Texas Bucket List
It’s a few years down the road, but I plan to eventually move back “home” to New Mexico. Until that happens, we want to make the most of our time here in the Lone Star State and do the quintessential Texan sights and experiences. These are the items we thought of with some help from our Facebook friends. Here’s our Texas Bucket List in loose groupings and no particular order:
Houston area
- King’s Feast at the Texas Renaissance Festival
- Art Car Parade
- High school football game
- Houston Rodeo and BBQ cookoff
- San Jacinto monument
- George Ranch Historical Park
- Space Center Houston
- Dickens on the Strand (Galveston)
San Antonio, Austin, & Hill Country
- Bluebonnets
- Antique fair at Round Top
- Riverwalk and San Antonio missions
- New Braunfels Schlitterbahn and river tubing
- Round Rock baseball game
- 6th Street in Austin
- Fredericksburg
- Pecan picking in Central Texas
- Washington-on-the-Brazos
- Austin bat cave
- Cascade Caverns
- Watermelon Thump
- Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Austin Zoo
- Lost Maples
- Horseshoe Bay
- Pedernales Falls
DFW area
- Four Day Weekend in DFW
- Texas State Fair
- Dallas Cowboys game
- Texas State Railroad
- Dublin
- Fort Worth Botanical Gardens
- Dinosaur Valley
- Fossil Rim
South Texas
- Fishing trip where we catch a keeper!
- South Padre Island
West Texas
Texas Panhandle
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
While in the Hill Country make sure to see (and climb) Enchanted Rock. And you can’t do DFW without watching the cattle drive at the Ft. Worth Stockyards….
Happy traveling
The Texans are very good this year, but the Cowboys will always be America’s team and that stadium is unreal!!
Balmorhea State Park is a MUST in West Texas!
Maybe a Texans game in Houston since they are actually a good team!! (unlike the cowboys).
Silkier Park, Lady Bird Lake and Barton Springs are also great stops in Austin if you have the time!
Agree with the Texans game!
And while in Austin, Hamiltons Pool Nature Preserve a must see!
I don’t suggest cascade caverns, it’s very badly preserved, natural bridge caverns is more commercial but very impressive, I highly suggest it. Also Tara is right, Hamilton pool is incredible, one of the hidden gems. I also suggest the Frio River!
I think you mean Zilker Park?
Zilker Park has Barton Springs pool, you HAVE to go there while in Austin, amazing.
Definitely have to do a Texans’ game! So fun!
This is a great list. Going to a Texans game this November! GO TEXANS!!!
You can’t forget the Commemorative Airforce’s annual Airsho in Midland! It has the ONLY flying B-29 left. Plus, bombing reenactments, stunt flights, games, vendors, vintage cars and, of course, the museum. All this fun for only $15
It’s tons of fun for kids and kids at heart.
East Texas: Tyler Rose Festival, Kilgore Oil Museum, Brookshire’s Wildlife Museum, The Cliffs in Lindale, High School Football at a “2-A” school, Canton 1st Monday
Yamboree !!! (Gilmer)
Hamilton pool in the hill country is amazing!
I completely agree with the texans game! Also, south Texas has more to offer than a fishing trip. In Corpus Christi you can go visit the U.S.S. Lexington and watch a Hooks game. In Rockport, you can go see the historic Fulton mansion. And in Kingsville, you can go see the famous King Ranch.
Don’t forget Fiesta in San Antonio!!! The Brownsville zoo to see the gorillas. Poteet Strawberry Festival, Sea World, Luchenbach Texas,Historic Gruene Texas, float the Guadalupe River, Port Aransas Sandfest, and SXSW Music Festival in Austin.
Oh what about Hippie Hollow Park. I have never been, but it sounds like a bucket list kind of thing. It is the only clothing optional state park. It is on Lake Travis.
The Austin Zoo isn’t very impressive at all, or at least it wasn’t last time I visited. The Waco Zoo is pretty great though!
While in San Antonio you should check out the Alamo, The university of tx history museum, San Antonio zoo (10x better than Houston), Autsin: Stephen F Austin Musuem downtown is neat, try and see all the painted cows, DFW: aquarium, Fort Worth zoo, science museum is cool, Houston area: aquaurium, NASA, moody gardens, kehmia boardwalk, natural science Musuem, actually all the museums are pretty cool. Since you like mission Goliad Tx (south tx) La Bahia mission is a great find and if you go just up the road to fannin there is a monument of the ones who died in the battles. TX definitely has a lot of hidden history in the small towns leading up to the Alamo and Texas Indepence Victory.
I have been to San Antonio, but not to the zoo there. I will have to check it out. I grew up going to Houston Zoo and they have been gradually adding on to it the last couple of years. Even without going into the zoo, outside it is a park with a huge duck pond, paddleboats, and train. Well worth checking out if you are in Houston, especially if you have kiddos because the Children’s Museum is just blocks away. It is definitely a place to spend the day. It’s 3 stories, with activities for toddlers all the way up to teenagers. FYI: Kemah boardwalk is fun, bring extra clothes so you can play in the sprinklers when it is hot! Galveston just built a new spot called Pleasure Pier last summer, with rides, games, and restaurants. They also have a great Mardi Gras; Moody Gardens, and The Strand. One thing that must be done if you come to good ole’ SETX is to go to a crawfish boil and at least try ONE and then wash it down with a cold one!
Also in west Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It has the highest peak in Texas!
Cadillac Ranch
The play Texas in Palo Duro Canyon
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
XIT Rodeo in Dalhart
Sixth St in Amarillo
Painted Churches in Praha, Schulenburg and High Hill
Can’t believe you left off the King Ranch
Hi, The best cave I have seen is The Cave Without a Name in Boerne, Texas. I have been to almost all of them except Cascade and Natural B ridge Caverns. The Cave Without a Name is not as large as some of the others but it has all the features in basically one room and the history of the cave is so entertaining. I loved it! Another must see on a Texas Bucket List is Enchanted Rock between Llano and Fredericksburg–it is amazing!
Don’t forget to go to Natural Bridge Caverns. It has some great tours and some adventures that are just awesome.
Cave without a name is fabulous, Ive been twice but the second time the tour guide was very boring, so watch out.
Drop the Austin zoo for the Fort Worth Zoo and drop the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens for the Dallas Arboretum. They do great concerts on weeknights (Tues and Thurs) Don’t forget all the amazing art at the DMA, Nasher, Amon Carter, Modern, Kimbell, and Trammel Crow in the DFW area.
West Texas – Midland is home to the Petroleum Museum.
Lubbock – Ranch Heritage museum
Alpine – Museum of the Big Bend
Central Texas – Waco has the Cameron Park Zoo. Pretty good for a small zoo.
Panhandle – Palo Duro Canyon, summer production of “Texas”
I completely agree with the idea of dropping the Austin Zoo for the Ft. Worth one, it’s wonderful. Also, the Dallas Arboretum is FAR better than the Botanical Gardens—at the Botanical Gardens you have to pay extra to get into the Japanese garden (which is indeed beautiful,) but one ticket covers all of Arboretum–fall in particular is awesome. Being from East Texas, I also encourage the Brookshire Museum in Tyler, great amounts of wildlife study plus a mock up of an old grocery store, which I found to be super neat as a kid—went there a few times by the time I was ten, (which I would say is the max out age for interest for kids.)
Gruene is also a super cool town that has the Gristmill restaurant and Gruene Hall traditional dance hall—better when it’s a little cooler–say spring or fall.
Hidden deep in the Piney Woods is Jefferson, TX, a very historic town of Texas–great to go around Halloween or in February for Mardi Gras. They have the ghost walk, several cool historic things, including a store with lots of military wares for sale–including old Civil War weapons. They usually have a Civil War Reenactment at the end of May every year. Even deeper in the Piney Woods is the NAPLES Watermelon Festival at the end of July every year. You want small town Texas? THIS is the place to go! This festival can’t be beat! They bring in an 18 wheeler full of watermelons for the eating!
I liked the Fort Worth zoo, but Houston is much cleaner, more animal breeds, but the Dallas aquarium is AMAZING!
In Austin, you should tour the Capitol building. It’s free, and takes about an hour. You get to see some neat history, their incredible modern underground offices, and you can sit in the gallery of the state house or senate. And much easier to get into than the US Capitol. There’s also a little museum next to it with a gift shop.
Y’all should do a tour at the Blue Bell factory in Brenham! Best ice cream ever made!
I second that!
I went to school in Brenham, and worked at the factory! Its a must go!
p.s. I’m from the town of Washington on the Brazos, so glad you added the park, really beautiful place, go in the spring.
Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site 32 miles northeast of El Paso.
Take the historic pictograph tour or the rock climbing is amazing.
Wow, I thank everyone for all of the great comments! I will definitely be updating the list!
I’m from Houston and there are lots of things to do! … Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Schlitterbahn Galveston, Rodeo is a blast! , Kemah Boardwalk, Renaissance Festival , Texans games are really fun!, House of Blues, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Zoo, Moody Gardens, Rainforest Cafe, The Galleria, Houston Ballet, Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston Museum District ,Space Center, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets,
Gotta do a “star party” at the UT McDonald Observatory while in the Davis Mountains. Definitely worth the long drive.
The Browning Library on Baylor campus is a must see. If you enjoy poetry it has a lot of the furnishings of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. The stained glass windows are amazing. Plus it is the only college that lists another country on their collegieate seal (Republic of Texas). It is also around the corner from the Texas Ranger museum and Dr. Pepper museum. And for a snack on your way to Dallas, stop in West Texas for some kolaches.
In Dallas shop at NorthPark. There is a Warhol displayed outside of Dillards.
During the Christmas Holidays need to visit Santa’s Wonderland in College Station. Very nice! Order tickets on-line best way to go!! Also, Dewberry Farm in Brookshire, Tx (sesonal). While in Brenham area (visiting the Blue Bell Factory) might want to visit Horseshoe Juction (great place for kids and maybe the kid at heart) they have arcade, laser tag, bumper boats, go-karts, etc.
LBJs ranch and home (The Texas White House) is a must see! It is in Stonewall, TX (east of Fredericksburg). It is a self-paced driving tour with an audio CD. You can tour the home for $2.00! It is a great “step-back-in-time” adventure! Go in the spring with all the Texas wildflowers!
You could see the Texans play if you just want to see an NFL game in Texas, but if its truly a bucket list a Cowboy game in Cowboys Stadium should stay right where it is. The Texans have a better record this year, but they still play in a typical NFL stadium. Despite their record (which isnt as bad as some would have you believe) the Cowboys are still the one of the top franchises in all professional sports, and play in one of the greatest venues in all of sports. Oh, and I would swap the Austin Zoo for the Fort Worth Zoo.
There’s also zip lining in Wimberly Texas. I did it a couple of years ago & it was AWESOME!
The Womens Air Force Museum in Sweetwater in west tx is quite interesting.
As far as Dallas goes I live in the area and here are some additions to the DFW area:
Dallas
1. The new Perot science museum is AMAZING. There is also a new park nearby that you should check out while there.
2. The Dallas Museum of Art is definitely worth a stop-in
3. The Dallas Aquarium is super cool and has an indoor rainforest. Always a hit with our kids
4. The Dallas Arboretum is a beautiful botanical garden that we always have a membership to. They are doing some major renovations right now which are going to be mind-blowing when done.
Arlington:
1. The Ballpark in Arlington for a Rangers game (close to the new Cowboys Stadium)
2. Six Flags Arlington
3. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (water park next to traditional Six Flags)
Grapevine:
1. New Legoland
2. They also have an aquarium nearby Legoland, but I’ve never been
Ft. Worth
1. Kimball Art museum and the Modern Art Museum
2. Nasher Sculpture Center
3. Ft. Worth Zoo
4. Ft. Worth Stockyards
Sadly I think Dublin Dr. pepper factory has closed, so not sure that’s worth the hike with so many amazing things to do in DFW.
the dublin tour is still open. And the soda fountain next door is also.
Schlitterbahn Galveston and Moody Gardens in Galveston
also just found this place never been but sounds interesting Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas you can see preserved dinosaur footprints
I can’t believe you completely left off East Texas
Tell some things for east tx. I grew up in central and live in west now. I’d love to know what I need to hit in east. I love to explore this wonderful state we live in. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
East Texas: Canton Trade Days, Ellen Trout Zoo and Park, Texas State Railroad
Southeast Texas: Air Boat ride in Orange, Stark Museum of Art
Thanks Michelle for the really great ideas. We’ll definately be checking them out. Always wanted to see Canton and never made it.
New Braunfels in central Texas is a must. Too many activities to mention.
New Braunfels in central Texas is a must see. Too many available activities to mention.
if you are in the Austin area, the Salt Lick is a delicious BBQ place, serving up some of the best BBQ and smoked meats anywhere. Texas beef is second to none!!! also you would miss out on such a huge part of San Antonio if you didn’t try to visit during Fiesta Week, specifically the day and night parade, el mercado and La Villita…and you cannot go to South Texas, better known as The Valley, without crossing the border to Progresso for lunch and a little shopping. The mexican cultural influences are a must to be a part of in Texas!
Galveston has SO much to offer!! Moody Gardens is built in three pyramids–one is an aquarium, one is a rainforest, and one houses an information center, an iMax theater and other displays. Galveston also has historical tours, ghost tours, 1800′s mansions to tour, a railroad museum, shopping on The Strand, the new Pleasure Pier, and so much more!
Waco is the birthplace of Dr Pepper and a tour through the Dr Pepper Museum is a must, along with a visit to the Texas Ranger Museum.
Jefferson is a very historic city with a lot to offer and makes a perfect weekend trip!
I was in California recently and was taken to the “famous” Orange County Swap Meet by locals who raved on and on about how huge it is and how wonderful the shopping is. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing! The whole thing would fit inside one Pavillion at Canton First Monday Trades Day!!!!! Canton is a MUST SEE!!!!!!
Panhandle Texas you forgot the Cadillac Ranch, Texas the production in Canyon and Route 66.
in Lubbock there is Texas Tech so anything to do with the school is fun.