4. Prairies and Lakes
Encompassing 32 counties, the Dallas/Fort Worth region offers everything from smaller towns full of charisma and hidden treasures to metropolitan cities loaded with excitement and trendy destinations. Dallas is a city with both urban neighborhoods filled with young singles to master-planned communities like Highland Park, Plano and Mesquite where you’ll see kids playing soccer in the street. Fort Worth, known as the City of Cowboys & Culture, is the country’s 17th largest city and the top tourist destination in Texas. Two of the most popular attractions in Ft. Worth are the famous Stockyards National Historic District and the Fort Worth Cultural District with such world-renowned museums as the Kimball Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the National Cowgirl Museum. Other cities like Arlington, home to Six Flags over Texas and the Texas Rangers; Irving, home of the world famous Dallas Cowboys; McKinney, Plano, Coppell, and Frisco are integral parts of this vibrant metropolitan area.
Red River Valley
The flatlands, rolling prairies and rising mountains of the Red River Valley serves as the gateway between Texas and Oklahoma. The region, home to cities and towns like Wichita Falls, Sherman and Bonham, has long been home to oilfield wildcatters and cattle barons where traditions of the Old West still live on. History buffs can learn about our Native American ancestors, cowboys, rail heads, oil booms and communities settled in the days when Texas was its own country. Visitors will find the world’s second largest Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas, fun festivals that feature goat barbecues and tributes to watermelons, and even a zoo that grew out of a community circus. The Red River Valley is plentiful in outdoor opportunities as home to Lake Texoma, the 11th largest reservoir in the U.S., the LBJ National Grasslands and the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.
5. South Texas Plains
Mexican heritage plays a big role in this large area that borders Mexico. Many towns have a distinctly Hispanic flair starting with the largest city in this part of Texas, San Antonio. There you’ll find the fabled Riverwalk, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World and, of course, the Alamo. The remains of many of the historical missions established by Spanish monks displays some of the best examples of Spanish mission architecture in the country. There are more than 500 species of birds in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas and the world famous King Ranch – one of the largest ranches in the world – has 825,000 acres on its property.
6. Big Bend Country
The westernmost area of Texas is a playground for people who want to be outdoors and explore a good old western town. In Big Bend Country, you’ll find the biggest jackrabbit in the world and Paisano Pete’s, the world’s biggest roadrunner. Visitors can slide down giant sand dunes, hike Guadalupe Peak -- the state’s tallest mountain at 8,749 feet above sea level, float down the Rio Grande River or camp under the big Texas sky. The region of West Texas is home to several small towns each with their own culture and activities. Marathon is the unofficial county seat of Big Bend State Park. Pecos is famous for its cantaloupes. Midland is the “Oil and Gas Capital of Texas”. Marfa is home to the famous “Marfa Lights” and is an art and cultural hot spot smack dab in the middle of west Texas. Wink, Texas is Roy Orbison’s hometown and Odessa is the inspiration for the film and TV show “Friday Night Lights”.
7. Panhandle Plains
Tumbleweeds. Windmills. Ranches. And a sunset as far as the eye can see. What most people think of when they think about Texas is exactly what makes up the Texas Panhandle. The Panhandle got its moniker because it looks like a handle on a frying pan (true story!) and is home to a stretch of the famous Route 66 where you can “get your kicks” driving under the vast starry skies between towns like Lubbock, home of Texas Tech University, and Amarillo’s Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Musical legend Buddy Holly grew up in the Texas Panhandle where his music, no doubt, had a lasting impact on this genteel and friendly part of Texas.