<p>All you proud Texans out there! We told our soon-to-graduate son we would take him on a trip any place of his choice and he chose Texas. What are some places you would recommend we visit? I am thinking historical sites, beautiful scenery, key cities and their highlights, great restaurants, hotels, anything you think we should be sure to include on our trip. Thanks for any suggestions!</p>
<p>Used to be a Texan. Here is my top-3 list:
- San Antonio (Riverwalk area, TexMex food)
- Austin (Lake Austin, Lots of BBQ, County Line, Rudy’s, Salt Lick, bar hopping on the 6th street)
- Houston</p>
<p>For family vacation-Im not sure. If I were from out of state and had my pick of Texas cities Id go to austin (but mainly for the music and 6th street). Texas isn’t really a hot spot for tourists, you might look on the dallas or houston chamber of commerce sites.</p>
<p>Thanks for your ideas so far. Just to clarify, it will only be 3 of us - 2 parents and 22 year old son, no children.</p>
<p>Wow. Depends on what he wants.</p>
<p>Beaches? Then South Padre Island. While Galveston is a great place to visit with lots to do, it’s located on the “dirty” side of the Mississippi, so the water is not clear. But there is quite a bit of historical interest in Galveston.</p>
<p>Austin is always a good choice. If you are going in summer, then be sure to swim at Barton Springs in Zilker Park. </p>
<p>The Hill Country is quite nice, especially around Hunt, Ingram, and Bandera. Great river tubing and dude ranches.</p>
<p>San Antonio is also a popular destination with the Riverwalk, Alamo, and TexMex food.</p>
<p>Houston, while not a pretty city (although it has some nice places), does have quite a few good museums - Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts, Contemporary Arts Museum, DeMenil Collection, Rothko Chapel, etc, etc (and my personal favorite - the Beer Can House).</p>
<p>Dallas - pass. I don’t like Dallas.</p>
<p>I think I would ask him why he wants to visit Texas. Does he have some idea that he equates with Texas? Lots of people think that Texas looks like it is portrayed in westerns, which is not actually the case. All those movies were shot in Monument Valley. There is a lot of the west in Texas, and if it is the cowboy thing he wants, I would recommend the area around Bandera, which is very close to to San Antonio, or Fort Worth. If he is the outdoor type, we did a terrific trip to Big Bend National Park last year, and also went to Marfa (funky west Texas art scene, if you can imagine such a thing) and Fort Davis (great old fort and the UT observatory–stars at night indeed). Our family composition is the same as yours, and it was a wonderful trip. Two words of warning–Texas is very hot in the summer (which is from May through September), and things are really, really far apart.</p>
<p>I would not recommend spending the time necessary to get to SPI. My in-laws live there and, while we love them, we prefer just about any other beach we’ve been to (MA, NJ, NC, SC, FL, CA). San Antonio is a great city with a nice mix of history, restaurants and shopping. If you are near Amarillo, don’t miss the Cadillac Ranch. (“Is it just a line of ten junker Cadillacs buried nose-down in a dusty farm field – or is it art?”)</p>
<p>San Antonio- definitely- stay at a hotel on the Riverwalk. Definitely do the Alamo and the missions are also fun. Lots of good food in San Antonio also. Some on the Riverwalk, some not. </p>
<p>I would also recommend a day trip to New Braunfels- lots of Czech there. If you are into waterparks, the Schlitterbahn there is fun. What makes this waterpark a bit different is that the water comes from the Comal River which winds throughout the park. It will be crowded in the summer, but there is a fun pool where you can swim up to a bar to get liquid refreshment. And the water is ice cold- something you will need in the summer here. </p>
<p>Austin is also great fun. Beware of I35 during rush hour, which is most of the day. If you go, definitely do County Line BBQ. You may have a wait, but the food is worth it. </p>
<p>Having recently been in Galveston, please remember that the city has not yet recovered from Ike. The Strand is a definite visit- there are some outlets on the Strand for shopping, but many of the shops have closed down. If you decide to do the beach, I recommend one of the pocket parks (number 2 was good) on the west end of the island, way past the Seawall. For a hotel in Galveston, I’d recommend the San Luis Hotel. </p>
<p>I’m not fond of Dallas either, but if there, do the tour of the Texas Book Repository and see the grassy knoll. Outside of downtown, there is a posh mall cakled the Galleria- worth an ogling visit. </p>
<p>There is also a Galleria in Houston- worth a visit- some very high end stores (louis Vuitton, Gucci), but also stores within the realm of the hoi polloi. </p>
<p>In Houston, I would check out the Rice Village area (near Rice University)- nice walking village atmosphere and some decent restaurants. Also check out River Oaks- wealthiest area in town. Eat at Tony Mandola’s. Not outrageously priced, but fantastic seafood with Cajun and Italian influences. </p>
<p>As mentioned earlier, the museums are great in Houston. </p>
<p>Between Houston and Galveston is NASA. If you are interested in that sort of thing, definitely worth a trip. You will be amazed at the size of the original Mission Control.
The things to remember about Houston is tat is is definitely a driving city and that there is very little nightlife in the downtown area. Better off staying near the Galleria, I would think.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the specific ideas. I’m starting to get excited about the trip. I asked my son what he was interested in. He wants to see the gulf, San Antonio, and Houston. He said that everyone who has been to or is from Texas says that it’s a unique place that you need to see for yourself. He wants to experience the culture of Texas, clearly something different from NJ!</p>
<p>In SA there is the Museum of Texan (or Texas, I don’t remember which) Cultures. It’s very interesting to me. If the NBA play-offs are still going on and the Spurs are still playing, maybe you could get lucky. There is also a 6 Flags, but I don’t know how a 22yo feels about that. Today it got to 89 in SA.</p>
<p>MattMMom- Although I have lived in Houston for 28 years, I am a native of New Jersey. Yes, there are great differences between the two areas. A key difference is in the driving. All of the cities mentioned are driving cities. We’re talking 8 lane freeways in many cases. And traffic is heavy. If it is not jammed up, it’s still heavy with speed demons. Very unlike Jersey. So, be careful driving. It is a real adjustment. </p>
<p>I have returned to NJ several times over the past two years, since my D is at college there. Although the traffic was worse than I remembered it, it is still easy driving compared to traffic in Houston or San Antonio or Austin at rush hour. </p>
<p>Sounds like a fun trip you are planning. Send any others questions this way.</p>
<p>Also forgot to mention the zoo. It is small, but the aviary portion is impressive.</p>
<p>The Texas History museum in Austin is great. I second the schlitterbahn suggestion - it’s a water park with a different and more relaxed feel to it. Try horseback trail riding somewhere, too! ;)</p>
<p>Gloworm- the museum in San Antonio you mention is great! It is part of the Museum of Mexican/American Culture, I believe. Perhaps also known as Mexican American Cultural Center. </p>
<p>Also in San Antonio, be sure to visit El Mercado- a large open air and closed building marketplace. Lots of Mexican items (some very overpriced) but very interesting. Lots and lots of Mexican pottery. They ship anywhere.</p>
<p>Also in San Antonio, isn’t there a SeaWorld still? It’s been a while since I went, but Shamu is still my kind of guy! And a Fiesta Texas.</p>
<p>pipmom,</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I think they are two distinct museums.</p>
<p>I leave a week from tomorrow for a week in SA and I am pumped.</p>
<p>Schlitterbahn is one of my favorite places! If you really like waterparks, you could spend 2 whole days and not be tired of it.</p>
<p>I would second a lot of the suggestions above, and add … Hyatt Hill country, if it’s warm enough to get in the water in San Antonio - one of our favorite hotels. Also, Guadalupe River Ranch, near SA, in Bourne, you can google the ranch. It’s beautiful. Great food. Zip line, hike, fish (with a pole and a string) ride horses. Another of our favorite places. Must eat at Rudy’s - worst bar-b-q in Texas, get the creamed corn. Bullock History Museum in Austin. River Walk, take the boat ride. See the Alamo. Shopping mall on the river walk. El Mercado as mentioned. Spurs game is fun. Houston - also NASA there. Personally, I would punt Houston, and focus on SA and Austin, and in between. Some great shopping near San Marcos, and Schliterbahn is really amazing - but again has to be warm enough. Fiesta Texas - meh. Not a great park. Sea world - we always enjoy. Again - if warm enough, take suits, nice water park and good to cool off if it’s hot. Oh yes - Mi Teira (sp?) is a great restaurant at El Mercado. Amy’s Ice Cream a local favorite in Austin. Lots of great shopping and eating in Austin. County Line is one of them. But there are loads, and good Mexican food too. Might check out trip advisor dot com or somewhere for those choices. Austin City Limits tapes in Austin - might be able to catch a taping of that too. LBJ library is also in Austin. Traffic is an issue down I-35 … and Houston is a night mare. So again - I would suggest staying in Austin and SA … the coast is not that eventful in Texas. But you can drive down to South Padre,and Schlitterbahn has also put a park down there.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for these great ideas! I appreciate the specific places and tips, especially the warnings regarding driving. I would like to stay in a Bed and Breakfast at least once. The hotel and restaurant tips are very helpful, too.</p>
<p>Don’t rule out the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. There are many things to do there; I know, I live there. There is Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor( a major waterpark),Ft. Worth stockyards, Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Texas Rangers ballpark, Galleria mall, many museums, great resturants and more. I could go on forever. I would at least look into it.</p>