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Exploring the Lone Star State

The Texas tourism slogan is "Texas: It's like a whole other country," a tribute to the state’s history as a sovereign nation and its diverse population. Texas is the second most populace state in the nation and the second largest in terms of land size. With that size comes a broad range of cultural and historical features spanning seven distinct regions. These highlights of Texas tourism include: the Panhandle Plains, Prairies and Lakes, Piney Woods, the Gulf Coast, South Texas, Hill country and Big Bend.

The Panhandle Plains in the upper North of the state blends natural beauty and expansive farmlands. In addition to the wide-open spaces, the historic and sentimental favorite, Route 66, is a major Texas tourism draw. Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon is one of the state’s largest and most beautiful national parks and is a highlight of the region. Much of the Texas tourism activities in the Panhandle Plains center on Amarillo; a historic city that acts as an excellent base point for explorations of the region.

The largest of the Texas tourism regions is Prairies and Lakes. As its name implies, Prairies and Lakes spans a broad area. That area is not only geographical, but cultural as well. The region includes small, quaint towns along with the international cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Sporting events, zoos, outdoor parks, museums and cultural destinations are key features of Texas tourism in this region.

Nowhere is the Texas tourism slogan’s meaning more apparent than in the Piney Woods region. Although many visitors associate Texas with open spaces and cowboys, Piney Woods shows off the geographic diversity of the state. Acre upon acre of pinewood forests is easily accessible to visitors in the region’s four national forests.

Visitors looking for a beachfront holiday are invariable drawn to the Gulf Coast. Hundreds of miles of coast land and the warm Gulf waters make this region a major Texas tourism location. Natural highlights are not, however, the only reason to visit the Gulf Coast. The state’s largest city, Houston, offers much for tourists, including the NASA Space Center.

South Texas tourism has its base in the city of San Antonio. It makes an excellent starting point to explore the rich history of the region, which goes all the way back to the conquistadors. The balmy climate year-round makes South Texas a favorite for those looking to enjoy the outdoors. A number of national parks and wildlife reserves cater to nature lovers aiming to take advantage of this interesting plains region.

The centermost region in Texas is Hills Country. Texas tourism in this region centers on the city of Austin, the state’s lovely capitol city. The city is a hit with history buffs and an excellent base for exploring the countryside. A beautiful region of rolling hills accented by rivers, lakes and state parks, Hills Country is also a noted shopping destination.

The spaghetti western, tumbleweed filled vision of Texas comes to life in the region known as Big Bend. The rugged desert and wilderness are a must-see for many visitors to Texas. Tourism in the region is based on the expansive national parks and historic explorations of the frontier and Old West times.

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