Explore Texas: Must-Visit Destinations for Every Traveler

There is an edited picture that often does the rounds on social media, showing the outline of Texas over a map of Europe. In this picture, The Lone Star State is invariably always depicted as much larger than the entire continent of Europe.

Whilst this is most certainly not the case, it doesn’t mean that Texas is small. In fact, in size terms it is slightly bigger than the country of France. Unsurprisingly then, there is a hell of a lot to do in Texas and something for everyone. I’ve always enjoyed traveling to America and recently wrote a post about ghost tours in San Francisco, which was a fascinating experience. Texas, with its vast landscapes and rich culture, has so much to offer, making it a must-visit destination for any traveller.

In this article I cover a tonne of great activities that would create lasting legacies for tourists of any age, read on to find out what they are…

Discover America’s Team

The United States has a number of things that make it distinct from the rest of the world, one of which is its selection of sports. Shunning outside influences, Americans prefer to partake in their own unique sports: football, basketball and baseball to name but a few.

The former is unquestionably the most popularly played and watched sport in the United States, so no trip to the country would be complete without taking in a game. Texans are fortunate enough that ‘America’s Team’, also known as the Dallas Cowboys, call the state their home.

Whilst the Cowboys haven’t fared too well in the NFL standings in recent years, a trip to the 80,000 seater AT&T Stadium to cheer them on is an absolute must.

(Even if you can’t catch a game, be sure to book in for a stadium visit.)

The Alamo 

The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal moment in the Texas Revolution and is of huge cultural significance to modern day Texans. The battle begun on February 23, 1836 when a force of approximately 2100 Mexican soldiers lay siege to a garrison of 260 Texans.

Despite being vastly outnumbered and seeing their pleas for reinforcements fall on deaf ears, the brave men of the garrison fought on until the bloody end, holding out for 13 days in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The Space Center

“Houston, we have a problem” is the misquoted popular phrase from the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission of 1970. At the Space Center in Houston – the science museum at the NASA Johnson Space Center – you can learn all about the Apollo 13 mission and the history of North American space exploration.

There’s also a huge range of interesting artefacts and exhibitions to see like the Mercury 9 capsule flown by Gordon Cooper, various Lunar samples and the Apollo-Soyuz docking module trainer. 

Big Bend National Park

Cormac McCarthy, one of the greatest writers of modern times was renowned for his breath-taking descriptions of the natural world. The author of Blood Meridian and The Road used California, Chihuaha and Texas as the inspiration for his landscapes in various novels.

Big Bend National Park was said to be the inspiration for some of the settings in All the Pretty Horses and it’s easy to see why. Words – excluding McCarthy’s – don’t particularly do the park justice, so to avoid sounding like a poor McCarthy tribute, we’ll let the following video show you just how stunning a place Big Bend is.

(Big Bend is an absolute must visit.)

Texas Hill Country Wineries

Visiting a vineyard is a special experience, but that can be for both good and bad reasons. If you head to some of the most famous wine producing regions in the world – we’re including California in that – you can taste some great wine, see some stunning landscapes but also end up spending an afternoon with some of the most pretentious people on the planet.

Texas Hill Country Wineries provide you with plenty of the first two and none of the pretension. In Texas you’ll also find a greater variation in varietals than California with Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Viognier, Grenache, Albarino, Cinsault and many more grapes growing well in the state.

Less Formal Activities

All of the activities mentioned above are great and we would highly recommend making the time to visit all of them, but what about something less formal? To finish the article of, here’s a small selection of less formal and slightly quirkier suggestions for you to consider ahead of your trip to Texas:

Conclusion

In conclusion, Texas is a state that truly offers something for everyone. From thrilling sports events at the AT&T Stadium, to exploring significant historical sites like the Alamo, and delving into the wonders of space at the Houston Space Center, there’s no shortage of iconic experiences to be had.

Nature lovers will be captivated by the majestic landscapes of Big Bend National Park, while wine enthusiasts can savour the diverse flavours of Texas Hill Country Wineries. And if you’re looking for something a bit offbeat, Texas has plenty of quirky attractions like the Dr Pepper Museum, local rodeos, and Austin’s vibrant live music scene.

So, whether you’re drawn to the rich history, the natural beauty, or the unique cultural offerings, Texas promises an unforgettable adventure for every traveler.

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