“Travel beyond the tourist brochure.”’
Happy Friday to my fellow Texans!
Texas is the second largest state in the country, which means there are miles of terrain to explore. If you don’t have enough PTO to fly out to Florida for a week, you can still plan a short getaway in your own state. After all, everyone could use a vacation. If you’re in need of a weekend excursion out of the city, check out these hidden gems.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! I doubt you’ll see any bears, but this is a great location to visit if you want to see some big cats. Tiger Creek is located in Tyler, TX. The 150 acre preserve houses over 40 rescued felines. The park is dedicated to providing rehabilitation to cats that have been displaced and/or maltreated.
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend attracts thousands of visitors each year. If you enjoy hiking, river trips, and scenic drives this is the place for you. It’s about a 7 hour drive from Dallas, but you’ll enjoy some spectacular road trip views including Balmorhea, Marfa, and the ghost town of Terlingua.
Q: What happens when water erosion and the dome of an underground river meet? Answer: A Pool! The Hamilton Pool Preserve is located about 30 miles west of Austin. It’s surrounded by an assortment of wildlife species, a lush plant community, and a 50-foot waterfall.
Rockport Beach
All you need is some Vitamin Sea! I’ll admit that Texas isn’t known for having the best beaches, but you can come across a few pristine shores if you know where to look. In fact, Rockport Beach is the only Blue Wave beach in Texas. This family-friendly beach is perfect for windsurfing, fishing, and other water activities.
Enchanted Rock
The Enchanted Rock is the second largest granite dome in the United States after Stone Mountain. Visitors come for the breathtaking views and majestic sunsets.
Below are additional landmarks you should visit in Texas:
- Travel to the Shangri La Botanical Garden
- Hike the Westcave Preserve
- Kayak through the Medina River
- Relax at Gorman Falls
- Take a tour to the Caverns of Sonora
- Swim in the Krause Srings
Final Notes: If you don’t live in Texas, don’t want to visit Texas, desperately need to get out of the state (for legal and/or illegal purposes), or think this article is completely useless (ouch), I’ll be dropping a post about domestic and international travel very soon. Stay tuned!
