Deep in the Heart of Texas: July 3rd – July 5th

On Sunday, we made the leisurely drive from Houston to Austin. Before reaching our destination, we stopped at Steak ‘N Shake for some nourishment.  We made it to Austin by 2:00 PM and spent a couple of hours unwinding before heading down to 6th Street to join in the pre-4th of July festivities.  We enjoyed some interesting adult beverages and met some very eccentric people.  The atmosphere was not nearly as crazy and chaotic as it was 10 years ago during our last visit.  Due to the very hot and dry weather conditions, the fireworks were banned from the Austin area.  Many local residents went to other areas to celebrate Independence Day.  Nonetheless, we had a great time!

On Monday, the 4th of July, we decided to have lunch at the well renowned “Salt Lick Barbecue”.  This place has been featured several times on the Food Channel and touts one of the only open pit barbecues in Texas.  We had high expectations, but were left mildly disappointed.  The atmosphere was very festive.  There was an outdoor picnic area where freshly squeezed lemonade was served and a band played while we waited to be seated.  It was a very hot afternoon, but we enjoyed sitting in the sun for a while.  We both ordered a combination platter that consisted of ribs, brisket, and sausage.  The ribs were tender and moist, but the brisket was on the dry side. We were happy that we had the opportunity experience this place, but will probably not return again in the future. 

We ended the day with a light Mexican dinner and watched the movie, the Bridesmaids.  It was the perfect ending to a fun holiday celebration.

We made our way to Dallas on Tuesday, July 5th.  After checking into our hotel, we decided to take a self-guided tour of the new Dallas Cowboys Football Stadium.  Although neither one of us are Cowboys fans, we thought we should take some time to take the tour.  We were not disappointed.  We were able to go on the field and take some pictures.  The Jumbo-Tron is huge.   It was much larger than what you see on television. We were also allowed access to the Cowboys locker room, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders locker room, the Media Press Conference Room, and all of the inner workings of the stadium.

We finished our day by having a steak dinner at a local establishment that was highly rated on YELP.  The meal was good and inexpensive.

Our time in Texas has been very enjoyable so far.  We may consider moving here someday in the future.