Tyson Bird

3 days ago | texashighways.com | Tyson Bird

Texans know that in the summer, you should never be too far from a body of water. If you’re not lucky enough to have a pool or live near a lake or ocean, booking a room at a hotel with a pool is the next best option. These lodgings across the state offer swimming amenities that are far from your average hotel pool. Less than an hour outside of Austin in the Hill Country, Horseshoe Bay Resort unveiled its waterfront floating pool—the only one of its kind in North America—last Memorial Day.

5 days ago | texashighways.com | Tyson Bird

Open RoadA son of civil unrest finds equilibrium in the pool halls of AustinThe Grand is a deceptive place, more spacious on the inside than anyone imagines before entering. Open its doors in North Austin and the room rolls out for you, magically, like it didn’t exist before you crossed its threshold. A long hallway divides the room, and as you walk toward the bar at the end of the space like a billiards Moses, a sea of pool tables parts to both sides.

1 week ago | texashighways.com | Tyson Bird

Candy-colored houses, bait shops, and fishing piers dot the landscape of Rockport, located on Aransas Bay, about 30 miles northeast of Corpus Christi. Named for the rock ledge beneath its shore, the town began development as a cattle processing and shipping port in 1865 and was incorporated five years later. In the 1920s, the shrimping and tourism industries took off, making the town a thriving coastal vacation spot. But Rockport is perhaps best known for its resilience.

1 week ago | texashighways.com | Tyson Bird

Last July, I finally had the opportunity to visit Balmorhea State Park, which has been on my summer to-do list since I started in this position more than eight years ago. As high as my anticipation was to finally experience the beloved West Texas oasis, the 1.3-acre spring-fed pool, with its crystal-clear waters, easily exceeded my expectations.

1 week ago | texashighways.com | Tyson Bird

Whether you’re making a pilgrimage all the way from Nederland to Port Isabel or thinking about a quick hop over to Rockport for a long weekend, mark your map (and save your appetite) for these 20 timeless coastal dives Take the PlungeIt’s high tides and good vibes at these seafood stalwarts along the gulf Hardcore coastal road-trippers will want to start at this easternmost seafood house owned by the Megas family since the 1950s for a plate of its legendary barbecue crab.