One of my goals as a parent was to take my kids to 48 states before they graduated high school. We were very excited to achieve this goal as we crossed the border of Vermont the summer before my son’s senior year. We eventually made it to all 50 states! I decided to start a travel blog to share our ideas with all of you. Not only did we reach our goal, but we had so much time together as a family, my children became closer and we learned about different regions of the country. I keep a list of ideas and places we visited in each state.
One of the states that is very special to me because I lived there for the first 10 years of my life is Texas. You know the saying “everything is bigger in Texas.” This is a true statement when it comes to food, fun, relaxation, and things to do. There are world-class cities, amazing BBQ and Tex-Mex, lots of history, culture and outdoor activities. I decided to separate the state into four areas: West Texas, Coastal, Hill Country, and North Texas. This is a just a list of ideas and things we have done. I know the state has much more to offer.
West Texas
National Parks is what drew us to West Texas on a recent trip, but there is so much more to offer in that part of the state. Of course there is the great outdoors, but we also found charming towns, delicious food and some historical sites. The area is pretty remote and we did drive on some long lonely highways, but we found many wonderful things.
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park: mountains and desert in the same place with great hiking
- Prada Marfa: permanent architectural art project just outside of Marfa
- Chico’s Tacos: an El Paso favorite of rolled tacos in a paper boat filled with a soupy tomato sauce and covered with cheese
- Big Bend National Park: see the Rio Grande, enter Mexico, unique trails and swim in a hot spring
- McDonald Observatory: attend the Evening Sky Viewing and Star Party
- Gussie’s Tamales & Bakery: known in El Paso for tamales but also has a great selection of pastries and breads
- San Angelo State Park: encounter the Official Texas State Bison and Longhorn herd
- Taqueria Guadalajara: a no nonsense Mexican grill in Fort Stockton
- Fort Davis National Historic Site: one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars’ frontier military post
- Amistad National Recreation Area: an oasis in the desert, lots of water activities on the border of Texas and Mexico
Coastal
Growing up in Texas, we often went to the beach. Texas has thousands of miles of coastline including beautiful sandy beaches and fun coastal towns. I also included Houston in this region. There is more to this city than just the space center, it is full of culture, great food and fun attractions.
- Padre Island National Seashore: home to the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world
- The Strand in Galveston: charming Victorian-era buildings of the Historic Downtown District
- USS Lexington: floating museum of the WWII-era USS Lexington in Corpus Christi
- Houston Astros: we love baseball games, go to a game at this park where a former rail depot serves as the ballpark’s architectural inspiration
- Children’s Museum Houston: check out this fun museum on the free family night
- Space Center Houston: science and space exploration learning center
- Shop in The Heights: walkable area in Houston with boutiques and other shops
- Hines Waterwall Park: 64-foot-high semi-circular water wall in Houston
- Buffalo Bayou Park: great place to bike or kayak
- Breakfast Klub: popular Houston diner style restaurant
- Killen’s BBQ: you have to have BBQ in Texas, try the brisket & ribs
- Miller Outdoor Theatre: check the schedule for a variety of free events in Houston
- Arboretum and Nature Center: free admission and free parking on Thursdays
- Art Car Museum: a fun contemporary art car museum nicknamed “Garage Mahal”
- Waugh Drive Bat Colony: Viewing spot to watch thousands of wild bats emerge from under the bridge at sunset
Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is varied and interesting, there is plenty of history, natural beauty, and fun things to do. I am including San Antonio, Waco and Austin in this region. This is the area I lived for the first 10 years of my life. I grew up in San Antonio close to an Air Force Base.
- Austin: the live music capital of the world, check it out all over town at restaurants, bars, and outdoor venues
- Fredericksburg: probably the most well-known Hill Country town, check out the wineries, shopping and festivals
- Blue Hole: a naturally occurring swimming hole that is fed by Cypress Creek
- Blanco: check out the lavender farms
- Salt Lick BBQ: world renowned barbecue in Driftwood
- Market Square: outdoor shopping plaza in San Antonio, have lunch at MiTierra
- River Walk: the heart of San Antonio with shops and restaurants, take a boat ride
- The Alamo and the Mission Trail: trail connects each of the five historic missions located in San Antonio
- LBJ Ranch Tour: see the birthplace of Lyndon B. Johnson, the school he attended as a boy, and the cemetery where he is buried
- Schlitterbahn Waterpark: considered the World’s Best Waterpark in New Braunfels
- Natural Bridge Caverns: explore large underground chambers and see huge formations
- Waco Mammoth National Monument: view the mammoth fossils and hike the trails to learn more about wildlife and foliage that existed during the Ice Age
North Texas
This a large area that includes the Panhandle as well as Dallas-Fort Worth. The Panhandle Plains in Texas is a quirky place with art, history and natural attractions. The Dallas-Fort Worth has so much to offer with shopping, culture and even a little bit of cowboy life.
- Route 66: enjoy the 13 blocks of art galleries, shops, coffee houses, restaurants and bars on Historic 6th Street near Amarillo
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park: known as the “Texas’ Grand Canyon”
- Big Texan Steak Ranch: Amarillo favorite with the four-and-a-half pound steak
- Meredith National Recreation Area: huge lake and great trails
- Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument: ranger-guided hiking tour of the quarries
- The Sixth Floor Museum: chronicles the life, assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy
- Norma’s Cafe: order the Texas classic country fried steak with gravy
- Dallas Farmers Market: in the heart of downtown, it is a great place to grab lunch
- Texas Motor Speedway: take a tour of the track or catch a race
- Fort Worth Stock Yards Cattle Drive: world’s only twice daily longhorn cattle drive
- George W Bush Presidential Library: examines the specific time in history during which President Bush served
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing: see billions of dollars being printed and discover the history behind the printing process
- Sundance Square: pedestrian-friendly downtown Fort Worth district packed with shops, steakhouses and sports bars