Texas

List of State Attractions : Texas (TX)

I. National Land

National Parks, Seashores & Historic Sites (Selection)

Big Bend National Park
Chisos Mountains, desert canyons, Rio Grande borderlands.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Highest Texas peaks and Permian fossil reef.
Padre Island National Seashore
World's longest undeveloped barrier island (Kemp's ridley releases seasonal).
Big Thicket National Preserve
Multiple ecosystems and blackwater creeks (SE Texas).
Amistad National Recreation Area
Clear desert reservoir on the Rio Grande (Del Rio).
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Canadian River breaks and boating (Panhandle).
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Buffalo Soldier history amid Davis Mountains.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
UNESCO-listed chain of Spanish missions.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
Pleistocene mammoth nursery dig shelter.
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
Ancient quarry pits above Lake Meredith.
Chamizal National Memorial
Borderlands history and cultural center (El Paso).
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
Mexican–American War site (Brownsville).

National Forests & Wildlife Refuges (Selection)

Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine & Sam Houston National Forests : Pineywoods lakes and trails.
Laguna Atascosa NWR : Ocelot habitat and coastal birding (Lower Rio Grande Valley).
Aransas NWR : Wintering whooping cranes (Middle Coast).
Brazoria/San Bernard/Big Boggy NWR Complex : Gulf Coast wetlands near Houston.

II. State Land

Top Twenty State Parks & Natural Areas

Palo Duro Canyon State Park
"Grand Canyon of Texas" amphitheaters and hoodoos.
Caprock Canyons State Park
Cliffs, rail-trail, and Texas State Bison Herd.
Big Bend Ranch State Park
Vast Chihuahuan Desert backroads along the Rio Grande.
Guadalupe River State Park
Cypress-shaded Hill Country river swims.
Garner State Park
Frio River floats and summer dances.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Uvalde bigtooth maples and canyons (fall color).
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Pink granite dome with 360° vistas.
Pedernales Falls State Park
Limestone cascades and slabs near Austin.
McKinney Falls State Park
Austin city-limit waterfalls and trails.
Colorado Bend State Park
Gorman Falls and cave tours on the Colorado River.
Brazos Bend State Park
Alligators, wetlands, and George Observatory.
Inks Lake State Park
Granite outcrops and clear Highland Lakes.
Mustang Island State Park
Gulf beach camping and paddling trails.
Sea Rim State Park
Marsh boardwalks and remote Gulf beach (Golden Triangle).
Seminole Canyon State Park
Pictographs and canyons above the Rio Grande.
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
Pictographs and world-class bouldering (El Paso).
Caddo Lake State Park
Cypress bayous on the TX/LA border.
South Llano River State Park
Spring-fed flows and bird blinds near Junction.
Tyler State Park
Pineywoods lake, CCC structures, and loop trails.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Penitentiary Hollow sandstone climbing and trails.

III. Private Attractions

Museums, Districts & Family Sites

Space Center Houston (Houston) : Visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas) : Architecture-forward science museum.
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Dallas) : JFK history exhibits.
Moody Gardens (Galveston) : Glass pyramids: aquarium, rainforest, and discovery.
San Antonio River Walk : Shops, barges, and dining along the Paseo del Rio.
Fort Worth Stockyards : Daily cattle drives and western heritage district.
Houston Museum of Natural Science : Dinosaur hall, gems, and planetarium.