Like traveling? Like showing people what Dallas has to offer? Like a stranger sleeping in your living room?
Ok, its understandable that you probably didn’t agree with all of that. But give me a moment to explain the virtues of CouchSurfing.org, and you might think differently about the idea. (more…)
Categories: Good
Tagged: couchsurfing, hosting, travel
The good Lord blessed Texas with open spaces, kick-a BBQ, and Nolan Ryan. It’s only fair that his good hand withheld other worldly blessings to even things out. And so, He stopped Texas from getting snow.
“What’s that?” you ask with wide-eyed wonder. According to Wikipedia (so BS, basically) snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. It’s featured in such movies as Home Alone and Die Hard 2.
Kidding aside, I’m in that segment of Texans that wishes we got more of the white stuff. The closest thing we get, namely ice, is far less enjoyable than the picturesque, white winter landscape a snowfall brings. Plus, you can have a good deal of fun with snow: skiing, sledding, boarding, and snowmen make for a pretty strong pro-snow argument.
It was this longing for crystalline water ice that brought me to the town of Crested Butte in Colorado. To my surprise, it turned out to be the closest thing to a Texas Winter Wonderland I have encountered.
The town has a nice folksy small town feel to it, and the locals certainly were some of the most welcoming people I’ve met while traveling. It’s also a bizarre mix of different demographic groups: stoner x-game hippies, high-spending metrosexuals, South American students, frat boys & sorority chicks, van-driving Christian families, and camo-wearing hunters all come together in this big little city.
But the group represented more than any other was Texans. I can’t remember meeting so many other lone-star citizens in a state not connected to Texas, and their imprint is certainly visible – imagine my glee at being able to get a cold Shiner Bock in most places in town. From arguing with a Red Raider fan in the lift line to discussing the merits of living in the DFW area with other hotel guests, it’s easy to feel the home state spirit in Crested Butte.
If you’re hurting for some snow and are reeling from post-holiday office work, I strongly recommend this little town. The prices are more affordable than usual right now, and the locals would definitely appreciate the tourist dollars – particularly from Texas. Perhaps a nice way to dodge the mid-recession, pre-Armageddon blues?
Categories: Good
Tagged: Colorado, crested butte, Shiner, ski, snow, snowboard, travel
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