Ahh, Texas summers. The kids are out of school, and though the heat might be blistering, many of us spend these months looking for adventure. We’ve put together a number of options for you to get out and see the state—and often stay cool while you do it. Check back here over the coming weeks for more itineraries, and let us know your favorite destinations. We’ll incorporate feedback into future posts!
Summer Travel 2019
Summer Itineraries
Road Map: The Best Pitmaster Pit Stops in Texas
We've mapped out all the great pit stops along (and within ten miles of) the interstates that cross Texas.
The Best of Our Favorite New Texas Restaurants
We've compiled our favorites from the past three years into one handy article.
Summer Itinerary: A Weekend in Port Aransas
Where to stay, shop, eat, drink—and maybe take in a pirate cruise with the kids.
Summer Itinerary: A Weekend in San Antonio
How to spend a perfect few days eating, drinking, and playing your way through the Alamo City.
Summer Itinerary: A Weekend in Dallas
Where to stay, shop, eat, drink, and explore its thriving arts and sports scenes.
Where to Stay
The 10 Best New and Improved Texas Hotels
Where to Stay Now, 2019: Whether it’s a restored Dallas gem, a coastal B&B, or a pueblo paradise in the Trans-Pecos, it’s choose your own adventure, Texas-style.
Down by the Water
No summer retreat is complete without a place to swim and cool off (and nice amenities don’t hurt).
Three Texas Hostels Worth Checking Into
You don’t need to spend big bucks when you’re exploring Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
What to Do
Find Respite in Texas’s Ten Best Secluded Swimming Holes
Whether in spring water in Angelina National Forest or a bright blue river north of Uvalde, take a cool dip to survive the Texas heat.
Hope Springs Eternal at Balmorhea
This spring, I revisited this sparkling West Texas gem after its long closure—and I’m glad I did.
Blanco State Park Embodies True Texas Spirit
Despite threats to its survival over the years, the picturesque and petite park goes with the flow, just like its namesake river.
Big Bend Ranch State Park: Where Nothing Is Everything
The untouched vastness of the largest state park in Texas makes you feel like you’re exploring a whole other world.
Creatures Abound at Palmetto State Park—Just Beware the Ottine Swamp Thing
At this tropical, mystical park, you’ll find animals and plants unlike anything else in Texas.
Sea Rim State Park’s Fragile Magic
The park offers quiet coastland and abundant wildlife, and feels like a defiant bulwark against some very particular cares of urban life.
More to Do
Ten Hikes That Will Take You to Another World
From the red-rock canyons of the Panhandle to the towering forests of the Piney Woods, some of the best parts of our state are accessible only by foot.
The Temptation of the Devils River
To reap the rewards of paddling this remote, dangerous waterway, you don’t have to sell your soul. You simply need to respect its power. And be prepared.
Alone at the Top of Texas
With the state’s four highest peaks, Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers incredible vistas and rewarding trails, which you just might have mostly to yourself.
Fort Clark Springs Is a True Historic Refuge
With its inviting spring-fed pool and abundant wildlife, the former military base is an oasis in Southwest Texas.