The word Texas derives from a word in the Caddoan language of the Hasinai, which means “Friends” or “Allies” with the friendlier cites. It is also known as the Lone Star because of the state flag’s design: a broad vertical blue stripe at the left, centered by a single white star, with horizontal bars of white and red on the right. Red means courage, White means liberty and Blue stands for loyalty.
Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and existed as the independent Republic of Texas for nearly a decade. In 1845, it joined the United States as the 28th state. It is one of only four states that was an independent nation before becoming a constituent state of the US.
Most Beautiful Cities in Texas:
- Fredericksburg.
- Jefferson.
- Wimberley.
- Canyon
- Port Isabel.
- Rockport.
- Salado.
- Marble Falls.
Largest Cities in Texas:
Houston:
Houston is a large metropolis in Texas, extending to Galveston Bay. It’s closely linked with the Space Center Houston, the coastal visitor center at NASA’s astronaut training and flight control complex. The city’s relatively compact Downtown includes the Theater District, home to the renowned Houston Grand Opera, and the Historic District, with 19th-century architecture and upscale restaurants. ― Google
Fantastic Free Things to Do in Houston:
- Catch a show at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
- Snap a Selfie at the Water Wall.
- See the Art at The Menil Collection.
- Browse the Contemporary Arts Museum.
- Bike along Buffalo Bayou.
- Watch the Bats Emerge at the Waugh Drive Bridge.
- Reflect at the Rothko Chapel.
- Jog at Memorial Park.
Best things to do in Houston
- Space Center Houston.
- Buffalo Bayou Partnership.
- National Museum of Funeral History.
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
- Houston From Below: Underground Tunnel Tour.
- La Carafe.
- Galveston.
- Ninfa’s Original on Navigation.
San Antonio:
San Antonio is a major city in south-central Texas with a rich colonial heritage. The Alamo, an 18th-century Spanish mission preserved as a museum, marks an infamous 1836 battle for Texan independence from Mexico. Following the San Antonio River, the miles-long River Walk is a landmark pedestrian promenade lined with cafes and shops. HemisFair Park’s 750-ft. Tower of the Americas overlooks the city. ― Google
Attractions to visit in San Antonio:
- San Antonio River Walk
- Natural Bridge Caverns
- The Alamo
- Japanese Tea Gardens
- Mission San Jose
Dallas:
Dallas, a modern metropolis in north Texas, is a commercial and cultural hub of the region. Downtown’s Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza commemorates the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. In the Arts District, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Crow Collection of Asian Art cover thousands of years of art. The sleek Nasher Sculpture Center showcases contemporary sculpture. ― Google
Things Dallas is Famous For:
- Dallas Cowboys. Perhaps the most famous sports team in the country calls Dallas home.
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
- Dallas Television Show.
- Big Tex and the Texas State Fair.
- The assassination of JFK
- 7-Eleven.
- Highland Park Village.
Austin:
Austin is the state capital of Texas, an inland city bordering the Hill Country region. Home to the University of Texas flagship campus, Austin is known for its eclectic live-music scene centered around country, blues and rock. Its many parks and lakes are popular for hiking, biking, swimming and boating. South of the city, Formula One’s Circuit of the Americas raceway has hosted the United States Grand Prix. ― Google
Austin, famed for its nightlife, its outdoor graffiti art gallery and regularly dubbed “the drunkest city in the US” is to Texas as Berlin is to Germany, which is to say it proudly, provocatively, perversely bears little resemblance to the rest of the state. Austin Texas ranked #5 on the Friendliest Cities list. Add in the “Keep Austin Weird” factor where uniqueness is celebrated here rather than shunned and the result is positive friendly people all around!
Fort Worth:
Fort Worth is a city in North Central Texas. In the late 19th century, it became an important trading post for cowboys at the end of the Chisholm Trail. Today, it’s a modern city, with international art institutions like the Kimbell Art Museum. The Fort Worth Stockyards are home to rodeos, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors pioneers. ― Google
Things to Do in Fort Worth:
- Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
- Fort Worth Water Gardens.
- Fort Worth Zoo.
- Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
- Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.
- Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
- Fort Worth Stockyards.
- Kimbell Art Museum.
El Paso:
What is El Paso Known For? The city of El Paso is called “Sun City” because on average, it has 302 days of sun every year. El Paso is known for its delicious Tex-Mex cuisine and because it’s a border town to Juarez, Mexico.
Attractions to visit in El Paso: according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Scenic Drive – Overlook
- Franklin Mountains State Park
- Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
- The Plaza Theatre
- Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museums
Arlington:
Arlington is a city in Texas, west of Dallas. It’s home to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), whose campus has a modern planetarium. In River Legacy Parks, trails cut through hardwood forest rich in wildlife. The park also has the River Legacy Living Science Center, with aquariums, terrariums and interactive exhibits. The Dallas Cowboys football team plays at AT&T Stadium, which also hosts concerts. ― Google
Arlington is perhaps best known for its recreational and sports attractions. In 1961, the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park opened its doors. In 1972, the Washington Senators baseball team moved to their new home at Turnpike Stadium (now Ameriquest Field), becoming the Texas Rangers.
Attractions to visit in Arlington: according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- AT&T Stadium
- Globe Life Park
- Top O’Hill Terrace
- River Legacy Park
- Six Flags Over Texas
Corpus Christi:
Corpus Christi is a Texas city on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s tucked into a bay and its beaches are sheltered by Padre and Mustang islands. The Padre Island National Seashore is home to migratory birds and endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. The harborfront Texas State Aquarium has touch pools, an aquatic nursery and a shark exhibit. Nearby, a WWII aircraft carrier, USS Lexington, now houses a naval aviation museum. ― Google
Due to high windspeeds, Corpus Christi is one of the best cities in North America for kiteboarding, wind surfing, kite flying and sailing. The city has even hosted the Windsurfing World Championships. It has also drawn the interest of the wind energy industry, which is proving to be somewhat controversial.
Outdoor activities in Corpus Christi according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Padre Island National Seashore
- Malaquite Beach
- Texas State Aquarium
- Whitecap Beach
- South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center
Texas is internationally known for its energy and aeronautics industries, and for the ship channel at the Port of Houston—the largest in the U.S. in international commerce and the sixth-largest port in the world.
No other state offers the birding variety that Texas does as three-fourths of all American birds represented in Texas, there are birds for the watching anytime, anywhere in the state. Texas’ resident bird population is augmented by multitudes of migrating species. Refuges offer exceptional viewing of both rare specimens and large concentrations of familiar species.
Texas Heritage Trail Regions lead travelers through spectacular fields of wildflowers, beneath soaring mountains, and to the places where history happened. Texas is famous for its frontier forts, folkloric dancers, cowboys, battlefields, powwows, and all types of festivals. In East Texas’ humid marshlands, carnivorous pitcher plants trap unwary insects. More gregarious types such as bluebonnets, buttercups, and Indian paintbrushes roam statewide, draping festive serapes over meadows and highway shoulders each spring.
You can also enjoy taking photos of real Texas Wildlife. You can stalk, call, and track wild animals on private Texas ranches, State Parks, and National Parks to get pictures of them in their native habitat. With a little patience and time, you will be able to observe and photograph wildlife that the average person will never see” All of these landmarks make Texas a special state that is famous for its variety of activities that you can do to enjoy your visit and spend a very interesting time.
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