Texas attractions

The 416-acre (169-hectare) Lady Bird Lake, a river-like reservoir along the Colorado River, anchors a host of outdoor activities in downtown Austin. Locals and visitors alike come to hike, bike, and walk around the lake, as well as to go bird-watching, canoeing, and paddleboarding. It’s even possible to fish for carp, largemouth bass, catfish, and sunfish in and around the reservoir.

Fort Worth, once known as Cowtown, never forgot its roots as a major player in the cattle market. See its cowboy culture on full display at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where a herd of Texas longhorns and their drovers take to the streets in daily cattle drives. This tradition—as well as the district’s honky-tonks, boot shops, and barbecue joints—allows visitors to fully experience Fort Worth’s Wild West brand.

In the heart of downtown Dallas, Reunion Tower is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and ranks among the world’s most impressive towers. Nicknamed “The Ball” for its distinctive, LED–adorned geodesic dome at the top, it affords panoramic views of Dallas from the GeO-Deck and illuminates the city’s skyline with its nightly light show.

The Dallas Arts District is a hub for performing arts, museums, and architecture, and at 69 acres and 19 blocks in size, it is one of the largest urban arts districts in the United States. Visitors interested in the arts will want to check out the Winspear Opera House, Meyerson Symphony Center, and the Wyly Theatre, among others.

Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, offers visitors some out-of-this-world experiences. See where astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock, and tour control centers used for groundbreaking NASA discoveries. Anyone with interests in aeronautics and astronautics will appreciate Space Center Houston’s interactive exhibits that dive into the evolution of human space exploration.

The Spanish Governor’s Palace in San Antonio, which served as housing for a series of Spanish aristocrats, is the only remaining 18th-century Spanish colonial townhouse in Texas. Along with the Alamo and other historic missions, the Governor’s Palace invites visitors to witness an important chapter of Texas history for themselves.

Set in central Houston at the site of the city’s founding, Market Square Park is the green, social, and historic heart of downtown. The small but action-packed urban park is popular with picnickers, families, dog owners, and anyone looking for a peaceful spot to reflect in the middle of the city. Bring a book to read beneath the live oak trees, or stroll among outdoor sculptures made by Houston artists.

Located in Houston's attraction-filled Hermann Park, the Houston Museum of Natural Science features five floors of exhibit halls, the Burke Baker Planetarium, and the Cockrell Butterfly Center. The permanent collection teaches visitors about everything from dinosaurs and Texas wildlife to the culture of ancient Egypt, while a stellar lineup of special exhibitions covers topics far beyond the scope of traditional natural science.

The LBJ Presidential Library chronicles the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson from 1963 to 1969. Exhibits include multimedia presentations, photographs, and artifacts from the tumultuous social climate of those years, including the Vietnam War, civil rights movement, and LBJ’s Great Society programs.

Stretching more than six city blocks and housing almost 250,000 square feet of exhibit space, the sprawling Austin Convention Center hosts a variety of events and conferences. It’s an ideal location for meetings and conventions, with more than 54 meeting rooms and seven ballrooms, and it’s within close proximity to the hotels, restaurants, and bars of downtown Austin.

The oldest continuously operating religious community in Texas, San Fernando De Bexar Cathedral was constructed between 1738 and 1749 and served as General Santa Anna’s headquarters for a time. Don’t miss the Alamo Coffin, located near the church entrance, which is believed to hold the remains of the men who lost their lives at the Alamo.

The Texas Governor’s Mansion in downtown Austin has been the official home of the presiding governor of Texas and family since 1856, and it’s the fourth-oldest continuously operating governor’s house in the United States. The Greek Revival-style mansion, a national historic landmark, is open for free tours on select days.

Based in downtown Dallas, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science offers a variety of exhibits at its Victory Park campus, from dinosaur skeletons and gemstones to space exploration and 3D films. The massive museum features five levels of hands-on activities, interactive displays, and games, and hosts various special events throughout the year.

San Antonio’s Historic Market Square is filled with the wonderful sights, sounds, smells, and tastes you might typically associate with life south of the border. Stroll the indoor/outdoor malls filled with more than 100 vendors selling handcrafted pottery, leather goods, clothing, toys, and jewelry in the largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico.

San Antonio’s historic roots are preserved at La Villita Historic Arts Village, the city's first neighborhood. This protected enclave has a history dating back nearly 300 years, with a collection of heritage buildings that today house boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries which collectively play host to more than 200 annual events.

Built in 1782 out of Texas limestone and stucco, Mission San Jose is the largest mission in San Antonio, earning it the nickname Queen of the Missions. While portions of the church and its gristmill and granary have collapsed over the years, much of the structure has been fully restored to its original design.

A visit to Barton Springs in Austin’s sprawling Zilker Metropolitan Park is a treasured recreational experience for both Austin locals and visitors. The pool, which spans more than 3 acres (1.2 hectares), is the result of a naturally occurring underground spring. Generations have enjoyed the fresh, cool water, which stays at a constant temperature of about 68°F (20°C) throughout the year.

Greeting visitors with a 34-foot (10-meter) bronze star, the Bullock Texas State History Museum invites you to learn about the story of Texas. Its three floors of historical exhibits are as entertaining and engaging as they are informative. Also here are Austin’s only IMAX theater and a separate 4-D theater.

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).

Perched over Galveston Bay, Kemah Boardwalk transformed what was once a small fishing community into a popular tourist destination. Today, it’s home to an amusement park with more than 15 rides, waterfront restaurants, and fountains where kids splash for relief under the scorching Texas sun. Complete with palm trees, a marina, and carnival games, it’s a classic small-town boardwalk just outside of busy Houston.

Tucked away in a Texas city known for its vibrant Mexican-American culture, San Antonio’s Japanese Tea Garden showcases traditions from across the Pacific. The peaceful gardens, koi pond, and stone paths lined with greenery provide a refreshing break from the busy downtown River Walk. Head to the 60-foot (18-meter) waterfall for a photo op, then stop at the on-site restaurant to refuel over sushi and margaritas.

Among the most famous sporting venues in Texas, AT&T Stadium has hosted the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star Game, and the FIFA World Cup. When fans are not cheering on the Dallas Cowboys football team at their home stadium or watching the legendary Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in action, it doubles up as a concert venue where icons, including Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift, have played.

Just off the city’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is a must for anyone with an appreciation for art. It houses the largest collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Asian art in the southern US, with more than 30,000 pieces spanning 5,000 years in its collection.

Asian elephants, Masai giraffes, California sea lions, and hundreds of other species live in the Houston Zoo, located in central Hermann Park. The sprawling outdoor space includes a carousel and petting zoo to keep kids entertained, plus exhibits on primates, Galapagos Islands dwellers, and other global wildlife for all ages. Whether you're a first-timer or repeat visitor, near-daily animal encounters and zookeeper chats mean there's always something new to learn.

Whether you want to learn about history and science, admire contemporary art masterpieces, or spot lions and elephants at the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum District has something to suit all ages and interests. More museums, galleries, and cultural institutions are concentrated here than you can cover in a day—21, to be exact—and many are located within the scenic green expanse of Hermann Park.

With more than 3,500 animals and upwards of 750 species, the San Antonio Zoo is home to many of the world’s creatures. Walk the zoo's winding paths to encounter giraffes, lions, elephants, tigers, pelicans, hippos, crocodiles, and other creatures in habitats designed to be engaging for both you and the animals.

Take a tour of San Antonio’s King William Historic District for a peek into the city’s first suburb, settled by wealthy German merchants in the late 1800s. Stroll throughout the 25 blocks of historical mansions—many of which have been converted to shops, cafés, and museums—to admire the district’s Greek Revival, Victorian, and Italianate architecture.

A prime example of the southwestern architecture of the late 1930s, Houston City Hall is the seat of Houston’s municipal government and sits at the heart of Houston’s Skyline District. An architectural landmark set between Houston Public Library and Tranquility Park, it’s also famous for its seasonal farmers market.

Mission Concepción, built in Spanish colonial style and dedicated in 1775, stands as the oldest unrestored stone church in the nation. Originally built to help convert local indigenous communities to Christianity, the mission is one of several that comprise the UNESCO World Heritage-listed San Antonio Missions.

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.