Texan Trails

Day 2

Dallas

Discover dynamic Dallas, home to the Dallas Cowboys and Texas’ prime tourist draw. An assortment of modern museums awaits as well as America’s largest Arts District, whose flagship gallery the Dallas Museum of Art, is filled with more than 24,000 artworks. Dallas World Aquarium and Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park offer adventurous delights for all ages, while diners can tuck in to tasty Tex-Mex and shop in a number of specialty markets, classy gallerias and designer outlets.

Days 3-4

Austin

Head south to laid-back Austin, filled with the pulse of country and folk music and a great place to catch a live concert. Take a relaxing stroll around the grounds of the University of Texas, perhaps checking out the view from the top of the UT Tower while you’re there. Afterwards, admire the striking architecture of the pink granite Texas State Capitol, which is taller than its more-famous counterpart in Washington DC. For an offbeat summer attraction, wait until dusk and then head for Congress Avenue Bridge, home to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats – quite a sight to behold.

Days 5-6

Bandera

Live the rodeo lifestyle in Bandera, the self-proclaimed ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’. Watch a rodeo, check out the cowboy memorabilia in the Frontier Times Museum, or dance in one of the lively hole-in-the-wall bars. Be sure to try the state favourites of Tex-Mex and Texas barbecue in the many tempting restaurants and steakhouses. Here you’ll stay on the Dixie Dude Ranch. Think cattle drives, horse riding, wagon riding and clay pigeon shooting, with evenings spent gathered around a roaring fire listening to old western tunes on the guitar.

Day 7

San Antonio

Continue on to bustling San Antonio, where the Alamo, the site of the 1836 battle, makes a stark reminder of Texas’s turbulent past. The Alamo is connected to various shopping centres, theatres, parks, museums and even a brewery by the famed San Antonio River Walk, a system of paved footpaths along the San Antonio River. The walk is brought to life by the multi-coloured table umbrellas at the bars and cafes that line the route, which also connects to Marriage Island, a heart-shaped islet in the middle of the river whose good luck generating powers make it popular for weddings.

Days 8-9

Corpus Christi

Charming Corpus Christi is sometimes known as the Texas Riviera due to its stunning Gulf Coast beaches, warm waters and soft sands. Wander along the seafront and take a look at the miradors (small gazebos dotted along the bay), each adorned with a plaque describing an important event in the city’s history. Later, gorge on fresh seafood or take a boat trip to Padre Island, the world’s longest barrier island, home to an assortment of birds and sea turtles.

Days 10-11

Houston

Finish your journey in well-heeled Houston, famous for NASA’s Space Center Houston, which offers a fascinating insight into space exploration – you can even take a tram tour of Mission Control. Use your Houston CityPass to explore an assortment of other museums in the Museum District showcasing the sciences, arts and local history. After all that exploring, refresh in the city’s ethnically diverse restaurant scene – why not try the southern speciality of fried chicken and waffles?