Is Texas Worth Visiting?

Discussion in 'Travel and Vacation Destinations' started by Nicholan, Mar 14, 2017.

  1. Nicholan

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    So one place in the states that I haven't visited yet is Texas. I've heard mixed reviews about Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas? According to some research I've been doing lately, Austin is a top place to live.

    Check out this link: http://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live



    1) Is Texas worth visiting?

    2) What's your favorite city in Texas and why?

    3) SOCIAL SCENE: What would you consider the best city in Texas for a same-gender-loving man of color?
     
  2. Sean

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    1) Texas is definitely worth the visit. But of course, what you are interested in depends on where you go.
    2) I'm a native and have been to every major city and know folks in every city and had a little action in every one too. That said, I usually have a good time wherever I am in the state. Lol. My fav would be between Houston and Austin, primarily because of the progress politics and culture, but Houston takes the edge for its ridiculous diversity and because I'm generally attracted to large urban cities. Austin is urban, but not very big or black. (That sounded horrible!)
    3) Without question Houston, overall, but definitely if you are black, Austin if you are white. Texas overall is NOT progressive when it comes to this issue. Austin has always been the anomaly with everything in Texas, and Houston has been a bit behind.

    Overall, the cost of living and traveling here is great. Austin is likely the most expensive of these major cities to live. The food is great everywhere. If you do not like tacos, go'n and go to hell. Lol. We eat tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner around here. Traffic is EVERYWHERE in the state, but the most tolerable in Fort Worth, followed by El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, then Houston. Public transportation all across the state SUCKS, although better in Dallas and Houston.

    Here's my rundown on Texas cities:
    Dallas--The city and county are booming and has attracted a lot of black people in the last decade. Like most places in the state, it's still pretty darn segregated. But there are a few places people co-mingle and hang out. There's a well known gay-district in Dallas that, on certain nights, you will see black people in full force (hip hop nights and the like), and there's at least one or two actual black gay bars--but again, I think they only open on the weekends from thurs-sun. Dallas has always considered itself a contemporary, upbeat type of place...in its own Texas way, and has always been known for its fashion district. Compared to its little brother FW, next door, it's where younger people prefer to be in North Texas.

    Arlington--Home of the Dallas Cowboys (they have never actually played in the city of Dallas), Six Flags Over Texas (how many of you know how Six Flags got its name?), the Texas Rangers, the University of Texas at Arlington (a Carnegie I research institution) and a GM plant that's been around forever. Arlington is a landlocked big city by population standards, but started out as a suburb of Fort Worth. The city has made a name for itself because of entertainment and UTA.

    Fort Worth--Still a big city with a small town feel, FW is growing faster than all the cities in Texas. It's a good place to move if you have a family...and if you end up there for a career move, that's ok too. At least you have Dallas and Arlington next door. There is a black community, but it basically surrounds church and politics. There is a gay scene for white people, but none for blacks. Fort Worth is home to the largest urban county that is still pretty darn red. The city considers itself the cultural capital of the SW and has some pretty good museums. FW is very into their cowboy and arts culture. It has an identity very distinct from Dallas, again, feeling more like a small city, despite its large population. People are just more spread out.

    Houston--This is one of the largest cities in the US behind NYC, LA and Chi, so that makes it the biggest city in Texas. Houston is one of the most international cities in the country, let alone Texas and is just freakin huge. The diversity can't be overstated, but of course, Latinos and blacks make up the largest minority. Houston has a good big city night life, culture and arts, and sports teams actually in the city. Houston serves as one of the busiest ports in the country too, so whatever you need, you can probably find it off the streets of Houston. (If you are into herbal essence, Houston gets the best compared to all the other major cities in Texas. Sad that I know that. Lol.) The food in Houston is abundant, which is why it's also one of the fattest cities in the country. Houston is also home to the country's first ever lesbian mayor, who ended her final term last year. Houston sometimes competes with Austin in terms of progressive politics, but Houston can be tricky. There's still some pretty staunch conservatives lingering around.

    Austin--This is the capital of one of the most conservative states in the country, making the city something like a donut hole in the state. It has long been and still is the most progressive city in Texas. The night life is great, especially if you are into live music. It's not a black scene at all and the black community is small. Like Fort Worth, if you don't go to church or aren't involved in politics or civic orgs, there's not much of a black cultural life there. But the black people there do relatively well, although they got issues as they do in any other major city.

    San Antonio--It's your run of the mill large urban city. It is and has been for a long time, majority Latino. They have the Spurs, the Alamo, the Riverwalk and a Six Flags, beyond that, nothing too special.

    El Paso--If you thought you were basically in Mexico going to San Antonio, go several hours to the west to El Paso. Like San Antonio, the Latino culture runs deep. Mexico is across the street. The few black people you come across are most likely there because of the army base. If you like military booty/dik, you'll definitely find it here.
     
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  3. Winston Smith

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    Some observations from a non native:

    - Been in Dallas a few times due to work and training, including downtown. Didn't catch the "funny vibe" while down there, so as a black tourist on the job, was a great place to visit. Most of my coworkers there tell me it's relatively expensive to own housing, so a lot of middle income people work IN Dallas but live elsewhere. Drivability was relatively cool, even at rush hour when heading to DFW airport, but this a red light camera city like D.C. and Chicago, so watch out. If you moved there, there's the caveat of the city's finances. While they are doing well financial wise in terms of jobs and businesses, their public pension situation makes them exactly like Detroit right before their Chapter 9 filing. So relocating there would be something to watch out for.

    - Houston is actually the third largest city in America now, as anyone who can is getting the fuck out of the for-now-official third largest city, Chicago. I've never been to Houston but those that follow demography have known this for a minute and the upcoming 2020 census will likely make this official. I've known quite a few black folk who've relocated there with no complaints whatsoever, including a former black businesswoman I worked for.

    - Due to my line of work I've been to a couple of border towns like Port Isabel, which are basically the "real" New Mexico lol. I didn't have any racial problems although one coworker claimed she was called the N word by the locals. A great cheap tropical vacation spot is South Padre Island, off of Port Isabel; Southwest will get you there via Brownsville or Harlingen, I think. Wasn't too crowded, but had that "touristy" look like Virginia Beach, which I despise. Humid there, something to keep in mind depending on how you process ambient air. And as I told @Sean the roaches are the size of baby mice and I don't deal with critters well. Apparently roaches dig palm trees, lol, I'll never look at palm trees the same way again.
     
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  4. ColumbusGuy

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    Not quite... Chicago still has nearly 400,000 more people than Houston within city limits, also Chicago has a much larger urban area population and much larger metro population as well.

    Austin is growing faster than Fort Worth.

    Fort Worth growth since 2010: grew from 741,000 to 833,000 adding 92,000 people.
    Austin growth since 2010: grew from 790,000 to 931,000 adding 141,000 people.

    Just saying. I do follow demographics as well.
    List of United States cities by population - Wikipedia
    *yes it is Wikipedia but the data is from the US census burea.
    *yeah and being picky about sh#t like this is just one of the reasons people tend to not like me. F#ck them.

    :yeshrug::sass1:

    *and most of Texas sucks...place is as bad as Ohio, just in different ways.
     
  5. Winston Smith

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    Whatever, dude, I live in Chicago AND work for Uncle Sam AND was an honors student in statistics, not a poster on Wikipedia which any college professors will tell you is an unacceptable reference source lol. Shade Houston all you want, it's already there. Any numbers coming out of Chicago are usually lies. That's why the city doesn't submit their crime stats to the FBI: it's a crime to lie to federal agents, so instead of having to tell the truth about crime in Shitcago, the mayor and police department just don't report ANYTHING to the Feds. Good try, though!

    Texas is a far better state than Ohio in many financial and entrepreneurial ways for black folk, especially for real estate. Even if you have to file bankruptcy, Texas, unlike Ohio, is a homestead state (as is Florida), meaning your home is generally exempted 100%. Hell, even the border towns like Brownsville (home of the late Freddie Fender) aren't as shitty and rundown looking as Ohio's state capital. Just saying.

    For every James Byrd or Sandra Bland incident, I can point to a Tamir Rice or other such in the Buckeye State. I don't know too many black folk packing up for Cincinnati, Cleveland, or Columbus, but I got pages of coworkers, relatives, friends, etc. that pulled up for the Lonestar state including my late father. And when I eventually buy a house, Texas is in the top three.
     
    #5 Winston Smith, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
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  6. Nicholan

    Nicholan Squad Member

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    Thank you!

    That was VERY informative! I'm definitely even more anxious to check it out now. Hell, I may take a quick weekend trip sometime this year. I have a feeling I would enjoy Houston. Austin and Dallas too probably.
     
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  7. ColumbusGuy

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    90 percent of people move to Texas for one reason and one reason only: JOBS! There is no love for the Lonestar state.
    And I said the stats are from the US Census Burea, not from Chicago and already mentioned the data is valid stuff SMDH. You lost on this one, but can't fess up. Texas may be better for black folk, but we are talking about GAY black folk, right?
    So I guess you must be saying that blacks are gonna be filing bankruptcy since that is what you focused on? LMAO!
    Brownsville better than Cbus? LOL. You did not even try it... maybe Austin or Fort Worth or San Antonio but Brownsville? Lost the last of your credibility. Cbus has gotten many accolades the last ten years for being a good city to live in, work in, etc (and for blacks as well). Brownsville though? *crickets*.

    You really can do better than this. And get those facts right bruh! lol.

    :kermit:100dap:mjlol::heh::troll::)

    * And the population of black folks in Cbus is growing just as fast as the rest of the population- Cbus and NYC are the only cities in the top fastest growing 15 that are not in the sunbelt. Try again, pal. :) ... and data trumps(no pun intended)your personal anecdotes every time lol.

    Top six metros in Texas:

    Houston: Sprawling mess with a summer climate that rivals the rainforest of the Amazon.
    Dallas-Fort Worth: Another sprawling mess on a pancake flat hot prairie that rivals the deserts of Arizona in the summer.
    Austin: Getting too overbuilt for it's infrastructure-growing too fast and filling with yuppie scum living in cheap overpriced yuppie boxes.
    San Antonio- good city with charm and character-but too conservative and ethnically split-north gated burbs vs southside.
    El Paso-the damn ends of the Earth! Only one step up from the huge trash pile called Ciudad Juarez on the other side!


    *the people who hate me on here are gonna gain some followers(as in Texaphiles) after these posts, I know lol.
     
    #7 ColumbusGuy, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
  8. Winston Smith

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    @Sean is a knowledgeable, talented brother. You can take anything he says about Texas to the bank. Get out there and enjoy!

    And in case you missed it, there's this CA thread classic from @BlackguyExecutive
    Travel Like A Boss
     
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  9. ColumbusGuy

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    @Rico It is not fun if you don't fight back. lol.
     
  10. Winston Smith

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    Dude, it's not "fighting back." @Nicholan asjed a serious question as a young black male about opportunities for travel and relocation. You started trending to that patronizing white liberal perspective, particularly when there are other young black men on this site like @Sean who have particular knowledge, experience, and expertise about the original inquiry.

    As I've stated to you many times, black life,views and perception are multi-faceted and not what patronizing white folk---liberal or conservative---dictate to us or try to define for us. Even as we as black men navigate the bullshit that we put up with in ANY state in the U.S., we still find opportunities, nuances and diversity even in the worst places. If a young brother like @Nicholan has the desire and means to travel and explore, I encourage him to do so, and to listen to other accomplished brothers in his age group (@African King @BlackguyExecutive @NikR etc.) when making those decisions, NOT let his views be influenced by patronizing, zero-sum minded people who want black males to remain stationary, complacent and react to every boogie man they conjure up. I get tired of seeing younger black men artificially limiting themselves. The last thing they need is some Rachel Maddow type saying "don't go there to Texas it's EVILLL!!!! So, while I initially joked with you about the subject, I occasionally get sick of patronizing white attitudes when I see them creep up.

    "The circumference of your activity is dictated by the radius of your thought..."

    I say to any CA squad member, you don't know what you'll find until you get there in the world or who you'll meet. I encourage any younger brother to explore, whether you get there by car, train, plane, MegaBus, whatever ("You can get here by caravan"....lol). Hell, when I was in Kuwait, I met a chief of staff for one of the crown princes who actually invited me to a yacht party, even though I was some black enlisted guy, but one he found out knew international economics and business. Of course, the white folk in my command didn't like the fact that this negro knew some Arabic, had Muslim friends and could practice Dale Carnegie on an international level with the best of them, so no yacht party for me. But as I told dude, one day I'm coming back to your country, not in the uniform that Bush and Cheney sent me in, but as an independent black business man. That example to Nicholan just to show you never know what's behind Door No. 3, so let's make a deal and get traveling!
     
    #10 Winston Smith, Mar 17, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2017
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  11. ColumbusGuy

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    Oh for Christ's sake forget it! The only even semi-serious part that I posted was the part about the demographics-and that is just because I am a geography nut and specialized in urban and economic geography/locational analysis plus city planning and am on several boards that are obsessed with stats on cities and such. The rest was just shooting the breeze/bullshit stuff.

    Any place is what you make of it-look at people thriving in the worst areas and people who are unhappy in 'meccas' and all. It is more not where you are, but who you are and how you are of course.

    So sensitive in this post! The poster was only talking about places to visit anyway. I also never said not to visit and explore different places either. I started when I traveled to California at the ripe old age of five. Since when I have encouraged young black men to not travel(even thought now I don't travel myself)? I can take the piss out of my own area, city, state, but Gawd forbid I do it to another state?
    Sorry I misjudged you.

    Jeez never mind.

    *you know what...there was no patronizing white folks stuff in what I wrote...any black person could have written the same things..but it had to be 'a white person dictating'...but thanks for making it racial and painting me with that brush. Just do not interact with me on here in any way from now on if that is how it is gonna be, ok?
     
    #11 ColumbusGuy, Mar 17, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2017
  12. Nicholan

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    @Rico and @ColumbusGuy, oh can't we all just get along :).

    Texas is the topic and I definitely appreciate the feedback from everyone!

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Winston Smith

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    @Nicholan Sorry, my ancestors were black cowboys, ranchers and soldiers. We don't know the meaning of Kumbaya. That some kind of French soup?

    Ironically, I found out I'm going to be working in Texas this summer, so

    [​IMG]
    You'n gots a standing invite to share some Dallas BBQ, Pahd'na
    Lol
     
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  14. ColumbusGuy

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    Lol I had my little snit and am over it. @Rico knows how to push my buttons and I was crabby cause I am still fighting this damn headcold. Texas is not my favorite place but I was really just messing around. You should def. visit-it is so large and varied you will have to find some part to like. Also Rico is right-weren't at least 30% of cowboys black?

    *I also don't like it cause the first black guy I dated dumped me when he moved to Austin to teach-and to find a 'real cowboy' smh.
     
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  15. Aejae

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    I would love to visit Houston and Dallas.
     
  16. Nicholan

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    So it's official,

    I'm visiting HOUSTON this summer for the 1st time!

    [​IMG]

    If I remember, I'll let you guys know what I thought of it--just in case anyone else who comes across this thread may want to visit. That won't be for a few months though. ​
     
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  17. Winston Smith

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    Good for you!
     
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