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ABOUT TEXAS
TEXAS is a place where every day can hold a new adventure for hunters, anglers, campers, bird watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts but there is also another side of the state: its 45 theme parks, its ocean playground on the Gulf Coast with 600 miles of coastline, its world-class museums and arts centers, and over 900 golf courses.
The Grace Cultural Center/Museum of ABILENE, the former Grace Hotel, serves as home to three museums of art, history and children, and visitors relive the Old West with the help of state-of-the-art technology at Frontier Texas! Nearby is the Buffalo Gap Historic Village which preserves and presents the history and heritage of the Texas frontier.
Some of the major attractions in AMARILLO are the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, a showcase of the history of the Old West, and the Outdoor Musical Drama TEXAS. For antiques, visitors prowl Historic Route 66.
Known as the "Live Music Capital of the World", AUSTIN boasts more than 100 live music venues and an energetic nightlife. The Texas Capitol anchors the downtown government complex, which also includes the Governor’s Mansion and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Austin is also home to The University of Texas and gateway to the 32,000 square-mile Texas Hill Country. Other attractions include Barton Springs Pool, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
From historical sites and nature centers to Space Age technology, the BAY AREA HOUSTON, midway between Houston and the beaches of Galveston, offers a broad range of attractions. Technology and history are woven together at the Johnson Space Center (better known as Space Center Houston). Armand Bayou Nature Center, home to bison, raptors, and reptiles, is one of the largest urban wildlife and wilderness preserves in the U.S.
BEAUMONT nestles between the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the forests of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Crockett Street Entertainment District offers live music and outdoor festivals and among the historic homes is McFaddin-Ward House.
The BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK covers over 801,000 acres of west Texas in the place where the Rio Grande makes a sharp turn - the Big Bend.
Texas' southernmost city, BROWNSVILLE is a perfect travel destination with Mexico at the doorstep and Gulf of Mexico beaches close by. Among its attractions are the Gladys Porter Zoo, Camp Lula Sams Teaching Camp & Wildlife Refuge, Historic Brownsville Museum, beaches and golf courses.
In BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION There is shopping and dining in Historic Downtown Bryan and eclectic entertainment at Northgate Entertainment District. The Museum at the George Bush Presidential Library reveals the milestones of the President’s life. Lake Bryan provides recreational opportunities.
Downtown CORPUS CHRISTI is minutes from beautiful beaches and attractions like U.S.S. Lexington, a real World War II aircraft carrier, and the Texas State Aquarium.
DALLAS offers such diverse attractions such as The West End Historic District, a turn-of-the-century warehouse district, and site of more than 80 restaurants, shops and nightclubs, and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which examines the life, death and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Near Dallas is Southfork Ranch, home of the TV show "Dallas".
EL PASO is home to three of the oldest missions in the United States and the Old Mission Trail which shows the part they played in El Paso's history. There are gigantic rock formations in the Chihuahuan Desert in Hueco Tanks State Historical Park.
Set in the rugged beauty of the Davis Mountains of west Texas, FORT DAVIS National Historic Site is one of the best preserved "Buffalo Soldier" forts in the west. Native plants, flowers, trees, and cacti can be found in the gardens of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute and the Overland Trail Museum contains an extensive collection of historic memorabilia.
FORT WORTH’s attractions are concentrated in three areas, known as the "Western Triangle", famous for Sundance Square, a revitalized 20-block entertainment district, the Stockyards National Historic District, and the Cultural District with the Kimbell Art Museum and the Will Rogers Equestrian Center.
In FREDERICKSBURG visitors can delve into Texas history with the biggest collection of naval WWII artifacts in the United States at the Admiral Nimitz Museum and Historical Center; other attractions include the nation's largest working wildflower seed farm at Wildseed Farms, and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. There are a number of wineries.
In GALVESTON visitors can tour Galveston Island Historic Homes and the Strand Historic District, or board the Galveston Island Trolley for an historic tour. Galveston’s many museums include the Lone Star Flight Museum with its collection of restored aircraft, the Galveston County Historical Museum, and the Mardi Gras Museum.
GONZALES, the “Gateway to Texas History”, is said to be the site of the first shot fired for Texas independence in 1835. A number of self-guided tours, starting at the Old Jail Museum, go to many of the 80 historic properties and sites. Gonzales Pioneer Village Living History Center has an extensive collection of 19th-century buildings.
GRAND PRAIRIE is located in the center of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with something for everyone, from world class thoroughbred horse racing at Lone Star Park to fine performance arts at the NOKIA Theatre. Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe It or Not! bring visitors face to face with characters from history. Extreme in-line skating, skateboarding, biking and in-line hockey is available at GPX Skate Park and Entertainment Center.
HOUSTON has the fourth largest museum district in the country and is one of only a few cities with resident professional companies including Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera. The pulse of the city can be found in downtown's Bayou Place. Visitors can step back in time at the Heritage Society's Sam Houston Park. A drive north takes visitors to one of the country's largest outdoor markets, Traders Village, and they can get back to nature at Mercer Arboretum. They can experience out-of-this-world fun at the Johnson Space Center (better known as Space Center Houston with actual spacecraft, like the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules, or visit Six Flags Astroworld/Waterworld. East takes visitors to the famed San Jacinto Battleground, the site of Texas' independence from Mexico, and west is Fort Bend County's George Ranch Historical Park, a living history museum. There are parks and wildlife sanctuaries like the Houston Arboretum and the Armand Bayou Nature Center.
IRVING has championship golf courses, boutiques, antiques and malls, the world-class Las Colinas Equestrian Center, a major motion picture studio, The Studios at Las Colinas, and ballet, theater companies, symphonies and art complexes like Irving Arts Center.
The King Ranch at KINGSVILLE, birthplace of American ranching in 1853, sprawls over 825,000 acres.
LAKE CONROE AREA in the Piney Woods region 40 minutes north of Houston includes the cities of Conroe, Montgomery (recognized as the birthplace of the Texas Lone Star Flag) and Willis. The area has pine forests, history, eclec
tic shopping like Downtown Conroe, festivals, golf and 22,000-acre Lake Conroe. The Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center and Cactus Garden in LANGTRY features the rustic saloon, courtroom and billiard hall of Judge Roy Bean, the colorful and controversial "Law West of the Pecos" in 1880s.
The Buddy Holly Center in LUBBOCK is a remembrance to Lubbock's most famous native son, Buddy Holly, as well as to other performing artists and musicians of West Texas. The Ranching Heritage Center preserves and interprets the history of Panhandle ranching. The Museum of Texas Tech University and Moody Planetarium are an integral element of Texas Tech University.
MCKINNEY, just north of Dallas, has more than 3375 historic structures, including the Collin County History Museum and the Chestnut Square Museum Village. The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary has over four miles of nature trails, a native plant garden, natural science exhibits and bird watching.
MEDINA, The Apple Capital of Texas, located between Kerrville and Bandera, is famous for the annual Medina Apple Festival on the Banks of the Medina River.
The American Airpower Heritage Museum and Confederate Air Force Headquarters in MIDLAND preserves the history of World War II military aviation. At the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame visitors can walk under an ancient sea, parade through downtown Boomtown.
The most surprising attractions in ODESSA are the replicas of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Anne Hathaway's Cottage on the campus of Odessa College; the Presidential Museum tells the story of the office of U.S. Presidents.
Known as the “Fishing Capital of Texas”, PORT ARANSAS features the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, miles of unspoiled beach including five at Mustang Island State Park, and year-round birding opportunities.
ROCKPORT-FULTON on the Texas Gulf Coast is known for its fishing and its birds. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 390 different bird species.
SAN ANGELO The colorful history of Concho Avenue and downtown San Angelo is reflected in its stores and buildings, such as Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum, The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and Education Center with a view of the Concho River and downtown skyline, the adjacent El Paseo de Santa Angela, a heritage trail linking the past and future of San Angelo, and in the midst of El Paseo, Old Town with streets lined with historic homes. San Angelo grew up around Fort Concho, its primary tourist attraction which encompasses most of the former army post and includes 23 original and restored structures. About 22 miles east of San Angelo, are the Painted Rocks, one of the largest Indian pictograph sites in the nation.
Home of The Alamo, SAN ANTONIO is one of the top tourist destinations in America. Some parts of the city’s River Walk are park-like, other areas full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, art galleries, nightclubs and gleaming high-rise hotels. Among the other attractions are The Plaza Wax Museum, the San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium and the Witte Museum. The Institute of Texas Culture hosts the Folklife Festival. Visitors can lean on the 118-year-old bar at the The Buckhorn Saloon and Museums, a Texas institution since the 1880s. The city also has two major theme parks: SeaWorld of Texas, the world's largest marine life park, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
The Frontier Village at SHERMAN includes a museum and collection of rustic structures from the 19th century while the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is a well-documented haven for migrating and wintering waterfowl.
The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site is at nearby DENISON.
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, SOUTH PADRE ISLAND has five miles of seashore fun including the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark. Bordered by the Laguna Madre bay, South Padre Island is also ecologically significant with 34 miles of sand dunes, water birds, shrimp, and deep-sea fishing.
Its huge old oaks, crepe myrtles, rivers, lake and rolling hills guard some interesting museums in WACO such as the Dr Pepper Museum (the original bottling plant), the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. One of Texas' earliest oil boomtowns.
The Trails and Tales of Boomtown USA depict life during WICHITA FALLS’ past.
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