Texas attractions

Whether carrying out science experiments, discovering foreign cultures, or constructing elaborate LEGO inventions—kids will be in their element at the Children's Museum of Houston. Designed as a ‘Playground for the Mind’, the museum focuses on child-centered learning through hands-on workshops, interactive exhibitions, and fun activities.

Austin’s South Congress Avenue (SoCo) comprises a slew of hip, funky restaurants and boutiques south of the Congress Avenue Bridge. Stroll down the main drag, people-watch and window-shop, and marvel at the retro neon signs including the Austin Motel and Jo’s Coffee (home of the iconic “I love you so much” mural).

The Dallas World Aquarium is home to much more than its colorful array of marine life; here, you’ll see sloths, monkeys, ocelots, penguins, bats, tortoises, and more. In the heart of Dallas’ West End, the aquarium comprises a variety of zones, including a cloud forest habitat, a replica Mexican cenote, a river exhibit, and a cove for crocodiles. It’s a must for wildlife fans of all ages.

Whether you want to delve into World War II history, admire contemporary art masterpieces, or spot lions and elephants at Houston Zoo—the Houston Museum District has something to suit all ages and interests. The district is home to 19 museums, galleries, and cultural centers, linked by tree-lined boulevards and leafy parks.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) displays some 6,000 years of art history through a collection of nearly 70,000 works from six continents—one of the largest museums in the United States. The collection is spread across seven facilities plus two nearby house museums showcasing the decorative arts.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum explores the two terms of the United States’ 43rd president. Several exhibits tell the story of American history from 2001 to 2009, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, while the nation’s second-largest presidential library welcomes visitors to peruse official records and artifacts from Bush’s presidency.

The famous roadhouse-style barbecue steak, brisket, and ribs are only part of the story at Billy Bob’s Texas, dubbed the world’s largest honky tonk. More than 6,000 people can squeeze into the Fort Worth venue to watch country music concerts, hit the dance floor, dine at the restaurant, play arcade games, or watch a bull riding contest.

The historic Paramount Theatre in Downtown Austin is a classic revival-style theater. First opened in 1915, the site has undergone many transformations and has hosted major theatrical events and stars over the years, from Houdini and Katharine Hepburn to Ira Glass and Wynton Marsalis. Take in a comedy show or a film screening and experience the history.

The 15-acre (6-hectare) Hemisfair Park got its start in 1968 as the site of America’s first official Worlds Fair. Today, the green space attracts visitors and locals alike to its playgrounds, biking and jogging trails, native flower gardens, picnic tables, and one of San Antonio’s most prominent landmarks, the Tower of the Americas.

Covering the southern half of the Houston Museum District, Hermann Park comprises 445 acres (180 hectares) of green space not far from downtown. With a golf course, several gardens, and a lake for pedal boating, the park is an idyllic spot for city dwellers to escape the crowds or spread out a picnic blanket. It’s also home to two of the city’s top sights: the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Discover Houston’s vibrant theater district, a global hub for culture enthusiasts. Whatever your interest—ballet, music, theater, opera—world-class artists bring their talent live onstage with performances by permanent, professional companies. The district spans a 17 block area of Houston and ranks second in the United States for the number of theater seats in its concentrated downtown area.

The 2nd Street District in Downtown Austin is a trendy area of the city with the motto: “Where Texas Warmth Meets Austin Cool.” Here, you’ll find a variety of trendy and uniquely Austin boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and dessert shops on six city blocks.

Take a walk through downtown Houston in the summer, and you might find the streets oddly deserted. That’s due to a series of interconnected, air-conditioned tunnels running below the streets and sidewalks of Downtown Houston—connecting 95 city blocks’ worth of office buildings, restaurants, and shops.

The Arlington outpost of Six Flags Over Texas is home to about 50 rides, with new ones popping up every few years. Here you’ll find something for any age, from gentle Yosemite Sam’s Texas Tea Cups for little ones to Titan, a stomach-churning roller coaster, plus several water rides for cooling off on a hot Texas summer day.

Beyond anything you’d expect inside a mall, atSEA LIFE® Aquarium Dallas you can immerse yourself in the oceanic environment filled with sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, clownfish, jellyfish, touch tanks, and more. Visitors of all ages will love walking through the 360-degree ocean tunnel, watching fish swim overhead.

The Texas State Cemetery, in addition to being a somber place for reflection, provides a historical overview of the notable men and women whose legacy continues to shape the Lone Star State. Among the famous interred here are writer James Michener, Civil Rights leader Barbara Jordan, and Stephen F. Austin, known as the Father of Texas.

Housed in an imposing concrete building at the heart of Houston’s Museum District, the Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to the six million victims of the Holocaust. Reopened after extension renovations in 2019, its focus is to educate visitors about the Holocaust, honor the legacy of the victims and survivors, and offer hope for the future.

The Dallas Arts District’s Nasher Sculpture Center is home to some of the finest examples of modern sculpture in the world. With more than 300 pieces in the permanent collection, visitors can see works by Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso, and Alberto Giacometti, plus special exhibits featuring artwork on loan.

This courthouse in the heart of San Antonio is the largest and oldest continuously operated historic courthouse in Texas. The sandstone Romanesque revival-style building is on the National Register of Historic Places and a highlight of walking tours through downtown San Antonio—it also houses Bexar Heritage Center, a museum dedicated to the county's history.

The Health Museum in Houston is an interactive learning center focused on health, medical science, and the human body. Visitors can tour a larger-than-life version of the human body, learn about the global food system, get an up close look at cellular biology, or see a film in the McGovern Theater.

Grapevine’s LEGOLAND® Discovery Center is a must for families with little and big builders. This vibrant space has an impressive number of rides and attractions, more than four million LEGO® pieces forming such amazing creations as a replica of the DFW area in striking detail, and 4D films included with your admission.

The oldest and largest zoo in Texas, the Dallas Zoo is home to hundreds of animals, including a herd of elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, ostriches, gorillas, and penguins. On the zoo’s 106 acres you’ll also find the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, a highly rated reptile and amphibian exhibit, and the only koalas in Texas.

The Alamodome is a multipurpose stadium that hosts conventions, sporting events, concerts, and public events in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Since its opening in 1993, the Alamodome has hosted the annual NCAA college football Valero Alamo Bowl. It is home to UTSA Football, and the sports club, San Antonio Sports.

Inside this interactive art experience, visitors are tasked with finding a 10-year-old character named Jared who has gone missing, by sorting through emails, videos, photos, and the boy’s drawings. Located at Grapevine Mills, just north of the Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, Meow Wolf’s The Real Unreal is set in a suburban house filled with psychedelic colors, featuring the art collective’s signature quirky touches.

Mexic-Arte Museum in downtown Austin showcases contemporary Mexican and Latino art and educates visitors through a variety of educational and hands-on programming. The small, nonprofit museum is one of the few in the country with a focus on emerging artists from Texas, the Southwest, and Latin America.

Like everything in Texas, the Natural Bridge Caverns are big. In fact, they are the largest known caverns in the state. Discovered near San Antonio in 1960, the Natural Bridge Caverns’ name is taken from the 60-foot (18-meter) natural limestone slab bridge that spans the entrance. During excavations, artifacts dating back to 5000 BC were unearthed. While the caverns are still being explored today, visitors can enjoy adventures ranging from underground cave tours to an enormous outdoor maze.

Wander the grounds of Austin’s picturesque Mayfield Park and Preserve, a former privately owned estate that includes a historic cottage, gardens, walking trails, and several resident peafowl—a delight for young and old visitors. Mayfield Park is located next to two other popular city sights: the Contemporary Austin Laguna Gloria and Mt. Bonnell.

With multiple design awards to its name, Wells Fargo Plaza is one of Houston’s most notable architectural landmarks. As the tallest all-glass tower in the western hemisphere, the 20th tallest building in the US, and the second-tallest building in Houston, it’s also a popular viewpoint.

The Republic of Texas, as it was known from 1836 to 1845, was host to a diplomatic outpost representing the government of France. The French Legation (now the French Legation Museum) was built in 1841 for Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, who was sent to the Republic of Texas by King Louis Philippe. Today it’s the oldest structure in Austin and an interesting museum.

Take a recreation break at Brackenridge Park, a huge San Antonio green space listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since Brackenridge is the largest park in the city, it's easy to come here spontaneously and find something to do. You can visit the zoo, ride the carousel, play a round of golf, bike the trails, and much more.