Nickname: The Lone Star State Population: 18,800,000 (2nd) Area: 268,600 sq miles (2nd) Birthplace: Janis Joplin & Howard Hughes Tourism: 800.888.8839 Road Conditions: 800.452.9292 A says: Texas will surprise you. Instead of being all cowboys and chew, there are oases all over the state (except for the western part which is a wide expanse of hot and miserable). And Texans have so much state pride...the Lone Star flag flies everywhere. But, I'm depressed we drove through Texas, even spent over four weeks there, and never went country dancing. B says: This state is like another nation unto itself y'all. Texas has the size. Texas has the attitude. Texas has the variety. And the mexican food is to die for. I found the people to be of two categories—either uncharacteristically friendly or just plain rude. Drawback: because of neighboring Mexico's policy of dumping their trash into the Gulf, many Texas beaches are among the most littered anywhere in the United States. It is really sad.