10 Larger-Than-Life Reasons to Travel to Texas (Sponsored)

Drive

… along Route 66

Take a spin along Route 66 (we recommend cruising with the top down). The now-decommissioned highway, which carves an east-west line across the Texas Panhandle, offers sights like no other, including the public art exhibition Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. Or make a pit stop in the midpoint town of Adrian (population: 168) where a sign reads, "When you're here, you're halfway there." Ah, how we crave the open road.

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Ride

… a Ferris wheel (or a bull)

The massive, September-long State Fair of Texas doesn't limit itself to rides—although visitors shouldn't miss the Texas Star Ferris wheel (the tallest in North America, natch). Throughout the 277-acre fairground, visitors can take in an auto show, pumpkin carvings, local wine tastings, a kids' rodeo, and pig races, before noshing on just about any deep-fried food one's heart (but not one's cardiologist) desires: bubblegum, jambalaya, lattes, butter, and beer.

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Root

… for the home team

The Lone Star State is home to two colossal stadiums that football fans of every stripe should see. Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, home to the Dallas Cowboys, kicked off in 2009 as the National Football League's third-largest stadium by capacity, fitting 105,000 spectators and a 160-foot-wide HDTV under one retractable roof. Also making mammoth waves is Texas A&M, where upcoming renovations will add 20,000 more seats to Kyle Field, making it the largest stadium in the SEC. (The immense tailgating traditions are half the fun, so pack your cooler alongside your best Aggie gear.)

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Look Cool

… at Austin City Limits

Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, hosts this annual convergence of all things musical, edible, and cultural. This year, festivalgoers can find a lineup of 100-some musical acts, including headliners Depeche Mode, The Cure, Muse, and Kings of Leon, as well as smaller indie acts down to the still-undiscovered. Additionally, the Austin Eats Food Court will satisfy patrons' hunger pains with local noshes, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, while Austin artisans put their wares and works on display in the nearby ACL Art Market.

Ready for a larger-than-life adventure? Get your FREE Texas State Travel Guide now!

Dance

… at a honky-tonk

Music festivals aren't the only places in the state to boogie. From Billy Bob's Texas (self-proclaimed "world's largest honky-tonk") in Ft. Worth to the dance halls of the historical Hill Country town of Gruene, you'll never be far from country music to tap your toe (or line dance) to. See local favorites and country legends at Gruene Hall, Texas' oldest music venue.

Ready for a larger-than-life adventure? Get your FREE Texas State Travel Guide now!

Ready for a larger-than-life adventure? Get your FREE Texas State Travel Guide now!

Eat and Drink

… just about everything

Texas is home to plentiful food festivals celebrating its barbecue, produce, and deep-fried delights. The annual Houston Hot Sauce Festival draws 20,000-some intrepid travelers to taste its fiery concoctions during its celebration of all things spicy; pick up a hot sauce, salsa, marinade, dip, or jam and take home the fact-numbing fun. Meanwhile, the unofficial granddaddy of chili cook-offs in Terlingua will satisfy just about anyone's craving for dishes that combine heat and meat. Or, try everything at once at Austin's Hill Country Wine and Food Festival, the largest in the state, where visitors can nosh on local nibbles from tacos to charcuterie alongside local wines. (We're sorry, was that the sound of your stomach rumbling?)

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Shop

… and ice-skate, and play, and eat, and then shop some more

We’ve all heard of that megamall in Minneapolis, but there's a reason USA Today called the Galleria Dallas "one of the top 10 places to spend it all." Where else can you go broke in 200-plus stores and dozens of restaurants before practicing your triple axel at an indoor ice-skating rink? We recommend grabbing a map before delving into this vast, glass-domed shoppers' paradise.

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Sunbathe

… with sea turtles

Texas is home to the world's largest stretch of undeveloped barrier island, the 70-mile Padre Island National Seashore. Pack your beach towel (or your tent—campgrounds are open year-round) and take in the untouched, sunlit glory of this Gulf of Mexico coastline. You'll be sharing the waves with five sea-turtle species, including the relatively diminutive Kemp's ridley (still decidedly Texas-sized at 25 inches long and 100 lb. a pop).

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Hike

… for miles

The 13 national parks of Texas offer completely unique hiking adventures that are more than exercise—they're almost spiritual journeys. One standout spreads out in far west Texas. Big Bend National Park's rivers sluice through limestone canyons and lava-built mesas; here, hikers have 150 miles of trail to tread and, at night, 2,000-some stars to see in the clear, unspoiled sky. In winter, Big Bend is one of the finest places on Earth to stargaze, due to its remote location and infrequent cloud cover. City dwellers, prepare to be dazzled.

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Don't Forget

… the Alamo

This former Roman Catholic mission and fortress in San Antonio is one of Texas' top travel draws and the most-visited attraction in the Lone Star State. Famously the site of a fierce battle in 1836, during which legends like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett defended the fortress against Santa Anna's 13-day siege, the Alamo now stands as an enduring symbol of freedom and spirit against impossible odds. Be one of the 2.5 million annual visitors and explore the site, which is free. For a more interactive and immersive experience, call during First Saturday at the Alamo, a living-history event that gives visitors a firsthand peek at life in early Texas.

Ready for a larger-than-life adventure? Get your FREE Texas State Travel Guide now!