As the 2024 Thanksgiving season passed, I was reminded of a memorable road trip my husband and I took a few years ago, right before the holiday weekend. We had just wrapped up a volunteer building project with a few hundred friends, and to say we were exhausted would be an understatement.

David was the chairman of the local building committee, overseeing key decisions for the project. Meanwhile, my role in food service began when the property’s excavation started and carried through to the building's dedication. This wonderfully grueling experience spanned about three months, and by the end, we both felt we had earned a vacation.

Many of our friends were planning post-project getaways—some to Jamaica, others to the Bahamas. While we also decided on an island escape, our destination was closer to home: South Padre Island, Texas. It wasn’t quite what I had in mind, as our friends shared their island travel plans, but I was pleasantly surprised once we arrived.

Starting from southwest Missouri, we planned an easy drive, with our first stop in Dallas around dinnertime. In Missouri, there's a friendly rivalry between Kansas City-style BBQ and St. Louis-style BBQ, and we were curious to see how Texas-style would measure up. Our choice? Terry Black’s Barbecue at 3025 Main St., Dallas. With a menu featuring ribs, brisket, turkey, sausages, sandwiches, and a variety of sides and desserts, it was the perfect introduction to Texas-style BBQ. If you’re ever in Dallas, I highly recommend giving it a try.

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Lori Herr for Drive Time® Brand