Texas is known as 2nd largest state in the USA. From deserts and scrublands to swamps, pine woods, and mountains, the environment changes considerably across the length of the Lone Star State.
So do Texas’ little communities; from Spanish-influenced former Mexican villages to entire areas built and settled by German immigrants, Texas’ culture is defined by miners, cowboys, and a vast amount of natural beauty to explore and conquer. Texas awaits you with lengthy, scenic road drives and large, scrumptious dishes of cuisine.
1: Fredericksburg
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Fredericksburg, named after Prince Frederick of Prussia, was founded in 1846 by German immigrants and is the heart of German culture in America. Fans of beer will be pleased to know that Fredericksburg has a few establishments where they may enjoy a stein or two of the good stuff. The Altdorf Biergarten, the Fredericksburg Brewing Company (where you can have a tour), and the Auslander (a restaurant where you may eat pretzels and sausages) are among them.
The Fredericksburg Historic District is an excellent spot to learn about and admire the town’s history.
2: Gruene
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Gruene is the place to go if you’re looking for old, vintage, or antique items. Much of this town is on the National Register of Historic Places, making it an unmistakably historic destination.
You may take up the atmosphere at Gruene Hall, one of Texas’s oldest open-air dance halls, or stay in a piece of the town’s history at the Greune Family Home, a lovely Victorian-style structure that goes back to 1872. When the tourist crowds become too much to bear, take a drive out of town and watch the Guadalupe River roar by.
3: Wimberley
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Wimberley, in Hays County, is a small, laid-back community ideal for a relaxing getaway. There are a few nice opportunities to take in a natural beauty that this region has to offer.
You may drive down the Devil’s Backbone, a gorgeous stretch of highway, trek the 218 stairs up Prayer Mountain for spectacular vistas, or simply cool off at the Blue Hole, one of Texas’ most beautiful swimming holes. The name gives it away: the water is a stunning color of blue!
4: Terlingua
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Terlingua is a desert village on the Mexican border that is well-known for its ghost town. The town’s population fell after it was abandoned as a former mining community. You can also stay in the former Perry Mansion, which appears abandoned on the exterior but is tastefully furnished on the inside!
The Terlingua Trading Company is a neighborhood hotspot where you can peruse the odd store and have a beer on the veranda. Terlingua’s proximity to Big Bend National Park gives it an ideal starting place for exploring the area’s natural attractions.
5: Granbury
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Granbury’s distinctive and historic town square, which is filled with shops, restaurants, and pubs, is the ideal site to start a day or evening of fun in the north Texas town. There is also a lot of history. The Hood County Courthouse, which is located on the square, features its own hand-wound clock that dates back to the 1800s.
The Daniel-Harris Home and the Ashton House are two late-nineteenth-century houses that can be found throughout Granbury. According to legend, John Wilkes Booth, the killer of Abraham Lincoln, escaped to Granbury and assumed a new identity. Jesse James is said to be buried in Granbury Cemetery.
6: Marfa
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The Presidio County Courthouse in Marfa, which dates from 1886, isn’t only a fascinating piece of history, you can hike to the peek of the building for a breathtaking view of the entire town. Marfa, on the other hand, is recognized for its art, notably minimalist art.
In 1971, New York artist Donald Judd moved here, purchased a few hangars, and the rest is history. Those hangars are now home to the Chinati Foundation, a place where you can get a taste of bizarre art. Prada Marfa, a “pop architectural land art installation” that appears exactly like a Prada store, is the place to go for pure kookiness.
7: Alpine
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Alpine is a significant center in the state’s Big Bend region, located far out in west Texas. It’s a rather large town to visit, with enough to see and do. There’s plenty to do in town, from nightlife to America’s most remote brewery and museums like the Museum of the Big Bend and the historic Brewster County Courthouse and Jail (1888).
Hike up neighboring Hancock Hill for spectacular vistas, or drive west out of town and through Paisano Pass Volcano. Big Bend National Park is also easily accessible from here.
8: Marble Falls
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This late-nineteenth-century Texas hamlet is home to the Blue Bonnet Cafe, which is known throughout the state for offering some of the best pies in the state. However, adventure sports lovers flock to Marble Falls because of its laid-back atmosphere.
The Hidden Falls Adventure Park is nearby, where you may let loose on an ATV or 4X4 to explore the steep terrain and waterfalls that draw adrenaline junkies and tourists from all over the world. If stepping out into nature doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of galleries to visit in town.