Texas is a really big state, the very biggest according to some of its residents (even though Alaska is more than twice as large). A state so large has a lifetime’s worth of things to see and do, so making an itinerary can be challenging.
If you visit the Lone Star State, you shouldn’t miss out on at least some of these 20 best things to do and see in the state:
Go to a Rodeo
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You can see a rodeo in any state, but it’s a special experience in Texas. Local influences and a sense of community make Texas rodeos feel more like cultural events.
Eat at a Barbecue Joint
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You can also get barbecue in all 50 states, and Texas-style barbecue isn’t the only famous type in the country (the Kansas City, Memphis, and Carolina styles are also really well-regarded). However, as with the rodeo, going to a local barbecue joint in Texas is just as much about the culture as it is the food.
Cool Off at a Swimming Hole
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Texans like to joke that they get two weeks of spring, two weeks of fall, and two weeks of winter and that the rest is summer. The Texas summer is also no joke, often with long stretches of days that get into the triple digits, so it’s no wonder that Texans love their swimming holes. Some of the best-known natural sites include the Frio River, Barton Springs, Hamilton Pool, and Jacobs Well, but you can find swimming holes all over the state.
Attend an Outdoor Concert
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Texas is famous for its music, and it’s had an especially strong influence on rock and on country & western. Austin, the capital, even bills itself as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” and it hosts a huge music festival called Austin City Limits every fall.
Big Bend National Park
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If you took a survey about the most spectacular natural area in Texas, most responses would probably name Big Bend. This huge park has expanses of mountain, desert, river, and canyon landscapes, and there are miles and miles of trails and roads to help you explore them.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
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The Guadalupe Mountains contain Guadalupe Peak, the state’s highest point. It’s mostly a hiker’s park since roads mostly pass it, not penetrate it. One great place to visit is the field of white gypsum sand dunes on the west side of the park. It’s a short hike to get to them, and they frame the mountains beautifully.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
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The “Grand Canyon of Texas” is about 40 miles long and averages 6 miles in width, making it one of the largest canyons in the country. Within it are rugged geological formations formed from red sandstone and clay. Hiking, camping, and photography are popular activities here.
The Hill Country
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The Texas Hill Country runs roughly from Austin to San Antonio. It’s one of the most scenic places in Texas, and it has several state and county parks where the public can enjoy it up close. One of the best times to visit is in early spring when the famous Texas bluebonnets decorate roadsides, hills, and fields.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
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Enchanted Rock is one of the gems of the Hill Country. It’s a pink granite dome and an anomaly in Central Texas, where most of the rock is limestone. Popular activities here include hiking, camping, stargazing, and rock climbing.
Natural Bridge Caverns
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This Hill Country site in San Antonio was discovered in 1960 by four college students. Guided tours allow you to tour the best of this underground wonderland.
South Padre Island
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South Padre Island contains miles of pristine Gulf Coast beaches. Most of the landscape is protected as a national seashore, and it’s one of the most popular vacation destinations in the state.
Cadillac Ranch
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On the outskirts of Amarillo, not far from Palo Duro Canyon, is one of the oddest art exhibits you’ll ever see. The creator buried several Cadillacs nose-down in the ground here and left them for others to interpret through spray paint, so the appearance is constantly changing.
Fort Worth Stockyards
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The national historic district here allows you to get a taste of life in the Old West. It’s also the location of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. After dark, you can go on a ghost tour and learn about all the paranormal activity reported here.
Texas State Fair
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Located in Dallas, this fair runs for several weeks each fall. Music, exhibits, rodeo, local foods, and livestock auctions are among the many things you can enjoy doing or observing there.
The Texas State Railroad
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About two hours of driving southeast of Dallas is this historic old-fashioned railroad. You can buy a ticket for a four-hour round-trip journey back in time that also features 24 bridges.
State Capitol (Austin)
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Opened in 1888 and built from quarried pink granite like that found at Enchanted Rock, the Texas capitol was once the tallest state capitol and is still one of the most impressive. Just a few blocks away is the excellent Bullock Texas State History Museum.
San Antonio River Walk
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For 15 miles, this strip runs through downtown San Antonio, and you can access scenic views, restaurants, craft shops, and more. You can also enjoy it by foot, by bike, or by barge.
The Alamo
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Also located in San Antonio, the Alamo has become legendary. Originally, it was one of several Spanish missions in the area that became San Antonio, but it’s now one of the most famous sites from Texas’s war for independence from Mexico.
Space Center Houston
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When space movies reference Houston, it’s not some gimmick. NASA has launched a lot of rockets from Houston, and the Space Center chronicles all of them and more. It’s a must-see for lovers of space and technology.
Galveston
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South Padre Island is where you want to experience the coast without development. Galveston, rich in history as well, is where you go if the development doesn’t turn you off. There are also excellent national wildlife refuges in the area where you can view rare and endangered species and migrating birds.
11 Iconic Tourist Spots That Left Visitors Feeling Underwhelmed
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Traveling can be an exhilarating experience, opening our eyes to new cultures, landscapes, and ways of life.
However, not every destination lives up to our expectations, and sometimes, places we’ve dreamt of visiting can end up being a disappointment. Here are some travel destinations that, according to some travelers’ opinions, didn’t quite meet their expectations:
11 Iconic Tourist Spots That Left Visitors Feeling Underwhelmed
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