Texas may be a big state, but it is best experienced by stories offered up in its neighborhoods and town squares.
A printed guide will steer you on a walk, drive, or bicycle ride through the historic districts of Nacogdoches, Waxahachie, Victoria, or Fredericksburg. Trolley rides and Segway tours can be a good way to explore larger cities like San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Galveston, and many come with tour guides sharing lesser-known stories of yesterday and today. Dive into the paranormal past on ghost tours in Jefferson, Granbury, and Austin, or take a calmer journey along the streets of Frisco to view the public art that covers the town. Participating in special holiday home tours, spring backyard garden walks, art gallery walks, even Austin’s yearly Funky Chicken Coop Tours are great ways to get a feel for places that others call home.
Many communities offer self-guided walking and driving tour brochures and mobile phone apps to help share their stories; check in at the local visitor center or explore community websites for more information before you go.
Brazos Trail Region
Visit Eight State Historic Sites to Experience the Republic of Texas Era
Step back in time and experience the period of the Texas Republic in person or virtually at one of these…
Hill Country Trail Region
Kerrville, Main Street City, Celebrates Its Musical Heritage
This spring, come to Kerrville for the music, stay for the history!
Hill Country Trail Region
Barbecue And Brew
My husband Josh and I have never been the type to frequent chain restaurants or order the same take-out week…
Historic Hotels And Lodging: Sam Houston May Not Have Slept Here
Nothing beats a good night's sleep followed by a full day's worth of adventure. It's why we travel.
Hill Country Trail Region
All Aboard: A Trip on the Hill Country Flyer
My wife and I are always looking for fun family activities to do with our seven-year-old son, Parker, especially anything…
Forest Trail Region
Outlaws and Legends of the Big Thicket
The natural characteristics of the historic Big Thicket in east Texas made it an ideal setting for ghost stories and…
Tropical Trail Region
South Padre Island to Laredo: Steamboats and Borderland Culture
Imagine a balmy stretch of the Rio Grande River flowing calmly in a 19th century morning light. Drifting fog lifts…
Plains Trail Region
Quanah Parker Trail: Follow the Arrows into History
The Comanche Indians once dominated vast areas of North America—and yet, forced onto reservations, they left little record of their…
History “Buon Fresco”: Historic Murals in Texas
The tradition of mural painting in Texas, much of it accomplished during the early part of the 20th century, derived…
Forts Trail Region
Nature in the Forts Trail Region
The Forts Trail Region offers plenty of opportunities for exploring nature alongside history. The Trail, after all, was once considered…
Carnegie Libraries: Builder of Literacy
Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American industrialist and one of the country’s most important philanthropists of the 19th century, believed public libraries provided…
Bankhead Highway
The birth of auto trails meant the birth of the road trip.
Plains Trail Region
Route 66
Although much of the original route has been physically displaced, the spirit of Route 66 stills survives along the original…
To The Ramparts!: Historic Forts And Presidios
The defense of a territory as big as Texas required investing big resources into the effort-materials and man power, especially-a…
Mountain Trail Region
Birding and Wildlife Watching
Our Texas Mountain Trail non-profit organization partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Pecos Trail to develop a…
Tropical Trail Region
Kingsville To Raymondville: A Wild Horse Desert Turned Ranching Empire
Cattle still reign supreme in Texas, thanks in part to Captain Richard King and his partner Mifflin Kenedy, two of…
Hill Country Trail Region
Something Old, Something New: Adult Getaway in the Texas Hill Country
“I think it’s crooked,” I said to my husband, Sean, as I examined the painting I had hung a few…
Road Trip To Retro!
Antique horse trails aren't the only discovery options for historic routes in Texas.
State Parks and Natural Areas
When most folks think of state parks and natural areas in Texas, things like wildlife and hiking trails come to…
New Deal Projects
The stock market crash in 1929 sent the U.S. economy plummeting along with it. By 1932, U.S. domestic industrial output…
Historic Restaurants: Where The History Is Old And The Food Is Fresh
Texans have a pretty big menu to choose from when it comes to eating out. But what about heritage travelers…
Mountain Trail Region
Texas Mountain Trail Heritage Hikes
We've identified trails with history attached...and so we introduce, "Texas Mountain Trail Heritage Hikes!" Head on out and discover Texas…
Hill Country Trail Region
German History, Wildflowers and Peaches
With a long weekend coming up, my husband, Karl, and I decided to take the kids on a family trip…
Razzle And Dazzle: Historic Theaters in Texas
A mention of historic theaters in Texas often conjures up visions of blinking marquees and wrap-around neon like the mid-century…
Plains Trail Region
Roadside Heritage
Our roadside heritage covers a lot of territory-both in mileage and subject matter. Perhaps our best examples are the many…
Brazos Trail Region
Historic General Stores in Texas
There are few things that feel more authentically Texas than stopping at a little general store and picking up some…
