Texas is the second largest state in the country. It is over 7000 miles long and almost as wide. The state boasts of an interesting terrain of a long coastline, huge mountains, vast plains and very up-beat urban cities. The city has everything to offer in terms of best vacation spots in Texas, right from underground caves, beautiful hills and mountains or beach getaways. If you are looking for inner peace and rejuvenation with fresh air or relaxing tides, there is a perfect spot for you in Texas. People interested in the calm as well as the attractions of the big cities will also not be disappointed.
Best Vacation Spots in Texas
Austin
Austin is the capital of Texas and one of the best cities to be in. It is a destination favored by music lovers as it hosts live concerts almost every night. The venues for these concerts also provide lots of variety. If you are visiting Austin for the first time, you will instantly feel the electric atmosphere in the air. You will be able to shop for lots of stuff at the SoCo shopping district. Austin also hosts the Austin Film Festival and Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Galveston
Galveston is one of the most historic cities in Texas and is located 50 miles south of Houston. The Spanish first settled here in 1528. Located along the Gulf coast, it has over 32 miles of beach and thus is one of the most popular beach destinations in Texas. Galveston has been divided into 8 parks, which include the Galveston Island State Park and Stewart Beach. You can choose to get accommodation on beachside hotel, condos and relax on private decks from where you can watch the sunsets. You can also enjoy dolphin-watching excursions, aviation museums and Victorian Architecture.
South Padre Island
One of the best vacation spots in Texas is the south Padre Island. South Padre Island is near the Texas-Mexico border and is accessible from the airports at South Padre, McAllen and Harlingen. If you are looking for luxury at a beach, you should visit South Padre Islands. The quality of the beaches is superior, making it one of the top destinations on the gulf coast. The rentals are also higher at this beach. The Isla Grand Beach Resort hosts concerts everyday, which brings about 20000 visitors per day. Students also visit this beach during spring breaks. You can visit this place all year round and choose from 30 lodging option, hotels or condos. The beach has over 10 restaurants and bars as well.
San Antonio
San Antonia is the 7th largest city in United States and boasts of a rich history. For this reason, travelers interested in history tend to place this city at the number one spot to visit in Texas. Alamo is the most popular and star landmark in San Antonio and also the most visited attraction in the state. You can also check out the location where Mexican General Santa Anna defeated the Texan Army. The River walk, which is a four mile stretch of canals lined with restaurants, shops and cafes is also a must visit. You should check out the Market square, Texas barbeque, try hiking in the Government Canyon or jogging in the Brackenridge Park.
Dallas
Known as the economic artery of Texas, Dallas is now slowly developing as art and music center as well. It boasts of the largest urban art districts in the country—the 68 acre Dallas Art District featuring 13 state of the art facilities. The AT&T performing arts center also houses the opera house, outdoor artist square, theatre and a performance hall. You can also download pre-recorded tours on your mobile phones at the Dallas museum of arts. A 55000 square-foot eco-friendly space has been created at the Nasher Sculpture center. You can choose to live the night life in Dallas at the Deep Ellum, where jazz, country, rock and all kinds of music can be heard at all hours. All these make it one of the best vacation spots in Texas.
Houston
Houston is the most populous city in the state of Texas and has population from various ethnic groups and religious backgrounds. It is located fifty miles from the Gulf of Mexico and is ringed in by lot of freeways. You will find lots of world-class art institutions, museums, restaurants and night clubs in Houston. You can shop during the day and party in a nightclub later. When it comes to food, one should have the local variety of barbeque, which is quite famous. The Museum district will be a place where the art lovers should head to. And Montrose is the destination for a happy night life.
Enchanted Rock
This place is located north of Fredricksberg, Texas Hill Country and is the largest rock formation in the United States. The dome of the rock formation rises 425 feet above the ground level. It was declared as a National Natural Landmark in 1970 and is a part of the Texas State Parks System. Thousands of visitors come to this place every year. You can try camping, bird watching and rock climbing activities here. You can choose to stay in tents here and basic facilities are provided by the park. The most popular activity here is a 4 mile trail which has lots of rock formations included.
Big Thicket National Preserve
The Big Thicket National Preserve, one of the best vacation spots in Texas, covers almost 100,000 acres of land and is the first preserve in United States. You can find diverse plants and animals in this NP. Thousands of visitors come here annually. The most popular activities are backpacking, hiking and camping. You can also enjoy jogging, bird watching, nature viewing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing in this National Preserve. It is open every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year day and they do not charge any fee for entrance or activities.
Garner State Park
The Garner State Park is located on the Frio River in Concan with around 1400 acres of land, which includes 10 acres of river frontage. It is one of the most popular summer getaways in Texas either for swimming, fishing, paddling or tubing. The river is the main attraction for locals as well as visitors to this place. You can even try canoeing, kayaking and snorkeling in the river waters. Besides the water activities, you can also choose hiking, bird and nature watching. You can stay at the park in tents or rent out cabins.
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