As everyone knows, Texas is big -- really big. For travelers there isn't just a lot of ground to cover, but a vast number of things to do and places to see, as well as varieties of climate, terrain, and even cultures. Depending on where you choose to go, you can experience an Old West adventure, a relaxing (or rowdy) trip to the beach, some of America's finest museums, first-class shopping and dining, a rugged and remote national park, or home-grown live music. This guide gives you the information you need to get started.
Travelblogs -- The ever-expanding blogosphere is filled with blogs on things great and public as well as obscure and personal, and weblogs originating in Texas are no exception. To read a few blogs about Texas, have a look at the directory of Texas-related blogs found at www.technorati.com/blogs/Texas and http://dir.blogflux.com/state/texas.html. Unsurprisingly, you'll find several blogs dedicated to Texas football and real estate, but you'll also find one dedicated to the "musings of a real Texas cowgirl" (http://realtexascowgirl.blogspot.com) and another, "Grits for Breakfast" (http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com), that investigates the murky world of Texas justice. Proudly Texan, with the Stetson and the rifle to prove it, is "Big White Hat: (http://bigwhitehat.com). A guide to political blogs in Texas can be found at: www.dallasblog.com/guest-commentary/2006/5/7/a-guide-to-texas-blogs-left-and-right-by-vince-leibowitz.html.
Eco-Tourism -- Much of Texas's eco-tourism activities are still confined to do-it-yourself trips to state and national parks (with Big Bend the number-one attraction). However, birding is of growing interest, particularly along the Gulf Coast and in other parts of South Texas, and some travel operators now offer birding trips.
Texas Parks and Wildlife devotes part of its literature and website to "Great Texas Wildlife Trails" (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails) that include birding trails. Additionally, the World Birding Center (www.worldbirdingcenter.org) is located in the lower Rio Grande Valley, and it offers a wealth of information on birding events, tours, and sites, such as the 50-acre South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center (tel. 956/761-3005). Another resource is www.traveltex.com, where you can search under "Activities" for a mixed bag of "nature & outdoors" events, tours, and activities across the state.
You can find other eco-friendly travel tips, statistics, and touring companies and associations -- listed by destination under "Travel Choice" -- at the TIES website, www.ecotourism.org. Ecotravel.com is part online magazine and part eco-directory that lets you search for touring companies in several categories (water-based, land-based, spiritually oriented, and so on). Also check out Conservation International (www.conservation.org) -- which, with National Geographic Traveler, annually presents World Legacy Awards to those travel tour operators, businesses, organizations, and places that have made a significant contribution to sustainable tourism.
