Texas is a big state. Thankfully, you don’t have to drive across all of it to find something worth seeing.
Miles & Smiles of Texas is a travel blog created by Dawn King and Lonnie King, a husband-and-wife team who have been road-tripping together for nearly four decades. Along the way, we’ve discovered that some of our favorite adventures aren’t found on bucket lists or travel magazines. They’re found down back roads, in small towns, at quirky roadside attractions, and in places most people drive right past without noticing.
Our philosophy is simple:
You don’t need a week off work, a luxury budget, or months of planning to have an adventure.
Most of our trips are built around what we call the 3-3-3 Rule:
- Less than 3 hours from home
- Less than $300 total cost
- Less than 30 minutes of planning
Some destinations are well-known. Others are places you might drive past a hundred times without noticing. Either way, we believe every town has a story and every road can lead somewhere interesting.
One thing that makes this blog a little different is that you’ll hear from both of us.
Lonnie’s Take focuses on the history, stories, local culture, and unexpected details that make a destination memorable.
Dawn’s Take offers the perspective of an older, plus-size, neurodivergent traveler who pays attention to things many travel blogs overlook: comfort, accessibility, sensory considerations, seating, crowds, food options, and whether a destination is actually enjoyable for real people rather than just photogenic.
We’ll tell you what we loved, what disappointed us, what we’d do differently, and whether we’d recommend a stop to friends.
No sponsored hype. No influencer nonsense. Just honest experiences from two Texans who still enjoy piling into the car, picking a direction, and seeing what they can find.
So come along for the ride.
There are still plenty of miles ahead, and hopefully a few smiles waiting along the way.
— Dawn & Lonnie
Miles & Smiles of Texas 