My biggest travel dreams are often set in the most exotic locations: a week on a miniscule island in the Maldives or kayaking in Patagonia, Chile. These travel aspirations are wonderful for a bit of daydreaming, but for many travelers may have been put on the backburner because of the current economic climate.
Luckily, America is a big, wide, diverse country with plenty of our own culture and exciting destinations to offer: if we remember to infuse them in our travel plans. So when a friend of mine was getting married in Houston, Texas, I was excited about visiting a city (and state!) that I never more than passed through on a layover to somewhere out west.
The end of June blanketed Houston in heat. During my visit, I knew I wanted to taste some infamous Texan BBQ, and luckily I had a tour guide.
Armadillo Sculpture next door to Goode Company, Houston, Texas
On the day of his wedding (6pm, to avoid the heat) our gracious host brought some out-of-town friends to Goode Company, a traditional Texan BBQ restaurant that has been perfecting their breads, sauces and spices since 1977. Inside, it wasn’t anything fancy. There were beers and soda on ice, and a line of hungry locals choosing their meat, side dish, and bread.
I watched the people in front of me: many ordered brisket and it was sliced, piled on fresh-baked bread, and topped with a speciality sauce. Reaching the front of the line, I pointed to the sandwich of one of the guys ahead of me, and with a smile, the staff member started to assemble my sandwich.
We took our trays outside and sat at a long wooden picnic table. The thick, country slices of bread were the perfect base for the tender meat. A smokiness was balanced by the slightly sweet sauce, and even the men at my table had trouble coming close to finishing their Texan size portions.
That smoky flavor is what I remember best about Houston. A hot day, a group of good friends, and some real Texan BBQ. It reminded me of all the unique, wonderful, stand-out travel options we have in our own backyard. I love Paris, Rome and Berlin– but I also love Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Miami and Santa Barbara.
More domestic locations have been added to the top of my ever-growing travel list. I’ve yet to see New Orleans, or the Grand Canyon. A trip to Texas reminded me that there’s a lifetime of things to learn about the different sides of my own culture.
