Texas Road Trip

Texas is huge! Texas is well known throughout the world thanks to Hollywood and its unique shape, which spans 773 miles (1,244 km) in width and 790 miles (1,270 km) in length. The famous Texas Triangle, the major metros of Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas/Fort Worth, totals 75% of the state’s population while only holding 25% of the total area. Having lived in 3 of the state’s 7 most populous cities and visiting all over the great state, we have put together the perfect summer road trip for your convenience!

Day 1: Wednesday

Get an early flight into HOUSTON, TX! The largest city in the state and fourth largest in the USA. Houston is known as the Expense Account City, and because of that there are fabulous restaurants. In fact, over 11,000 restaurants! After you’ve rented your truck (or car if you don’t want to fit in, just kidding… ish) check out one of these restaurants. Whatever you are in the mood for, Houston will have it. Here are a few:

Capone's located near thirty shopping Westheimer street

El Tiempo off Washington has killer margaritas.

Anything in Market Square, but you may never leave…

Pastry War!

Another nickname for Houston is Space City, which a few of our sports teams are named for (Astros and Rockets). I would highly recommend driving south to Johnson Space Center to get a tour of NASA. Don't miss mission control or trying astronaut ice cream!

Get up close and personal with a rocket!

Although Houston recently overtook New York City as the most ethnically diverse city in the country, we have yet to conquer their fine arts scene, but we pull a close second in the nation! This just means you have all the shows available at a cheaper price and nicer people! Wind down the evening with a show. The Houston Ballet is top notch. If the theater is not your thing, Houston also has over 20 museums for any kind of taste. Check out Houston’s official visitor's site for more details on which museum fits your needs. Not an artsy person at all? Love sports? Well, better go check out the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Astrodome. Recently having its 50^th birthday party, the dome does not do tours, but you can get a glimpse from the outside.

After the show you may be hungry and thirsty. We can help with both. Downtown, Midtown, Washington, Rice Village, the Heights, and City Centre will have something going on any day of the week. There are way too many restaurants and bars to list, so I will let Thrillist make recommendations: 

Thrillist site #1

Or

Thrillist site #2

Day 2: Thursday

Wake up, have yourself a bloody mary for breakfast at Brick & Spoon with a Big Spoon Bloody Mary  or a Big 'Ol Bloody Mary (everything is bigger in Texas) at Downhouse. Shake off that hangover and head south to Corpus Christi, TX! Corpus Christi is home to the best beaches and best weather in Texas. After the 3 hour drive you need to shake out your legs and do so by touring the USS Lexington.

The Blue Ghost participated in almost all major events in the Pacific and spent 21 months in combat. Walk along the deck to check out some of the aircrafts and of course great views of the city. Check out our write up from Memorial Day. After the tour if you still have energy, walk over to the Texas State Aquarium. In addition to aquatic life, the Aquarium is home to a birds of prey exhibit and cute Texas otters.  Grab dinner on Fajitaville's patio where you can enjoy a taste of the beach life and sunsets. Head downtown to the Executive Surf Club for cheap beer and live music. There are many other dive bars in walking distance if live music isn’t your thing.

Day 3: Friday

Everything moves a little slower in Corpus Christi on a Friday. Some workers are taking the day off to go fishing and others are sneaking off to the island with their surfboards. Take a walk down Shoreline Dr. to watch the sunrise to start your day. Pay tribute to the statue of Selena, the Tejano star who rose to fame here. Harrison's Landing does offer boat tours of the Bay and gives great point of views of downtown, the Harbor Bridge, and the USS Lexington. The beach is what sets Corpus apart from the rest, so that is what you should spend the day doing. The two main beach spots will be J.P. Luby Park and Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas. On Mustang Island, driving on the beach is allowed, so be careful and don’t get stuck! After spending the day at the beach head towards town and stop at Snoopy's, a local hometown favorite, for some delicious seafood and the best views of a Gulf Coast sunset.

Day 4: Saturday

Get an early start to San Antonio. You don’t want to miss brunch on the River Walk! Check out the Guenther House . It may be a tourist spot, but it has 100 years of history and good food. You will need your energy for the next adventure.

A Texas summertime favorite is floating the river in San Marcos. The fun usually starts around noon and a float lasts about 4 hours. Hydrate on your way to Texas State Tubes (check Groupon for deals) as the sun can be draining. If you need some adult beverages, remember glass bottles are not allowed.  You can purchase your tubes and shuttle here. Put on the sun block and enjoy! Once you are back from your float, drive to Austin. I’ve had great experiences staying at the Hilton Garden. It has easy access to I35 and walking distance to many bars and restaurants. But just before getting there, make a pit stop at Sandy’s Burgers in Barton Springs. Now Austin is the black sheep of the state where they live by the saying “Keep Austin Weird”. So now you have been warned, clean up and make your way down to the famous 6^th street. Now we could try to break down every bar here, but it would take too long. Go have fun and check out all there is to offer, but check this out for starters!

6th street on Halloween

Day 5: Sunday

It’s going to hurt, but you will have to get up. I suggest walking some, like to Tacos and Tequila. How can you resist a taco bar? Once you are refueled, you are going to need to sweat out the previous day. A day hike to Hamilton Pool is a perfect solution. It’s not a long hike but a beautiful view. After a couple hours there you must finish off the day with good 'ol fashion barbeque. Salt Lick in Driftwood is the original location of this perfection. Make sure you get a glimpse of the pit! Head back to Austin and check out some live music because that's what Austin is known for!

Day 6: Monday

Hop on I35 and head north to Fort Worth. You are going to want to wait til you get to West, Texas to eat breakfast. Czech Stop has the best kolaches you will ever try. Never heard of kolaches? I am sorry your hometown does not have this delicious breakfast item. Head straight to Fort Worth Stockyards for a step back in time to the old wild west. After walking around in the hot Texas summer heat, you will need some sweet iced tea and good food. Cattlemen’s and Billy Bob’s are too good spots. Billy Bob’s doubles up as a dance hall at night. If Texas two steppin' is not your thing, the Historic Sundance Square has everything from shopping to dining. It also has a very vibrant nightlife with a variety of bars.

Day 7: Tuesday

You are probably feeling a little drained, so stop at Paciugo for some Italian café before making the short trip over to Dallas (Watch out for the toll roads). Six Flags over Texas is not a theme park just for kids. They have some pretty serious rides turning in every direction while reaching top speeds. Tickets may not be the cheapest, but you will stay busy all day. Finish off the day with dinner at Reunion Tower. Soak in the 360 degree view of the Dallas Skyline before preparing for the final night. Check out the Trolley Bar Map for the perfect ending to the best road trip in Texas. But, if that is not your thing, Lower Greenville, Henderson, and Deep Elum have excellent bar scenes.

View from Reunion Tower

Day 8: Wednesday

Drag yourself back to Houston or any other airport you chose to fly out of.