Texas cities are worlds apart.

What you should know about relocating to Texas.

Each city has its own personality.

Whether you’re moving to Texas on your own free will or your company is relocating you to the region, you should know that no two cities here have the same look and feel. In fact, each one has its own distinct personality. If you haven’t decided on a place to live yet, I’ll attempt to help you decipher the differences with a quick rundown of the Lone Star State.

Let’s start with Dallas and Fort Worth (better known as the DFW Metroplex) because that is where I’m located. It should be noted that the DFW Metroplex also consists of a multitude of cities surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth, including, but not limited to: Arlington, Plano, Grapevine, Irving, Las Colinas, Carrollton, Denton, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Lewisville, Grand Prairie, McKinney, Mesquite, and Garland, just to name a few. 

You should know Dallas and Fort Worth are situated relatively close together and they do have some similar personality traits, but for the most part they really are quite different in attitude. Sure, both are cultural Meccas with loads of swinging hot spots, restaurants and world-class shopping. And, yes, the art and music scenes are big in both cities. And, of course, it wouldn’t be unusual to have a cattle drive go right through main street in either city. But where Dallas has Deep Ellum and the Blues, Ft. Worth has the Stockyards and real cowboys.

In other words, Fort Worth would tell you Dallas is “all hat and no cattle” and Dallas would tell you Fort Worth is “all cattle and no hat”. Now you may be saying to yourself, “What exactly does that mean?” Well, come to the DFW Metroplex and figure it out. If you can’t figure it out, at least you’ll have a good time.

Now travel (3 1/2 to 4 hours) down 1-45 south to Houston—the largest city in Texas. With a thriving business district, shops, restaurants and everything else that makes an urban sprawl an attractive place to live, Houston is also a major port city for Texas. When driving down I-45 notice you will literally see backdrops of sturdy live oaks and evergreens give way to swaying palm trees and oleanders as you near the Gulf Coast. 

And when you get to the Gulf Coast, go across the causeway to Galveston Island. Here you’ll instantly relax when the first sea laden breeze whips across your face. Balmy and tropical, this historic beach town is home to those lucky enough to be BOI (Born on the Island) and lots of happy people who got to Galveston as soon as they could. Many straight off the cruise ships that dock near the historic Strand. 

Further south along the Gulf of Mexico is Corpus Christi with beautiful white sand beaches, botanical gardens and parks. Port Aransas and Padre Island are also down this way. Make a point to check them out on your way to Brownsville at the southernmost tip of Texas, where Mexican and American tourists alike vacation. Known for it abundance of citrus fruit, Brownsville is part of the Rio Grande Valley. 

Travel back up a little ways (4 to 5 hours depending on if you stop for bathroom breaks and/or lunch) to San Antonio and you’ll discover a city with a large military base and a colorful downtown district. In fact, a river runs right through downtown with water taxis and fiesta boats. Historic and modern all at the same time, San Antonio boasts flavorful restaurants and shopping malls, all within walking distance of legendary sites like the Alamo. By the way, “Remember the Alamo!” because we Texans always do. 

Then, of course, there is Austin—the State Capitol. From the surrounding Texas Hill Country to the University of Texas, it is a sight to behold. Laid back and easy-going Austin still gets the job done with many great companies headquartering here. The music scene is big, along with tubing down one of the multiple nearby rivers with a drink in your hand. So remember to bring your swimsuit and towel.

Go north and west to the High Plains (a subregion of the Great Plains) and you’ll find Lubbock—home to Texas Tech University, legendary musician Buddy Holly and wine grapes. Yes, I said wine grapes. Which means you’ll find fine wine, rich food and a sophisticated culture scene here along with lots of friendly people and prairie grass. 

Head on up into the Panhandle of West Texas and you’ll likely see more than a few tumbleweeds blowing across vast flat expanses of land. You can bring one home for a souvenir if you want. We give tumbleweeds away free in Texas.   

So now let’s stop off in Amarillo. Amarillo is on the famous Route 66 and is known for its helium and petroleum industries. From businessmen to artists to authors, Amarillo boasts some incredibly cool personalities and natural beauty including the nearby majestic Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Think Grand Canyon only a bit smaller.

Here’s one more quick Texas tip for you if you’re not from around here. 

Keep your gas tank full if you go on a road trip because there are lots of wide open spaces. To be honest, you can drive some really long stretches without seeing civilization. The state is just that expansive. Someone once told me you could comfortably fit both France and Switzerland into an area the size of Texas. I don’t know if this is true because I’ve personally never done it. But looking at maps, you can see that Texas is pretty big compared to most other states and countries. And it does take about 12 hours to drive horizontally across the state from the Arkansas border town of Texarkana to the Mexican border town of El Paso. 

Honestly, when a Texan tells you something is not that far away it usually is a good ways off. Just prepare yourself to get there when you get there, and enjoy whatever comes your way as you discover cities large and small. All of which have this one thing in common . . . they are nothing alike.

My name is Gina Popp and I’m a realtor, writer and native Texan. I live in Dallas, but I get around so I can help you out if you’re looking to buy or rent anywhere in the DFW Metroplex. And, if you’re looking for any other place outside of the North Texas region, I can help set you up with a realtor from that area. So don’t be afraid to email me at ginapopp@att.net or call 469-644-2332. I’d be more than happy to help you find your new home in you new home state.