Texas

Slow-smoked Texas barbeque. Throughout the state, Texans will defend their local barbecue joint as the best there is, but the historic stops on the Texas Barbeque Trail are a good place to begin. Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Louie Mueller Barbeque in Taylor and the Southside Market in Elgin, to name just a few, are all easily accessible from Austin.

Drive through the Big Bend Country region in West Texas and you will be in awe of the rugged beauty of its mountain ranges, deep canyons, vivid sunsets and vast expanses of uninterrupted scenery.

Of the many great options, two that stand out are the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth and the Menil Collection in Houston.

Staying at a Texas Guest Ranch. The Wildcatter Ranch and the Mayan Dude Ranch are two of the many great ones in Texas.

Learn the Texas Two-Step dance. Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk, located in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, and the Broken Spoke Dance Hall in Austin each give free dance lessons most Thursdays.

Driving through the Texas Hill Country: start in Austin or San Antonio and head for quaint Hill Country towns such as Fredericksburg, Johnson City, Marble Falls and Llano to enjoy wildflower fields along the roadside. Among the hundreds of types you might see are bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, Mexican blankets and prickly pear cactus flowers. Be sure to stop by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center before you go.

The ten classic Cadillacs buried nose down at the same angle as the Cheops pyramids are one of the most iconic roadside attractions in the U.S. The Cadillac Ranch is located outside Amarillo on Interstate 40 near the original Highway 66.

Six national flags have flown over what is now Texas, so the Lone Star State is rich in history. Without a doubt, The Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio is one of the most momentous historic events in Texas.

Handmade boots are more than a souvenir—they’re something you’ll treasure for a lifetime. M.L. Leddy’s in Fort Worth is one of Texas’s many bootmakers.

Try one of Texas’s world-class resorts, such as the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and The Westin La Cantera Resort, all in San Antonio; the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa and the Barton Creek Resort & Spa, both in Austin, the Woodlands Resort & Conference Center located in The Woodlands north of Houston; and the Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas.