Lockhart, 165 miles west of Houston via Austin, is the Texas barbecue capital day trip with Black's (since 1932), Smitty's Market and Kreuz Market on a single barbecue trail loop.
Tip: Leave Houston at 7am to hit all three before they sell out. Stand in the line at Smitty's; order brisket, hot links and saltines.
Round Top, 85 miles northwest of Houston on US-290 and TX-237, is the twice-yearly antique fair (spring and autumn) day trip with Royer's Round Top Cafe and Lulu's Cafe on the Square.
Tip: Antique fair runs end of March and end of October. Off-season weekends Royer's pie counter is open Thu-Sun.
Beaumont, 85 miles east of Houston on I-10, is the Texas-Louisiana-border Cajun country day trip with boudin, etouffee, gumbo and the closer-to-Louisiana grocery counters.
Tip: Stop at Floyd's Cajun Seafood on the way in for a boudin link. Sunday lunch at Jason's Deli original (founded Beaumont 1976).
Galveston, 50 miles south of Houston on I-45, is the Gulf-port seafood day trip with Strand-area pier shacks, Gaido's since 1911 and the BLVD seafood pier on Seawall Boulevard.
Tip: Plan a 10am drive down for an oyster lunch at Gaido's followed by a Strand walk. Sunday brunch at Mosquito Cafe in the East End.
Brenham, 80 miles northwest of Houston on US-290, is the Blue Bell Creameries factory tour day trip with the Visitor Center scoop, plus Truth BBQ's original Brenham room nearby.
Tip: The Blue Bell tour runs Mon-Fri 9am to 3pm; book ahead. Stop at Royer's Round Top Cafe on the way back for pie.