Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518-2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@wildblue.net. I do not read Texas Monthly on a regular basis, as many of the articles have a liberal slant. Several times a year, however, I will buy a copy. I like to read their choice of the best barbecue places and the best smalltown restaurants in the state.

A recent issue of the magazine carried an article about 63 things all Texans should do before they die. I thought I would list some of the things mentioned in the magazine that I have done and recommend a few more that, in my opinion, all Texans should do.

To realize how big the state is, Texans should drive from Dalhart to Brownsville, a distance of more than 800 miles. I have driven from Texline and Perryton in the Panhandle to Port Isabel, just not at the same time. I also have driven from El Paso to Beaumont. On each drive, you will notice the diverse landscapes in Texas -- from mountains and deserts to pinecovered forest and the flat, high plains to coastal wetlands.

All Texans should eat barbecue brisket at Snow’s Barbecue in Lexington, which the magazine says is the best barbecue in Texas.

I haven’t eaten there, but I have had good barbecue at eateries all over the state, including some local restaurants.

Other recommendations include visiting the State Fair of Texas. I have done that numerous times. Be sure to see Big Tex, and visit the livestock barn, automobile building and the many other exhibits.

It may not be healthy, but be sure to sample the many deep-fried foods available at the fair concessions.

Palo Duro Canyon is the secondlargest in the United States. Therefore, it is a must for all Texans to explore the canyon in Palo Duro State Park. You can do this by foot, horse or car.

The canyon is 120 miles long and up to 800 feet deep. It also serves as a backdrop for the musical “Texas,” which tells the story of Texas Panhandle pioneers. I have seen the show and would recommend it to everyone who visits the park during the summer months.

Nearby in the city of Canyon is the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, located on the campus of West Texas A&M University.

A visit to the museum also would be on my must-see list. In my opinion, it is one of the best in the state, however I may be prejudiced as my son Matthew is the assistant curator of archeology at the museum.

If you are visiting Palo Duro Canyon or the museum, be sure to drive to Amarillo and eat at the Big Texan Steakhouse. I have eaten better steaks at other restaurants -- my favorite is Zentner’s Daughter in San Angelo -- but the atmosphere at the Big Texan is something unique. It includes a shooting gallery, live music and mounted game heads all around the room.

The restaurant is home of the 72- ounce steak that if you can eat it with all the trimmings in one hour, it is free. If you are brave, rattlesnake and mountain oysters also are featured on the menu.

Another suggestion is that all Texans should have at least one pair of custommade cowboy boots. A number of years ago, I had my feet measured and a custom pair of boots crafted at M.L. Leddys in San Angelo. There are a number of good custom boot makers in Texas, including some right here in Lampasas.

I won’t tell you what I paid for the boots, but I doubt I will ever spend that much again for footwear. I have worn the boots for many years, and they are still as good as new.

An additional thing all Texans should do involves something sweet, and that is to drink a Dublin Dr. Pepper. I mean the original eight-ounce, returnable bottle with a cap that you need a bottle opener to open. The key ingredient is purecane sugar, which is part of the Dr. Pepper formula at the Dublin bottling plant that has been producing this refreshing drink since 1891.

I drank my first one when my brother lived at Dublin, and it made a lasting impression on me. There are many other drinks available, but to me nothing is more enjoyable than an ice-cold Dublin Dr. Pepper.

Texas Monthly has many other things on its list; some I have done, and others I have no desire to do. In next week’s column, I will suggest other things I think all Texans should do or see.