<p>Not being from Texas, and only really familiar with SA, I just googled the Forth Worth Stockyards because D is on a road trip to Dallas with her EC, and today was a day off. The parents living in the area arranged for the ladies to go there. Sounds like lots of fun. I’ll get a report tonight.</p>
<p>I’ve been to San Antonio and Houston and Austin–all great suggestions above. </p>
<p>One place that no one has mentioned and that my H and I are going to visit in the fall is Marfa, TX. If your son has any interest in contemporary art, this place is a mecca. Apparently, it was a sleepy little town in the middle of nowhere (it’s about 200 miles from El Paso) until the artist Donald Judd went out there and created a large-scale art museum with installations by Dan Flavin (he does stuff with fluorescent lights) and others. Since then, there are all kinds of art galleries/museums and funky eateries and hotels. Here is an article about it.</p>
<p>[Contemporary</a> Art in Texas - Articles | Travel + Leisure](<a href=“http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis]Contemporary”>http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis)</p>
<p>I have a friend who was able to rent a small house in Marfa (she found it online). She and her daughter (who goes to the University of Texas in Austin) spent a week there during her D’s spring break.</p>
<p>I grew up in Austin and went to UT for six years (BS, MS). Then I moved away to Maine for work when oil prices collapsed in the mid-80s. Right now, I’m sitting in my parents condo in Port Aransas, looking out at the ocean. I agree with the others - I would skip the coast. The only reason I’m here is because of my family! It’s fun seeing them, but otherwise there are SO many better beaches in the US (like the one three miles from my house in Maine!).</p>
<p>I have vistied a lot of cities in Texas, and Austin is still my favorite. Be sure to go to Mount Bonnell to see incredible views of the lake and Hill Country. Drive out Route 2222, also. If you can get out to Westlake Hills, go for a drive - be sure to have a GPS, then just drive around until you’re hopelessly lost! You will NEVER think that all of Texas is flat again! Some of the driveways out there are so steep I honestly don’t know how people drive up them.</p>
<p>In the Hill Country, Fredericksburg is wonderful. A beautiful B&B to stay in is the Rose Hill Manor (you can Google it). That’s one of my mom’s favorite places, and she’s taken my daughter and me there.</p>
<p>If you have time, stop in to see the Texas Capitol in Austin. I love visiting there.</p>
<p>If you enjoy running or biking, check out the Hike and Bike Trail that runs along Lady Bird Lake, right next to downtown (the lake was just renamed, so you might hear it referred to as Town Lake). That would be a fun thing to do when you go to Zilker Park to swim in Barton Springs (DO NOT miss that experience! The water is about 68 degrees year round and the bottom is natural, so you might be swimming with some ducks.).</p>
<p>HAVE FUN! You will find Texans incredibly friendly. I don’t miss the heat, but I sure miss the people and the Tex-Mex food.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn - all very good contributions. I really would suggest skipping Galveston. We went there for vacation once, not good. Beach is awful. Nothing to do. It’s just so not worth your time or effort when there is so much better stuff to do. We’ve been to Nasa - it is not amazing. It’s ok. My boys are also into space, etc … it’s kind of like a children’s museum next to Nasa. All based on air, space, etc … then you can go over and see, as I recall two or three things at Nasa. I think you have to pay per thing, something like that. You can look at a rocket that is outside, and take a picture. YOu can see a control room. Maybe one other thing, can’t remember. Just not impressive or exciting. If there was a lift off - absolutely, otherwise, just not interesting. So not worth the four hour drive to Houston, when you can hang at all the other amazing places mentioned above. (New Braunfels, Schliterbahn, SA, Austin, ). Try to go to schilterbahn on a week day to avoid crowds, I still think it is fun. YOu can pack your own cooler and go in, to save money. When you are driving and you see the sign that says “best ham sandwiches” and you are hungry - stop - they are the best ham sandwiches you might eat. There is also Barton Springs, m ight check that out.</p>
<p>Texans - didn’t the Oasis burn down? I agree with previous poster great place for a drink and a sunset is a must - but I heard it burned down?</p>
<p>One more thing! Texas is one of those places - when you come off a highway onto an access road, the cars go BOTH ways! Most places, the access roads are one way, but you can hit oncoming traffic when you exit a highway - which can be a big surprise at night if you aren’t prepared for it!</p>
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<p>The fire was in 2005. That is a lifetime ago in Austin. For latest news and pictures, go to</p>
<p>[News</a> • The OASIS Restaurant- Sunset Capital of Texas](<a href=“http://www.oasis-austin.com/news.php]News”>http://www.oasis-austin.com/news.php)</p>
<p>What burned up in smoke was the latest Longhorns football season. :(</p>
<p>By the way, ham sanswiches are good, but why not put to the barbecue tour on your map? </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazingribs.com/one_nation_under_sauce/austin_barbecue.html[/url]”>http://www.amazingribs.com/one_nation_under_sauce/austin_barbecue.html</a></p>
<p>I live near Dallas/Fort Worth and I totally agree with the other posters that Fort Worth is far better than Dallas. I never, never, never go to Dallas. Not even through it if I can get somewhere without going through there. You can see a Rangers game and go to Six Flags which are in Arlington. The Sundance Square area in downtown Fort Worth is popular (ESPN broadcast from there during the Super Bowl), and there are several live theatres in Fort Worth, too. What kind of activities does your family enjoy? If you are in San Antonio and just have to see the gulf, it’s about a 2-hour drive to Corpus Christi. Better than Galveston and closer than South Padre Island. </p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, my son is in Port Aransas right now, too. Is it a big spring break destination? He said he was going fishing a lot… ;)</p>
<p>xiggi - agreed great bar-b-q everywhere! So many good places … just suggesting a good place to stop that isn’t fast food when you are on the road!</p>
<p>ARGH! Post just got eaten. Bottom line: Listen to the masses – skip the coast! Instead, consider a day trip to the Hill Country – Enchanted Rock (huge batholith if you’re the outdoorsy type – take LOTS of water) and Fredericksburg (shopping, eating, drinking, Nimitz Museum) and eat and dance in Gruene.</p>
<p>Agree with whoever suggested Marfa and Big Bend trip – again, if you’re the outdoorsy type. Oh and Balmorrhea State Park. The Marfa lights are truly awesome. Oh, and Fort Davis. One of my all-time favorite family vacations, with the Sonora Caverns thrown in.</p>
<p>I’m thrilled so many people love so much about my home state!</p>
<p>And, personally, I love the LBJ Library. I think it’s because growing up when and where and how I did, I only remembered bad things about LBJ, but I learned so much going to the museum as an adult. Oh, and you could go to his family ranch, too, if you go out to the Hill Country. We went around Christmas time a few years ago and saw the whole family. Really neat!</p>
<p>In defense of Galveston, I’ve done some wonderful bird watching there on the trail on the other side of the highway from the beach at Galveston Island State Park. Son and I got a birding guide at the visitors center and found awesome spots all over the island for bird watching, and found some very nice beaches, even. We went to the opposite side of the island on another day and took the ferry to Bolivar Island and back just to see the dolphins jump out of the water on the trip. Also went on some Posted property to do some bird watching on the sly. Many people spend the day on Bolivar Island, though we did not have time, but I don’t know how it’s been since Katrina.</p>
<p>For Houston, the Science Museum is awesome and often has some great traveling exhibits as well.</p>
<p>Totally agree that focus of your trip should be Austin SA. Try to do some side trips around Austin–Lockhart, Luling, Boerne, Taylor. All have great barbecue joints, dancing, beer halls. The scenery, the people and the friendly atmosphere of small towns in and around the Texas Hill Country are unique. </p>
<p>Check out this travel information.
[Tourin</a>’ Texas, a free newsletter for road trips, day trips and vacations in Texas](<a href=“http://www.texfiles.com/tourintexas/]Tourin”>http://www.texfiles.com/tourintexas/) </p>
<p>Two must-see eating/drinking establishments in Austin area: Salt Lick (in Round Rock or Driftwood–the best barbecue) and Scholz Beer Garden in Austin. Scholz is great for lunch–maybe after visiting the capitol or LBJ Library. </p>
<p>Just realized–by saying Salt Lick has the best barbecue, I may start a feud! Them’s fightin’ words in Texas!</p>
<p>I couldn’t work my way through all of this but I’ll add a few suggestions: If you are interested in state parks, in additon to the ones mentioned above Guadalupe River State Park and Pedernales Falls State Parks are also beautiful parks with a great hill country feel and swimming/ water activities available. I know you can rent canoes or tubes at GRSP, I’m not sure about Perdenales. Balmorrhea State Park is a unique cold water river pool but I have heard that in recent years it was in need of repair. I haven’t been there in a while. If you are in New Braunfels in additon to Schlitterbahn their city park, Landa Park has both a riverfed pool with a zipline and a standard olympic pool. (The former is cooler.). </p>
<p>As for Barbeque, I would say thumbs down for Rudy’s. (Although I know others disagree with me). Its okay but so many better places around. I think the best Barbeque can be found in Luling (City Market) or Lockhart (not far from Austin) Blacks Barbeque and others. Salt Lick is also good and can be found in Austin and San Antonio and other locations. </p>
<p>Some of my favorite Mexican restaurants in San Antonio include: LaFogota, El Marisol (I hear they are run by the same family), El Jarro de Arturo Mexican Restaurant, and Rosarios.</p>
<p>If you want to get to a beach but are not up for the drive to South Padre, Corpus while not the best beaches around can be fun. We have stayed on condos on the beach and at least at that time they were quite nice. One of them is El Constante. </p>
<p>If you are looking for shopping San Marcos (which is about 15 minutes away from New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn) has a huge outlet mall.</p>
<p>I know people have already mentioned the Riverwalk, Alamo, Institute of Texan Cultures, Sea World and Fiesta Texas but they are all worth mentioning again.</p>
<p>If you are interested in Texas history, after visiting the Alamo, and maybe the Missions, Gonzales is also an interesting little stop. There is a small museum in town that highlights the “Come and Take It” history. </p>
<p>Have a wonderful trip!!!</p>
<p>Beil1958 - my friend that I’m staying with next week lives within a couple of miles of the Salt Lick at Driftwood. I know it’s going to be one of our stops!</p>
<p>Would also like to add, that, while San Marcos has the wonderful river, etc. to go play on, I don’t know if I’d spend my time at the outlet malls there. I looked up the store directory, and the San Marcos outlet seems to have most, if not all, the same stores that any other Prime Outlet mall throughout the country might have. So I wouldn’t waste my time on something I can do near to home.</p>
<p>I keep forgetting things to add on… if your son absolutely insists he wants to see the Gulf of Mexico, if you don’t want to drive down to Corpus, another option to Galveston is Freeport. Actually when I was growing up, the Freeport beach was often considered a tad bit nicer and had more surfers there. It’s just over an hour away from Houston.</p>
<p>Another thing that’s sort of remarkable in Houston is to just drive by/around the Texas Medical Center. Most people don’t realize that it looks like another downtown in and of itself. It’s quite a complex, and to know that much of the world’s cutting edge of medicine is being practiced there is kind of cool.</p>
<p>I agree with the people who say you should skip Dallas. It is located so far away from the most interesting parts of the state. </p>
<p>An excursion (preferably overnight) into the Hill Country from San Antonio or Austin would give you a taste of Texas that you are not going to find in the cities.</p>
<p>Big Bend is utterly breathtaking but it is very, very remote.</p>
<p>If you want to visit the Gulf Coast and will definitely be in Houston, Galveston is really not all that far from Houston. It is a city that is older than many other Texas cities, and it has a little bit of the flavor of the deep South (as opposed to much of the rest of the state, which has more of a Western feel). There is a historic district, with big old white Victorian houses flanked by huge oleander bushes blowing in the Gulf breeze.</p>
<p>The beach at Galveston may not be that great, but I remember having fun collecting sand dollars there. :)</p>
<p>Two things to add. While Big Bend is beautiful it is pretty much a trip in itself. It is also unbelievably hot in the summer so I would save that trip for another time. We visited once in April and learned what the siesta was all about!</p>
<p>Another fun coastal thing if birding is of interest is to take a whooping crane tour from Rockport Texas. A few years ago these amazing birds were nearly extinct but still viewable in Texas. I think their population is now stabilized.</p>
<p>A few things I’d add…when you leave Austin and head south toward San Antonio, there’s a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE outlet center at Center Point and I-35. I believe I read somewhere it’s like the second biggest in the nation (not sure though). For your B&B, you’ll probably find the most charming in the Hill Country. Visit 6th street in Austin one night and pop into any bar; you’ll see why it’s become a player in the music industry (lots of fun). There’s a well-known restaurant in New Braunfels/Gruene besides the Smokehouse called the Grist Mill. You can sit on the patio and watch the tubers float down the river. The morning you decide to venture to the Alamo, stop first for breakfast at Guenther’s (Pioneer Baking Mix). It’s a landmark and home to some of the best pancakes and cinnamon rolls you’ve ever had. I would agree with stopping for Tex Mex at Mi Tierra in Mercado as opposed to eating on the Riverwalk; however, if you’re too tired and hungry, Casa Rio is on the Riverwalk and is legendary. </p>
<p>I would personally choose DFW over Houston – you’ll find Houston’s heat/humidity combo in the summer to be the most oppressive city ever! I can understand, though, why he’d want to visit NASA. Should you decide, however, to venture up to the Metroplex, the JFK Library is interesting. Fort Worth has the Stockyards with genuine cattle drives on certain mornings. FW also boasts some of the best museums in the state: the Amon Carter, the Kimball, the Modern, the newly-renovated FWMSH, and the Cowgirl, FW’s newest. Joe T. Garcia’s is the most renowned restaurant in the city, and Sundance Square and the new Montgomery Center area offers a variety of restaurants and bars. FW also has like the #4 or #5 zoo in the nation. </p>
<p>Have a great trip!</p>
<p>Gotta agree with the Grist Mill… lovely location and very cute little small town atmosphere. We went there for dinner after tubing last time I was in the Hill Country.</p>
<p>I’ll be at Joe T’s next Friday night.</p>
<p>I keep wondering if I know any of you DFW folks IRL. (If you know why I will be at Joe T’s then you do know me.)</p>
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<p>A client was making a big loan and another lawyer and I didn’t understand the collateral so we flew down to Corpus to tour it. It was an asphalt plant. Their motto: Asphalt - We make it on purpose.</p>