Texas Field Guides

Places to Visit in Texas

Where to go in Texas beyond the big cities: small towns, Route 66, West Texas hidden gems, Gulf Coast islands, waterfalls and county-by-county trip ideas.

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Two-lane ranch road curves through scrubby limestone hills on the Twisted Sisters loop

The Twisted Sisters (RR 335, 336, 337): 100 Miles of Hill Country Canyons & Switchbacks

Drive the Twisted Sisters (RR 335, 336, 337) in Texas. Guide to the 100-mile Hill Country loop, switchbacks, fuel stops, road safety, and scenic overlooks.

13 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Stage outfits and gold records displayed inside the Selena Museum at Q Productions in Corpus Christi

Selena Museum Corpus Christi TX: 2026 Visitor Guide

Plan your trip to the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi TX with 2026 hours, $5 admission, Porsche and costume exhibits, photo rules, and studio tour details.

13 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Paved highway curves along rugged desert canyon cliffs overlooking the Rio Grande on FM 170

FM 170 The River Road: Driving Big Bend Ranch State Park (Contrabando Overlook & Big Hill Pullouts)

Drive FM 170 River Road through Big Bend Ranch State Park. Guide to The Big Hill 15% grade, Closed Canyon, Hoodoos trail, permits, and scenic pullouts.

13 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Scenic highway winding through the rugged Texas mountain landscape at sunset

7 Most Scenic Drives in Texas: Ultimate Byway Road Trips

Discover the 7 most scenic drives in Texas. From Big Bend River Road and Twisted Sisters to Davis Mountains and Pineywoods fall foliage byways.

20 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Old Alton Bridge’s iron truss span crossing Hickory Creek near Denton, Texas

Best Ghost Towns Near Dallas-Fort Worth: Day Trips to Vanished Frontier Settlements

Explore the best ghost towns near Dallas-Fort Worth. Discover historic boomtowns, iron truss bridges, and pioneer ruins within a two-hour day trip of DFW.

14 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Weathered limestone buildings in Terlingua ghost town beneath the Chisos Mountains

Texas Ghost Towns: The Complete Road Trip Guide to Historic Boomtowns & Ruins

Plan your ultimate Texas ghost towns road trip. Explore Terlingua, Thurber, Indianola, Shafter, Glenrio, and sunken ruins with driving itineraries and maps.

18 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Low limestone foundations on the drought-exposed shore of Old Bluffton beneath Lake Buchanan, Texas

Bluffton Texas: The Historic Ghost Town Submerged Beneath Lake Buchanan

Explore the history of Bluffton Texas, the 19th-century ghost town submerged beneath Lake Buchanan. Discover what drought conditions reveal and visitor rules.

14 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Weathered metal buildings and desert scrub at Lobo, Texas, along US 90

Lobo Texas Ghost Town: Abandoned Railroad Art Retreat

Explore Lobo Texas ghost town on US-90 in Culberson County. Discover railroad roots, the 1991 aquifer collapse, its artist revival, and travel tips.

11 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Historic mission church in the former silver-mining community of Shafter, Texas

Shafter Texas Ghost Town: Presidio Silver Mine & Ruins

Explore Shafter Texas ghost town on US-67. Discover the historic Presidio Silver Mine, Chinati mountain ruins, cemetery photography, and driving tips.

11 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Weathered roadside buildings in the Glenrio Historic District on Texas Route 66

Texas Panhandle Ghost Towns: Glenrio, Jericho, Conway & Route 66 Ruins

Explore the top Texas Panhandle ghost towns along Route 66. Discover Glenrio's historic border motels, Jericho Gap ruins, Conway Bug Ranch, and Alanreed.

14 min readUpdated Oct 2026

La Salle Monument beside Matagorda Bay at historic Indianola, Texas

Indianola Texas Ghost Town: Sunken Ruins & Matagorda Bay Guide

Explore Indianola Texas ghost town on Matagorda Bay. Discover sunken ruins, devastating hurricane history, the La Salle monument, and coastal fishing tips.

11 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Thurber’s brick ice-house smokestack rises above the North Texas landscape

Thurber Texas: Guide to Coal Ruins, Smokestack & Brick Works

Explore Thurber Texas ghost town along I-20. Plan your visit to the historic coal ruins, 128-foot smokestack, W.K. Gordon Center museum, and brickworks.

11 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Fresh Poteet strawberries on display at the Atascosa County festival

Top 10 Best Things to Do in Atascosa County, TX: Ultimate 2026 Guide

Discover the best things to do in Atascosa County TX with our 2026 guide. Explore the Poteet Strawberry Festival, Longhorn Museum, River Park, and historic sites.

10 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Moss-covered limestone cascade at Gorman Falls in Colorado Bend State Park

15 Must-Visit Waterfalls in Texas: Complete 2026 Visitor Guide

Discover 15 stunning waterfalls in Texas, from Gorman Falls to Hamilton Pool. Get verified trail distances, park fees, swimming rules, and maps.

18 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Quinta Mazatlan's white stucco mansion sits among mature trees in McAllen

Best Things to Do in McAllen TX: Quinta Mazatlan, Food, Shopping and Day Trips

Plan your trip with the best things to do in McAllen TX. Explore Quinta Mazatlan, IMAS, McAllen Nature Center, Mercado District dining, and top day trips.

12 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Rio Grande winds between the limestone walls of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend

Top 28 Best Places to Visit in Texas For Couples and Families (2026 Guide)

Discover the 28 best places to visit in Texas. Compare top cities, national parks, beach towns, and Hill Country getaways with costs, hours, and travel tips.

25 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Visitors walk the concrete jetty at Surfside Beach near Freeport

20 Best Things To Do in Freeport TX This Weekend

Discover the best things to do in Freeport, TX this weekend, from Bryan Beach and Brazoria Wildlife Refuge to deep-sea fishing and local Gulf seafood.

14 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Tiered rock waterfall at Lucy Park Falls in Wichita Falls

15 Best Things to Do in Wichita Falls TX (2026 Guide)

Discover the best things to do in Wichita Falls TX. Explore Lucy Park waterfalls, the Littlest Skyscraper, River Bend Nature Center, and local museums.

12 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Hopkins County Courthouse reflected in the glass pavilion on Sulphur Springs town square

10 Best Things to Do in Sulphur Springs TX

Discover the best things to do in Sulphur Springs TX. Explore the famous glass bathrooms, Southwest Dairy Museum, historic courthouse, and parks.

9 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Sandy path between dune grasses opens onto the Gulf at Malaquite Beach near Corpus Christi

17 Best Beaches in Corpus Christi TX: 2026 Guide to Sand, Surf, and Permits

Plan your Gulf coast getaway with 2026 permits, parking rules, driving access, and family amenities across the 17 best beaches in Corpus Christi TX.

16 min readUpdated Oct 2026

A horse-drawn carriage moves through the light tunnel at Santa’s Wonderland in College Station.

Santa's Wonderland College Station: Tickets, Hours & Guide

Plan your trip to Santa's Wonderland in College Station. Compare ticket prices, operating hours, hayride vs carriage tours, and snow tubing tips.

14 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Santa Elena Canyon and the Rio Grande beneath the Milky Way in Big Bend National Park, Texas

Stargazing in Texas: The Ultimate Guide to Dark Sky Parks, Observatories & Night Skies

Explore the ultimate guide to stargazing in Texas. Discover dark sky parks, McDonald Observatory star parties, Bortle 1 wilderness, and night sky calendars.

15 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Entrance monument sign and tree-lined walkways outside The Galleria at Westheimer in Uptown Houston

The Galleria Houston Guide: Shopping, Parking & Ice Rink

Plan your Galleria Houston trip with parking garage tips, over 400 stores, dining spots, Ice at The Galleria public skating, and family amenities.

14 min readUpdated Oct 2026

Clear turquoise waters filling a natural limestone grotto surrounded by hanging ferns and rocky cavern walls in Texas

Places in Texas That Don't Look Like Texas: 8 Surreal Landscapes That Shock Out-of-Staters

Explore 8 surreal places in Texas that don't look like Texas, from tropical grottos and Sahara sand dunes to prehistoric cypress bayous and desert springs.

12 min readUpdated Oct 2026