Texas road trip suggestions. (Houston, Dallas: school, university, gardens)

[pepermint]

We are travelling to texas in november and are planning to make it a road trip. Our plan is to take the following route Houston->Dallas->Austin->San Antonio->Houston.

Can anyone give suggestions on must see places along this route?

TIA!

[WillysB]

In Houston, actually Pasadena at the Washburn Tunnel, heading north, rather than head into the tunnel you can pull off to the right and drive up onto the tunnel (or used to be able). There's a monument that marks the approximate site of the capture of Santa Anna. And a close of view of the ship channel.

And of course in San Antonio downtown is the Alamo.

Anything else you can see from the interstate while passing by. Check out the Texas Travel Guide.

[SouthmoreAve]

Well if you dont mind "darker waters", visit the gulf coast by detouring to Galveston while in Houston.

Houston.....
Visit the museums? Kemah Boardwalk? San Jacinto Monument? Space Center Houston? Galleria? Hermann Park or Discovery Green? Just a few ideas...

[SouthmoreAve]

Originally Posted by WillysB

In Houston, actually Pasadena at the Washburn Tunnel, heading north, rather than head into the tunnel you can pull off to the right and drive up onto the tunnel (or used to be able). There's a monument that marks the approximate site of the capture of Santa Anna. And a close of view of the ship channel.

And of course in San Antonio downtown is the Alamo.

Anything else you can see from the interstate while passing by. Check out the Texas Travel Guide.

First time ive ever heard of someone mentioning Pasadena, so , people dont usually associate Pasadena with history, but it was actually the bridge at Vince Bayou that was destroyed by the Texan Army to prevent Santa Anna to leave or retreat. So Pasadena, or at least the geography of Pasadena, was very important for TX History....

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by pepermint

We are travelling to texas in november and are planning to make it a road trip. Our plan is to take the following route Houston->Dallas->Austin->San Antonio->Houston.

Can anyone give suggestions on must see places along this route?

TIA!

How about: Houston > Dallas/FW (I45) > Hwy 281 South to Johnson City (President Johnson grew up there) > Hwy 290 to Austin > San Antonio (I35) > Houston (I10).

This route will also include some beautiful Texas Hill Country along highways 281 and 290.

[stillkit]

On I-10 east of Houston, take Exit 787, Crosby-Lynchburg Road, and head south a few miles to the historic Lynchburg Ferry. It's 5 or 10 minute ride across the river is totally free.

Then, continue south to the San Jacinto Battlefield. Of course, it marks the spot where the Texian's under Sam Houston defeated the Mexican Army commanded by Santa Ana, arguably one of the 10 or 12 most important battles in world history.

While there, don't miss the Battleship Texas, the last surviving Dreadnaught class battleship anywhere in the world.

In Dallas, there's Dealy Plaza, on Commerce St. downtown, where President Kennedy was shot. There's now a museum in the old Texas Schoolbook Depository building and the window from which Lee Harvey Oswald fired the fatal shots has been restored to the condition it was in that day.

And, don't miss the Stockyard area of Ft. Worth. It's the reason Ft. Worth is still called "Cowtown." Just take Main St. north and there it is. There's also the magnificent Botanic Gardens, just west of downtown.

In Waco, you have the Texas Ranger Museum and Ft. Parker, where the saga of Cynthia Ann Parker began.

There's lots to see and do around Austin, including the LBJ Library, the University of Texas, the "bat bridge," and our beautiful state Capitol building. After you leave there, go down to New Braunfels and detour a few miles to the city of Gruen. Nobody should EVER come to Texas without going to Gruen Hall (pronounced "Green Hall.") It's the oldest dance hall in Texas and has been hosting good bands and crowds for over 100 years. You want a shot of REAL Texas culture? Then Gruen Hall is for you.

Along the way between Dallas and San Antonio, keep an eye on that ridgeline to your west. You'll first see it in Dallas and it's nearly continuous the whole route. That's the Balcones Escarpment, which divided farming Texas from cattle raising Texas for most of our history. It pretty much still does. Back in the day, if you crossed that escarpment, you weren't likely to come back with your hair.

San Antonio! What can you say about San Antone which hasn't already been said? It is THE Texas city, the heart of our history and culture. No other place on earth has The Alamo. And, no other place has anything quite like the River Walk.

The Hill Country is full of wonderful caves, a good many of which are open to the public. Ask around.

Keep your eyes open for other things. You won't get bored.

[jaxart]

The best advice I can offer is to STAY OFF OF THE INTERSTATES! If time permits, the best way to experience Texas is on the superb system of secondary roads. Even the lightest traveled "farm to market" roads are paved and well maintained. Driving the rolling 2-lanes in the Hill Country in spring can be magical - especially since Lady Bird's flower seeding initiative that turns roadway shoulders into vivid displays of bright wildflower colors.

[rwr]

About half way between Houston and San Antonio, stop in Schulenburg and get info on the "Painted Churches" tour. They are beautiful and you don't have to be super religious to enjoy them !! Welcome to Texas!!!

[Oildog]

Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville. Get to see 'Old Sparky'

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by jaxart

The best advice I can offer is to STAY OFF OF THE INTERSTATES! If time permits, the best way to experience Texas is on the superb system of secondary roads. Even the lightest traveled "farm to market" roads are paved and well maintained. Driving the rolling 2-lanes in the Hill Country in spring can be magical - especially since Lady Bird's flower seeding initiative that turns roadway shoulders into vivid displays of bright wildflower colors.

Right! FM-1431 from Georgetown (or is it Round Rock?) to Marble Falls is a great example.

It's a broad, 4 lane suburban highway for the first couple of miles west of I-35, but then it chokes down to 2 lanes and from there on to Marble Falls, it's a wonderful trip, low-water bridges and all. You get to see the Hill Country in it's undeveloped beauty (in spite of the fact that it didn't originally look like that), and when you get to Marble Falls, you find one of the unknown and un-appreciated treasures of Texas.