Explore Texas and experience unique nature
Hop in the car, swerve onto the highway and fly across the countryside – where better than Texas? We tell you why a trip to what is probably the most authentic state in the USA is worth it!
Dusty prairies, roads that lead to the horizon, a clear starry sky and fantastic cowboys around the fire: it’s all Texas. The US state is located in the extreme south of the USA on the border with Mexico and is almost twice the size of Germany. Here you will find partly untouched natural landscapes and breathtaking national parks. Are you a true fan of nature and prefer to be outdoors? Then you’ve come to the right place in Texas. It’s best to plan around two weeks to explore America’s second largest state. This works especially well with a rental car, so you’re flexible and can easily switch between highlights. And Texas has a lot of them, from starry skies to mountain bike action. We bring you the best natural spots and outdoor activities along a road trip through Texas.
Water sports with a difference
From Germany you can fly from Frankfurt to Dallas, for example. But Houston or Austin can also be reached with a direct flight from Germany – and the two cities are also a good starting point for your Texas round trip: outdoor activities await you in the region that you surely have never before lived before: right in The the city of Galveston is near Houston. Where huge freighters make their way from the Gulf of Mexico through the ship channel towards Houston, you’ve come to the right place for surfing tanker waves. Yes, you read right!
Anyone who has ever splashed on an air mattress in the canal after a passing boat knows: Ships ensure a first-class wave paradise. And Texan surfers take advantage of it: from June to September, the Ship Canal is a hotspot for surfers. Depending on the vessel passing, bow waves last up to 15 minutes. Just grab a board yourself or watch the show up close.
Whether the surfers of Galveston, south of Houston, will catch the perfect wave depends on the tankers. Tank wave surfing is on the agenda here.
In New Braunfels, just a 50-minute drive from Austin, a little more leisurely water action awaits: Between March and November, the two rivers Comal and Guadalupe River are more fun than any whitewater ride: get comfortable in a tube and let yourself drift down the river for hours. It’s hardly cold: the water has a pleasant temperature of 21°C. Tired of the hustle and bustle on the water? Then head north on the highway. Not only romantics can look forward to the next leg of the journey.
Pure nature under the starry sky
Have you ever wondered why you often find it difficult to see the starry sky indoors? The background is light pollution. There are many regions in the US that are not as densely populated. And that’s lucky for all star fans. Because here you have a seat at the box office when it comes to stargazing. For example, around Big Bend National Park in far west Texas, which is one of the best stargazing spots in America – and since 2012 has even been officially a light protection area.
The drive from Austin takes about eight hours, from Houston it’s even a little further, but it’s worth it: here you can see up to ten times more stars than in a medium-sized city. Even if you can’t get enough of the outstanding starry background – you should definitely have a good night’s sleep the next day. Big Bend National Park is one of the largest national parks in the United States.
The summit of Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park is almost 2,450 meters high. From there you can see as far as Mexico.
The Wild West mentality reigns supreme among cacti and mountains. A total of five canyons are part of the national park and you can explore them, for example, by boat from the Rio Grande. If you need a little more action, you can go kayaking, canoeing or whitewater rafting. From open expanses to American and Mexican mountain vistas to 450m deep gorges – the tour will certainly not be boring due to the varied landscape. And if you’re lucky, you might spot an eagle, coyote, black bear, or even a mountain lion!
XXL sandbox and herds of bison
Think nothing can top Big Bend National Park? Not even close. If you get back on the highway in your rental car and drive about 3.5 hours north, you’ll reach Monahans Sandhills State Park. The park is the best example of the diversity of the Texas landscape. Between the approximately 20m high sand dunes you get the real feeling of the Sahara – in the middle of the USA. The dune landscape to which Monahans Sandhills Park belongs extends for a total of 320 kilometres. And of course it’s not just nature to admire here: the desert is the territory of sandboarders, surfers and sledgers. Above all, secure a ride and glide down the hills – an opportunity that is sure not to come again anytime soon!
Is this really Texas still? The dune landscape of Monahan’s Sandhills State Park shows how diverse the Texas landscape is. Our tip: be sure to watch the sunrise in the dunes.
Once you’ve had enough of the sandbox paradise, continue north to the city of Amarillo. About 40 kilometers from the cowboy town in Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the “Grand Canyon of Texas”, the second largest canyon in the United States. Explore the seemingly endless landscape of red sandstone cliffs on foot, by mountain bike or – authentically enough for Texas – in a western saddle. If you can still enjoy some culture in the evening, check out the Texas Outdoor Musical in the Pioneer Amphitheater. Here the history of the region is told. But don’t worry, the screening is farther from a dry history lesson than Texas is from New York. Instead, singing, dancing, and lots of Texas humor are on the program.
What else is part of the country’s history? herds of bison. Caprock Canyons State Park is a 40-minute drive from Palo Duro Canyon State Park. By American standards, that distance is an afternoon walk. This is where the official Texas bison herd lives. Best time to travel to Caprock Canyons State Park: Spring – then there are the bison! But the region is also a magnet for visitors in September, when the annual Texas State Bison Herd Music Festival kicks off in Quitaque. There are also local country singers and they exude a real Texan attitude to life.
Last stop: East Texas
Slowly return southeast from north Texas. Before returning to the starting point of the trip, make a quick stop in Dallas. The metropolis attracts with exhibitions, for example at the Dallas Museum of Art and places steeped in history such as the memorial at the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Have you had enough of everyday life in the big city and still have some time left? Then take a detour to Caddo Lake on the Louisiana border. At 26,000 hectares, the lake is much larger than the city of Hanover! The towering cypresses, the trees with their soft mantle of bright green moss and aquatic plants make the lake appear mysterious and mystical. The best way to explore the water and levees is by canoe. But be careful: not only turtles and herons live in the lake, but also alligators!
The waterway network of Lake Caddo is 80 kilometers wide. And with the diverse flora and fauna, you won’t be bored in a kayak or canoe.
Texas: always worth a trip
The three major airports of Dallas, Houston and Texas are within a few hours’ drive of Lake Caddo – and that’s where your Texas tour ends. Why do we recommend Texas as a travel destination? In the second largest state in the United States, you will experience a unique nature so diverse that it could easily fill more than one vacation. There’s also delicious Mexican-inspired food, friendly people, and great live music. We think: The friendly state in the southwest of the country can easily compete with other American travel destinations like California or New York. All that remains is to say: goodbye Germany, Howdy Texas!
