Top 10 Texas Attractions for Visiting Non-Texans
By Kristen Kouk
- The Alamo
- Well… it had to top the list. This is where we were almost created. This was our Mayflower and Santa Maria. The character of the people of Texas today is a direct result of the individuals who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo to create a free state. The celeb list includes Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William Travis. Looking for a raccoon cap? Seeking a courageous story of a woman strengthened through battle? Read about Susannah Dickinson before you head there and walk into the Alamo to browse. Make sure to stay at the Menger in San Antonio and read up on their legendary ghost stories. The riverwalk won’t make the top ten, but its romance will seduce you.
- The State Capitol
- Go a little farther north and you’ll find the biggest state capitol in America. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the amount of pride we have for our state. I highly encourage you to walk inside the capitol and discover its beauty. Sure it’s Texas limestone on the outside, but its pure state history and pride on the outside.
- Gruene Hall in New Braunfels
- Arguably – and I mean arguably – the best place to two step in Texas, Gruene Hall is not only an infamous dancehall, but also a historical Texas landmark. Make sure you bootscoot on over to New Braunfels and enjoy the Gristmill River Restaurant.
- Natural Bridge Caverns
- Yes we’re proud of our state, but we should be, it’s beautiful. Number four on our list may not be the first visit on your trip, but should definitely be included due to its grandeur.
- Cowboy Stadium
- Chandeliers in a football stadium? Totally normal at Jerry Jones’ Cowboy Stadium home to the Dallas Cowboys. This year the stadium will hold not only hold football games, but basketball games and wrestling matches. Bringing in millions of revenues for the local communities, this stadium is a must see if you’re in the area.
- Galveston Sea Wall
- The place where Texas meets the Gulf can on occasion look littered with oil refineries and barges; however, there is a
place on the coast that inspires songs, books and thousands of people to trek there every summer. Galveston, having survived yet another disastrous hurricane, is the indisputable beach home for Texans seeking surf and sand.
- The place where Texas meets the Gulf can on occasion look littered with oil refineries and barges; however, there is a
- Fredericksburg
- How can you not love the combination of wineries, bed and breakfasts and antique shopping? Well maybe men don’t love it, but let’s send them to the WWII museum while we hunt for furniture in the quaint little German town of Fredericksburg.
- Big Bend National Park
- Not much attention is given to this part of the state, yet it happens to be the most scenic views the country has to offer. Dip your foot in the Rio Grande after hiking in this jaw-droppingly beautiful national park.
- Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock
- Buddy Holly was much more than just the widely recognized eyeglasses, he was a legend. And he also just happened to be born in Texas. Although Lubbock as a city has been critiqued for its rare cow manure scent and lack of vegetation, this city is booming and should have a day dedicated in your itinerary. It may be a slow town, but it created some pretty mean rock n roll.
- Corpus Christi/Port Aransas
- Another popular beach locale that couldn’t be left out of the top ten due to its warm water, friendly locals and consumer-friendly prices. The hotels and condominiums in the area aim to please families and pleasure seekers. Stay out of the spring break schedule, but make sure you step on a sand dune while drinking a Shiner and watching the sunset.
(Photos courtesy of flickr)
Great post Kristen. For a Dallas newbie by way of my Midwestern home in Indiana, this is helpful info for that day at some point in the computer when I shut my laptop and actually do a little traveling.
And I can’t believe that I haven’t been to the new Cowboys Stadium yet. I need to cross that off of the to-do list soon!
#11: Czech Stop in West, Texas
Great article, Kristen. And I agree about the Alamo being #1.
“Well maybe men don’t love it.” I’m a fan of Fredericksburg, but not for the WWII museum. I kind of dig the antique shops, especially the old instruments they have. It’s a good stop for a few hours, but I wouldn’t want to spend all day there. It would be an OK detour while traveling further south.
San Antonio is May is the city in Texas to be! With its annual Oyster Bake at St. Mary’s University, the whole city is in Mardi Gras mode with parades downtown celebrating FIESTA! I love going to the Riverwalk at night which even features a tri- level night club, Polly Esther’s.
Dallas, Texas any day. They have a bunch of old houses restored to how they used to look back in the 40s and 50s, window shades and all just out of down town. They have Deep Ellum (which I’m sorry has never been my thing, but a lot of people like it, and the Jazz.). There is West End with Carriage rides, outdoor concerts free, all shorts of places to eat & drink, and every kind of shop you can want. You can get a newspaper with your name in the headlines, or a magazine cover with your picture, dipped strawberries, the list is too long. Lowe’s Anatole has some nice clubs & restaurants. There is Reunion Tower, the dome at the top. At night it does a beautiful light show. Just be careful if you go to the top where you lay your purse may not be the arm of your chair, and the room rotates. Lol I learned that first hand. There is the American Airlines Center, which they have the Maverick’s Basketball, The Starr’s Hockey Team. There’s the Texas Rangers Baseball games at Arlington, 6 Flags Over Texas Amusement Park. There’s a Wonderful Water Park in Garland, Texas. There’s a Wax Musueum in Grand Prairie. The rodeo in Mesquite, the list is too long to go on. If you’re into computers, THe Infomart is like the North Pole would be to a child. Every kind of computer store, see all the latest contractions, softwares, etc. There is Mideval Times for Joisting while you eat. See I still keep thinking of more. Dallas is it. Trolley car ride on Mckinney Avenue all the places to go to eat & drink & shop.
Hmm that’s interessting but frankly i have a hard time seeing it… I’m wondering what others have to say….
Not bad article, but I really miss that you didn’t express your opinion, but ok you just have different approach
Hello Friends!
Is there something unusual with your blog or with my web browser? I keep clicking on the subscribe button and I get some strange code from the browser. The feed content shows many strange characters and it looks messy. Maybe it’s from the new module I set up to get the subscription feeds into a custom way. Weird, never the less.
Later!
strange this post is totaly irrelevant to the search query I entered in google but it was listed on the first page.
Hardwick’sThe Diagon Alley of Hardware Stores*What does that even mean? I don’t know. I’m always thinking that Pike Place is sort of like Diagon Alley with its many warrensof oddly shaped and stocked small stores but Hardwicks has some of that same chaotic ….
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