Travel: Texas

With an area of 268,581 square miles (695,622 km²) and a population of 22.8 million, Texas is the second largest state of the union. Texas has a rich history- it was originally a colony of Spain, then Mexico, then after a rebellion Texas was its own nation for 10 years prior to becoming an American state. Through all this, however, Texas has maintained a fiercely independent spirit and intriguing culture. Well known for its unique accent, hospitality, patriotism and larger-then-life attitude, Texas is a fascinating place to visit.

Texas sits just north of Mexico and on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Although Texas is considered to be an "urban state," as the majority of its population lives in cities, it is not the urban areas that draw visitors to Texas; when most people think of Texas, it is cowboys and horse ranches that come to mind.

Texas is a large state with much to offer, ranging from city night life to old ghost towns and dude ranches.

Big Bend National Park
One of the largest National Parks in the United States, Big Bend is bordered by the Rio Grande and includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, and the entire Chisos Mountain range.

The old ghost town of Terlingua is home to the International Chili Cookoff. For an authentic stay in the Big Bend, stay at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge, claiming to offer "solitude and all the incredible beauty of this unique country."

Lajitas
This town is worth mentioning because it is actually presided over by a goat! For 3 generations, this town has elected a goat as mayor. The history behind it is a story of town pride-- the locals here would rather vote for a goat as mayor, then elect a man who was not from the town itself. It has now become a tradition.

Guadalupe River
Stay in one of the small towns bordering San Antonio and spend a day floating down the Guadalupe. Go in the early summer, to avoid the heat.

The Islands: South Padre Island & Galveston Island
These small resort islands off the southern coast offer a different view of Texas living. South Padre Island offers water recreation activities, such as sailing, swimming, surfing or snorkeling. Galveston has a beautiful historic district and a large beach perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Galveston is also home of Moody Gardens, which houses and aquarium and a rainforest and is a great, educational way spend an afternoon.

Cities
Houston: Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States and is home to some great southern cooking, as well as NASA.

Kemah: A cute resort town south of Houston, head down to the Kemah boardwalk for a carnival atmosphere on Galveston Bay.

San Antonio: Check out San Antonio's famous River Walk for some city nightlife.

Austin: Better known as "Party City" head down to 6th street to drink yourself into oblivion. Oh, Austin is also the state capital, so if you're into that sort of thing, there are probably a lot of tours you could take during the day too ;)