25 Best Tourist Attractions to Visit in Texas

1. El Paso

Situated on the westernmost border of Texas, El Paso is an amicable and welcoming town that also happens to be just across the Rio Grande from the bustling Mexican city of Chihuahua. This city is one the best tourist attractions in Texas. The city has been excessively influenced by its nearness to its southern neighbor, meaning that tourists can enjoy spicy Mexican food until they explode or experience a ghost trip on Día de los Muertos. Obviously, the region has its own glorious history as well, and there’s no better way to know about it than by taking a trip of the El Paso Mission Trail.

2. Waco

Waco is much tinier than most other towns in Texas, but it has more than its good share of appeals and activities for tourists to experience. The city is specifically admired by fans of the HGTV program Fixer Upper, who come to travel and shop at Magnolia Market at the Silos. Other draws include the Cameron Park Zoo, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, and the Dr. Pepper Museum, which was constructed in honor of the locally made soft drink. Just outside the town is the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a famous fossil site abode to Columbian mammoth skeleton.

3. Seguin

Seguin isn’t as familiar as most of the other cities in Texas, but that’s a big portion of its appeal. Its sleepy little-town ambiance is excellent for anybody wishing to relax, but tourists seeking for a more active vacation can travel the ZDT Amusement Park, enjoy a ghost trip of the Haunted Magnolia Hotel, and kayak down the Guadalupe River. The city is also famous as the Pecan Capital of Texas, and tourists shouldn’t miss the opportunity to wonder at the World’s Largest Pecan and stock up on locally produced nuts to take home with them.

4. San Marcos

Located just in the heart of Central Texas, San Marcos is an active university city that has something to provide everyone, including wonderful historic edifices that can be seen on the campus of Texas State University and in the central Historic District. The city is abode to a number of outlet malls, including the largest outlet center in the United States, but it brags about many magnificent parks and green patches as well. Nature enthusiasts can also go to the neighboring San Marcos River, which provides the chance to swim, fish, kayak, and sign up for other water sports.

5. McKinney

Situated almost 30 miles from downtown Dallas, McKinney is a beautiful city with a little-town atmosphere and much slower movement than the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex it is part of. With its historic center and tree-lined roads, McKinney is a well-known weekend destination for the Dallas people seeking for a bit of peace. There is plenty to watch in McKinney. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary offers a 1880s prairie village, animatronic dinosaurs, and breathtaking nature trails. Historic Downtown McKinney is an ideal walking region and gives a wonderful way of getting the ambiance of the city and its past, with McKinney Square in its center. Frontier Park offers kids’ play areas and a splash pad as well as soccer fields and baseball diamonds.

6. Padre Island

Standing up against the southern shore of Texas, Padre Island is the lengthiest barrier island on earth. The island provides to tourists keen in a grand recess as well as to those who wish to unplug and lose themselves in nature; the south tip of the island is abode to a bustling resort city full of spas, restaurants, and shops, while the north tip offers the charming and remote Padre Island National Seashore. Scenic beaches can be seen on about every portion of the island, assuring many chances to surf, sunbathe, and swim in the hot waters of the Gulf of Mexico

7. Big Bend National Park

Located just on the verge with Mexico, Big Bend National Park surrounds the whole Chisos mountain range as well as an important piece of the Chihuahuan Desert. Because of its distant position, the park is one of the least-traveled national parks in the country, but anybody who makes the attempt to reach here will be well awarded. The park provides with about 200 miles of hiking trails, many of which serpentines through breathtaking canyons or taking tourists to scenic desert rock formations. Hiking trails differ in difficulty and length, but there are also many walking trails for those eager in exploring the park by transport.

8. Marfa

In spite of its little size, Marfa is a mecca for visitors enthusiastic in the arts. One of the greatest attractions here is the Chinati Foundation, a modern art museum established by Donald Judd, which provides both indoor and outdoor establishments exhibited on an old army base. At specific times of the year, tourists also gather to the town to enjoy the many concerts, displays, and festivals held at the Ballroom Marfa arts center. Fortunate tourists will also have the chance to see the Marfa lights, mystic glowing orbs that from time to time arrive outside the city and can be found from a certain viewing platform.

9.Lubbock

Lying on the plains of northwest Texas, Lubbock provides with wonderful museums, a bustling nightlife scene, and some of the finest wineries in the state. The town is also familiar for being the birthplace of fabulous rock n’ roll musician Buddy Holly, and tourists interested in his life and music can travel the Buddy Holly Center to see a wonderful collection of artifacts and mementos. Another important stop in the town is the West Texas Walk of Fame, which highlights a sculpture of Holly as well as a collection of plaques devoted to other musicians from the time.  Tucked away in southern Texas just on the Mexican frontier, Laredo is a bustling city

10. Laredo

with a rich Mexican-American history. A bridge just opposite to Los Dos Laredos Park crosses over the Rio Grande and offers direct entry to Mexico while neighboring Lake Casa Blanca International State Park provides a wonderful selection of hiking trails and a stunning fishing lake. However, tourists who wish to pass their time in the city itself won’t be disheartened; draws include the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum and an unparalleled children’s museum familiar as the Imaginarium of South Texas.

11. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Surrounding portion of the immense Chihuahuan Desert, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is famous for defending the four loftiest mountains in Texas as well as the hugest Permian fossil reef on earth. It is one of the best tourist attractions in Texas. Most tourists come here to take advantage of the park’s 80 miles of hiking trails, which differs in hardship from easy nature walks to arduous all-day adventures. One of the most beloved trails takes tourists up to the summit of Guadalupe Peak for breathtaking views of the park; the trail is 8.5 miles in length and generally takes between 6 and 8 hours on a round tour.

12. Grapevine

Located amidst Dallas and Fort Worth, the town of Grapevine is full of wonderfully renovated edifices that were actually established in the 19th and 20th centuries. The city earned its name from neighboring Grapevine Lake, but different wineries and tasting rooms can be seen here as well. Most of the city’s finest restaurants, stores, and art galleries are situated on the fascinating Main Street, but it’s also worth making a tour out to the Cotton Belt Railroad District to travel the artisans’ workshops. This region is also where you’ll see the beginning point for the breathtaking Grapevine Vintage Railroad ride.

13. Galveston

Standing on an island of the very name, Galveston is a bustling resort city with six cruise ship ports and an unbelievable array of restaurants, hotels, and visitors’ draws. Tourists are spoiled for choice when it is the question to watch and do; they can advance to the south coast to experience the rides and restaurants on the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, to the state park in the west of the island, or to the wonderful beaches on the east shore. Another supreme destination is Moody Gardens, an educational nature center that offers sharks, monkeys, and other beasts encaged in huge glass pyramids.

14. Fort Worth

Sometimes, familiar as the City of Cowboys and Culture, Fort Worth is like a raw version of its nearby city Dallas. The Stockyards National Historic District draws more tourist than any other portion of the city; its ancient wooden edifices make it seem like the set of an old Western cinema, but it has many modern restaurants, bars, and stores. A captivating herd of Longhorn cattle is paraded through here two times daily, but tourists should also make time to travel the pedestrian-favorable downtown, which brags about a 4.3-acre water park, a wonderful theater named the Bass Performance Hall, and an amazing array of dining opportunities.

15. Dallas

They tell that everything is larger in Texas, and nowhere is that truer than in the action-packed town of Dallas. In addition to famous draws like the Dallas World Aquarium and Reunion Tower, the city brags about the biggest urban arts district in the country, gorgeous Pritzker Prize-winning architecture, and a wonderful array of world-class restaurants and bars. Tourists who fly to Dallas might not even require to concern about hiring a car; it’s effortless to enjoy the city thanks to free vehicles opportunities like the M-Line Trolley and a shuttle service familiar as the D-Link.

16. San Antonio

San Antonio holds the recognition of being abode to two of the finest draws in Texas: The world-renowned Alamo and the charming River Walk that goes along the San Antonio River. The Alamo is the most-traveled historical monument in the whole state, and the River Walk is lined with amazing cafes and stores that can be experienced either on foot or by bicycle. These might be the things that lead the tourists here in the first place, but guests find themselves coming back over and over again to experience the appetizing cuisine, the wonderful architecture, and the dynamic art scene. 

17. Boerne

Just a few minutes away from San Antonio, Boerne has a glorious history dating back to more than 150 years before when it was first established by immigrants from Germany. The town is still dotted with a good number of wonderful stone edifices that hold considerable historical significance, but it also provides with modern draws like contemporary art galleries, local cafes and wine bars, and fashionable boutique stores. Many of these draws can be seen on the Haupstrasse, or Main Street, but tourists should not forget to check out the tree-lined Cibolo Creek and its good number of hiking trails.

18. Rockport Fulton

Rockport Fulton has two twin communities on the Texas Tropical Trail, encompassed by old oaks on the Live Oak Peninsula. They are situated on the western side of the Gulf of Mexico, with a lengthy, slender barrier island detaching the peninsula from the Gulf of Mexico. One of the most beloved attractions is Fulton Mansion, a wonderful Second Empire structure overlooking Aransas Bay, now an education and history center. The Texas Maritime Museum is an amazing place to learn about the region’s maritime past. The Rockport Center for the Arts is the center of the community’s art life, with many displays and events. Rockport Beach Park is the place to enjoy a swim or attempt your hand at fishing.

19. Amarillo

For tourists seeking for getting a unique taste of Texas, few destinations are better than the town of Amarillo. Nearly every Texan stereotype thinkable can be seen here; tourists can mix with cowboys at the Amarillo Livestock Auction, dine on a 72-oz. steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch, and appreciate the magnificent rock formations in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. A wonderful collection of classic Western art and artifacts can be seen at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and anyone eager in art and culture can go to the opera, the symphony, the ballet, or one of the city’s amusing art galleries.

20. Alpine

Remote in the hills of West Texas, Alpine is a little town encompassed by some of the most charming scenery in the state. Many tourists just use the city as a base to enjoy neighboring Big Bend National Park, but it’s well worth a tour in its own right. Tourists can stop by the Museum of the Big Bend if they’re keen on learning about this region’s history, but it’s also possible to have a delightful day just wandering around downtown and visiting the plenty of boutique shops, art galleries, cozy cafes, and probably the weekly peasants’ market if you time it perfect.

21. New Braunfels

Settled by German settlers in 1845, New Braunfels is famous for its closeness to both the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. There are nearly limitless opportunities to fish, swim, kayak, and join in other water sports on the rivers, but tourists can also advance to the 70-acre Schlitterbahn Waterpark for a day of family-friendly amusement in the water. Adventure enthusiasts should also make time to travel the limestone caverns at the Natural Bridge Caverns, while anyone keen on history can go to the Gruene Historic District to be amazed at the original German edifices, which date back to the 1800s. 

22. Houston

Although it’s not the capital, Houston is regarded by many to be the center and epicenter of Texas. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Texas. It’s abode to well-known attractions like the Space Center Houston and the Houston Museum of Natural Science, but it also brags about some of the finest barbecue in the state and a leisurely atmosphere that keeps tourists coming back time and time again. The town has fame as a center for science and technology, but there are also many draws here for anyone who likes art and culture; the Museum District and the Theater District are two of the finest places to begin. 

23. Fredericksburg

Famous for its wonderful wineries, Fredericksburg also has a boastful German heritage and a resonant art and music scene. There are many opportunities for wine trips, and the region’s plenty of wineries are completed by an accomplished selection of restaurants. A wonderful replica of a 19th-century German church can be found in the city square; tourists keen on the city’s history would also consider visiting the Pioneer Museum. The downtown core is very pedestrian and cyclist-favorable and thanks to its position in the charming Texas Hill Country, the city is encompassed by many amazing walking and cycling trails as well.

24. Corpus Christi

Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is the biggest coastal town in the state. The largest draws here are the beaches from serene oases encompassed by sand dunes to busy strips of sand ideal for surfing. However, the city provides with many other water-themed activities as well, including the wonderful Schlitterbahn Riverpark, the Texas State Aquarium, and an aviation museum located on the SS Lexington, the most ancient remaining aircraft carrier on earth. Once tourists have had enough of the water, they can also travel the Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History or pass the day in the charming botanical gardens.

25. Austin

The capital of Texas, Austin is a busy city familiar for its live music scene, its plenty of charming lakes and parks, and its world-class museums. Lady Bird Lake lies in the center of the city, provided with opportunities to swim, kayak, cycle, and jog. Culinary chances range from beat-up food trucks selling wonderful barbecue to gorgeous farm-to-table restaurants, and the city’s nightlife has something for nearly everyone. Live music performances are held every night all over the city, but it’s specifically worthwhile making a tour to the town during one of its two main music festivals: South by Southwest (SXSW) as well as the Austin City Limits Festival.