Whether you are looking for a buzzing city and country life or the tranquillity of a little town, you have it all in Texas. It is the largest contiguous state in the United States, having within its premise thousands of desert grasslands, dense forests, miles of beaches, rolling plains, and rugged hills. The Lone Star State itself covers over 268,000 square miles, and there is plenty of space to roam and many places to explore.
For example, it has the quietness you want, and it has a bustling city that inspires thrill in tourists. It ranges from the Panhandle Plains and Hill Country to the Gulf Coast and Piney Woods. Below are some of the best destinations that you should visit if you are in Texas.
1. Austin
Just shy of one million residents, Austin, the quirky capital of Texas, is known for its residents’ love of the city’s parks and public spaces, exemplified by the 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park – a panoramic sky-high view park where four-legged friends frolic. The Barton Springs Pool is a 3-acre, year-round swimming pool fed by springs. There are tons of trails for hiking in the city, including the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, which is 10 miles long, Barton Creek Greenbelt, and McKinney Falls State Park.
To the surprise of many, it is also known as the Live Music Capital of the World. Venues can be found throughout the city, such as the yearly Austin City Limits festival. However, one of the city’s best perks is that it is located next to Hill Country, which presents easy access to its quaint little towns, rivers for floating, and more.
2. Terlingua
At one time a thriving mining town but now a ghost town, it became among the biggest quicksilver producers in the United States in the early part of the 20th century. It still acts as an excellent base camp for exploring the huge Big Bend area: Terlingua. It is located just between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Terlingua also hosts two of the best-known chili cook-offs in the country, organizing thousands into the towns in the fall. Trekking through either the state or national park, or renting a canoe and floating down the Rio Grande along the U.S.-Mexico border, should do.
Back in town, it’s the Starlight Theatre Restaurant And Saloon with all the musts for that dinner and live music, known as the theater in town for miners back then at the height of its powers. The Terlingua Cemetery, noteworthy for some grave set embellishments, is probably one of the most photographed in Texas.
There’s also a lot of great art throughout the town. Don’t miss the Terlingua Trading Company, either, for souvenirs, art, and gifts. Be sure to drop in at a local gallery to get mosaics, paintings, photography, etc. Food lovers can have their piece of heaven at Taqueria El Milagro with delicious tacos and Tex-Mex plates, while specialty pizzas such as the Terlingua Spur (fajita chicken, onions, jalapeno, cheddar, mozzarella, barbecue sauce, and marinara) from Long Draw Pizza are available.
3. Mustang Island
Mustang Island is a barrier island south of Port Aransas and named after the wild horses that roamed the area for centuries. It is ideally suited for the secluded beach escape of the kind unavailable on the Texas coast. Visit Mustang Island State Park, which has more than five miles of shore for activities such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, and beachcombing. It’s a wonderful destination for the wildlife enthusiast with over 400 avian species identified, plus nesting sea turtles. Adventure-seekers can parasail, attempt surfing, or cast a line in offshore fishing.
4. Marfa
They are indeed dragged all the way, down into this iconic Texas town, but the journey is worth it. Marfa is indeed a wonderful artistic oasis – full of galleries, boutiques, museums, and separated-out art pieces. The Chinati Foundation Contemporary Art Museum is rather famous for the pieces that it draws from the surrounding landscape; it offers guided tours. Ballroom Marfa is a contemporary art museum that aims to give artists and musicians a platform in the remote Big Bend area.
Raise a toast to a great day at Marfa Spirit Co., where you can enjoy amazing signature cocktails concocted with rum, sotol, vodka, and other spirits, and munch on a delicious burrito from Marfa Burrito. For some cool souvenirs, swing by Marfa Book Co., and when it comes to where to lay your head, options abound, from the quirky stay at Chinati Hot Springs cabins to unique coziness at El Cosmico and comfort at Hotel Paisano and Hotel Saint George.
For one, don’t forget to check out the Marfa lights; the air was very mysterious when these dancing light phenomena southeast of town rocked. The lights showed up in a few different colors and the “what causes it” debate is still very much alive today.
5. San Antonio
Just under two hours south of Austin, this cultural gem of Texas is San Antonio, a site loved as much by tourists as by Texans themselves. Apart from being renowned for the Alamo, this city has four other beautiful missions that are part of the UNESCO-designated San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The city features the River Walk—a place full of stores and restaurants and, of course, Market Square, where over 100 vendors sell Mexican wares and cuisine.
Although San Antonio is arguably the home of America’s finest museums, such as the Witte Museum, the McNay Art Museum, the Briscoe Western Art Museum, and the San Antonio Museum of Art, it still houses a few in its rich heritage.
At the southern edge of Texas Hill Country, San Antonio is full of outdoor activities, from Government Canyon State Natural Area, with 12,000 acres and over 40 miles of trails that provide lots of roaming space, to river access for fishing, swimming, and floating.
6. Fort Worth
Curiously, whether one refers to the city as Fort Worth or not, it is almost 30 minutes away from the bustling city of Dallas, with all the world-class art museums and exquisite food and drink scenes. However much this place is growing-it is currently the 12th largest city in the U.S. and remains relaxed and approachable. Maybe it’s that trademark-friendly Western hospitality-and perhaps several restaurants and activities might make the city worth visiting.
In its cosmopolitan district, five museums welcome visitors: art, science, and local history. The Stockyards is, of course, a must for any Fort Worth rite of passage: the venue hosts the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive and several seasons of rodeo. And then there’s downtown Fort Worth, with block after block of restaurants, Broadway shows at Bass Performance Hall, and nightlife in pubs, bars, live music, comedy shows, and more. This Fort Worth Zoo is also one of the best in the U.S. these days.
7. Guadalupe Mountains National Park
West Texas is where Guadalupe Mountains National Park can be found because it contains the four highest peaks in Texas. The park boasts over 80 miles of hiking trails, from short and easy walks to all-day adventures that require a little more planning. Trek to “Top of Texas”—also known as Guadalupe Peak, an 8.4-mile hike with views from the highest point in the state, at 8,751 feet. Here, surrounded by vast terrain, you can see the surrounding mountains and a seemingly never-ending expanse of the desert. Activities such as backpacking, camping, horseback riding, and birding are included in the national park, which possesses the world’s largest Permian fossil reef complex, Capitan Reef.
8. Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is found in the Texas Panhandle and is host to the second-largest canyon in the United States. Here, the canyon stretches for about 120 miles and is roughly 20 miles wide and up to 800 deep at certain places. While walking, four geologic layers making up the canyon will be observed, which began to form up to a million years ago.
In addition to the park having 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, there are also 1,500 acres allocated for horseback riding. Catch the “Texas Outdoor Musical” show in the summertime at the amphitheater, and learn about the struggles and successes of early Texas settlers. Campsites and cabins are available, but new to the park are luxury glamping sites with covered porches with swings, air conditioning, fire pits, bicycles, and rustic decor.
These 8 magnificent places showcase the best of Texas, spread throughout the state and characterized by a mixture of experiences: some are historical and urban, others feature adventurous outdoors, and yet others are cultural nuggets. Texas is a place for anyone whether or not one prefers exploring the cosmopolitan within big cities or escaping into nature.
