Texas is the second largest state after Alaska in terms of land mass. Few visitors to the state can see and do everything on one visit. Most Texas residents divide the state into four regions: South, West, East, and North. That works for folks visiting the state on vacation as well. The south of Texas consists of the Gulf Coast and South Texas Plains, and their names go a long way towards describing their geography and climate. Beaumont, Houston, Corpus Christi, Freeport, and Galveston Island are some of the better known towns along the Gulf. Galveston alone has 32 miles of beaches fronting on the warm Caribbean. Houston is the largest city in Texas and is a center of oil, aeronautics, petrochemicals, and shipping. NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is not to be missed and visitors seeking entertainment will find the Bayou Place Entertainment Complex a one of a kind experience. San Antonio, the second largest city in Texas, with its Mexican and German immigrant heritage exhibits a fascinating mix of cultures as does the border town of Laredo. Tourism is big business in San Antonio. Visitors flock to the historic Alamo and beautiful River Walk.
Western Texas is El Paso and Big Bend National Park, Odessa and the Carlsbad Caverns. Northern Texas is the Panhandle and that means the Plains and Abilene, the Old West and Lubbock. Here is where visitors can still find the authentic cowboy. Abilene is where cowboys read poetry, frontiersmen tell their stories, and artists display their creations. Austin, the state capital, is the city that benefits the most from the climate of the Texas Hill Country with its rolling hills and moderate climate. This is the geographical heart of the state with many natural and cultural attractions. Squeezed between the Hill Country and Eastern Texas is the Prairies and Lakes Region anchored by the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Dallas is surrounded by country ranch living and is the shopping capital of Texas. Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney are headquartered here. Plano and Waco are well-known towns in this Region as well. Eastern Texas is where the Southwest meets the New South. Much of the area is included in the Piney Woods eco-region and this part of the state is geographically and culturally more akin to Louisiana than the rest of Texas. Here is where the transition is made from chuck wagon barbecues to southern fried chicken. The climate of East Texas is subtropical.
Yes, visiting Texas and taking in all the sights is a tall order. Taking a vacation in Texas is made easier when you know where to go, what to see, and what to do. Our sites are specifically designed to help you plan your trip, select hotels, book tours, and decide which of the many attractions should be at the top of your list. So don't hesitate, get started now planning your Texas vacation.
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