Texas Travel Guide: Big Cities, Bold Landscapes & Southern Hospitality
Welcome to Your Texas Travel Guide
Texas Travel Guide invites you to the Lone Star State—where size, spirit, and variety define the travel experience. From the live music halls of Austin to the desert trails of Big Bend and the Gulf Coast’s breezy beaches, Texas is vast, bold, and endlessly surprising.
Whether you’re into barbecue or beaches, cowboys or culture, Texas delivers road trip magic, small-town charm, and unforgettable outdoor adventures.
Things to do in Texas include two-stepping in honky tonks, tubing down rivers, hiking national parks, and exploring historic missions and modern art museums.
Recommended Experiences in Texas
Planning Your Trip: Texas Travel Guide
Travel Essentials:
- Main Airports:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Houston (HOU)
- Best Time to Visit:
- Spring (Mar–May): Bluebonnets, festivals, mild weather.
- Fall (Sep–Nov): Cool temps, State Fair, great for outdoor adventures.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Mild in most regions; best for South Texas and cities.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Hot, but perfect for tubing, coast trips, and night festivals.
Tours and Tickets in Texas: Book early for Alamo tours, NASA Space Center, rodeos, state park camping, and live music events.
Can’t-Miss Places in Texas Travel Guide
1. Austin
Live music capital, tech hub, and cultural powerhouse.
Highlights: Barton Springs, South Congress, Zilker Park, live shows on 6th Street.
2. San Antonio
Spanish colonial history, riverfront beauty, and cultural festivals.
Must-see: The Alamo, River Walk, San Antonio Missions (UNESCO), Pearl District.
3. Houston
Texas’s largest city—diverse, global, and space-centric.
Top sites: Space Center Houston, Museum District, Houston Zoo, Chinatown eats.
4. Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex
Urban sophistication meets cowboy heritage.
Highlights: Dealey Plaza, Fort Worth Stockyards, AT&T Stadium, arts and food scene.
5. Big Bend National Park
A remote desert wonderland for hiking, stargazing, and hot springs.
Top experiences: Santa Elena Canyon, Lost Mine Trail, Rio Grande rafting.
6. Texas Hill Country
Rolling vineyards, charming small towns, and swimming holes.
Best towns: Fredericksburg, Wimberley, Marble Falls, Dripping Springs.
7. Gulf Coast (Galveston, Corpus Christi, Padre Island)
Warm beaches, birdwatching, and coastal culture.
When to Go: Best Time to Visit Texas
- Spring: Wildflower season (especially bluebonnets), great weather for city and hill country visits.
- Summer: Hot but festive—best for tubing rivers, beaches, and night events.
- Fall: Ideal weather, fewer crowds, big events like State Fair and Oktoberfest.
- Winter: Warm in the south (San Antonio, Gulf Coast), ski season in western Texas mountains.
Top Events:
- South by Southwest (March, Austin)
- Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (Feb–Mar)
- Texas State Fair (Sep–Oct, Dallas)
- Fiesta San Antonio (April)
- Wurstfest (Nov, New Braunfels)
Must-Do Experiences in Texas
- Float the Guadalupe or Comal River in a tube or kayak.
- Hike the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend or Enchanted Rock near Fredericksburg.
- Listen to live music at Austin’s iconic venues.
- Explore NASA’s Johnson Space Center and touch a moon rock.
- Visit The Alamo and the historic missions in San Antonio.
- Watch a rodeo or catch a college football game.
Uncovering the Culture & History of Texas
- Tejano, Mexican, and Native heritage shape its architecture, food, and festivals.
- Cowboy and frontier legacy in Fort Worth, Bandera, and dusty ghost towns.
- African American heritage in Houston’s Emancipation Park, Dallas’s Freedman’s Town.
- German, Czech, and Polish roots in small towns like Fredericksburg and Schulenburg.
Nature Escapes: Outdoor Adventures in Texas
- State & National Parks: Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Palo Duro Canyon, Caddo Lake, Garner State Park.
- Rivers & Lakes: Tubing in New Braunfels, kayaking the Rio Grande, fishing on Lake Travis.
- Beaches & Islands: Mustang Island, South Padre Island, Galveston Island State Park.
- Caves & Springs: Natural Bridge Caverns, Hamilton Pool Preserve, Jacob’s Well.
Top Photo Spots & Viewpoints in Texas
- Santa Elena Canyon walls in Big Bend at sunrise.
- Bluebonnet fields near Brenham or Ennis in spring.
- San Antonio River Walk at night.
- Hamilton Pool Preserve’s waterfall grotto.
- Fort Worth Stockyards during a longhorn cattle drive.
- Dallas skyline from Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.
Where to Eat & Drink: Food Guide to Texas
Must-Try Dishes:
- Texas-style brisket and smoked ribs
- Tex-Mex classics like enchiladas, tacos al carbon, and queso
- Chicken-fried steak
- Kolaches (Czech pastries)
- Frito pie and chili (no beans)
Drinks:
- Shiner Bock & Texas craft beers
- Ranch Water (tequila, lime, Topo Chico)
- Texas wine from the Hill Country
- Sweet tea & Mexican aguas frescas
Pro Tip: Barbecue is serious—arrive early at top joints like Franklin (Austin), Snow’s (Lexington), or Pecan Lodge (Dallas).
How to Get Around Texas
- Car Rental: Essential for road trips and rural areas—Texas is BIG.
- Intercity Buses & Trains: Megabus, Greyhound, Amtrak (limited service).
- City Transport: Austin, Houston, Dallas have buses and light rail.
- Scenic Drives:
- Willow City Loop (Hill Country)
- Davis Mountains Scenic Loop
- Gulf Coast Highway 361
Where to Stay in Texas
- Austin: Boutique hotels, music-themed stays, and green eco-lodges.
- San Antonio: Riverfront resorts, historic inns, and family hotels.
- Dallas–Fort Worth: Modern high-rises, ranch-style B&Bs, luxury stays.
- Hill Country: Vineyard inns, cabins, and spa resorts.
- Big Bend Area: Desert lodges, casitas, and stargazing campsites.
- Marfa: Remote desert town with minimalist art, Prada sculpture, and mystery lights.
- Caddo Lake: Swampy cypress wonderland on the East Texas–Louisiana border.
- Terlingua Ghost Town: Bohemian village near Big Bend with epic sunsets.
- Caprock Canyons: Lesser-known red-rock park with bison herds.
- Gorman Falls: Secluded 60-foot waterfall in Colorado Bend State Park.
Travel Tips & Safety: Texas Travel Guide Essentials
- Weather: Summers are extremely hot; pack sun protection and stay hydrated.
- Driving: Long distances—fill up gas early and use offline maps.
- Tipping: Standard 15–20% in restaurants, also for tour guides and hotel staff.
- Wildlife: Be cautious of snakes, scorpions, and fire ants on trails.
- Festivals: Book accommodations early during major events.
Easy Day Trips from Major Texas Cities
- From Austin: Hill Country wineries, Lockhart BBQ, Hamilton Pool.
- From San Antonio: Gruene Hall, Natural Bridge Caverns, Bandera.
- From Dallas: Fort Worth Stockyards, Waco, Dinosaur Valley State Park.
- From Houston: Galveston beaches, Brazos Bend State Park, Space Center Houston.
- From El Paso: Franklin Mountains, Hueco Tanks, White Sands (NM).
Explore More: States Near Texas
- New Mexico: White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns.
- Louisiana: Cajun culture in Shreveport and Lafayette.
- Arkansas: Hot Springs, Ouachita Mountains.
- Oklahoma: Route 66, Native American heritage, and state parks.
- Mexico: Easy access from El Paso, Laredo, and Brownsville.
Smart Travel Tips: Texas Travel Guide Recap
- Great for: Road trippers, foodies, families, outdoor lovers, culture seekers.
- Essentials to Pack: Hat, sunglasses, walking shoes, layers, cooler for road snacks.
- Recommended Apps: Texas Parks & Wildlife, GasBuddy, Google Maps, Roadtrippers, OpenTable.
- Local Insight: Texans are proud—ask about BBQ tips, local lore, or hidden swimming holes, and you’ll get more than directions—you’ll get stories.
For more destination tips, curated travel ideas, and immersive itineraries, visit our homepage and get inspired for your next adventure.
