Texas attractions

Some 23,500 gallons of water per minute gush over a silver semicircular 64-foot (20-meter) wall known as the Williams Waterwall. The sculptural fountain sits in Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, a 3-acre (1.2-hectare) green area shaded by more than 100 Texas live oak trees. It’s become a popular backdrop for both Houston locals and tourists.

The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is a 14-acre (5.6 hectares) public estate comprising part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, holding collections of American decorative art, paintings, and furniture in a historic home. Minutes from central Houston in the historic River Oaks area, the estate is surrounded by manicured gardens.

Lying some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) from Midway Island on Main Street in Fredericksburg, Texas, the Admiral Nimitz Gallery is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. It's dedicated to Chester Nimitz, a native son of Fredericksburg and World War II admiral who led the Americans to victory in the Battle of Midway.

The Guenther House is the historic residence of Carl Hilmar Guenther, founder of Pioneer Flour Mills. You can tour the beautiful limestone building and see its Victorian furnishings, visit the museum’s collection of antique bakeware and home goods, shop for milled and other gourmet goods, and dine at the restaurant, which serves homestyle American and Tex-Mex fare for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.

Explore the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park on foot or by bike via the San Antonio Mission Trail. This public trail connects the Alamo to the four Spanish frontier missions in the national park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The route runs along parts of the River Walk and is among the most popular things to do in San Antonio.

Considered one of the best malls ever by some travelers, NorthPark Center in Dallas offers a high-end shopping experience in a glamorous environment with mirrors, marble, and glass. In addition to department stores such as Nordstrom, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Dillard’s, the mall is home to a variety of restaurants.

First Lady Claudia Johnson (or “Lady Bird” as she will forever be remembered), believed intensely in the importance of wildflowers, natural preservation, and beautification of public landscapes. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center pays tribute to her mission with more than 800 species of native plants displayed in exhibits and floral landscapes that reflect the beauty of her vision.

Dubbed the “Heart of Houston,” Montrose is home to a quirky arts scene, rich LGTBQ+ culture, and eccentric shopping. Take a walk through the 4-square-mile (10-square-km) area—one of the most pedestrian-friendly in the city—to see its 1920s bungalows, local cafes, thrift shops, and trendy restaurants.

The Hard Rock Cafe is a big dose of rock 'n' roll memorabilia, American kitsch, and first-rate burgers, fries, and milkshakes. The San Antonio outpost is no different. Stop by while exploring the South Bank on the River Walk, have a Texas-sized meal, see a concert, and watch the river flow by from three floors of patios and balconies.

For a fun and educational family-friendly activity, head for the Austin Aquarium. Highlights include interactive exhibits and diverse animals on view—from stingrays and macaws to coatimundis and sharks. Nature enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the reptiles in the “rain forest,” and young scientists love watching the daily feedings.

In 1885, a pharmacist who served drinks at a soda fountain tried to create a carbonated beverage that tasted like how the Old Corner Drug Store where he worked smelled: Dr Pepper was born. The Dr Pepper Museum opened in 1991 on the site of the beverage’s former bottling factory, right next door to the Old Corner Drug Store, and contains over 100,000 objects reflecting the history of the brand and the soft drink industry.

Who knew that hiking trails and natural beauty were a stone’s throw from downtown Houston? This winding public park follows the banks of the Buffalo Bayou for about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the Sabine Street Bridge to Shepherd Drive, and offers delightful outdoor spaces with sweeping views of the downtown skyline.

With more than 33 attractions spread across 26 acres (10.5 hectares), Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston ranks among the biggest and best water parks in Texas. Among the thrills and chills are MASSIV (the world’s tallest water coaster), a wave pool, three river areas, white water rapids, heated pools, water slides, and a surf simulator.

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s mission is to teach the history of the Holocaust, provide a place of remembrance, and advance human rights. Through interactive exhibits, including personal testimonies and holograms of survivors, the museum explores the tragic history and consequences of the Holocaust, other genocides, and the United States’ journey for civil and human rights.

Stretching between Austin and San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country blends scenic beauty with history and cultural heritage. The region is known for its rolling hills, rivers, and limestone cliffs, as well as charming towns such as Fredericksburg. Visitors come for tastings at award-winning wineries, outdoor pursuits, and to see sites connected to Lyndon B. Johnson—whose roots lie deep in the Hill Country landscape.

Located on the shores of White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden spans 66-acre (27-hectare) of grounds, divided into different garden areas, each boasting its own aesthetic and blooms—from tea roses to crape myrtles, azaleas, bananas and tapioca plants. It hosts a range of annual events and educational programs for children and adults alike, with an emphasis on family-friendly activities.

Part ghost town, part quirky desert outpost, Terlingua is among the most out-there towns in West Texas, where there are more than a few. There’s natural desert beauty all around the former mercury mining town and a ragtag community of artists and galleries—but Terlingua serves primarily as a gateway to Big Bend National Park and the rugged charm of the Chihuahuan Desert.

The overwhelming size of the USS Lexington—a World War II–era US aircraft carrier—dominates the Corpus Cristi Bay. Once the oldest working carrier in the United States Navy, the ship is now a floating museum that has welcomed more than 8 million visitors since opening in 1992. “LEX,” as the ship is sometimes known, offers tours, artifacts, exhibits, and more inside her 16-story hull.

Mt. Bonnell, Austin's tallest point, is a smallish mountain on the east side of the Colorado River within Covert Park. The pretty overlook at the top is one of the best places in the city to catch sunsets and broad views of Lake Austin, parts of the Colorado River, and Texas Hill Country beyond.

Located in Fredericksburg, the National Museum of the Pacific War is the only museum in the US dedicated to the history of World War II in the Pacific. Spanning 6 acres (2.4 hectares), the complex is across various buildings and sites and features galleries, state-of-the-art exhibits and memorabilia, plus hosts events and living history reenactments.

Stretching across the Brazos River in Texas, the Waco Suspension Bridge was built in 1870 as the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River. It has since been rehabilitated and turned into a pedestrian-only throughway; today, it is a popular crossing for locals and visitors alike exploring the Waco Riverwalk.

The world’s largest livestock and live entertainment show combines Wild West culture with music and agriculture for nearly three weeks of rodeo performances, livestock shows, barbecue contests, parades, and live concerts by some of the biggest names in music.

If there’s serious shopping to be done on your trip to Houston, it will likely happen in this skylit mall in the heart of the Uptown District. Though it’s among the largest shopping centers in the US, there’s more to the mall—actually a “mixed-use urban development”—than a Texas-sized shopping experience, as visitors will find hotels, an array of restaurants, and an ice-skating rink.

In the spirit of 19th-century dime museums, the Museum of the Weird in downtown Austin boasts a variety of unusual attractions, oddities, and movie props, such as monsters, mummies, shrunken heads, and Fiji mermaids—a common sideshow feature that is supposedly half mammal, half fish. It also features the Creature on Ice (aka the Minnesota Iceman), who lies in a temperature-controlled refrigerated sarcophagus.

Few of Big Bend National Park’s must-see natural features are as majestic as the Santa Elena Canyon—a deep, narrow gorge, which the Rio Grande has cut through the mountains inside the national park. Reach the canyon floor beside the river via a short hiking trail across Terlingua Creek and a series of stairs, then continue your adventure up or down the stream on rafts or canoes.

Cottonland Castle began as an unframed home built in 1890 and was transformed to mimic a castle along Germany’s Rhine River. The white sandstone and limestone exterior gave the Castle Heights neighborhood its name. Cottonland Castle eventually fell into disrepair until it was renovated on the television show Fixer Upper: The Castle and opened to the public for tours.

Designer shopping enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to this Houston location of the Tanger Outlets, just south of the city. One of 36 branches located all around the US and Canada, the outlet shopping mall features hundreds of brands at deeply discounted prices, affording plenty of opportunities to bag a bargain.

Deep Ellum is a Dallas entertainment district east of the downtown historic district. The community (then Deep Elm) was created when T&P Railroad crossed with H&TC Railroad in 1873 and has been a multicultural neighborhood ever since. It's on the National Register of Historic Places. Restaurants, bars, and shops line its streets, and nightlife picks up after dark.

Boquillas is the other canyon within Big Bend National Park. Less known than the majestic Santa Elena Canyon, it's the longest and deepest canyon in the park and just as much a destination for river trips, hiking, and camping. In some places, the canyon depth from local mountains is greater than the Grand Canyon's.

Considered the heart of Big Bend National Park, this mountain range cuts about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Punta de la Sierra to Panther Junction, where you’ll find the park’s visitor center. Unlike the surrounding landscapes, the Chisos are forested with ponderosa pines and other hardy trees, and they comprise the only mountain range standing within a single US national park.