The Texas landscape is very diverse. From flat plains and rough country that could be out of the Bugs Bunny and Road Runner show to rolling hills filled with bluebonnets, lakes, nature preserves and beautiful sandy beaches. It’s not all about tumbleweeds rolling in the arid desert like often portrayed in western movies although some places do look the part!
Texas is the second largest state of the US (the largest being Alaska). There are large cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, the state’s capital. You will also see towns so small that you would miss them if you blinked. Some could be straight out of a western movie.
From Austin we had the chance to take day trips and spend some weekends visiting some of Texas’s most interesting places.
San Antonio
When we lived in Austin, we liked to take our out-of-town guests for a city tour of San Antonio. The main attraction is the Alamo but on the way we always stopped at the historic San José Mission. Another interesting stop along the way is the San Antonio Museum of Art.
Mission San José dates back to 1720 and is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a world heritage site dedicated to the preservation of four missions.
A 10-mile hiking and biking trail links them to one another but road access is also possible for those who prefer to drive or are limited in time.
The Alamo was built in 1744 and was the site of the bloody battle of 1836—Texas’s fight for independence from Mexico. This historic place is now a World Heritage Site and a must-see attraction.
Following a morning of culture and history, we would typically head to the River Walk. There we would take a narrative boat ride, perhaps touristy, but a fun way to learn about the history of San Antonio, the River Walk and lock system. It also gave us the chance to see the architecture of San Antonio from a different perspective. Be ready to wait in line to board the boat, but there are many of them and lines move quickly.
The River Walk area is a nice place to go for a stroll but it can get crowded and you must be careful on some of the narrow paths. You don’t want to fall in! There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from. Perfect for a quick bite, although we usually preferred to have dinner outside of the tourist zone.
For great views of the city, we went up the Tower of the Americas before returning to Austin.
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi was one of the first places we visited after moving to Austin. We were looking forward to seeing the ocean and we hoped it would be a great place for scuba diving.
Unfortunately, when we visited, the water wasn’t as clear as we had imagined, and the only diving option was to go far offshore with a charter boat around the oil platforms (almost a 2-hour boat ride). Instead, we did the next best thing and went to the Texas State Aquarium. The exhibits are interesting and it’s a good way to learn about aquatic life and how we can help protect it.
Corpus Christi is definitely a tourist town with plenty to do, especially for families. One of our favorite attractions was the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier turned into a Naval Museum. The place is huge and there are multiple tours to choose from. Old WWII planes are displayed on the flight deck.
While in the area, we made it a point to go see the Padre Island National Seashore. This area is home to more than 320 types of birds and the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles can also be found here. It’s a beautiful place to spend a few hours and enjoy the beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
Tip: If you go from Austin, stay at least 2 nights. We stayed only for one and found that it was a lot of driving (4 hours each way). It’s a perfect destination for a long weekend.
Houston
During our first visit to Houston we took time to explore the downtown area where we discovered some stylish buildings and the old tramway rails which are still in use today. There are also many good restaurants including the original Pappadeaux (one of our favorite restaurants in Texas). It’s owned by the Pappas brothers and serves Cajun style seafood with huge portions.
The Space Center is a must-see in Houston. If you can, allow for a full day for your visit. There is a lot to see and do and we couldn’t see everything in half a day. It was very interesting and a fun learning experience.
Many cruises leave from Houston and you can read about our experience at the Houston Cruise Port
Galveston
Galveston on the Gulf Coast is less than an hour away from Houston by car. It’s a typical American resort town with the usual suspects of chain restaurants and family attractions.
Galveston is also a popular cruise port, especially for cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean. Next to the cruise port, there’s a train museum, restaurants and bars. The kids will most likely prefer going to the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier to enjoy the rides. While others might prefer to relax on the beach. However, at the time of our visit there was a lot of seaweed and the water wasn’t as clear as it is in the Caribbean or Florida.
Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas and Fort Worth can be easily combined into one weekend trip since they are in the same general area. Dallas is a great place to go for shopping but there are also a few unmissable things to do in the city.
A definite must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. It’s about the life, legacy and assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There are also other interesting museums to visit, the aquarium, the botanical gardens and the Reunion Tower, where you can get a great bird’s-eye view of the city.
Be sure to go to the Fort Worth Stockyards. It’s a historical district where you can see a rodeo, ride a horse, try to ride a mechanical bull, and more. It’s the place to go get a taste of the Wild West and have some fun with the family.
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is located about an 8-hour drive southwest from Austin near the Mexican border. The park offers trails and panoramic vistas of mountains, deserts and river canyons. There is also plenty of wildlife throughout the park. Unfortunately, we did not make it there while we lived in Austin, perhaps one day we’ll return…
Conclusion
Texas has plenty of land for those needing solitude. With so many hiking trails available, it’s easy to escape from the crowds.
Just keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and other poisonous creatures!
There you have it, an overview of day and weekend trips to take from Austin, Texas. Be sure to have a look at our post about Things to Do and Places to Go in Austin, Texas