Texas travel ideas
Nov 22nd, 2011, 06:02 PM
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Texas travel ideas
Hey folks,
Just had a few questions regarding a potential trip to Texas. My wife and I were thinking of traveling in either April or May and would be flying out of Syracuse and renting a car.
The purpose of the trip is simply to explore some areas of the state and soak up its best parts for approximately 10 days. We're both fascinated by Southern U.S. culture and have already experienced the deep south (AL,MS,LA) so Texas seemed like a logical follow-up trip.
A preliminary idea was to fly into Austin considering we both love music, spend a couple of days and go from there. I'm having trouble building an itinerary after time spent in Austin only because the state is so big and there are so many directions one could head. I've heard of hill country (but don't know what it has to offer), San Antonio of course (but don't want to do a ton of big city driving) and then there's the gulf coast (which I know very little about).
Anyway, I mentioned music but we also love history, anything culturally unique to Texas and just regular vacation stuff ie: beaches, nightlife, shopping etc.
I know this is lengthy so thanks to anyone who reads it all and replies.
Just had a few questions regarding a potential trip to Texas. My wife and I were thinking of traveling in either April or May and would be flying out of Syracuse and renting a car.
The purpose of the trip is simply to explore some areas of the state and soak up its best parts for approximately 10 days. We're both fascinated by Southern U.S. culture and have already experienced the deep south (AL,MS,LA) so Texas seemed like a logical follow-up trip.
A preliminary idea was to fly into Austin considering we both love music, spend a couple of days and go from there. I'm having trouble building an itinerary after time spent in Austin only because the state is so big and there are so many directions one could head. I've heard of hill country (but don't know what it has to offer), San Antonio of course (but don't want to do a ton of big city driving) and then there's the gulf coast (which I know very little about).
Anyway, I mentioned music but we also love history, anything culturally unique to Texas and just regular vacation stuff ie: beaches, nightlife, shopping etc.
I know this is lengthy so thanks to anyone who reads it all and replies.
Nov 22nd, 2011, 06:46 PM
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We live in Oklahoma nad frequent Texas at least a couple of time a year. Here is some of our favorite things and a few ideas
Dallas-Shopping and Dining
San Antonio-Alamo and Riverwalk
Schlitterbahn waterpark in New Braunsfel
National Parks-Big Bend and Guadalupe. Guadalupe is right near Carlsbad-although Carlsbad is in New Mexico. The wild cave tour in Carlsbad is an incredible experience.
Maybe see a Baseball or Basketball game.
Galveston and Corpus Christi are both a couple of options for the coast.
Dallas-Shopping and Dining
San Antonio-Alamo and Riverwalk
Schlitterbahn waterpark in New Braunsfel
National Parks-Big Bend and Guadalupe. Guadalupe is right near Carlsbad-although Carlsbad is in New Mexico. The wild cave tour in Carlsbad is an incredible experience.
Maybe see a Baseball or Basketball game.
Galveston and Corpus Christi are both a couple of options for the coast.
Nov 22nd, 2011, 07:22 PM
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Just a few quick ideas:
From Austin, head west on 290 to Fredericksburg for a 2 or 3 night stay. On the way, stop and tour the LBJ Ranch (self-guided CD tour of the ranch and guided tour of the ranch house). Shop along Main Street (Rustlin's Robs is my favorite for Texas food--all of which you can taste for free), visit the excellent Musuem of the Pacific War (Nimitz Museum), go hiking at Enchanted Rock or Pedernales State Park, eat some good German food, etc.
From Fredericksburg, drive to San Antonio (various routes) through more of the Hill Country. Stay for a couple nights to visit the Alamo, the Museum of Texas Cultures, the Spanish missions, and to walk and eat along the Riverwalk.
Fron San Antonio, drive to Corpus Christi for a couple of beach days. Return to Austin via Goliad for some more Texas history.
From Austin, head west on 290 to Fredericksburg for a 2 or 3 night stay. On the way, stop and tour the LBJ Ranch (self-guided CD tour of the ranch and guided tour of the ranch house). Shop along Main Street (Rustlin's Robs is my favorite for Texas food--all of which you can taste for free), visit the excellent Musuem of the Pacific War (Nimitz Museum), go hiking at Enchanted Rock or Pedernales State Park, eat some good German food, etc.
From Fredericksburg, drive to San Antonio (various routes) through more of the Hill Country. Stay for a couple nights to visit the Alamo, the Museum of Texas Cultures, the Spanish missions, and to walk and eat along the Riverwalk.
Fron San Antonio, drive to Corpus Christi for a couple of beach days. Return to Austin via Goliad for some more Texas history.
Nov 23rd, 2011, 05:19 AM
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I would second everything in longhorn55's list! I love Enchanted Rock and the LBJ Ranch was a stop we made on every road trip to my grandparent's house as a kid. If you are going to include Fredericksburg and the Hill Country you might want to stop in Bandera (Cowboy Capitol of the World), shop for some boots, and stop in at Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar a real old-time country western saloon that plays some good music, live and otherwise. And while you are there you have to eat at OST (Old Spanish Trail) restaurant. They have very good breakfasts and awesome enchiladas. Not too far away is Lost Maples State Park. If you travel in April and May you might be there while the bluebonnets are in bloom but I'm worried that the severe drought we are experiencing might not make for a stellar wildflower year.
Nov 23rd, 2011, 05:29 AM
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If you like music, include a visit to Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas, in Gruene (near New Braunfels). The town of Gruene is fun too with a nice assortment of little shops, many of them located in old houses. There are several nice restaurants too, several overlook the nearby Guadalupe River.
Nov 23rd, 2011, 07:46 AM
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I just second everything everyone has said here. We are spending a month in Hill Country in the spring to visit all the above mentioned and see the bluebonnets. We are staying in Gruene and taking day trips. Can't wait!
Nov 23rd, 2011, 09:27 AM
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Haven't been to Texas much, but if/when I go, I'll probably include visits to one or more of Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. I'd also do a day trip from Austin to Lockhart to sample the BBQ options and another day trip from Dallas or Fort Worth to Arlington for a baseball game (a baseball game in Houston would also be part of this). My preliminary research suggests that 3-4 days in each city is about right if you're thorough.
Dec 4th, 2011, 08:50 AM
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Markets--generally on Sat, these are fun filled areas of anywhere from 20 to 30 to 470 vendors like in Wimberley with gifts, fab food and music.
Wimberley, Bandera- 1st Sat of the month
Georgetown, Boerne, Marble Falls - 2nd Sat
Blanco, Gruene (pronounced Green), Fredericksburg, Llano- 3nd Sat
In addition to the Market or trade days, the town and town square would be a lot of fun.
My husband and I like a lot of Texans also are trying to visit every courthouse in Tx as they all are unique and all have a story.
Wimberley, Bandera- 1st Sat of the month
Georgetown, Boerne, Marble Falls - 2nd Sat
Blanco, Gruene (pronounced Green), Fredericksburg, Llano- 3nd Sat
In addition to the Market or trade days, the town and town square would be a lot of fun.
My husband and I like a lot of Texans also are trying to visit every courthouse in Tx as they all are unique and all have a story.
Dec 30th, 2011, 06:33 AM
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From Austin, a trip to Fredericksburg would be nice.
Unique to Texas stuff there is the Nimitz Museum www.nimitz-museum.org and nearby Luchenbach www.luckenbachtexas.com if you are familiar with the song, it will all make more sense after a visit.
If you feel the need to burn off some calories form the German food in the area, you can climb Enchanted Rock.
April might give you an opportunity to see Bluebonnets. May would be the beginning of our 6 months of summer heat. Coming from New York, that may be a factor in your planning.
Happy planning.
Unique to Texas stuff there is the Nimitz Museum www.nimitz-museum.org and nearby Luchenbach www.luckenbachtexas.com if you are familiar with the song, it will all make more sense after a visit.
If you feel the need to burn off some calories form the German food in the area, you can climb Enchanted Rock.
April might give you an opportunity to see Bluebonnets. May would be the beginning of our 6 months of summer heat. Coming from New York, that may be a factor in your planning.
Happy planning.
Dec 30th, 2011, 10:27 AM
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"If you're choosing between April and May, I would come in April when the bluebonnets are in bloom."
And make it the first part of April if you're interested in the Hill Country and the wildflowers. We only had bluebonnets in full flower for about 10 days this year (it was a suck year for them, 2010 was far better).
Don't be surprised by how many bluebonnet chasers you see - I travel home on a street that curves down a broad hill and the hill fills up with bluebonnets so much that we get random passersby stopping their cars to take pictures or people from outside the neighborhood trekking to our area to take family pics.
If you're in Texas on the 3rd weekend in April, you should visit the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival (admission is free). If you're in Texas on the 3rd weekend in May, consider a day pass to the Wildflower Festival in Richardson (similar, but better music thus the charge).
As for more cultural insight - the downtown Dallas Arts District now equals or surpasses FW's, and its zoo and science museums are both better than FW's. FW has Sundance Square, which is the heart of that city's downtown, but also has some nice eclectic areas outside downtown, good eating just east of the Arts District and on Magnolia Avenue south of I-30. Good food in the Dallas area is not hard to find - there's a shooting-fish-in-a-barrel aspect to it. [N.B. - our best Asian cuisine is Thai, not Chinese like in NY, and no matter how much BBQ you want, if you like Asian cuisine you should visit a top Thai resto in the DFW area).
Major difference between Dallas and Houston sports is that Dallas has Major League quality baseball. Houston did once. Round Rock and Frisco (suburbs of Austin and Dallas, respectively) each have farm teams.
Both the Ballpark and Minute Maid Field (formerly Enron Field, aka Ten-Run Field) are great places to watch baseballs fly all over the bloody place. Houston is 10 times worse to navigate than Dallas - the traffic is awful, and the city is a sprawling amoeba.
And make it the first part of April if you're interested in the Hill Country and the wildflowers. We only had bluebonnets in full flower for about 10 days this year (it was a suck year for them, 2010 was far better).
Don't be surprised by how many bluebonnet chasers you see - I travel home on a street that curves down a broad hill and the hill fills up with bluebonnets so much that we get random passersby stopping their cars to take pictures or people from outside the neighborhood trekking to our area to take family pics.
If you're in Texas on the 3rd weekend in April, you should visit the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival (admission is free). If you're in Texas on the 3rd weekend in May, consider a day pass to the Wildflower Festival in Richardson (similar, but better music thus the charge).
As for more cultural insight - the downtown Dallas Arts District now equals or surpasses FW's, and its zoo and science museums are both better than FW's. FW has Sundance Square, which is the heart of that city's downtown, but also has some nice eclectic areas outside downtown, good eating just east of the Arts District and on Magnolia Avenue south of I-30. Good food in the Dallas area is not hard to find - there's a shooting-fish-in-a-barrel aspect to it. [N.B. - our best Asian cuisine is Thai, not Chinese like in NY, and no matter how much BBQ you want, if you like Asian cuisine you should visit a top Thai resto in the DFW area).
Major difference between Dallas and Houston sports is that Dallas has Major League quality baseball. Houston did once. Round Rock and Frisco (suburbs of Austin and Dallas, respectively) each have farm teams.
Both the Ballpark and Minute Maid Field (formerly Enron Field, aka Ten-Run Field) are great places to watch baseballs fly all over the bloody place. Houston is 10 times worse to navigate than Dallas - the traffic is awful, and the city is a sprawling amoeba.
Jan 1st, 2012, 09:23 AM
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Fiesta is in April in San Antonio:
http://www.fiesta-sa.org/
It may be something you want to experience or to avoid, but it will definitely affect your trip if you are in SA at that time.
I know people here love to recommend Fredericksburg, but I have to weigh in with my opinion. I live in central Texas, and Fred. is a place to take a day trip if you live here and want to kill a day. There is so much to see and do in Texas, I would never recommend you even go there on your first trip. Yes, it has the Nimitz museum but unless you've seen every museum in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, I wouldn't go there just to experience that. Fredericksburg is basically a Main Street with lots of quaint shops. Now, if the wildflowers are in bloom it may be worth it to visit and see those on the drive, but you can see wildflowers many places and you would have to decide if that's worth it.
Big Russ clearly has a preference for the Dallas area, but Houston is not that bad, and certainly not compared to Dallas, speaking of sprawling. Dallas/Fort Worth definitely qualifies for that. Houston has a museum district so you don't necessarily have to go chasing all over the city. Just look at the offerings in both areas (Dallas and Houston and decide which you would rather do. Flying in to Austin, you could do a circuit to San Antonio, then Houston, and back, and not go the same way twice. Dallas, you are going north and then south on the same boring interstate.
I live in New BRAUNFELS and you may not be able to swim in April--just depends on the weather. Also don't know if adults would really enjoy Schlitterbahn even if the weather is amenable. You would probably enjoy getting into one of the rivers here more. In this area, there is Gruene Hall, which you have to do if you love music:
http://gruenehall.com/
Also you might enjoy Natural Bridge Caverns between SA and New Braunfels.
I do get a little exhausted by all of the suggestions. Old Spanish Trail restaurant for enchiladas? If you are going to be in San Antonio, there are more Tex Mex restaurants with excellent food than you could begin to shake a stick at. OST restaurant is a place to go if you are staying in Bandera and need somewhere to eat. You don't travel to Bandera to eat there. Big Bend is way out of the way, and I would only recommend that if it's something you really want to do. It's 5-6 hours each way from San Antonio; that's a lot of driving.
I actually think you should get a guide book to review the areas, then decide which you want to focus on and come back for recs.
http://www.fiesta-sa.org/
It may be something you want to experience or to avoid, but it will definitely affect your trip if you are in SA at that time.
I know people here love to recommend Fredericksburg, but I have to weigh in with my opinion. I live in central Texas, and Fred. is a place to take a day trip if you live here and want to kill a day. There is so much to see and do in Texas, I would never recommend you even go there on your first trip. Yes, it has the Nimitz museum but unless you've seen every museum in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, I wouldn't go there just to experience that. Fredericksburg is basically a Main Street with lots of quaint shops. Now, if the wildflowers are in bloom it may be worth it to visit and see those on the drive, but you can see wildflowers many places and you would have to decide if that's worth it.
Big Russ clearly has a preference for the Dallas area, but Houston is not that bad, and certainly not compared to Dallas, speaking of sprawling. Dallas/Fort Worth definitely qualifies for that. Houston has a museum district so you don't necessarily have to go chasing all over the city. Just look at the offerings in both areas (Dallas and Houston and decide which you would rather do. Flying in to Austin, you could do a circuit to San Antonio, then Houston, and back, and not go the same way twice. Dallas, you are going north and then south on the same boring interstate.
I live in New BRAUNFELS and you may not be able to swim in April--just depends on the weather. Also don't know if adults would really enjoy Schlitterbahn even if the weather is amenable. You would probably enjoy getting into one of the rivers here more. In this area, there is Gruene Hall, which you have to do if you love music:
http://gruenehall.com/
Also you might enjoy Natural Bridge Caverns between SA and New Braunfels.
I do get a little exhausted by all of the suggestions. Old Spanish Trail restaurant for enchiladas? If you are going to be in San Antonio, there are more Tex Mex restaurants with excellent food than you could begin to shake a stick at. OST restaurant is a place to go if you are staying in Bandera and need somewhere to eat. You don't travel to Bandera to eat there. Big Bend is way out of the way, and I would only recommend that if it's something you really want to do. It's 5-6 hours each way from San Antonio; that's a lot of driving.
I actually think you should get a guide book to review the areas, then decide which you want to focus on and come back for recs.
Jan 1st, 2012, 10:02 AM
#16
Great advice fyb! I especially agree with your comment on Fredericksburg! We went there the first time decades ago, before we'd ever lived in San Antonio, where like you, we may go on a day we are just bored and want to get out of Dodge. We were living in Dallas, and like travel boards here, we kept hearing about F'berg so had to make a trip to see it. I was so disappointed. "This is all there is?" I don't even think the shops are that quaint, although there was one great one I used to make a trip for specifically, but it's gone (or gone in it's old form)--Homestead. And this was decades ago, and it has not improved with time.
Gruene is far quainter than F'burg, and we even have more fun in Boerne with half the travel time. Now if we are going to Enchanted Rock, we'll go to F'burg to eat because it's convenient and we are hungry after the hike, but I just don't get all the Fredericksburg recs! We can happily spend a half day in Gruene, an afternoon in Gruene Hall, far more so than beating the pavement in F'burg in search of that elusive...something or other.
Gruene is far quainter than F'burg, and we even have more fun in Boerne with half the travel time. Now if we are going to Enchanted Rock, we'll go to F'burg to eat because it's convenient and we are hungry after the hike, but I just don't get all the Fredericksburg recs! We can happily spend a half day in Gruene, an afternoon in Gruene Hall, far more so than beating the pavement in F'burg in search of that elusive...something or other.
Jan 2nd, 2012, 09:49 PM
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fyb is correct when she says that BigRuss is a Dallas fan. To state that the Dallas zoo is better than the Ft. Worth zoo is simply bad information. However, this is probably moot as I doubt anyone wants to visit zoos when they have them in their own backyard.
Anyway, I have lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for 20+ years; I previously lived in Houston for several years.
Houston is much more spread out, but like most big cities in the US, has much to offer. The Johnson Space Center is just outside of Houston, and the Museum of Fine Arts is one of my favorites.
San Antonio has the Riverwalk, the Alamo and other delightful Texas touches. There are a series of historical Texas Missions that would be great to do, if you indeed like history. Just Google "Texas Missions".
Austin's motto is "Keep Austin Weird".
I don't find it weird, I just find it fun. Good music, good eats. Layed back. Some pretty scenery. 2nd Street has some great eats. I love the tapas place next to Malaga's (also good tapas), but cannot recall the name. The bats should also be back by your visit, but not nearly as many as you would get late in the summer. But check out the Congress Avenue bridge at sunset. That is surely a unique experience! (Google it).
I, too, think Fredericksburg is a good day trip. Gruene definitely, if you like music and hill country.
Dallas must stops include the Sixth Floor Museum, the Nasher Museum and the Dallas World Aquarium (though only the first is probably unique to Texas). White Rock Lake will also be lovely this time of year. You can rent a bike and ride around it, or just take a picnic lunch. If it's shopping you like, you can't beat Dallas! Northpark is my fave, but the Galleria is no slouch.
Cowboy Stadium in Arlington is a must-see, if you like football at all. Tours are available, check out the website. (Arlington is not a "day trip" from Fort Worth. They are next door to each other. From downtown Fort Worth to downtown Dallas is about a 35-40 minutes ride on I-30, and Arlington lies between them.) Check out the Rangers' schedule during your visit. The Ballpark is in Arlington, also, and is a terrific place to take in a game. Especially when it is still cool here.
Additionally, if it is "Texas" unique you are looking for, you want to check out the website for the Fort Worth Stockyards. They have a rodeo every weekend and a mini cattle-drive a couple times a day. But Sundance Square is also a nice laid-back place to take a stroll and check out local eats, as well as the beautiful Bass Hall.
The cultural district in Ft. Worth is fabulous. The Kimbell Art Museum is so worth a visit. And they will be commencing a terrific Impressionists exhibit in March. If you are a fan of Western art, you cannot beat the Amon Carter museum, in the same area as the Kimbell. The Amon Carter has the largest collection of Remington art in the world.
Many wonderful places to eat in Fort Worth. Many people choose Joe T. Garcia's for the atmosphere, but I like the food at Uncle Julio's better. But so many other choices if you are not into TexMex.
You have some tough decisions. A guidebook might be a good place to start. Good luck! (I also say early April...wildflowers are best early-to-mid April.)
Anyway, I have lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for 20+ years; I previously lived in Houston for several years.
Houston is much more spread out, but like most big cities in the US, has much to offer. The Johnson Space Center is just outside of Houston, and the Museum of Fine Arts is one of my favorites.
San Antonio has the Riverwalk, the Alamo and other delightful Texas touches. There are a series of historical Texas Missions that would be great to do, if you indeed like history. Just Google "Texas Missions".
Austin's motto is "Keep Austin Weird".
I don't find it weird, I just find it fun. Good music, good eats. Layed back. Some pretty scenery. 2nd Street has some great eats. I love the tapas place next to Malaga's (also good tapas), but cannot recall the name. The bats should also be back by your visit, but not nearly as many as you would get late in the summer. But check out the Congress Avenue bridge at sunset. That is surely a unique experience! (Google it).I, too, think Fredericksburg is a good day trip. Gruene definitely, if you like music and hill country.
Dallas must stops include the Sixth Floor Museum, the Nasher Museum and the Dallas World Aquarium (though only the first is probably unique to Texas). White Rock Lake will also be lovely this time of year. You can rent a bike and ride around it, or just take a picnic lunch. If it's shopping you like, you can't beat Dallas! Northpark is my fave, but the Galleria is no slouch.
Cowboy Stadium in Arlington is a must-see, if you like football at all. Tours are available, check out the website. (Arlington is not a "day trip" from Fort Worth. They are next door to each other. From downtown Fort Worth to downtown Dallas is about a 35-40 minutes ride on I-30, and Arlington lies between them.) Check out the Rangers' schedule during your visit. The Ballpark is in Arlington, also, and is a terrific place to take in a game. Especially when it is still cool here.
Additionally, if it is "Texas" unique you are looking for, you want to check out the website for the Fort Worth Stockyards. They have a rodeo every weekend and a mini cattle-drive a couple times a day.
But Sundance Square is also a nice laid-back place to take a stroll and check out local eats, as well as the beautiful Bass Hall. The cultural district in Ft. Worth is fabulous. The Kimbell Art Museum is so worth a visit. And they will be commencing a terrific Impressionists exhibit in March. If you are a fan of Western art, you cannot beat the Amon Carter museum, in the same area as the Kimbell. The Amon Carter has the largest collection of Remington art in the world.
Many wonderful places to eat in Fort Worth. Many people choose Joe T. Garcia's for the atmosphere, but I like the food at Uncle Julio's better. But so many other choices if you are not into TexMex.
You have some tough decisions. A guidebook might be a good place to start.
Good luck! (I also say early April...wildflowers are best early-to-mid April.)
Jan 3rd, 2012, 05:40 PM
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There is so much to see and do in Texas! Your trip is planned for a time when the state is showing her best colors. I know that you'll find more than you can fit into your schedule, but this is a good starting point for planning your trip:
Go to this website and order your FREE guidebook today
http://www.traveltex.com/plan-your-t...r-travel-guide
Then, come back and ask us for specific information.
We love to help visitors to the Lone Star State!
Go to this website and order your FREE guidebook today
http://www.traveltex.com/plan-your-t...r-travel-guide
Then, come back and ask us for specific information.
We love to help visitors to the Lone Star State!
Jan 3rd, 2012, 06:30 PM
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Agree with OO about F'burg. It's nice for a day trip but totally Would pick Greune over F'burg. But can do Gruene in one day and night. Pick a time with good music at Gruene Hall and designate a driver or spend the night
If u go to Lockhart, for BBQ, time it right. They sell out and if the line is long, you are SOL.
I am very biased and think Austin is THE place to be in Texas. I'd make it your base a few days, visit Gruene, LBJ, nearby wineries. Spend a day or two in San Antonio.
If you head "north", I'd pick Ft Worth over Dallas as well.
If u go to Lockhart, for BBQ, time it right. They sell out and if the line is long, you are SOL.
I am very biased and think Austin is THE place to be in Texas. I'd make it your base a few days, visit Gruene, LBJ, nearby wineries. Spend a day or two in San Antonio.
If you head "north", I'd pick Ft Worth over Dallas as well.
