Deep in the Weird Heart of Texas Hill Country

Down in Waco, your first stop will be at this museum for Texas's own law force, which has been involved in investigating and solving quite a few historically significant crimes. Its been around since the early 1820s when Stephen F. Austin, the so-called "father of Texas" who helped settle Tejas, issued a call to arms that inspired their creation.

File this place under: keep Austin weird. This cathedral is a backyard exhibit in Austin of...well, junk. It was made to amuse its creator, Vince Hannemann, and has grown to include some 60 tons of junk. Now that's an Instagram opp if ever there was one.

Try some barbecue that's outside of the box. This spot likes to mix traditional flavors from all over America to get the best of all the barbecue worlds. Its Notorious P.I.G. sandwich is a Carolinas-style pulled pork while the Texas Two Step is classic Texas barbecue all the way.

30 miles west of Austin, in Willie Nelson's hometown, lies one of the best swimming holes in Texas. On the property are loads of manmade pools that feed back into Lake Travis. Pick your favorite and splash in! This place is open in certain months, so check the information on the official website.

After you finish your swim, go all in at this local wood-fired pizza joint. You can go the safe route, or try a creative pie like their Verde, made with pea and walnut pesto, or ‘Nduja Sausage, which boasts Calabrian chilis, cherry tomatoes, salumi, and stracciatella cheese.

Settle in for a night of sweet dreams!