Hopping Aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad: The Old West comes alive aboard the Tarantula Railroad. A nostalgic train (when running, a restored 1896 steam locomotive called Puffy) rumbles along the track from Stockyards Station in Fort Worth, tracing the route of the Chisholm Trail, to the Cotton Belt Depot in historic Grapevine, Texas, a town with 75 restored turn-of-the-20th-century buildings.
Lassoing the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo: Fort Worth ain't called Cowtown for nothing. In late January and early February, the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, as it's officially called, recalls the glory cowboy days with horse shows, auctions, and livestock from beef cattle to llamas and swine. The nightly rodeos are big draws.
Attending a Mariachi Mass at Mission San José: The Alamo may be more famous, but hearing a congregation of San Antonians raise their voices in spirited prayer reminds you that the city's Spanish missions aren't just, well, history.
Tubing on the River: In central Texas, upstream from the town of Gruene, is a stretch of the Guadalupe River that Texans love to float down "leisurely like" in tubes (one tube per person and one for the ice chest). During the late spring and early summer the air is hot, the water is cold, and the "tuber" (tube-potato?) finds life most agreeable. There is no shortage of outfitters who can set you up with a tube.
Explore Tejas/Cross the Border: There are nearly 800 miles of Texas-Mexico border, and the Rio Grande from the Gulf of Mexico to El Paso is a fascinating region. We are big fans of Ciudad Acuña, across the river from Del Rio, and the amazing canyons in Big Bend National Park, but the entire "borderlands" region is more attractive and diverse than most visitors realize.
Exploring Big Bend National Park: Vast and wild, this rugged terrain harbors thousands of species of plants and animals -- some seen practically nowhere else on earth. A visit can include a hike into the sun-baked desert, a float down a majestic river through the canyons, or a trek among high mountains where bears and mountain lions rule.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
