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Things to do / Travel Guide
Texas Tourist Attractions
Texas is BIG, but this relatively compact region covers a lot of ground. Houston is a fast-paced city, with historical, laid-back San Antonio nearby. The capital, Austin, is a trendy university town. Along the Gulf Coast, you can find long stretches of untouched white sand beaches. Cattle ranches can be found in the lightly European-flavored hill country. Each of these varied personalities blend beautifully to give tourists an eclectic, yet unified, taste of Texas.
When Texans claim they have everything in Texas, they may just be referring to this southeastern region of Texas. While Houston, Austin, and San Antonio each have very different personalities, all have attractions worth visiting. And since they're each only a few hour drive from each other, why not try and conquer all three!
Some of the more popular tourist attractions you'll find within the Houston-Austin-San Antonio triangle include theme parks (like Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Splashtown Water Park in Houston, and Kiddie Acres in Austin), golf courses (Barton Creek Golf Resort in Austin is a great one), zoos (the Houston Zoo is one of the best in the state), and museums (check out Houston's Museum of Fine Arts).
Austin Getaway Planner
Austin is appropriately nicknamed the "Live Music Capital of the World," so if you're into live music of all genres, then Austin will need to be a definite stop on your Texas getaway. In bars, clubs, large arenas, parks, and other indoor and outdoor venues, you'll have no trouble finding a music event any afternoon or evening, any time of year.
Another big draw for Austin vacationers is its rivers and lakes. The city is situated on the Colorado River, offering guests with ample swimming, fishing, and rafting, and hosts three large manmade lakes: Lady Bird Lake, Lake Walter E. Long, and Lake Austin. Other natural bodies of water include Lake Travis. Because of Austin's warm weather availability of water, boating is extremely popular.
Houston Tourist Attractions
Houston is the most bustling of Texas' large cities. It offers visitors with the best of the best of Texas' hotels, entertainment venues, shopping malls, and activities that will attract guests of all ages.
One of the best things about Houston is its location. Its prime spot near the Gulf of Mexico enables visitors to quickly go back and forth between the busy city scene and laid back nearby beaches. Of particular interest is Galveston. This historic, coastal port town has great beaches and some of the best Gulf seafood around! Plan to spend at least an afternoon exploring Galveston, if not a few days to take in the fresh air, the hot sun, and the nearby attractions.
Big Thicket National Preserve is another great side trip if you're in the Houston area for a while. Located just north of Houston, this large forested area provides city dwellers and visitors with a treat of peace, quiet, and perhaps most important, shade.
San Antonio & Padre Island Vacation Spots
San Antonio's most popular claim to fame is the Alamo. Visitors to this historic site are able to live and breathe the mantra, "Remember the Alamo" by experiencing it head-on. Take a tour of the battlefield and learn about Texas' fight for independence.
Not too far from the Alamo you'll find other great spots for your family vacation, including the San Antonio Children's Museum and Sea World to keep the kids happy, plenty of area shopping malls, the Sunken Japanese Tea Gardens (a magical place to stroll and admire some local and foreign natural beauty), and more!
Padre Island is one of the most visited vacation spots in Texas, and once you get there, you'll know exactly why. The area includes 70 miles of natural beaches, more than 130,000 acres of protected land, and flora, fauna, bird life and animal life like you can only find in southeastern Texas. The wild, rugged natural shoreline also, of course, includes a commercial, family-friendly area as well, including the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island, the island famed for Spring Break parties and year round fun.
Texas Road Trip Getaway Planner
Forget about taking day trips in Texas. Expect to drive, and drive, and drive for miles. Plan a 10-day driving trip with a few stopping points along the way. For some idea of distances involved – a Houston to San Antonio road trip will take between 4 and 5 hours. There are lots of small farm and ranch roads – so make sure you have a detailed map of Texas to explore the back roads.
We've mentioned it before, and we'll mention it again—when you visit Texas, you're visiting a place loaded with local flavor as diverse as the Old Southern flair on the Louisiana border and the Mexican flavor of San Antonio. Keep your eyes, nose, ears, and taste buds alert to experience the local sights, music, and tastes.
Tourist Attractions and Highlights in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Southeastern Texas
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