Big and beautiful, the southern state of Texas is amongst the most famous regions in the USA. With dramatic mountain ranges, windswept dunes, white-sand beaches, pine forests and vast plains, this is a superb destination for nature lovers. Its cities and towns, too, are bursting with fabulous food, music and more. Accommodation options range from cosy B&Bs and resorts with fabulous facilities to swish city hotels, fit for a whole host of tastes and budgets. Whether you’re dreaming of a ranch retreat, a romantic bolthole or a lively city break, our list of the best places to stay in Texas have it all.
Make a beeline for the bright lights of Houston or Dallas for marvellous museums, galleries, historic architecture, live music and a thriving food and nightlife scene. NASA’s Johnson Space Center, near Houston, is particularly popular, as is the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, focusing on President John F Kennedy’s life and 1963 assassination. Fans of great music should head to Austin, which boasts a seemingly endless programme of live gigs in venues big and small. San Antonio’s Riverwalk has a wonderfully festive feel in the evenings, too.
If you’d like a taste of cowboy life, you’re in the right place. The Fort Worth Stockyards are home to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, as well as restored saloons, steakhouses and Western stores aplenty. Alternatively, relax in pretty New Braunfels in Texas Hill Country, or gorgeous Galveston, on the Gulf Coast. Outdoorsy adventurers can explore Texas’ 367 miles of picturesque coastline, hike, horse ride and mountain bike in Big Bend National Park, kayak along the cypress-lined bayous of the north-east, or spot endemic wildlife in forests, mountains and open plains.
The best places to stay in Texas are popular throughout the year — book your trip well in advance if travelling during rodeo or festival times!