Places to explore in Texas

Yeah, I know Texas is BIG....REALLY BIG.

But I want to start exploring it a bit. I'm now based in AZ and I like it here but one reason for moving here is I want to see more of the USA and I've seen most of the west coast, east coast and across the northern half of the country at least a bit.

So most of the states I haven't been to are from AZ east across the south. So I want to start exploring Texas first then later I'll head further east across the south.

My idea is to take a couple weeks or a month at a time and go explore a semi-local area, spending a few days here and a few days there.

So to all you locals, where should I start. I should add I'm not a huge fan of big cities but I would like to see some of the highlights or big tourist items while passing through maybe. I tend to like smaller towns better.

Thanks,
John

 

Ft Worth Stockyards - Stay at The Drover hotel, a Friday - Sunday would be enough for the experience
San Antonio - Stay at The Elan, well positioned, so that you can see the Alamo, and still make a day trip to drive the 3 sisters
Lajitas - Stay at the Lajitas Golf Resort - Explore from there - Have dinner at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua
Dallas - Stay at the Adolphus, stop by the Ferrari Dealership for a tour, you know, Dallas things..

There are so many more, but I thought I would start everyone off ....


Steve

 

Well, I think you should see Ft. Davis and Marfa. Not a fan of El Paso, but you will probably drive through it to get to those places. If you like nature, Big Bend is a neat park. I agree on Lajitas - it is a really unique spot. These are all in the very Western part of Texas. There is probably another zillion miles left to traverse after that. LOL

There are some neat towns such as Fredericksburg and Granbury. Hico has a great donut shop. Some still have active town squares. I’ll do some thinking.

 

As a Fort Worth native, Steve knocked out pretty much anything I can think of. Just adding that Big Bend is worth a visit as mentioned also above. I don’t hate Carlsbad Caverns right on the border… but I do hate Carlsbad.

Hit up Houston and Starbase if you’re into spaceship stuff.

 

Fort Worth recs left out the Fort Worth Aviation Museum at Meachem Field, CR Smith museum at American Airlines office south of DFW airport, three world class art museums (Amon Carter, Kimbell and The Modern), DFW Car and Toy Museum, the zoo (top 5 small zoo in the US), Fossil Rim wildlife ranch near Glen Rose, Bass Hall, Dickies Arena and Casa Manana (depending on their schedules) and more

 

Austin & the nearby lakes

 

Fredericksburg
Port Aransas on the coast,. or Galveston
Circuit of the Americas
NASA in Clear Lake, (it's like a full day or more to take it all in)
Riverwalk in San Antonio
Franklins BBQ in Austin, Or Salt lick BBQ in Driftwood

 

Totally agree with Fredericksburg (Texas take on wine country meets German heritage), and the San Antonio river walk(add in the Alamo, El Mercado, and Mia Terra restaurant). Two other things I would suggest is New Braunfels and Gruene (especially if you like water slide parks, or river tubing (the Comal river, the Guadalupe river either from Canyon lake to Gruene, or simply around the horseshoe by Canyon Lake.). On the bbq list, I would add Burnt Bean in Sequin, or one of the 3 bbq places in Lockhart.

 

USS Lexington and aquarium in Corpus Christi
Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington
San Jacinto Monument and battlefield
Missions trail near San Antonio
Forests of east Texas
Texas State Railroad in Palestine
Balmorhea State Park

 

Wow, there's enough here to keep me busy for months. Thanks for all the suggestions. I am currently looking for a house here and need to plan a couple weeks trip to go see family in Western NY first, but then I'm thinking Texas roadtrip to see some of these suggestions. Might swing down then up through NM on the way or on the way back. It will be an epic one from preliminary looks, couple thousand miles at least just going and back.

Thanks all and I'll update as I get a better timeline. Would be great to meet up with some folks along the way too.

John

 

Another quick question. What are the best times of year to visit?

I'd love to get out of AZ in the summer for these trips, but I imagine it would be nearly as hot and much more humid in TX that time of year?

 

Texas is so large north to south that what's true for weather on the Gulf coast might not hold for the panhandle. That said April-May and late September-early November are pretty safe. Gulf Coast is always humid but not always hot, good through the winter. Late Spring through early summer is pretty nice in north central Texas but watch out for severe storms. El Paso is usually not humid but can be very hot in the summer. Lubbock/Amarillo can be hot and dry, cold and dry, somewhat humid, etc. Coldest weather in north central Texas is usually January to mid-February (in Fort Worth we call it Stock Show weather because frequently we get some form of crappy winter weather when the stock show/rodeo happens in mid to late January). How's that for a non-answer?

 

It's a good answer that I'll have to sort through when I start making more firm plans. Thanks!

 

Another consideration for central TX if you have allergies, January and February is cedar and oak allergy season. And during those months, it can get cold as well. South Padre and the valley is where a lot of retired people from the north go to escape during those months (referred to as snowbirds). As mentioned earlier, March, April, early May, September, October, and November are really good months for central TX. Late May can see some hot days. Suggestions for San Antonio and the river walk, weekend before ‘day of the dead’ has a large celebration, weekends before Christmas has the riverwalk lined with luminarias and a lot of festivities, however can be really busy. And then in late April / early May there is Fiesta, a week long celebration for the heroes of the Alamo. Expect crazy large crowds, but a lot of fun. Also in New Braunfels, usually in early November, there is Wurstfest, a week long celebration of sausage, beer, German dancing and all around fun. Funny story about Wurstfest. A couple of years back while at Wurstfest, there was a guy attempting to sell CD’s of his music. Didn’t buy one, but the following summer while walking down 59th street in NYC (next to central park) the exact same guy was there selling his CD’s. What are the odds.

 

Twisted Sisters in western hill country. 335, 336 & 337. Great twisties and views.

 

I can’t believe that nobody has suggested Lockhart, TX, Mecca for some of the best BBQ in the state. Start at Kreuz Market for early lunch. Blacks for early dinner, Smittys for late dinner. Leave in a meat coma. Maybe go see Circuit of the Americas while you’re close.

By the way, strong second on The Drover in Fort Worth and time in the Stockyards. Dinner at Lonssome Dove is a must while you’re close.

 

I always wanted to go to the land where there are a gazillion oil wells at work,
and photograph them. Color and B&W.
Midland Texas? Permian Basin?

That was my plan in 2019, but after already spending 4 weeks in the southwest - AZ, UT, CA, the
plan was to then drive thru Texas to South Padre Island, BUT, after 4 weeks I had
had enough, killed that part of the plan and drove home (Neb)