Texas holidays

The ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ exudes eclectic energy while retaining its Southern charm. Here, BBQ, blues and street art blend with historic landmarks.

Powder-white beaches, nature reserves and an arts scene that punches above its weight — Corpus Christi has everything you need for a perfect Gulf Coast escape.

Dallas mixes Wild West heritage and country music with contemporary arts and culture. Explore the exciting dining and nightlife scenes and find outdoor adventure right outside this Texas city.

This West Texas border town boasts cool museums, mountain trails and the best green chilli enchiladas around. Lace up your boots — we’re going to El Paso.

With its aerospace history, cowboy culture and exciting sports teams, Houston is big on adventure and even bigger on Southern hospitality.

Say hello to San Antonio, home to riverside strolls, Tex-Mex cuisine and one of the oldest landmarks in the ‘Lone Star State’.

For a taste of the tropics without leaving the state of Texas, this island getaway offers sand, sun and fun by the spadeful. Pack your bags for South Padre.

In the heart of West Texas, Midland’s soaring skyscrapers sit alongside history museums, and year-round sunshine makes everything shine brighter.

Discover the true meaning of Tex-Mex in Laredo. In this multicultural border town, you’ll find a unique fusion of Texan and Mexican culture, history and cuisine.

Country tunes at the airport terminal, grocery store and coffee shop announce Austin as the world’s live music capital. Across the state, hundreds of concert venues offer blues, rockabilly and everything in between. Donning your cowboy boots and dancing the two-step is one of the best things to do in Texas. Follow the sound of fiddles to the world’s largest honky-tonk in Fort Worth.

At the Fort Worth Stockyards, cowboys parade a herd of longhorns through town on twice-daily cattle drives. Don’t miss the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. From there, head for the small town of Bandera, the world cowboy capital. Saddle up at a dude ranch, trekking the trails of Hill Country and singing ’round a campfire come nightfall.

If the queue’s around the block, then you’re in the right spot. Beef brisket reigns supreme in cattle country. Recent years have seen the state’s increasingly diverse population reflected in experimental barbecue, from Tex-Japanese bento boxes to Tex-Egyptian shawarma. A word to the wise — bring a deckchair for the wait and don’t wear white.

Texans head for the nearest swimming hole during sizzling summer months. In Austin, cool down in the turquoise waters of Barton Springs, a natural pool with warm waters year-round. River tubing is another favourite pastime here, and the Gulf of Mexico offers endless sandy beaches. In Galveston, spot dolphins from the historic pleasure pier, while in Port Aransas, professional sand artists compete at Texas SandFest each April.

Big Bend National Park offers a variety of breathtaking landscapes, from the peaks of the Chisos mountains to the dust of the Chihuahuan desert. Kayak the Rio Grande through the Santa Elena Canyon, relaxing weary muscles post-paddle at the Langford Hot Springs. Beyond Big Bend, history buffs will appreciate Native American rock art at White Shaman Preserve and colossal footprints at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Tex-Mex is king in San Antonio, a UNESCO City of Creative Gastronomy and the birthplace of the puffy taco. Unlike a regular taco, the tortilla is deep-fried to create a light, airy yet crunchy shell. Ray’s Drive Inn and Henry’s Puffy Tacos are the best restaurants in Texas to try the legendary treat. Wash it down with a prickly pear margarita.

The UNESCO-listed Alamo in San Antonio is a historic Spanish mission and the site of a brutal battle between Texan revolutionaries and Mexico. In Dallas, pay your respects to President John F Kennedy at Delaney Plaza, learning all there is to know about his assassination at the Sixth Floor Museum. Space Center Houston is the top museum in Texas for wannabe astronauts.

The shoulder seasons are the best times to visit Texas. In spring, head for the blooming bluebonnets and wineries of Hill Country. Summer calls for the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline. Autumn is football season — cheer on a local high school team for a true slice of Americana. Winter offers comfortable conditions for hiking the many national parks.

A cheap holiday to Texas is easy in this huge state teeming with bargains around every corner. You can usually find a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for about 20 US dollars ($) and a beer for under $6. For tips, budget a minimum of 15% for servers and about $1 per bar drink.