“I’m from Texas. What country are you from?”
You may hear this more than once during your visit to the Lone Star State. Eclectic, independent and larger than life, Texas welcomes you to the biggest state in the lower 48. And during this caravan, you’ll learn how diverse this expansive “country” is.
We start our journey in Dallas, taking three days to explore the metro area and many of its highlights, including the Dealey Plaza site related to the infamous John F. Kennedy events that changed the nation in 1963. Dallas is full of other interesting locations we’ll explore via guided tours. If you’re a football enthusiast (and everyone there might assume you’re a Cowboys fan), you’ll enjoy a VIP visit to the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Days 4 & 5 find us in Waco, where you can shop ‘til you drop at the Magnolia Market, a complex covering two city blocks, marked by two 120’-high silos built in 1950. You’ll find everything from jewelry to kitchen accessories as well as some scrumptious places to eat.
One of the highlights in College Station on Days 6 & 7 is the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. This top attraction creates a museum experience with exhibits and documents associated with our 41st president. He is buried alongside his wife and daughter here.
Lots to see on Days 8 through 11 in the coastal resort city of Galveston. We’ll tour the community by bus and take time to explore on our own. While we’re in the vicinity, we visit Houston, getting a behind-the-scenes look at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Did you know it has served as a hub of human spaceflight activity for more than half a century? You’ll get acquainted with Space Center missions and operations.
Known for its beaches and fish-filled water ways, Port Aransas and Mustang Island fill our time on Days 12 &13. Dolphins thrive in this vicinity, and we’ll likely see them during a nature cruise. Fun Fact: Dolphins have a brain-to-body-mass ratio that is second only to humans. They engage in cultural traditions and can pass on learned behavior.
On Days 14 through 16, we hop aboard a bus and wind our way through Austin, taking in the attractions of the Texas state capital, also known for its thriving music scene. We’ll wander through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the state botanical garden that features more than 900 species of native Texas plants, also offering educational programs and events.
On our way to New Braunfels on Days 17 & 18, we stop at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, featuring multiple exhibits that commemorate our 36th president. Then don your safari hat as we take a pass through the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, where you can safely drive through free-roaming exotic wildlife – more than 500 animals representing more than 40 species!
Fredericksburg, our destination for Days 19 & 20, is a delightful German-influenced community in the Texas hill country. Award-winning wineries dot the countryside, and we’ll learn more about them during our wine tour.
We’re in the Cowboy Capital of the World on Days 21 & 22! Bandera’s Frontier Times Museum offers exhibits that celebrate the Old West, also offering a few quirky curiosities such as a two-headed goat and a birthing chair from the Middle Ages. Later, we unwind at the Silver Spur Guest Ranch for a home-cooked meal and a historically enlightening hayride.
Our time is drawing to a close on Days 23 to 25. We spend it in the fascinating community of San Antonio, steeped in colonial heritage and home to the Alamo. We have the time to explore all the high points this city is known for, including the River Walk, cafes and shops.
We’ve now galloped through part of this immense land and prepare to depart on our own ways. But we come away having met some of the friendliest people on Earth, gracious folks fiercely proud of their “Lone Star State.”