12 Unforgettable Texas Day Trips, One For Each Month Of The Year
12 day trips, 12 months. Are you up for the challenge? Texas is full of places to visit, so we’ve narrowed the list to make your year the most exciting one yet.
1. January - Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens (Galveston)
Moody Gardens is truly a sight to see this time of year. All 3 gigantic pyramids are illuminated from head to toe, and visitors walk for miles through a trail of beautiful, unique displays. Not to mention the homemade s'mores and ice slide at the end! The lights will be up for a few more days, so don't waste any time!
2. February - Kreuz Market (Lockhart)
February is the month of love, so we're headed to Lockhart. This Hill Country town has arguably the highest concentration of good barbecue joints in the country. From Black's to Kreuz Market, Smitty's to Chisholm Trail, and several other amazing restaurants, you'll be hard-pressed to find better meat anywhere else.
3. March - Brenham
This tiny Texas town is in the heart of Bluebonnet Country, so visit in the spring to see millions of wildflowers covering the grass like a blanket. You'll see ranches sitting on acres of land studded with the beautiful blooms and horses and cows roaming as they please. It's almost like a scene from a movie.
4. April - Round Top Antiques Fair
Facebook/Original Round Top Antiques Fair
Round Top is home to fewer than 100 people, but that number is multiplied more than tenfold during the week of one of America's best antique shows. Split into two venues, you'll have to cover a lot of ground to see everything. This is the Big Red Barn, home to early antiques, English antiques, country antiques, fine glass, and more. The spring fair takes place during the first week of April, and tickets are already on sale.
5. May - Jenschke Orchards (Fredericksburg)
Since 1961, Jenschke Orchards has been blessing the Hill Country with homegrown berries, pumpkins, Christmas trees, and stone fruits - including plump, juicy peaches. 26 varieties grow on over 5,000 trees, and picking season begins in May and usually runs through August (sometimes September if the season's harvest was particularly bountiful).
6. June - Hamilton Pool (Dripping Springs)
Formed by thousands of years of water erosion, Hamilton Pool is truly one of the most unique places in Texas. This collapsed canyon is reminiscent of a magical grotto from a Disney movie, and it's sure to bring out the wide-eyed child in everyone.
7. July - Balmorhea State Park (Toyahvale)
Built in 1930 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the pool at Balmorhea State Park holds a whopping 3.5 million gallons of water. This jaw-dropping statistic makes it the world’s largest spring-fed pool. It just reopened last year after a brief hiatus, so people will be flocking here from all corners of the state to take a dip this summer.
8. August - Natural Bridge Caverns (San Antonio)
Escape the sweltering August heat for a bit at Natural Bridge Caverns and marvel at the incredible rock formations in the largest commercial caverns in our state. If you're the adventurous type, there are even special tours that require hardhats, ropes, and other cave equipment and take you to areas that are otherwise restricted.
9. September - South Padre Island
Facebook/South Padre Island Tropical Travel
South Padre Island easily has the most gorgeous beaches in Texas, so combining that with the plethora of tourist activities available there makes it the perfect end-of-summer destination. Planning a trip after Labor Day pretty much guarantees the noisy crowds will have all but dispersed.
10. October - Marfa Lights
This ghostly phenomenon draws a few brave souls to the town but drives most people far, far away. Nobody knows exactly what they are – UFOs seem to be the most popular rumor – but whatever they are, they’re completely real and terrifying. See that red orb above and to the right of the binoculars? You may have to squint, but it's there. We promise.
11. November - Lost Maples State Natural Area (November)
Lost Maples is spectacular year-round, but when fall rolls around, it takes on a beauty that can only be described as fanciful. The leaves turn all different shades of yellow, red, and orange, and their vibrancy will leave you absolutely awestruck. The foliage usually peaks in November, so plan your trip accordingly.
12. December - River Walk (San Antonio)
San Antonio is easily the best Christmas town in terms of its light display. Over 100,000 lights of every color imaginable are draped over the towering bald cypress trees. You can even take a gondola ride with Santa as your chauffeur!
Source: Posted in Texas January 08, 2020 by Katie Lawrence
