Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I reviewed the previous edition of this book and thought I should see how the new one (the 2009 edition) stacks up. To provide some background, I live in Houston and I like to use travel guides like this to find new places to visit, restaurants to dine in, etc. - I've made a lot of nice finds so far. What follows is my detailed take (hopefully not too much so) on what it gets right and wrong...
Most of what I said before still applies... the previous edition was spot-on in its coverage of the big Texas cities but a bit lacking in details for the less-traveled, more scenic destinations.
Lo and behold, they actually have expanded those sections a bit (especially West Texas) and re-organized them to boot. I still say the Hill Country deserves its own chapter (and made mention of the spring bluebonnet blooms and certain personal faves like Natural Bridge Caverns and Lost Maples State Park), but the guide hits all of the high points. I also still wish they mentioned some of the more spectacular day hikes in Big Bend - The Window and Lost Mine Trails - and had more details on Big Bend State Park (at least it's mentioned this time), but those are minor issues - and coming from a total outdoors freak such as myself.
The other few minor quibbles I have is on some restaurant choices (no Taco Taco Cafe in San Antonio? Loma Linda is _still_ in there, for Houston?). The choices are certainly not bad and all the essentials seem to be there, but especially for Houston it would've been nice to see some of the more exciting new eateries that have sprung up the last several years (Feast, a British-style "tail-to-snout" eatery that I'd venture to say is unique in the entirety of Middle America; award-winners such as Reef, Cova, and Catalan; Danton's for Gulf Coast eatin' and its jazz brunch; Max's Wine Dive, Textile, Bedford, T'afia, Tony's... and this is just for Houston!). Here I actually give a tip of the hat to Fodor's. I could go on and on, but this review is already too long; I am sort of a food fanatic though, so take all that with a grain of salt if you're not. The hotel listings, on the other hand, seem adequately up-to-date.
In the end, though, I realized it's amazing how much is in this guide while at the same covering the vast, diverse hugeness that is Texas. It's hard for me to think of a guide describing the state much better without becoming absurdly huge, and there are really no glaring omissions that I can think of. Plus, they do a good job of giving you a feel for each destination. For the majority of travelers (even picky ones such as myself), this guide will be more than adequate - 5 stars.
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Frommer's Texas (Frommer's Complete Guides)Our authors hit all the highlights, from the nightlife in funky Austin to bright lights of Dallas to the trails of Big Bend. They've checked out all the state's best hotels and restaurants in person, and offers authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget.
You'll also get up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; accurate neighborhood maps; the best historial sites (the Alamo, Dealey Plaza); and advice on planning a successful family vacation.
Destination highlights include all the major cities (Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin) plus many more fantastic destinations (Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains national parks, the gulf coast, and the panhandle plains)
Click here for more information about Frommer's Texas (Frommer's Complete Guides)
