Colorado and Texas might share a love of wide skies, but the similarities mostly end there. One shows up in a fleece jacket with a craft beer recommendation and a trailhead map; the other rolls in wearing boots, driving a truck, and inviting you to a tailgate before you’ve learned their name.
From brisket lines at sunrise to kolache semantics, from rodeo holidays to Buc-ee’s pilgrimages, here are 25 Texas quirks that leave Coloradans scratching their heads, laughing, and wondering, “People really live like this?”
25. Cowboy Boots at Formal Events
In Texas, cowboy boots aren’t reserved for rodeos—they’re worn to weddings, business conferences, and black-tie galas. High-end boots crafted from ostrich or alligator leather can cost more than a ski pass, and people care for them like heirlooms. Family portraits often feature a lineup of boots just as proudly as matching smiles. In Colorado, hikers might double as dress shoes; in Texas, boots are the dress shoes.
24. Obsession with Whataburger
Whataburger isn’t just fast food—it’s state pride in an orange-and-white wrapper. Texans have strong opinions about their order number, and everyone seems to swear by the spicy ketchup like it’s a secret sauce. Late-night taquitos and honey butter chicken biscuits hold legendary status among college kids and road trippers alike. Try comparing it to In-N-Out and watch a Texan politely, but firmly, disagree.
23. Oil Runs Deep—and So Does the Money
Oil isn’t just a business in Texas; it’s a legacy that funds stadiums, universities, and scholarships. Whole family fortunes rise and fall with the price per barrel, and towns still talk in “boom” or “bust” cycles. Even today, oil companies sponsor everything from little league teams to city art programs. In Colorado, ski resorts set the rhythm; in Texas, oil money keeps the beat.
22. Texans Take “Welcoming” to Another Level
Southern hospitality isn’t a slogan—it’s a reflex. Neighbors wave from porches, strangers strike up conversations in grocery aisles, and newcomers get invited to backyard barbecues before they’ve unpacked. It’s not unusual to get handed a plate of brisket along with directions to the post office. Coloradans are kind, but Texans fold you into the family with record speed.
21. BBQ as a Competitive Sport
Barbecue here is not just food—it’s an endurance event that starts at midnight and ends with a line wrapped around the block. Brisket, sausage, and ribs get judged by smoke rings, bark, and pitmaster patience. People wake up early to stand in line at legendary joints, treating it like a badge of honor when the meat sells out. In Colorado, BBQ might mean burgers on the grill; in Texas, it’s practically an Olympic category.
20. Two-Stepping Everywhere
Whether it’s a honky-tonk, a wedding reception, or even an impromptu parking lot concert, Texans always find room to two-step. The dance is simple enough to learn in minutes, but stylish enough to show off in a crowd. Couples glide across wooden floors with boots tapping in perfect sync. In Colorado, dancing might mean jam bands and free-form twirls; in Texas, it’s a steady one-two that never goes out of style.
19. Wearing Shorts in December
Texans don’t pack away their shorts just because the calendar says winter. A “cold front” might last 48 hours, followed by sunny afternoons in the 70s. Flip-flops and hoodies are a perfectly normal December outfit. Meanwhile, Coloradans are shoveling snow while Texans are grilling on the patio.
18. Trucks Bigger Than Cabins
Trucks in Texas are more than vehicles—they’re status symbols, tools, and family haulers rolled into one. Parking lots look like lifted-truck conventions, complete with chrome accents and custom horns. A truck might tow a horse trailer one day and haul lumber the next, all while doubling as a teenager’s first car. In Colorado, a Subaru Outback might be plenty; in Texas, a half-ton is the minimum entry fee.
17. “Don’t Mess With Texas” Pride
The slogan started as an anti-litter campaign, but Texans turned it into a way of life. You’ll see it plastered on bumper stickers, hats, T-shirts, and even baby bibs. It’s shorthand for pride, independence, and a little bit of swagger. No matter where you’re from, you’ll never doubt where Texans stand on their state identity.
16. Drive-Thru Everything
In Texas, drive-thrus go way beyond burgers and fries—you can pick up BBQ, kolaches, prescriptions, and even margaritas to-go. The summer heat makes staying in the car less about laziness and more about survival. Entire errands can be completed without ever undoing a seatbelt: deposit a check, grab lunch, and refill your meds all in one loop. Coloradans might call it cabin fever; Texans call it efficiency with A/C.
15. Texas Keeps Creating Jobs (and People Keep Moving There)
Corporate relocations are so common in Texas they barely make headlines anymore. Tech in Austin, energy in Houston, finance in Dallas—the state’s economy always seems to be adding a new hub. Cranes dot the skyline, new suburbs appear overnight, and moving vans clog the highways. To Coloradans, it feels like growth on steroids.
14. Rodeo Season is a Holiday
When the rodeo comes to town, schools, businesses, and entire cities adjust their schedules. Houston’s rodeo draws millions with concerts, carnival rides, and livestock shows that double as scholarship fundraisers. Kids grow up learning mutton bustin’ while adults treat the grand champion steer auction like a Fortune 500 pitch. For Texans, the rodeo isn’t an event—it’s a season, and everybody’s invited.
13. H-E-B (and Mi Tienda) as Civic Identity
H-E-B isn’t just a grocery store—it’s a Texas institution. Disaster relief trucks, community donations, and cult-favorite tortillas make it feel more like a civic partner than a chain. Mi Tienda takes it a step further, offering full-on cultural experiences alongside grocery staples. Ask a Texan about H-E-B, and you’ll get the kind of loyalty most politicians dream of.
12. The Natural Setting Can’t Compete With Colorado
Texas has Hill Country rivers, wide-open skies, and beaches on the Gulf, but it doesn’t have the Rockies. Weekend “views” are sunsets over flatlands or wildflowers on highways instead of alpine peaks. Locals float rivers with coolers, chase bluebonnet blooms, and camp under massive skies. For Coloradans, it’s beautiful but just not the same league as a mountain trail at 10,000 feet.
11. Country Music Concerts Every Weekend
Live country music is a constant soundtrack in Texas. Historic dance halls like Gruene and Luckenbach host acts almost nightly, while massive arenas draw Nashville headliners every other weekend. Red Dirt, Tejano, and honky-tonk bands fill in the gaps, meaning you’re never short on choices. Where Coloradans might have to wait months for a big show, Texans just pick which one they’re hitting this Friday.
10. Air Conditioning Set to Arctic
Step inside any Texas home or office in summer and you’ll need a jacket. Thermostats set at 68° or lower are the norm, and nobody blinks when coworkers bring sweaters in August. Cars idle to pre-cool before drivers even get inside. In Colorado, fresh mountain air is the goal; in Texas, ice-cold A/C is survival.
9. Buc-ee’s Pilgrimages
Buc-ee’s isn’t just a gas station—it’s an empire. With football field–sized snack aisles, barbecue pits, and spotless restrooms, it’s a road trip destination all its own. Families plan pit stops there like they’re visiting an amusement park. Coloradans stop to refuel; Texans stop to shop, eat, and take a family photo with the beaver statue.
8. Housing Costs are Noticeably Cheaper
Texas offers something that shocks newcomers from pricier states: affordable housing. Land is plentiful, new developments pop up constantly, and starter homes often come with yards and garages. Families can stretch their budgets further than they ever imagined. In Colorado, a mountain view comes with a premium price tag; in Texas, space itself is the luxury.
7. State Flag on Everything
Texans don’t just hang their flag outside—they stamp it on clothing, car decals, bar décor, and even kayaks. The Lone Star is instantly recognizable and fiercely protected. Schoolchildren pledge allegiance to it every morning alongside the U.S. flag. It’s not just decoration; it’s daily affirmation.
6. Tailgates the Size of Festivals
In Texas, game day starts in the parking lot hours before kickoff. RVs pull up with full kitchens, smokers run nonstop, and playlists blast like outdoor concerts. Guests wander from tent to tent, swapping brisket sandwiches and cold beers with strangers who feel like cousins by halftime. By the time the team hits the field, most fans have already had a championship day.
5. Kolaches vs. Klobasneks (Czech-Texan Semantics)
Don’t confuse a kolache with a klobasnek if you want to keep your Texan friends. Kolaches are sweet pastries with fruit or cream cheese, while klobasneks are savory pockets filled with sausage or jalapeños. Bakeries along I-35 treat the distinction like sacred tradition, and travelers plan their pit stops accordingly. Get it wrong, and you’ll get a friendly correction—along with a box to take home.
4. Longhorns vs. Aggies Rivalry
This rivalry splits families, friendships, and sometimes entire office floors. Thanksgiving dinners used to revolve around the big game, and the recent revival has only reignited old grudges. Both sides boast traditions, chants, and hand signs known by heart. To outsiders, it’s just college football; to Texans, it’s an identity test.
3. Open Carry Normalcy
Texans treat open carry with the same casualness that Coloradans treat ski racks on cars—it’s just part of life. Signs like 30.06 and 30.07 get read automatically, and people adjust accordingly. Gun ranges are as common as gyms, and safety rules are second nature. To outsiders, it can be surprising; to Texans, it’s Tuesday.
2. Hunting Leases as Vacations
Instead of ski cabins, Texans pool money for hunting leases. Weekends mean waking up before dawn, spending days in blinds, and swapping stories around campfires at night. Kids learn to track deer as early as others learn to snowboard. The payoff isn’t just trophies—it’s full freezers and family traditions.
1. One City Outweighs a Whole State
Greater Houston’s metro area holds more than seven million residents—more people than the entire state of Colorado. That means endless neighborhoods, freeways stretching in every direction, and enough restaurants to eat somewhere new every day for years. The sheer scale makes traffic maps look like circuit boards. For Texans, a city can feel as vast as a state; for Coloradans, that’s almost unimaginable.
