What's to do in Texas

This cold and snow (Ontario Canada)is getting too much, so we are planning a trip south mid March. Hope to drive to the Texas/Oklahoma area and down to the Gulf. Better half likes nature hiking birding sightseeing; I like old tractors cars, aviation natural history, sight seeing. Any spots you feel may interest a couple winter weary farmers??
Thanks, Ben

If y'all are going to the Galveston area down on the Gulf, then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY1fX-506co">be sure to visit</a> the <a href="http://www.galveston.com/lonestarflightmuseum/">Lone Star Flight Museum</a>.

On trip to Gulf, plan your trip ahead of time via internet questions. If you plan to go to Port Aransas, offshore from Aransas Pass, about mid coast or to Padre Island..Port Isabel, down real close to the border with Mexico, there can be long waits for bridges and ferries to get off shore. Port Isabel has a very high bridge.

Galveston is closest but the water is not what it is farther down the coast. It's usually brown where farther down it's clear. I grew up about 50 miles N. of there. Corpus Christi might be a good place to visit as it is a larger town offering more amenities and a large boat basin and all. An off shore charter boat fishing trip may be to your liking. Expect to pay up to $1000 for a trip out in open water; local bay fishing would be half that or less depending on half or whole day. Boats furnish everything but the angler. Grin Book early as the good ones are usually booked up months in advance.

You can find about anything you want here. Contrary to the tabloids, we are not a bunch of wild west buckaroos. We are just as civilized as anywhere else, maybe more so in some respects.

Your best bet is to spend all the time you can on the internet and then go to a search engine and ask questions. Obviously people selling things will tell you how great this and that is, but common folks will give you the low down. Some of the Texas guys that frequent this site can help you.

I am between Dallas and Okla.

First of all Okla. has a no allowance speed limit and what's posted is the limit.....no fudging. Texas usually will forgive a few percent depending on time of day, how much you are over, traffic, location....school zones are zero tolerance, type road, if you appear to be a law breaker in your driving habits displayed, trooper's mood that day, and so on.

Dallas has all the variety you could ask for but you have to pay attention to the fine print. Like any place else, there are aspects of society that can ruin the best of vacations. Like any large city, plan your trips through them on a week day preferable in the 9-11 AM time frame. Obviously early morning traffic is horrible and that can last to around 9 am when the down town professionals arrive at work. Lunch traffic starts about 11 and lasts through 1 PM. by 3 PM the construction workers get off and that traffic lasts through 7 PM.

We have a lot of history here in the state and if you were to decide on Corpus and go through Ft. Worth (Cow Town, Stockyards a big attraction) and on down to New Braunfels, lots of history there, eats are great, mostly of German origin and such, and on to San Antonio every body has to do the River Walk where lots of fine dining can be had. Then South to Corpus through mostly flat land farming country.

For terrain and such, I'd suggest you Google Map search an area and go to the little road guy and let him show you just what things look like. We have rolling hills, deserts, piney woods, swamps, mountains, flat lands both near the coast and up around Lubbock on the Cap rock, on and on. Very diverse including traffic as discussed. But we have fine roads and cheap gas.

Other Texans surely will add to this but that's my 2c,

Have fun and Good luck.

Mark

"San Antonio every body has to do the River Walk where lots of fine dining can be had."


I'm in Ohio and have heard a few people speak highly of this. I think some really liked Christmas time the best. Isn't it all lite up with colored lights then ?

Stop in West Mineral Kansas (far southeast corner of the state) and see Big Brutus and the mining museum. I think they also have wild-life preserves in the old strip mines that they dug years ago.

[Depending on the route you take, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum is worth a look. The National Agricultural Aviation Museum is located there as well. Located in Jackson, MS right on I-55. They suffered a fire a few months back, but it didn't affect any exhibits and they're back up and running. Also check out the Natural History Museum across the street.quote="centash"](reply to post at 20:54:27 01/09/15) [/quote]

I agree, port A and south from there.

well, you could come to Austin and get stuck in traffic, see a lot of weird people, get over charged for everything or go to Fredricksburg and see the Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War and other stuff, San Antonio for the River Walk, Alamo, Spanish Missions, should be wildflowers along all the highways, and tractor shows in many small towns (schedules aren't out yet).

Little known Texas treasure is a state park called Palo Duron Canyon. Right out of Amarillo and you can spend a good half a day. Like a miniature Grand Canyon. Really a good trip. There is a large ag musem in the Town of Canyon again you can spend a day there and really worth the trip. I live in Tennessee but love my Texas trips.

First, get into some Texas music, just to set the mood.
http://youtu.be/GKeDcF1v_Y4

San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, Laporte TX. (Too close to Houston, avoid the freeways, take the back roads.) This is where the Texians got revenge for the Alamo! Home of the San Jacento monument, go to the top and look around!

The main attraction is the Battleship Texas, book your trip ahead, reserve the "Hard Hat Tour", a guided tour to the inner works of a 100 year old dreadnaught battleship. Guarantee you will be amazed!

Just down the road, Galveston, Sea Wolf Park, see the USS Cavalla, WW2 submarine. Go inside, just imagine...

There is also an Immigration museum there. Galveston was the last stop for the ships bringing the immigrants from Europe. Ellis Island was the first stop, if all your paper work was in order, you were not sick, and they liked your looks, you got off the boat. If you were "less than desirable", you went on down the east coast, given many opportunities to go ashore. If you were still on the boat when it hit Galveston, well you were at the end of the line, everybody off... Just take a look at what some of these "rejects" accomplished!

And there is the Ellisa, also in Galveston, Texas Seaport Museum. An 1877 tall ship, see what life at sea would have been like, when boats were made of wood and men were made of steel!

Couple hundred miles down the road in Corpus Christi, beautiful clean beaches! Tour the USS Lexington, aircraft carrier. Lots of planes to see, takes a day to see the whole ship, it's HUGE!

If you get out west, check out Big Bend National Park. Only 800,000 acres to explore, so take a canteen! It's desert wilderness, go in the spring, beautiful flowering cactus... Lots of cactus! Go in the summer if you need to be properly thawed, if you're lucky it might hit 117*!

Well, this is getting long, I been here all my 59 years, still ain't seen it all, so plan on staying awhile. You got lots to see!

Looks like some good Ideas here. I am headed to Galveston in two weeks to get away from Iowas fresh clean icy chilled air. May just have to leave a couple days earlier and see more country side before taking a cruise to Cozumel. I want to feel warm again.

If you get lost and stumble into McLean, Texas, don't miss the Devil's Rope Barbed Wire Museum. Plan on a couple of hours, believe it or not.

By "Texas Music" you mean Bob Wills music? I didn't know if there were any other. "AhhhHaaaa! Play it boys!"

Going to Galveston visit Moody Gardens.Fort Worth visit the Stock yards .Texas has beautiful caverns in the central and western part of the state.Depend on the time of the year The Blue Bonnets in full bloom are worth seeing driving the Blue Bonnet trail.Fredricksburg has many car shows and an Antuige Tractor and engine show. Really depends on your interest where to go as Texas is a diverse state. And no you don,t have to wear Cowboy Boots and a Hat to visit. Do your home work before you visit. But as a native Texan come on down your welcome any time.

Hmmmm----gonna need a longer holiday.....thanks. Ben

Ben, Many, Many, Many points of interest have been mentioned by the others! Each and Every one Will be worth your time. Here in Texas You can't swing a dead cat and not touch something going on somewhere!
Do not leave your Smart phone, Laptop computer at home! Wherever you lite Google that area and see what all is going on... Sample our BBQ, Chicken Fried Steaks, Tex-mex Mexican Food, Spring festivals, and by March the Texas Blue Bonnets will start peeking out.
The USS Lexington is at Corpus Christi
If you Really get a little time Go to the Alamo! then check out the to the Battle Grounds of Our Great Republic! the Missions, all of it will make the Birth of Texas come alive.
Don't leave Texas without Going to Palo Dura Canyon & the Panhandle Plains Museum @ Canyon, then Try to eat a 72 oz Steak the the Big Texan Steak Ranch At Amarillo Just a few additions to the list below. Look forward to Yall being our Guest Here! Enjoy your stay!
Later,
John A.

You have heard of some good places to visit. Now the bad part. You will most likely come down I-45 to the gulf. Speed traps to watch out for Ferris,Wilmer,Buffalo,Madisonville. Wilmer is the worst.One mile over and they will stop you. So keep your speed under the limit.Most officers will forgive if you are 10 over.

DPS cars and trucks are black and white.If you get pulled over by one of them be nice. Most of the time they will write you a warning or just tell you to be careful.

If you come through Centerville. Stop in at the Centerville Feed Store. I would be glad to meet you.You could also meet some friendly people. In fact if you have the time. Stop in at the smaller towns. Tell people where you are from make some new friends.

John You are the one that told me about the canyon and the museum and I can honestly tell you that both were well worth my time and I will always remember both trips.

jm. I am So Glad both were memorable, and that you had a great time Here! Come Back Real Soon! Your note made me Smile , Thank You!
Later,
John A.
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If they Ever don't Treat you Right... There!
We got lots of different kinds, of country Here, There is surely someplace here that would suit your fancy!
jas

Hey man, don't forget Mr. Bio-Diesel, William N. He's a Texas boy and hangs around Carl's Corner sometimes which is S. of Dallas on I-35E.

Mark

Billy - Hutchins is where I am and you are absolutely right about the speed traps in the Hutchins-Wilmer, Ferris area.

If you come through Dallas/Ft. Worth, the old Ft. Worth stockyards are a good place to stop. They even have a "cattle drive" of longhorns once a day.

There's so much to see and do in Tx, you could spend a month here and not see it all.

Coming to Canton Texas trade days end of the month if the weather is not too bad. Love your state.

The Alamo is worth visiting.

Point taken! I just didn't think of him at the time. Yep, he is pretty well known, for sure. And I know there are several other famous singers from Texas, as well.

If it's your first trip don't be to shook up when somebody passes you on the right shoulder. Only state I ever had that happen to me in.

I've been to TX what they aren't telling you is some of these things will take a day or 2 to drive from one to the other. It is about 980 miles across either way from north to south or east to west. Not that this is bad just plan on the time frames. It's not like in IA where you can cross the state in about 5 hours.
There is the cowboy museum in OKC also. That is a 2 day thing to see it all.