Texas isn’t just cowboy ranches and barbecue. The Lone Star State is a diverse destination, including wine regions, national and state parks, vibrant cities, and wide-open country where you can have the whole place to yourself. Whether you crave time exploring the outdoors and want to stargaze with your partner, or you want to dive into the heritage and history of Texas, you’ll have no problem finding an adventure that suits your style. Maybe you want to live it up in the city, hitting every food truck and live music venue that you can in one weekend. Or perhaps, you want to embrace the cowboy trend and go horseback riding on a real ranch. Whatever your druthers, Texas will show you a good time.
Here are 7 amazing weekend getaways in Texas.
Fredericksburg — Best for couples & wine country
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Wine country…in Texas? It’s true. The small, German-influenced town of Fredericksburg is one of the Texas Hill Country’s top destinations, and a romantic weekend getaway ideal for couples or friend groups. In addition to its cute and walkable downtown, golden-hour views, and authentic biergartens, there are meadows filled with wildflowers like bluebonnets (spring) and wineries galore. There are more than 100 vineyards in the surrounding area, and a shuttle bus that will safely transport you around. For one of the most unique wine tasting experiences, head to the Rhinory, a vineyard with a rescued resident Southern White Rhino named Blake, and conservation at the heart. Tap into the town’s German heritage with coffee and pastries at KaffeeHaus and German cuisine at Otto’s German Bistro. If you’re looking to stretch your legs, head to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, where you can hike off some of that wine, beer, and soft pretzels, and be rewarded with sweeping views.
Austin — Best for food trucks & budget weekends
The lively city of Austin delivers the only way Texas knows how: big. Big on food, big on music, and big on drinks. The food truck scene is booming, creative, and seriously delicious. You’ll find a global culinary adventure, with everything from Indian food to tacos. Head to The Picnic, where you can hit up 7 trucks at once. Don’t miss classic barbecue dishes from LeRoy and Lewis, and at La Tunit, the Birria tacos really shine. After you’ve had your fill, take an art-inspired walk around the downtown area, where you’ll find incredible murals. Hiking or biking along the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is another great, low-cost option for taking in city views. You can’t visit Austin on a weekend without live music. Many of the bars host shows, but Elephant Room and The Continental Club are some of the most well-known music venues. Learn how to Texas two-step at the Broken Spoke, an institution in the city. With so much to do, you might want to make this one a long weekend.
Wimberley — Best for hidden Hill Country swims
Wimberley is an under-the-radar Hill Country gem, located between Austin and San Antonio. It’s the type of town that offers wholesome fun in a quaint atmosphere. Swimming holes with rope swings, local galleries, boutique shops, great restaurants, and a Saturday market (March-December) will easily fill up an entire weekend. Locals love the naturally spring-fed swimming holes at Blue Hole Park and Jacob’s Well Natural Area, where you can cool off and leisurely float in a tube. The rural country roads dotted with seasonal wildflowers, sprawling farms, and classic hill country terrain are made for scenic drives. The Devil’s Backbone scenic drive is a fantastic choice, with a little over 50 miles of country roads where you can stop at overlooks and absorb the postcard vista. Wimberley wants to feed you too, with great eats to be enjoyed. Stop into Wimberley Cafe for a diner-style breakfast and don’t miss some Texas barbecue at Kelly’s Hill Country BBQ, known for ‘The Wimbo’ a sandwich stuffed with brisket and sausage mixed with their signature sauce.
San Antonio — Best for families & history
The Alamo might be San Antonio’s biggest claim to fame but there’s a lot more to this historic Texas city that make it well worth a weekend away. After you check the 18th century Alamo off your list (because, yes you should go), there are four other Spanish Missions to choose from, and they all make up the state’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mission Espada is the oldest in the line-up, dating back to 1690, and Mission Concepción has a beautiful unresorted stone church that makes for excellent photo opportunities.
If you don’t visit the famous River Walk, a pedestrian-only city park along the water, then did you even go to San Antonio? This lively park is filled with restaurants and bars and hosts events seemingly nonstop, and you can hop on a quick river cruise – always a family favorite. And, if it’s nightlife you’re after, this is the place to be. You’ll discover a lot more than Tex-Mex here too, the restaurant scene is booming. One of the best restaurants is Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery which dishes out seasonal fare and craft micro-brews.
Big Bend National Park — Best for stargazing & romantic getaway
In the far reaches of southwest Texas is a place to get away from it all: Big Bend National Park. A fantastic long-weekend pick for stargazing couples with everything from hiking to natural hot spring dipping. The size of the park combined with the fact that it’s lesser-known and visited means you’ll have plenty of space to roam without seeing anyone else. Base yourself in Terlingua, an old mining town and gateway to the park’s west entrance. More than 150 miles of trails snake their way through the park, where desert and mountains meet. Here, you’ll relish in the surrounding scenery, composed of the Chisos Mountains, Rio Grande, and Emory Peak, the tallest in the national park. Some of the top day hikes include the easy 1-mile (round trip) Hot Springs Trail, where you can soak together in the healing waters, or the more challenging 3-mile trek along the Boot Canyon Trail which rewards with stunning views. Back in Terlingua, grab some grub and listen to live music at the historic Starlight Theatre Restaurant & Saloon.
Galveston — Best for beachy family fun on a budget
Get your family beach fix in Galveston, an island city in southeastern Texas, about an hour from Houston. There’s 32-miles of shoreline to build sandcastles on, but it’s not just about the beach here, there’s a lot of other noteworthy things to do in this historic Gulf Coast destination known as a port city and birthplace of Juneteenth. Head to Galveston’s Pleasure Pier, a wallet-friendly waterfront destination along the seawall for fun and games with amusement park attractions and rides. Stroll The Strand, the city center’s main road, lined with Victorian-era buildings, shops, restaurants, and museums.
Those interested in the paranormal can sign up for a locally guided ghost tour to learn about the spooky happenings. Moody Gardens is a one-stop-shop for almost everything, marked by the iconic three glass pyramids. This amusement complex has everything from theater and music experiences to an aquarium and golf. You can also spend the weekend eating your way through Galveston, where you’ll find regional specialties such as besitos, a bacon-wrapped jalapeño pepper stuff with shrimp. Gumbo, Gulf oysters, and crawfish grace many of the local menus as well.
Fort Worth — Best for cowboy vibes with kids
For a cowboy and inspired city getaway, Fort Worth has loads to offer. Located about an hour west of downtown Dallas, it’s a destination that feels like Texas from the old days. The Fort Worth Stockyards is the most popular spot to dive into the historic and lively side of the city. Rodeo shows, wild west saloon-style bars, live music, and of course, dance halls, like Rodeo Exchange, where they host free two-step lessons twice a week. There’s even a longhorn cattle drive twice daily – kids love it. Good luck getting bored here. Fort Worth is also considered the ‘Museum Capital of the Soutwest.’ Art enthusiasts should consider checking out the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and museum lovers have a wide range to choose from, including the DFW Car & Toy Museum and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
For Spa-like Getaway: Best for private hot tubs & romance
Texas has a wide array of accommodations and many have private jacuzzis and hot tubs to dial up the romance. If you’re looking for a luxury stay, you can find upscale Jacuzzi suites in Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Galveston. We found a room with a gorgeous soaking tub at The Driskill in Austin for approximately $355 per night. If you’re looking for a nature escape, there are amazing cabins with hot tubs in Wimberley and Fredricksburg. There’s even a romantic, adults-only yurt in Wimberley for a weekend trip with your partner.
