The second largest state in both size and population, Texas contains a number of major cities separated by vast rural expanses. Houston, the state’s largest city, is a bustling, multicultural metropolis, while Austin has a liberal, eclectic crowd and vibrant music scene. Culturally influenced by the South, the West, and Mexico, Texas is known for its cowboys and rodeos, but also its food: steaks, barbecue, no-bean chili, and Tex-Mex.