When you think of Texas, do images of cowboys and the Wild West come to mind? Texas is all that, for certain. But it is also much, much more. From the glittering, cosmopolitan cities of Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston to the art-deco charm, history and Mexican influence of San Antonio and Austin's verdant, hip and musically charged scene, Texas offers a surprising – and welcome – array of intriguing, warm and rewarding experiences. So giddy up, and explore a Texas you never expected.
TEXAS CULTURE
The barbecue alone makes a visit to Texas worthwhile. Near Austin, the state capital, diners can sample mouth-watering meats at a dozen restaurants along the famous Texas Barbecue Trail. In fact, the town of Lockhart has meat so succulent that the state legislature declared Lockhart the official Barbecue Capital of Texas.
Austin makes a great starting point for Texas travel, not only for the food, but also for its extraordinary music scene and nightlife. With about 200 live music venues (more per capita than New York, Nashville or Las Vegas), Austin is called the Live Music Capital of the World. The annual South by Southwest Festival attracts hundreds of music acts, ranging from pop and jazz to country, blues and hip-hop.
Austin is also known for its lush, green space including its parks and bike trails along Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake, as well as premium golf courses, including those at Barton Creek Resort & Spa. Austin teams cultural attractions including the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum – a must-see for a first-time visitor – and the extraordinary State Capitol Building and the Blanton Museum of Art.
Many visitors to Austin also plan a pleasant drive through the Texas Hill Country (including the fascinating German- American city of Fredericksburg) to San Antonio, rated as one of America’s four unique cities.
Influenced in tone, colour and history by its proximity to Mexico, San Antonio constantly surprises and delights. The best-known attraction is the Alamo, site of the famous 1836 battle between Texans and the Mexican Army, where the legendary David Crockett and other defenders perished.
The fabled River Walk, where the San Antonio River snakes its way through downtown San Antonio, is romance personified. Amid lush, semitropical vegetation, pedestrians enjoy an eclectic array of sidewalk cafes, unique shops, river cruises and a vibrant nightlife. Nearby, the El Mercado District’s Mexican flare includes the mariachis of the storied Mi Tierra and La Margarita restaurants – where diners can choose from more than 100 tequilas.
San Antonio’s other highlights include outstanding art museums and extraordinary golf. For families, there’s the largest SeaWorld in the U.S. and the thrilling Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park. Just 30 minutes north of San Antonio is San Marcos, home of the largest factory outlet shopping centres in Texas.
Dallas is known for its “Live Large/Think Big” image, and no other city in Texas reflects that better. This modern, sophisticated and cosmopolitan city is a hub of Southwest hospitality. Sports fans relish in this city’s Cowboys, Mavericks and Stars franchises, while shoppers get their fill at more retail outlets per capita than any other U.S. city, including the original Neiman Marcus store and outstanding malls like the North-Park Center and Dallas Galleria. Downtown, the multibillion-dollar Victory Park development is bringing renewed energy to this energetic city.
Visitors can snuggle into new boutique hotels like the Ritz Carlton and the W and enjoy the largest urban arts district in the country featuring institutions such as the Dallas Museum
of Art, the Crowe Collection of Asian Art and the new Nasher Sculpture Center.
Dallas has no fewer than 13 entertainment districts where locals and visitors alike enjoy a huge variety of ethnic restaurants, find quirky gifts in stores along Greenville Avenue or soak up the jazz and blues in Deep Ellum. A short drive from Dallas to Fort Worth brings visitors to the city that bills itself “Where the West Begins.”
The Stockyards, one of Fort Worth’s three distinct districts, embodies the Old West at its liveliest. In addition to a daily longhorn cattle drive and weekend rodeos, visitors can revel at Billy Bob’s, America’s largest honky-tonk. With room for over 6,000 guests, this massive venue has been named Country Music Club of the Year five times.
Sundance Square is Fort Worth’s entertainment and shopping district. Its 20 blocks of enticing shops, restaurants, galleries, theatres and hotels are award winning.
Fort Worth’s Cultural District, meanwhile, is home to five outstanding museums, including the Kimball Art Museum – known as “America’s best small museum” – and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the world’s only museum dedicated to honouring women of the American West.
The opportunities in Texas cities are endless. For varied cuisine, culture, sites and sounds, this state’s dynamic urban centers beg exploration and are sure to surprise.
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