Explore new frontiers in Texas
From boundary-pushing art to toe-tapping honky-tonks and from outdoor swimming in urban parks to kayaking next to unspoilt white-sand beaches, Texas offers a world of experiences in one state. Spend some time in cities like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, then meander around its small towns, national parks and coastline and you’ll discover Texas is as diverse as it is sprawling. Are you ready to explore new frontiers? Just read on…
Cities that surprise
The Texas big 10
5 must-visit Texas hotspots
Into the wild
Experience Texas’s western heritage
There’s just something magical about Texas’s wide-open spaces. Its vast rolling plains, canyons, and deserts have long drawn cowboys, mavericks, artists and entrepreneurs.
This iconic US state may have been built on the legends of the Wild West, but it’s in the modern urban hubs that you’ll find today’s pioneers, forging the new frontiers of technology, arts, music and culture. Texas’s diverse, cosmopolitan cities each have a distinct personality. Yet there’s an undeniable creative spark and authentically warm welcome that unites them all. Immerse yourself in the buzz of city life, or use each as a base to explore. Outdoor adventure is always within easy reach. Direct daily flights from the UK mean Texas has never been easier to get to. With experiences as diverse as the people that call it home, your travel options are as big as that wide open horizon.
Get a taste of Texas nightlife at Fort Worth’s Sundance Square | Credit: Travel Texas
It’s easy to feel like you already know Dallas, with its starring roles on the small and silver screen, and its famous Cowboys football team and cheerleaders.
But think again. Beyond the sporting prowess, slick city skyline, cultural institutions and Fortune 500 companies, it’s the welcoming, creative, can-do energy of the people that keeps visitors coming back. Why yes, that is a three-storey fibreglass eyeball, right in the middle of downtown. Head to the 20 square blocks of the Arts District for award-winning museums, performing arts venues, cutting-edge fashion boutiques restaurants and more. Arts Month is April, but every month is studded with events and places to be. It’s best to arrive hungry, so that you can visit the father of Southwestern cuisine, Dean Fearing’s restaurant, or walk the Margarita Mile – in 1971 the frozen margarita machine was invented right here. If it’s sporting action you’re looking for, this city has that covered, too – whether it’s American football, basketball or baseball, Dallas’s teams provide some of the best action you’re likely to find, set against the lively backdrop of that famous all-American big-game atmosphere.
Home to the Cowboys football team and the first frozen margarita machine, Dallas is a thriving, all-American metropolis | Credit: Alamy
Austin is a gig-lover’s haven, with hundreds of live music venues including C-Boys Heart & Soul (above) | Credit: Visit Austin
It is home to hundreds of live music venues, as well as festivals including the global draw that is South by Southwest, Austin City Limits Festival, inspired by the long-running music TV series, which is spread over three days at Zilker Park, and the free, long-running local institution that is Blues on the Green, held each summer. Boogie with your brisket at chef-led Hot Luck, a music and food festival inspired by tailgate parties and potluck gatherings. A hub of tech and innovation, Texas’s state capital has also kept its small-town heart. Head to the Broken Spoke, the last of the true Texas dance halls, where country legends regularly perform. Austin may be the gateway to the beautiful Hill Country, but you don’t need to leave the city for adventure. The turquoise waters of Barton Springs – a three-acre spring-fed pool – await.
Spontaneous fun is easy when you’re in the Live Music Capital of the World®, and Austin sure knows how to put on a show.
The Stockyards National Historic District, and accompanying rodeo are still there to explore. But the city around it has grown to include world-class modern art museums, sophisticated cocktail bars, and new luxury hotels. Hang out in Sundance Square. Surrounded by downtown’s eclectic collection of Western-wear shops, fine dining spots, steakhouses and bars, the square is home to live music performances every Thursday to Sunday from 7pm. Hungry? Upscale Don Artemio celebrates the classic cuisine of northeast Mexico with a contemporary twist. From fried cactus and sopecitos to tortillas made from heirloom corn, there’s a reason it’s a James Beard finalist. And from four legs to four wheels, head to the Texas Motor Speedway for classic car meets, motocross, and more. Nascar returns in 2025 to tear up the asphalt.
Arguably the epicentre of cowboy culture, Fort Worth’s daily cattle drives still bring the Old West to life. What started as an army outpost in 1849, boomed as a livestock-herding hub.
Cowboy culture is alive and well in the historic Fort Worth | Credit: Darah Hubbard
At the Space Center, on Nasa Parkway near the shores of Clear Lake, you can learn all about the Apollo space programme and stand in the mission control room, where the immortal words “The Eagle has landed” were first proclaimed. Yes, this is an exciting business and tech capital – the Silicon Bayou – yet South Texas’s creative streak is on full display with colourful murals and street art, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the beat of cutting-edge hip-hop. Among the city’s leading venues is the new 713 Music Hall in the larger POST Houston arts recreational complex, and the eclectic Axelrad in the Museum District, No wonder it’s been called the new capital of Southern cool.
Houston really is the final frontier. From reaching for the stars at the Space Center, the home of Nasa, to being the hometown of superstars such as Beyoncé, Travis Scott, Kenny Rogers and more, Houston’s cultural reach is out of this world. And there’s plenty to come out for at night.
Houston is positively star-studded, being the home of both the Space Center (above) and Beyoncé
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The Texas big 10
Slip into your comfiest walking shoes, select your most food-friendly waistband and make sure you have your camera; it’s time to go exploring. We’ve selected 10 amazing experiences you can have in the state.
Eat brisket at Franklin Barbecue, Austin
Grab a tray and load up on smoked sausage, spare ribs, pulled pork and turkey by the pound. The owners of Franklin Barbecue are greeted daily by throngs of ravenous brisket addicts.
Credit: Wyatt McSpadden
Credit: Shutterstock
Watch the bats from Congress Avenue Bridge, Austin
Tiny squeaks and a flap of wings mark the moment when North America’s largest urban bat population emerges from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge for their evening jaunt to forage. They take up to 45 minutes to depart, so get there at around 7.30pm onwards, from mid-March to early November.
Credit: Travel Texas
Space Center, Houston
Charting humanity’s desire to reach the stars and touch the moon, the Nasa Johnson Space Center is a monument to technical wizardry and pure bravery. Get a behind-the-scenes look at space exploration, from how astronauts train to viewing spacecraft such as the massive Saturn V rocket.
Credit: Lance Childers/Houston First Corporation
Catch a performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston
Head to Hermann Park for a show under the stars. Houston’s unique outdoor theatre has been a venue for the arts since the 1920s. Weekly performances of classical music, jazz, world music, ballet, Shakespeare, musical theatre and screenings of classic films are all free, although tickets are required.
Credit: Dallas Cowboys Football Club
Watch the Cowboys in Dallas
'How ‘bout them Cowboys!’ Don your blue and silver, and get ready to shout louder than the famous cheerleaders. The Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable sports team in the world, hold the NFL record for most consecutive winning seasons with 20 from 1966 to 1985 (during which time they reached five Super Bowls). Head to the frankly enormous AT&T Stadium early, to join the tailgating fun.
Explore the Arts District, Dallas
Explore 20 square blocks of the Dallas Arts Dictrict’s museums, performing arts venues, restaurants and bars in the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation. The Dallas Museum of Art contains more than 25,000 works, ranging from Degas to O'Keeffe. Head to the Nasher Sculpture Center, one of the world’s finest collections, or the Crow Museum of Asian Art. Quirky and one-of-a-kind creations can be found in the area’s shops.
Credit: Visit Fort Worth
Explore the historic stockyards on a walking tour in Fort Worth
Fort Worth is where the West begins. A livestock-herding hub since the arrival of the railroad, today you’ll still find cattle, corrals, and cowboys walking the streets of the storied Stockyards National Historic District. Take a tour of its 98-acres, from the rodeo grounds to the outfitters crafting hand-tooled leather saddles, or shaping the perfect Stetson.
Credit: Joe T. Garcia’s
Eat Tex-Mex and drink margaritas at Joe T. Garcia's, Fort Worth
A Tex-Mex icon for nearly 100 years, there’s perhaps nowhere as picturesque to tuck into this distinctly local cuisine. This family-run favourite was even named one of ‘America's Classics’ by the James Beard Foundation. Soak in the summer breeze, and tuck into tasty tacos and cheesy tamales, surrounded by lush gardens and flowing fountains. Oh, and the margaritas are legendary.
Credit: Shutterstock
See the Alamo, Texas
See where the battle for Texas was fought, at Texas’s first Unesco World Heritage Site. Within the buttery 18th-century stone walls of this Spanish mission, you’ll find a new museum thanks to avid Alamo historian, Phil Collins. Yes, that Phil Collins. Work to restore the original footprint of the site is due to be completed in 2027.
Credit: Travel Texas
Visit living art town Marfa, Texas
What are those strange lights on the horizon? Actually, nobody knows. Regularly appearing in the desert outside this former far West Texas railroad outpost, they’re just one of Marfa’s quirky attractions. Artist Donald Judd made the town his home in the 1970s, starting a wave of creativity. Sleep in a vintage airstream, dine at hip food trucks, and sip margaritas at the historic Paisano Hotel.
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5 must-visit Texas hotspots
Whether you fancy sipping viognier among the vines, surfing the waves of the Gulf Coast or following historic trails, Texas’s slew of towns and cities offer plenty to make it a memorable trip. Here are five of the best must-see spots to visit in the Lone Star State.
Lubbock
Lubbock
The birthplace of Buddy Holly and still home to a vibrant music scene, Lubbock is a lively college city with plenty of appeal. The logical first stop should be the Buddy Holly Center, which showcases memorabilia from his career. Next, catch a local band in the buzzy Depot Entertainment District with its live music venues, cocktail bars and restaurants – it’s worth checking out the historic Cactus Theater on Buddy Holly Avenue and The Blue Light to see what shows are on. Lubbock also has a burgeoning craft beer scene with a handful of hip breweries. For something a touch more active, head to Buffalo Springs Lake for water-skiing, hiking and fishing.
From the Cactus Theater (above) to the Buddy Holly Center (right), Lubbock hosts a lively entertainment scene | Credit: Travel Texas
Fredericksburg
El Paso
Grapevine
Corpus Christi
Whether you’re downtown (below), at the scenic Becker Vineyards (above) or Das Peach Haus (right), Fredericksburg is all about historic charm | Credit: Travel Texas
Fredericksburg
Founded in 1846 by German settlers, Fredericksburg is all about the historic charm – think 19th-century buildings housing art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Set in the heart of the scenic Hill Country, it’s also known for its wine scene. Vineyards abound in the area, offering tasting opportunities aplenty, from stellar wines to local produce platters. Visit in autumn and you’ll be there for the Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival and lively Oktoberfest celebrations. At the nearby Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, you can hike, climb and cycle around a 450ft pink granite rock, surrounded by the wildflower-sprinkled slopes.
El Paso
Set on Texas’s westerly tip and a stone’s throw from Mexico, El Paso offers some of the state’s best Tex-Mex cuisine: expect everything from street-food tacos and empanadas to restaurants such as Elemi, headed up by James Beard Award semi-finalist Emiliano Ramentes. Beyond the culinary scene, there’s plenty more for cultural enthusiasts, including a slew of festivals and a string of historic sites, such as the Mission Trail, home to two of the oldest working missions in the region, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center. Nature lovers should follow the River Park Trail for scenic walks and bird-watching around the Rio Grande.
As well as its culinary scene, El Paso is known for the historic Mission Trail (left) and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center (above left) | Credit: Travel Texas
Lake Grapevine is perfect for a sunset swim | Credit: Asper Studios Grapevine
Grapevine
Located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, this idyllic, aptly named town is a hotspot for wine, with several tasting rooms to visit. It’s also home to GrapeFest every September – the largest wine festival in the Southwest, which brings live music together with local food and tipples, of course. There’s history in abundance, too: stroll the Historic Main Street area, where boutiques, restaurants and galleries are housed in restored 19th-century buildings, or hop on a 1920s carriage at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. For a picturesque end to the day, visit Lake Grapevine and take a cruise on the reservoir as the sun dips over the horizon.
History comes alive in Grapevine’s Main Street (above) and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad (left) | Credit: Getty, Grapevine CVB
Set on the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is a water-lover’s dream | Credit: Getty
Corpus Christi
With over 100 miles of sun-dappled beaches, offering everything from big, surfable waves to calm, swimmable waters, Corpus Christi on Texas’s Gulf Coast is the place for a beach break. Standout spots include Whitecap Beach, Mustang Island (also great for hiking, kayaking and bird-watching) and Padre Island, with its tumbling sand dunes and grasslands.
The city is home to several attractions: don’t miss the Texas State Aquarium and USS Lexington, a Second World War aircraft carrier turned intriguing museum. The city also is great if you fancy a spot of shopping, whether for luxury goods at La Palmera or treasures from the past on Antique Lane. But for a simple moment of bliss, there’s nothing quite like sitting down to a plate of fresh Gulf oysters by the water.
Visit the Texas State Aquarium (above) or Mustang Island (above right) for a fun family day out | Credit: Texas State Aquarium, Travel Texas
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Into the wild
The big cities of Texas, all full of urban energy, are home to superb restaurant scenes and heavyweight cultural attractions – but they are also an access point to the frontier of nature. Whether it’s hiking, biking, kayaking or wildlife-spotting, getting active in the great outdoors is a time-honoured Texan tradition. Here are some of the great natural landmarks that would make a worthy stop-off on any Texan tour.
From the Botanic Garden (above) to Buffalo Bayou Park (right), Houston is home to plenty of biodiverse green spaces | Credit: Houston First Corporation
The Houston Botanic Garden provides plenty of surprises in its showcase of the region’s natural diversity. Stroll from the wetlands to the coastal prairie and you’ll encounter African stone statues, a kid-friendly hands-on garden and globally sourced tropical plants along the way. Meanwhile, on Buffalo Bayou, boat tours head out at dusk to witness the Waugh Bridge bat colony emerge in great numbers, and walking trails are brought to life by downloadable audio tours; the commentary also explains more about the park’s flora, birdlife and landmarks. Mountain bikers, however, will get more joy from the 9.8-mile, intermediate-rated Cypress Creek Trail through the woodlands.
With nearly 10 miles of hiking and biking trails and a bird-watching area, White Rock Lake is one of Dallas’s favourite escapes. The Dallas Arboretum and botanical garden are on the lake’s eastern shore, while the Dallas Paddle Company rents out kayaks and paddleboards for those who are feeling a bit more adventurous. Elsewhere, the Dallas Trail Plan covers more than 180 miles of walking and cycling trails in the city. These include the three-and-a-half-mile Katy Trail, which weaves along an old railway line through the popular Uptown and Oak Lawn neighbourhoods, as butterflies and hummingbirds flit among the floral backdrop
When in Dallas, make sure to visit the Arboretum (above) and cycle down an old railway line on the beautiful Katy Trail (left) | Credit: Shutterstock, Getty
In neighbouring Fort Worth, hikers have 20 miles of trails to play with in the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. This carefully preserved slice of the natural past has rocks for climbing, the Interpretive Center for learning and a herd of bison for admiring along the Wild Plum South Trail. The Trinity River provides Fort Worth’s finest green corridor, linking more than 100 miles of trails and 20-plus parks. Head to the beach at Panther Island and you can hire a kayak and use paddle power to explore the river.
More than 100 miles of trails are at your disposal when you stroll along Fort Worth’s Trinity River | Credit: Shutterstock
When the sun is out, the people of Austin love nothing more than splashing and swimming with the salamanders in the giant, spring-fed Barton Springs Pool. It's in Zilker Park, where paddle-happy visitors can also hire kayaks to explore the neighbouring river-like reservoir, Lady Bird Lake. For the inexperienced, guided kayaking tours are also available.
Those who prefer boots to boats can work up a sweat climbing the formidable limestone staircase towards the top of Mount Bonnell. At 775ft, it’s the highest point in the city, and offers tremendous panoramic views.
Austin’s swimming spots are very popular in summer, including Zilker Lake (above) and Barton Springs (left) | Credit: Chris Zebo and Travel Texas, Getty
Beyond the cities…
Texas Hill Country is practically custom-designed for hiking. Here, the Colorado State Park combines giant rock outcrops with the picturesque 70ft Gorman Falls. The Brazos Bend State Park to the south of Houston is a reliable place for spotting lumbering alligators, while the Padre Island National Seashore has turtles in the water and coyotes in the sand dunes. For a truly epic experience, Big Bend National Park in the far west of Texas brings together river canyons, camping and cacti, as well as possible sightings of beavers, bobcats and bears. The state’s largest national park, it has more than 150 miles of trails, 196 miles of the Rio Grande river for rafting on and and over 100 species of birds.
From alligator-spotting in Brazos Bend State Park (above) to the river canyons of Big Bend National Park (above right), Texas is perfect for hiking | Credit: Alamy
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Experience Texas’s western heritage
Mooch along Austin’s independent shop-lined South Congress Avenue and it’s hard not to be pulled in by Allens Boots. Here, cowboy boots are sold in a dazzling range of colours and patterns – a reminder that the legacy of the western is never too far away in Texas. For the broad sweep of Texas’s tale, the pushing of the frontiers and the distinctive western culture that emerged from it, Austin’s Bullock Texas State History Museum recounts the state’s past over three floors of interactivity
Allens Boots offers a range of expertly-crafted cowboy boots, including custom-made ones | Credit: Allens Boots
From boutique shopping on South Congress Avenue (above) to the Bullock Texas State History Museum (right), Austin is the perfect balance of old and new | Credit: Shuttershock, Alamy
To switch from the past to the present, head to Houston in March. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a festival of horsemanship, cattle-driving and country music, centred around the biggest indoor rodeo in the world. Some elements of the American West are present all year round, whether it’s the prime steaks that have been served at the Taste of Texas restaurant since 1977 or at The Hat Store, a Houston institution that has custom-made hats for presidents and country singers.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (above, below) is a dazzling display of Texas tradition | Credit: Alamy, Rodeo Houston
Enjoy premium sizzling steaks at Taste of Texas, offering southern hospitality since 1977 | Credit: Taste of Texas
Pioneer Plaza’s large scale sculpture is an ode to Dallas’s history | Credit: Alamy
The State Fair of Texas brings great food and live music to Dallas every autumn | Credit: Shutterstock
Slickly modern Dallas never forgets its cowboy roots – the city’s NFL team is called the Cowboys, after all. This shines through in the public art: downtown’s Pioneer Plaza features a grand scale sculpture of 49 6ft-high steers being driven along the Shawnee Trail by three riders.
The western vibe gets dialled up in September and October, when the State Fair of Texas brings food stalls, music and fireworks displays together around rodeo action and massive livestock shows.
Join the party in Bandera every February at the Cowboy Mardi Gras parade | Credit: Tessa Kolodny
Lubbock’s National Heritage Ranching Center preserves and celebrates the history of ranching in the US | Credit: Visit Lubbock
Elsewhere in the state, different attractions highlight different aspects of Texas’s western lifestyle. The National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock pulls together ranch buildings and exhibits on beef cattle. Nicknamed the Cowboy Capital of the World, pint-sized Bandera in the HiIll Country oozes Old West appeal, with ranch stays, re-enactments, horse rides and festivals such as the Cowboy Mardi Gras among its many lures. The town’s Frontier Times Museum celebrates rodeo stars and hosts a collection of art depicting the American West. Visitors can stay on ranches, or take tours to see how modern day ranching operates. The enormous King Ranch between Corpus Cristi and Brownsville, for example, runs a daily tour showing off the cattle, historic buildings and the strangely moving horse cemetery.
The Stockyards District is the heart of Fort Worth’s western culture | Credit: Travel Texas
From the National Cowgirl Museum to a good old line dance (right), Fort Worth fully embraces the Old West | Credit: National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Visit Fort Worth
Of the big Texan cities, however, it’s arguably Fort Worth that most enthusiastically embraces western culture. It’s home to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, but the epicentre is the Fort Worth Stockyards District. Here, longhorn cattle are driven twice daily, weekend evenings are given over to rodeos, a museum is devoted to John Wayne and the enormous honky tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas, has its own bull-riding arena. The spirit of the Old West infuses Texas – and you quickly discover that it’s not just a thing of the past.
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Cities that surprise
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Fredericksburg
Set on Texas’s westerly tip and a stone’s throw from Mexico, El Paso offers some of the state’s best Tex-Mex cuisine: expect everything from street-food tacos and empanadas to restaurants such as Elemi, headed up by James Beard Award semi-finalist Emiliano Ramentes. Beyond the culinary scene, there’s plenty more for cultural enthusiasts, including a slew of festivals and a string of historic sites, such as the Mission Trail, home to two of the oldest working missions in the region, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center. Nature lovers should follow the River Park Trail for scenic walks and bird-watching around the Rio Grande.
El Paso
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Located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, this idyllic, aptly named town is a hotspot for wine, with several tasting rooms to visit. It’s also home to GrapeFest every September – the largest wine festival in the Southwest, which brings live music together with local food and tipples, of course. There’s history in abundance, too: stroll the Historic Main Street area, where boutiques, restaurants and galleries are housed in restored 19th-century buildings, or hop on a 1920s carriage at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. For a picturesque end to the day, visit Lake Grapevine and take a cruise on the reservoir as the sun dips over the horizon.
Grapevine
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With over 100 miles of sun-dappled beaches, offering everything from big, surfable waves to calm, swimmable waters, Corpus Christi on Texas’s Gulf Coast is the place for a beach break. Standout spots include Whitecap Beach, Mustang Island (also great for hiking, kayaking and bird-watching) and Padre Island, with its tumbling sand dunes and grasslands.
The city is home to several attractions: don’t miss the Texas State Aquarium and USS Lexington, a Second World War aircraft carrier turned intriguing museum. The city also is great if you fancy a spot of shopping, whether for luxury goods at La Palmera or treasures from the past on Antique Lane. But for a simple moment of bliss, there’s nothing quite like sitting down to a plate of fresh Gulf oysters by the water.
Corpus Christi
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