by kenny

We left Nick and Sammy Jo's house around 6 in the morning so we could be Lexington in time for Snow's BBQ. Throughout Texas we have been sampling BBQ at every opportunity. We have tried random joints, franchise places, and a two of the top five BBQ pits in all of Texas according to Texas Monthly.

Snow's was the last place on our list of BBQ to try in Texas and according to Texas Monthly was #1. Snow's is only open on Saturdays and starts serving at 8 in the morning. They stop serving when the meat runs out and that has been awfully quick since they have been deemed number 1.

So we took our fill of a pound of brisket and a half pound of ribs. And it was great. Really good all around. But not my favorite. Floores Country Store holds the top place in my heart. I will let Snow's hold the number 2 spot with no qualms, but the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the top of the top belongs to Floores. I told Laura that if we came back to Texas I would not go out of my way for Snow's, but at the time I said it, and as I write this now, still have an unwavering hankering for more of Floores BBQ. I would come back for Floores.

Best atmosphere goes to Luling City Market. When you place your order you go in the pit room with all the wood, smoke, and meat tickling your tongue. There are two or three pit guys asking for your order by the pound. They slice it up for you right in the pit and send you on your way. Loved it! Here are the BBQs we had, shown in chronological order, but rated by goodness:






After Snow's we headed to Waco for the Dr Pepper Museum. This one was a lot bigger than Dublin's and better displayed. It starts off with a replica of the soda shop Dr Pepper was invented in. At that time it was named a Waco after the town as in, "Shoot me a Waco". There is an animatronic Charles Alderton (he created Dr Pepper) talking about how Dr Pepper came about. The next room has various Dr Pepper cans and bottles from the 1900's on and videos and exhibits of the bottling process.

The second floor with original flooring was where they made the syrup and has the many different style of vending machines. Vending machines with a water drinking fountain on the side in case you didn't have money for a soda. Vending machines that poured Dr Pepper into cups. There is a section of Dr Pepper knockoffs. Skipper, Dr Schnee (Laura's favorite just because of the name), Dr Becker by Bly Sky Soda Co. (Laura actually likes this one), Dr Nut, and one that I actually liked better than Dr Pepper (I know...), Doc Holliday.

The third floor, yep, there was three floors, was dedicated to Woodrow Wilson "Foots" Clements and his Free Enterprise Institute, who may be the man responsible for Dr Pepper being latched on to by the masses. He went from town to town, visiting public parks or anywhere people were and putting cups of Dr Pepper in their hands. After we had our fill of the museum, I went down stairs and enjoyed a Dr Pepper float made the original way soda jerks did in the soda shop that started it all. Dr Pepper syrup, carbonated water, and vanilla ice cream. Delicious!