Bed, Breakfast, and Beyond
From tranquil lodging in the middle of bustling Houston to candle-lit breakfasts near the beach, these five B&Bs are guaranteed to please.
From tranquil lodging in the middle of bustling Houston to candle-lit breakfasts near the beach, these five B&Bs are guaranteed to please.
This sports-crazed Dallas suburb may be one of the fastest-growing places in the country, but you can still find signs of its cattle-driving past.
With its artisanal wares, fine dining, and rich history, Kerrville offers a dose of Hill Country charm without the crowds.
Tour Blue Bell, buy Italian-designed clothing, and attend the theater in historic Brenham.
The Gateway to Big Bend offers enough tasty food and worthy art to attract event the hiking-averse.
Texas has a serious problem with feral hogs, which cause more than $400 million in damage every year. But it can be solved—one delicious bite at a time.
Plenty of college students frequent this historic area, but they’re not the only ones who avail themselves of the culinary, sartorial, and vintage offerings on hand.
Grab your swimsuit, hop in the car, and drive to one of these four coastal getaways to beat the heat.
The two-year-old extension of the famed promenade offers Roman antiquities, Roman delicacies, and plenty of opportunities for roamin’.
My short, unfulfilling, momentarily terrifying career as a rattlesnake racer.
Even more camping suggestions, from El Paso's Franklin Mountains to Caddo Lake in East Texas.
Where it is: In Toyahvale, 192 miles east of El PasoWhat you’ll do: Bask in the splendor of West TexasWhere you’ll sleep: In a comfy bed in a historic lodge or innWhat you’ll learn: How about scuba diving? The pool at Balmorhea is the best freshwater diving in Texas. Contact
This Hill Country town founded by Freethinkers and abolitionists offers unique artisanal wares, first-rate antiquing, and a tasty $8 hamburger.
Flower lovers drawn to the Rose Capital of the Nation will find snazzy frocks and spicy guisado de puerco amid the petals and thorns.
A new project in San Antonio marries urban redevelopment and local flavor with a quest for culinary greatness.
Birds resemble art in more ways than one, especially when they force us to address questions of ineffable provenance.
Make like a whooping crane and head south to this coastal hot spot to indulge in seafood and collect treasures for your nest.
Anchored by a lively square, this Hill Country haven attracts artists, musicians, and spirited shoppers.
In this high-desert hub just north of Big Bend National Park, you’ll find Western artwork, Mexican handicrafts, and the unexpected snow cone.
In Port Aransas, idleness is next to godliness for those on vacation. In this unpretentious village on the northern tip of Mustang Island your most exacting task—picking out the perfect spot on the beach—will also be the most rewarding. Who cares if the sand isn’t pristine (this is Texas,
When it comes to choosing a getaway, the Hill Country doesn’t have to campaign hard for our affections. Its lush expanses of bounding green hills and serpentine rivers stretch over some 25 of the most idyllic counties in the state. And those picturesque towns that cling proudly to their
Snap up vintage finds, fancy footwear, and sweet treats as you stroll around this tree-lined square.
Where does the Pecos River originate? How long is the Devils River? What river in Texas is used to cool nuclear reactors? Everything you wanted to know about some of our state's waterways.
Where people do crazy things in the jet stream.
Throw a canoe on the roof or a tube in the trunk and head for the Llano, the Brazos, the Pecos, the Trinity, the Guadalupe, or any of the other rivers on this list of the twenty best trips to take on Texas waterways this summer.
Finding the blues in a bar in Bursa.
Heading south to the land of live oaks and cotton.
From Costa Rica to Nicaragua, all for the big surf.
While traveling in Mount Arenal, I ponder the Costa Rican tourist slogan, “Pura vida.”
The Nicoya Peninsula has some of the best wildlife seeking, bird watching, and hiking in the hemisphere.
Location: Dallas and Fort WorthWhat You’ll Need: Sketch pad, beretThe body of downtown Dallas has been prayed over more times than I can count. And while it may take an act of God to finally bring the Trinity River Project to life, there’s no question that when
Location: San AntonioWhat You’ll Need: Significant OtherMy husband and I have an annual tradition of going to San Antonio for the weekend—away from errands, our toddler, and everything else that keeps us too busy when we’re at home. It’s easy and inexpensive enough that even a short
By Julia Mullen Gordon
Watch your back, Fredericksburg.
San Angelo’s frontier chic.
How the West was fun.
Grab your towel, your sunscreen, and go! Presenting our 25 favorite swimming holes: Barton Springs, Blue Hole, Balmorhea, and other iconic places to lower your core temperature. At least for a couple of hours.
Athens is all wet.
A vibrant mix of past and present.
A canoe trip down the Colorado.
The cradle of Blue Bell and bluebonnets.
A natural antidote to San Antonio sprawl.
1. Yes, Lee’s Sandwiches hails from California, but that just means it’s a spot where you can experience Melting Pot America in its myriad glory. Your order is called in Vietnamese and English; it’s a little like being in a train station in seventies Saigon. The baguettes and croissants
Match 25 Texas towns with their slogans and you may win a prize.
Llano rocks!
After telecommunications tycoon Steve Smith bought the Big Bend town of Lajitas on a whim for $4.25 million, he spent perhaps $100 million more developing what was going to be a five-star, world-class getaway. The desert, however, had other ideas.
Houston by train.
Cibolo Creek RanchNeed your space but can’t afford to buy it? You can rent it by the night at Cibolo Creek Ranch, which clocks in with a whopping 35,000 acres of desert mountains, unexpected springs, and far-reaching history. The resort’s expansive nature extends to its rooms, big enough to
Austin Street Cafe, MarfaThis renovated adobe house, on a quiet corner a few blocks off Marfa’s main drags, is as dapper and welcoming as a fifties-era fantasy housewife in heels and starched apron holding a plate of warm cookies. The floors are glossy white, abundant windows open to the
Since 2002, Palo Duro Canyon State Park has grown from about 16,000 acres to more than 26,000. That’s a good start.