap food, that's for sure. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants might not be the prettiest, but you'll probably get some nice authentic tex-mex or barbecue for a decent price (and large portions, too!).

From Redditor u/cramp:

The best time to visit would be mid-October to mid-March, weather-wise. There's a chance of freezing rain and inclement winter weather in late January and all of February, especially in Dallas. Cities in Texas don't have the infrastructure to handle icy roads. Also, your flight would be affected.

I would highly recommend visiting the Texas State Fair in mid-October. It's super fun and will be a huge (enjoyable) culture shock for you. The food is over the top fried everything, but not just a gimmick. The food is part of a contest and all the different booths are trying to win awards for creativity and taste, so almost everything is very good.

Stuff around Texas depending on the direction you drive: Palo Duro Canyon, World's largest bat colony (outside San Antonio, which has many historical sites too), Texas Ren Fair. A Brit would get a total kick out of this, for sure.

From Redditor u/valeyard89:

As others have mentioned October is a great time to visit. Especially Big Bend if you can make it out there (it's a 7-9 hrs drive from Austin depending on route).

There are hostels in the main cities, that will be your cheapest lodging unless using Couchsurfing. Outside of town, check out the state parks and campgrounds, some have cabins for rent, or you can go camping if you have the kit. Though sites can get booked out quickly on weekends if the weather is good (you can reserve online for most state parks).

Definitely check out BBQ places while here. There's the newer school (Franklins, La Barbeque, etc) or old school hole-in-the-wall places in smaller towns.

From Redditor u/woodowl:

Fort Worth - Much more cowboy than Dallas (Cowtown/Stockyards, Billy Bob's Texas), plus lots of excellent restaurants and sights!

From Redditor u/ChatGarou:

I'd say, San Antonio. Dallas has zero scenery. Austin and SA have a lot more personality, plenty of good food, and things to do. Sonora cavern is absolutely spectacular!

From Redditor u/Syllogism19:

I can report is that being a foreigner can get you free drinks on the Riverwalk and companionship if you play your cards right. I've hosted many foreign guests who have played that game successfully[..]

By the way for your sake wait until September. Even if it is just as hot, the sun goes down a little earlier and it doesn't roast nearly as much. Remember that Texas is the land the Devil owns but rents out because he prefers the weather in Hell. ha ha