The Best Kept Secrets You Need To Uncover In Texas

You might think that you know all that there is to know about the state of Texas. In fact, you might have already visited its famous cities, including Dallas and Houston, a few times already. But what you need to remember is that there is a lot more to Texas than just its big cities - there’s a whole lot more in actual fact!

Texas is such a huge state so there is no wonder that there will be a lot of hidden secrets for you to explore and discover during your visit. Here are just a few of the best ones.

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Marfa

If you book a hotel in Marfa, TX, you will certainly be able to enjoy some peace and quiet. It’s right in the middle of the desert, but this small town has actually turned that into an advantage. It may only be small but it has a might arts community, and you will be able to check out local artworks at both the Chinati Foundation and Ballroom Marfa organization. This town also has a bit of a spooky side as well, as some visitors claim to see what is known as “Marfa Lights”. These are unexplained lights that have been spotted around town. No one has yet to agree on what they might be!

Hueco Tanks State Park

If you want to experience some of Texas’ best nature during your trip, then you will have to spend at least one day at the Hueco Tanks State Park. It’s located right between the Hueco Mountains and the Franklin Mountains. There are a lot of great hiking trails that you can follow through the park. Some of these trails were created thousands of years ago by the Native Americans.

Blue Lagoon, Huntsville

If you travel for ninety minutes out of Houston, you will eventually come to some quarries. It’s in these quarries where you will find the majestic Blue Lagoon. Once you’ve paid your entrance fee, you’ll be able to get to the edges of the water and even dip your toes in if you fancy. You’ll probably see scuba divers bobbing on the water’s surface, and there will certainly be plenty of people cooling off with a swim.

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Copper Breaks State Park

Another of Texas’ top parks is the Copper Breaks State Park. This 1,800-acre park features two vast lakes and a myriad of great trails that you’ll be able to follow on foot or mountain bike. This is also a great destination for animal lovers as you’ll spot rabbits, deer, and herons.

The Cathedral Of Junk

If you’ve already been to Austin, there’s a chance that you didn’t see the Cathedral of Junk on your first visit. You’ll find it in a nondescript backyard as it’s been made by a member of the public. It’s a towering structure that’s been made out of - you guessed it - junk! You’ll notice beer signs, clocks, and ladders amongst it all.

Hopefully, you’ll see all of these best kept secrets when you next visit Texas!

Texas' Top Cities

Dallas

If you fancy a trip to Texas, you will have to spend some time thinking of the best places to visit in the state. There are so many fab locations that you might really find it difficult to narrow it down effectively.

If you already have a short list of some potential cities to visit in Texas, then you might find it easier to decide where to go on your trip. If not, don’t worry. This is where this blog will come in! Here are a few of the state’s best cities that all visitors will really enjoy.

Dallas

Dallas has to be one of the most well-known cities in the whole of Texas so this might have already been on your list of places to visit. It’s right up in the north of the state and is a melting pot of culture and commerce. There’s also so much for tourists to do there as well. For instance, you might want to visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens for a stroll and some fresh air. Kids will love spending a few hours in the Perot Museum of Science and Nature where they can see some dinosaur skeletons and other fossils.

Austin

Another really popular city in Texas has to be Austin. This is the state capital so, as you can imagine, there is plenty going on in this bustling city. The Bullock Museum has lots of the states history on display and you can learn a lot about the city’s past in the exhibitions. While in Austin, you need to try some of its famous brisket, and you’ll find no better than the meat served up at Franklin Barbecue. If the weather is good, take a leisurely stroll around Zilker Park.

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Rankin

If you aren’t all that into large metropolises, then you might want to stick to Texas’ smaller cities. If you find a hotel in Rankin, Texas, you’ll be sure of plenty of peace and quiet so that you can get a good night’s rest. The Rankin Museum will take you back to the 1920s and if the weather ever gets too hot, you can always take a dip in the Tommy Workman Swimming Pool Park.

Houston

Houston is another firm favorite with many visitors to Texas. You’ll find the Space Center Houston here, which is a truly fantastic day out. As well as that, you can while away a few hours in the Downtown Aquarium. The Health Museum is also a great day out, and you’ll learn everything there is to know about health sciences.

San Antonio

San Antonio is very different from the cities mentioned above as it has such a strong colonial influence. The Alamo is an historic fort that features a museum and garden. Be sure to also visit the Missions National Historical Park, where you can wander around some 16th-century history.

There are so many great cities to visit in Texas, but the ones mentioned above are by far the most popular. Where will you go?

Ways To Deal With Hospital Anxiety

Very few people like hospitals. Unless you have chosen to work in one, there is usually no positive reason for being in one – you or someone you know and love will be unwell or injured in some way.



It’s common for people to experience some form of anxiety when they know they need to go to a hospital, whether for their own health needs or to visit someone there. For some people, this anxiety can cause big problems, meaning that they stay away from hospitals as much as possible. Their health can suffer as a result. However, there are some useful tips on how to deal with hospital anxiety if you suffer from it, such as the three outlined below.



Build Trust

One of the big issues that some people have with hospitals is that they find it difficult to trust the doctors and nurses within it. This fear might stem from a medical error in the past that required www.the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk to make a claim. Even if it didn’t get that far, believing that a doctor made a mistake somewhere or didn’t tell the full story can cause significant trust issues.



If this is the case, spend time getting to know the medical professionals working on your case or who are involved in the ward that you are visiting. Arrange appointments to meet with them and ask them questions. Doing so should go some way to easing your anxiety.



Home From Home

By taking small home comforts into the hospital with you, you can make yourself feel safe and secure. It could be your favourite music, or perhaps a book that you love. Photos are a great idea and make a good talking point with other patients (who can help to dispel your fears about hospitals themselves) and even the medical staff.



Think about what you enjoy doing at home and see if you can bring something of that into the hospital. From books and music to sketchbooks and pencils or a well-loved cuddly toy, whatever helps you feel at ease should be with you.



Bring Someone With You

Part of the fear of hospitals can be due to the unknown, and if you have to face that on your own, it can feel even more terrifying. Try to bring someone with you whenever you have to go into hospital – no matter what the reason – and they will be able to help you to keep calm. Even if you are just visiting, having someone with you to guide you through the process and help you get where you need to be can be extremely useful. They don’t have to come into the patient’s room or ward with you but can help you up until that point.



Once the visit or procedure is over, the friend you brought with you can be a great sounding board as well, listening to your problems and helping you to talk through them. This can be an excellent way to get the issues you are feeling off your chest.

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How Gospel Music Strengthens Faith

Have you ever been feeling down, and suddenly the right song comes on the radio and turns your mood around? Music has been proven to have a positive impact on your brain and can help you feel better. If this is true of mainstream music, imagine what kind of positive impacts that gospel music can have on the brain.

It Sends a Message

There’s a reason that early childhood educators teach songs to young children about things like the days of the week and months of the year: it helps them to remember. Think about the alphabet. Chances are that you learned your ABC’s by singing the song, which has stuck with you all your life.

Listening to faith-based music acts the same way. The ministries of The Way International, a Christian-based organization with a choir of its own, would agree. You are hearing a positive message and retaining it, whether you realize it or not. Oftentimes Christian music contains Scriptures and verses from the Bible. Lyrics can be powerful. Even if we know a song and have been singing it for years, its true meaning can hit home and come together at certain points in our lives. Take the classic Amazing Grace, for example:

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

At face value, one might assume that Grace is somebody who the singer is afraid of. By analyzing the context of the song, however, we understand that Grace is representative of the Word and the singer’s humility of it.

It is Ancient

Christians have been singing songs of worship for as long as Christianity has been a religion. Ephesians 5:19 encourages us to praise the Lord in through song: “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”  Christian music’s positivity is good for the soul. Hearing and singing songs about God’s love for us and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ reminds us of His presence, as it has for millennia. The joy of the singer radiates within us and helps our spirits soar.

Contemporary Choices

There is no shortage of uplifting Christian songs, and more are produced every year. Contemporary Christian songs have as deep a meaning as traditional ones do. One of the wonderful things about gospel music is that in contemporary times, it can spill from Christian radio to mainstream radio. There are some bands that consider themselves to be Christian singers and mainstream radio might not even be aware of this. Some of those bands include:

• Switchfoot: “We were meant to live for so much more/have we lost ourselves?”


• Lifehouse: “How can I stand here with You and not be moved by You?”


• Skillet: “I need a hero to save my life/a hero will save me just in time.”


• POD: “There's got to be more to life than this/there's got to be more to everything I thought exists.”

Gospel music gets into the very fiber of the soul and can help a troubled spirit. There are nothing but benefits to be had by listening to it.