Texas Travel Guide
Home to an estimated 16-million cattle, the vast and varied
state of Texas, second largest state in the US, has plenty of
people too in its half-dozen huge cities. It has often been said
that everything is bigger and better in Texas, and visitors who
have explored the state tend to agree.Between its Gulf Coast in the southeast and the Red River
boundary north of the Panhandle there are plains, rolling hills,
lakes, soaring mountains, bogs, beaches and desert. In Texas' large
cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio it is possible
to swap the bright lights for a day at the ranch at the drop of a
cowboy hat, or soak up culture at a world-class art gallery before
taking a stroll through a scenic park. Outside the urban enclaves
Texas has 23-million acres of woodlands, including four national
forests and 125 state parks, from the great pine forests of the
south and east to the rugged mountains of the west.Most are aware that Texas is home to the largest oil industry in
the US, but visitors are generally surprised to discover that the
state has one of the country's biggest wine-growing regions too;
that Austin is a musical Mecca; that Texas is leading the country
in high-tech production; and that it is at the heart of a gourmet
movement with some of the nation's finest restaurants within its
borders.Historically the Texas plains were the haunt of Native American
tribes like the Comanches and Apaches. The Spanish put in an
appearance in 1519 but only began settlements in 1690. In the
ensuing centuries Texas became a conglomeration of settlements of
various immigrant groups, becoming an independent republic for 10
years with its characteristic Lone Star flag, before acquiring
statehood in 1845.The word Texas is a corruption of a Native American term for
'friend', and the friendliness of the cosmopolitan Texan people is
the cherry on the top for a state that has something to cater for
everyone's interests, whether it be space flight or rodeo
riding.
Texas Travel Guide
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Description:
The city of Dallas' history is preserved in a living museum
nestled in 13 wooded acres just south of downtown, known as Old
City Park. This historical village consists of 38 buildings and
houses, including a working farm, elegant Victorian homes, a
school, church and a bank that is alleged to have been robbed by
Bonnie and Clyde, all dating from between 1840 and 1910. All the
structures in this recreated turn-of-the-century village have been
collected from various locations in and around Dallas, and restored
and re-assembled here.
Address:
1515 South Harwood Street, Dallas
Postcode:
Telephone:
(214) 421 5141
Email:
Website:
www.dallasheritagevillage.org
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Description:
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is commemorated
in the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza where the 1963 shooting
took place. Most chilling of the exhibits is the window area in the
former Texas School Book Depository building from where sniper Lee
Harvey Oswald allegedly fired the fatal shots at the 35th
President's motorcade. The museum also documents Kennedy's life and
legacy, featuring more than 20,000 artefacts and a large amount of
archival material. A granite marker at the corner of Houston and
Main Streets outside shows where Kennedy was assassinated and a
memorial stands in nearby John F. Kennedy Plaza. Visitors to the
museum can also view the Zapruder film of the assassination.
Address:
411 Elm Street, Dealey Plaza, Dallas
Postcode:
Telephone:
(214) 747 6660
Email:
jfk@jfk.org
Website:
www.jfk.org
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Description:
Fort Worth is THE place to experience the romance and mystique
of the American Wild West, and the Stockyards National Historic
District is the ideal place to start. The district encompasses 15
blocks packed full of exciting 'Cowtown' attractions, from rodeos
to cattle drives, country music shows, shops selling genuine cowboy
gear, saloons and Texan diners, and the 'Tarantula Train' steam
railway on which regular re-enactments of a train robbery are
performed. The Stockyard District is also the venue for several
annual festivals and western events and home to the world-famous
Billy Bob's Honky Tonk.
Address:
Intersection of Main Street and East Exchange Avenue, Fort
Worth
Postcode:
Telephone:
(817) 624 4741
Email:
Website:
www.fortworthstockyards.org
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Description:
Fort Worth's Modern Art Museum is second only in size to it's
counterpart in New York, and is the oldest art museum in Texas,
having been chartered in 1892. The museum is housed in an
eye-catching building, consisting of five long flat-roofed
pavilions atop a 1.5-acre pond, designed by Japanese architect
Tadao Ando. The museum's permanent collection of modern and
contemporary paintings includes works by Picasso, Andy Warhol,
Rauschenberg and Pollock. The museum also hosts visiting
exhibitions and features a large sculpture collection.
Address:
3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth
Postcode:
Telephone:
(817) 738 9215
Email:
info@themodern.org
Website:
www.mamfw.org
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Description:
The museum is dedicated to telling the story of the cowboy and
cattle ranching industry of the southwest. Use has been made of
talking mannequins, interactive exhibits, authentic artefacts and
theatre presentations to bring alive the legends and lore of the
Wild West, from Texas Rangers to rustlers. The museum also contains
the largest collection of branding irons in the world.
Address:
Located within the Fort Worth Museum of Science and
History, 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth
Postcode:
Telephone:
(817) 255 9300
Email:
Website:
www.cattleraisersmuseum.org
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Description:
Fort Worth's Zoo is ranked as one of the top five in the United
States and is home to more than 5,000 animals living in natural
habitat settings like Raptor Canyon, the Koala Outback and Asian
Falls. A recently opened new eight-acre section called Texas Wild
takes visitors on a journey through the state to see indigenous
animals like swift foxes, ocelots and white-tailed deer, including
some endangered species. This section includes a mock-up of a Texas
town with a restaurant, store, saloon and jailhouse. Another
popular diversion here is the chance to try managing a
computer-simulated ranch.
Address:
1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth
Postcode:
Telephone:
(817) 759 7500
Email:
Website:
www.fortworthzoo.com
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Description:
Approaching Amarillo from the west on the 1-40 highway visitors
will come across one of America's most noted roadside attractions,
conceived and funded by an eccentric local man, helium tycoon
Stanley Marsh III. The Cadillac Ranch consists of 10 finned vintage
Cadillac cars, buried nose first in a field about 12 miles (19km)
from the town. They have been buried, allegedly, at the same angle
as the angle of the sides of the Great Pyramid of Egypt. Marsh
doesn't seem to mind the ever-increasing amount of graffiti that is
spray painted onto the cars by visitors.
Address:
On the old Route 66, south of I-40 between exits 60 and
62
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
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Description:
Focussing on physical, earth and life sciences the Don
Harrington Discovery Center is set in a 51-acre park with a lake
and picnic area. The centre boasts more than 100 hands-on
activities and a recently renovated Space Theater. There is also an
aquarium on site featuring both saltwater and freshwater tanks as
well as a botanical garden. Most popular sights here are a Foucault
Pendulum, rotating independently of the earth's gravitational pull,
a helium technology exhibit and a weather-watch section with a
tornado machine.
Address:
1200 Streit Drive
Postcode:
Telephone:
(806) 355 9547
Email:
Website:
www.dhdc.org
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Description:
The Texas Panhandle's one and only accredited art museum is the
Amarillo Museum of Art. The museum has six galleries housing a
permanent collection that includes 17th through 19th century
European paintings, 20th century modernists, photography, Asian art
and Middle Eastern textiles. The museum also offers frequently
changing exhibits ranging from contemporary art to the American and
European masters.
Address:
2200 South Van Buren Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(806) 371 5050
Email:
amoa@actx.edu
Website:
www.amarilloart.org
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Description:
Starting about a million years ago a branch of the Red River
carved a massive canyon through the northern Texas plains. The
walls of the Palo Duro Canyon plunge down to 1,000ft (305m) at
points, exposing the multi-layered coloured rock strata. The
colours are particularly brightly picked out on the spires and
pinnacles that the forces of nature have carved out on the canyon
floor. The Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a few miles east of
Amarillo, reached via Texas 217 highway. The park offers picnic and
camping facilities, a visitor's centre with a shop, an amphitheatre
where shows are staged, and horseback riding trips. The park also
has a famous historic site where the last great battle between
troops and Indians took place in Texas. In 1874 Colonel Ranald
Mackenzie and his 4th Cavalry defeated a large band of Native
Americans camped in the canyon and transported them to reservations
in Oklahoma.
Address:
The park is located about 12 miles (19km) east of Canyon,
on State Highway 217
Postcode:
Telephone:
(806) 488 2227
Email:
pdc@palodurocanyon.com
Website:
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/paloduro/paloduro.htm
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Description:
The visitor's Space Center is attached to the headquarters of
America's manned space programme, Nasa's 'Mission Control' that
directs the space shuttle project and guided the pioneering
astronauts. The Space Center, Houston's most popular tourist
attraction, is located at Clear Lake, 20 miles (32km) southeast of
downtown, off the Gulf freeway I-45. There are numerous wonders to
behold at this facility, which both entertains and educates, from a
mock-up of a space shuttle to an Imax theatre and hundreds of
hands-on exhibits. Tram tours run every half hour taking in the
highlights, including Rocket Park where retired spacecraft come to
rest, Mission Control and even astronauts in training.
Address:
1601 NASA Parkway
Postcode:
Telephone:
(281) 244 2100
Email:
Website:
www.spacecenter.org
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Description:
Set within a scenic part of central Houston is the city's Museum
District, featuring 16 varied and interesting institutions and
numerous restaurants set among some lovely green spaces like
Hermann Park. One of the highlights in the area is the Byzantine
Fresco Chapel on the corner of Branard and Yupon Streets containing
13th century frescoes from Cyprus. There is also a children's
museum, contemporary arts museum and the Houston Holocaust Museum.
One of the most interesting museums in the district is the Museum
of Health and Medical Science, which features a walk-through
re-creation of the human body. The Menil Museum has a collection of
contemporary, surrealistic and 20th century art in an interesting
building at Sul Ross. In Hermann Park is the comprehensive Museum
of Natural Science and Planetarium, the Houston Zoo and a Japanese
Garden.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(713) 715 1939
Email:
Website:
www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org
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Description:
For a touch of the bizarre call at the Orange Show to see how
obsession can become art. A former postman spent 26 years of his
life assembling a collection of weird and wonderful objects and
meshing them together into a labyrinth of passages and staircases,
almost all of it orange. The result is a quirky curiosity, which is
billed as 'folk art'.
Address:
2402 Munger Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(713) 926 6368
Email:
Website:
www.orangeshow.org
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Description:
The Sam Houston Historical Park near the city's visitor centre
in Bagby Street provides visitors with a large as life look at
Houston history. The 19-acre park features seven of the city's
oldest buildings that have been restored and relocated here. The
oldest building is a small 1826 cabin that originally stood at
Clear Lake, while one of the more recent is the 17-room home built
in 1905 for oil field pioneer Henry T. Staiti.
Address:
1100 Bagby Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(713) 655 1912
Email:
info@heritagesociety.org
Website:
www.heritagesociety.org
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Description:
The magnificent muted pink mansion in the marshy elbow of
Buffalo Bayou in Houston's River Oaks area was the home of Miss Ima
Hogg, a woman much loved in the community until her death in 1975,
at the age of 93. Miss Hogg left her home and the gracious gardens
that surround it as a legacy for the city. The house contains a
remarkable collection of Americana and is regarded as a cultural
treasure, with several thousand objects displayed in 28 period room
settings in the mansion. Miss Hogg designed the gardens as outdoor
living rooms, fed by bayou waters, and today they continue to
provide a peaceful oasis in the heart of the metropolis planted
with indigenous species as well as exotics like azaleas, camellias
and magnolias.
Address:
6003 Memorial Drive at Westcott Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(713) 639 7750
Email:
Website:
www.mfah.org/bayoubend
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Description:
At Barren Springs near Houston's International Airport is the
unusual private museum run by a major funeral company in the United
States, dedicated to funeral memorabilia. Customs, rituals and
traditions associated with burial from ancient Egypt to the present
day are covered in this interesting institution. Highlights of the
collection are restored horse-drawn and vintage automobile hearses,
and a unique 1916 Packard funeral bus. The museum also features a
gallery devoted to the funerals of the famous, containing
memorabilia from the funerals of Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy and
Rudolph Valentino.
Address:
415 Barren Springs Drive
Postcode:
Telephone:
(281) 876 3063
Email:
info@nmfh.org
Website:
www.nmfh.org
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Description:
Austin's impressive pink granite capitol building is rivalled
only by that of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Encircled by its
original wrought-iron fence topped with gold Lone Stars and
standing proudly in a hectare (three acres) of ground, the domed
building was constructed in 1882 out of granite quarried from
Granite Mountain 75 miles (121km) away. Visitors can take guided
tours of this interestingly designed building, or attend
legislative sessions, which are open to the public.
Address:
Congress Avenue between 11th Street and 14th
Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(512) 463 0063 (Tour Guide Office) or (512) 305 8400
(Visitors Centre)
Email:
Website:
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/tspb.htm
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Description:
The 140-hectare (347-acre) Zilker Park, donated to the city by
the German immigrant who gave it its name, is Austin's most popular
public recreational area, dominated by its ancient spring-fed
natural swimming pool, known as Barton Springs, which Native
Americans believed to have healing properties. The pool is about
the size of a football field with water at a constant warm
temperature all year round. Zilker Park has other attractions, too,
including a botanical garden which features dinosaur tracks, a
nature preserve, the Umlauf Sculpture garden and museum, and eight
miles (13km) of biking and walking trails. There are sports
facilities aplenty and amusements for children like the Zilker
Zephyr miniature train and paddleboat rides.
Address:
2100 Barton Springs Road
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker
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Description:
Texas hill country is renowned for its glorious spring blooms,
and former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, founded this centre
dedicated to the study and preservation of native plants in 1982.
There are 72 hectares (178 acres) of wildflowers in display
gardens, which includes a garden designed to attract butterflies.
There are also some interesting indoor displays featuring some
novelties, and the centre offers free lectures and guided walks at
weekends.
Address:
4801 LaCrosse Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(512) 232-0100
Email:
Website:
www.wildflower.org
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Description:
The opulent plantation-style mansion that is home to the Texas
State governor is one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating
from 1856. Although it is still very much lived in when the
governor is in town, the mansion is open to the public for limited
hours each day and many historical artefacts are on display,
including portraits of Davy Crockett and Sam Houston, and a
collection of mementoes from each administration. Guided tours are
offered every 20 minutes during which interesting anecdotes are
related about previous governors. The Governor's Mansion closed on
October 1, 2007 for up to 18 months for maintenance work.
Information will be posted on the webiste when tours resume.
Address:
Colorado Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
Reservations: (512) 463 5516; Capitol Complex Visitors
Center: (512) 305 8400
Email:
Website:
www.txfgm.org
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Description:
A major stop on national art circuit tours, the Blanton Museum
of Art at the University of Texas in Austin is ranked among the top
10 university art museums in the country. Highlights here are the
Suida-Manning Collection of European paintings that features 250
works by the Continental masters and the collection of 20th-century
American Art assembled by novelist James A. Michener. There is also
a large collection of Latin American Art consisting of more than
500 key works.
Address:
University of Texas (at the intersection of Martin Luther
King Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue)
Postcode:
Telephone:
(512) 471 7324
Email:
info@blantonmuseum.org
Website:
www.blantonmuseum.org
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Description:
One of the more unusual tourist attractions in Austin, or in
fact anywhere, is the nightly flight of millions of Mexican
free-tailed bats when they emerge from their roosts under the
Congress Avenue Bridge. The bat colony takes up residence under the
bridge in mid-March each year and returns to Mexico in early
November. During their sojourn in Austin visitors are amazed by
their mass evening emergence from their roost, which generally
takes place at dusk. The Congress Avenue Bridge is 10 blocks south
of the State Capitol building, spanning Town Lake. A Bat
Observation Center is located on the southeast side. During bat
season hundreds of people gather on and around the bridge each
evening to witness the spectacle.
Address:
Congress Bridge
Postcode:
Telephone:
(512) 416 5700 (Bat Hot Line)
Email:
Website:
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Description:
The rugged wilderness of the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas
was originally a barrier reef under the waters of an ancient sea.
Today fir trees and pockets of lush vegetation cling to this
mountain range rising from the desert. Formerly the home of the
Apache nation the National Park is now occupied by hundreds of
plant and bird species, 60 species of mammals and 55 varieties of
reptiles and amphibians. Visitors can traverse more than 80 miles
(129km) of trails on foot or horseback, or take the 4WD route
provided. There are several historic sites in the park including
Frijole Ranch History Museum and the ruins of a stagecoach station.
McKittrick Canyon in the northeast corner of the park is regarded
as the most beautiful spot in Texas, where oaks and maples make a
colourful display in fall.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Headquarters Visitors Center (915) 828 3251
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm
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Description:
The Dallas Holocaust Museum, Centre for Education and Tolerance,
is a non-profit organisation dedicated to teaching the lessons of
the Holocaust and memorialising its victims. It provides guided
tours for groups, audio tours for individuals, public lectures and
exhibits. Originally situated in the Jewish Community Center, the
museum has relocated to a larger premises in the centre of Dallas'
historical district, adjacent to the Sixth Floor Museum, due to
lack of space and having to turn away thousands of visitors each
year. But even this is a temporary measure as an even larger museum
is planned, which will be a powerfully symbolic structure to
support its profound educational message.
Address:
211 N. Record Street, Suite 100, Dallas
Postcode:
Telephone:
(214) 741 7500
Email:
info@dallasholocaustmuseum.org
Website:
www.dallasholocaustmuseum.org
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Description:
The Alamo has assumed mythological significance in American
culture. Davy Crocket and his small party held out for 13 days
against a 2,500-strong Mexican army before finally being overrun
and executed. The Alamo is now described as the cradle of Texan
liberty and for years after the siege Texans would cry "Remember
the Alamo" during battle. The actual Alamo building is smaller than
most visitors expect, and its gravitas slightly undermined by tacky
amusement park rides and souvenir shops. That doesn't daunt
millions of annual visitors who make a pilgrimage here, often
without really knowing why.
Address:
300 Alamo Plaza
Postcode:
Telephone:
(210) 225-1391
Email:
Website:
www.thealamo.org
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Description:
The centre of San Antonio's shopping and dining district, the
Riverwalk winds its way for 3 miles (5km) along the banks of the
San Antonio River. Visitors can explore the Rivercenter Mall along
the way and take a stroll around La Villita Historic District. An
equally good way to enjoy the lush landscaping and scenic variety
of the Riverwalk is take a narrated cruise or dinner cruise with
one of the many river boats. The cobbled walkways are a full level
below the city's streets lending the Riverwalk a secluded, peaceful
atmosphere, and cooling atmosphere during the summer heat.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
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Description:
The city's biggest theme park keeps raising the bar with the
recently added water rides to enhance its theme park rides, roller
coasters and musical shows. Avoid eating a large meal before
embarking on the Superman Krypton Roller Coaster, looping Boomerang
coaster, or the Scream, which entails 20-story free fall. The park
has won Amusement Today's award for The Best Theme Park Shows in
the Country for 10 years in a row. Xcelleration, a BMW-themed
skills show is guaranteed to impress the teenagers.
Address:
17000 IH 10 West
Postcode:
Telephone:
(210) 697-5050
Email:
GuestRelations@sftp.com
Website:
www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas/index.aspx
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Description:
Reanimating the spirit of the wild west, the Buckhorn saloon
contains over 8,000 wildlife exhibits, wax effigies, horns and
other western memorabilia. There is also a shooting gallery, an
arcade and a wonderfully eclectic shop, dubbed the "World's Oddest
Store". The Buckhorn has been open for over 120 years and has rich
and ribald history populated by cowboys, baddies, card sharks and
plenty of cattle. The original brass foot rail still lines the
bar.
Address:
318 E Houston St, two blocks from the Alamo
Postcode:
Telephone:
(210) 247-4000
Email:
Website:
www.buckhornmuseum.com
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Description:
Described by National Graphic as the most beautiful building in
San Antonio, the diminutive palace once served as the headquarters
for the Spanish rulers of this region. The lovely building is
filled with treasures and historical relics from the 18th century
ad the patio flows onto a relaxing garden that is perfect for
contemplating the glory of times past. On the last Sunday of every
month a living history group visits in period costume and shares
information and reenactments with visitors.
Address:
105 Plaza de Armas (Military Plaza)
Postcode:
Telephone:
(210) 224 0601
Email:
Website:
www.sanantonio.gov/dtops/parks_plazas/governorspalace.aspx
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Description:
Hemisphere Park was built for the 1968 World's Fair and the
soaring Tower of the Americas' was its centerpiece. Visitors can
take a 500ft elevator ride to the observation level and revolving
restaurant to enjoy astounding views of the city below. From base
to top, the tower is 750 feet high, taller than the Washington
Monument and Seattle's Space Needle, and ranks as the United
States' second tallest freestanding structure.
Address:
600 Hemisfair Plaza Way
Postcode:
Telephone:
(210) 207-8615
Email:
Website:
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Description:
The rolling, rugged hills that begin on the northern outskirts
of San Antonio are known as the Texas Hill Country. The region is
known for its natural beauty, carpets of flowers in spring, and
abundant woodlands. Key attractions include Enchanted Rock, an
enormous granite dome located 15 miles (24 km) from Fredericksburg,
the town of Blanco, famous for its Lavender, and the water sports
of San Marco. The New York Times declared this region "the No. 1
vacation spot in the nation" and its many attractions have been
responsible for making Texas second only to Florida as a retirement
destination.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
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Description:
Corpus Christi is a resplendent South Texas coastal city, with a
small population and a laid-back atmosphere. Just 143 miles (230km)
from San Antonio on Interstate 37, and boasting its own
international airport, travellers to Texas would be sorely remiss
to pass up the soft sea breezes and perfectly blue skies that
characterise this 'sparkling city by the sea'. Over and above the
beaches, visitors can enjoy the cultural sights on offer in the
city's museum district (including the USS Lexington Museum on the
Bay), birding trails that wind through impressive botanical
gardens, and the bustling promenade, with its vibrant nightlife.
The Padre Island National Seashore, the longest undeveloped stretch
of barrier islands in the world, is easily accessible from Corpus
Christi, and should not be missed.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.cctexas.com
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Description:
The first of the Six Flags theme parks, Six Flags Over Texas has
been a consistently-popular family attraction for over 50 years.
Situated in the small town of Arlington, just 20 miles (about 32km)
from Fort Worth, the amusement park is an ideal family day-trip
destination. The park offers something for everyone, from 'thrill
rides' (including the award-winning Texas Giant), to kids rides, to
rides that can be enjoyed by the entire family at once. Six Flags
Over Texas also stages events and festivals throughout the year -
such as Spring Break Out, and Fright Fest (held over Halloween).
With over a million annual visitors, Six Flags Over Texas has
earned its reputation as one of the premier theme parks in America,
and visitors to Fort Worth - and especially those travelling with
kids in tow - would be ill-advised to miss it.
Address:
2201 Road To Six Flags, Arlington, TX
Postcode:
Telephone:
(817) 640 8900
Email:
Website:
www.sixflags.com/overTexas/index.aspx
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