Susie Calhoun, Lori Neely South, and Hank the Longhorn at the Gaylord Texan Resort

My trip to Texas was a quick one. Some of our Holm cousins relocated to the Dallas area several years ago and have embraced the spirit of the state. They wanted me to see as much as I could in an evening, so a trip to The Gaylord Texan Resort was in order. Inside the atrium you can visit various areas of Texas. It is beautifully landscaped as you see a representation of the Alamo, take a walk on the Riverwalk, or visit the Hill Country.

There is a large selection of restaurants to choose from. Representing the Riverwalk is the Riverwalk Cantina with Tex Mex food, Old Hickory Winebar and Steakhouse, Zeppole for Italian food and the Texas Station Sports Bar and Grill. Our cousin, Lori Neely South, knows I love sports, so she decided the Texas Station would be best for us, especially with two of her young grandsons joining us.

Texas Station features a 30’ x 52’ HD screen for your viewing pleasure. There were also many other screens strategically placed around the room. Those watching March Madness were in heaven! The food was classic pub fare – the meats flavorful. As the food was delivered our cousins said, “At least Wendy (fellow cookbook partner) isn’t here so we don’t have to take pictures of the food!” The response was, “but Susie’s here!” So indeed I got a few pictures. I had a pulled pork sandwich. It was too large to consume the whole thing in one sitting. Most dishes were accompanied with Texas Toast, fries and cole slaw – who doesn’t love that! I had a signature Orange Mojito – so refreshing.

The big screen at the Gaylord’s Texas Station

The Texas Station’s orange mojito

Texas Station pulled pork

Texas Station ribs

Texas Station wrap

Our next stop was Pete’s Piano Dueling Bar in Addison – its smoke free. With two pianos, some wild musicians and a crowd celebrating many bachelorettes and birthdays, some fun was had! The grandsons had to miss this part of the evening. Jessica’s husband, Robby, was so kind to put in a request for the Beach Boy’s, California Girls. From then on throughout the evening references to “Susie and the California gang” came up. I have never seen a place serving up so many “shots” and challenging people to earn them! There was a competitive spirit in that crowd that made it extra entertaining. Pete’s is scattered throughout Texas and now Las Vegas.

Thanks to Lori, Jessica and Jamie I was able to experience so much of Texas in a brief visit…too short of time with my cousins, but so memorable. The Gaylord Texan is only six miles from the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. If you need a place to stay and visit Texas in a hurry, I can suggest the Gaylord Texan. It’s BIG, just like Texas!

~Susie Calhoun

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck