Texas is as big as it gets. Aside from the obvious–it’s a big state–they say that everything is bigger in Texas. From the biggest State Capitol building, to some of the biggest parks and gardens, there’s a little something for everyone hoping to explore the state.
So what are you waiting for? Check Texas off your bucket list, and make sure to catch some of these amazing places while you’re there.
Palo Duro Canyon
This amazing site is the second largest canyon in the country. It sits about 25 miles from downtown Amarillo, and is 120 miles long. And while it only sees a fraction of the tourists that visit the Grand Canyon every year, it’s still just as breathtaking. Less tourists means bike rides, hiking, and stargazing in peace.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
NASA’S Johnson Space Center will give you an idea of what it’s really like to be an astronaut. It will inspire future generations of astronauts with exhibits, demonstrations, talks, and the preservation of our astronautical history. You can even see Mission Control and touch real moon rocks!
Tour Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory
Blue Bell gets its name from the Texas Bluebell, a wildflower that is native to Texas. While Blue Bell made it’s start as a butter company, they started producing ice cream in 1911 and never looked back.
These days, Blue Bell is ranked as one of the best ice creams in the U.S. Visit Blue Bell in Brenham, Texas to see how the ice cream is made, pick up some souvenirs, and have some of the freshest ice cream available.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Madnir Temple
This Hindu place of worship was built from Turkish limestone and Italian marble in 33,000 individual pieces that were hand carved in India, and then assembled on site in the Houston suburb of Stafford. It is the largest of its kind in Texas, and was constructed according to guidelines outlined in ancient Hindu scriptures.
The State Capitol Building
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and the Texas State Capitol Building that was completed in 1888 in Austin is no exception. This is the largest state capitol building by area. Check out a free guided tour of this impressive building.
Big Bend National Park
This amazing location is in southwest Texas and includes 800,000 acres full of amazing nature and wildlife, making it one of the largest national parks in the U.S. Definitely plan on more than one day to explore this park, due to its vastness.
The park is home to the Chisos mountain range, a lot of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, the Langford Hot Springs, and the Santa Elena Canyon.
National Museum of the Pacific War
This museum in Fredericksburg, Texas documents WWII from a Pacific perspective over 6 acres, 3 museums, and outdoor exhibits. It’s the only institution in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic Theaters in WWII.
Tyler Rose Garden
Again, Texas prides itself on having big things, so the rose gardens aren’t any different. This rose garden is the largest municipal rose garden in the country. It covers 14 acres, with more than 38,000 beautiful rose bushes, plus fountains, gazebos, and walking paths.
Kat Sweet
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