A good guidebook can take the place of a good friend
who’s merely along for the ride. Guidebooks can show you the most unique — if
not the best — places to explore. These friends always have a story that makes
the miles seem shorter. The landscape becomes interesting as well as beautiful
with them around.
For the day tripper, there are a lot of good Texas guidebooks. The
husband-and-wife team of Paris Permenter and John Bigley have been the most
prolific travel writers in the state. They have completed two new books and
updated a third, besides writing a long list of magazine and newspaper
articles.
Texas Barbecue, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley (Pig Out
Publications, $14.95), takes the reader exploring the smoky haunts that make
Texas cuisine famous. The duo covers the entire state, but concentrates on the
central and southern portions. This is a useful, fun book. Use it to start your
own scrapbook of barbecue joints or to discover the new spots.
This is not just a guidebook, however; it’s also a how-to book. You might feel
inspired enough to try your own barbecue beginning with the recipes and
suppliers listed in the book. And if nobody’s barbecue tastes as good as yours,
they also list cookoffs you can enter.
Day Trips from San Antonio and Austin, by Paris Permenter and John
Bigley (Two Lane Press, $11.95) is the second edition of this book, first
released in 1992. Updated and expanded, it packs a lot of information between
the covers: From Mason to Mustang Island, from Round Rock to Laredo, the book
covers an area of Texas larger than most states. The 34 trips described in the
book include places to stay, eat, or play in over 100 towns. For newcomers to
the area this is a beginner’s guide. For longtime residents the phone numbers
make it a good reference book.
Natural Wonders of Texas, A Guide to Parks, Preserves & Wild
Places, by Paul and Sunita Cooke (Country Roads Press, $9.95) is a unique
twist on the usual travel guide. Mrs. Cooke has a doctorate in biology and is a
wildlife professional. The authors visit parks and preserves around the state
pointing out unusual features and pertinent information.
The book divides the 175 million acres of diverse country in Texas into six
regions. Covering areas from the Odessa Meteor Crater to the Santa Ana National
Wildlife Refuge, this book could be useful for all levels of outdoor
recreation.
Coming up…
Cowboy Christmas Ball & Trail Ride at the Old Coupland Inn & Dance
Hall brings a parade to Coupland, Dec.15-16. 512/856-2226.
Christmas Tree Lighting fills the LBJ State Park in Stonewall with candlelight
and the sounds of the seasons, Dec.17. 210/644-2252.
Christmas lights: Fourth & Main in Taylor on weekends. Downtown Columbus,
through Dec. 31, 409/732-2507. Courthouse and Plaza in Uvalde, through Dec. 31,
800/588-2533. Forest of Lights, Meridian State Park, Dec. 9-25, 817/435-2536.
America’s Smithsonian includes 300 items from the Washington, D.C. museums in
a free exhibition at Houston’s convention center, one of only 12 stops,
Dec.7-Jan.12. 713/853-8000. n
This article appears in December 15 • 1995 and December 15 • 1995 (Cover).
