Texas, the Lone Star State, is ranked second in size and population in the United States. Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are the major cities in Texas; with over one million residents each, they are among the top ten largest cities in the United States. Texas is a diverse state with a unique mixture of Spanish,Mexican, and Southern American influences. With its extensive system of highway networks, Texas is perfect for a road trip to seethe many smaller cities, historic places, and state parks. There is also plenty to do in any one of the larger cities and metropolitan areas.
The Northern Texas area, which includes the Texas Panhandle, is bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the east. This region is characterized by relatively flat land, known as the South Plains or the Llano Estacado area of the southwestern United States. The Texas Panhandle also contains the Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon.
Amarillo is seated in Potter County of the Texas Panhandle. It is the largest city in the region with over two hundred thousand residents in its metropolitan area. Amarillo is part of the Staked Plains region is known for the number of large cattle ranches throughout its landscape. Amarillo has over fifty parks, including Medical Park and Thompson Memorial Park. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is located just south of the city.
Dumas is a city in Moore County.It is located fifty miles north of Amarillo in the center of the Texas Panhandle. Its most prominent attraction is the Window on the Plains Museum,which showcases the history of the Panhandle area.
Plainview is the county seat of Hale County. The Plainview Commercial Historic District is a National Historic Place. This area is a state leader in grain and cotton production, and oil and gas mining. There are facilities for swimming and tennis, city parks, and agolf course.
Wichita Falls is a large city only fifteen miles from the Texas-Oklahoma border. Wichita Falls is a progressive city with several colleges as well as the Sheppard Air Force Base. Wichita Falls also has a number of semi-pro sports teams in football, basketball, and soccer, and hosts the largest annual century bicycle ride in the US.
Sweetwater is the center of the wind power generating region of the Western Hemisphere. This city is also a banking and commercial center, with plenty of industrial and manufacturing plants. The Sweetwater Commercial Historic District contains many sites dating back to the early 1900s.
Dalhart is a city in northern Texas known as the Gateway to the Colorado Rockies. Nearby is the Rita Blanca Canyon and the Rita Blanca Lake State Park. Dairy and livestock farming, as well as cowboy rodeos make up the culture in Dalhart. The historic XIT Ranch is now commemorated at the XIT Museum and Rodeo Reunion.
Gainesville is about sixty miles north of Dallas. It is located on the border of Texas and Oklahoma. The Gainesville Factory Shops is the largest attraction.
Vernon is located in the North Texas county of Wilbarger. Vernon is a residential town with one high school and a community college. This town hosts the fun annual festivals of Santa Rosa Roundup and Summer's Last Blast.
Greenville is located forty-five miles north of Dallas, in Hunt County. Historic Main Street and the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum showcase the history of the area. Greenville also hosts the following famous concert series: the Symphony Festival Series, the Kenneth Threadgill Concert Series, and the Greenville Entertainment Series.
Sherman is a North Texas city named after General Sidney Sherman, a Texas Revolution hero. It is sixty miles north of Dallas. Sherman is the Gateway to Lake Texcoma.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, commonly referred to by Texans as The Metroplex, is the largest metropolitan area in the state with over six million residents. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is the economic and cultural hub of the region; it is sometimes referred to as the Silicon Prairie, and has one of the highest concentrations of corporate headquarters in the country. This area is accessible by the large Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas with over one million residents, and is the number one visitor destination in the state. Dallas is a major economic center and has the headquarters of ten Fortune 500 businesses. It also has a large arts district that includes places like the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, and the Winspear Opera House. Famous sports teams in Dallas are the Dallas Cowboys football team, Texas Rangers Baseball Team, and the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. The city has over four hundred parks including Fair Park. The Dallas Zoo is the largest in Texas.
Farmers Branch is an inner suburb of Dallas. Dallas Area Rapid Transit connects to all the attractions in the surrounding Dallas area.
Frisco is a wealthy suburb of Dallas that has over one hundred thousand residents. It is known as a residential community of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The Frisco Square and the Stonebriar Centre are two large retail and entertainment areas in the city.The Frisco Recreation Centre features indoor and outdoor aquatic areas.
Garland is a large inner suburb of Dallas, with a population of over two hundred thousand. It is within driving distance of all the attractions of Dallas, but has its own sights such as the Historic Downtown Garland area and the Granville Arts Center. There are also two large lakes, a golf course, and several parks including Audubon Park and the Spring Creek Forest Preserve.
The town of Addison is a northern suburb of Dallas. Addison is a thriving business city with several major corporate headquarters. Addison Circle Park hosts seasonal outdoor events and concerts.The Cavanaugh Flight Museum and the Water Tower Theatre are some of its other attractions. Addison is near all the attractions of the Dallas area.
Carrollton is a suburb of Dallas in Denton County. Several large companies are headquartered in the Carrollton business district. Some local attractions are the Homestead Museum, Old Downtown Carrollton, and the Elm Fork Nature Preserve.
Lancaster is a suburb with twenty five thousand residents that is part of the Best Southwest area. Lancaster is just fifteen minutes from downtown Dallas. Bear Creek Nature Preserve, part of the Lancaster Community Park, features camping, nature and equestrian trails, are creation center, and more.
Plano is a very large city and a wealthy suburb of Dallas. Plano is a wonderful residential community with excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and many large corporate headquarters.There are several highly-ranked golf courses such as Chase Oaks, Los Rios, and Pecan Hollow. The name Plano comes from the Spanish word for "flat".
Mesquite is a large Dallas suburb.Mesquite is known as the Rodeo Capital of Texas and features fun attractions like the Mesquite Championship Rodeo and the Rodeo City Music Hall. The Mesquite Art Center hosts the Mesquite Symphony, Mesquite Community Band, and Mesquite Community Theatre.
Irving is a large city in Dallas County, also located within the Dallas-Plano-Irving metropolitan division. Irving contains the headquarters several major companies such as the Boy Scouts of America and Exxon Mobil. The Irving Art Center complex has two theatres, art galleries, and a sculpture garden. Also visit the Official Museum of the Boy Scouts of America and the Mustangs at Las Colinas, the largest equestrian sculpture in the world.
Richardson is part of the Dallas Silicon Prairie, a large technological center for hundreds of companies. Richardson is highly ranked among the safest and best cities to live in within the United States. The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson.Some historic places in Richardson can be seen along Main Street.
McKinney is thirty miles north of Dallas in Collin County. The population of this residential city has more than doubled in the past ten years and McKinney now has more than one hundred thousand residents.
Fort Worth is the second-largest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. It was originally established in the mid-1800s as an army outpost. Sundance Square, named after the legendary Sundance Kid, is a thirty-five block entertainment center with movie theatres, shopping, restaurants, nightclubs, museums, and art galleries. The Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District is the site of historic cattle drives, along with the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and Billy Bob's, the largest country western music venue in the world. The Parks District includes the Fort Worth Zoo, a Japanese Garden, and Botanic Garden, among others. The Cultural District contains the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, founded in 1892, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the Kimbell Art Museum.
Arlington is a suburb of Fort Worth. Arlington draws visitors to the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park and the Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park. It is also the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team and stadium and the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. The River Legacy Park includes over a thousand acres along the Trinity River, with hiking and biking trails, picnic grounds, and wildlife area. Also enjoy recreation around Lake Arlington. Theatre Arlington, a large community theatre, and the Parks Mall at Arlington are other attractions.
Weatherford is located within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Parker County. Weatherford has some beautiful historic places involving Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Victorian-style architecture dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Parker is known as the Peach Capital of Texas and hosts the annual Parker County Peach Festival, one of the largest festivals in Texas.
Bedford is a suburban area located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. There are several large city parks, which include athletic complexes, lakes, and nature trails. The Old Bedford School is a favored historic site.
Hillsboro is a city in Hill County that is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is known as the gateway to Lake Whitney, a large man-made reservoir on the Brazos River. Lake Whitney offers lakeside accomodations and many types of fishing, boating, parks and other recreation.
The city of Euless is situated between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Sports fans will enjoy the Texas Star Golf Course and Sports Complex, the Softball World Museum, and the plethora of sports teams in the area.
Grand Prairie is a large city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The city is divided by the Trinity River. Its most famous attraction is the Lone Star Park, a horse racing track. Joe Pool Lake is popular for fishing, sailing, and outdoor recreation along its beaches.
Decatur is a city twenty-five miles from Fort Worth in Wise County. Decatur is full of historic places like the Waggoner Mansion, Petrified Wood Gas Station, and Wise County Courthouse.Also visit the LBJ Grasslands for hunting and fishing, horseback riding, and camping.
Lewisville is a city in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area. Recently its population has grown to nearly one hundred thousand. Lewisville Lake is lies north of the city, and Lake Grapevine lies to the south.
Westlake is a small town near Dallas and Fort Worth. This small pioneering town has less than five hundred residents. Westlake is named for its proximity to Lake Grapevine.
Denton, with over a hundred thousand residents, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. The cultural epicenter of the city is located in Downtown Square and Historic Fry Street; there are historical buildings along with shops, restaurants, and bars in these areas. Denton is home to two large universities: the Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas.
Roanoke is a small city in Denton County. The Roanoke Visitor Center and Museum offers an introduction to the city. There are also six city parks and recreation centers.
Granbury is a small town in Hood County. It is located about thirty miles south of Fort Worth. It has a historic area, the Shaley Park, Moments in Time hiking and biking trail, as well as swim park, playground, and baseball and soccer fields.
Itasca is a small town located approximately between Ft. Worth and Waco. It is a quiet agricultural area known for producing cotton and wheat.
The Central Texas region has a landscape of rolling hills and vast forests which lend it the name Texas Hill Country. This area also contains many beautiful rivers and lakes. The largest city in Central Texas is San Antonio, with other principal cities being Austin, San Marcos, and Waco.
San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas, with over two million people in its metropolitan area. This city has strong Mexican, military, and historical influences. San Antonio is most famous for the historical Battle of the Alamo, which occurred in 1836. The Alamo shrine and museum is located in downtown San Antonio. Riverwalk is a scenict three-mile pedestrian area with shopping, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The San Antonio Zoo, Sea World San Antonio, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas are some major tourist attractions in the city. San Antonio is also the home of the famous San Antonio Spurs basketball team.
The city of Seguin is thirty miles east of San Antonio. Seguin is the home of Texas Lutheran University. It is called the Pecan Capital of Texas. The Sebastopol is a Texas Historical Landmark.
Taylor is part of the Austin-San Marcos metropolitan area. The Dan Moody Museum honors the youngest governor of Texas.
Fredericksburg is a city in Gillespie County. It has a strong German Heritage due to its founding in 1846 by German immigrants. Fredericksburg is also noted for the dialect called Texas German, spoken by the first settlers who refused to speak English. The Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War honors those who served in World War II. And there is also the George Bush Gallery, an award-winning brewery, and the Wildseed Farms gardening center in Fredericksburg.
Fairfield is a small city in Freestone County. Some local attractions are the Freestone County Historical Museum and the Fairfield Lake State Park.
Killeen is the principal city of the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Area. You can visit one of twenty local parks in Killeen. The area is accessible by the Killeen-Fort HoodRegional Airport.
San Marcos is located between San Antonio and Austin. The San Marcos River and Aquarena Springs is a popular recreation area for canoeing, swimming, and fishing. San Marcos is a diverse city strongly influenced by the population of Texas State University.
Elgin, in central Texas, is a small city with about ten thousand residents. The Union Depot Museum shows the history of Elgin and walking tours of the Historic District are available. Elgin also hosts a number of arts and culture festivals throughout the year.
The cityof New Braunfels is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Area. New Braunfels is a German heritage city. The area is popular with tourists because of its cold-spring rivers, the Guadalupe River and Comal River. New Braunfels is famous for the Schlitterbahn Water Park Resort.
Waco is located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Austin and west of the Brazos River. One of the most unique attractions in Waco is the Dr. Pepper Museum, which is the home of the oldest soft drink in the world. The Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Art Center Waco,and the Cameron Park Zoo are popular for families to visit. River Square Center and the Central Texas Marketplace are two upscale areas which feature shopping,bars, and restaurants.
La Grange is a small city in Fayette County. Learn about the unique history of this city at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center.
Georgetown is a suburban city in Williamson County. Georgetown is situated in the Austin-San Marcos metropolitan area. A popular attraction is the Inner Space Cavern, a Karst cave discovered in the 1960s. Also visit Lake Georgetown and San Gabriel Park.
Austin is the capital of Texas and its fourth-largest city. It is located in central Texas along the banks of the Colorado River. Austin is nicknamed Silicon Hills after the Silicon Valley of California because it is a major center for high technology, as well as being the home of several Fortune 500 companies and the University of Texas at Austin. Austin has the slogan of The Live Music Capital of the World, along with a thriving arts and theatre scene. Some popular venues are the Paramount Theatre, Ballet Austin, the Texas Memorial Museum, Blanton Museum of Art, and the Austin Zoo. Austin is also known for the eccentric lifestyle of its residents and goes by the motto Keep Austin Weird.
Round Rock is part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area. Round Rock features some historic places in Old Town.Travis Lake is a resort and vacation area popular for fishing, camping, and sailing.
Temple is a Central Texas city in Bell County. Temple is located between Austin and Waco on Interstate 35. Temple is a major medical centre, known for having more doctors than any other city in the nation, several large hospitals, and the campus of the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Medicine.
Boerne is a small city in Hill Country of central Texas. It is just north of San Antonio and east of Austin.Main Street in Bourne is a historical area with walking tours, restaurants and shops.
Brenham is a city in Washington County of central Texas. There are many unique things to do in this small city. Plan a visit to the Pleasant Hill Winery, the American Alpacas Farm, and the Blue Bell ice cream factory.
Cameron is located in Milam County. Here you can visit ghost towns and historic landmarks, such as Milam County Courthouse, built in 1890, Milam County Jail, and Cameron Pioneer Cemetery.
Kerrville lies along the Guadalupe River in Texas Hill Country. It has some famous festivals like the Texas Arts and Crafts Fair and the Kerrville Folk Festival. The Riverside Nature Centre features an arboretum and a plant and wildlife sanctuary.
East Texas runs from the Red River in the north all the way down to the Galveston Bay, and includes the Greater Houston area. East Texas consists of the Piney Woods, a critically endangered forest eco region. The Piney Woods are famous for Bigfoot sightings, as well as native species like armadillos, bears, panthers, alligators, and a wide variety of birds. East Texas has four national forests and seventeen state parks. East Texas is more culturally linked to Southern American culture than other parts of Texas, due to its location along the Louisiana border.
Jacksonville is an East Texas city in Cherokee County. This agricultural area is known as the Tomato Capital of th eWorld.
The city of Palestine is in Anderson County. Its most noteworthy feature is the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility. There are also over a thousand historic landmarks within the city.
Canton is a small city in Van Zandt County. The most popular attraction is the First Monday Trade Days, a large weekly flea market. There is also a water park in Canton, as well as the Canton-Hackney Airport.
Longview is another East Texas city. Its history can be researched at the Gregg County Historical Museum an din the Heritage Plaza. Some annual events to see are the Great Texas Hot Air Balloon Race, the Memorial Day Weekend Motorcycle Rally, and the Alley Fest street festival.
Jasper is situated in the East Texas sub region. Some local attractions are the Jasper Community Theatre, the Fireman's Museum, and the East Texas Regional Arts Center. Jasper also has four parks: Kiwanis Park, Caradine Park, James Byrd Jr. Memorial Park, and Sandy Creek Park.
The city of Lufkin contains the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine, and Sam Houston National Forests. The Museum of East Texas showcases regional history and art. The Ellen Trout Zoo and Park contain over five hundred animals. Visitors can also take walking tours through historic downtown Lufkin.
Nacogdoches is a small East Texas city. Here you can visit historical sites like the Durst Taylor House, Old Stone Fort, and Millard's Crossing. Some outdoor areas include the Mast Arboretum, Azalea Trail, and the Bird and Wildlife Trail.
The town of Livingston is in Polk County. Lake Livingston is popular for fishing and water sports, and also has a State Park. The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is located just outside the city.
Marshall is considered a cultural and educational base for the East Texas area. It is also a major city in the Ark-Tex-La area, a socio-economic region where the states Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma meet. The largest university in Marshall is East Texas Baptist University.
The city of Texarkana is situated on the Texas-Arkansas border, and functions as one-half of the city, with the other half in Arkansas. The historic Perot Theatre, Main Street Entertainment District, and Texarkana Golf Ranch are places to visit.
Carthage is located near the Louisiana border in eastern Texas. It is the county seat of Panola County, with less than ten thousand residents. You can visit the famous Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the Tex Ritter Museum and the Jim Reeves Memorial.
Tyler is nicknamed the Rose Capital of America because of the prominent role of the rose-growing industry in the city. The Texas Rose Festival, held in October, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Local golf courses, museums, and the Caldwell Zoo are some other Tyler attractions.
The city of Jefferson is located along the eastern border of Texas, near the Louisiana border. It is a tourist town full of historic locations, most notably the Excelsior House and the House of the Four Seasons.
Mount Pleasant is a Northeast Texas cityin Titus County. The Downtown Square contains several businesses and historical sites. There are also plenty of parks with areas dedicated to fishing, camping, boating, and skiing.
Paris is situated at the western edge of the Piney Woods region of East Texas. Paris, Texas goes by the humorous slogan "the Second-Largest Paris in the World". Pat Mayse Lake and Lake Crook feature catfish and bass fishing. Paris is in driving distance of the Beaver Bend Resort Park in Oklahoma.
Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest city in the United States, with over two million residents. Houston is located on the Galveston bay near the Gulf of Mexico. It is a diverse and multicultural city known for the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, the Texas Medical Center research institution, and the headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies. Houston attracts over seven million visitors eachy ear to its popular cultural institutions. Houston is represented in each of the four performing arts by the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, the Alley Theatre, and Houston Symphony Orchestra. The Museum District includes the Houston Zoo, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. This city also has over seven universities and numerous sports teams, such as the famous Houston Astros baseball team and the Houston Rockets basketball team.
The community of Clear Lake City is a suburb of Houston. It is located in southeast Harris County. The surrounding area is a large aerospace, software, and engineering center and the NASA Johnson Space Center is located nearby.
Conroe is a booming Houston suburb in Montgomery County. There are plenty of area parks and golf courses,and three forests with recreational areas and trails: Jones State Forest,Montgomery County Preserve, and Sam Houston National Forest. Some historic places are the Crigton Theatre, built in 1930, the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, and the N.H. Davis Pioneer Museum. The rest of the area is residential with schools, libraries, and shopping malls.
Stafford is a municipal city near the cities of Houston and Sugar Land. The Fountains on the Lake is an upscale shopping center; also visit the Stafford Centre for the Performing Arts.
Pasadena is fifteen miles south of Houston in Harris County. Pasadena is famous for its large strawberry crop and hosts the annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival. Some museums to visit are the Pasadena Historical Museum, the Bay Area Museum, and the Armand Bayou Nature Center. The yearly Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo is very popular.
Baytown is part of the eastern Greater Houston area, in Harris and Chambers counties. Baytown is bordered by water on three sides, by the Galveston Bay and Cedar Bayou. The beaches of Galveston Island are a popular local attraction. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation along Baytown shores, especially fishing,sailing, and hunting. Local sights include the J.D. Walker Community Center Park, Baytown Historical Museum, and Wallisville Heritage Park.
The Woodland is a large master-planned community developed in the 1970s. The Woodlands lies within the northern Houston area. The Woodlands area features a shopping mall, two movie theatres, an amphitheatre, and hundreds of restaurants. The Woodlands Resort is a four-star destination.
Clute is a small city in Brazoria County that is famous for the discovery of a fossilized mammoth. The Center for Arts and Sciences is a large cultural and educational complex in the heart of the city. It has a Planetarium, Museum of Natural Science, the Brazosport Art League, and the Brazosport Center Stages which has a symphony orchestra and theatre company.
West Columbia is a small city within the Greater Houston metropolitan area. West Columbia is historically significant as the first capital of the Republic of Texas in 1836.
Montgomery is a small city considered to be the birthplace of the Lone Star Flag of Texas.
Humble is located in the inland Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. The Houston Intercontinental Airport is nearby. In Humble you can visit the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and the Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center.
La Porte is the famous location of the Battle of San Jacinto, commemorated by the San Jacinto Monument. La Porte is located in Harris County.
The city of College Station is located in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The main campus of Texas A&M University is located in College Station, and the area is heavily influenced by the university. The Northgate downtown district is known for live music and nightlife in its restaurants and bars. In College Station you can also visit the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, the George Bush Presidential Library, and Wolf Pen Creek Park and Amphitheater. Families will enjoy the Adamson Lagoon water park and the Children's Museum of Brazos Valley.
Beaumont, along with Port Arthur and Orange, forms the industrial area called the Golden Triangle. It is located on the bank of the Neches River, thirty miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico.It is the home of the South Texas State Fair. Some of its attractions are the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont Botanical Gardens, and the Edison Museum.
Orange sits on the Sabine River on the border with Louisiana. Orange is an industrial portal as well as a recreational one, with areas popular for fishing, hunting, and nature-watching.
Port Arthur is near Beaumont on the Gulf Coast. Port Arthur is the birthplace of singer Janis Joplin and artist Robert Rauschenberg. Some points of interest are the Buu Mon Buddhist Temple, Gator Country Alligator Park, and the Port Arthur Boardwalk. The Sea Rim State Park and Pleasure Island are nearby the city of Port Arthur.
Victoria is located in the "Golden Crescent" and has over three hundred thousand residents in its metropolitan area. The Riverside Park recreational area also contains the Texas Zoo.Victoria is located thirty minutes from the seashore and has a small tourist area known for its two historic restaurants, and a small art museum.
Lumberton, in Hardin County,contains the Village Creek State Park.
Portland is located in San Patricio County. Sunset Lake Nature Park is a scenic area to visit. This city is named because it forms an almost perfect triangle with the cities of Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine.
Channelview is located in Harris County near the Gulf of Mexico. Channelview has one large park and community center.
The city of Galveston is located on Galveston Island in the Gulf of Mexico. Along with beaches, there are a number of tourist attractions, such as the Moody Gardens botanical park, the Galveston Schlitterbahn water park, and the Lone Star Flight Museum. The Port of Galveston and the Galveston bay also harbor many popular cruise ships traveling to the Caribbean and Mexico.
South Texas begins just south of the city of San Antonio. The area is bordered by the Rio Grande River and the Gulf of Mexico. South Texas is noted for its strong Hispanic and Mexican-American influences, due to its location near the border of Mexico.
Bay City is a small prairie city along the Gulf Coast and the Colorado River. Its natural ecosystems shelter the gardens and wildlife of the Matagorda County Birding Nature Center. Also visit the Bay City Art League, Matagorda County Museum, and small shops and boutiques in downtown Bay City.
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in Nueces County. It has a diverse population of almost three hundred thousand. Some popular tourist attractions in Corpus Christi are the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge, the Texas State Aquarium, and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay. Surfing, fishing, and other outdoor recreation are some of the favorite pastimes in Corpus Christi due to its location on the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi Bay, and Laguna Madre.
Port Aransas is located on Mustang Island in the Aransas Bay. It is a popular Texas vacation destination, with beaches, outdoor recreation, and hotel and resort accommodations.
Rockport is a small town located along the Copano Bay. Rockport is known as an artist haven and features many art galleries. Rockport is also a popular tourist area for its beaches, fishing, and ski basin. Visitors can also see the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, and Maritime Museum.
Kingsville is part of the Corpus Christi-Kingsville Statistical Area, an area that borders the Gulf of Mexico. It is a smaller inland city that is located in the Wild Horse Desert. Kingsville contains more than one million acres of wildlife habitat.
Bishop is located in southern Texas in Nueces County. Its population is less than five thousand. It is an agricultural city and also has a large chemical plant.
South Padre Island is a resort town along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The island can be accessed by a causeway from the town of Port Isabel. Dolphin watching, horseback riding, and fishing are some of the recreational activities popular on South Padre Island.
The city of Brownsville lies at the southern most tip of the state of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. Brownsville is located directly on the US-Mexico border, and is connected by an international bridge to the city of Matamoros, Mexico. Brownsville has a rich Mexican and American history, attested to by such places as the Historic Brownsville Museum, the Brownsville Heritage Complex, and the Children's Museum of Brownsville. Also be sure to see the Gladys Porter Zoo, with over a thousand different animals.
Del Rio is located on the US-Mexico Border and is connected with Ciudad Acuna, Mexico by two bridges. Del Rio has a population of fifty thousand. Del Rio is the location of the busiest pilot training base in the US Air Force – the Laughlin Air Force Base.
The city of Eagle Pass lies along the Rio Grande across the border from Mexico. The Rio Grande is popular in this area for fishing and hunting of catfish, deer, and birds. Nearby is the Lucky Eagle Casino, on the Kickapoo Indian Reservation.
Harlingen is a city in the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas. The Valley International Airport, located in Harlingen, serves over two million people on both sides of the US-Mexico border. The Hugh Ramsey Nature Park and the Harlingen Art Forum, an artist coop, are two popular attractions.
Laredo lies across the Rio Grande River from the city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Laredo is surrounded by coastal plains on the east and the Mexican Mountains on the west. The city is a major banking, trade, and retail center for Texas and Mexico. Lake Casa Blanca, also a State Park, is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation. There are over fifty other parks and recreational centers. The Laredo Center for the Arts houses three art galleries, while the Imaginarium of South Texas and the Science Center Planetarium are popular with families. The city of Huntsville is situated between Houston and Dallas in the East Texas Piney Woods. The Texas Department of Justice and the Huntsville Prison are notably located in the city.
Pleasanton is a friendly city in Atascosa County. Pleasanton is the home of the first cowboy and features the annual Cowboy Homecoming.
McAllen is a large city at the southern Tip of Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. McAllen has many interesting museums like the Earth Science Gallery, the International Museum of Art and Science, and the Museum of South Texas History. There are also beautiful outdoor areas to visit, including the McAllen Botanical Gardens and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, a two thousand acre refuge along the Rio Grande. Mission is another city in Hidalgo County. Along with McAllen and Edinburg, Mission makes up the tri-city metropolitan area. Mission is the home of the ruby red grapefruit.Oakhurst is a small city in San Jacinto County.
West Texas is a desert and mountainous region that is known for its natural beauty. West Texas is sparsely populated as compared to the rest of Texas, with a high percentage of Hispanic residents. The area is a popular vacation spot for those looking to get away from urban areas.
Alpine is located in Brewer County in West Texas. Alpine has a historic area and the campus of Sul Ross State University. There are several parks, the largest of which, Kokernot Park, has a baseball field, picnic areas, and playground. Also visit the Museum of the Big Bend, a natural and cultural history center.
Van Horn is a small town in Culberson County. Van Horn has a total area of less than three square miles. The Three mile and Five mile mountains are located just west of the town.
The town of Fort Stockton is located in Pecos County in western Texas. Fort Stockton is halfway between the cities of San Antonio and El Paso on Interstate 10. Fort Stockton has many historic areas and is close to all the attractions of Big Bend Country.
Abilene is located in Taylor County. It is situated along Interstate I-20 in central Texas. Abilene has over a thousand acres of parkland, three athletic complexes, and the Abilene Zoo.
El Paso is located on the US-Mexico border, across the Rio Grande from the city of Ciudad Juarez. It is a large city with a population of over six hundred thousand. Some interesting sights are the El Paso Zoo, Franklin Mountains State Park, and the Abraham Chavez Theatre. The Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Nation is an autonomous Indian tribe located in El Paso. El Paso is also near to several famous parks including the sacred Hueco Tanks State Park, Big Bend National Park, and Lincoln NationalForest.
Lubbock is the hub city of the South Plains region, and contains over two hundred thousand residents. Rock and Roll legend Buddy Holly, a Lubbock native, is remembered by the Buddy Holly Cultural Center and the annual Buddy Holly Music Festival. The Depot District is a nightlife area along with shopping, cultural attractions, and upscale restaurants. Joyland Amusement Park, the Science Spectrum Interactive Museum, and the National Ranching Heritage Center are other unique places. Lubbock is also the home of Texas Tech University. Its university athletic teams are a popular Lubbock pastime.
San Angelo is located near the Colorado River in Tom Green County. The Angelo State University campus makes San Angelo a major college town. San Angelo also contains the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, the Goodfellow Air Force Base, and the Mathis Field commercial airport.
Midland, located on the Central Plains region of western Texas, has a population of over one hundred thousand. Midland is so named because it is halfway between the cities of Fort Worth and El Paso. The Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale and the Midland Community Theatre are well-recognized performing arts companies. The Permain Basin Petroleum Museum features displays about the history and science of the oil-rich Midland and its surrounding areas. The Midland County Historical Museum and the Museum of the Southwest, an art museum, are some other popular attractions. Midland is the home of former US President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush.
Ozona is a quaint community in Crockett County, named after the legend Colonel Davy Crockett. The Crockett County Historical Museum is an interesting sight, as is the Davy Crockett Monument in Central Park.
Cleveland is a residential community about one hour north of Houston. Cleveland is also within driving distance of the Sam Houston National Forest.
When you have seen the spacious landscape of Texas plains, you will know why the state goes by the motto "Everything Is Bigger In Texas". Mexican Heritage, Western influences like country music and cowboy rodeos, friendly people, and a unique landscape of wide-open prairie spaces, beaches, mountains and desert are some of the things that make Texas such an exciting place to visit.
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