Looking for something different to do with the whole family? If you ever find yourself in the South Padre Island area, we know just the place: Gravity Park. This little-known amusement park is just steps away from the beach, and it features a variety of rides, games, and other activities for all ages to enjoy.
Not too many amusement parks are located right on the beach, so this place is truly one of a kind.
Have you ever been to Gravity Park in South Padre Island? If so, what was your favorite ride? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and check out our previous article for another beachfront activity to consider when it warms up outside.
Some people put sriracha on everything (hello, it's me), while others hit up the hot sauce for some extra heat. Ketchup, too, is one of those all-purpose condiments that works for, well, all purposes. If you live in Texas, though, you might add BBQ sauce to that list -- and certainly salsa. Texas is known for its many popular salsas which are a key part of the state's cuisine. Many, many, a salsa company can be found headquartered in the Lone Star State, including big name players like Mrs. Renfro's and Clint's. But you know what they say about Texas -- the bigger, the better -- and this certainly applies to the state's salsa market, which supports just as many sole proprietors as big businesses.
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John Gallegos is one such sole (salsa) proprietor. Gallegos, who calls himself the Head Salsa Slinger of his namesake company, Johnny G's, has a lifelong passion for salsa that began in childhood. "My great grandfather taught me how to make our authentic hand-crafted salsa when I was just eight years old," he says, adding that this knowledge gave him a taste for high-quality, well-made salsa.
Fast forward to 2019. "We had just moved back home from the DFW area [...] jobs were getting scarce and I couldn't find anyone able to pay what I was needing, so I 'gave myself a job' with the goal just being able to make ends meet and pay some bills," he says. Texas had other plans, however.
After Gallegos decided to go "Facebook official" by starting a business page for Johnny G's: "I started sharing it with friends and family," he says, and from here, word quickly spread about his tiny-but-mighty salsa company in Texas. So Gallegos went all in on his namesake company, "eventually selling on shelves and online at johnnysalsas.myshopify.com," thanks to articles and local TV spots that gave his salsas coverage. "Johnny G's took on a life of its own and now here we are selling out every weekend online and local farmer's markets," he muses.
Folks come for the salsa, of course, but also the Head Salsa Slinger himself. "We're on a first-name basis with an unfathomable amount of our customers -- it's a rare instance where people know the person behind what they're getting," says Gallegos, who says he's especially proud of the cult following his little salsa business has garnered.
"In Texas, people are fiercely loyal to their favorite brand of salsa the way 'car people' are loyal to a car brand [...] we'd like to think we're at the tip of that spear when it comes to a high-tier product," says Gallegos, who says his favorite part of being a small business owner is meeting new people and "seeing the look on their face the first they have a proper salsa in the form of Johnny G's Salsa Co."
Speaking of which, if you're trying Johnny G's salsa for the first time, you might want to start with either his mild Verde or Rojo options... at the other end of the spectrum is the Full Send Extra Hot, a "special salsa for a special type of person" that's "a nuked version of our delicious smokey, salsa rojo turned up to 11 with Carolina reaper chiles." Whew. Keep a glass of milk handy for this one!
This tongue-and-cheek description is what you can expect from Johnny G's, a salsa company with an owner with a big, bold, doesn't-take-himself-too-seriously personality. The kind of happiness that comes with finding your purpose in life is, frankly, infectious and immensely inspiring.
"I came from the corporate world where life tends to feel like a dead machine with no end or meaning in sight. I think I finally got fed up and pushed to the proverbial edge of the waterfall where I was either going to be eaten by the tiger chasing me to that point or jump and see what happens."
We're so glad you jumped, John Gallegos. Our tacos, breakfast scrambles, and late-night chip raids thank you, too.
Many thanks to John Gallegos, Head Salsa Slinger, for sharing the story of his inspiring Texas business. Learn more about Johnny G's Salsa Co. at its Shopify site and Facebook page.
Of course, Johnny G's is one of the many amazing small businesses in Texas; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Texas article. And be sure to follow Only In Texas on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Lone Star State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
I have such fond memories from Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. As a lifelong Texan, many of my childhood summers included a trip to the park, and I recall splashing around under the Hill Country sun like it was yesterday. Excitingly, Schlitterbahn has unveiled a brand new children’s attraction for 2024, featuring the world’s first water coaster for kids! If you have little ones, you’ll definitely want to bring them before summer ends.
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Ever since it first opened in 1979, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels has been a can’t-miss summer activity for families from all over the world. The sprawling park features lazy rivers, thrilling speed slides, and interactive kids’ areas, making it the perfect place to cool off on a hot day.
This year is a particularly exciting one for Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, as the flagship park has unveiled a brand new children’s section called Schatze’s Storybrook Park. Located in Schlitterbahn West, this fanciful attraction brings classic fairytales to live in new, innovative ways.
Kids can enjoy six body slides, more than 70 hands-on water features, and a massive, 1,200-gallon tipping bucket. There are also plenty of shaded areas for relaxing under the summer sun.
By far the most anticipated ride within Schatze’s Storybrook Park, however, is the Bow Wow Blaster. A riff on the park’s world-famous Master Blaster, it’s the world’s very first water coaster designed just for kids.
Not only are the rides themselves fun as can be, but the attention to detail is immaculate. Fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel have been reimagined with a dog-themed twist, and kids (and parents, too!) are transported into a world of whimsy.
