Thanks All!

Your input has really inspired us and we have booked our flights into Houston.

We'll get in about midday and so I think we'll go up to Dallas/Fort Worth (much cheaper for us to fly into Houston than Dallas)and spend 4 nights there.

Then go towards New Mexico spending just an overnighter in Amarillo and then 4 nights in Santa Fe/Alberqueque.

Then head south overnighting around Las Cruces and then Ozona.

Next heading to San Antonio/Austin and spend 5 nights here.

Possibly an overnighter in Corpus Christi and finally 4 nights Galveston/Houston.

Lots of planning still to do, but it will be much easier with all the info I have from you - and I have ordered Fodor's Texas Guide book.

If you meet any Brits in October/November do say 'Hi' it could be us!

Thanks again.

Also, I'll add, avoid dring in cities, especially Dallas/Houston but other larger ones too like Austin during "rush hour" which is 7am-9am when everyone is going to work or 4:30pm-6:00pm when everyone is coming home. The traffic is really bad. Texas and its' cities are VERY sprawling, you'll be doing a lot of driving which can get tiring, at least it is for me. I get frusturated driving to houston and have gotten lost more than once. Invest in a good map and good guide book and plan where you want to go each day. The highways are well marked. Better to choose fewer activites but spend more time. I'd try to choose things I wanted to see or do in clusters such as if you choose to go to NASA one day choose a restaraunt or other place that is either nearby or convenient to where you are or near where you are staying to avoid unecessary driving around. Good luck with your trip.

"avoid dring," I meant driving.

Sounds like a good plan. FYI - assume you're flying into IAH on either BA or CO. IAH is in the north part of Houston and about 4 hrs driving to Dallas. If you suffer from jet lag and don't want to undertake that drive after arrival, there are a lot of nice hotels in the airport area on in the vicinity of the towns of The Woodlands or Conroe just north of there on IH45.

Well, I think it's closer to 5 hours driving, fyi.

I lived in Houston for several years and have lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for almost 20. So I wanted to give you some ideas for our area, since most folks who've replied have supplied plenty of info for the other areas you might visit.

First, you should know that downtown Dallas is about 30 minutes from downtown Fort Worth. Often referred to as "D/FW" and "the Metroplex".

Things not to miss in Dallas: The Sixth Floor Museum. Take the audio tour- it's worth the few extra dollars. This is the museum in memorial to President John F. Kennedy. It is in the same building from which the fatal shots were fired. You can walk out onto the "grassy knoll" and even stand on the spot where his car was when he was assassinated. This is a very moving and very well-put-together museum. I highly recommend it:
http://www.jfk.org/

The Nasher Sculpture Museum:
http://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/

Shopping at the Galleria (basically, an indoor shopping city!). A true TEXAS experience:
http://www.dallasgalleria.com/#

If you've never seen a professional ice hockey game before, it is a real treat. And the Dallas Stars should be playing several dates in October, though I doubt their schedule is out yet. But if you're interested, it is there.

And of course, the State Fair if you happen to be here then. Here is the one caveat: That last weekend is also the Red River Shootout (now politically-corrected to the Red River "Rivalry"). (How old are you and will you have children with you?) This is a strictly Texas event. That is the weekend that the University of Texas football team plays their arch-rivals, OU (University of Oklahoma) at the Cotton Bowl. This on the grounds of the State Fair. There will be wall-to-wall people and LOTS OF ALCOHOL. Know this, though, it will be a real experience and could be lots of fun for a couple of UK'rs. (Whom I hear could give us all a run for our money when it comes to rowdiness at rugby games!) hahah

I agree with the posters who also recommended that you not miss Fort Worth. It is by far my favorite of the two cities. It is much more "laid back" than Dallas. And is unique unto itself. One of Fort Worth's mottos is "Where the West Begins" and it does seem to have some merit.

Whereas Dallas is more cosmopolitan, Ft. Worth has retained much of it's "western" feeling. Have a meal at the Reata restaurant. Excellent food. Wonderful Texas atmosphere.
http://www.reata.net/

Don't miss the beautiful Bass Performance Hall (it is hard to miss the huge angels atop the front of the building, with their 10' long brass horns!)
http://www.basshall.com/

Walk around Sundance Square (take in the block-long mural of a typical cattle drive), take in a brew at the Flying Saucer (300+ beers to choose from). Enjoy a steak at 8.0. (this restaurant is named for the amount of time a cowboy must stay on a bucking bronc during a rodeo)
http://www.sundancesquare.com/

Head over to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. Their Conservatory is outstanding. You won't see anything like it anywhere else. Prehistoric plants, some with leaves bigger than my house! Great place to spend an afternoon:
http://www.fwbg.org/

Then, head over to the Stockyards for the real thing. There is still a "cattle drive" every day. Lots of wonderful boutiques, Billy Bob's for real Texas music, and a regular rodeo.
http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/

Two of the best museums in the states (in my humble opinion- and I've been to many) are in Fort Worth. The Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter museum. (If you like Frederic Remington, the Amon Carter is unrivaled in its' collection.):
https://www.kimbellart.org/index.aspx
http://www.cartermuseum.org/

And if you've a mind, the brand new Dallas Cowboys football stadium will have just opened and is well worth a stop. It is incredible. It is in Arlington (where I live), but not too far off the major interstate that runs between Dallas and Fort Worth:
http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/

If you want a fabulous hotel to stay at to enjoy the best of both cities, the Gaylord Texan is it:
http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-texan/

It is also located near Grapevine Mills, another huge shopping mall that has many well-known outlets. Much more fun, in my opinion, than the Galleria in Dallas:
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1248 (It also has 30 movie screens at their theater.)

PS I know you were interested in the Drive-in movie theater. My adult children have been many times to the Galaxy Drive-in in Ennis. And it is on your way from Houston to Dallas- right off of Interstate 45!
http://www.galaxydriveintheatre.com/

I'm very excited for you to be able to spend 3 weeks in our fair state. I know you will love your trip here!

Paula

The TX State Fair is Sept 25 to Oct 18th so that is out.

End of October - begining of November is usually pretty good weather - probably mid 60's during the day, but weather in Texas is very fickle.

Agree that if you are coming to Austin on a weekend, check ahead of time to make sure it's not a football weekend OR make your reservations well in advance.