The 2023 Texas Travel Bucket List, according to Texas Travel Talk!
As we all prepare for the new year, we cannot help but be wary of the high cost of … well, everything. But, for some, it’s hard not to want to travel. Surely a road trip to Texas is on your travel bucket list for 2023. And, if you live in Texas, I’m sure there are many places you’ve never been to. I’m a native Texan and have yet to see everything the Lone Star State offers – so big!!
Texas is the place to come to for all things country music. Be sure to see April and May for what’s coming to TEXAS!
Yogi Berra once said, “If there is a fork in the road, take it.”
NEXT READ: Top Music Festivals In Texas
2023 Texas Travel Bucket List Travel Tips
• Grab the family and head out to a new place in Texas.
• Have a picnic in the park or at roadside rest areas. I know we’ve all done this but do more. A hamburger nowadays is $8-$10 bucks – times that by five, and there go $40+ bucks, and you didn’t even order fries and a coke.
• Take water on the road. Now is the best time to start if you don’t like to drink water. Go with gallons of water instead of individual plastic bottles. Have everyone carry their own travel tumbler and filler up!
• Take up birding. Birding is all the craze, and so many beautiful birds fly in our air! You’ll need binoculars.
• If you can’t find someone to travel with …go solo! You’ll learn so much about yourself.
• Eat local – choose family-owned restaurants first!
• Don’t rule out camping and RVing. There’s much that these two can provide. Try renting an RV before deciding to buy.
• Be sure to pick up a 2023 Texas State Travel Guide and an Official Travel Map at one of the twelve Texas Travel Information Centers around the state. I can not live without this guide as I plan my Texas road trips.
• Some of the best cities in Texas might be right around the corner from you. Take a look at Texas Travel Talk’s 2023 Texas Travel Bucket List and start planning.
January
Rediscover your favorite spot in Texas.
Start 2023 at your favorite vacation spot in Texas, and make it the beginning of a year-long travel itinerary in our great state. Where ever that might be – a small town or big city, I’m sure there is something new you have not seen! Have fun, and Happy New Year!
February
Take a road trip to the hill country.
If you love tasting wine, head to the Texas Hill Country for the Wine Lover’s Celebration wine trail. See more information on the Texas Wine Passport. There are many benefits to purchasing a passport. One is – it’ll get you four wine tastings a day at several of your favorite wineries in the Texas Hill Country.
Tickets are $65 Individually and $100 for couples’ tickets.
March
Take A Foodie Tour in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival is having its annual (adult-only) four-day foodie and wine extravaganza will be held at Clearfork and is gearing up to go bigger and better than last year from March 30 – April 2, 2023.
The Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival will feature over 100 exceptional wines, craft beers, and spirits from near and far to pair perfectly with food from the best chefs and restaurateurs Panther City offers.
Tickets: Start at $55. Tickets are on sale now.
April
Head to the CMT Music Awards in Austin.
On April 2nd, country music’s biggest night is headed to Austin with hosts Kelsea Ballerini. CMT’s 25x winner, Carrie Underwood, will take the stage along with other big names at the Moody Center ATX. If you can’t be there live, CBS will host it on TV.
May
Grab a front-row seat at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Nope, not the CMTs, but something similar and powerful! The Star in Frisco will host the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11, 2023. The show will also Livestream exclusively on Prime Video if you can’t make it. Tickets are expensive, but this could be your chance to see fabulous country singers in person!
June
Attend the hot air balloon festival in East Texas.
June 12-18, 2023
The Great Texas Balloon Race is an annual world-class event where the best competitive pilots come together and race their hot air balloons every summer in the City of Longview, Texas. This longest-running hot-air balloon event in Texas is usually held at the East Texas Regional Airport.
Texas Bucket List TV Show Vehicle
July
Visit the Texas Bucket List Storefront in Central Texas.
Are you familiar with the Texas Bucket List TV show on Sunday mornings with Shane McAuliffe (I thought his last name was McCauley)? Did you know he has a store in College Station? I’ve been there twice and picked up some cool Texas memorabilia both times It’s a great way to learn more about the TV show and where he is headed next. And if he’s not riding around in his Texas Bucket List SUV, snap a selfie next to it.
Photo Credit: Destination Dripping Springs
August
Immerse yourself in one of Texas’ natural beauty spots.
Take a dip in one of Texas’s natural wonders – Jacob’s Well or visit the beautiful Hamilton Pool Preserve in Dripping Springs – both in the hill country.
Jacob’s Well is a hidden gem to most of us unless you live in Wimberley or are familiar with the area. Check it out. You can visit the park and trails year-round, but swimming at Jacob’s Well Natural Area is allowed from May 1 – September 30. The water is 68 degrees in winter and summer. Visiting Wimberley is on my Texas travel bucket list.
September
See the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Paris, Texas, that is. Northeast Texas has its own Eiffel Tower (replica) in Paris. It’s an Instagrammable photo opp for sure. And while you’re there, enjoy downtown and many circa 1916-1918 historical buildings. This might be a one-day event, but a good road trip indeed!
October
Go dune sledding in this West Texas park.
There is no snow in the Monahans Sandhills State Park, but lots of sandy dunes perfect for sledding downhill. It’s the only time you’ll want to wish for heavy winds – as that makes the dunes pile high. This is a fun fall activity to do with the family.
November
Enjoy an amazing experience at Mission San Jose in San Antonio.
We all love the riverwalk, and most of us have seen the Alamo, but there’s more to do in San Antonio. Have you been to the San Antonio Missions? Mission San Jose is 300 years old. Can you imagine all the old historic buildings there? Mission San Jose is a culturally rich district known for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The park has several 18th-century Spanish presidios, including Mission Concepción, with its colorful, centuries-old frescoes.
December
Celebrate the Centennial of Texas State Parks in 2023
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is gearing up for its 2023 centennial of Texas State Parks, a yearlong celebration around a “you’re a natural” campaign to encourage new visitors to explore the system’s 89 parks across the state.
A new park is opening.
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will be the first new state park with campgrounds to open in Texas in about 20 years. It’s located in Strawn, about 80 miles west of Fort Worth.
If you’re planning on visiting several Texas state parks in 2023, consider buying a Texas State Park pass. It’s $70 a year and good for everyone in the car. Most state parks charge a small entrance fee of $5-$8 for each person. That’s a big saving if you visit all 89 of them!
We leave you with these things to consider as you plan your 2023 Texas Travel Bucket List.
- Take the fork in the road
- Sustainable tourism or responsible travel
- Look for hidden gems and document it
- Support endangered species
- Spend the extra money
- Book in advance (online)
- Expect things to happen – plan accordingly
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