Texas In Depth

Dallas

Welcome to Texas! Enjoy your first evening exploring Dallas’ outstanding Arts District, where a collection of performing arts centres, theatres and museums come together to create the largest contiguous urban arts district in the USA.

Fort Worth

Soak up Fort Worth’s Old West charm, and learn about its cowboy roots: there is a reason why the town is sometimes called Cowtown! You can discover more in the many museums, including the National Cowgirl Museum, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Cowboys of Color Museum. For a real taste of the south, check out the rollicking rodeo at the Fort Worth Stockyards on Friday and Saturday nights, and lively bars any day of the week.

Fredericksburg

Learn about the American Civil War in Fredericksburg, home to four major battle sites. It’s easy to explore this town on foot, walking between the battlefields, mansions, museums and the pretty grounds of the University of Mary Washington. Get outdoors and canoe, hike or bike down the Rappahannock River. Later on, cool off with a beer or two in a local tavern or alehouse.

Big Bend

Discover the rugged wilderness of Big Bend National Park, encompassing the Chihuauan Desert as well as a sprinkling of mountains. The famous Rio Grande river forms the southern boundary of the park. Observe the wide variety of plants and birds – more than 450 species call this area home and twitchers might like to know that this is the only place in the US where you can see the Colima Warbler. Look out too for skunks, raccoons, foxes, and very occasionally, black bears and mountain lions.

Bandera

Live the rodeo lifestyle in Bandera, the self-proclaimed ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’. Stay on a ranch, watch a rodeo, visit the Frontier Times Museum for cowboy memorabilia, or dance in one of the 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. But it’s not all about the meat – there are menus to suit every taste.

Austin

Head north to laid-back Austin, where the air is filled with live country music beats. Admire the pink granite facade of the Texas State Capitol and wander around the prestigious University of Texas, where the UT Tower offers a great view over campus and its surrounds. For a more unusual outdoor attraction take a dip in Barton Springs Pool, a natural hot spring in the middle of 358-acre Zilker Park. With an average temperature of 21⁰C, this inviting pool offers year-round swimming in the heart of the city.

San Antonio

Continue on to lively San Antonio, site of the notorious siege of the Alamo. Explore the fortress, a former mission, and learn about its pivotal role in the Texas Revolution. Discover the other sights of the city on the San Antonio River Walk, a pretty network of footpaths connecting grassy parks, noteworthy museums, opulent theatres, luxury shops and cutting edge restaurants along the San Antonio River. Also worth a visit is the Pearl Brewery, home to farmers markets and eateries filled with local produce just waiting to be sampled.

Corpus Christi

Set off for the stunning beaches of the Gulf Coast at charming Corpus Christi, sometimes known as the Texas Riviera. Feast on seafood and chill by the sea, or take a boat to the offshore islands, such as Padre Island, the world’s longest barrier island and home to an assortment of birds and sea turtles. Back on the mainland there are more historical treasures to discover such as the USS Lexington, a World War II naval aircraft carrier, and a smattering of historic mansions.

Houston

Arrive in Houston, a laid-back city renowned for oil and gas exploration, rodeos, boot scootin’ and southern hospitality. Visit NASA's Space Center Houston for an intergalactic adventure, ride like a cowboy at the Cypress Trails Equestrian Centre or discover the city from 20 feet underground in its subterranean passage system. Then head to Wild West or Anderson Fair to enjoy some of the country tunes that made this ‘Bayou City’ famous