Welcome Andrew!

Taste of Texas:

Houston, San Antonio and Austin

Prepared for:

Group Departure

Travel Dates:

TBD  2019  

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Your Itinerary @ A Glance

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Day 1

Welcome to Houston!  Houston | Hilton Post Oak

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Day 2

NASA Space Center & Kemah Boardwalk Houston | Hilton Post Oak

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Day 3

Full-Day Galveston Tour: Moody Gardens & Pleasure Pier Houston | Hilton Post Oak

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Day 4

Full-Day Houston Art Tour Houston | Hilton Post Oak

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Day 5

Transfer to San Antonio | Mission Concepcion & The Alamo  San Antonio | The Hotel Contessa

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Day 6

Natural Bridge Caverns & Hemisfair San Antonio | The Hotel Contessa

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Day 7

Full-Day SeaWorld San Antonio San Antonio |  The Hotel Contessa

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Day 8

Transfer to Austin | State Capital, Congress Ave & 6th Street Austin | JW Marriott Austin

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Day 9

Zilker Park, Lake Travis Cruise & Sunset @ The Oasis Austin | JW Marriott Austin

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Day 10

Transfer to Houston | Outlet Mall Shopping Houston | Hilton Post Oak

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Day 11

Say Goodbye to Houston! Overnight Flight

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You've heard Texas is big… but it's really BIG.

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More than 261,000 sq miles, in fact: that's larger than Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands combined. And it ain't all just tumblin’ tumbleweeds. Barrier islands with windswept dunes and public beaches stretch down 367 miles of coastline. In the west, three mountain ranges top more than 7000ft, and Big Bend National Park is the state's premier trekking and primary rafting destination. And to the northeast, soaring pine forests and sinuous, cypress-lined bayous are perfect for hiking and kayaking. Big cities in Texas are fun-loving, vibrant, friendly and delightfully flashy on occasion – this is oil country, after all. Dallas and Houston boast rich arts and culture districts to explore by day, as well as active nightlife. For partying, Austin is the place, with its endless live-music concerts and an outdoorsy, alternative vibe. San Antonio has pockets of bustling activity during the day, and there's a fiesta every night on the River Walk. Beyond the cities, Texas also has countless small towns with courthouse squares, landmark cafes and eclectic antiques and boutiques to explore at a slower pace.

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Houston is a laid-back, pick-up truck and boot-scooting town meets high-powered, high-cultured and high-heeled metropolis.

During the day, chill out in your flip-flops, take in museums and go shopping, then hit happy hour on a leaf-shaded deck. At night, revel in culinary or cultural bliss – the restaurant and entertainment scenes are renowned across the region. Here, starched jeans are de rigueur in all but the very fanciest of restaurants. Diverse residential neighborhoods and enclaves of restaurants and shops spread far and wide. Where residents of other cities talk about the weather, Houstonians talk about parking. Wealth from oil and energy companies supports luxurious shopping areas but you can also enjoy down-home fun, although don't underestimate the sauna-like summers. Don't forget that one of the town's main attractions – NASA's Space Center Houston in Clear Lake – is outside the city limits, a 30-minute drive down I-45.

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Galveston is part genteel Southern belle, part sunburned beach bunny: Galveston Island is Houston's favorite playmate.

The old gal took a pretty severe beating by hurricane Ike in 2008, but she's battled back to normal since. Sitting on a barrier island near the northern end of a 600-mile-long Texas coastline, Galveston may not have the state's favorite beaches, but there's nowhere else boasting such a beautiful combination of sun-drenched historic charms.

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San Antonio Is the most popular tourist destination In Texas.

The sprawling city is loaded with a wide variety of attractions to keep everyone entertained. In addition to its colorful, European-style River Walk lined with cafes and bars, it rewards visitors with a well-rounded menu of museums, theme parks, outdoor activities and historical sites. The Alamo is a stalwart tourist favorite, and the scene of the most famous battle in the fight for Texas' independence from Mexico. You can find four other beautifully preserved Spanish missions within the city limits. San Antonio also puts you in close proximity to the Hill Country, a naturally beautiful region known for its wildflower-lined roadways, charming small towns, gorgeous wineries and, yes, hills.  

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Austin is a big city with a small-town heart, It earns fanfare with great music, culinary prowess, whip-smart locals and a sociable streak impossible to resist.

The city easily earns its title of 'Live Music Capital of the World.' Two music festivals, South by Southwest (SXSW) and the Austin City Limits Festival, earn international acclaim, but quality live performances go down every single night in one of the countless clubs, bars and restaurants. Country music singer-songwriters are the classic draw, but blues, rock, hip-hop and jazz bands also take the stage. Dancing is strongly encouraged. On a sunny morning in the spring, Lady Bird Lake looks like the world's most active playground. Kayakers skim across the still water, swimmers swim laps in Barton Springs pool, frisbees whir across a lush disc golf course and joggers and cyclists burn calories on lakeside trails. Austin is home to more than 300 parks, with more than 30 miles of urban trails open to runners, walkers and cyclists. Then theres the food! The best part about the food scene is that It never takes itself too seriously. Just look at all those busted-up food trucks, some of them serving the most exquisitely flavored bites in the country. The line at what may be the best barbecue joint in the US is a communal party, with staff selling beer to the outdoor queue.