Having tried a fair amount of BBQ from all these different styles, and having lived in Texas and North Carolina, I have to put in a word here. I know this will get a rise out of people FROM all these places, but honestly, Texas, Memphis and Kansas city "red sauce" BBQ do not vary from each other nearly as much as North Carolina "white" BBQ. If you really want to give yourself a wider range in flavors and economize on mileage/time, my suggestion would be to head for North Carolina and hit Tennessee (right next door) on the way out there. These two states offer two very different styles and nothing replaces pulling up a chair at a mom and pop place in either location and experiencing it first hand. my .02