Going Places with Kristie Ottway
Beyond cowboy culture, rodeos and ranches, Texas has much to offer as a place to visit. Kristie Ottway tells us about an inviting, lesser-known destination in the Lone Star State that you’ll want to mark on your travel map.
What’s to like about Lubbock, Texas?
Lubbock is a wonderful destination for people who appreciate culture, music and the arts. This friendly city has a distinct western vibe, even if not every local has the classic Texas accent. There’s a deep sense of history—and a connection to rock ’n’ roll legend Buddy Holly. FYI: Lubbock even has its own signature cocktail, The Chilton, made with vodka, fresh lemon juice and club soda and served in a salt-rimmed glass.
Attractions:
The Lubbock Cultural District, well, rocks. Covering more than 1.4 square miles, it’s the heart of the city’s arts scene and where you can discover the studios and galleries of the Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP), as well as the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts. Some highlights:
Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences, buddyhollyhall.org
A state-of-the-art performing arts center with a grand spiral staircase, it has a donor wall, featuring a large-scale portrait of Buddy Holly playing guitar, that’s composed entirely of guitar picks. Paul McCartney’s name is engraved on one of the picks! Its Helen Devitt Jones Theater hosts world-class performances. I attended The Nutcracker Ballet, and it was absolutely amazing.
Buddy Holly Centre, mylubbock.us/220/Buddy-Holly-Center
Featuring exhibitions and programs related to Holly and other West Texas musicians, this historical site is where you can see his iconic glasses—the ones he was actually wearing
“The Day the Music Died.”
National Ranching Heritage Centre, ranchingheritage.org
At this 27-acre museum and historical park, frontier lore comes to life as you experience real ranches and their stories.
Wild Honey Hats, wildhoneyhats.com
This hat bar offers an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience. One of my favourites in Lubbock. You get to choose a style of hat—trucker, brimmed or cowboy—and customize it with different accessories. They even brand the hat with whatever you want. I chose my initials along with the outline of Texas, which made it feel so personal and unique.
Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe, hollyhoplbk.org
Styled like an old-fashioned, 1950s malt shop, with colorful retro décor and nostalgic memorabilia, Holly Hop is a sweet spot to get a cold treat.
Great Tastes:
Lubbock is full of noteworthy places to eat and drink. You definitely won’t want to skip breakfast. Ninety-Two Bakery & Café, ninetytwocafe.com, is an artisanal breakfast spot featuring handcrafted pastries and a welcoming, artsy vibe. The black and white umbrellas hanging from the ceiling are a fun touch. Monomyth Coffee, monomythcoffee.com, is another inviting place to sample. It offers everything from overnight oats and avocado toast to bacon onion quiche. My favourite place for breakfast, though, is Cast Iron Grill, castirongrilllubbock.com, where boots hang from the rafters, under which faith, family, food and community all come together. It feels like home and, from the homemade pies to the classic Southern comfort dishes, everything tastes like it was made with love.
For lunch, you’ll want to try Dirks, dirkslbk.com. A modern diner that showcases art from legendary Lubbock cartoonist Dirk West, it’s known for its chicken fried steak. Evie Mae’s BBQ, eviemaesbbq.com, is an absolute must of meat lovers. They smoke over 700 pounds of meat a day here, and it shows in both the quality and flavour.
For dinner, La Sirnena Bistro, lasirenacocina.com, is a place to enjoy fresh, organic food, while The West Table, thewesttable.com, dishes an elevated blend of seafood and southwestern fine-dining fare. The drinks are delicious, too.
As for drinks? You’ll want to check out Mano Negra Brewing Co. & Sangria House, manonegrabrewingco.com. Games, beer and sangria tasting? This spot pours the perfect combo of fun and flavour.
Accommodations:
While there are accommodations in Lubbock at every price point, we stayed at the Cotton Court Hotel, cottoncourthotel.com, and it was ideal. The welcome is warm and both the lobby and rooms have a charming western flair. A heated outdoor pool and fire pit area, as well as an attached restaurant, make this a popular pick
Parting Thoughts: What stood out most to me about Lubbock was that every restaurant, café and attraction had its own authentic story. Each place reflects the heart and history of this city. That authenticity is what makes Lubbock such a memorable, culturally rich destination. visitlubbock.org
