places to visit on texas

42 Best Places to Visit in Texas Now

Welcome to our ultimate guide of the best places to visit in Texas!

From the Gulf Coast beaches in the east to the western desert region, Texas promises a bucket load of fun to its visitors.

The Lone Star State is simply huge – did you know it is the second largest in the country – and has a mind-numbing diversity of landscapes as well as attractions for visitors! 

Also Read: 18 Incredibly romantic Texas honeymoon ideas

Texas also has a rich and vivid history as well as many cultural attractions.

Beautiful waterfalls , spectacular city skylines, urban parks, stunning natural areas, as well as pretty beaches, Texas has it all!

Here are our top favorite places to visit in Texas, all worth adding to your bucket list!

Also Read: 20+ Best Spots to Watch 2024 Solar Eclipse in Texas

Best Places to Visit in Texas

From the cities of San Antonio and Houston to small towns of Fredericksburg and Rockport

…from historic attractions such as the Alamo and Texas State Capitol to beautiful natural areas such as Big Bend National Park and Padre Island on the Gulf Coast,

Here are some of the most amazing and incredible places to visit in Texas!

Also Read: Best Weekend Getaways in Texas for 2022

Best Places to Visit in Texas 2024

San Antonio

San Antonio is a must for everyone visiting the Lone Star State.

The city is home to some of the most visited attractions, including the historic Mission Alamo, the architectural marvel of San Antonio River Walk, and El Mercado or Historic Market Square.

The Alamo, a Spanish frontier mission, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It was here that the iconic Battle of the Alamo which gave momentum to the Texas Revolution took place.

Another must-visit is the beautiful 15-mile long San Antonio Riverwalk and its many attractions .

It offers a relaxed and romantic atmosphere and an abundance of great restaurants, eateries, and shops.

It can be explored on foot or by bike. 

Vibrant and bustling Austin is amongst the best cities in Texas for a number of reasons.

It is the state capital and home to the Texas State Capitol building.

Austin is known for its food scene, beautiful parks and lakes, and world-class museums.

Austin is also known as the live music capital of the world and hosts a variety of music festivals, concerts and performances throughout the year.

The Texas Capitol Building in downtown Austin can be seen on guided tours and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

It has beautiful Italian Renaissance style architecture and is made from pink granite found in the Texas Hill Country.

Another popular Austin attraction is the Hamilton Pool Preserve.

Hamilton Pool Preserve features a 50-foot waterfall, and fern-covered cliff sides, as well as distinctive plants and birds.

Located in nearby Dripping Springs, this natural swimming hole is extremely popular during the hot summer months.

Austin’s Lady Bird lake is a great place to visit to admire the city skyline and enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding.

The famous bat flight from under the Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is also worth seeing in Austin.

Related: 5 Secret Camping Spots near Austin to see Total Solar Eclipse 2024

Big Bend National Park

Located right on the border with Mexico, Big Bend National Park is a unique spot for nature lovers.

This is one of our favorite national parks to visit in Texas.

The park has beautiful vistas of the Chisos mountains and the Chihuahua desert.

There are plenty of attractions in Big Bend National Park for visitors.

Stop by the visitor center to get more information regarding the hiking trails, purchase souvenirs, and get a park map.

Hike along the famous Rio Grande river and observe beautiful landscapes within the park from the scenic drive.

Big Bend National Park features diverse fauna and flora and is home to around 450 species of birds, as well as hares, roadrunners, mountain cougars, and bears. 

Other popular activities in the Big Bend National Park include camping, horseback riding, and kayaking the Santa Elena Canyon.

H-Town is, undoubtedly, one of the best cities to visit in Texas!

It is the largest city in Texas and home to famous attractions like the Space Center Houston and the Museum District.

H-Town prides itself for having some of the best barbecue in the state and a laid-back vibe that keeps visitors coming for more.

The Museum District in Downtown Houston is a hit with families and culture lovers.

It features several premier museums including the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts, Contemporary Art, Children’s Museum, and more. 

The nearby Hermann Park is home to the Houston Zoo, the children’s train, Japanese garden, and green spaces.

The Johnson Space Center Houston is one of Texas’s top attractions and receives millions of visitors every year.

On a visit, you can walk inside a replica of America’s first space station, Skylab, or touch a rock from the moon.

It is great for those interested in space exploration and meeting astronauts.

San Jacinto Monument

The San Jacinto Monument in Texas stands as a towering symbol of Texan pride and a testament to a pivotal moment in history.

At 567 feet, it’s taller than the Washington Monument and offers panoramic views of Houston and the surrounding area.

The monument commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, where Texan forces, led by General Sam Houston, secured victory over Mexican forces, ultimately leading to Texas’ independence.

Inside the monument, the San Jacinto Museum of History showcases artifacts and exhibits, preserving the legacy of this critical event in Texas history and celebrating the state’s vibrant culture.

Padre Island National Seashore

Located a short drive from Corpus Christi, this beautiful undeveloped barrier island separates the Laguna Madre from the Gulf of Mexico.

The island is 70 miles long and the longest barrier island in the world. 

It is home to the National Park site of Padre Island National Seashore.

The park is a great place to experience the natural beauty of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Enjoy clean sandy beaches or go for a swim in the ocean.

Camping on the beach, kayaking, fishing, windsurfing and biking on the sand are other popular activities in the park.

The park is a famous nesting site for Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles and on a visit during summer, you can participate in their famous rare sea turtles hatchling release program.

Galveston , located on the Texas coast near Houston, is the perfect family vacation destination.

There are plenty of things to do in Galveston for visitors.

Get an adrenaline rush at the Pleasure Pier, a beachfront amusement park at any time of the year.

Visit the Moody Gardens, a tourist complex with a botanical garden, huge glass pyramids, an aquarium and various species of animals.

Spend an afternoon at The Strand, a National Historic District packed with antique shops, restaurants, art galleries, and wonderful architecture.

For those looking to catch some sun, Galveston offers 32 miles of beaches.

Galveston is also popular for water activities such as fishing, dolphin cruises, and kayaking.

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg, located in the Texas Hill Country, is one of the best small towns in Texas.

It is charming and romantic and features a Main Street filled with historic buildings, boutiques, and restaurants.

Fredericksburg has a rich German heritage and was founded by German settlers in the 19th century.

Fredericksburg is home to several museums including the national museum of Pacific War, historic sites, and other attractions.

The nearby Enchanted Rock Natural State Area is popular for hiking, wildflowers, and bouldering.

Palo Duro Canyon

Looking for an amazing state park to visit in Texas? Head to Palo Duro!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, located near Amarillo in the Panhandle, is a beautiful place to visit in Texas.

Did you know – Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the US and famously known as the Grand Canyon of Texas.

The canyon is 120 miles long, up to 20 miles wide, and between 600 and 800-feet deep.

Visitors love the streaked bright red and brown rocky mountains and fascinating geological shapes such as the lighthouse formation.

The State Park Visitor Center has lots of interesting exhibits about the geology and the cultural history of the canyon as well as amazing views from the rim.

Visitors can explore the canyon in depth by hiking within the canyon or on the scenic drive that goes to the foot of the canyon.

The park offers a wide range of activities for outdoor lovers including wildlife watching, birding, nature photography, camping, stargazing, and mountain biking.

South Padre Island

The resort town of South Padre Island Is located on the southern Texas coast.

This is one of the best beach towns in Texas and offers a variety of attractions from dolphin cruises and sandcastle building lessons to amusement parks and beautiful beaches.

The city also has several fun things to do including short Boardwalk trails, souvenir shopping, sunset sails, horseback riding, and paragliding.

Because of its mild climate, South Padre Island is one of the best places in Texas to visit in winter.

Head to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District to experience the true spirit of Old Texas.

The Stockyards area features several buildings and streets built in the style of the Wild West.

You will find honky tonk halls with live music, rodeos on Fridays and Saturdays, barbecue, and stores selling western apparel.

However the highlight of the visit is the daily cattle drive.

Real cowboys with boots and hats lead the cattle drive in front of the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building.

The cattle drive is often followed by mock shootouts which are fun to watch for the whole family.

Mustang Island

Mustang Island State Park, located south of Port Aransas between San Jose Island and Padre Island, is one of the most visited state parks in Texas.

The park has over 5 miles of beautiful coastline and white sandy beaches.

It is an ideal location for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities.

Simply relax on the sand with a book or go beach combing for shells and sand dollars.

Enjoy sunbathing, fishing, paddling, hiking, kayaking or bird watching – the opportunities at Mustang island are numerous.

Those interested in paddling can check out the Mustang Island State Park Paddling Trail.

Located 70 miles northwest of Houston, Brenham is a small German town that makes the perfect Texas getaway.

Every year, it attracts visitors for beautiful Texas bluebonnet displays as well as for Maifest, the annual festival that celebrates the German heritage of Brenham.

Other Brenham attractions include Blue Bell Creameries, historic Main Street, Fire Museum, and the Antique Rose Emporium. 

The Washington-on-the-Brazos National Historical Park is also located near Brenham.

It was here that the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed – hence the park is famously known as the birthplace of Texas.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the best places to visit in north Texas.

Downtown Dallas is home to a variety of museums, parks, restaurants, and historic buildings.

The Sixth Floor Museum in Dealey Plaza is a must visit while in Dallas.

This museum is located in the Dallas County Administration Building and was formerly the site of the Texas School Book Depository.

It was from here that Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John F Kennedy in 1963.

The museum is dedicated to events surrounding JFK’s death and his legacy.

Visitors can see detailed exhibits about the assassination as well as see the window from where he was shot. The museum also includes excellent information about JFK’s political contribution, his family, and news footage.

Some of the other popular tourist attractions in Dallas include the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Dallas Zoo, Reunion Tower, Dallas World Aquarium, The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, etc.

Texas Hill Country Wineries

The picturesque Texas Hill Country is a popular tourist destination in Texas.

It is a well known grape growing region in Texas and renowned for its wineries.

Several wineries and vineyards color the Hill Country landscape, and most produce high-quality wines that every wine lover can appreciate.

Many of the Texas Hill Country wineries are located in and around Fredericksburg.

Located between Fredericksburg and Stonewall, Becker Vineyards organizes events, tastings, and tours within the walls of its impressive stone reception hall.

Grape Creek Vineyards is one of the oldest producing vineyards in Texas.

Fall Creek Winery located near Driftwood is another great option to sample the Texas whites and reds.

The main street of Fredericksburg also has several tasting rooms; Wine Tours are also available from the city.

Garner State Park

Located in the Texas Hill Country, Garner State Park is a stunning natural oasis around the crystal clear Frio River.

Covering over 1,700 acres, this pristine park offers an array of activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and swimming in the spring-fed waters.

The park’s highlight is the iconic Garner Dance Pavilion, hosting summer evening dances that have become a tradition for generations.

With abundant wildlife, stunning limestone cliffs, and opportunities for camping, garner State Park is the perfect escape for Texas families.

Port Aransas

Port Aransas is a charming island community.

It has an interesting variety of unique restaurants, shops, and hotels that cater to visitors.

One of the highlights of visiting Port Aransas is its pristine beaches.

Other activities available include kayaking, windsurfing, and fishing. You can easily find gear rentals here.

Some of the best beaches in Texas are located here including the IB Magee Beach Park.

Interested in history? Visit the Port Aransas Museum to learn about the past of this little beach town.  

Marfa is one of the most unique small cities in Texas.

The city has a number of historical attractions as well as art galleries and public art work.

The Marfa Prada, a unique art installation, makes a great road trip stop on the way to Big Bend.

One of the most iconic attractions in Marfa is the Marfa lights.

The cause of these lights appearing on the desert landscape is still unknown and numerous legends including Paranormal Activity is associated with them.

Head to the Marfa Lights observation area just outside the city to see the view for yourself.

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a good combination of the sun, the beach, and the city.

It is full of activities for different types of travelers.

Observe the marine world at the Texas State Aquarium or visit the Selena Memorial and listen to iconic songs by the famous musician.

Go to the Selena Museum if you want to learn more about this important figure and her role in Texan culture. 

Head to the North Beach near the Harbor Bridge to catch some sun or swim in the water on a hot summer day.

Or, take a tour at the USS Lexington museum ship that was operational in World War II.

This former aircraft carrier ship is a National Historic Landmark and has been converted into a naval museum.

On a self-guided tour, you can see various military artifacts, aircrafts, exhibits, or even try the flight simulator. 

Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake is a beautiful Lake located on the Texas Louisiana border in the Piney Woods Region.

It is one of our favorite places to visit in East Texas.

Here you will find several acres of cypress swamps.

The bald cypress trees are draped in Spanish moss while Lotus, lily pads, and reeds grow in the lake.

The Caddo Lake State Park, located on the lakeshore, is great for hiking, camping, and kayaking.

Visitors especially enjoy observing wildlife watching, birding, and spectacular fall colors at Caddo Lake state park.

Read our post on Best Things to do in Caddo Lake State Park for more details.

San Jose Island

Come to San Jose Island if you are looking for something more remote and wild.

A great place to escape the noise of the city and wind down, read a book, collect seashells, and take in the scenery – it is recommended for those looking to have a quiet afternoon!

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock, located in the Enchanted Rock State Park north of Crabapple, is one of the largest natural rock formations in the whole country, rising 425 feet above the ground.

Climb the rock for spectacular views and rocky outcrops, just don’t forget to bring water.

The climb is a little challenging, but definitely worth it!

Within the park, there are various other trails and places to rock climb.

Other activities include camping, picnics, observing wildlife, geocaching, stargazing and taking photos of the beautiful landscape.

The park also offers ranger programs, which is great if you want to understand more about the creation of formations and wildlife.

Being a border town in the Wild West, El Paso combines Mexican flavors with historic architecture and a unique Texas atmosphere.

Visit the iconic Plaza Theater in the Downtown Historic District or venture on the El Paso Mission Trail to admire the colonial buildings.

Soak in some culture at the Museum of Art, roam through the Mexican Markets, and enjoy the cuisine in El Paso.

Explore El Segundo Barrio, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city.

Here you will find beautiful street murals revealing the town’s Hispanic heritage. 

El Paso has a number of tourist attractions and makes a perfect stop on the west Texas road trip.

Boca Chica State Park

Boca Chica State Park near Brownsville encompasses the Boca Chica beach as well as the SpaceX launch site, 22 miles east of Brownsville.

The facility is pretty impressive that all the spacecraft lovers will appreciate.

The Boca Chica beach is relatively remote and less crowded than the South Padre Beach.

This means fewer services being offered, but it is perfect for things like fishing, birdwatching, strolling along the beach, and building sandcastles, or kiting.

There aren’t many amenities, so prepare well if you do decide to spend an afternoon here by bringing enough water and snacks.

Although not very popular among campers, there is an opportunity to camp here if you wish.

The city of Waco is located on the banks of the Brazos River in Central Texas.

Waco has plenty of attractions for families and makes a great spring break destination in Texas.

At the Waco Mammoth National Monument , visitors can see the fossilized remains of Ice Age Columbian mammoths.

Cameron Park Zoo is great to see a variety of animals while the Waco River walk mix what a pleasant stroll.

The well-known Magnolia Market Waco Silos of HGTV’s Fixer Upper fame is also located here.

The Dr. Pepper Museum in downtown is a great place to learn about Texas’ iconic soda.

Visit art galleries, boutiques, or restaurants in Waco Downtown Cultural District or spend a day on the water at Lake Waco.

Pedernales Falls State Park

Located around 35 miles west of Austin, Pedernales Falls State Park is where travelers can find some of the best natural views in the area.

Swim in the river, hike Twins Fall Nature Trail, or the more challenging Wolf Mountain Trail.

There are options for kayaking and tubing the river too.

Campsites with the necessary amenities are great for those who want to spend more time here.

Ranger Programs are available.

Between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington, a loud and lively city that attracts many adventure seekers for the variety of exciting activities it has to offer.

Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor water park, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, Arlington Stadium, and Theatre Arlington are some of the best things to do in Arlington .

After a hectic day, head to lake Arlington or River Legacy Park to wind down before continuing your trip.

If you are looking to have some fun, Arlington is not the one to skip!

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a prime example of what a Permian-era fossil reef is.

It is famous for great hiking and backpack possibilities and for being one of the most unspoiled wilderness locations in the United States.

Around 80 miles of trails, winding through the desert-like areas, displaying some beautiful plants, the mountains, and riverside oases won’t disappoint any type of hiker.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in Pine Springs, northern Culberson County, is also home to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak.

Gorman Falls

Amazed by the falls and would love to see some more?

Visit Gorman Falls in Colorado Bend State Park, one of the most beautiful and popular state parks in Texas.

You can explore the 65 feet falls on a 1.4-mile guided walk, or choose the 2.6-mile hike to reach the same destination.

In the nearby lake you can go boating, kayaking and swimming.

Campsites are available in the park and dogs are welcome too.

Groups can book tours of the falls to learn more about them.  

Jacob’s Well

Jacob’s well is located in an 81-acre natural area near Wimberley.

Surrounded by limestone cliffs, this artesian spring always remains the same temperature at 68°F.

It is about 140 feet deep, which just adds to its mysterious vibe and look.

People are welcome to take a dip inside this natural wonder, just keep in mind that the swimming season is between May 1 and September 30.

The bravest visitors can go diving and cliff jumping.

The water is crystal clear, so you may want to bring a snorkel or water-proof camera for some underwater views. 

Natural Bridge Caverns

The largest known caverns that are open for visitors!

Natural Bridge Caverns were discovered by four college students and since then have become one of the most important tourist attractions in Texas.

On a tour of the caverns, visitors can see stunning geological rock formations including stalactites and stalagmites.

Gruene Historic District

Gruene , located about an hour away from Austin in New Braunfels by the Guadalupe River is a legacy of the first German settlers in the area

They relied on cotton production which fueled the growth of the region and brought it to life.

It is a sweet little place to visit, wander through various boutiques, antique stores, and bars in some old buildings that still preserve that old Texas charm.

Gruene Hall, the oldest working dance hall in Texas, is a must visit.

This authentic venue has contributed a great deal to Texas’ music scene and continues to do so, featuring some of the best live shows in the country.

Located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo attracts visitors for its art deco buildings together with hints of Old Texas throughout the town, amazing beer, and great food scene.

For those brave enough, the Big Texan Steak Ranch offers the famous 72-ounce Steak Challenge, which has been around for almost 60 years.

After filling that tummy, drive the historic Route 66 and visit the famous Cadillac Ranch .

This art installation is situated along the south of I-40 between exits 60 and 62.

Visitors are welcome to spray graffiti paint on one of the half-buried Cadillacs in the middle of farmland.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

A short drive northwest of Glen Rose , you will find the Dinosaur Valley State Park.

This park features million-year-old dinosaur footprints at the bottom of the Paluxy River.

Other popular activities include various hiking and biking trails, as well as an area for horseback riding surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.

There are campsites and also picnic areas available.

Lake Travis

The 4.5 miles wide Lake Travis, one of the lakes on the Colorado River in central Texas is a piece of paradise for travelers of all ages.

The lake spans over 18,929 acres and attracts many visitors throughout the year.

There is more to do here than you can think of: parks, lodging, boat rentals, zip lining, waterparks, live music events, breweries, and even vineyards, all located around this beautiful lake.

Abilene 

Abilene is a small city 185 miles west of Dallas which was designated as the official Storybook Capital of Texas in 2015.

As well as having the biggest collection of storybook sculptures in the country, Abilene hosts various literary events, including the West Texas Book Festival and the Children’s Art & Literacy Festival.

For those who are not fans of conventional museums, we recommend visiting Frontier Texas – an interactive exhibition that teaches visitors about the history of Texas in a modern way. 

Abilene also has excellent restaurants , boutique stores, and other attractions for visitors.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

The beuatiful Monahans Sandhills State Park covers an area of over 3,840 acres in the West Texas desert.

It is covered with sand dunes and allows visitors to explore the unique landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see.

Sand surf, observe the unique flora and fauna that can only be seen here, take photos, and finally, watch as the sun disappears in the horizon.

Chances are you will want to do it again!

There is a campsite in the park, so visitors are welcome to stay overnight.

It is also a great opportunity for stargazing.

Terlingua Ghost Town

Looking for some mystery?

The ghost town of Terlingua will give you just that.

Once a bustling community, now it is just a few buildings and ruins that echo the village’s history in the Chihuahuan Desert.

See the ruins of the Chisos Mining Company, visit the St. Agnes Church, as well as the cemetery dating from the early 1900s.  

Port Isabel

Port Isabel , located at the southern tip of Texas, is a small coastal town.

It is best known for the Port Isabel Lighthouse – the only lighthouse open for the public in Texas.

Climb the stairs for a great view of South Padre Island.

Take in some history at the Port Isabel Historical Museum or go fishing at the Pirates Landing Fishing Pier.

Participate in Texas International Fishing Tournament, go on a dolphin cruise, or explore the sea on the Black Dragon ship surrounded by the pirates who love making jokes!

Rusk Palestine Railroad

Take a break from driving in a car and explore the East Texas forests on the Texas State Railroad.

Live a moment in history as you ride a 1896 steam train from Rusk to Palestine via the Piney Woods Route.

The round-trip journey is about 3 hours, 25 miles each way.

Rusk and Palestine are quiet historic towns featuring Victorian architecture, unique boutiques and shopping, as well as cafes!

Each town has a depot featuring information about the locomotives and the history of the town, as well as gift shops.

During the holiday season, you can also ride the Christmas train in Palestine .

Adrian 

Adrian is located at 1139 miles of Route 66

It marks the midpoint of this historic route, meaning there are 1,139 miles left to go to reach Santa Monica, California!

Like the Cadillac Ranch, the Midpoint is also a great place to take photos.

There is also a Midpoint Cafe, a small decorated café, where you can grab a snack before continuing the trip.

A lot of Route 66-themed merchandise and postcards are available in a store near the café.

Bolivar Peninsula

Bolivar Peninsula, located northeast of Galveston, stretches 27 miles along the Gulf of Mexico.

As a result, it attracts a large number of visitors to its huge sandy beaches and many beach activities.

Bolivar Peninsula also has many attractions available for the whole family.

It encompasses a number of communities including Gilchrist, Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, and High Island.

Some of the most popular activities to do on the beach are swimming, surfing, birdwatching, kiting, and also fishing.

Other attractions include Fort Travis, the Bolivar Lighthouse, shops and restaurants, live music, and other events. 

We hope you liked our post on the best places to visit in Texas. Did we miss out on any popular Texas attractions? Let us know in the comments.

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4 thoughts on “42 Best Places to Visit in Texas Now”

Love you Texas…( Miss you too ).

You missed Hico TX a beautiful historic town

Rockport, TX. The only Blue Wave Beach in TX n the best birding place. The BIG tree, great fishing, the aquarium and a cute little artsy town. Not far is the Aransas Wildlife Refuge.

Great content! Keep up the good work!

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Texas Travel 365

30 Things To Do In Texas: The Ultimate Bucket List

August 23, 2021 //  by  Texas Travel 365 //   1 Comment

Are you starting your next adventure and need a list of things to do in Texas? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve got the most epic stops, sightsees, road trips, and more in Texas that will make you want to bring a pen to keep track of where you’ve been so you can complete the list!

Texas is extremely unique and there’s a little something for everyone here! Whether you’re here for a day, a couple of weeks, or you live in Texas and just want to explore, this list is the perfect companion to your Texas adventure.

Hamilton Pool

Hamilton Pool is a nature reserve located in Travis County Park. This is one of the most epic things to do in Texas during your stay! It’s so popular that they require a reservation before you are able to show up, and you have to be prepared for reservations to fill up early!

Hamilton Pool is home to a 50-foot waterfall that will be the perfect subject of any picture, or provide the perfect background for your group photos!

Hamilton Pool is also home to the Golden-cheeked Warbler and many other various bird species. The Golden-cheeked Warbler is even pictured on their Travis County Park logo!

This is one sight you will want at the top of your itinerary!

Explore The Small Towns

One thing you have to do while in Texas is explore the small towns !

You can visit Luckenbach with a population of only 3 people, or visit the popular Prada location in Marfa! No matter which small town you choose to explore, you will find a uniqueness that can only be found in that particular town!

Many of the small towns are located near each other so you can make it a weekend trip, or take a few days and stretch from Dripping Springs to Nacogdoches!

Exploring the small towns in Texas is one way to find some of the most hidden gems that state has to offer!

Haunted Texas Road Trip

Now this one might now be for the faint of heart. A Haunted Texas Road Trip is the perfect way to test your limits and experience something you just can’t explain!

The most notable stops are the Yorktown Memorial Hospital, Lobo, Marfa, and Terlingua. Each stop has an unexplainable feeling that will make your trip memorable.

While the Marfa Prada store seems like a great place to stop, the city has an unexplainable phenomenon called the Marfa Lights which are floating bright orbs that no one has been able to explain. Not to mention in Lobo, the town has been abandoned so the isolation you might feel here will have the hairs standing on the back of your neck!

We guarantee you will want to stick around during this road trip and see what phenomena you can experience.

See The Bluebonnets

Of course one of the things in Texas you have to do is stop and look at the Bluebonnets! The official state flower is an eye-catching experience as the areas they are located create blue fields!

You can visit the Bluebonnet House in Marble Falls, or head to Ennis, just south of Dallas, to travel through the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas! In Ennis, you will see the official Texas Bluebonnet Trail and will experience hundreds of beautiful Bluebonnets!

You also have to stop in Burnet, the Official Bluebonnet Capital of Texas! If there’s any place to see the glorious fields of Bluebonnets, it’s Burnet.

Gorman Falls Waterfall

If you find yourself around Wichita, Texas, you must stop and see the Gorman Falls Waterfall!

This 650-foot waterfall is full of tiered cascading falls and is one of the most captivating things to do in Texas. This waterfall is positioned in Colorado Bend State Park, and you will have to pay the park’s entrance fee to view the falls, but it will be worth every penny!

You absolutely need to utilize the bridge and see that perfect viewing spot!

Swimming is not allowed here, but viewing the falls will make the mile-round trip hike from the parking lot completely worth it!

You can’t come to Texas without taking the time to visit Big Bend!

Located in Brewster County, Big Bend is often named “Texas’ Gift to the Nation.” You’ll have to make the trip to Big Bend National Park and spend time in the Chisos Mountains.

Here, you can stop and explore the Langford Hot Springs, or take a day hike through the park. The best time to visit Big Bend is the Spring or Fall so that it is not too hot or cold outside.

The beauty of Big Bend is one of the best things to experience in Texas, so don’t leave this off your itinerary!

Kayak at Nichol’s Landing Paddle Trail

Kayakers traveling to Texas will definitely want to add this kayaking hot spot to their list of things to do in Texas!

Nichol’s Landing Paddle Trail is located at the Upper Guadalupe River and is comprised of about 10 miles of kayaking trails.

Here you’ll see beautiful Cypress Trees and have plenty of trails to relax and spend time in the water. This kayaking hot spot is great for a 3-6 hour experience, so make sure to plan to spend a good portion of your day here!

The trail ranges from rapid and rushing to calm and serene so all skills are necessary when experiencing this trail!

Dallas Museum Of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the most elaborate museums in Texas. With art from the third millennium BC stretching all the way to present day, you’re sure to see a lot of history and even a few famous artists.

At the Dallas Museum of Art, you can see works from Jason Pollock, Andy Warhol, and Vincent van Gogh. These works have people traveling from all over to see these famous works!

They also have programs for kids and plenty of lecture series with famous authors and artists. There’s a little something for everyone at this Texas museum!

Boca Chica Beach

Located in the southernmost part of Texas, this beach is considered a hidden Texas gem.

This beach is located near Corpus Christi and South Padre Island with a huge view of the border of Mexico! At Boca Chica Beach, you’ll find the clearest water in Texas. If that doesn’t sound like reason enough to stop and check out the beach, there’s always the special wildlife to entice you!

This beach is home to the critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, and every Spring and Summer they nest on Boca Chica Beach!

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

One thing you have to experience while in Texas is the Guadalupe Mountains, National Park!

This Texas park is known for having the 4 highest peaks in Texas, and the stargazing on a clear night that is unlike anywhere else! From here, you can see over 11,000 stars and have a perfect view of the Milky Way!

You can also hike any of their numerous trails, or spend a few days camping on the land. If you’re crunched for time, you can visit their visitor’s center and spend some time in the museum!

The entrance fee to the park is $10, but worth every penny!

Castle Falkenstein

This Texas castle will feel straight out of a fairy tale!

This castle was created by Terry Young and his wife after a trip to Europe left them inspired to build a castle of their own in Texas.

Located in Burnet, part of Texas Hill Country, this castle is frequently used for privately hosted events, weddings, and even lodging rentals! If you’re looking for a fairy tale experience for your Texas trip, this castle is perfect for you!

Fall Foliage In Lost Maples State Park

If you find yourself in Texas during Fall, this location needs to be one of your first stops!

Here you’ll find Uvalde bigtooth maple trees that turn red, orange, and yellow during the fall season. The park even has a Fall Foliage Color Report that gets updated every week in November so that you can ensure you are going at a time when the colors are the most vibrant!

The park tends to fill to capacity quickly, especially the week of Thanksgiving, so make sure to head out there early!

San Antonio River Walk

The San Antonio River Walk is one of the most famous attractions in Texas!

The River Walk is home to numerous hotels and dining experiences that will put you right into the heart of the River Walk. The River Walk also hosts festivals and parades year round.

Some of the most notable parades are the Parade of Lanterns and the Holiday River Parade!

You can also kayak in the San Antonio River Walk between March and September!

Jacob’s Well

Jacob’s Well is located in Hays County and is one of the most popular places in Texas! The natural well area is roughly 81 acres and is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily!

Jacob’s Well is the second-largest submerged cave in Texas and at its deepest point reaches 140-feet deep! People from all over come here to swim, so much so that you have to make a reservation to swim in the well!

The allowed time for each swim reservation is 2 hours, so make sure you plan your day for this! You can also hike in this area, and you do not need a reservation to hike, only to swim!

A Fabulous Weekend Getaway

While in Texas, you must have a fabulous weekend getaway at The Driskill Hotel in Austin!

The Driskill Hotel is located on 6th Street, which is one of Austin’s most famous streets! This street is historic and is home to the Austin nightlife and culture! The hotel is within a 10-minute walk from the State Capital Building.

The hotel is extremely luxurious and you will feel like a royal for the entire duration of your stay! You won’t want to come to Austin without spending a weekend treating yourself to this experience!

Go Camping At Palo Duro Canyon State Park

You can’t come to Texas without a camping trip! The perfect place to pitch a tent is at Palo Duro Canyon State Park! This state park is truly one of the best things to do in Texas!

This area is known as the Grand Canyon of Texas. Located in the Texas Panhandle, this park offers campsites in multiple different areas! All campsites in the area offer electricity, but you can opt-out of using it to get the full camping experience!

No matter which campsite you stay at, you are guaranteed views of the Palo Duro Canyon! It is truly one of the best things to do in Amarillo.

Visit Jester King Brewery

Are your really in Texas if you don’t stop at a brewery while you’re there?

Jester King Brewery is located in Austin, and it is much more than just a brewery! Here they serve pizza, wine, beer, and many events for their guests!

There is a nature trail located on the 165-acre ranch, and plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the brewery experience. They also host many summer concert series and Goat Yoga!

We know you’ll enjoy this Texas brewery!

Houston Museum Of Natural Science

One of the best things to do while in Texas is to visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science! The world around you will seem so much more interesting after a visit here!

There are many permanent exhibits here such as the Cabinet of Curiosities, Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, and the Morian Hall of Paleontology!

Not only do they have those awesome exhibits, you’ll also need to stop by the Burke Baker Planetarium and see Lamps of Atlantis and Black Holes, two very popular exhibits!

Tour Kyle Field

Being in Texas, one of the first connections you might make is Texas football! That’s why you should take a tour at Kyle Field, the largest stadium in Texas!

This stadium is the largest ranked by its 102,000 capacity limit. It’s located at the Texas A&M campus in College Station.

The tour lasts between 45 to 60 minutes and is a cheap fun way to experience the largest home to Texas football!

Coastal Texas Road Trip

With the Gulf of Mexico nearby, it’d be a shame to not take a coastal Texas road trip!

This road trip would take you through the most popular Texas towns on the coast like Galveston, Matagorda, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island.

At any of these stops, you can stop and explore the beaches, or take a dip in the warm waters thanks to the Gulf of Mexico!

You’ll find a uniqueness to each stop on this road trip that will keep you entertained for days!

Go To The Texas State Fair

If you’re in Texas during September or October, you must check out the Texas State Fair in Dallas!

This Texas fair is the longest-running fair in America, and even better, it is also the largest! This fair is home to Big Tex, the World’s Tallest Cowboy, and also a famous Texas icon!

Beginning in 1886, the Texas State Fair prides itself on promoting Texas traditions in Agriculture, Education, and Community Involvement.

When you’re in Texas, this will end up at the top of your list!

Visit The Fort Worth Zoo

This one is for animal lovers!

The Fort Worth Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Texas, and is home to 540 animal species! The zoo hosts special events all the time such as field trips, weddings, holiday parties, and corporate events!

Here you can interact up close and personal with sharks and stingrays! This is one of the reasons this zoo was ranked by USA Today as the number 5 zoo in the nation!

Get ready for an animal-filled day here!

Eat At Tito’s Mexican Restaurant

Tito’s Mexican Restaurant is located in San Antonio and is a great place to experience authentic Mexican food in Texas!

Tito’s is known famously for their Margarita/Tequila Bar, as well as their fajitas and enchiladas. Here you’ll get the taste of Mexico in Texas!

This San Antonio restaurant was established in 2003 in the Historic King William District! When you’re in Texas, you’ll want to make a stop here for delicious food and Happy Hour drinks!

Bat Watch At Congress Avenue Bridge

This is one experience in Texas that you simply can’t do anywhere else!

The Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. Here, over 1.5 million bats reside during the summer before heading back to their home in Central Mexico for the fall.

The best time to view these night flyers is at dusk on any summer night! You can access the bridge for perfect viewing free of charge.

The largest bat colony in North America is waiting for you during your time in Texas!

Visit Space Center Houston

You definitely won’t want to miss out on this experience!

The Space Center Houston is one of the most popular places to visit in Texas. This is in part because it is home to NASA’s Mission Control Center!

Here, you’ll find the world’s largest collection of moon rocks, and you’ll see tons of NASA’s systems on display. If you’re here during the holidays, you’ll even get to experience Galaxy Lights, a holiday display that the center is famous for during the winter!

Start planning your trip to NASA!

The Fort Worth Stockyards

The Fort Worth Stockyards is the perfect place to feel like you’re in an old Western movie!

The Fort Worth Stockyards is the perfect place to view a true Texas rodeo. There are also concerts and western theme shops all throughout the stockyards!

You can stop at the museum and learn about the history of Fort Worth while you buy the best pair of boots you can’t find anywhere else!

Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is one Texas location that you are able to leave your mark on the state!

Located in Amarillo, Cadillac Ranch is an iconic fixture of Cadillac vehicles stationed in the ground, with years of layering from past visitors. People come from all over to spray paint their own mark on a vehicle!

You can bring your own spray paint, or you may be lucky enough to find a can that was left behind by a previous visitor!

You can also visit the visitor center and buy jewelry made from paint chips that have come off the cars! There’s no record of how many layers of paint are currently on this fixture!

Visit The Texas State Aquarium

In 2019, this Texas aquarium was voted by USA Today as the number 4 aquarium in America!

One of the coolest things about this aquarium is the 4 bottlenose dolphins they house in their Dolphin Bay exhibit! They also have a Saving Sharks exhibit where you can track tagged sharks in real-time!

Other popular exhibits here are Jungle, Caribbean Sea, and Living Shores. Each with something to teach you about wildlife and oceanic life.

You’ll want to make sure to stop here at least once while in Texas!

Visit The Gaylord Texan At Christmas

A Texas Christmas that you’ll remember can happen at the Gaylord Texan!

While Texas isn’t known for snow, that isn’t true for the Gaylord Texan. During the holidays, this hotel offers snow tubbing, snow throwing, various snow slides, as well as its famous ICE! show.

The ICE! show is a 9-degree ice showing of a true winter wonderland. You’ll want to pack a coat and mittens for this experience!

One thing you need to do is.. remember the Alamo! You can’t come to Texas without stopping at this historic marker.

The Alamo is known as the Shrine of Texas Liberty, and there’s no doubt that this is a huge piece of Texas history! You’ll be able to take a guided tour and see everything the Alamo has to offer.

Make sure to walk through the Living History and talk to the Living Historians. Here you’ll get an up-close and personal take on what life was like during the 1800s and even learn about events surrounding the Battle of the Alamo in 1836!

Texas is one of the largest states in America, and that means there are a lot of things to experience in Texas! Whether you want to spend a weekend getaway somewhere, are looking for the best place to see various animal species, or you just want to see what makes Texas.. well Texas!

There is something unique in Texas for everyone. We know you’ll love the stops on this list!

Reader Interactions

October 10, 2023 at 9:21 pm

As a native Texan I have fond memories of most of the these. Even though I spent most of my art education career taking my students to the Dallas Museum of Art, it is not my favorite museum in Texas. The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Kimbell in Ft Worth also have internationally acclaimed collections. Each have their collection of quality pieces and host international touring exhibits of masterpieces.

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » Texas (TX) » 30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Texas

30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Texas

The Lone Star State, which prides itself on qualities like independence and self-sufficiency, is full of places with the kind of uncompromising rough-hewn beauty that makes you feel pretty insignificant.

I’ve picked a lot of these for my list, like the second-largest canyon in America, or the largest and remotest national park in the country. These are places that cater to a human need to be out in the elements, fending for yourself and those you love.

Size is another thing that Texas has in spades, and this is reflected in the full breadth of the state’s natural beauty, from steamy bayous in the east to sand dunes in the west, high mesas in the north and unending barrier islands in the south..

There’s a gentler side too, with springs and swimming holes for joyous summer days, exquisite botanical gardens, springtime meadows flush with wildflowers, and quaint small towns with a story to tell.

I was born and raised in Dallas, so as a Texas native I’m pretty confident you’re gonna like my list of the best places to visit in Texas:

1. Big Bend National Park

It’s only right that the starting point should be the largest and remotest national park in the entire United States.

Not many people make it to Big Bend National Park, and it’s not the kind of place to visit at the drop of a hat or on a detour. This forbidding lunar environment is a place for carefully planned adventures.

This might mean hiking past bizarre rock formations and up to distant lookouts, observing migrating birds, gazing at the darkest night skies in the world, driving roads with dizzyling accents or descents, or paddling through deep canyons on the Rio Grande.

If you’ve got what it takes, hike the strenuous South Rim Trail, which rises 2,000 feet, and compensates you with desert views for miles from the ridge.

Tip: You may also like my article on the most popular national parks .

2. Enchanted Rock

Steeped in legend, Enchanted Rock is an exposed batholith, a dome of pink granite erupting from the landscape at a height of 425 feet.

This makes it the second-largest hill composed of bedrock in the United States, and if there’s cause for regret it’s that this formation was once one of many to be found on the edge of Gillespie and Llano counties, a lot of which were quarried for their stone.

Enchanted Rock is prominent in Comanche, Apache and Tonkawa folklore, and I think it’s easy to see why—much of your time in the natural area will be spent transfixed by the hill and the panoramas that it affords.

There are many more rock formations to be admired and conquered, on more than 10 miles of trails.

3. Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Texas’s answer to the Grand Canyon is only 25 miles from Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle, at the site of the Comanche’s last stand in 1874.

With its high mesa walls, multi-colored bands of rock and spire-like hoodoos, this 800-foot cleave in the landscape is the work of water erosion across many millennia on the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River.

The artist Georgia O’Keeffe was drawn to this place, and painted it multiple times between 1916 and 1918.

One of the things I love most about Palo Duro Canyon State Park is how accessible it is, with 16 miles of paved roads, and another 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails leading to the main sights.

The canyon’s icon is Lighthouse Rock hoodoo, 300 feet tall and three miles along a trail from the park road.

4. Caddo Lake State Park

Straddling the Texas-Louisiana border is the mysterious Caddo Lake, a natural body of water formed around a thousand years ago by a giant log jam known as the Great Raft.

The lake is essentially a network of sloughs, bayous and ponds, sprouting tall bald cypresses draped in Spanish moss. Alligators, turtles, snakes, beavers, river otters, bobcats, and more than 70 fish species flourish in this environment.

Caddo Lake has been inhabited for 12,000 years, and when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century they came across the Caddoan society, which had developed sophisticated agriculture.

The state park is a place to go fishing, paddle (rentals are available), hike on 2.5 miles of trails, camp, or rent one of the park’s historic cabins, built by the CCC during the Great Depression.

5. Colorado Bend State Park

If I had to choose one place that encapsulates the Texas Hill Country it would surely be Colorado Bend, a couple of hours northwest of Austin .

Over 5,300 acres, the state park is a land of karstic formations, woven with caves, springs, and sinkholes.

There’s a lot to get up to, whether you’re lounging in crystal clear waters at Spicewood Springs, touring a cave, or marveling at the 70-foot Gorman Falls, the park’s standout sight.

The topography varies wildly, with trails that lift you to craggy outcrops or zigzag down a valley to a shaded creek bed.

There’s camping of all kinds, from drive-up to hike-in, and you find yourself in the company of local wildlife like deer and armadillos, which go as they please at the park.

You may also like my guide on where to stay when visiting Austin .

6. El Capitan

What you see when you look at this icon of Texas is an ancient barrier reef from 290 million years ago, hoisted up by tectonic forces.

El Capitan’s sheer limestone walls, like the rest of the Guadalupe Mountain peaks, are the exposed sides of the reef stripped away of all their softer sediment.

Only the hardiest of climbers reach the summit, and for everyone else this is a natural monument best enjoyed from a distance, either on a trail in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, or from the southeast side along U.S. Highway 62/180.

My ideal time to make the stop is early on a sunny day, when those sheer cliffs are aglow.

7. Barton Springs Pool

An outdoor municipal pool might not be an obvious candidate for my list of the most beautiful places, but Austin’s treasured Barton Springs Pool is something special.

The pool is an impounded stretch of Barton Creek, fed entirely by the fourth largest spring in the state.

The water on the surface is between 68 °F and 74 °F all year, with swimming permitted year round, except on Thursdays when the pool is closed for cleaning.

When you stop to take in the scene, with the glassy waters, the green sloping banks of the creek and the towers of downtown Austin visible along the valley, it’s impossible to deny the Barton Springs Pool’s place on the list.

Also extraordinary, the Barton Springs salamander is a species that exists pretty much only in this spot. This one also made it to my list of  55 Best Things to Do in Austin .

8. Monahans Sandhills State Park

It’s a testament to the size of Texas that on one side you can have steamy bayous and on the other you can enter a range of sand dunes that look like the Sahara.

I think you’ll be fascinated to learn that this isn’t even a desert. The Monahans Sandhills are a rare semi-arid ecosystem supporting the shinoak shrub, which has huge root systems penetrating the dunes and reaching the groundwater many feet below.

There are no marked trails here—instead you can go where you please, and rent sand disks for some Texas-style sledding, down slopes as high as 70 feet.

See also :  23 Amazing Hidden Gems in Texas

9. Caverns of Sonora

As magnificent as they are remote, the Caverns of Sonora are on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, halfway between San Antonio and Big Bend National Park.

What elevates this limestone cave above most others is the breathtaking quantity and complexity of its calcite formations.

The helictites are among the finest on show anywhere in the world, and resemble intricate works of glass art by someone like Dale Chihuly.

My favorite fact about this place is that it’s active, with 98% of those formations still growing as we speak. The main tour is just under two hours long, taking through two miles of chambers to a depth of 155 feet.

10. Padre Island National Seashore

If, like me, you associate the name ‘Padre Island’ with the famous resort town then the Padre Island National Seashore will come as a shock. Instead of spring breakers there’s more than 60 miles of uninhabited shoreline, on the longest barrier island in the world.

The national seashore is so remote that you can only reach it with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A pristine sandy shoreline continues to the horizon, with dunes, tidal flats, and the immensity of the Laguna Madre on the west side.

To me it feels like the far end of the world. Birds love it here. In fact 380 species have been documented on Padre Island, which is almost half of species recorded in North America.

Fall through is the best time for birdwatching, either during the epic migrations or when many thousands of birds winter along the shore.

11. Fredericksburg

The off-ramp for Enchanted Rock also happens to be one of Texas’s most beautiful small towns . Settled by Germans in the mid-19th century Fredericksburg still has a bit of a German accent, present in its cuisine, place names, customs and architecture.

The town could not have a better location, with epic natural wonders but also more than 50 vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms minutes away, lined out on gentle south slopes of the Pedernales river.

Back in town, the historic Main Street is a long, twin row of engaging specialty shops, galleries, tasting rooms, boutiques and German restaurants.

As the boyhood home of Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966), Fredericksburg is the site of one of the country’s best military museums, documenting the Pacific Theater.

12. Hamilton Pool Preserve

The obligatory day trip from Austin is a natural pool in a bowl with overhanging cliffs 50 feet in height. This stunning work of natural architecture was created when the dome of a subterranean river collapsed.

For you and me, the result is a swimming hole of unrivaled beauty, with Hamilton Creek entering the bowl as a waterfall.

The volume of the waterfall changes with the seasons, but the level of the pool never changes.

The natural processes that forged Hamilton Pool are ongoing, so the pool is occasionally closed for swimming when the cliffs become unstable.

The surrounding preserve has interesting botany, especially in the rocky canyon areas, where stream orchids and the westernmost colony of red bay can be seen.

13. Franklin Mountains State Park

The writer Cormac McCarthy moved to El Paso in the 1970s, and I think the Franklin Mountains at the far western limit of Texas embody the high-desert setting of his most famous books.

Little more than 15 minutes from downtown El Paso, this range is a constant presence in the city, and promises a sense of peace, widescreen vistas over the lowlands, and a scenic desolation.

You’re in the Chihuahuan Desert here, with slopes sparsely tufted with yucca, poppies and barrel cactus, and oak, juniper and cottonwood crowding the mountain springs.

Be ready for tough desert terrain on more than 100 miles of trails in 37 square miles of pure wilderness.

14. Jefferson

West of Caddo Lake, this pre-Civil War town is almost intact, preserved as it was when it was one of Texas’s main riverports.

I can’t get enough of Jefferson’s brick-paved streets and genteel commercial buildings, all labeled with historical markers.

The town’s golden age was between 1845 and 1872, but navigation on the Big Cypress Bayou was suddenly made impossible in 1875 when a logjam was cleared downstream, lowering the level.

In Jefferson it behooves you to slow things down a little, and the best way to start is at a quaint old bed & breakfast.

You can pore over the collections at the local historical museum, set in a Romanesque Revival courthouse and post office, with four floors of exhibits, including the steamboat days and the Civil War.

15. Dallas Arboretum And Botanical Garden

On the shores of White Rock Lake in East Dallas, this relatively young arboretum first opened to the public in 1984.

I think the setting is part of the magic of the Dallas Arboretum, on the estate of the geophysicist Everette Lee DeGolyer (1886-1956), whose work was instrumental to the oil industry.

The Spanish Revival DeGolyer home (1938) mingles with some 20 gardens, incorporating art, fascinating botany, art and expert landscape architecture.

On the winding trail it feels like you’re in a new little world every few steps. If there’s an ideal time to be here, it’s surely early spring, for Dallas Blooms.

This is the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest with uplifting spring blooms, from tulips to azaleas, paired with live culture, children’s activities, Easter events and more.

I’ve written some great guides on Dallas:

• Guide to Downtown Dallas
• 55 Amazing Things to Do in Dallas
• 15 Best Day Trips from Dallas
• Best Tours in Dallas

16. Willow City Bluebonnets Loop

If you’re in Fredericksburg around early April there’s never a better time to see the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet in bloom.

A few miles northeast of the town you’ll leave behind a bucolic rural landscape for something a little rougher, in a rocky land of cliffs and deep canyons, with views that scroll out for miles.

Here a 13-mile ranch road twists through the rugged terrain, and in spring your eyes will be drawn to the roadside meadows in the valleys.

After a wet winter these fields are astonishingly beautiful, sporting wildflowers of many different varieties and colors, but it’s bluebonnets that bring the crowds.

In fact, my word to the wise is to make the drive on a weekday as the weekends can get hectic on the Willow City Loop .

A little town adrift in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos, three hours from El Paso has become a hotspot for contemporary art, and a luxury tourist destination.

For this you can thank Donald Judd (1929-1994), the Minimalist artist who relocated here from New York in the 1970s, buying a slew of buildings and acquiring more than 30,000 acres of ranch land.

His legacy abides in Marfa’s museums, galleries, art installations, contemporary artisan shops and the town’s sleek architecture.

The Chinati Foundation, established by Judd in 1986, is a great starting point. The museum is rooted in Judd’s own philosophies and specializes in works that have a close relationship with their natural surroundings.

18. Big Thicket National Preserve

Something that fascinates me about Southeast Texas is that it’s the meeting point for a variety of habitats that are spread across big chunks of the United States.

This is a crossroads, at the western and southern limit for plant species associated with the East Coast and Midwest. To protect this unique diversity the National Park Service set up one of the first two National Preserves here in 1974.

The Big Thicket National Preserve is 15 units comprising a total 113,000 acres, and while that may sound massive, you can think of it as a cross-section of American nature condensed into one corner of Texas.

You can paddle between the bald cypresses in a bayou, observe rare carnivorous plants dining on insects in baygall bogs, and take an easy walk in longleaf pine uplands. Start at the Visitor Center in Kountze to wrap your head around Big Thicket’s importance, and go from there.

19. Texas State Capitol

Presiding over downtown Austin from its hilltop perch, the Texas State Capitol is up there with the nation’s finest state capitol buildings.

Truly Texas, this monument mixes scale with artistry. It’s the sixth-tallest state capitol, and has more floor space than any other.

A whole spur of the Austin and Northwestern Railroad was constructed in the 1880s to transport the reddish granite that clads the capitol from Marble Falls.

Inside, check out the Great Seal in the Rotunda, and the magnificent star, which was installed in the dome, 218 feet above the floor, in 1958.

There’s a whole statuary for Texas’s political and historical figures, but the greatest work of all is the Goddess of Liberty crowning the dome.

The current statue is a replica from 1986, and the 1888 original can be seen in a dedicated museum on the capitol grounds.

See also :  15 Best Romantic Weekend Getaways in Texas

20. Devils River State Natural Area

If it’s true wilderness you’re seeking I don’t think it gets more wild than the Devils River, a tributary of the Rio Grande, wriggling through a sparsely inhabited tranche of southwestern Texas.

The 37,000-acre natural area on the river is 60 miles north of Del Rio, in rugged lands inhabited by mountain lions, black bears, rattlesnakes, and not much else.

Camping is primitive here, so plan carefully and bring everything you need to survive for several days.

With some care, you’ll have the privilege of paddling on some of the clearest water you’ve ever seen, in a place where, even now, few people dare to venture.

You’ll need to be an experienced paddler too, as the river is notoriously boisterous, with rapids and drops like the roaring Dolan Falls which is listed in my selection of the best waterfalls in Texas .

21. Natural Bridge Caverns

In 1960, while exploring the Texas Hill Country, four students from St. Mary’s University stumbled upon a limestone cave system so large that even today new passages are being discovered.

Later, one of the students dropped out to help the landowner develop the caves for tourism, and this is the origin of the largest commercial caverns in Texas, still family owned and operated more than 60 years later.

The basic Discovery Tour puts you in the boots of the people who found the cave, taking you through the hall-like first chambers, and showing off the engrossing formations with expert lighting.

I recommend you dress for the conditions, as there’s 99% humidity and a constant 70 °F underground.

The headline feature is the one that gives the caverns their name—a 60-foot natural bridge spanning the bowl-like entrance, formed when a sinkhole collapsed underneath.

22. Caprock Canyons State Park

For anyone enchanted by the harsh beauty of Palo Duro Canyon, there’s another place with scenery straight out of a John Ford Western, little more than an hour away.

Hewn out by the Little Red River, Caprock Canyons has the same steep bluffs and colorful stratification, each line layer representing a different geologic age.

You can get away from it all on more than 90 miles of trails, some of which are hard going. One of the tougher routes is the Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail, taking you to the very top of the park for all-encompassing views of the canyons below.

The Texas State Bison Herd adds some extra mystique to Caprock Canyons, roaming free over 10,000 acres in the state park.

23. Lost Maples State Natural Area

If you want to see fall colors in Texas then you may not need me to tell you that the place to go is Lost Maples State Natural Area, around 70 miles of San Antonio.

This isolated stand of bigtooth maple forest is a remnant of a once massive expanse that flourished thousands of years ago when the region’s climate was much cooler and damper than it is today.

My tip is to make a note of the weather in autumn before visiting, because the reds are even more vivid in years when there’s less rain and the nights are cooler.

These 3,000 acres pack a lot of rugged limestone features, especially along the Sabinal River, which is flanked by steep canyon walls.

Small-town Texas at its best, Salado was born in the mid-19th century, along the Chisholm Trail cattle drives.

Something that has been here since the time of the trail is the Stagecoach Inn (1852), thought to be the oldest operating hotel in Texas (now known as the Shady Villa Hotel).

Less than an hour from Austin , Salado shares its near neighbor’s artsy vibe, with a whole community of creators doing their thing here.

The town is by no means large, but packs days’ worth of art experiences, at galleries and studios where you can see acclaimed artists in action. Two art-related dates to keep in the diary are the Wildflower Arts & Crafts Festival in March and the August’s Salado Art Fair.

25. Mission San José

More than 300 years old, the largest of the San Antonio Missions is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is affectionately known as the Queen of the Missions.

The church as we see it was begun in 1768, and was the core of a complex to convert Coahuiltecan Native Americans. I think Mission San José’s beauty is plain to see.

Those weathered limestone walls contrast with theatrical Baroque carvings, around and above the main portal, and on the stunning rose window on the south facade.

Of course, there’s a complicated and thorny history to unravel at Mission San José, and there’s no two ways about it. Drop by the visitor center first for exhibits depicting life at this place in the 18th century.

Be sure to also check out my guides on San Antonio:

• 15 Best Things to Do in Downtown San Antonio
• 25 Best Things to Do in San Antonio (TX)
• 15 Best Day Trips from San Antonio
• 15 Best San Antonio Tours

26. Port Aransas

Eco-tourism has taken off in a big way at Port Aransas, which sits across the bay from Corpus Christi on Mustang Island.

Birds play a big part in that, with hundreds of native and migrating species to be observed at no fewer than six sites on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

The star of the show is the endangered whooping crane, which winters on Mustang Island and nowhere else between November and March, and is even the subject of an annual festival in February.

People have been paddling this waters for years, and the inward Redfish Bay is the site of the first designated paddling trail on the Texas coast .

Come summer Port Aransas is a place for the simple joys of the sand between your toes, wind in your hair, on 18 miles of open sandy shoreline.

27. The Alamo

I can’t leave out the most iconic landmark in Texas, charged with monumental importance as the site of a 13-day siege in 1836 by Mexican troops against rebel Texians.

And while The Alamo is remembered as a battleground and a battle cry that soon led to the formation of the Republic of Texas, this was originally a mission, founded in 1718.

The church’s Baroque facade remains The Alamo’s signature image, and this building was later adapted as a U.S. Army Quartermaster Depot.

There’s 300+ years of history to uncover on four acres of grounds, with interpretive exhibits woven into shaded subtropical gardens, framed by those old stone walls.

28. Jacob’s Well Natural Area

At the source of Cypress Creek in the Texas Hill Country there’s a perennial karstic spring walled by rocky bluffs.

The water percolates through the bedrock and up through this dark, 12-foot hole, forming a light ripple when it reaches the surface.

Jacob’s Well is even deeper than it looks—and it looks deep. The main cave descends vertically for around 30 feet, and then there’s a series of chambers reaching an average depth of about 120 feet.

With its shimmering waters, the spring is tempting on hot summer days, and is normally open to swimmers May through September.

As a reminder of the fragility of this natural site, the spring’s flow has ceased several times since 2000, and this down to the lowering of the Trinity Aquifer, caused by development in the area.

29. Zilker Botanical Garden

Two of my entries on this are within walking distance of each other. In the same park, just a few hundred feet from Barton Springs Pool there’s another of the state’s great botanical attractions.

Zilker Botanical Garden has been billed as the “jewel in the heart of Austin”, laid out on a hillside with stately live oaks and views of downtown.

Meandering paths link a diversity of themed gardens, like the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which recreates a lush Cretaceous environment, or the koi-filled ponds of the Taniguchi Japanese Garden.

You can pause at any number of little shaded nooks, or bask in the sun on the neat lawns.

30. Medina River Natural Area

I’ll finish with a lesser known spot. On the south side of San Antonio there’s more than 500 acres of picture-perfect riparian landscapes along the Medina River.

As well as being just 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio, the Medina River Natural Area stands out for the variety of plant life.

Down on the riverfront there’s pecan and venerable bald cypress, while the uplands have honey mesquite, cactus and gorgeous wildflowers in springtime.

I recommend keeping a watchful eye for snakes and poison ivy, but thankfully there are plenty of signs to keep you informed of any threats.

Water activities are not permitted here, but if you want a paddling trip on the Medina River, head to Bandera, where the waters are clear as can be.

Want more? Check out my other posts on Texas:

• 40 Places to See in Texas Before Your Kids Grow Up
• 15 Best Places to Live in Texas
• 23 Amazing Hidden Gems in Texas
• 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in Texas

30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Texas:

• Big Bend National Park
• Enchanted Rock
• Palo Duro Canyon State Park
• Caddo Lake State Park
• Colorado Bend State Park
• Barton Springs Pool
• Monahans Sandhills State Park
• Caverns of Sonora
• Padre Island National Seashore
• Fredericksburg
• Hamilton Pool Preserve
• Franklin Mountains State Park
• Dallas Arboretum And Botanical Garden
• Willow City Bluebonnets Loop
• Big Thicket National Preserve
• Texas State Capitol
• Devils River State Natural Area
• Natural Bridge Caverns
• Caprock Canyons State Park
• Lost Maples State Natural Area
• Mission San José
• Port Aransas
• Jacob’s Well Natural Area
• Zilker Botanical Garden
• Medina River Natural Area

20 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Texas

Written by Lana Law Updated Oct 6, 2023

Whether you're interested in a city getaway, a nature escape, a beach vacation, or finding an authentic off-the-beaten-path small town, Texas has everything you're looking for and more. This state is brimming with countless possibilities for fun and adventure.

While metropolitan centers like Houston , Austin , and Dallas are the usual go-to destinations for culture, shopping, dining, and action, these cities only scratch the surface. Geographically and culturally diverse, the state offers a wealth of unique attractions and things to do.

San Antonio , famous for the Alamo and the River Walk, is a must-see city if you're going to Texas.

West Texas is one of my favorite places. Big Bend National Park is home to a stunning desert landscape, and the tiny towns in the surrounding area are full of character and characters. Cities like Amarillo or Lubbock are a stark contrast to the larger centers and are easy places to visit, with great food and unusual sights.

In the warmer months head to the coast to experience a whole other side of Texas. Enjoy beaches, fishing, and fabulous seafood in places like Galveston, South Padre Island, or Corpus Christie .

For more ideas on where to go and what to see, have a read through our list of top tourist attractions in Texas.

1. San Antonio's River Walk

2. the alamo, 3. space center houston, 4. big bend national park, 5. padre island national seashore, 6. the texas state capitol in austin, 7. the sixth floor museum, dallas, 8. guadalupe mountains national park, 9. the fort worth stockyards, 10. galveston's beaches & strand historic district, 11. the uss lexington, corpus christi, 12. cadillac ranch, amarillo, 13. natural bridge caverns, 14. houston's museum district, 15. gruene historic district, new braunfels, 16. dallas arboretum, 17. fort worth zoo, 18. national museum of the pacific war, 19. texas state aquarium, 20. lubbock.

Stretching for several miles along the San Antonio River in the heart of the city, the River Walk is lined with restaurants and lovely outdoor patios, where you can sit and dine alongside the river. Built below street level, this pedestrian walkway hugs the river as it winds and weaves through the city, and is as popular among locals as it is for tourists, day and night.

Although strolling along the river is the most popular thing to do here, another great way to enjoy the ambience of the area is on a leisurely cruise on a river boat . These run all the time and range from standard sightseeing trips to dinner cruises.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in San Antonio

The Alamo is one of the most important historic sites in America. Part of a mission station established in 1718, it was built by Franciscans in 1744 and by 1836, had been converted into a fort.

It became famous during the Texas Revolution, when a small force, including Davie Crockett and James Bowie, barricaded themselves in against an overwhelmingly superior Mexican army some 3,000 strong. While the defeat saw all 187 defenders killed, the cry of "Remember the Alamo!" rallied the state to eventually overcome the Mexicans.

The restored buildings and the cenotaph commemorating the fallen Texans is well worth a visit. Inside is a museum with changing displays, featuring weapons and artifacts related to the events and the history of the mission.

If you have time, it's worth visiting some of the other missions in the area, which are all part of the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, and connected by the Mission Trail .

Official site: https://www.thealamo.org/

Just 30 minutes' drive from the heart of Houston, Space Center Houston is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Texas. This is a wonderful place to learn about space exploration, upcoming missions, NASA's latest projects, and possibly even meet an astronaut. Space Center Houston is also home to Johnson Space Center and Mission Control , which can be visited on a tour.

You'll need to plan to spend at least a half-day exploring the entire complex. The whole place is huge, the exhibits engaging, and time flies by unexpectedly even if you aren't a huge fan of space travel.

You can explore a space shuttle replica mounted on a shuttle carrier and walk through a replica of America's first space station, Skylab. The museum also features rockets, moon rocks and Mars rocks.

From downtown Houston, Space Center Houston is about a 30-minute drive. From Galveston, it's closer to a 40-minute drive. It can be easily visited from either destination.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Houston

In the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas, on a huge bend in the Rio Grande River, lies some of the most dramatic and uniquely beautiful scenery in the state. Mountains, canyons, and the river flowing along the border, separating the United States from Mexico, offer a diverse range of recreational and sightseeing opportunities for visitors to Big Bend National Park.

While most people simply enjoy touring along the roads, the park offers a full range of things to do. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the extensive network of hiking trails and the beautiful campgrounds . Paddling along the Rio Grande or enjoying a picnic and wading into the water are other popular activities on warm days.

With more than 400 species of birds, birdwatching is another prominent pastime in the park, but even if you are not looking for them, you are likely to see roadrunners darting across the roads or trails.

Accommodation: Best Places to Stay near Big Bend National Park

• Read More: Top-Rated Things to Do in Big Bend National Park

The world's longest undeveloped barrier island, Padre Island is just a short drive south of Corpus Christi and stretches 70 miles from end to end. One of the most important conservation areas in Texas, Padre Island consists of more than 130,000 acres of beach, dunes, and grassland habitats, and is home to rare sea turtles and countless migratory birds, making it a birder's paradise. In fact, 350 different species visit this stopover on the Central Flyway migratory route.

The Malaquite Visitor Center is the best place to begin your visit to this beautiful coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico. It provides plenty of information, as well as assistance for those with mobility issues, including specially adapted beach wheelchairs.

• Read More: Top Attractions & Things to Do on South Padre Island

The Texas State Capitol, built in 1888, is considered one of the finest state legislatures in the US. In Austin's downtown core and now a National Historic Landmark, it certainly impresses with its dimensions, standing 308 feet tall.

Highlights of its 22-acre park include monuments to the defenders of the Alamo and to veterans of the Vietnam War. Guided tours of the building's interior are available and start from the visitor center with its many displays. At dusk, head across to the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge for a chance to witness the spectacle of a million or so Mexican free-tailed bats coming and going from their perches under the bridge.

• Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Austin
• Best Day Trips from Austin

It was from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas that the fatal shot that took President John F. Kennedy's life was fired. Now home to The Sixth Floor Museum, this tall red-brick building offers a detailed account of the assassination, as well as Kennedy's legacy. Highlights include accounts of his presidential campaign and term as president, all supported by historic footage, photos, and artifacts.

Also worth a visit while exploring downtown Dallas is the nearby John F. Kennedy Memorial , a huge monument dedicated to President Kennedy unveiled in 1970.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Dallas & Easy Day Trips

In the northwestern corner of the state, approximately 100 miles east of El Paso, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the four highest peaks in Texas. It's also known for an abundance of wildlife, including golden eagles.

The landscape itself is stunning, especially around the towering El Capitan, as well as the Guadalupe Peak, the highest elevation in Texas. It's also tremendously popular with hikers thanks to its more than 80 miles of trails through spectacular woodland canyons and lush springs. Be sure to stop in at the visitor center in Pine Springs for information on the park, including details of hiking and biking trails.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in El Paso

The Stockyards National Historic District remains Fort Worth's biggest draw. Founded in 1866, the area took its name from the cattle industry, as it was here that millions of cattle were rested, sorted, or shipped out to other points across the state.

The last surviving facility of its kind in the US, these historic stockyards have been transformed into a splendid attraction consisting of all sorts of fun things to see, including rodeos, concerts, theatrical performances, and western-themed shopping . Highlights include cattle driving demonstrations and a chance to saddle up for some trail riding.

Be sure to check out the Stockyards Visitor Center and the Stockyards Museum , both of which provide information regarding current events as well as the history of this fun area of Fort Worth.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Fort Worth

Like numerous spots along the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston is home to beautiful beaches that stretch on for miles. The shallow and often calm water makes this a popular area for families and beachgoers. In summer, set up your beach umbrella along the Seawall or enjoy some fun and games at the Pleasure Pier .

But this is more than just a beach town, with plenty to do here all year long. Explore the Strand Historic District in downtown, a National Historic Landmark District, and wander past the ornate Victorian-style mansions that line the quiet streets. If you are traveling with kids, be sure to stop by Moody Gardens and Aquarium . This huge complex, with its landmark glass pyramids, is home to an aquarium, a rainforest, and an amusement park.

If you want to get out on the water, Galveston is also one of the best places in Texas for deep sea fishing . You can fish here year-round, although some of the best months are during the summer.

Galveston is less than an hour's drive from Houston and only about 45 minutes from Space Center Houston.

• Best Beaches in Galveston
• Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Galveston

Moored off the shore just a few minutes' stroll from the center of Corpus Christi, the mighty USS Lexington is one of the largest surviving vessels to have served in WWII. This important aircraft carrier was launched in 1943 and now serves as a naval museum .

On display are a large collection of vintage aircraft, and visitors can see the bridge and crew quarters. Also fun are the simulators and games, as well as a 3D movie that puts you in the pilot's seat. You can also opt for the four-hour Hard Hat Tour, which takes you into the very heart of the ship.

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Corpus Christi & Easy Day Trips

Cadillac Ranch is one of West Texas' most iconic sites. Standing in a line, nose first into the ground, it might seem like an odd attraction. But visitors come here in large numbers, not only to see and photograph this colorful spectacle, they also come here to leave their mark, at least for a short while.

The artwork on the vehicles is an ever-changing canvas, with almost everyone adding their own creative mark to the Cadillacs. You are welcome to spray paint your own design . The layers of paint on these cars is hard to determine, but outside the gate, vendors sell paint chips from the cars, in jewelry settings.

While you may hear you should bring a spray can, there is no need. You can find spray cans of all colors left here on the ground from the thousands of others who have come before.

• Read More: Top-Rated Things to Do in Amarillo

Just a short drive from San Antonio, the spectacular Natural Bridge Caverns are part of a vast underground network consisting of more than 10,000 different stalactite formations. The largest such cave network in the US accessible to the public, Natural Bridge Caverns includes highlights such as the 40-foot-high King's Throne, a massive wall of stalactites found in one of the largest caverns, the Castle of the White Giants.

Taking its name from the huge 60-foot limestone bridge spanning its entrance, Natural Bridge Caverns also offers a number of other fun activities, including themed tours. Up top are other attractions, including a treetop climbing adventure across a sprawling network of ropeways, platforms, and ziplines.

New in 2023 is the Hidden Wonders Tour, a sound and light show complemented by the "BAT" (belt assisted transport), a conveyor belt that moves you through and eventually out of the cavern.

Official Site: https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/

In the heart of downtown Houston is the city's lovely Museum District, home to 19 museums, some of which are free. Many of the museums in this area are within walking distance of each other.

Two of the key highlights here are the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Houston Museum of Natural Science , but the district houses a mix of quality museums, including a Holocaust museum, a children's museum, and some smaller art museums, which are well worth your time.

• Read More: Top-Rated Museums in Houston

Just a short drive from San Antonio is the small town of New Braunfels, known for its charming Greuene Historic District. One of the main attractions is the historic Gruene Hall , the oldest dance hall in Texas, operating continuously since 1878. Performances run nightly, and some of the biggest names in country music perform here, in this small venue. Children are allowed, and kids under 10 receive a discount on admission at the door.

The Grist Mill Restaurant , on the edge of the Guadalupe River makes a nice destination for day trippers who want to come for lunch. In the spring, the water is packed with people tubing down the river. And don't miss stopping by the General Store , where time seems to have stopped several decades ago.

The Dallas Arboretum is one of the top botanical gardens in the United States. Beautifully laid out over 66 acres, these gardens should be on your list of "things to do" while in the city. Located on the shores of White Rock Lake, the gardens are easily reached from downtown.

The gardens are an oasis of calm and color amid the hustle and bustle of Dallas. You can wander at will through the various gardens and flowering plants, or make a beeline for some of the top attractions. One of the marquee gardens within the park is the Woman's Garden , where you'll find an infinity pool, aquatic plants, fountains, and sculptures.

The six-and-a-half-acre Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Color Garden is a stunning display of over 2,000 azaleas. The garden is especially vibrant in the spring, when the accompanying daffodils and tulips burst into bloom. Later in the summer, other plants like tapioca and bananas bloom in their unique ways, and the fall brings on the chrysanthemums. Large manicured lawns fill in the spaces between the gardens and are a lovely place to sit and enjoy a coffee or have a picnic with the family.

The on-site Café on the Green or the Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace offer al fresco seating with views of the gardens and downtown Dallas.

Official site: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/

One of the best family outings in the state, the Fort Worth Zoo is a fun and enjoyable thing to do when visiting town. First opened in 1909, the zoo is now home to over 540 species of mammals, birds, and ectotherms. The zoo is expanding and growing with the infusion of a $100 million capital campaign.

At the Fort Worth Zoo, nine different habitats are available for viewing, ranging from the wilds of the African savannah to the chilly waters of the penguin habitat, right through to the inhabitants of the Australian Outback and Great Barrier Reef.

In addition to the various habitats, the zoo also has an area that children will love, the Toyota Children's Ranch & Petting Corral. Here, miniature donkeys, goats, sheep, and other typical farm animals exist in a setting that allows for easy petting and great photos.

Official site: https://www.fortworthzoo.org/

One of the most interesting war museums in Texas is the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg. Well-thought-out exhibits trace the history of the war in the Pacific, an aspect of WWII that many people may not be overly familiar with.

Highlights of a visit here include the Pearl Harbor Exhibit, complete with an intact Japanese midget submarine HA-19; the Doolittle Raid exhibit, showcasing the resorted B-25 Mitchell bomber; and an exhibit on the background of the ferocious 36-day battle on Iwo Jima.

One particularly chilling exhibit is of the Fat Man bomb casing. It's hard to fathom that such a small bomb could be responsible for over 100,000 deaths in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Official site: https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/

If you find yourself down in Corpus Christie, be sure to swing by the Texas State Aquarium. This state-of-the-art facility showcases all the wonderful and weird animals that inhabit our oceans. Sixteen different habitats are home to a wide variety of fish, mammals, and other denizens of the deep.

During your visit, a must-see is the H-E-B Caribbean Sea exhibit, home to North America's largest viewing window. The 68-foot-long window makes you feel like you are right underwater. In addition, a walking tunnel through the middle of the exhibit, full of sharks and other predators, adds to the thrill.

It's not all underwater at the Texas State Aquarium. Above-water action is supplied by three North American river otters. Arthur, Merlin, and Fisher provide non-stop otter antics that will have you smiling and laughing.

These are just some of the attractions at the aquarium. Many more are waiting for you and your family to explore, including the H-E-B Splash Park (included with your admission) and up-close and personal animal interactions (additional fee)

Official site: https://www.texasstateaquarium.org/

West Texas holds many attractions and one of the best is the dynamic city of Lubbock . People of a certain vintage will be well aware of the city's most famous citizen, Buddy Holly . Forever immortalized with an excellent array of memorabilia in a fantastic museum, the Buddy Holly Center (you can't miss the giant glasses out front). This tribute to the musician is a must-see for music lovers.

Not to be confused with the center, new as of 2021 is the architecturally stunning Buddy Holly Hall , Lubbock's main location for a non-stop roster of performers.

But the city is much more than just Buddy Holly's history. This is an artsy up-and-coming place with farmer's markets and incredible new restaurants while still staying true to its ranching roots.

Lubbock's Cultural District is home to fine art galleries, pottery studios, and music venues. In fact, Lubbock has the most music-performing venues on a per capita basis in the entire state.

All that exploring will bring on a Texas-sized appetite and on this front, Lubbock has you well covered. Home to a variety of restaurants you'll be spoiled for choice. Fine dining aficionados with a taste for European fare will want to make a beeline for Chef Finn Walter's Nicolett . Those looking for Texas originals should go to Dirk's for chicken fried steak and other artery-clogging delicacies. The next morning do what the locals do, eat pie for breakfast at the Cast Iron Grill .

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The 27 Most Beautiful Places In Texas, According To A Local

From beaches to bluebonnets, and desert mountains to vineyards, Texas is full of stunning surprises.

Wynn Meyers

The amazing thing about Texas being as big as it is—almost 270,000 square miles to be exact—is that there is no shortage of places to explore and unique terrains that differ drastically from one region to the next. From bustling cities to small towns , Gulf Coast beaches to West Texas mountains, Texas is full of surprises just waiting to be discovered, and I've explored almost every inch.

It's home to some of the best state parks , whether you prefer tubing down the Guadalupe River or finding epic views at Enchanted Rock. You can walk along the largest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world, explore underground prehistoric caves, sip wine in a lush Texas vineyard, or take a road trip through fields of blooming bluebonnets . If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then there's something—many things, really—for everyone to find beautiful in Texas.

Here are the most beautiful places in Texas to visit, according to a local.

Guadalupe River State Park

This state park welcomes you with four miles of riverfrontage. Just one hour from San Antonio and two hours from Austin, Guadalupe River State Park is also one of the more popular  camping destinations  in the state, particularly during the summertime when swimming in its cool waters is extra appealing for families and kids. When you're not tubing, paddling, or taking a dip, embark on its hiking and biking trails. Feel free to bring your own tube and access the rivers via river parks, or use an outfitter like  Rockin’ R River Rides .

tpwd.texas.gov/guadalupe-river , 3350 Park Rd 31, Spring Branch, TX 78070

Big Bend National Park

With more than 800,000 acres, Big Bend National Park is the eighth-largest national park in the continental U.S., but it sees less than half a million annual visitors, making it one of the most sparsely touristed parks in the system. Chalk it up to the remote location, more than 400 miles away from Austin or San Antonio and a three-hour drive from the nearest airport in Midland. While you can explore countless hiking trails and lookout points on your own, enjoy a more immersed experience by booking an activity with  Big Bend Boating and Hiking .

nps.gov/bibe , multiple entrances

Willow City Loop

Just outside Fredericksburg , this 13-mile scenic loop is amongst the best ways to see the famed Texas wildflowers each spring. You'll find it bursting with bright fields of bluebonnets, fiery red Indian paintbrushes, and cheery yellow coreopsis. From March through May, it is more than worth the drive. Start at the town of Willow City, and follow the loop.

Texas Wine Country

Gabriela Herman

More than 100 vineyards and tasting rooms are located in and around Fredericksburg, Texas, and along the Fredericksburg Wine Road 290, providing the ultimate vino experience while learning about Texas grapes. Fredericksburg is one of the most-visited  wine destinations  in the country. Book the  290 Wine Shuttle  for safe all-day transportation between the wineries. Our favorite recommendations include  Grape Creek Vineyards ,  Messina Hof Hill Country Winery ,  Signor Vineyards , and  Barons Creek Vineyards .

290wineshuttle.com , 308 S Washington St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Garner State Park

A tubing and swimming destination in the warmer months, Garner State Park sees many visitors year-round. During fall, temperatures are often still high enough for enjoying the water of the Frio River—but they aren't sweltering—so you can swim, hike, view the changing leaves, and take advantage of the park's more developed campsites all in one trip. Weekends can get crowded, but weekdays are quieter, meaning the short, steep hikes to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park's most notable hill) will be less traversed.

tpwd.texas.gov/garner , 234 RR 1050, Concan, TX 78838

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

There’s perhaps nowhere that native wildflowers put on a more marvelous display than at the  Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center , southwest of downtown Austin. Founded by Lady Bird Johnson and actor Helen Hayes in 1982, the 284-acre state botanic garden and arboretum is home to over 10,000 species from all across Texas, the most diverse collection of such in North America. Throughout the year, the not-for-profit puts on events like movie nights in the gardens, sunset happy hours with live music, and workshops on how to grow your own native varieties.

wildflower.org , 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

The top of Enchanted Rock offers panoramic views of Texas Hill Country, making it an ideal spot for leaf peeping. Located north of Fredericksburg,  Enchanted Rock State Natural Area  has 11 miles of trails to see fall color on your way to the top of the pink granite dome. This park is also designated as an International Dark Sky Park, making it a great place to see fall colors and relax under the stars.

tpwd.texas.gov/enchanted-rock , 16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Barton Springs Pool

This outdoor swimming hole in  Zilker Park  is entirely fed by natural springs, making it the perfect spot to cool down during hot Texas summers. It's surrounded by a picturesque grassy area, and on hot summer days, it seems as if all of Austin is there to cool off. (The visitor count has approached 800,000 in recent years.)

austintexas.gov/barton-springs-pool , 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746

Padre Island National Seashore

Located on Padre Island, the barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and Laguna Madre Bay, this national park contains the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. Its 66 miles of pristine coastline shelter the rare Kemp's ridley sea turtle and more than 380 bird species, while offering its human visitors ample opportunities for walking, swimming, and birdwatching. Head to Malaquite Beach for a visitor center, pavilion, and wheelchair access to the shore.

nps.gov/pais , End of Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX, 78480

Marfa, Texas

ROBBIE CAPONETTO

This funky art town in the remote desert lands of West Texas became an unlikely hub attracting curious Texans, artistic bohemians, and incognito celebrities, who flock here throughout the year for its art, film, and music festivals. It's also just a perfect place to post up for a weekend to enjoy the art exhibits, local restaurants, and close proximity to Big Bend National Park. You'll feel million miles away from any city, and there's no place quite like it.

San Antonio River Walk

The great San Antonio River winds its way through the center of the city with a pedestrian-friendly River Walk that follows right alongside it, offering a serene respite that's lined on each side with countless activities to discover, from art museums to public parks to historic landmarks that have become bustling districts. Explore the San Antonio missions (including the Alamo), Historic Market Square, La Villita neighborhood, and the Pearl District. Find the map here.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The  Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden  is a 66-acre living showplace that you can find blooming in the spring with thousands of flowers, overflowing in the fall with pumpkin displays, and absolutely decked out at Christmastime when the grounds are decorated with over 1 million LED lights, a 50-foot-tall Christmas tree, and a quaint German village.

dallasarboretum.org , 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

Hamilton Pool Preserve

One of the most iconic natural landmarks in Texas, Hamilton Pool is a unique grotto with a cascading 50-foot waterfall. It only takes a short hike from the entrance of the  230-acre preserve  to see the pool and find a spot to post up for a picnic or picture.

parks.traviscountytx.gov/hamilton-pool-preserve , 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area

On many country roads and small parks throughout Texas Hill Country, you'll find plenty of blossoming wildflowers to behold, such as at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area in Spicewood. During early spring, you'll find  bluebonnets  (Texas’ famous state flower) blanketing every grassy surface. In this park near Austin, enjoy tent camping along the shore of Lake Travis or under the shade of oak-tree canopies. 

lcra.org/muleshoe-bend , 2820 Co Rd 414, Spicewood, TX 78669

Lost Maples State Natural Area

At nearly 3,000 acres,  Lost Maples State Natural Area  contains the headwaters of the Sabinal River and trails that lead up to views of undisturbed rolling hills. Each year, once the leaves have already changed and dropped to the ground in heaps throughout most of North America, the park's famed bigtooth maples begin their show, bursting into brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow during late October and November.

tpwd.texas.gov/lost-maples , 37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail

Located in Austin , this 10-mile trail floats on and off the water and offers unbeatable views of the growing skyline and (often) blue skies that the Capital city is known for. Meander on a morning to see the city come to life with walkers, joggers, and bikers. Stop off along the way to see downtown, South Congress, and Zilker Park. Find the map here.

Wildseed Farms

Unlike most floral fields where you can look but not touch, you can pick a bouquet at the nation's largest working wildflower farm,  Wildseed Farms . This family-owned countryside escape has 200 acres of wildflower fields, a beautiful butterfly garden, a wine-tasting room, and frequent special events.

wildseedfarms.com , 100 Legacy Dr, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Find this state park near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Palo Duro Canyon is also known as the "Grand Canyon of Texas," and photographers come from far and wide to capture the blended colors of the canyon walls. In addition to over 30 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding, the park hosts the TEXAS Outdoor Musical in its amphitheater throughout the summer, with musical performances highlighting the struggles and triumphs of Texas pioneers.

tpwd.texas.gov/palo-duro-canyon , multiple entrances

Utopia, Texas

There's a sign that greets visitors rolling into Utopia—a very tiny town in a remote corner of Texas Hill Country with little cell service—with a somewhat ambiguous message: "Welcome to Utopia, a paradise. Let's keep it nice." Anyone passing through town is likely here for two reasons:  Lost Maples State Natural Area and Garner State Park.  Utopia is located smack-dab in the middle of the protected sites, with each around the same distance from the main drag in perpendicular directions. Stay at one of four  luxury treehouse escapes  known as Treehouse Utopia, which are built into centuries-old bald cypress trees and fully furnished and outfitted with an outer deck and a bathroom boasting a walk-in shower.

Trinity Park

Scott Slusher

Stretched along the banks of the Trinity River and nestled next to the Fort Worth Zoo, Trinity Park feels like big breath of fresh air. You can walk or bike while taking in the stunning skyline views, or take advantage of the many attractions within the park. The Trinity River Trails is a network of over 100 miles of paved trails connecting Fort Worth to many other surrounding cities. Moreover, book a trip with Stockyards Stables , and saddle up for a ride on the banks of the Trinity River.

fortworthtexas.gov/trinity-park , 2401 University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Southern Living

Texas’ biggest state park is also an International Dark Sky Park, with ample space (300,000 acres) for stargazing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rafting over rapids, paddling along the Rio Grande, and even off-roading. El Solitario is the park’s signature geological feature, a 10-mile-wide collapsed volcanic dome visible from various trail overlooks and via 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Along the trails, visitors can see weathered rock hoodoos, natural springs, Native rock art, and historical ruins of ranches and other structures.

tpwd.texas.gov/big-bend-ranch , 21800 FM170, Terlingua, TX 79852

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Getty Images/VW Pics/Contributor

A UNESCO World Heritage Site (and the only one in Texas), this storied site preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio. The 475-acre park boundaries are exciting to explore via walking or biking along the city's established Mission Trail.

nps.gov/saan , multiple locations

Fort Worth Stockyards

You'll still find remnants of a bygone era, like weekly rodeos, music-filled honky-tonks, and a working herd of hometown cattle at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Additionally, Fort Worth's National Historic District is shaking off the dust with new museums, restaurants, watering holes, and a renovated entertainment hub, Mule Alley. Hop on one of the  Historic Walking Tours  to learn about its history.

fortworthstockyards.org , 145 E Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76164

Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

Courtesy Uptown Houston

This Houston landmark and community centerpiece offers one of the prettiest backdrops in the city. You can have a unique experience standing in the Waterwall’s mist and getting enveloped by the gentle roar of cascading water. The multi-story sculptural fountain is located in the Uptown district.

uptown-houston.com/waterwall-park , 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056

Pedernales Falls State Park

The massive limestone slabs at  Pedernales Falls State Park  create cascading waterfalls that are beautiful any time of year. During fall, the trees lining the rocks create a postcard-worthy backdrop. Take the half-mile Twin Falls Nature Trail for a scenic view of the falls, or take some of the more challenging hikes to get up close to fall color.

tpwd.texas.gov/pedernales-falls , 2585 Park Rd 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636

Natural Bridge Caverns

Courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns

Back in 1960, four college students discovered the largest known cave system in Texas—now one of the state's most popular attractions—below a natural rock bridge on a ranch near San Antonio. The caverns, open to the public since the sixties, continue to be explored. A National Natural Landmark, the Natural Bridge Caverns attraction is still owned by the Wuest family, who risked their land and livelihood to develop it decades ago.

naturalbridgecaverns.com ,  26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, San Antonio, TX 78266

Gruene Dance Hall

Robbie Caponetto

In the late-1970s and 1980s, musicians flocked to  Gruene Hall , the oldest dance hall in Texas. The white-clapboard venue hasn’t changed much since its founding in Gruene, Texas, in 1878, barring the occasional coat of paint, and that just adds to the charm. With more dance halls closing as urban migration marches on, groups such as the  Texas Dance Hall Preservation Inc.  are committed to saving these historic sites, as well as the music and culture that can still be found within them. 

gruenehall.com , 1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130

Frequently Asked Questions

Currently, the Texas park systems oversees more than 640,000 acres of land, including 89 state parks, historic sites and natural areas.

Make your way through exploring the Hill Country, Gulf Coast, Panhandle, Pineywoods, and Big Bend Country (West Texas).

Related Articles

The 20 Best Places To Visit In Texas

By: Author texasonly

Everything is bigger in Texas, right?! Well, that is the saying, and we agree, especially based on all of these awesome places to visit in Texas!

As the second largest state in the USA, Texas is big in size and big on charm.

Texas offers delicious barbecue, breathtaking vistas, a plethora of state and national parks, miles of coastline, small towns, and big cities.

Really, there are so many great vacation spots in Texas that we have devoted this entire website to showing you all of the great things that the Lone Star State has to offer.

While Texas is best known for its cowboy culture, it is really so much more than just that.

Texas is home to world-class museums, the Houston Space Center, an exciting music scene, unique geological features, loads of history, and an extreme amount of southern hospitality.

Let’s check out some of the best places to visit in Texas (in no particular order) !

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  By purchasing through these links, we get a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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25 Most Beautiful Places in Texas, According to a Born and Raised Texan

From desert landscapes to dense bayous and remote beaches, Texas is endlessly beautiful.

Courtesy of Travel Texas

As the largest state in the contiguous U.S., Texas is home to sweeping plains and rolling hills, deep pine forests and desert mountains, and even remote beaches and barrier islands. With 268,000 square miles to explore, the Lone Star State has both charming small towns and bustling big cities, all chock-full of lakes, rivers, trails, and green spaces. 

As a born and raised Texan, I’ve grown up exploring the state and its varying geography. I love a day well spent in our buzzy capital city, Austin, or roaming around San Antonio’s historic missions. But I also crave time on a beach all to myself, the ruggedness of West Texas, and a jaunt through Hill Country during spring, when the wildflowers are in full bloom.

Here, the most beautiful places in Texas, from quiet, sunset moments at the beach to serene paddles across Lake Austin.

South Padre Island

David Garrison/Getty Images

Located at the bottom of the state, near the Texas-Mexico border, South Padre Island is a favorite beach destination among locals and visitors alike. Sure, it has all the popular beach bars, restaurants, and shopping you could want, but it's also home to quiet corners ideal for some R&R. Don’t miss the sand dunes at sunset, when golden hour strikes over the bay. “Some of the dunes are much higher than you might expect, and when you top one and look out at the sweeping vista below, illuminated by the sun’s golden rays dipping beyond the bay, it’s one of nature’s greatest paintings,” says Cindy Trevino, CVB director of marketing and corporate sponsorships for South Padre Island. Pro tip: Pack a blanket and snacks to enjoy a sunset picnic.

Big Bend National Park

Mariah Tyler

In far West Texas, almost a million acres are dedicated to Big Bend National Park , a rugged escape in the Chihuahuan Desert. Big Bend lies on the Texas-Mexico border, and visitors can kayak the Rio Grande here and see the towering canyons above. It also has the least light pollution of any national park in the lower 48 states, plus it's an International Dark Sky Park, making it a great place to see the Milky Way and sparkling constellations. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the 150-plus miles of trails, scenic drives, and birding opportunities found throughout. 

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Mark C Stevens/Getty Images

For more West Texas solitude, Guadalupe Mountains National Park , situated near New Mexico, is full of canyons, deserts, and mountains. In fact, it's home to eight of the 10 highest peaks in Texas. Guadalupe Peak, the highest natural point in Texas at 8,751 feet above sea level, is a day hike with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet along the way. The park has more than 80 miles of trails altogether, plus backpacking, horseback riding, scenic driving routes, and camping. What's more, Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world’s most extensive Permian fossil reef, and mule deer, jackrabbits, bats, foxes, elk, and other wildlife abound. 

Cave Without a Name

Courtesy of A Cave Without A Name

They say beauty is only skin deep, but in the case of Cave Without a Name in Boerne, Texas, it's 80 feet underground. Descend 126 steps and you’ll find a natural, living cavern full of stalagmites, stalactites, soda straw formations, and cave drapery lit up for all to see. The cave stays 66 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, making it a fun summertime activity on a sweltering Texas day. Take a guided tour of six cave rooms, or hear a concert in the Throne Room, as the acoustics and natural backdrop create a musical experience you won’t forget. 

Mission San José

Mariah Tyler/Travel + Leisure

Every Texan should see the Alamo for its deep history, but people often forget there are actually four other beautiful missions in San Antonio, all with more space to explore and less crowds. You can see all of them by hopping along the Hike and Bike Trail , but my favorite is Mission San José , the largest of the missions and one that has been almost fully restored. See the church’s facade and Rose Window, both beautiful examples of Spanish colonial decor. The bell tower is stunning as well, and you can also see the living quarters, the gorgeous stone arches from the convento, the granary, and the grist mill. Tours are offered daily.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

David Hatch/Getty Images

In the Texas Panhandle near Amarillo, you’ll find Palo Duro Canyon State Park , home to the second-largest canyon in the country, which is about 120 miles long, 20 miles wide, and up to 800 feet deep. Descend 500 feet and catch the changing colors of the canyon, formed by the four geologic layers that are millions of years old. Hike through 30-plus miles of trails, or go horseback riding through 1,500 acres. Several longhorns belonging to the official state longhorn herd live here, and you can spot them near park headquarters. There are also horned lizards, turkeys, deer, bobcats, coyotes, snakes, and more. Tuesdays through Sundays, the Texas Outdoor Musical tells the stories of early area settlers.

Lake Austin

Getty Images

A reservoir on the Colorado River, Lake Austin is an oasis for water lovers. Hop on a boat and cruise through the water, surrounded by lush hills and gorgeous private homes. Pull up to Hula Hut for Tex-Mex and Caribbean food served dockside, or access public camping spots and picnic areas at Emma Long Metropolitan Park on the shore. For a bit more privacy, stay at Lake Austin Spa Resort , where you can partake in daily fitness activities, enjoy a sunset water taxi cruise, visit the award-winning spa, hike, paddleboard, and join mixology classes. “The resort is set across the water from Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, essentially a wall of nature that nothing can be developed on,” says Darlene Fiske, a longtime Austin resident and frequent visitor to the resort. “Then, there’s the water itself, Lake Austin — a constant level lake where you can paddleboard, kayak, ski, and swim.”

Big Thicket National Preserve

James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

In the Piney Woods region of southeast Texas, you’ll find Big Thicket National Preserve , where more than 113,000 acres of public land offers camping, hiking, paddling, cycling, fishing, and other outdoor fun. Forty miles of hiking paths wind through nine different ecosystems, including bayous and pine forests, while paddling trails take you through cypress sloughs and oxbow lakes. Backcountry camping is permitted, and fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish is a popular pastime.

Padre Island National Seashore

About a four-hour drive north of South Padre Island, Padre Island National Seashore is the perfect place for those wanting to get away from the hustle of daily life while immersing themselves in nature, solitude, and the sound of crashing ocean waves. The national seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world and includes 70 miles of protected coastline. Go birding to see how many of the 380-plus species found here you can spot or check if you can catch a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchling release in the summer. The Laguna Madre here has shallow water suited for paddling, and camping in the park is open year-round.

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Jennifer M. Ramos/Getty Images

Texas isn’t known for having superb fall foliage, but Lost Maples State Natural Area stands out during October and November for its gorgeous orange, red, and yellow hues coming from the changing leaves. Lost Maples is home to a unique, isolated stand of Uvalde bigtooth maple trees — uncommon for this area — and the leaves generally turn from mid-October through the first two weeks of November. You can get updates on fall foliage via the park’s fall foliage report . Tip: Schedule your leaf-peeping visit during the week, if possible, as the park gets crowded during the fall and there’s only space for 250 cars.

East Texas differs from the rest of the state as it’s covered with pine forests, bayous, and swamps. A great way to explore this terrain is by canoe on Caddo Lake, one of the few natural lakes in Texas. It's named for the indigenous Caddo people, who settled in the area in the early 1800s. Paddle through the bottomlands and between bald cypress trees covered in Spanish moss over Big Cypress Bayou, or weave through one of the paddling trails across the lake. You can also fish or camp at Caddo Lake State Park .

Wine Road 290

A trip to Texas Hill Country is always gorgeous, but it’s made even better with a drive down U.S. 290, a.k.a Wine Road 290. Hill Country is home to more than 100 wineries, many with stunning vineyard views, modern tasting rooms, and patios shaded by giant, twisting oak trees. Check out William Chris Vineyards in Hye, where wines are made from 100 percent Texas-grown fruit. Lewis Wines in Johnson City also only uses Texas grapes, and La Bergerie in Fredericksburg has to-go bottles and a patio in case you want to pour a glass on site.

McDonald Observatory

Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

West Texas is full of wide-open spaces and spectacular spots to admire the twinkling night sky, and this area in the Big Bend region is a designated International Dark Sky Reserve. Head to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis for a stellar view of the Milky Way and various constellations. The observatory has multiple research telescopes that allow you to glimpse planets, stars, and more. And while there is research taking place here, you can still visit and participate in daytime and evening programming. Don’t miss the Star Party in the amphitheater to see otherworldly views of our night skies.

Willow City Loop

Martina Birnbaum/Getty Images

Each spring, wildflowers pop up across Texas, painting roadsides, meadows, and prairies in bright hues. And while bluebonnets, the state flower, are the favorite, there are also red Indian paintbrushes, yellow Mexican poppies and sunflowers, and pink phloxes, among others. A memorable way to see the blooms is on the Willow City Loop drive, which winds through canyons and rolling hills. From Fredericksburg, take State Highway 16 north to Ranch Road 1323. Head to Willow City and turn left on Willow City Loop.

Enchanted Rock

Hiking up Enchanted Rock is a must for outdoor adventurers. This huge pink granite dome rises 425 feet, its highest point being 1,825 feet above sea level. Trekking up the rock is equivalent to climbing the stairs of a 30- to 40-story building, and those who are up for the challenge will be rewarded with gorgeous Hill Country views. Enchanted Rock formed a billion years ago when magma pushed through the Earth’s surface, then cooled and hardened, turning into granite. Aside from hiking to the top, there are 11 miles of additional trails here, plus opportunities for bouldering and camping.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

Mark C. Stevens/Getty Images

Way out west in Monahans, discover a “Texas-sized sandbox” at Monahans Sandhills State Park . Strong winds have turned the sand dunes here into giant peaks, some up to 50 feet tall. The park is part of a dune field that stretches from near Monahans all the way into New Mexico, and both kids and adults love exploring these massive hills. Rent sand discs and “surf” the dunes, or ride down the hills, sledding style. Horseback riding, picnicking, and camping are also options.

Travis McHenry

Not too far from the McDonald Observatory is Marfa, Texas, a desert town and artistic hub for creators of all kinds. Outdoor installations, galleries, and art museums help create a beautiful yet funky scene here. Don’t miss the tiny Prada Marfa building just outside of town, and The Chinati Foundation , a contemporary art museum. There’s also Ballroom Marfa , a contemporary art and performance venue that’s free to the public, and the Judd Foundation , where spaces include early works by Donald Judd, a New Yorker who moved to Marfa in the ‘70s and cemented the town as an arts destination.

Lone Star Hiking Trail

Courtesy of Visit Conroe

In the Sam Houston National Forest near Houston, you’ll find the Lone Star Hiking Trail , the longest contiguous footpath in Texas at 96 miles, or 129 miles if you include the loop trails. The path winds through cypress trees, bayous, and swamps, and even follows Lake Conroe in one section. You can backpack along the trail and spend up to 10 days exploring the various sections while enjoying wildlife and the solitude of nature.

Davy Crockett National Forest

In between Crockett and Lufkin in East Texas lies Davy Crockett National Forest , a Piney Woods escape with bottomland hardwoods, dense forests, and plenty of space to unplug and unwind. The forest is more than 160,000 acres, and visitors can hike, swim, camp, fish, boat, or go horseback riding. See if you can spot waterfowl, dove, turkey, deer, quail, and the red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species living in the forest.

Caverns of Sonora

Rainer Hackenberg/Getty Images

Halfway between San Antonio and Big Bend National Park is Caverns of Sonora , a show cave system full of mineral formations that are still actively growing. Shine a light through the cave to see dangling formations hanging from the ceiling and sprouting through the floor, and wind your way through an underground world largely unexplored. Guided walking, rappelling, and photography tours are available.

Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area

Chase Fountain/Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

From May through October, around three million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from Devil’s Sinkhole each night to feast on bugs. The bats flutter through the sky, appearing like swirling specks of pepper as they dip and dive for food, and you can watch it all unfold from the viewing platform. This is one of the largest Mexican free-tailed bat populations in Texas. Reservations are required, and you cannot enter the cavern due to its sensitive nature.

Medina River

We Texans love our watering holes, and it's common practice to spend the day in a body of water during the hot summer months. Hordes of people flock to the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, but the Medina River is less visited and arguably more beautiful. It’s dotted with limestone bluff views and lined with bald cypress trees that provide shade to floaters and paddlers. The Medina River Company rents tubes and kayaks and offers shuttle rides to and from the river.

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

Kyle Kempf/Getty Images

Up in the Panhandle, see bison roaming in their natural habitat at Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway . The park is home to the Texas State Bison Herd, which dots the landscape and trudges across 10,000 acres. Aside from bison, you can marvel at the red rock canyons — Caprock sits on the Caprock Escarpment, a natural transition between the high plains to the west and the rolling plains of the east. Deer, bobcats, antelope, and coyotes also inhabit the area, as do bats in the Clarity Tunnel on the Trailway. Bring your horse to go horseback riding, or camp, fish, swim, and boat on Lake Theo.

Natural Bridge Caverns

Courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns

In 1960, four college students discovered the Natural Bridge Caverns , now one of the best show caverns in Texas. Today, visitors can see the stunning formations throughout the cave on various excursions, including an Adventure Tour that travels to an undeveloped section deep in the cavern. For something a little less challenging, take the Discovery Tour, which brings travelers 180 feet underground to view the cavern rooms and formations lit up in a remarkable setting.

Franklin Mountains State Park

John Coletti/Getty Images

While Franklin Mountains State Park is within the city limits of El Paso, you’ll feel like you’ve gone off the grid in this rugged desert landscape, which is home to more than 100 miles of trails and about 27,000 acres for exploring. The Franklin Mountains offer superb bird-watching, and birders have seen more than 100 species, including golden eagles, hummingbirds, pyrrhuloxias, and ash-throated flycatchers. Hike through the Chihuahuan Desert and spot the Southwestern barrel cactus, ocotillo, yucca, and other plants. You can even bring your rock-climbing gear and head to McKelligon Canyon or Sneed’s Cory to climb the craggy terrain.

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16 Best Places to Visit in Texas

For those that have never visited, Texas can quickly become a caricature of itself thanks to its larger-than-life personality. Yes, everything is bigger in Texas. Yet, what has made it such a fascinating destination is that behind the curtain is a state that is the genuine article.


It was here that the famous cattle drives took place in the second half of the 1800s, solidifying the Lone Star States’ place among ranching lore. Texan border towns share a storied past, offering visitors a taste of history that isn’t watered down, and a local cuisine that stems from home-grown recipes, generations old.

Map of Places to Visit in Texas


Beyond the past, Texas belies its status as a state of open plains thanks to its unheralded nature. Consequently, many of the best places to visit in Texas are its national parks, caverns and rolling hills home to vineyards. It’s a state full of bigger and bigger surprises, one best seen with your own two eyes.

16. Lubbock

In the plains of northern Texas, Lubbock is a town raised in the Wild West and carries much of its traditions into the 21st century. It’s here that ranches cover land as far as the eye can see. Crops flow in the wind and in town hat shapers and boot makers fit you out in Texas style.


Lubbock is a ranching town that has grown up. It still welcomes a bustling annual rodeo and the must-visit National Ranching Heritage Center, but the arts and live music have become the talk of town.


It was here that Buddy Holly was born. Today, the sound of rock and old-time cowboy blues float out of Blue Light Live and along the local streets. Other highlights include Texas Tech University and the wineries along the High Plains.

15. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Much of Texas is flat, open land with the horizon stretching as far as the eye can see. There are a few regions that test the state’s stereotype. Perhaps the most striking is the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.


Set in the northwest corner of Texas, the Guadalupe Mountains comprise the state’s four highest peaks. Each soars prominently out of the valley to show the world that yes, Texas has mountains too.


These stunning peaks bring a wide range of wildlife to the region. Along with the views, you can hope to spot golden eagles, elk and even black bears along the national parks 80 miles of hiking trails.


The most popular trek is to the state’s highest point, 8751 feet at the summit of Guadalupe Peak along an 8.5 mile journey.

14. Corpus Christi

On the banks of the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is famous for its coastal beauty. In fact, Alonzo de Pineda was so enamored when he discovered this region in the 16th century that he named it after the Feast Day of Corpus Christi.


500 years later, the town’s natural beauty continues to attract travelers from around the country. Beyond the local beaches that are fabulous spots to sunbathe and swim, you won’t be far from the memorable Mustang Island State Park and Padre Island National Seashore.


Beyond enjoying nature, dive into the local culture with a visit to the Selena Museum and the SS Lexington, an aircraft carrier from the Second World War. Those with kids in tow should pay a visit to the Texas State Aquarium along with a refreshingly fun day at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

Once upon a time, Marfa was established as a water stop along a storied railroad. Today, its humble beginnings have taken a back step to the city’s incredible, illuminating and downright mysterious Marfa lights and head-scratching art.


You may have seen it, a picture of the Prada store in the middle of nowhere. Well, you can find it here in Marfa, a town known for its wide-open spaces and its fearlessness towards public art. Beyond the famed Prada exhibit, the Marfa Lights are a collection of glowing orbs that have caused equal parts confusion and wonder for decades.


Lights aren’t the only illumination that attract travelers to Marfa. Boasting one of the darkest skies in the country, thousands of stargazers come here to visit the Rebecca Gale Telescope Park and wonder at the beauty of the Milky Way.

12. Fort Worth

The second half of Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Fort Worth commands your attention. There are few things more Texan then cattle ranching, and Fort Worth has been a central figure in this trade for centuries.


If Dallas is about business and art, then Fort Worth is about cowboys and fun. To get to know the city, head along to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where locals continue to embrace the city’s famous heritage. Stick around for the memorable, daily cattle drive, catch a rodeo before learning some Texas Two Step at the largest honky tonk on earth, Billy Bob’s Texas.


Make your way out of the Stockyards, and you’ll discover a well-rounded Fort Worth. Be sure to add the Cultural District, the Kimbell Art Museum and Sundance Square to your itinerary.

Once upon a time, you may have only heard of Waco thanks to the Baylor Bears or the famous HGTV show Fixer Upper. However, there’s always more to the story. In central Texas, Waco is split by the rolling Brazos River and is known for its thriving arts scene, plenty of outdoor fun and being the home of Dr Pepper.


Historic neighborhoods abound in Waco and at the heart of this experience is the Magnolia Market. Featuring two ancient silos, you’ll find an endless array of decor from 19th and 20th century wall decorations to old-time kitchenware. Add on delectable food trucks and you have the perfect afternoon date.


The history-based fun continues at the Dr Pepper Museum and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. The former celebrating the famous drink within the original bottling plant from the early 1900s. While the latter traces the story of the famous Texas Rangers through time.

10. Palo Duro Canyon

You’ll uncover the Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle. There may be more famous canyons in the United States, yet this one can claim to be the second biggest. Not far from the charming town of Amarillo, Palo Duro Canyon offers a range of activities, from leisurely strolls to heart-in-mouth experiences.


Through gorgeous landscapes on its way to epic views, the canyon’s 30 miles worth of hiking trails will have you wondering how such a green and barren landscape can co-exist. Yet that’s what you’ll find here, as towering monoliths of burnt rock rise to each side and vegetation battle for what little nutrients lay on the surface.


Beyond hiking, sign up for the zipline ride that takes you hundreds of feet above the ground from one side to the other. Afterwards, reward yourself at The Big Texas, the home of the 72 oz steak challenge!

In the far western corner of Texas lies El Paso. It may not jump off the map as a must-see destination, yet to truly know Texas, one must spend time here. El Paso is the definition of a hidden gem, tucked away in some far-flung corner. Those that make the journey will uncover an inviting local culture and an intricate history tied to El Paso’s position as a border town.


Just steps away from Mexico, it’s no shock that El Paso has plenty of influence from the country to the south. Within the Downtown Historic District, you’ll discover Mexican markets and age-old architecture that harks back to El Paso’s beginnings as a trading post in the heart of the Wild West.


Modern architecture soon takes over, including the gorgeous El Camino Real Hotel, a national historic landmark that was once known as the spot to watch the Mexican revolution just a few miles away.

This destination is also known as Sun City, and it boasts incredible views as the sun sets nightly over the Franklin Mountains. There are many great attractions in El Paso , just some of which include the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, the Museum of Archeology at Wilderness Park and the Centennial Museum.

8. Big Bend National Park

In the heart of the Chihuahan Desert is one of the most spectacular national parks, not just in Texas but in the United States. The name Big Bend National Park proves the colloquialism that, yes, everything is bigger in Texas.

Visitors can expect grandiose rock walls that soar up like towers of burnt orange. Crevasses lead to bouts of lush vegetation which stick out, not like a sore thumb, but rather as ornaments to the endless power of Mother Nature.


The rock walls and crevasses have been carved by the might Rio Grande River for untold centuries, acting like a fine brush upon the otherwise harsh landscape. You can appreciate this spellbinding beauty along one of Big Bend’s entrancing hiking trails, with a paddle along the thrilling river, or simply at camp around the fire as the stars sparkle above. Big Bend is an International Dark-Sky Park.


One trek that should be atop your itinerary is the 12.6-mile South Rime Trail that leads to unforgettable vistas.

We’ve taken a look at Fort Worth, now let’s make our way 30 minutes east to Dallas . No Texas experience is truly complete until you’ve stepped foot in the Big D, a nickname that has been synonymous with Dallas since the 1930s. Here, you’ll find one of the top art districts in the United States, arboretums, and plenty of sport.


Covering an incredible 19 blocks, the Dallas Art District is the biggest in the country. Highlights include the beloved Dallas Art Museum, which will take multiple visits to complete. In addition, the city boasts Deep Ellum which is teeming with street art.


Other cities in Texas may be more renowned for their history, but there’s no denying Dallas’ place. It was here the JFK was assassinated, an event you can retrace at the Sixth Floor Museum.

Lastly, there are sports. Dallas is home to America’s Team, the Cowboys, along with the Mavericks of the NBA and the Rangers of the MLB.

6. Galveston

The seaside town of Galveston has long attracted Texans in need of a relaxing (and exciting) family-friendly vacation. But word is out, and the town, which is Texas’ answer to Santa Monica, has taken on a life of its own.

With seemingly endless amounts of sun-soaked shorelines along the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston continues to captivate travelers. Days begin and end on the town’s golden sands. But in between you’ll be exploring historic streets that once featured the “Wall Street of the South”, state parks and heart-pumping theme parks.


Once an immigration port in line with Ellis Island, today visitors can make their choice between learning about the town’s incredible history or simply kicking back with a cocktail as the sun’s rays pour down. To do both at once, explore the Historic Pleasure Pier and let the kids’ experience the 16 fair rides, including a 200ft swing.

5. Texas Hill Country

There are few better places to go with your significant other in the Lone Star State than the Texas Hill Country. In a state that often feels rugged and remote, the lush rolling hills, cute and historic towns plus a collection of vineyards make this region like no other.

Head to Fredericksburg for a dose of German culture, since the area was settled by German settlers in the 19th century. In Fredericksburg, you might visit a winery for a tasting, enjoy bratwurst and sauerkraut at an authentic beer garden or shop for Bavarian souvenirs at an outdoor market.

But it’s not just culture here in Texas Hill Country, its nature is just as memorable. This includes the 140-foot-deep Jacobs Well that leads to a large submerged cave. Then there’s the Natural Bridge Caverns and, of course, Enchanted Rock, great for a picnic hike.

The best time to visit the region is in spring when the Hill Country is ablaze with wildflowers including the Texas State Flower; the Bluebonnet.

4. Padre Island National Seashore

Nowhere on earth could you find a longer, undeveloped seashore than right here on Padre Island. Spanning 70 miles, the Padre Island National Seashore is a birdwatchers dream and one of the world’s vital areas of conservation.

A brief drive from the southern city of Corpus Cristi, the national seashore boasts an impressive collection of untouched beaches that flow into rolling dunes and pristine grassland habitats. Among it all, you can discover an array of species, including Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, which can be found hatching during the summer months.


Enjoying the beach is a big part of the seashore experience. Kids will love building sandcastles and jumping in the Gulf of Mexico. But the shore’s trails will be calling your name. These will help you discover the more than 350 migratory birds that stop along the barrier island on their journey.


Other activities include kayaking the Laguna Madre, or off-road four-wheel driving along the beach.


Thanks to the guitars and drums that play into the early hours in the Dirty Six, South Congress and along Rainey Street, Austin has developed a reputation as a leader in live music. Add on some mouthwatering Tex-Mex cuisine and you can keep yourself happy all week long.


However, thanks to its position along the Colorado River, Austin is packed with beautiful parks and on-water experiences. You can explore Lady Bird Lake, on foot or kayak, before walking across the memorable Congress Street Bridge. It’s here from mid-spring to early fall that the largest urban bat colony on earth makes the daily flight at sunset.


Other attractions in Austin include the University of Texas, and their museums along with the capitol building.

Getting to Galveston isn’t the only reason you should touch down in Houston. As the biggest city in Texas, Houston is one of the most popular places to visit in Texas. America’s fourth-largest city is a family-friendly destination with an abundance of attractions for the little rascals.


One that will be at the top of your list is the Space Center Houston. While kid-friendly, the whole traveling party will become enamored with the insightful, hands-on offerings. With a focus on science and technology, you can learn about the exploration of space, check out artifacts from the moon, spot the Saturn V rocket and put on an astronaut suit.

Many of the Houston’s biggest attractions are located in the Warehouse District of Downtown Houston, so head there to see the incredible Downtown Tunnel System, soak in the views from the 60th floor Chase Tower Observatory, explore the Downtown Aquarium and catch an outdoor performance at TUTS, or the Theater Under the Stars.


After spending enough time indoors, check out the city’s sprawling green spaces, including Memorial Park and Buffalo Bayou Park.

1. San Antonio

History, food, and culture collide in San Antonio. Otherwise known as the cultural center of Texas, the southern city continues to be unheralded. This is great news for you, as the delectable food scene, the romantic Riverwalk and the insightful museums wait patiently to be discovered.


For this reason, San Antonio shoots to the top of our list of the best places to experience in Texas. Your time here should begin and end along the Riverwalk, which is teeming with world-class restaurants, a vibrant atmosphere plus great shops and central hotels. Before or after your delicious dinner, sign up for a nighttime river cruise.


Another famous attraction in San Antonio is the Alamo, of course, we wouldn’t forget. It will take just a moment to get between this iconic destination and the Riverwalk. The mission was built in 1744 and, almost three centuries later, remains at the forefront of US history.

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Reader interactions.

May 27, 2019 at 12:42 pm

Houston should be MUCH further down on this list. It’s not really a tourist destination — no real sights to see. Mostly just businesses, highways, and concrete. Otherwise, you nailed it.

March 10, 2019 at 1:18 pm

I love El Paso

July 6, 2017 at 5:02 pm

Detailed coverage of places. Excellent descriptions. Really useful tips.

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31 Beautiful Places to Visit in Texas You’ll Love l Stunning Spots 

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 19/03/2024

As the second-largest state in the USA, Texas is a land of diverse landscapes, iconic monuments, and immense natural beauty. Below, I’ve delved into the difficult task of narrowing it down to just 31 of the most beautiful places to visit in Texas. 

The Lone Star State celebrates cowboy culture with rodeos and ranching while embracing the culinary delights of barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine. From Texas’ charming coastal towns to its rugged mountainscapes, the essence of Southern hospitality shines bright here. 

So please join me as I uncover the breathtaking beauty that awaits around every corner in the great state of Texas.

• 31 Beautiful Places to Visit in Texas

Table of Contents

1. Austin 

2. caverns of sonora , 3. bayou bend collection and gardens , 4. pedernales falls state park, 5. santa elena canyon, 6. padre island national seashore , 7. hamilton pool preserve , 8. jefferson , 9. guadalupe mountains national park , 10. san antonio river, 11. lost maples state natural area , 12. rockport beach, 13. barton springs pool , 14. monahans sandhills state park , 15. dallas arboretum and botanical garden, 17. lake bob sandlin state park , 18. terlingua , 19. chisos mountains , 20. palo duro canyon state park , 21. fredericksburg , 22. lake austin , 23. fort worth water gardens, 24. enchanted rock state natural area , 25. galveston , 26. baps shri swaminarayan mandir, houston, 27. lake travis , 28. the fort worth japanese garden, 29. port isabel , 30. caprock canyons state park and trailway, 31. texas state capitol , final thoughts: 31 beautiful places to visit in texas .

From tasty Mex-Tex dining in Austin to magical nature areas, Texas isn’t short of places to visit. Here’s a deep dive into 31 magical places worth visiting.

Image by MJ Tangonan on Unsplash

With multiple greenbelts, lakes, and nearly 500 public parks, Austin is about as beautiful as cities get. The abundant greenery helps with cooling down the city and clearing up pollution, so your visit here is bound to be lush and fresh. 

I’d recommend stopping in at the LBJ Presidential Library and the Blanton Museum of Art for a wonderful combo of history and creativity. 

For an authentic taste of Austin, spend a fair amount of time downtown or, more specifically, Sixth Street. Here, you’ll find a superb range of bustling bars, artsy hubs, live music, and tasty cuisine – after all, you are in one of the US’ most diverse cities .

Image by Gower Brown on Unsplash

These underground caverns are world-renowned for their magnificent display of calcite crystal formations and are, unsurprisingly, one of the most spectacular underground cave systems in the US. 

From brilliant whites to more earthy tones, the subterranean crystal kingdom displays an enchanting sparkle that’s bound to captivate you from the moment you enter. Plus, the caves remain a constant and comfortable 22°C, making them a pleasant escape from the often-scorching Texas heat. 

Experience this geological wonder via a guided tour by purchasing tickets online . There’s also lots to do above ground, such as hiking, camping, and panning for gemstones. 

Image by Adrian N on Unsplash

With 14 acres of meticulously landscaped gardens and a magnificent American art collection, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is in the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. 

The museum is set in the former residence of Ima Hogg, a philanthropist and art collector who was also known as ‘the First Lady of Texas’. The museum showcases significant pieces such as paintings, furniture, ceramics, and silver. 

Bayou Bend provides an opportunity to experience American culture and heritage in an authentically serene setting. 

Image by Kyle Vena on Unsplash

Situated along the Pedernales River banks in Blanco County, just a ten-minute drive from Johnson City, is Pedernales Falls State Park. 

The park’s centerpiece is definitely the Pedernales River, which cascades over a series of limestone formations, creating picturesque waterfalls and pools. 

The rugged terrain and raw beauty of the surrounding landscapes complement this oasis. Once here, you can set yourself up in a fantastic picnic area or base yourself in the campground for a night or two. Enjoy plenty of scenic trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. 

Image by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

Although Big Bend National Park is one of Texas’ treasures, it has a couple of features that are worthy of their own mention. The park’s very own Santa Elena Canyon is one such impressive landmark. 

At eight miles long and 1,500 feet deep, Santa Elena Canyon is wonderfully dramatic. Its towering limestone cliffs form a breathtaking barrier along the serene Rio Grande. Once here, the only sounds you’ll notice are gushing water, whistling wind, and chirping birds echoing through the canyon. 

Image by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

In need of a break from desert canyons and metropolis cities? Head to Padre Island National Seashore for a whimsical seaside escape. 

Padre’s shoreline protects 66 miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of Mexico . Its unique tidal mudflats are an absolute haven for birds, wildlife, and numerous prairie habitats. From fishing to birdwatching, there’s plenty on offer for nature lovers and chill-seekers. 

I’d recommend camping here for a night or two. Just remember that park entrance fees are required, although no reservations are accepted (first come, first serve). 

Image by jmwilson57 on Pixabay

This breathtaking natural swimming pool is around a 40-minute drive from Austin’s city center, making it the perfect day trip if you’re looking to cool down and get some nature in. 

The pool lies within the basin of a limestone grotto, and its emerald-green color is complemented by a cascading waterfall and lush greenery. 

Just remember that you can only go if you’ve made a reservation, as the preserve only lets in a certain number of people at a time. This is great, though, because it means the pool will never be overcrowded. 

Image by Michael Butler on Unsplash

Not too far from the Louisiana border lies Jefferson, with its charming small-town eateries, quaint historic lodging, and plenty of ghosts. Yep, that’s right. Jefferson is apparently the most haunted city in Texas, with many visitors reportedly sighting ghosts and experiencing paranormal activity. 

Before you get too spooked, Jefferson is an idyllic spot for a memorable getaway. It’s actually known as the ‘bed and breakfast capital’ of Texas, as its award-winning accommodation is really what makes this town stand out. 

It’s picturesque and filled with old charm, so don’t hesitate to pay a visit here, as it’s one of the best things to do in East Texas . 

 Image by Ryuta F. on Unsplash

If you’re an avid hiker, I’d definitely recommend paying a visit to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Western Texas’ Chihuahuan Desert. 

With over 80 miles of moderate to advanced hiking trails to choose from, you’ll be instantly rewarded with breathtaking vistas of mountains, forests, canyons, and deserts.

At 8,751 feet, Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas, boasting panoramic views and awesome scenery for a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. It’s a very strenuous 8.4-mile out-and-back hike, but totally worth it if you’re up for the adventure! 

The San Antonio River is formed by large springs just a few miles out of the city of the same name. However, the real attraction here is the San Antonio River Walk – a delightful sanctuary within the city.

With a 15-mile stretch of cobblestone paths, colourful umbrellas, and enchanting bridges, it’s no wonder the River Walk is one of the best things to do in downtown San Antonio .

Here, you’ll find a bustling hub of activity where you can enjoy leisurely strolls, dine al fresco at waterside eateries, or take a scenic boat tour through the city’s heart. Lit by thousands of twinkling lights, it takes on a magical atmosphere in the evening. 

Image by Jeffrey Hernandez on Unsplash

With springs, streams, and plateau grasslands, Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool is vibrantly stunning. 

Here, you can witness the best fall foliage Texas offers as the orange, red, and yellow hues of the Uvalde Bigtooth maples leave you speechless and reaching for your camera. The area even updates its fall foliage colour reports on its website, so you can be sure of seeing some brilliant colours before you leave home. 

Not sure where to start? Try the 5.2-mile East Trail, a moderate route that’s well-maintained and very shady in the hot summer months. 

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Rockport Beach is one of the best places to catch streaky sunsets and shimmering moonlit waters over the Gulf of Mexico. With its pristine sand and well-kept amenities, you’re in for a real treat. In fact, Rockport Beach is Texas’ only Blue Wave Beach . 

The fresh seafood here attracts a lot of visitors to Rockport’s shores. You’ll find plenty of delicious oysters, shrimp and fish straight from the boats. 

A bonus? The area is known for having great weather, even in winter. With the combination of plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures, you can’t go wrong.

Image by Tomek Baginski on Unsplash

Barton Springs is situated in Austin’s Zilker Park. It’s easily one of the city’s top attractions due to its beauty and practicality. 

The stunning freshwater pool is fed by natural underground springs and remains at a pretty consistent temperature that’s ideal for swimming (usually between 20 and 21°C). The springs attract heaps of hot visitors in the summer, with everyone seeking to cool down in its crystal waters.

The three-acre pool is surrounded by lush grass, perfect for picnics or naps in the sun. A visit to the springs will only add to your dreamy Texan summer memories.

Image by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash

Monahans Sandhills State Park is home to nearly 4,000 acres of sand dunes. Once you step foot on the dunes, you’ll be transported to a sandy paradise. 

These ever-shifting dunes make for an exhilarating playground. You can explore the dunes on foot or embark on a sand surfing adventure by renting sand disks at the visitor center. 

In my opinion, the best time of day here is sunrise, when the sun hits the sand with peachy pink tones and before they heat up. This only applies to the winter months, though, when the sun rises later and the park opens at 7 am. 

Image by Maddie H on Unsplash

The exquisite 66-acre Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is one of the most spectacular spots in Texas. It’s considered one of the best botanical gardens in the world. 

Expect a vibrancy in the form of hundreds of thousands of plants, flowers, sculptures, and water features – a brilliant blend of art and horticulture. 

The garden’s ethics lie in diversity, education, and inclusion. With 21 unique signature gardens, you’ll be spellbound into thinking you’ve landed in another world. 

Image by Shelby Cohron on Unsplash

Marfa is a quirky, artsy desert town with tons to offer in terms of charm and creativity. It’s home to the Chinati Foundation, an impressive contemporary art museum founded on an old army base. 

Marfa is packed with galleries, shops, and exhibitions from both local and international artists. In fact, its Prada installation is one of the most well-known landmarks in Texas . 

Apart from art, one of the main reasons visitors come here is to witness the Marfa Lights – mysterious glowing orbs on the horizon that no one seems to know the source of. 

Image by Bryan Dickerson on Unsplash

The Lake Bob Sandlin area is probably best known for its pristine lake. It’s only a two-hour drive from Dallas, making it a convenient weekend spot for a refreshing city escape. 

There are tons of lovely picnic spots, as well as nine campsites with idyllic lakeside views. It’s the perfect place for boating and water activities such as swimming, kayaking, and fishing. You can even rent or buy fishing rods from the park’s store in an effort to catch some dinner. 

Image by Desert Rose on Unsplash

Keen to experience the best of West Texas? Well, Terlingua is your town! With an abandoned ghost town and great proximity to Big Bend National Park, it should definitely be high up on your list of beautiful places to visit in Texas. 

Originally an old mining village, Terlingua is a quintessential cowboy town. Have dinner at the Starlight Theatre Restaurant and Saloon for an unforgettable Texan experience. Spend the night at one of Camp Elena’s luxury tents and experience a million twinkling stars. 

Image by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

As the centerpiece of Big Bend National Park, the Chisos Mountains are a sight to behold due to their rugged, jagged, barren peaks rising up from the desert. Hiking enthusiasts – you’ll be pleased to know that within the mountains lie a utopia of trails just waiting to be explored. 

Geology lovers – take note of the exposed rock layers that tell stories of volcanoes, rivers, erosion, and ancient seas. 

You can even hike to the highest point of the Chisos Mountains – Emory Peak. It’s a strenuous 10.5-mile trek but totally worth the sweeping views at the top. 

Image by Samuel Bauman on Unsplash

The area’s rust-red cliffs and rugged terrain are what make Palo Duro Canyon so unique. 

During the day, sunlight plays on the layered rock formations, creating a scene from a painting. 

One of the best things to do here is hike to the Lighthouse rock formation, which is probably the park’s most famous landmark (bonus: it’s also a relatively easy trek at 5.7 miles). 

Pressed for time? You can also drive the Palo Duro Canyon Loop. It’s a fantastic 30-minute route with many pretty places to stop along the way. 

Image by Shelly Collins on Unsplash

Fredericksburg, known for its rich German heritage, is a charming town with fantastic wineries and vineyards. Couple this with rolling hills, quaint buildings, and lush orchards, and you’ll have found one of the most majestic spots in all of Texas.

What I’m really hinting at, though, is driving the 13-mile Willow City Loop just north of the town. Along the route during the springtime, you’ll see fields of blooming bluebonnets (the Texas State flower), sunflowers, Mexican poppies, and wine cups. 

PS: For more floral inspiration on your trip, check out these stunning Texas sunflower fields . 

Image by Megan Bucknall on Unsplash

Oh, Austin – you’ve done it again with another one of the most beautiful spots in Texas! While it resembles more of a winding river, Lake Austin is a flow-through reservoir on the Colorado River. It’s a serene escape for a day of outdoor fun just minutes from the city. 

Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and basking in nature. In my opinion, the best swimming spot at Lake Austin is from the Emma Long Metropolitan Park because of its sandy beach. 

Image by Steve Mckinney on Unsplash

Fort Worth Water Gardens is quite an architectural marvel. The 4.3-acre gardens, located in downtown Fort Worth, feature three pools – the aerating, the quiet, and the active pool.

The park encourages quiet meditation and contemplation, so it’s a great idea to come here with your headphones and a favourite book or to simply sit in stillness. Fortunately, there’s no admission, so come and enjoy these man-made cascades free of charge. 

Image by J. Amill Santiago on Unsplash

As a true Texas treasure, this 425-foot pink granite batholith is well worth the visit. This batholith is a particularly special geological formation – it was created deep under the earth’s surface as the result of magma cooling. Even more impressive? It’s about a billion years old. 

Some think the name “enchanted” originated from the granite’s tendency to groan and creak as it naturally heats and cools. Whatever the reason, this ancient dome is a special place to visit. 

Hiking to the top involves a moderately challenging route, which will take you just under an hour. 

Image by Amy Peryam on Unsplash

As an island city on Texas’s Gulf Coast, Galveston is one of the best beach destinations in the state. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the most popular Texas coastal towns due to its prime location, historic architecture, and first-rate restaurants. 

While some might enjoy the iconic Galveston Pleasure Pier, others may prefer the more peaceful Galveston Island State Park. No matter your preference, Galveston’s picture-perfect sunsets and sandy shores are some of the best and most stunning in all of Texas. 

Image by Alisa MAtthews on Unsplash

The beauty is in the detail at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Houston. This intricately adorned temple is composed of Turkish limestone and Italian marble pieces that were hand-carved in India before being shipped to Texas. 

The Mandir was built entirely by volunteers, taking a total of about two million hours to complete! 

It symbolises peace and offers a tranquil refuge where all are welcome – entry is free and open to people of all backgrounds and religions. You’ll immediately feel at ease and be in awe of this marvelous structure and its magnificent grounds. 

Image by Dale Honeycutt on Unsplash

Known as one of the most beautiful lakes in Texas, Lake Travis has plenty of picturesque beaches, serene swimming spots, and perfect picnic areas. 

One of the best beaches on Lake Travis is at Bob Wentz Park, so keep this in mind when planning your excursion. 

Boat lovers and water sports fanatics will love this spot, as you can even scuba dive and windsurf. My advice? Jump on a SUP or kayak and paddle your way through the lake’s heavenly blue and green waters. 

Image by Craig Durant on Unsplash

These 7.5-acre gardens in Fort Worth come complete with everything you’d imagine a Japanese Garden to have, such as cherry blossom trees, bamboo, bridges, and waterfalls. 

The best time to visit the garden is between March and April when the cherry blossoms bloom. During this time, there’s a delicate fragrance in the air, and the clusters of pink flowers create a stunning overhead canopy as you stroll through the gardens. 

It’s an exceptional recreation of traditional Japanese colors and patterns and is bound to be one of the most exquisite gardens you’ll visit in your lifetime. 

Image by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash

If you’re searching for a taste of coastal Texas charm, look no further than Port Isabel. The town’s laid-back atmosphere and natural beauty make it a delightful destination for beachgoers and sunseekers. 

In the town square, you’ll find the iconic white brick lighthouse (Port Isabel is the only town in Texas with a lighthouse in its square) built in 1852. 

After exploring the town and browsing some shops, relax, kick back, and spot dolphins from the shore as you savor the tastiest local seafood at the quaint restaurants. 

Image by Jasmine Goodwin on Unsplash

In the remote Texas Panhandle, the Caprock Canyons shine bright thanks to the brilliant auburn hues of their red beds . 

What’s really unique about this park, though, is that it’s home to one of the last remaining herds of Southern Plains Bison. Trust me, seeing these majestic animals up close is a special and rather rare experience. 

Speaking of, the park was even home to Palaeolithic hunters, several Native American tribes, and some of the first Anglo settlers. You’ll most certainly feel its spiritual significance when hiking the numerous trails or simply taking in the magnificent views. 

Image by Karson on Unsplash

The Capitol’s exterior is made of Sunset Red Texas Granite, and the stone’s warm, reddish hues shine through when the building is illuminated by the sun. 

Add this to the Italian Renaissance Revival architecture present throughout the building, and you’ve got yourself one of the most enchanting structures in all of Texas. 

To contribute to its grandeur, Texas’ Capitol boasts a majestic dome that reaches a height of 308 feet. This makes it taller than the United States Capitol in Washington , DC. 

Well, there you have it, folks – everything is indeed bigger in Texas. 

And that’s a wrap! Have any of these 31 beautiful places made it onto your Texan bucket list ? 

Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventures, a taste of history, or a simple and serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Texas has tons to offer. 

From the striking landscapes of Big Bend National Park to the charming streets of San Antonio’s River Walk, each destination offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

Read Next: If you’re a fan of the high Texas temperatures, take a look at these warm places to visit in January in the USA . 

Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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A Native Texan’s List of the 9 Best Places to Visit in the Lone Star State

From small town getaways to big city lights, these are the best places to visit in texas..

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Known as the Cultural Capital of the South, Houston has no shortage of things to do—or eat.

Photo by Mae Hamilton

As the biggest state in the contiguous United States, Texas can seem larger than life. But there’s so much more to the Lone Star State than cattle ranching, cowboys, and barbecue —though those things can certainly be found here.

Each area of the state has its own distinct personality and culture. The piney woods of East Texas feels about as Southern as you can get in the state. Central Texas is characterized by the rolling, rocky knolls of the Hill Country. The coast boasts white, sandy beaches that are home to unique wildlife. West Texas is characterized by rugged, desert landscapes that have inspired creative works like No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood .

Ready to plan your trip to the Lone Star State? These are the nine best places to visit in Texas.

• Come for: The state’s most exciting and diverse culinary landscape; plus a thriving arts and culture scene
• Where to stay: La Colombe d’Or

H-Town is home to hundreds of ethnic communities from all around the planet—more than 145 different languages are spoken here. Naturally, Houston’s multicultural population has created one of the most exciting foodie havens on Earth. Here in Bayou City, you’ll find upscale hand-rolled sushi bars like Handies Douzo as well as James Beard Award–winning soul food restaurant Lucille’s and Viet Cajun crawfish boil outposts like Crawfish Cafe .

Besides the food, one of the best things about Houston is its museum scene. Houston’s Museum District , in the heart of the city, features 20 museums all within walking distance of one another. (If you’re visiting in the summer, bring water if you plan on walking.)

The Menil Collection offers everything from Byzantine artifacts to mind-boggling surrealist paintings by artists such as René Magritte. Head to the Houston Museum of African American Culture to learn more about the Black American history of the city or the Houston Museum of Natural Science to visit such interactive attractions as the Burke Baker Planetarium and the Cockrell Butterfly Center.

How to get to Houston

Fly into either George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or William P. Hobby Airport (HOBBY), the city’s oldest commercial airport. IAH is about 20 miles from downtown Houston while HOBBY is a little less than 10 miles from the city’s center.

Though the state is known for its big, flashy cities like Dallas and Austin, there are also plenty of lovable small towns and natural spaces.

2. Big Bend National Park

• Come for: Beautiful, rugged West Texas desert
• Where to stay: The Gage Hotel

Big Bend National Park is one of the country’s bewitching national parks , covering more than 800,000 acres. The landscape is dotted with cactus, yucca, aspen, mesquite, and Ponderosa pine and populated by critters like bobcat, javelinas, and mountain lions. Here, visitors can kayak the Rio Grande or hike, bike, or camp in the Chisos Mountains, which tower nearly a mile above the Chihuahuan Desert. The 4.8-mile Lost Mine Trail offers sweeping views of Casa Grande and Juniper Canyon; the strenuous South Rim traverses nearly 14.5 miles with 2,000 feet gained in elevation.

The best place to stay is in the park itself, either at the 60-site campground at Chisos Basin or one of five stone cottages at the Chisos Mountain Lodge , the only brick-and-mortar accommodations in the park. However, if something more developed is your game, drive to Marathon, the “Gateway to Big Bend” and stay at the Gage Hotel , housed in a mission-style adobe building constructed in 1927.

How to get to Big Bend National Park

The closest airport to Big Bend National Park is El Paso International Airport (ELP), which is 287 miles or four and a half hours away. From Austin, the drive will be 435 miles, or about six and a half hours. From San Antonio, it will be 370 miles and will take about six hours.

Historic Fort Martin Scott is one of the places travelers can visit to learn about Fredericksburg’s history.

Courtesy of Mark König/Unsplash

3. Fredericksburg

• Come for: A historic German town in the heart of Texas wine country
• Where to stay: The Hoffman Haus

Though Texans have long known its laid-back charms, the Texas Hill Country is having a moment as of late thanks to the forecast total eclipse that will pass through the area on April 8, 2024. Fredericksburg may be the region’s crown jewel. Founded by German immigrants in 1946, the town of less than 30,000 is now known for its German restaurants and breweries, booming winery scene, and fresh peaches that grow in its orchards.

After booking a room at the Hoffman Haus (a bed-and-breakfast that delivers breakfast to guest rooms via gingham-covered picnic basket), explore the more than 150 local shops in downtown Fredericksburg and then learn about the town’s history at the Pioneer Museum . Finish the day with peach cobbler topped with Blue Bell ice cream at Das Peach Haus , which also sells jams, jellies, and preserves.

How to get to Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is located in the Texas Hill Country, which is not serviced by any major airports. Visitors will need to fly into either Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) or San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and then drive. From Austin, it’s about a 90-minute drive, while San Antonio is an hour away.

Marfa, Texas, can feel a little unreal at times—like a desert mirage.

Photo by Shelby Cohron

• Come for: The coolest art town in the middle of nowhere
• Where to stay: Hotel Saint George

Located squarely in the middle of nowhere deep in West Texas, Marfa is obsessed with art, thanks to the efforts of minimalist artist Donald Judd who moved to the area in the 1970s. There are about 2,000 residents and 19 permanent galleries in town, including the Judd Foundation and the Chinati Foundation (both founded by Judd), the Inde/Jacobs Gallery , and the Rule Gallery .

While Marfa may be a small town, there is no shortage of great eats: For wood-fired pizza, check out Para Llevar , and for creative cocktails and eclectic dishes, go to the Water Stop , which has a rotisserie chicken dish on its menu that Bon Appétit called the “second best reason to go to Marfa .” As an added bonus, the town is an hour and a half drive from Big Bend National Park (see above).

How to get to Marfa

The nearest international airport to Marfa is El Paso International Airport (ELP). From there, it’s a two-and-a-half hour drive to Marfa. However, it’s not uncommon for people to drive 430 miles from Austin or around 400 miles from San Antonio.

San Antonio is perhaps best known for the Alamo, but visitors can also find a thriving art scene, independent restaurants, and boutique hotels.

Courtesy of Eric Francis/Unsplash

5. San Antonio

• Come for: Puro San Antonio
• Where to stay: Hotel Emma

Now, I may be biased as a native San Antonian, but Alamo City is the most stunning of all the Lone Star State’s metropolitan areas. Thanks to a series of extensions, the River Walk is now 15 miles long, and it’s the perfect place to take a long hike or bike ride (albeit, not through the busy downtown corridor, usually packed with tourists and day drinkers). And with the transformation of the Pearl Brewery from condemned building to a vibrant cultural hub, the city has a new favorite hangout. At the Pearl, visitors will find Brasserie Mon Chou Chou , which is perhaps one of the best French restaurants in the state, Cured , which focuses on farm-to-table American cuisine, and Best Quality Daughter , which serves Asian American food inspired by Jennifer Dobbertin’s South Texas upbringing.

How to get to San Antonio

Fly into San Antonio National Airport and then drive or take a cab to downtown, about eight miles away.

A little less than 180 miles east of San Antonio is one of the Texas Coast’s best kept secrets: Port Aransas.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten

6. Port Aransas

• Come for: Quiet, small beach town vibes
• Where to stay: The Tarpon Inn

Sure, Galveston is one of the most visited beach destinations in the state and South Padre Island is popular among spring breakers. But Port Aransas offers small town charm along an immaculate stretch of white-sand Texas coastline. Here, visitors will find 18 miles of beaches and a cornucopia of fresh Gulf Coast seafood: red snapper, blue crab, oysters, and endless quantities of shrimp. The last wild flock of endangered whooping cranes make their winter home at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Between April and August, travelers can witness baby sea turtles (including the endangered species, Kemp’s ridley) make their big journey to the ocean at Mustang Island State Park , 16 miles south of Port Aransas.

How to get to Port Aransas

Fly into Corpus Christi International Airport and then drive four minutes north on Mustang Island to reach Port Aransas. Many folks also drive in from Houston (200 miles away), San Antonio (180 miles away), and Austin (200 miles away).

The capital of the Lone Star State is ever-evolving and these days, it’s changing fast.

• Come for: All the thrills that the Live Music Capital of the World has to offer
• Where to stay: The Loren at Lady Bird Lake

There’s a little joke in Austin that every generation of Austinites says, “You should have seen it 10 years ago.” And it’s true. Over the past three years or so, Austin’s skyline has transformed thanks to an influx of folks and tech companies looking for a place to weather out the early days of the COVID pandemic.

But that’s not to say that Austin has lost its soul. The Live Music Capital of the World is still very much focused on music—head over to the Skylark Lounge for soulful blues and funk bands, the Continental Club for jazz, and the Broken Spoke for a tried-and-true honky-tonk experience. The state capital’s culinary scene has come into its own as well. Dark, broody, and only open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight on weekends), East Austin favorite Justine’s Brasserie serves French cuisine and craft cocktails by the glow of dim lamps. Franklin Barbecue has had its praises sung the world over for its tender brisket, and the adulations are more than deserved—hop in line or order in advance on its website. Jester King Brewery , located on the outskirts of Austin on a 100-acre Hill Country spread, specializes in barrel-aged wild ales and wood-fired pizzas.

How to get Austin

The Texas capital is serviced by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), about five miles southeast of downtown Austin. The easiest way to get out of the airport and into the city is via car.

Located in northwest Texas, the area surrounding Lubbock is one of the largest viticultural areas in the United States.

Photo by Joshua Brian/Shutterstock

• Come for: High plains hospitality and a fast-growing winery scene
• Where to stay: Cotton Court Hotel

The Texas Panhandle has admittedly been overlooked as its vast seas of grass make it an ideal place to raise cattle rather than, say, see mind-blowing vistas. However, the area surrounding Lubbock has more than 9 million acres devoted to growing wine grapes—the region produces 80 percent of the state’s , far more than the Hill Country. Consider putting McPherson Cellars , the Llano Estacado winery, vino-and-tapas restaurant La Diosa Cellars , and the Funky Door Bistro & Wine Room on your to-do list. After you’ve had your fill of wine, head over to the Buddy Holly Center , where visitors can learn all about the rock ‘n’ roll legend. And if you’re looking for something more outdoorsy to do, drive 90 minutes north to Palo Duro Canyon State Park , the second largest canyon system in the United States after Arizona’s Grand Canyon.

How to get to Lubbock

Fly into Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB). You’ll need a car to get around town.

The Fort Worth Stockyards dates back more than 100 years.

Photo by James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

9. Fort Worth

• Come for: Cowboy charm with big city amenities
• Where to stay: Bowie House

Long overshadowed by its glitzy neighbor, Dallas , Fort Worth is steadily coming into its own. Known for its historic stockyards , in operation since 1866 (it still puts on a twice daily cattle drive), Fort Worth is now attracting attention as the next Texas boomtown —and it’s attracting travelers’ attention as well. One of the latest hotels to hit the scene is the Bowie House (which opened in December of this year), an Auberge Resorts Collection property that pays homage to the West and owner Jo Ellard’s love of horses.

Fort Worth is also making headlines in the culinary realm. In 2021, Goldee’s Barbecue snagged Texas Monthly ’s top spot on its annual list of the 50 Best BBQ Joints —the restaurant is planning to open a second location, Ribee’s, which will focus solely on ribs, soon. But if cowboys and barbecue aren’t your thing, Fort Worth has a healthy offering of museums in town including the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History .

How to get to Fort Worth

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located almost dead center between Dallas and Fort Worth. From the airport, it’s about a half an hour’s drive into the heart of Fort Worth.

When does the solar eclipse start? Details about time and watch parties in El Paso

We're getting closer to the total solar eclipse approaching North America.

The eclipse will be seen in the skies from  Texas to Maine  on Monday, April 8 afternoon.

Dallas and San Antonio will fall into darkness midday for the full total solar eclipse experience. However, parts of West Texas outside the path of totality can still use  eclipse glasses  to see the moon pass in front of the sun.

The eclipse will begin in El Paso around 11:09 a.m. MT and finish at 1:44 p.m. MT.

The borderland will see a partial eclipse lasting 2 hours and 35 minutes. At its peak at 12:25 p.m. MT, the moon will obscure 81.8% of the sun.

Here's a list of events where you can watch the afternoon event.

Transmountain Early College

Transmountain Early College will be hosting an eclipse lunchtime event

from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; location: 570 Gateway Blvd N.

La Perla at The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park

The rooftop bar is hosting a Solar Eclipse Soiree with cocktails and food. Entry costs $25 and includes one drink and a pair of eclipse glasses. Tacos and light bites will also be available for purchase. The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; location: 106 W Mills Ave.

More: What time is the solar eclipse in West Texas? Find out with ZIP code

El Paso Community College Northwest Campus

Witness the total solar eclipse at the Northwest Campus Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Viewing glasses will be available while supplies last. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; loca 6701 S. Desert Blvd.

Ilumina Public Library Solar Eclipse Watch Party

The county's all-digital library invites the community to watch along at the Agua Dulce Community Center, and according to its website, solar eclipse glasses will be available for free. The event starts at 10 a.m. Monday; location Agua Dulce Community Center, 15371 Kentwood Ave.

EPCC Solar Eclipse Extravaganza

Solar-filtered telescopes and other viewing activities will be available virtually and in person during the NASA-affiliated event at El Paso Community College, Mission del Paso Campus. There will also be online talks on eclipses and educational booths at the event. The community can even participate in collecting temperature and cloud data for NASA during the eclipse.  The event starts at 10 a.m. Monday, April 8.; location 10700 Gateway Blvd. E.

Best place to see total eclipse 2024

Texas is considered one of the best places to witness the total eclipse. Some parts of Texas, including Nazas and Radar Base, will experience up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds of totality.

Here are the other best states and cities to view the solar eclipse, according to  Eclipse 2024.org :

• Russellville, Arkansas : Totality lasts for 4 minutes and 11 seconds.
• Cape Girardeau, Missouri : Totality lasts for 4 minutes and 6 seconds.
• Vincennes, Indiana : Totality lasts for 4 minutes and 5 seconds.
• Indianapolis, Indiana : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 49 seconds.
• Lima, Ohio : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 51 seconds.
• Cleveland, Ohio : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 49 seconds.
• Erie, Pennsylvania : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
• Niagara Falls, New York : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 31 seconds.
• Buffalo, New York : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 45 seconds.
• Plattsburgh, New York : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 33 seconds.
• Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 25 seconds.
• Mars Hill, Maine : Totality lasts for 3 minutes and 12 seconds.

The Arizona Republic contributed to this report.

Total solar eclipse April 8, 2024 facts: Path, time and the best places to view

In the U.S., 31 million people already live inside the path of totality.