Traveling to Texas? Fact vs. Fiction

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Ahhhh, the great state of Texas…the Lone Star State. I’m a native Texan and have lived here all my life and, like most of us, I am a proud Texan and I love our state.

If you’ve never been to Texas, you might imagine a scene straight out of an old western movie before you arrive. Many people have the wrong vision in their minds when imagining Texas so I wanted to separate fact from fiction for you so you will be better prepared for your trip to Texas. I had a few things in mind and then I polled some of my favorite Texas mommas and put together this list. I hope you find it helpful.

Fact: We say “Y’ALL!”

It’s used the same as “you guys” in other parts of the country. You will often see it misspelled as ya’ll. This is incorrect. It is a contraction: a word made by combining two words – you and all. When combining two words in this manner, you remove some of the letters and add an apostrophe where the missing letters were. Y_ _ All = Y’all. Sorry for the grammar lesson, but this is a personal pet peeve.

Fiction: Not everyone speaks with a slow Texas drawl

Ok, before I get a flood of comments from my close family and friends on this one, let me just admit up front that I definitely do have a Texas drawl (and it becomes even stronger after an adult beverage or two). But, it isn’t slow. And the point here is that not ALL Texans have a drawl. There are many Texans, born and raised here, that hardly have an accent at all. By the way, very few tv shows or movies actually get the accent right.

Fiction: We wear cowboy hats and boots every day

Although I do own a pair of boots and wear them on occasion (I think most of us do), they are definitely not daily attire for most Texans.

Fact: The weather is either hot or random

In some places you put away your out-of-season clothes twice a year – not here. Sure, the summers are pretty consistent. They are long and hot. But, during the other months, anything goes. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This past January, we had a high one day of 71. The next day, the high was 44. Four days later, the high was back up to 79. It dropped to 61 the next day and a week later it was at 46. We’ve been sweating on Halloween and we’ve had snow for Easter. If you are coming to Texas in May-September, plan on it being hot. Any other time, check the forecast before you come and bring layers.

Fiction: We say “Howdy” in passing

Generally speaking, this is a myth…with one exception. If you are heading to College Station, Texas, home of Texas A&M University, (my alma mater) you will hear “Howdy” all over campus. You likely won’t hear it at all in any other part of Texas.

Fiction: We don’t ride horses to work or to school

Ok, if you are a rancher, you might. But again, most Texans don’t. And most of us don’t own horses or cattle. Some Texans have never even been on a horse.

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Fact: Texas is BIG

Like, really, really big. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, it is 801 miles north to south and 773 miles east to west. The distance from Dallas to Houston is the same as Paris to London or from Washington D.C. to New York City. Texans can drive to New York in the same amount of time it takes to drive to El Paso and back. The landscape changes drastically from one area to another. We have mountainous desert far to the west, the piney woods in the east, and beaches along the coast (not clear turquoise water beaches, but beaches none the less).

Fiction: We don’t all live on a big ranch in a mansion and drive Cadillacs with horns on the grill (think of the show “Dallas”)

Of course, there are ranches in Texas and I do know of one man that drove a car with horns on it, but that isn’t the norm. Most Texans live in large cities or small country towns.

Fiction: Tumble weeds roll down the street every day

If you are in west Texas, you will see tumble weeds, but the rest of the state never sees them.

Fact: Texans are friendly

You will hear a lot of yes ma’am’s and no ma’am’s – no one is calling you old. That boy was just raised right. If you are standing in line at the grocery store or sitting at the bar, someone will probably try to strike up a conversation. If you have a baby, you will be approached by little old ladies who want to see that “sweet thing.” Once someone hears you are on vacation here they’ll ask what you’ve already done, what you have planned and will offer many helpful suggestions on where to eat and what to do or see in the area. I always assumed people were like this everywhere. As I have traveled more, I have realized that it’s actually not the norm at all.

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Fiction: We all walk around with guns on our hips

It is true that many Texans like their guns. There is a lot of hunting in Texas and many people also have personal handguns that they may carry on their person, in their purse, or in their car. You are required to have a license to carry. However, unless you choose to break into someone’s house or do something equally stupid, you are unlikely to ever see a gun, other than one worn by a police officer. There are many Texans who do not own guns. In fact, according to an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the percentage of Texans that have a license to carry is less than 5%.

Fiction: Longhorn cattle are everywhere

Nope. Again, I’ve lived in Texas all my life and I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve seen a longhorn in person (ok, maybe two hands). Unless you intentionally go to a place that has them, it is very unlikely you will see one. If you do want to see them, you can go to Fort Worth. They actually have a daily longhorn cattle drive in the Stockyards.

If you are heading to the Dallas area, be sure to check out my Top 10 Family Friendly Airbnbs In Dallas.

Fact: Fort Worth and Dallas are separate places with very different vibes

Dallas has more of a big city vibe. Fort Worth has more of a down-home laid back vibe. Many people in the area actually get offended If you lump them together.

Fiction: Everyone drives a truck

It is true that there are a lot of trucks in Texas. My first vehicle was a truck. My husband has driven a truck our entire marriage. One of the things that was noticeable to us on a trip to Scotland was the lack of trucks (we were there for 9 days and only saw one truck)! So, obviously this myth has some truth. But there are many Texans that have never owned a truck.

Fiction: We eat Mexican food all the time

Ok, I lied. That’s not fiction at all…that’s a fact. We do eat Mexican food all the time! I highly recommend a margarita to go along with it.

Fact: You may not see any bluebonnets

Seeing beautiful native wildflowers is one of my favorite things to see when visiting new places. Bluebonnets are a wild flower & the official state flower of Texas, but they are not in bloom all year round. In fact, the window is pretty narrow and the exact timing varies year to year, but they are in peak bloom around early April. Their bloom lasts a total of roughly 6 weeks, so you may very well see them if you are here a bit before or after early April as well. And yes, they are gorgeous.

Fiction: It is illegal to pick the bluebonnets

This is one that most Texans believe to be true as well, but actually is NOT illegal to pick bluebonnets. Though not illegal, it is best to leave them where they grow because if you pick them, you take the seeds with you. It is, however, against the law to pick ANY wildflowers in state or national parks. It is also illegal to trespass and much of the land in Texas is private, so make sure you are not trespassing on someone else’s property when you stop to smell the roses…um, I mean bluebonnets.

And, there you have it. Some fact and some fiction about Texas. Hopefully this will clear up any misconceptions you may have had and help you as you prepare to travel to our great state of Texas. Now, if you are headed to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, check out the best places to eat in Grapevine, Texas (and yes, of course there are some Mexican restaurants on the list) and Christmas in Grapevine, Texas!

Until next time…

Until next time…

About The Author

My mission is to inspire and empower families to prioritize travel now, creating unforgettable memories and deeper connections with their loved ones.

I provide guidance and practical solutions to help busy parents integrate travel into their lives, fostering joy, fulfillment, and stress-free adventures. Don’t wait until it’s too late; the time to travel is now.
Learn more about me & My Travel Obsession here.

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