1. North Mount Franklin
   Guadalupe Peak
2. Chiso
   Emory Peak

Guadalupe Peak, at 8,751 feet, claims the highest natural point in Texas. Visitors enthusiastic about the great outdoors will love the rugged hike to the peak, where the desert landscape shifts dramatically to pine forests as the trail winds around the rocky bends.

1. Apache
   Comanche
2. Caddo
   Lipan

The name of the state of Texas came from the Caddo word “taysha,” which meant friend or ally. The Spaniards interpreted the sounds to be “Tejas” and adopted the name for the land that was later translated as Texas.

1. German food
   A tour of Shiner brewery
2. The desert landscape
   Pear groves

Enchanted Rock, the main attraction of the state park by the same name, is a spherical mass of pink granite rising out of the hill country. Near to the enchanted area, travelers can find authentic German food in the charming city of Fredericksburg.

1. Hernando De Soto
   Christopher Columbus
2. Hernán Cortés
   Cabeza de Vaca

In 1528, Cabeza de Vaca, along with 90 men, was shipwrecked off the coast of Galveston Island. When they arrived on shore, they became the first Europeans to set foot on Texas land. The group spent eight years in Texas and initiated the Spanish conquest of the area.

1. Mainly in West Texas
   Only in Central Texas
2. Only in East Texas
   In the Panhandle

Tourists can set their minds at ease that they’re not likely to have an encounter with a black bear in Texas. They can be found in remote regions in West Texas, as in Big Bend and the Guadalupe Mountains. In more rare instances, they show up in Central and East Texas.

1. Because of its beautiful vineyards
   Because of its peach orchards
2. It’s the home of Real Ale.
   Because Willie and Waylon sang a song about it.

“Down in Luckenbach, Texas, with Waylon and Willie and the boys” is the famous beginning of the Texas country song that put the small town on the map in Americana. Willie apparently has a deep affection for the central Texas spot, as he had his family picnic there for years.

1. Downtown Austin
   Downtown Houston
2. Downtown Dallas
   Shiner

The Capitol of Texas sits amid the rush of traffic and culture of downtown Austin. Guide your group through the heavy traffic, watching out for the wild Austin characters cruising the streets, to 11th and Congress to stroll rolling green lawns beneath live oak trees.

1. Crocodiles and raccoons
   Foxes and weasels
2. Otters and crocodiles
   Alligators and snapping turtles

The swamps, or wetlands, of East Texas host the largest alligator population in Texas. At a park in Beaumont, Gator County, you can view the largest alligator in captivity, Big Tex, who weighs in at 1,000 lbs and boasts 13 feet and 8.5 inches.

1. Walking among the redwoods
   Camping on a campground that’s rarely crowded
2. Carlsbad Caverns
   Crossing into Mexico

At the border crossing of Boquillas, visitors can cross the Rio Grande and legally cross into Mexico. The border crossing stands at a remote location along the river, deep in Boquillas canyon. For $5, a local will guide you on a burro to the town one mile away from the crossing.

1. That’s not what this tour is about.
   153 miles
2. 43 miles
   889 miles

The Rio Grande forms the border between the United States and Mexico. The official measurement for the river is somewhat contested because the river can be measured in different ways. The lowest measurement of the length of the river border is 889 miles.

1. It’s the site of a beautiful mission.
   It’s the site of a tragic battle that changed the course of the War for Independence.
2. It’s the site of a huge festival every April, called Fiesta.
   It’s the site of the battle that sealed Texas’ victory in the War for Independence.

The Alamo, in San Antonio, is the site of a Spanish mission that the “Texian” army turned into a fort during the war for independence from Mexico. Far from being a victory for the Texians, the Alamo marks the site of a tragic loss, where 200 men were killed after a long standoff. The tragedy sparked the rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo!”

1. Keep Austin Weird
   The Lone Star City
2. City of Music
   Hill Country Gem

All over Austin, visitors may puzzle at the prolific black and white bumper stickers proclaiming “Keep Austin Weird.” They may be likely to wonder at the statement because the city does not seem to have any trouble doing so.

1. To see the sandhill cranes
   To see the white sand dunes
2. To see the white-nosed bats take flight
   To see the ancient Native American quarry

The Alibates Flint Quarry National Monument in Fritch, Texas, is a lesser-known attraction among Texas parks, but it hosts a historical marvel. Native Americans began quarrying the site for flint, used to make arrowheads and other tools, around 13,000 years ago.

1. To paddleboard
   To see the bats emerge
2. To count how many dogs were off-leash
   To go swimming at Barton Springs

The white-tail bats, which emerge from the Congress bridge in downtown Austin from early spring to mid-November, compose the largest colony of Freetail bats in the world. People love the thrill of enjoying the crowds of people while witnessing the spectacle of a cloud of bats rising from beneath the bridge.

1. Comfort
   Houston
2. El Paso
   Ft. Worth

While most of Texas’ rivers are smooth and slow, some of the state’s wide array of rivers do have intermediate rapids to plunge down on a kayak. Comfort, Texas, is a popular destination to begin a 9.5 mile trip down the Guadalupe River, brimming with Class 2 and 3 rapids.

1. Live oak
   Bald cypress
2. Bigtooth maple
   Weeping Willow

Bald cypress trees, common alongside Central Texas rivers, have distinctive knees jutting up from the ground around the base of the tree. The trees look evergreen, but actually their “needles” are leaves which drop in the fall.

1. It’s a boat racing mecca.
   It hosts more fresh water trout than any other Texas lake.
2. Its immense wetland provides a haven for a large and diverse number of waterfowl.
   It provides important habitat for deer to support hunters.

Caddo Lake, in far East Texas, was designated a “Wetland of International Importance, especially as waterfowl habitat.” The immense lake, covering 25,000 acres, is the only naturally occurring large lake in Texas.

1. Twenty-four original buildings, including the Commander’s Quarters
   The armory, which housed an array of cannons
2. The site where 115 soldiers were massacred
   The current largest Air Force base in Texas

Ft. Davis, located in the West Texas, Davis Mountains, was established in 1854 to guard the road from San Antonio to El Paso from the Native American tribes, also inhabiting the land: the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache.

1. Pulled pork
   Ribs
2. Brisket
   Potato salad

Each state has its signature BBQ dish, as any BBQ fan knows. In Texas, brisket is king. Brisket’s tough connective tissues require a smoker to cook it low and slow, and a hurried process will always result in an inferior product.

1. Little Bit of Texas in El Paso
   Gruene Hall in New Braunfels
2. Cowboy Hall in San Antonio
   Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth

Billy Bob’s Texas in Ft. Worth boasts itself, truthfully, to be the largest honky-tonk in Texas. The building, built-in 1910, used to be an integral part of the Ft. Worth Stock Show. Now, the renovated, enclosed building can throw a honky-tonk party for more 6,000 people, or 12,000 boots.

1. Zydeco
   Country
2. Texas Country
   Jazz

Texas country originated in Texas and remains native to Texas. It’s more than just Nashville-style country played in Texas. Texas country, rising out of artists like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, has a distinctive, traditional sound, humming with violins and acoustic sounds.

1. It’s completely flat and you can see the curvature of the earth.
   It’s like a slice of Greenwich Village was dropped down in a ranch town.
2. It’s the heartland that provides our food supply.
   It’s a typical Texas country town, with small-town charm and diners.

If you go to Marfa, Texas, expecting a typical ranch town, you might fall out of your boots. Men in tight red pants walk down the street past art galleries and boutique, hipster boot shops. The desert surrounding Marfa received international renown for Donald Judd’s art installation at the Chinati Foundation.

1. Lockhart
   Ft. Worth
2. Waco
   Wimberley

While many a Texas town would like to claim the title, many BBQ aficionados would place Lockhart as the BBQ capital of Texas. Lockhart, 35 miles southeast of Austin, has officially been dubbed with this prestigious title by the Texas Legislature.

1. Shiner
   Jester King
2. Depends on who’s asking
   Lone Star

Texas’ craft brewery tradition is flourishing, and beer connoisseurs have widely differing opinions on which brewery produces the most fantastic brew. Shiner is likely the most well known, while Jester King may provide the most unique and influential in the craft scene.

1. Circuit of the Americas
   El Paso Motor Speedway
2. Texas Motor Speedway
   The Dallas Dragstrip

Not all speedways allow personal use of the racetrack, as car enthusiasts know all too well. The Texas Motor Speedway, though, in College Station, is one of the seven “superspeedways” in Texas and hosts open track days in addition to NASCAR and test and tunes.

1. Lucchese
   Tony Lama
2. Cobra Rock
   Cowtown

While this issue certainly poses a contentious question, a strong argument can be made that Lucchese boots are the quintessential boot maker in Texas. Founded in 1883 in El Paso on “the principles of family,” Lucchese continues the art and tradition of legit Texas bootmaking.

1. Hitch up in Ft Worth
   Check out the Chisholm Trail Museum
2. Begin in Dallas
   Get saddled up in Cleburne

In the late 1860s, millions of cattle were driven up the Chisholm Trail from San Antonio, through Ft. Worth to the Kansas Railway. While riding this trail would be interesting, a car may be a better mode of transportation than a horse, as part of the trail is now a tollway.

1. Rio Grande
   Guadalupe
2. Comal
   Pecos

The Rio Grande covers the longest stretch of land in Texas, at 1896 miles. The river has its beginning in the snowmelt of Colorado and glides southeast till it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Due to agricultural use and dams, however, an estimated one-fifth of the river water reaches the Gulf.

1. A Spanish mission
   The site of a battle in the War for Independence
2. A cultural memorial spanning the border
   A shopping mall

The Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso, Texas, marks the location of a century-long dispute about the border between the U.S. and Mexico. As a sign of goodwill, the Memorial spans both sides of the border. The portion in Juàrez, Mexico, is called Parque Chamizal.

1. A UNESCO World Heritage Site
   A World History Gold Star Site
2. A Best Places in Texas badge
   An American Historical Association Site

In 2015, the San Antonio Mission was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, a significant recognition, demonstrating that the site is of “outstanding universal value” to be preserved for all of humanity.

1. Lost Red Oaks
   Lost Maples
2. Big Bend National Park
   Anywhere in Central Texas

Lost Maples, in the Central Texas Hill Country, hosts a rare stand of Bigtooth Maple trees, native to the region but small in number. The trees turn fiery red in November like trees do in most other parts of the country. In Texas, though, it’s a big deal. The park has a “fall foliage tracker” on its website.

1. A quiet, calm evening by the water
   A crowded, pricey but very unique strip of restaurants along the river
2. A rushing river with a gravel trail
   A bustling city center full of locals

The San Antonio Riverwalk, one of the city’s main tourist destinations, sets the stage for miles of restaurants and shops along the San Antonio River. Visitors can enjoy pricey food from many regions and try a wide variety of overpriced margaritas while watching the river of people stroll by.

1. Rockport
   South Padre
2. Port Isabel
   Galveston

South Padre Island, the small beach town in the Gulf of Mexico, draws hordes of college students each spring break. In 2018, an estimated 50,000 college students came south to party hard on the white beaches.

1. Austin
   El Paso
2. Dallas
   Houston

Austin is hands down the live music capital of Texas. From the thriving music scene, with quality shows being played in small venues all over the city, to the famed festivals of SXSW and ACL, Austin draws top artistic talent from all over the world to play music in this creative city.

1. Most everywhere has air conditioning.
   The altitude cools down the summer heat.
2. The limestone filters rain water into natural springs for swimming holes.
   The live oaks provide ample shade from the blistering sun.

Even though the summer heat can seem unbearable in the Texas Hill Country, where like most of Texas, temperatures and humidity soar in the summer, the Hill Country has a secret to keep you cool: springs. The limestone rock here creates the perfect filter for rainwater to gurgle up into cool, life-saving springs.