There’s an old saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” That’s especially true when talking about the Prairies & Lakes region, because it’s the largest of all the travel regions in the Lone Star State. Here you’ll find that everything is big: Big cities, big attractions, and big fun!
Just how big is this region, you ask? Well, its northern border is the Red River, which separates Texas from Oklahoma, and its southern edge is more than 350 miles away, just a little southeast of San Antonio. This area has everything, from bustling big cities to quaint small towns, and from fast-moving rides to slow-moving experiences. There’s no doubt you’ll have a great time while you’re here.
If you’re looking for some really big adventures, look no further than the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Dallas, one of the largest cities in the country, is filled with fantastic attractions
like the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas
Zoo, Fair
Park (home to the State Fair of Texas, held every September and October), Deep
Ellum entertainment district, the Sixth
Floor Museum, and so much more.
In Fort Worth, get a sense of the true cowboy spirit at the Stockyards
National Historic District, the Stockyards
Collection & Museum, the National
Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and Billy
Bob’s Texas—the largest honky tonk in the world. You can also immerse
yourself in culture at the Amon
Carter Museum, Kimbell
Art Museum, Bass
Performance Hall, and more. There’s plenty of family entertainment, as
well, at the Fort
Worth Zoo, which includes an eight-acre exhibit featuring more than 200
animal species that are native to Texas.
While Dallas and Fort
Worth may be the two largest cities in the region, there are many other
cities in the metroplex that are home to attractions. In Arlington,
experience Six
Flags Over Texas, Six
Flags Hurricane Harbor, and Rangers
Ballpark In Arlington—home of the Texas Rangers baseball club. Just a few
miles away is Irving,
and Texas
Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play their home games every fall.
To the east lie communities such as Paris,
Sulphur
Springs, Commerce,
Mount
Vernon and more. There’s so much to see and do here, from visiting historical
and heritage museums to visiting one of Texas’ outstanding state parks and
taking in the fantastic events that are happening almost every weekend. You’re
sure to find a friendly face and a fun-filled experience.
Head south and you’ll find Waco,
the heart of the Prairies and Lakes region. This busy city features some
remarkable sites, like the Dr
Pepper Museum, Cameron
Park Zoo, Texas
Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, Texas
Sports Hall of Fame, the Armstrong-Browning Museum, and the Mayborn
Museum Complex. Nearby are water recreation activities to be found at Stillhouse
Hollow Lake, Lake
Brazos, and Lake Belton, just to name a few.
To the southeast lies the Bryan-College
Station area, two cities that combine their wonderful resources to make a
destination for every type of traveler. The sites found on the Texas
A&M University campus, the splendor of the George
Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the elegance of the Messina
Hof Wine Cellars are among the many options that will entertain the entire
family.
Further south are attractions that provide glimpses into
early Texas life in the communities of Burton,
Washington,
Bastrop,
Lockhart,
Seguin,
Gonzales,
Columbus,
and more. For the ice cream fanatics in your travel party, don’t miss the
chance to sample some of the many delicious creations found at Blue
Bell Creameries in Brenham,
home to the world-famous Blue Bell ice cream.
Be sure to peruse the information on the following pages
about the attractions found in the cities and towns in the region, and you’re
sure to find many fun options. So, if you’re ready for a big time in Texas, plot your course and prepare for a big adventure in the Prairies & Lakes region.