The south-central American state of Texas is the second-largest in the country by size and population as it’s home to almost 25 million residents. The capital city is
Austin, and the largest is Houston. Other well-known areas include Dallas, Fort Worth, Galveston, Arlington, El Paso, Waco, San Antonio, Baytown, Round Rock, and San Marcos.
Texas was claimed by Spain originally and then controlled until 1836 by Mexico, which borders it to the south. It became the 28th state to join the Union when it was
admitted in 1845. It left the Union in 1861 as it joined the south for the American Civil War.
The landscape is quite diverse as it’s filled with deserts, prairies, forests, grasslands, swamps, rolling plains, rugged hills, mountains, and the Gulf of Mexico
coastline. Three of its borders are highlighted by rivers, which are the Rio Grande, the Red River, and Sabine River.
The weather’s quite unpredictable because the state’s so large, so it really depends on which region you’re in. But generally, it’s pretty hot in the summers in all
regions.
There are several major airports to fly into, including, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. There are also over 150 regional airports spread out around the state. Texas is
also home to the country’s largest railway and highway and railway systems when it comes to mileage. There are 1,000 seaports along the coast, with Houston being the busiest one in
America by total tonnage shipped in and out. Houston and Dallas are pretty easy to get around as they both have light rail systems.
The state’s culture is mainly a mix of Mexican, southern and western influences. However, it’s really a melting pot these days. The performing and visual arts are very
popular and Houston is home to a grand opera, symphony orchestra, ballet, and theatre. The city’s theatre district is the second largest in America.
Some other popular places to visit include the Modern Art Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Amon Carter Museum, the Bass
Performance Hall, and the Will Rogers Memorial Center. In downtown Dallas you’ll find the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the
Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, and the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.
Live music is all over the place in Texas with blues and jazz being pretty hot in Dallas, while Austin is often called the live music capital of the world due to its
numerous concert venues and festivals. San Antonio is famous for its Tejano culture and music.
Another huge attraction in Texas is sports, as the state is home to two NFL football teams, two MLS soccer teams, an NHL hockey club, two MLB baseball franchises, and
three NBA basketball teams. Professional boxing is also popular as are the rodeo, college sports and several minor-pro franchises. Starting in 2012, the Formula 1 road race will hit
Austin.
Restaurants and hotels are easy to find in all price ranges and you’ll find Austin, Dallas, and Houston to be world-class cities. Dallas, of course, is also the site of
the assassination of President John Kennedy in 1963.
Texas offers everything you could want from ocean playgrounds to historic cosmopolitan cities and an abundance of wilderness areas. It’s an interesting experience for
people of all ages and one you’ll never forget.
About Texas