El Paso is a place I’ve only ever driven through. But with the city in the news so often - mostly because of its border with Mexico, one of the busiest crossings in the country - I felt it time to actually stop and explore the place. Plus, the beauty of southern New Mexico’s national…
“Why are you going to Texas?” The question came at me from nearly every quarter when I announced my intention to spend a few days visiting the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Austin perhaps would be understandable. After all, Austin seems to be populated largely by liberal west coast expats. But Dallas? Dallas is “real” Texas. To…
At first glance, it’s a bit like Disneyland, a facade of “old Texas” eager to part swarms of tourists from their dollars. Ten dollars for parking, five to take a photo of your child on a longhorn steer, and unknown amounts to ride the electronic bull or try to find your way through a maze…
On November 22, 1963, Dallas was the talk of the world. While riding in an open limo, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade passed Dealey Plaza. The event shook the world, with even the Soviet Union playing funeral dirges on state radio. It’s a rough thing for such an event to be…
Editor’s note: the US national parks system is truly diverse, ranging from awe-inspiring beauty to a more subtle wonder, like in this view of Amistad National Recreation Area by Christian, our resident national parks expert. For more of his experiences, click here to visit his index page. The Amistad National Recreation Area lies along the…
Editor’s note: it’s awesome that Christian wrote this the same day I visited another National Seashore: Point Reyes in California. It seems the experiences couldn’t be more opposite! For more of Christian’s National Parks themed articles, click here for his index. Texas is known to many Texans as the Best Country in the World. Traveling…
Editor’s note: for those who think the national parks are just about majestic scenery, our resident parks expert Christian is here to disavow that with a look at one of a huge portion of park sites: national historical parks. For more of his amazing writing, click here to visit his index page. I live in…
Editor's note: I had never heard of Big Thicket National Preserve before reading this take on it from Christian, our national parks expert here at The Royal Tour. This story made me laugh, smile, and shake my head at some people - yes, Christian, I'm looking at you - who will brave anything just to…
Austin is the capital of Texas, America's eleventh largest city, seat of barbecue and live music, and a spectacular destination for those in search of an incredible fun-filled getaway. But what should you do in Austin? What should you expect when you come here to central Texas? We hope this guide will help! Note: please…
Thinking of going to Austin? Here are some helpful pointers from our team. 1. Allow for travel time Austin is pretty spread out, so make sure to allow time to get between activities, as well as to/from the airport. Traffic is also notoriously bad. While not on the level of LA or Boston, Austin has…