Seasonal Highlights
SPRING #TexasToDos
Spring in Texas is one of the most beautiful l times of the year as colorful wildflowers sprout up across the state. For travelers seeking to make the most of the season, the Lone Star State offers an abundance of creative ways to beat the heat on the water, family-friendly activities and cloudless night skies perfect for stargazing. See below for seasonal highlights that will brighten any itinerary when traveling to Texas this spring.
BEAT THE HEAT ON THE WATER
As the weather warms up, the state’s more than 11,000 rivers and streams offer refreshing ways to cool down. River tubing is a favorite pastime for native Texans and visitors alike, and one of the best times to grab an inner tube and float down the river is spring. Texas has a waterway to fit any style, whether you're seeking the thrill of the rapids, the excitement of tube chutes or the relaxation of a leisurely float. 
San Marcos River - San Marcos, Texas
The crystal-clear San Marcos River is fed by hundreds of springs near the city center and remains 72 degrees year-round, so spring is an ideal time to beat the crowds that flock to the river each summer. There are numerous tube rental outfitters ready to service groups of any size. Visitors can bring their coolers and styrofoam-free beverage containers on their river excursion. After the float, Rio Vista Park offers an idyllic spot for a picnic.
Comal and Guadalupe Rivers - New Braunfels, Texas
The Comal and Guadalupe Rivers are famous for some of the best tubing experiences in Texas. While you can up the adventure by tubing into the rapids and sliding down a tube chute, most of the journey is a relaxing ride. Tubing on the Comal River passes through downtown New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn Waterpark and eventually joins the Guadalupe River. Several New Braunfels river outfitters offer tube, canoe and kayak rentals for visitors seeking to enjoy recreation on the area’s cool, refreshing waterways..
Frio River - Concan, Texas
The Frio River is a more secluded floating destination, making it perfect for a relaxed spring getaway. Floaters can easily hop in the water at Garner State Park, which also happens to be one of the most popular spots in Texas for overnight camping. Lush trees line the river for a picturesque float, and sandbars along the river make it easy to stop and enjoy the scenery.
Trinity River - Fort Worth, Texas
A favorite river tubing spot in North Texas and conveniently situated near Fort Worth, the sparkling Trinity River offers laid back floats. From spring break through the end of summer, vendors offer tube, kayak and canoe rentals. The river takes tubers past Panther Pavilion, which hosts a summer music series on their waterfront stage and offers a beautiful view of downtown Fort Worth.
FAMILY FRIENDLY TRAVEL
Running low on spring break ideas? Destinations across Texas offer engaging and unique experiences and activities, both indoor and outdoor, to keep the family entertained.
San Antonio is a popular spring break destination for families of all ages and abilities with amusement parks like Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND Discovery Center and Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind. Families can also explore natural wonders like the nearby Cave Without a Name and Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas’ largest cavern system. Of course, one of the biggest draws to San Antonio is the River Walk, where families can hop on a colorful Go RIO river barge for a guided tour of the city’s rich history.
Families looking to stay active on vacation can look no further than Lubbock. Adventure Park offers ziplining, climbing walls and bumper boats with buy-one-get-one mini golf every Monday and half-priced games in the arcade every Wednesday. Nature lovers can visit the quirky Prairie Dog Town, the first protected prairie dog colony of its kind. Located inside Mackenzie Park, what started as a site with only four dogs and two burrows is now one of the most visited attractions in Lubbock.
As the biggest city in Texas, it should come as no surprise that Houston has a wide range of attractions to explore. One of the top attractions in the city, Space Center Houston is home to more than 400 space artifacts, permanent and traveling exhibits and theaters, all related to the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human space-flight program. Children's Museum Houston is another popular spot to visit with the family, and from March 11 - 19, 2023 there will be daily activities filled with thrills, hands-on projects, shows and interactive performances.
Located in the heart of Texas, Waco is home to zoos, museums and parks that are sure to keep the young and the young at heart entertained. The award-winning, natural-habitat Cameron Park Zoo celebrates the spirit of wild animals with its free-form surroundings, which provides an unforgettable viewing experience for visitors. Similarly, the Waco Mammoth National Monument is not to be missed, as the site features the only recorded evidence showing the existence of Pleistocene mammoths. For a sweet treat, families can tour the Dr. Pepper Museum that ends with a stop in the museum gift shop that boasts a classic 1950s soda fountain where kids can order an ice-cold Dr. Pepper float.
EXPLORING SPACE
As winter clouds disappear and Texas’ night skies clear, spring is a top season for Texas stargazing. Keep an eye on the night skies; the first meteor shower visible in the region is expected the weekend of April 22. The Milky Way is rising in the Northern Hemisphere during this time, and the stars at night really are big and bright in Texas. Read on for some of the best spots to explore the night sky.
Bordering the Rio Grande River in the remote reaches of West Texas, Big Bend National Park is an outstanding destination for stargazing. An International Dark Sky Park, this U.S. national park, renowned for its hiking and backpacking trails, is a haven for stargazers looking to see meteor showers, constellations and the Milky Way. The park’s great distance from major urban centers renders the skies over Big Bend the darkest of any national park in the lower 48 states. Two hours north of Big Bend National Park in Fort Davis, the McDonald Observatory is a must-stop for astronomy enthusiasts, holding four high-powered telescopes and hosting daily tours, weekly star parties and special viewing nights.
Devils River State Natural Area - Del Norte Unit
Named for the whitewater Devils River, this natural area, recognized as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, was once part of a large working ranch. Now operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife, this area is home to a variety of animals and plants, including the Mexican free-tailed bat, as well as live oak, pecan and sycamore trees. Surrounded by private ranches in a remote area of West Texas, Devils River offers pristine night skies.
Located north of San Antonio and west of Austin, Dripping Springs became the first International Dark Sky Community in Texas in 2014. The city keeps light pollution low, in part, to help protect the area’s bird migration patterns. Visitors can sit back and enjoy the stars’ illuminating glow or participate in area night sky programs, including programming at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, Pedernales Falls State Park and Milton Reimers Ranch.
Located in Burnet, Texas, Canyon of the Eagles Resort is a one-stop Texas stargazing experience. This Texas Hill Country nature-based resort offers several ‘sky’ experiences. Guests can attend Movie Under the Stars where, every Friday, guests watch a free family-friendly movie as the sun sets and stars start to appear. Avid stargazers can enjoy the Eagle Eye Observatory’s sessions to learn about the stars from dedicated and knowledgeable astronomers.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
An International Dark Sky Park named for its giant pink dome rising from the topography, visitors to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area will be mesmerized by the rural night skies. With a telescope, adventurers can marvel at far-away galaxies and planets, stars and constellations. Just south of Enchanted Rock State Park, Fredericksburg received its designation as a Dark Sky Community in 2020. The town, located between Austin and San Antonio, is home to rich German heritage and is considered the epicenter of Texas’ Hill Country wine region.
BEST PLACES TO SEE WILDFLOWERS
Spring is highly anticipated in Texas because of the state’s spectacular wildflower blooms. From the iconic Texas bluebonnets and delicate pink evening primroses to the vibrant Indian paintbrushes and cheerful Mexican hats, there are an abundance of flower varieties to marvel at during this season.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center gardens, natural areas and arboretum display nearly 900 species of native plants from many of the major ecoregions of Texas, the most diverse collection of Texas native plants in North America. The Center’s new exhibit, Seeing the Invisible, is the most ambitious and expansive exhibition to date of contemporary artworks created with augmented reality (AR). Visitors are invited to actively locate the artworks scattered throughout the Wildflower Center, using a smartphone or tablet. The AR nature of the exhibition allows for the creation of immersive works that engage with existing features of the natural landscape. The exhibit runs through the fall of 2023.
From April 1-30, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail, approximately 35 miles southeast of Dallas, showcases more than 40 miles of scenic wildflower drives mapped in detail by the Ennis Garden Club. These trails are the oldest known in the state, and tens of thousands of visitors make the trek to Ennis to view this wonderful wildflower show. Bluebonnets typically peak around the third week of April. This year’s trail map will be released on April 1. The annual Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival runs from April 14-16 and features live music, food and drinks.
Washington County
Brenham is home to some of the brightest blooms in Texas. Their annual “Wildflower Watch” program tracks notable blooms throughout Washington County. Their wildflower driving map guides enthusiasts from downtown Brenham to Chappell Hill, Independence, Washington-on-the-Brazos and Burton. The Official State of Texas Bluebonnet Festival runs from April 15-16 in downtown historic Chappell Hill, Texas. Initially a small town antique festival has blossomed over the years and celebrates the official state flower, the Bluebonnet.
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