Souvenirs from Texas
Souvenirs from Texas are a wonderful way to remember your time spent in the Lone Star State. Millions of people visit this American state every year, enjoying sandy beaches, metropolitan cities, rough deserts and rolling plains. There are destinations to suit every traveler, whether they seek a refuge in the wilds of Big Bend National Park, a shopping excursion in Dallas, an artistic retreat in Austin or a day spent in the Johnson Space center in Houston. Naturally, Texan souvenirs are very eclectic and reflect the many nationalities that have settled here, from Mexican to German. The choice of a handmade craft can be ideal for those seeking a personal reminder. If you are looking for gift items to give to many people, such as coworkers, friends or extended family, you will find many wonderful key chains, refrigerator magnets, T-shirts, coffee cups and calendars to share.
Texan Souvenirs
Texas has many iconic symbols that native Texans know and love very well. The Bluebonnet flower, appearing in the millions in parks, fields and alongside highways in the spring time, has its spiky blue stalks memorialized in paintings and pictures. If you would like a more fragrant souvenir from Texas, you can purchase candles and soaps scented with the sweet petals, or a packet of Bluebonnet seeds, to grow in your garden. Armadillos are an armored rodent-like mammal that can be found everywhere in the state, including store shelves as stuffed toys and key chains. Perhaps the most significant symbol of Texas is the state flag. This boldly dramatic red, white and blue icon is used to decorate almost every surface that can be found, from candies to dishes and t-shirts to cars. Of course, all of these symbols can be found on the most popular pieces of memorabilia. Why not place a postcard of a field of Bluebonnets in a picture frame decorated with armadillos and cowboys?
Cowboys and Ranch Hands
Cowboy culture is a significant part of life in many Texan regions, where cattle ranches and farms still produce a large portion of the agricultural output of the United States. Many of the ranches offer visitors the chance to live life on a farm, feeding cattle, roping calves and going on hay rides through the fields at night. For those who wish to remember such a visit, there are many different souvenir options available for purchase. A cowboy hat is a fun way to commemorate Texas, made from pink suede and sequins for ladies or rugged leather with snakeskin trim for gentlemen. Cowboy boots can be made to order in whatever animal skin you like, or painted with roses and skulls for a unique look. Large belt buckles, shaped like the state of Texas, a cowboy hat or a Texan flag, is a must to complete the look. If you want to bring the ranch culture to your home, then a bleached longhorn cattle skull is the perfect accent to hang over the fireplace.
Oil and Space Travel
Texas is more than just wide open spaces full of cattle and armadillos. It is also a leader in technology, especially medicine and outer space engineering. The Johnson Space Center was home to Mission Control for the US space program, and visitors can visit the complex to learn more about the galaxy, space transport and the history of exploration. A replica of the space shuttles or moon capsule, patches from the astronaut missions from the 1950's to current, or paintings of galaxies are just a few of the items you can find celebrating mankind's forays into outer space. Oil rigs are a very common sight as your travel through the state, and a miniature oil rig can make a charming addition to an office.