Traveling through Texas takes a lot of planning, considering exactly where you want to stop and when, what time you want to head out to arrive at your next destination.  Many times, I found myself coming in from New Mexico, and through Lubbock, Texas, to get to where I wanted to go; it wasn’t until recently that I slowed down and actually found a place to stay the night that I appreciated the city’s real value.

Lubbock, Texas, after all, is actually a rock and roll icon.  The city is the birthplace of Buddy Holly, and the town embraces this with the Buddy Holly Center.  You’ve got to love a city that devotes museum space to honor the late, famed singer, even to the point of including his old high school bedroom suite.  The museum also encourages the growth and awareness of Texas Music and attempts to bring together art and music in a series of exhibits and events.  It includes, too, the Texas Musicians Hall of Fame, where you’ll find the aforementioned bedroom.  The center has outreach and educational programs, such as classes and workshops, even visiting artists programs.  For the casual visitor, though, it’s the museum itself that should aid one in learning more about musicians in Texas and their influence on the larger world.

If you’re traveling with a family, there’s a number of activities in town that would be ideal.  There’s an amusement park known as Joyland Amusement Park, for the kids.  If you’re traveling with adults, in addition to the Buddy Holly Center, you may want to check out the Silent Wings Museum, especially if you’re a World War II buff.  This museum is dedicated to the pilots and gliders of the World War II military glider program!  If you never knew the military had such a program, this is definitely the place to find out more.