Texas Guide

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Why Travel to Texas, USA?
It's the second largest state in the country, with lots to explore.
Cowboys meets oil meet space wealth - with a Spaniard or two in the works makes for an interesting cultural mix.
And beyond the obvious oily bits there are some great outdoor recreational possibilities.

Downside:
The intense sun and blistering heat can flame grill your skin in the summer months.

When to Travel to Texas, USA:
Best: April-June or September-October
Okay: July-August. very hot.
Worst: December-February, rain and snow, though coast usually OK.

Major Festivals and Parades:
Jan - Feb, Mardi Gras, Galveston Island.
Feb, Stock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio.
Feb - March, Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston
March, South by Southwest Music Festival, Austin.
April, Fiesta, San Antonio
Sept - Oct, Texas State Fair, Dallas.
Nov - Dec, Wonderland of Lights, Marshall.

For some dates see: Eng' Speaking Festivals

Recreational Activities:
Cowboy Stuff: Dude Ranches offer cowboy lifestyle holidays, allowing guests to play at the wild west, with organised Wagon Drives and Rodeos turning extreme ranching techniques into a spectator action.
Hiking: Big Bend and Guadeloupe National Parks; Padre Island National Seashore and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf Coast; Hill Country.
Whitewater Rafting and Canoeing: Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park.
Climbing: Austin; Hueco Tanks State Historical Park, Chihuahan Desert.
Beaches: Padre Island National Seashore for supreme solitude and wildlife.

Where to Go:

Great Plains**

Dallas-Fort Worth** a sprawling 'metroplex' made famous by JR and now kept in the money by silicon. More information
Austin** unbeatable city for quality live music in the blues, country and rock vein with dozens of venues, especially during the superb South by Southwest Music extravaganza [March], the best in the country.
Lubbock* a must see for Buddy Holly fans with statue, walk of fame, gallery and his grave. There are also some good museums esp. the Museum of Texastech and National Ranching Heritage Centre.
Consider also - Cap Rock Canyons and Palo Duro Canyon State Parks; plus the wacky half buried limousines at the Cadillac Ranch!

USA Tours
More tour operators offering tours to the USA can be found in our listings here: USA Tours

Bugbog pages: Best USA | | USA Guide | California | USA Map | SW USA Map

Where to Go continued...

Gulf Coast**
Intense urban development with rivers and ocean ports barely visible as Florida dominates from a tourism perspective, leaving this area rather undeveloped - a beautiful beachy wilderness, with a few exceptions.

Houston** a wealthy sprawl well worth a short visit anytime outside of the sweltering summer heat, for its upbeat city culture and superb nearby space place, the Johnson Space Center and Rocket Park, for mission control, training labs, and old space vehicles. Try Chase Tower for a view over the city which has some old buildings around Allen's Landing and market Square Parks, plus some good museums around Montrose, River Oaks, and the Museum District.
Padre Island National Seashore** miles of undeveloped pristine sand dune lined white beaches awaiting your tent
Galveston Island* a 19th seaport with historic buildings and some attractions.

Chihuahuan Desert and Rio Grande**
This desert is the same one that peeps into New Mexico, Arizona and covers a lot of Mexico - the biggest desert on the continent.
The Rio Grande river is the Texas border with Mexico.
Visit in the spring for flowers, autumn for fall in Guadeloupe and rafting the rains.

San Antonio** a laid back Tex-Mexican hot pot boasting the Alamo amongst the five Spanish Missions which are now part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Big Bend National Park** with a bit of the Rio river, some desert and mountains, this is a great place for hiking, biking, rafting, bird watching and scenic driving.
Guadeloupe Mountains National Park* high desert with Guadeloupe Peak the highest point in the state and McKittrick Canyon.
Hueco Tanks Historical State Park* a watery oasis of pools in the desert where man and animal have found sustenance now and in the past.
Laredo* There are several crossing points into Mexico but Laredo is the most popular.
El Paso if you want a taste of Mexico without crossing the border then this is probably your best bet, the city is poor and predominantly Mexican.

Hill Country**
Between San Antonio and Austin lies a rather quaint hilly bit, Germanic cowboy.

Fredericksburg** sprekende deutsch? Germans did a friendly invasion here, so stop by for beer, wine and a Germanic good time.
Bandera and Kerrville** for wannabe cowboys Bandera is tops and nearby Kerrville provides country music, especially during the Folk Festival.