1 State
6 Days
2,464 Miles
66 Hours 4 minutes drive time
33 Restaurants
20 Bakeries
8 Ice cream shops
5 Drink places
11 Sonic America’s Drive-In
4 Whole Foods Markets
That before picture represents 4 trips to The Lone Star State; two only being a quick pass through and one for San Antonio, Austin and College Station. Big state, lots to see. It will take more trips.
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Fort Worth was worth a repeat visit (pun intended) to hit some open items on the list.
Joe T. Garcia’s has grown from its humble house origins in 1935 with 16 seats...
...to a rambling complex of courtyards, pergolas, dining rooms, pools, villas, fountains, strolling mariachi bands and huts.
The Grilled Chicken Salad had Tex-Mex flair from adobo marinated chicken, roasted peppers and grilled onions.
Couldn’t be so close to the Stockyards without swinging by again.
Hmmm...bakeries...OK. Esperanza's Panaderia and then Blue Bonnet Bakery.
Kincaid’s started as a grocery in 1946 and the butcher started flipping hamburgers in 1964.
Today they are renowned for those fresh patties of cow.
The balance of the day was the 6 hour drive from FW to Amarillo. This is Olney:
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
In 1974 an eccentric rancher commissioned an artist who created Cadillac Ranch.
It has become a mecca of roadside attractions with parts being stripped and graffiti being applied.
By design my travels through IL, MO, KS, OK, TX, AZ, NM and CA cross Route 66 where it still exists. Most remnants are similar to this stretch in Amarillo with only a glimmer of the Mother Road’s past glory.
Crisp edges yield to ooey gooey cinnamon dough.
Stockyard Café is tucked into the Amarillo Livestock Auction which is surrounded by cattle pens and grain silos. Not wanting to draw attention to myself I refrained from pictures of the interior of clientele with dusty cowboy hats, dirt crusted boots, stiff Wranglers and worn leather vests. Later it dawned on me with my Ralph Lauren and pristine Mizuno Nirvana 5 running shows I was probably noticed.
The Donut Stop doesn’t even have display cases.
Mexican bakery and a Blueberry Muffin.
You might know The Big Texan Steak House from the Travel Channel or Food Network who are fond of featuring its 72 ounce “if you can eat it it’s free” steak dinner.
Pampa’s downtown is crumbling but contradicted by robust activity.
Mejia’s Bakery.
Coney Island Café started up in 1933.
You just can’t create or fake character like this.
Every menu item is topped with chili, onion and mustard which indeed made this Ham Sandwich.
With homemade pies staring at me from behind their glass counter case and the waitress’s praise it had to be assessed.
Continued to make a swath across the panhandle.
Sonic’s Banana Fudge Sundae. Divine.
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
Walking into Family Donuts in Plainview and seeing this glistening color I declared, “This is worthy of a picture.” They smiled.
The Apple Fritter saga continues in miniscule Denver City just east of the New Mexico border.
Oil. The engine of the economy.
Near the Midland Airport the Commemorative Air Force American Airpower Museum highlights the use of American might and concentrates on WWII.
Even with visiting dozens of military museums, history museums and reading countless books I still learned a lot. This showcases what a phenomenal series of exhibits they have.
Their collections of planes are still airworthy.
Sonic Tex-Mex Footlong Coney. It would be criminal to eat this whole thing.
After attending Yale and serving in WWII George H.W. Bush and his young bride moved to Midland for him to start in the oil business painting rigs. They lived in this house from November 1951 through December 1955.
The 1,400 square foot home has been restored to that era with extensive use of family photographs and interviews with Barbara Bush.
The last Bush family home in Midland.
Arriving at The Presidential Museum I was peering through the locked doors and heard someone coming from the parking lot. They had closed early for the holiday and the Director offered a private tour. How gracious!
60,000 years ago a 1,000 ton meteor hit 8 miles west of present day Odessa. The 100 foot deep crater filled in after millenniums of erosion to its present 15 foot depth.
Driving west on I-20 from Odessa there were oil derricks on both sides as far as the eye could see.
Celebrating the seasons with a Sonic Holiday Spiced Sugar Cookie Blast in Monahans.
Headed back to Odessa.
Thursday, November 25th, 2010
Both Odessa and Midland are acres of tract homes surrounding wide boulevards lined with 50s, 60s and 70s era strip malls untouched by renovation . My pictures didn’t do it justice to capture this walk back in time.
Apple filled Bear Claw. Grrr.
The World’s Largest Jackrabbit…well…didn’t seem that big.
Marquez Bakery.
Admired this juxtaposition of old in new in downtown Midland.
Carts just pulled out of the ovens became a beacon at Martinez Bakery in Midland.
The balance of the day was driving a few hundred miles of northcentral Texas with the usual awe of Americana.
Quitaque.
Turkey. Seemed fitting.
Historic gas station in Matador from the 1930s.
Throckmorton.
Hereford.
Albany.
Friday, November 26th, 2010
AM Donuts. Abilene. The sacrifices I make for bakery evaluation.
The boulevard bricked main street in Post divided remarkable facades.
A sinful Sonic Grilled Ham and Cheese Toaster in Anson.
Albany has retained its Old West past through boutiques and art galleries.
This 1929 soda fountain is beautifully restored and maintained. Got a dish of Rainbow Sherbet.
The last Sonic of the trip in Breckenridge brings the grand tally to 149 Sonics in 21 states with 149 menu items enjoyed. That’s a Diet Dr. Pepper Float.
Back to Dallas to complete some open items like in Fort Worth.
Fair Park was created for the world’s fair and 1936 Texas Exposition.
With Art Deco being my favorite architectural style this experience was WONDERFUL.
277 acres include 9 museums, lagoons, the Cotton Bowl, fountains, gardens, music venues and a Ferris wheel.
The plethora of Art Deco features was mesmerizing. The details, sculpture, murals and aura were amazing.
It was further entrancing to imagine the hubbub of activity in 1936 and for subsequent generations.
The Hall of State is the crown jewel of the building collection.
And its glory is the Great Hall.
A leisurely drive through NE Dallas to admire the historic districts of Munger Place, Wilson and Swiss Avenue and then downtown through the Arts District and Deep Ellum.
Carhops have been delivering burgers at Keller’s since the 1950s.
Time to settle in at the Hyatt next to Reunion Tower- the icon of Dallas.
Saturday, November 27th, 2010
Good morning Dallas.
The Dallas Farmers Market is arranged into 4 sheds.
The food options were a disappointment only allowing a Beef Brisket Breakfast Taco, bakery and roasted corn.
Boots on the ground was the best way to get more familiar with downtown.
The flagship Neiman Marcus store featured its legendary Christmas windows.
Not a fan of one of the worst presidents, but there is no denying the place in history for Dealey Plaza and the book depository building. This is why it took this second trip to Dallas to visit the Sixth Floor Museum.
It was among these boxes that Lee Harvey Oswald fired off 3 shots.
Couldn’t leave without one more walk on the infamous grassy knoll.
The Mansion Restaurant has long been one of Dallas’ best.
Diners enter a 2 story balcony ringed foyer into a subtly elegant dining room.
Grilled Salmon, Caramelized Fennel, Tomato-Béarnaise Reduction, Fennel Salad.
-Best salmon I’ve ever had complemented by the anise flavor and crunch of the fennel.
A return trip to Dallas will be required when the George W. Bush Presidential Library opens in Lewisville in 2013. And then there is the southern and western parts!