Traveling Texas During a Pandemic

Traveling Texas is still possible with a mask, social distancing and a lot of hand sanitizer, says longtime “Day Trips” columnist and retired TCDRS Communications Manager Gerald McLeod.

By Lindsay Livingston

“It’s really no different whether you’re going to the grocery store or a national park,” Gerald says. “I haven’t visited a lot of crowded music festivals or dance halls lately. There’s a lot of diversity close to home, and everything can be accomplished by car … outdoors and away from people.”

Gerald started his Texas travel column for The Austin Chronicle in the early 1990s. Since then, he’s written more than 1,000 “Day Trips”. Some of his favorite Texas ones include Port Aransas, Lake Livingston and Marfa.

“Port Aransas has great food and a great beach with a small-town atmosphere,” Gerald says. “Lake Livingston, behind the Pine Curtain of East Texas, has great fishing, swimming, trails and good barbeque nearby. Marfa is just a fun place to visit. There is always something new and seeing the mystery lights is always a possibility.”

He’s also recently invested in an RV, which makes social distancing even easier. “It’s got a microwave, a bathroom, a sink, a table, so we don’t have to go into gas stations anymore,” Gerald says.

Whether you travel by RV or car, you can use certain free resources to help plan your next local trip. “The Texas Travel Guide and Official State Highway Map from the Texas Department of Transportation are the best free resources available,” Gerald says.

For other Texas day trip ideas, visit AustinChronicle.com/Columns/Day-Trips.

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