Texas Taster | Fly Drive Holiday

Days 1-3

Dallas/Grapevine

A direct 10-hour flight from London will bring you to the diverse Metropolis .  We suggest you base yourself 10 minutes from Dallas Fortworth airport in Grapevine. The ideal base to explore the wider metropolis with Dallas downtown and Fort Worth being less than 30 minutes by car and a good choice of comfortable, luxurious hotels and family resorts to look after you.

Grapevine offers a quaint walkable main street full of gift shops and great restaurants, wine tasting and craft beers.  At the weekend the Grapevine Vintage Railway dating back to the 1920’s runs to the Fort Worth Stockyards which is a super experience.  A large tax-free shopping mall is also home to Legoland Discovery centre, Pepper Pig World and a Meow Wolf  and be sure to call into The Western outfitter for your authentic Cowboy hot and boots!   A trip Downtown to Sixth Floor Museum at the book depository  takes you back to the shooting of JFK and the Bishops Art District it a must, on a Saturday the House band at Revellers Halls is fabulous.

Dallas is home to some of the world’s best museums including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Perot Museum of Nature and Sciences as well as the George W Buch Library, it also has a vibrant nightlife from trendy bars to live music venues and comedy clubs, plus excellent restaurants.

3 nights in Dallas/Grapevine

Days 4-5

Dallas/Grapevine to Austin

Start the drive south to Austin, known for its cool music scene, Tex-Mex cuisine and laid-back atmosphere.  In just 3 hours you’ll be wandering down the pedestrian only Sixth Street home to a variety of live music venues, bars and restaurants, visit the Continental Club which first opened its doors in 1955: along with the music it serves great cocktails – the only downside is that it does not accept reservations.  When you are hungry, there is no shortage of options:  BBQs are enormous, for instance Terry Blacks offer their meat priced by the pound weight! After all that food you might need to stretch your legs, your chance will be to go to Ladybird Lake, created on the Colorado River in 1960 as a cooling pond for the new city power plant. You can rent a kayak or an SUP or simply enjoy the trails.

2 nights in Austin

Day 6

Austin to Fredericksburg

A short drive along Highway 290, known as the Fredericksburg Wine Road will take you through the rolling hills past over 40 wineries. While you might not have thought of Texas as a wine producing area you might like to stop in at Becker Vineyards which has been producing wine since 1867.

1 night in Fredericksburg

Days 7-9

Fredericksburg to Bandera

Finally your chance to stay on a ranch and see how life was lived a generation or so ago.  You will stay at the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, high in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas.  Your days will be spent riding, lazing by the pool and is suitable for everyone whether you have ridden lots or never. A typical day might include a ride by horse or wagon to the Cowboy breakfast cook-out for possibly the biggest breakfast you have ever seen. After that, it is time to saddle up for a trail ride before lunch by the pool.

After another ride to work up an appetite, it is definitely time for relaxation before dinner and some live entertainment.  We suggest three nights here, but longer if you prefer.

3 nights in Bandera

Days 10-11

Bandera to San Antonio

Just an hour from the ranch you come to San Antonio known for its rich history, we suggest you visit the Alamo, a historic mission and fortress that played a pivotal role in the Texas Revolution and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park which preserves four of the five Spanish Missions that were founded here in the 1700s.   You have to visit Herbs Hat shop to try on, and perhaps purchase, a ten-gallon hat or perhaps some genuine cowboy boots. Your home in San Antonio will be the Contessa Hotel on River Walk which is claimed the #1 attraction in Texas. It is certainly very colourful with great food and a fine line in margaritas!

2 nights in San Antonio

Days 12-13

San Antonio to Galveston

Today you have a longer drive.  It will take you around four hours to get to Galveston for  some well-deserved relaxation.  On the Gulf of Mexico enjoy the long sandy beaches but also the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier,  Pier 21 and the Schitterbahn Water park.  Also in town is the Battleship Texas, the Bishop’s Palace  and the Strand, a historical district with impressive Victorian-era buildings.  We suggest you stay at either Harbor House on Pier 21, the Tremont House Hotel or the San Luis Resort.

2 nights in Galveston

Days 14-15

Galveston to Houston

Make your way towards Houston for your last couple of days, but on the way you will pass the Houston Space Center which makes for a fascinating stop. You can easily spend the whole day here so it is worth planning your visit fairly carefully.  The Marriot Marquis Hotel has a lazy river pool in the shape of Texas in the centre of the city or you might choose to stay at the boutique hotel ZaZa in the museum district. Houston, as well as some world class museums, has one of the finest malls in the country. The Galleria has hundreds of stores, food outlets and TFTI, the Houston Selfie Museum!

2 nights in Houston

Day 16

Houston

The adventure is over, return your car to the airport and board your overnight flight back to the UK unless you are planning to visit another part of the US.