Imagine a state so large that while sunbathers enjoy its tropical south, a blizzard is in progress in the north. While crops are harvested in lush fields in the east, the desert west is baking in arid heat. These contrasts are common in the southwestern American state called Texas.
Before Alaska became a part of the United States, Texas maintained bragging rights to everything large on the North American continent. There was more oil, more cattle, more sheep, more land than almost anyplace. Everything seemed to exist in large quantities except people. Only about 18 million of them live on the 266, 807 square miles (691, 027 square km) that make up the state.
To illustrate, imagine the entire population of New Delhi and its environs scattered across an area slightly smaller than Pakistan. While population density in India is about 805 per square mile or 310 per square kilometer, in Texas, it’s 65 per square mile or 26 per square kilometer. Now you know the origin of the term wide-open spaces!
For the traveler, almost any terrain and cultural backdrop can be found, simply by choosing the proper destination. But, if you’re traveling long distances to enjoy a vacation, let me narrow the field a bit by offering my favorite parts of the Lone Star State:
San Antonio. Unlike its more industrialized sister cities of Houston and Dallas, San Antonio offers a unique charm that’s as much Mexican as American. Of course, there’s the Alamo, the shrine of Texas independence and there is a wealth of history on display throughout the city. But the real charm can be found along the River Walk, a meandering bit of river that offers dining and nightlife below street level in a cool and green oasis.
San Antonio sits at the edge of many faces of Texas. Beginning on the northern edge of the city, the Texas hill country offers hunting, fishing, dude ranches, and deep rivers. To the west, the plains appear quickly. Within an hour’s drive, there is little but flatlands and mesquite trees that continue for hundreds of miles. To the south is the Texas coast and the tropical Rio Grande Valley. To the southwest is Mexico and the dusty charm of border towns such as Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Acuna.
During April each year, San Antonio offers its southwestern version of Carnival. Called Fiesta, it’s a week-long celebration with parades, good food, and fun. Of special note is the River Parade in which floats wind along the San Antonio River in the evening, a festival of music and creatively decorated barges.
The Texas Coast. The Gulf of Mexico sweeps along the Texas coast offering a great place to relax, fish, and enjoy the sun. Three resort cities are located along the coastline. They are Galveston, an hour’s drive south of Houston; Corpus Christi; and Brownsville, across the Rio Grande River from Matamoros, Mexico. Of the three, Galveston is the only city actually on the ocean. The others are protected by a barrier reef called Padre Island. This long spit of sand and shell is one of my favorite places in the state. It continues from Port Aransas on the north, just across the bay from Corpus Christi, to South Padre Island on the south, across the bay from Brownsville. Between them are over 100 miles (160 km) of pristine, white beach, most of it included in the Padre Island National Seashore.
Big Bend National Park. One of the most remarkable features of the state, Big Bend offers towering mountains, deserts, ghost towns, and deep canyon rafting through three magnificent canyons. For a real taste of the American west, this huge park is splendid. Accommodations range from camping to hotel rooms. If you want to learn more about this unique destination, read my story called ’’America’s Outback.’’ Follow this link if you’d like to read it: https://themestream.com/articles/262772.html
There is much more of Texas that I could discuss but I only promised my favorites. This is a land of friendly and helpful people, some of the best food and hospitality in North America, and at prices that are affordable. Whether you want to vacation on the beach, enjoy uniquely urban treasures, or if you genuinely want to get away from all things urban, Texas offers all of it including more solitude than you could ever want or need.