After discovering the places of interest in Texas, with this article we continue our journey in the Lone Star State, offering an overview of the main cities of Texas, without neglecting smaller cities, unusual attractions and ghost towns.
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Best Cities to Visit in Texas
Dallas: unmissable museums and American football
You are in the home of one of the most famous and followed American football teams: the Dallas Cowboys. For this reason, if you are a fan or just curious and want to discover a bit more, you can’t miss a tour of the majestic Dallas Cowboys Museum AT&T Stadium. If you are lucky enough to be in the area during the regular season, why not consider seeing a live game?
Enter the code TRAVELINUSA to get a $10 discount on a minimum purchase of $100
Since 1963 the city has unfortunately been linked to a sad event in American history: President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was in fact assassinated on the street here. The Sixth Floor Museum, one of the most visited attractions of the city, which stands in the building from where Lee Harvey Oswald shot, is dedicated to this event.
Info and tickets for the Museum
Still on the subject of museums, the Museum of Arts is definitely worth a visit, with its remarkable collection of both European and American works. For a regenerating walk, you can opt for a visit to the Dallas Arboretum, a large botanical garden on the shores of White Rock Lake from where you can admire the city’s picturesque skyline, or a walk in Klyde Warren Park which, although not very large, always hosts many activities and a great selection of street food for a nice lunch outdoors.
The fall event par excellence is the State Fair of Texas, a huge state fair (as is everything in the Lone Star State) that hosts, among other things, the Texas Star, the largest Ferris wheel in North America. To learn more about this city, read our guide on what to do in Dallas.
Austin: Capital of Live Music
Welcome to what is not only the administrative capital of the state but also the world capital of live music. There are two major events that draw thousands of people to the city: South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. The first one lasts almost two weeks (usually in March), the second lasts for two consecutive weekends (usually in October) in the setting of Zilker Park.
For both events, passes are on sale that will allow you to fully enjoy what’s on offer but if you don’t want to spend too much, or you won’t be in the area at that time, don’t be discouraged, because Austin offers live music practically every day of the week. You can’t miss a walk along 6th Street and Red River St that are the heart of Austin’s nightlife with their countless clubs.
Even history lovers will not be disappointed by visiting the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum where they can relive the entire history of the Lone Star State from the time of the war of independence from Mexico to the present day. All with numerous interactive exhibits. Also noteworthy is the imposing Texas State Capitol, the building of local political power that boasts the distinction of being the largest capitol in the United States. To learn more you can read our guide on what to do in Austin.
San Antonio: one of the most charming towns in the state
The second most populous city in the state after Houston and home of the San Antonio Spurs NBA team that play their games in the AT&T Center. In this regard, of course, the same applies as for the Dallas Cowboys, if you are in the area during the sports season, to be able to attend a live game is a unique experience that only the United States can offer!
Enter the code TRAVELINUSA to get a $10 discount on a minimum purchase of $100
The peculiarity that distinguishes San Antonio from all other cities in Texas is the presence of the river of the same name that flows through the city, and which downtown forms the famous Riverwalk, the walk along its banks teeming with stores, hotels and restaurants that make it the beating heart of the city.
To enjoy a bird’s eye view of the entire city, the choice can only fall on the Tower of the Americas with its observation deck rotating at 750 feet above ground. It will allow you to enjoy lunch or a simple coffee while admiring a fascinating view, especially at night when the lights of the city turn on. We will talk more about this in our upcoming article on what to see in San Antonio, as well as the Alamo, its historical attraction par excellence.
Houston: between history and space activities
When you hear the city of Houston mentioned, most probably the first thing that comes to mind are the NASA missions, and in fact the most visited attraction in the city is the Space Center that offers numerous exhibitions, events and activities dedicated to the history of space missions.
The Museum District to the north of Hermman Park is the perfect place for those who are always looking for a bit of culture on their travels and cannot miss a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses works by Matisse, Cezanne, Modigliani, Picasso and Rembrandt. 
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is the place where in 1836 the Texan troops commanded by General Sam Huston, shouting “remember the Alamo”, defeated the Mexican army in only eighteen minutes of combat and obtained the independence of Texas. Today, in the park that remembers this battle, you can visit the San Jacinto Monument, an imposing obelisk almost 650 feet high, which houses a museum and climb up to the observation platform to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.
If you are planning to visit Houston between February and March, remember to pack your cowboy boots and hats because it is very likely that you will be able to attend the annual Livestock Show & Rodeo that for three weeks will offer concerts, rodeo, barbecue competitions and much more in full western style.
Best Towns to Visit in Texas
The coastal town of Corpus Christi
A lovely town on the coast, this is the perfect base if you plan to visit the natural attractions of Padre Island National Seashore, Mustang Island and Port Aransas (we talked about them in our article on the things to do in Texas). The star attraction is the majestic USS Lexington, which dates back to World War II and now houses an interactive museum and movie theater.
Amarillo: on the trail of the legendary Route 66
One of the most symbolic cities of Route 66 in Texas, is the Big Texan Steak Ranch where, if you can finish eating a two-pound steak in less than an hour, you can write your name in the glorious hall of fame of the restaurant, enter into history and (above all) not pay the bill! Amarillo is also synonymous with the Cadillac Ranch, perhaps the most famous attraction on the entire Mother Road.
El Paso: on the border with Mexico
A city that, like its Mexican counterpart Ciudad Juarez, develops along the border between the two countries. To enjoy a splendid panorama, we suggest you visit the Franklin Mountains State Park, the largest park within an urban area in the United States. It offers the possibility of numerous excursions, the most fascinating of which is climbing North Franklin Mountain, to a height of over 6560 feet.
The less adventurous can still reach the summit by taking the Wyler Aerial Tramway, which in just four minutes will take you to your destination allowing you to enjoy a 360° view that goes from the city below to beyond the Mexican border.
For those of you who can’t say they’ve truly visited a city without first seeing a museum, there is the option of choosing between the history of art at the El Paso Museum of Art and an in-depth look at one of the most painful legacies of World War II at the Holocaust Museum.
Fort Worth: The Western Town of Texas
Although it is less than 30 miles from Dallas, it has nothing to do with the neighboring metropolis, since, despite the passage of time, it has managed to maintain its characteristic western charm and is therefore the perfect city for those who have always felt like cowboys. The Stockyards National Historic District is definitely worth a visit. It embodies the style of the city, where you can find souvenir stores, steakhouses, saloons and attractions, including the twice-daily Longhorn Parade, which will take you back to the time of the Wild West.
Billy Bob’s Texas is a true institution not only locally but throughout the state, located in what was once a barn. It is a huge venue that houses something like forty bars. There are also dance floors, restaurants, live concerts and even a rodeo! Also worth a visit is the Civil War Museum with an extensive collection of weapons, uniforms, photos, and films from the American Civil War period.
Don’t forget that the retro-style Molly the Trolley shuttle service gives you the opportunity to tour Downtown Fort Worth for free! For more info check out our upcoming guide on Fort Worth in Texas.
Texas Ghost Towns (and some cool attractions)
Marfa: the town of the unusual
A true town of the unusual, located in West Texas between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. Despite having just under two thousand inhabitants, there are three attractions for which it is famous in Texas and beyond.
The first one concerns contemporary art: this is the Chinati Foundation conceived by the American artist Donald Judd, who had the idea to reuse the spaces of a disused military post to create minimalist art installations. If you are interested in this topic, you should know that it would take some time to see all the works; in fact, it is necessary to book a guided tour that lasts an entire day (but luckily there is also a lunch break).
With the second attraction we go into the field of the paranormal. The Marfa Lights are mysterious spheres of multicolored lights that appear at night. There are many theories about this phenomenon (from simple refraction of car headlights, to messages from extraterrestrials) and the observation station located near Highway 67 is the privileged place to observe them. Who knows, you might just be the one to unravel the enigma of their origin!
With the last attraction perhaps, we return to the minimalist sphere, we use the word perhaps because everyone has their own personal interpretation of Prada Marfa. It is an installation created by Danish artists Elmgreen & Dragset, representing a small Prada store literally lost in the middle of nowhere on Route 90 that, despite this, attracts a fair number of visitors every year. If the idea has intrigued you too, be careful not to be misled by the name because, although named after the town we mentioned, it is located 35 miles northwest of the latter, near the town of Valentine.
Stonehenge Replica
Well yes, if you have always dreamed of visiting the Neolithic site par excellence, but have never had the chance to go to England, well, you just have to go to Texas, where you will find not one but two replicas! The first was built in the city of Odessa, the second in Ingram where you will also find copies of the Moai statues from Easter Island. If instead you’re looking for a bizarre reinterpretation, then you’ll have to travel to Nebraska, where you’ll find Carhenge, a Stonehenge made of vintage cars!
Terlingua
Once a fairly successful mining center, Terlingua has slowly emptied leaving just a few dozen inhabitants. However, it continues to be a destination for visitors because of its proximity to Big Bend National Park, and for the views that can be observed along the spectacular Farm Road 170, which passes for a stretch inside the great park.
In addition to the characteristic abandoned buildings used by the miners, the cemetery and the church, you’ll find some places where you can refresh yourself, with a good chance of listening to live music, such as the Starlight Theatre and the picturesque La Kiva.
In 2015, the town has been back in the spotlight for some news events that Badlands Texas, a Netflix series that has been quite successful and has increased the flow of visitors, was based on.
