• History-rich Texas offers varied vacation destinations.boots & stirrups image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com
  
  The great State of Texas has hundreds of fabulous destinations. From beaches to deserts, from mountains to highland plains, from piney woods to sandstone canyons, from modern cities to German communities, Texas boasts a variety of wonderful places to visit. The challenge will be fitting everything you want to see into the amount of time you can spend in Texas.
  
  

Palo Duro Canyon

• Beautiful Palo Duro is the Grand Canyon of Texas. Hike, camp, picnic, horseback ride or mountain bike opportunities are plentiful amid the 26,000 acres.
  
  Palo Duro Canyon State Park
  11450 Park Road 5
  Canyon, TX 79015
  806-488-2227
  tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/palo_duro/
  
  

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

• Dedicated to the information regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, on November 22, 1963, the museum features film clips, interactive displays, photographs and maps.
  
  The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
  411 Elm St.
  Dallas, TX 75202
  214-747-6660
  jfk.org
  
  

Fort Worth Stockyards

• For authentic western flavor, visit this enclave just north of downtown. The audio walking-tour stops feature the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum, stockyards, indoor rodeo arena and Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky tonk.
  
  Stockyards Preservation Foundation
  121 E. Exchange Ave.
  Fort Worth, TX
  817-733-0169
  fortworthstockyard.org
  
  

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Fredericksburg

• A huge, pink granite dome batholith covering 640 acres is 18 miles north of Fredericksburg and is a unique side trip. Walk up the rock,and you can see for miles from your perch.
  
  Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
  16710 Ranch Road 965
  Fredericksburg, TX 78624
  830-685-3636
  tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/enchanted_rock/
  
  

National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg

• Recently expanded, this world-class museum is in quaint Fredericksburg. Plan a full day to absorb the innovative, interactive displays revealing the story of combat waged in the Pacific during World War II.
  
  National Museum of the Pacific War
  340 E. Main St.
  Fredericksburg, TX 78624
  830-997-4379
  nimitz-museum.org/
  
  

The Alamo, San Antonio

• The Texas flag is flown at equal height to the American flag.texas proud image by buckwheat from Fotolia.com
  
  The Alamo is pure Texas. Nestled in downtown San Antonio on 4.2 acres, the Alamo draws 2.5 million visitors annually. Walk where the brave Texan defenders held off the massive Mexican army for 13 days before being overrun.
  
  The Alamo
  300 Alamo Plaza
  San Antonio, TX 78205
  210-225-1391
  thealamo.org
  
  

Galveston Duck Tours

• Ride in style in a World War II, six-wheel-drive amphibious craft. The 15-mile tour travels on land and water along the beach, through historic Galveston, and into Offatt's Bayou.
  
  Galveston Duck Tours
  25th & Seawall
  Galveston, TX
  409-621-4771
  galvestonducks.com/
  
  

Space Center Houston

• Take the NASA tram tour to view behind-the-scenes of the NASA Johnson Space Center. Want to see real space suits? The Astronaut Gallery displays photos of each U.S. astronaut who flew in space.
  
  Space Center Houston
  1601 Nasa Parkway
  Houston, TX 77058
  281-244-2100
  spacecenter.org/
  
  

Caverns of Sonora

• It's a cool 71 degrees F. in the Sonora Caverns. Guided walking tours enter through the natural entrance and cover almost 2 miles of trail in 105 minutes. You will see live, active formations as you tour.
  
  Caverns of Sonora
  1711 PR 4468
  Sonora, TX 76950
  325-387-3105
  cavernsofsonora.com
  
  

Big Bend National Park

• Big Bend's remote location makes it the least visited National Park. Those making the trek are rewarded with 801,163 acres of varied terrain encompassing Rio Grande River canyons, Chihuahuan Desert and wooded Chisos Mountains.
  
  Big Bend National Park
  Big Bend National Park, TX 79834
  432-477-2251
  nps.gov/bibe/index.htm