Texas

Best time to visit Texas

The best time to visit Texas largely depends on what you're looking to experience. If you prefer mild temperatures and vibrant scenery, spring (March to May) is an ideal time to explore the state. This season is famous for its blooming wildflowers, particularly the iconic bluebonnets, making it perfect for outdoor activities and festivals. Whether you're hiking through the Hill Country or enjoying local events, spring in Texas is a refreshing experience.

Autumn (September to November) is another great time to visit, offering comfortable weather and a variety of activities. The autumn season brings cooler temperatures, making it an excellent time to explore Texas's cities or take part in seasonal events like the State Fair of Texas. The changing leaves and crisp air add a touch of magic to your travels.

For those who prefer fewer crowds, winter (December to February) is a good option. Texas experiences mild winters, especially in cities like Austin and San Antonio. This season is perfect for city exploration and visiting coastal areas such as Houston and Galveston, where the weather remains pleasant.

However, if you're looking to enjoy water activities or don't mind the heat, summer (June to August) offers plenty of sunshine and outdoor fun. Just be prepared for high temperatures, particularly in central and southern regions. Whether you're cooling off in a river or enjoying a beach day, summer in Texas is full of vibrant energy.

Highlights of Texas

In the heartland of Texas, its major city centres form the heart and soul of the state. The capitol of Texas, Austin, makes a perfect base for exploring the surrounding countryside of Hill Country. Musicians from Janis Joplin to Willie Nelson called Austin home, and it also houses the monumental Texas State Capitol building. Dallas is the place to visit for thumping nightlife, a sophisticated arts scene, dazzling architecture and the sporting home of the famous Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. Nearby Fort Worth, just 25 miles from Dallas, is very different in flavour and ticks along to a slower pace. This calmer and more down-to-earth centre run true to its cowboy roots in the Stockyards District, where Wild West culture is alive and kicking.

Further south Texas’ other key cities are a big draw including Houston, home to NASA’s Space Center Houston, whilst history lovers will love San Antonio, the beautiful riverside city that was once the home of the Comanche Indians and later the legendary fort, the Alamo.

In the west of Texas, the verdant Rio Grande forms a snaking 900-mile natural border with Mexico. The most westerly city, El Paso, perches on the edge of this most mountainous region of the state, where mountains, desert and mesas reign Close to the Mexican border. Big Bend National Park provides rafting, hiking, biking and horse riding through its dramatic canyons whilst further north huge starry skies and “Texas’ Grand Canyon” can be found in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, south of Amarillo. The east of Texas is more like its neighbour Louisiana, characterised by swamps and bayous, with the north of the region is home to steeple-high pine trees.

Things to do on your Texas holiday

Dallas
To many the city of Dallas conjures up memories of the popular television series Dallas and the power struggle in the Ewing family over Ewing Oil and for those die-hard Dallas fans you can travel out of the city to see famous Southfork Ranch. But there is more to Dallas than oil including its interesting arts district, big sporting scene and its wide choice of bistros, pubs, and restaurants. The Sixth Floor Museum at the Dealey Plaza is a must visit whilst in the city. This is where the gun shots that killed President John F Kennedy were shot from, and where you can learn about the life of John F Kennedy, the time leading up to the assassination along with interesting exhibits and artefacts.

Austin
Austin is the capital of Texas and the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’, where live music can be heard all day in bars, clubs, and outdoor venues. It’s very much about music and food in Austin with over 200 live music venues, food trucks serving dishes from around the word including tasty Tex Mex cuisine. Due to its phenomenal music scene, Austin host many world-class music festivals including South by Southwest that draws well known singers and bands in early Spring. The city is also home to the largest urban bat colony and plenty of green parks and outdoor activities such as paddleboarding, cycling and golf.

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Things to do on your Texas holiday

San Antonio
Oozing charm, Mexican culture, an historic UNESCO World Heritage Site and a colourful riverwalk there is lots to love about San Antonio. History enthusiasts will love exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Spanish colonial missions in San Antonio Missions National Historic Park which house four out of five of the city’s missions in its 948 acres. The most notable mission is The Alamo, located in downtown San Antonio, which symbolises Texan independence.

Houston
Cosmopolitan Houston is the USA’s fourth largest city, located 50 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. Here you will find glittering skyscrapers, a big arts and culture scene with its own Theatre and Museum Districts, fantastic shopping at The Galleria, the biggest shopping centre in Texas and superb dining opportunities, making it one of the best places to eat in the Southern States. Its most well-known attraction is Space Center Houston, which tells the fascinating story of how this NASA space facility played a part in putting the first man on the moon in 1969.

Big Bend National Park
One of the wildest and most remote national parks in America, Big Bend is a bird watcher’s paradise. Among the cactuses and yuccas of the desert floor, the oaks and pines of the ridge tops and the wildflowers of the creeks, at least 450 species of bird have made the park their home – more than any other national park in the US. The name ‘Big Bend’ comes from the 90° turn of the Rio Grande as it carves its way through the volcanic rock of the San Vicente and Sierra del Carmen Mountains. Teeming with roadrunners, coyotes, deer, mountains lions and bears, there is an abundance of wildlife here. With mountains, rivers, canyons and deserts, Big Bend offers the complete experience of the features that define America’s Southwest.

Top tips for visiting Texas

• Stockyards National Historic District, Fort Worth
  Just 30 miles west of Dallas, is the historic ‘cattle town’ of Fort Worth and the famous Stockyards. This small but engaging 10 block district is where visitors flock to get a taste of the true American West. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, it was once the largest stockyards in the world and has been faithfully preserved. Here you will find cobbled streets, raised wooden sideboards and old-fashioned gas lamp style lighting area and the unbelievable highlight of the twice daily cattle drive of Texas Longhorn cows travelling through town.
  
• Ranches
  For all those ‘wannabe’ cowboys, there is no better place to experience a ranch holiday than in Texas. In Bandera, ‘The Cowboy Capital of the World’ located an hour north-west of San Antonio you will find the popular ranches of Mayan Dude and Dixie Dude. Enjoy a real-life ranch experience and saddle up on your included horseback rides or enjoy hiking, swimming and enjoy some good old fashioned cowboy entertainment with country dancing, singing and comedy shows. Ranch stays offer a fun-filled adventure and are the perfect way to end your Texas adventure.
  
• Fredericksburg
  Located 90 minutes west of Austin, the hidden gem of Fredericksburg boasts scenic beauty, charm, and rich history. With a rich German heritage, visitors can experience German architecture, museums and enjoy some typical German cuisine and drink a beer in the city’s lively beer gardens. It also has a thriving wine scene, with over 70 wineries and vineyards in the surrounding area. Enjoy an overnight stay when driving from Austin to San Antonio and if you visit in spring witness the blanket of colourful wildflowers that surround the city.

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Top tips for visiting Texas

• San Antonio River Walk
  One of the most popular attractions in San Antonio, the two and a half mile long Paseo del Rio is a shady, tree-lined cobbled path that extends from the Municipal Auditorium on the north end to the King William district at the south. The horseshoe-shaped, open-air promenade is now both a peaceful oasis and the centre of downtown life. Find bars, cafes, al fresco dining, boutiques, and shops along the green promenade, and take in the wonderful ambience on a river cruise.
  
• Getting around
  Driving in Texas is a must. In such a vast state, the distances between places can be huge and public transport isn’t widespread. All the major cities are served by good airport links, so flying from hub to hub is an option. American Affair can help you with car hire if you’d like to drive out to visit the stunning countryside and national parks.