Veggie Dog

Hot dog kingpin adds the unthinkable to State Fair lineup: Could Houston Rodeo be next?

Oh, Fletcher's. What lurks inside that sweet cornmeal crust?

Photo courtesy of Fletcher's

Fletcher's, the original food vendor at the State Fair of Texas, will debut an exciting new product for the 2015 fair that heeds a major trend in dining: a veggie corn dog.

Proprietor Gigi Fletcher confirms that a vegetarian corn dog will be on the menu, in response to a growing demand from customers.

"We did a test run at our booth at Earth Day and feel like we got it figured out," Fletcher says. "My daughters have been suggesting this. They see what's going on, and we feel like it's a good place to go."

Before there were fried foods or Big Tex Choice awards, there was Fletcher's, home of the original State Fair corny dog, and a regular at the State Fair of Texas since 1942. (It's also a favorite at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.) Their corn dog has a unique, slightly thick battered shell that makes the experience as much about the corn-based crust as it is about the hot dog.

The Fletchers have tooled and improved their recipe over the years, including last year when they upgraded their hot dog to a better frank. They've also added other flavor options including spicy jalapeno and cheese and a turkey "bird dog" that has proven to be a surprise hit.

"We've had great success with the turkey dog, we sell more of those every year," she says. "It has brought in a completely separate audience."

The family is still working on the recipe, and for now it will be vegetarian, not vegan. "We're going to use our regular batter, which has milk and egg," she says. "Like my husband says, this is just a corny dog that doesn't have the dog."

It'll cost the same as the original, which is 10 coupons or $5. (The jalapeno is the only premium option with 12 coupons, or $6.) And it will be available only at one of their six stands: the permanent location, which is the big red wooden building near the Midway at MLK-10F, across from the Log Flume water ride.

"We'll start with just one location, and go from there," she says.

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it's park season

Texas' 2 national parks boast best scenery in the U.S., per report

Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park out in far west Texas offer the best views of the American wilderness in 2026, according to a new national list.

The recognition comes in HomeToGo's "2026 National Parks Report," a new "data-driven ranking" of 51 national parks located in the contiguous U.S. Parks are evaluated across various factors including their proximity to major transport hubs, annual visitor figures adjusted for seasonal accessibility, and the median nightly cost per person for vacation accommodations in the area surrounding each park in 2026.

Guadalupe Mountains ranked as the 16th best national park to visit this year, and it has the fifth-most affordable vacation accommodations out of all the parks on the list. Nearby lodging costs about $62 per person per night, but campers can stay at one of the three developed campgrounds at the park for as little as $20 per night.

Visitors can go hiking and backpacking across 80 miles of rugged trails, but don't expect to take any vehicles far into the parkland. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is almost entirely road-free, allowing for the protection of local wildlife and the preservation of the park's beautiful scenery.

Travelers on the hunt for the perfect scenic drive can instead head over to Big Bend National Park, which ranked as the 26th best must-see national park in 2026. There are over 100 miles of paved roads around the park for exploration, as well as improved and primitive dirt roads.

Big Bend National Park is a popular choice for Texas travelers. Photo by Backroad Packers on Unsplash

The National Park Service (NPS) offers route recommendations specifically for day trippers.

"Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin," the NPS website says. "The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive will give you fantastic views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape and will lead you to the banks of the Rio Grande. There are scenic overlooks and exhibits along the way, and the short walks to Sam Nail Ranch and Homer Wilson Ranch and a visit to the Castolon Historic District will give you a glimpse into Big Bend’s past."

Visitors that want to turn their day trips into overnight stays near the park can do so for about $96 per person per night, or they can camp on-site with nightly fees starting at $16. Travelers can additionally book a room at the Chisos Mountains Lodge or Big Bend Station, but Chisos Mountains Lodge will temporarily close on May 1 while the NPS completes two Chisos Basin improvement projects over the next two years.

A HomeToGo survey said about 40 percent of Americans are planning national park trips in 2026, with millennials and Gen Zers showing a higher interest in exploring the American wilderness.

"At HomeToGo, we believe vacation planning should be fun, but we know it’s not always a walk in the park," said spokesperson Eleanor Moody. "That’s why this year’s index ranks destinations based on affordability, crowd levels, and convenience in terms of nearby accommodation availability and ease of access, making it easier than ever for travelers to pinpoint an ideal destination based on what’s most important to them."

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