15 Best Places To Visit In Texas
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Everything is bigger and better in Texas--they always say--and that can start with your vacation to the enormous Lone Star state! Texas is bursting with state pride, patriotism, and opportunities for interests of all kinds. From history to sporting events to architecture to local foods to beautiful parks to nightlife, Texas makes for a great travel destination for any occasion or travel group.
As a state, Texas has a number of attractions that make for a good time, including: Tex-Mex cuisine, a lively music and entertainment scene, cowboy culture (still goin’ strong), museums, honky-tonks, and beautiful natural scenery.
In this article, I break down Texas by region and highlight what each region offers for a potential trip! Each section has a varied geographical terrain and offers unique things to do in Texas. I’ve included the can’t-miss attractions, sites, and cities of each region.
15 Places To Visit In Texas
Insider’s tip: One road-trip trademark of the state that all true Texans rep proudly is their Buc-ee’s (pronounced “Bucky’s”). Buc-ee’s is a chain travel center that sells all things true-and-Texas. There are locations throughout more southern states but Texas takes their Buc-ee’s very seriously. Any roadtrip in Texas would be incomplete without a pitstop and a browse at this popular travel center.
North Texas
North Texas is alive with the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. These hubs offer enough entertainment and opportunities for all sorts of travelers, whether you are going on a family trip, a bachelor or bachelorette’s weekend, a business trip, or more. North Texas terrain is mostly plainlands, spotted with rolling hills, lakes, and oil fields. To be honest, as someone who lived in Dallas for three years, you don’t go to North Texas for its natural beauty (leave that to the other regions of the state). North Texas does, however, have many other saving graces that can provide endless options for a trip. If you find yourself heading to North Texas, you will likely find yourself in one of the three listed cities below.
3 Places to Visit in North Texas
Dallas
Dallas is a major hub of Texas, alive with arts and culture, nightlife, sports, history, barbecue, and more. There is hardly a dull moment in this city, with events of all kinds, colleges, cool neighborhoods, neighboring lakes and county parks. It hosts the Texas State Fair every fall, which is a major state attraction, bringing all things Texas to life. The Sixth Floor Museum is the well-respected site of JFK’S assassination in 1963, and the Dallas Arboretum is another beloved Dallas site to browse through. Dallas locals take their sports, margaritas, and tacos seriously; foodies and sports-fanatics will be happy to flex here!
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is a must-visit spot. Dallas’ older and more historic neighbor, Fort Worth has all of the old-school Texan charm that the more modern city of Dallas lacks. The Fort Worth Stockyards are a huge, cool attraction, with its many honky-tonks, live country music, saloons, rodeos, and more. The world’s largest honky-tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas, is located here, and that is a pleasure to experience, whether or not you're into country music!
Arlington
Arlington is home to many major attractions of the state. It hosts the enormous and exciting amusement park, Six Flags Over Texas, and also is proud to have the home stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers.
West Texas
The Western region of Texas is the huge, flat, rather unrelenting stretch of Texan land that never seems to end. Plus, it takes up the majority of the state. The region is mostly unpopulated; it is filled with gorgeous and memorable natural landmarks, flat stretches of plains and oil fields, minor cities, and memorable natural landmarks. While there are few major cities, West Texas should not be neglected, for it hosts many worthwhile sites to make a stop in. The state and national parks scattered throughout the western region grants a great deal of opportunity for outdoor recreation.
4 Places to Visit in West Texas
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a great area to get to know the outdoors of Texas. The night skies pop here with unfiltered views of the stars, and the Chisos mountains are a gem to explore, with canyons and the renowned Rio Grande winding through the park.
El Paso
El Paso is a sprawling major city, known for its border crossing to Juarez, Mexico. It is also known for its Tex-Mex cuisine. Two hours east will take you to the beautiful Guadalupe Mountains National Park, hovering right below the New Mexico border.
Palo Duro Canyon
Palo Duro Canyon is a state park in the northwest region of Texas that is a memorable destination for those who like to get outdoors. It is the second largest canyon in the country, located in the heart of the Texas panhandle, and is glorified with gorgeous red rocks, sweeping views, and epic hikes. In the same area, you find Caprock Canyons State Park, an additionally superb opportunity to be outside.
Route 66
Historic Route 66, for any roadtrip fanatics, is a famous highway that runs from downtown Chicago cross-country to the Santa Monica pier in California. The highway runs through the Texas panhandle, which resulted in pop-up towns along 66, including the more well-known town of Amarillo. When in Amarillo, you’ll have to check out a Route 66 landmark, The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery. Get some of that famous Texas barbeque!
Central/South Texas
South Texas has much to offer visitors, whether it is your first or fiftieth time. The southern region of Texas hosts the beautiful Hill Country, some of the wettest and prettiest land in Texas. It is also populated by historical and popular cities such as San Antonio and Austin, small country towns, and the extended Gulf Coast. In South Texas, you will have the diversity of beach life and also the cool, young, and lush lands of Hill Country.
5 Places to Visit in South/Central Texas
San Antonio
San Antonio is bursting with history, charm, and Texan culture. It is in many ways the heart of Texas, as it is home to famous landmarks such as The Alamo, the popular San Antonio Riverwalk, and many missions dating from the 18th century. San Antonio is well-worth a visit and a pleasure to explore by foot!
Austin
Austin, the state capital of Texas, is a vibrant and eclectic travel destination, college town, and home to a bustling live music scene, youthful hipster vibes, and food trucks galore. Austin definitely stands out among other Texan cities as more progressive than the rest of the state. This artsy city is youthful and fun, and 6th Street is the center for Austin nightlife.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Natural Bridge Caverns is an awesome stop to make right on the outskirts of San Antonio. The Caverns are the largest commercial underground system in the state of Texas, and something very unique to experience.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is quaint and historical, with a pristinely preserved downtown. If you are interested in seeing old school Texas towns, Fredericksburg is a great place to start.
Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore is a beautiful and popular beach stretch of 66 miles of the Gulf shoreline, protecting natural species and historical occurrences in the area. This protected land is minutes from the major city of Corpus Christi, and draws crowds from all over the country.
East Texas
East Texas is mostly dominated by country land and the major city of Houston, the fourth biggest city by population in the U.S. The terrain bordering Louisiana becomes swampy, forests become a little lusher, and alligators are not a crazy concept. As you go farther south along the eastern Texas-Louisiana border, Texas meets the Gulf of Mexico waters and this shoreline is known as the Gulf Coast.
3 Places to Visit in East Texas
Galveston
Galveston is Houston’s (and much of North and East Texas’) access to the Gulf Coast and the seaside life offered there. Galveston is a tourist town that offers surfing, beaching, entertainment, and more. Pleasure Pier, an exciting amusement park over the water, is a well-known sight along the sea.
Houston
Houston is an enormous city with all the urban amenities you could wish for, with a quick one-hour drive to the ocean. Shopping, restaurants, sports, and museums such as the Space Center of Houston make for a fun urban setting.
Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches is proud to be remembered as the oldest town in Texas, officially named in 1837. It is a charming small town, with the well-known Nacogdoches Railroad Depot that serves as a site on the National Register of Historic Places and also a popular base for a still-active steam engine that runs through other small towns in East Texas for tourism purposes.
With this guide of Texas now in your back pocket, you should have plenty of ideas to get started on planning your next trip! Texas has something for every traveler. Enjoy your trip to the Lone Star state!