Texas
From World travel guide
Texas is the second-biggest state in the United States of America -- although some Texans will maintain that it is a country all to its own (which at one time, it was). Originally a territory of Mexico, Texas rebelled in 1836 and became its own nation for 10 years before joining the USA in 1845. Texas has maintained its independent spirit, and in fact the state makes a definite travel destination all its own.
Known for their generosity and overall friendliness, Texans are great people to meet. Texans also have a tremendous sense of Texas pride. No other state (well not many) in the United States features their state flag so prominently in businesses, on the backs of pickup trucks and in advertisements.
Contents |
Regions
- Panhandle -- Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls - Dust storms, cotton, the Llano Estacado
- Prairies and Lakes -- Dallas, Fort Worth
- Piney Woods -- Piney Woods, bayous, and Civil War and Civil Rights history
- Gulf Coast -- Houston, Galveston, Beaumont islands and beaches
- South Texas Plains -- San Antonio, Laredo - Border country along the Rio Grande
- Hill Country -- Austin - Historic and state capital
- Big Bend Country -- El Paso
Cities
- Addison
- Austin - State capital and home to the largest university in the USA - University of Texas
- Dallas
- El Paso
- Fort Worth
- Galveston
- Houston - Home to NASA and many oil companies
- Irving
- Lubbock
- Midland
- Odessa
- San Antonio
- Kemah - South of Houston near the coast
- Fredericksburg
- Plano
- Texas City
- Round Rock
- Milford
Other destinations
Understand
Texas is very warm in the summer (commonly higher than 100F or 38C). In West Texas and the Panhandle summers are usually dry with fits of stormy weather, while the rest of the state suffers frequent showers and humid days. It is often cooler near the coast, though humidity can be unbearable. Winters are relatively mild for most of the state. It has snowed as far south as San Antonio and Houston, but snow will often melt within moments of landing. Cities such as Lubbock and Amarillo have suffered devastating blizzards in the past.
Get in
Get around
Texas is well-known for it's system of roads and cross-town freeways are often built with parallel frontage roads and turnarounds at most exits. Speed limits are very strictly enforced in rural areas of the state, but when travelling through larger cities observing the "common speed" is much safer. The saying goes, "Don't stand in the road when in Texas. Texans will run you over."
Texas is home to major airlines American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines. American and Continental fly to many Texas locations through their hubs in Dallas and Houston respectively. Southwest is the no frills discounter granddad and flies throughout Texas. Travel to any destination world-wide is quite painless from the larger Texas airports.
Since Texas cities are geographically dispersed, travel by train is expensive and often inconvenient. Passenger service is no longer an option for cities in the Panhandle or southern Texas. NOTE: Traveling from Houston (east) to El Paso (far west) is one-half of the distance from Houston to Los Angeles.
Greyhound provides intercity bus service. Other bus carriers include TNM&O, Kerville & Americanos.
See
Do
Eat
Texas is widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to eat barbecue. Lockhart, near Austin, has several world-class barbecue restaurants.
And don't forget about Tex-Mex!
Drink
Stay safe
When in Texas, you better be packing.
Get out
- Galveston is the major cruise port in the state, the 19th largest in the world.
- Houston has a much smaller cruise port.
External links
- http://www.traveltex.com/ -- the official state travel information site.
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is very little information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
WikiPedia:Texas Dmoz:North_America/United_States/Texas
