On arrival at Houston International Airport collect your bags and your rental car and drive to your downtown hotel to check-in. The rest of your day is free to enjoy the sunshine and relax by the pool, or enjoy your first Texas BBQ dinner before bed.

Westin Galleria Hotel, or similar

Houston is a fascinating city, and as the largest in Texas it has a lot to explore. After breakfast we would suggest heading to one of the city’s most well-known attractions to begin your stay. At NASA’s Johnson Space Centre, you can immerse yourself in space exploration and the cosmos. You can wander through the Astronaut Gallery, explore the Apollo 17 Command Module and take a tram tour to Houston’s infamous ‘Mission Control’.

In addition to Space, Houston also hosts a number of other fascinating museums. Visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science to learn more about dinosaurs, geology and wildlife, or delve into the world of art at either the Museum of Fine Art, or the Contemporary Arts Museum.

Downtown Houston provides the historic Market Square Park and Discovery Green but if you really want to stretch your legs we suggest a stroll around Hermann Park or Buffalo Bayou Park which has great views of the Houston city skyline.

Lunches and dinners can be fajitas or burritos if you want to sample some authentic Tex-Mex flavours, or you can indulge in some great Texas BBQ or Creole influenced dining around Houston.

Westin Galleria Hotel, or similar

When departing Houston for San Antonio, you can choose one of two different routes. The most direct is travel on the I-10 heading west on the highway. The alternative is to take the US-90 west out of Houston. Although a longer drive, this route is dotted with small towns and has les traffic.

On the outskirts of the Houston Metropolitan area you may like to stop in the town of Katy to visit the No Label Brewery, a quirky local establishment with nice craft beers.

Just off the Interstate, the town of Columbus is also good break in the journey. The Colorado River passes through the town and there is a pretty riverside trail which offers a chance of spotting some wildlife. The historic courthouse marks the centre of town, near to where the Santa Claus Museum has found an unlikely home.

The town of Luling has a city market which is well known for good examples of Texas BBQ, whilst the scenic mill by the San Marcos River is a nice cultural stop. Just south of the Interstate near Luling is the Palmetto State Park, which has a unique wetland ecosystem with walking trails and canoeing opportunities. It is also a great place for a picnic.

Continue on to San Antonio and check-in at your reserved hotel.

200 miles

Holiday Inn, San Antonio-Riverwalk, or similar

You could choose to enjoy breakfast beside the river this morning, before exploring the sites of San Antonio. Perhaps the most iconic attraction in San Antonio is The Alamo. A symbol of Texas’ fight for independence from Mexico, the Alamo was the location where a group of Texan defenders held out for 13 days under fire from the much larger Mexican army in 1836. During your visit you can learn more about the Texan revolution whilst wandering through the gardens and exhibits. From the Alamo it is a short walk to the San Fernando Cathedral. Founded in 1731 it is one of the oldest cathedrals in the USA.

The Riverwalk along the banks of the San Antonio River provides for a scenic stroll, crossing various bridges and having plenty of shaded cafés and restaurants enjoy a drink and some food, as well as watch the world go by. Alternatively you could choose to join a riverboat cruise that narrates the story of this historic town.

San Antonio’s Market Square hosts the largest Mexican Market outside of Mexico and provides a festive atmosphere whilst you can shop for crafts and souvenirs. A more peaceful pastime will be a visit to the Mission San José, the largest of the San Antonio Missions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Top tip: If you return to the Riverwalk in the evening the lit paths provide a pleasant end to your day.

Holiday Inn, San Antonio-Riverwalk, or similar

Today’s drive to Austin is relatively short, so we recommend taking some time to detour off the Interstate to travel through the Hill Country of Texas, which is known for its scenery, wineries and small-town charm.

First stop on your drive could be New Braunfels, a town just off the interstate, adjacent to the Guadalupe River. The town’s historic district is home to a number of establishments that claim to be the oldest in Texas. For example, Gruene Hall claims to be the oldest dance hall in Texas and Naegelin’s Bakery is the oldest bakery in Texas. The bakery is a great place to buy goods for a picnic and we can definitely recommend the Apple Strudel.

You can follow the route of the Guadalupe River up into the heart of Hill Country and on to Canyon Lake. The Lake is created by a dam on the river and the turquoise waters are perfect for a quick dip. Comal and Canyon Park both offer safe swimming areas. The overlook at the Canyon Lake Dam provides good views as does the drive along FM-2673 around the lake.

The town of Wimberley is one of the largest in the Hill Country. The town square has a number of art galleries, cafés and craft shops that are worth a wander out of the car. The local natural springs can provide another opportunity to get wet, if you didn’t swim in Canyon Lake.

The town of Driftwood is another good stop. Not only is the town home to the tasty Salt Lick BBQ, but you can also visit the Driftwood Estate Winery. With scenic views over the Texas hills you can join a tasting session or just choose a bottle to take outside to enjoy with the views.

From Driftwood you can continue on through the hills or drop down to the Interstate to continue into the city of Austin.

80 miles

The Line Hotel, Austin, or similar

If you are an early riser then you may like to take stroll along the river and around Ladybird Lake before grabbing a coffee and breakfast at one of the trendy cafés near your hotel.

A great place to start your tour of Austin is the Texas State Capitol Building. You can join one of the free tours around this architecturally impressive building that is the political centre of the state. If you then want to continue your introduction to the history of Texas you could choose to visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

It is possible to explore Austin’s modern culture with a stroll around the South Congress District (SoCo) known for its funky shops, murals and local boutiques and galleries. If you are interested in vintage or western clothing then this area is good place to begin your shopping.

Sunset is always a good time to be down by the Colorado River, but especially between March and October we recommend making your way to Congress Avenue Bridge, where you can watch the nightly movement of more than a million Mexican free-tailed bats as they take to the skies. It is an impressive sight.

No evening in Austin would be complete without sampling some of the legendary music scene. Head to the Rainey Street area where most of the bars and patios feature local bands and Djs. It is a great place to enjoy a craft cocktail or local beer and enjoy the live performances.

The Line Hotel, Austin, or similar

Today’s scenic route takes you further through Texas Hill Country, taking in the various landscapes and small towns in the area.

Following the meandering Colorado River north-west out of Austin will bring you to Marble Falls. You could access the river before here, but Marble Falls offers easy access via a lakeside park and local cafés to grab some refreshments.

Further along the road you may also like to stop at Llano, where the river has carved a channel through coloured rocks, making for a good photo opportunity. The town also has a historic square and courthouse that may be of interest.

The town of San Saba is the self-proclaimed ‘Pecan Capital of the World’. So it would be remiss not to stop here to sample some of the nut related items in the gift shops and cafés around the town. If nuts aren’t your thing, then you may prefer to visit the Wedding Oak Winery for a taste of the other local produce.

There are more vineyards in the town of Comanche, further along today’s route. One of these, Brennan Vineyards, is based in a restored 1876 homestead and produces some excellent wines. Downtown Comanche also has some quaint antiques shops, colourful wall murals and general small-town charm.

An hour’s drive from Comanche brings you to Strawn, an historic townsite with a western feel. Take a short stroll down the main street to observe the architecture and maybe get some refreshment in one of the local cafés.

From Strawn continue around Possum Kingdom Lake and on to the WIldcatter Ranch to enjoy some more of that Western Style. The ranch does do some sunset horse riding, so you may wish to call ahead to see if there is time join in after your arrival.

250 miles

Wildcatter Ranch, or similar

A day on a guest ranch is always busy, so we recommend heading over to the Wildcatter Steakhouse for a hearty breakfast before saddling up for a guided trail ride across the 1500 acre ranch. Your friendly cowboy will be able to show you panoramic views of the North Texas hills, as well as point out wildlife like deer, longhorn cattle and maybe even armadillos in the undergrowth.

There will be time after the ride to freshen up, relax by the ranch swimming pool or browse the ranch gift shop before lunch. You may like to drive into the nearby town of Graham if you wish.

After lunch you can choose from a range of activities from clay pigeon shooting  and archery to roping and hiking on the scenic trails. You can also learn what it is like to work on a ranch and maybe feed some of the longhorn cattle (activities booked and paid locally).

If you have an early dinner you may also have the opportunity to join your guide for a sunset ride to the Brazos River. You can dismount by the river to take in the full sunset and enjoy a glass of wine or beer.

Wildcatter Ranch, or similar

You may like to start the day with another ranch breakfast, before making your last drive to Dallas-Fort Worth. You could choose to take a short detour to visit more the Possum Kingdom Lake that you saw on your way in to Wildcatter Ranch, alternatively head on to Mineral Wells, known for its spa waters. You may want to visit the historic building of the ‘Crazy Water Company’, pop in to the Crazy Water Hotel and certainly taste some of the Crazy Water drinks. Afterwards you can always take a walk in Lake Mineral Wells State Park, which has some good hiking trails.

Another good stop will be the town of Weatherford. The Chandor Gardens are a hidden gem, with English-style gardens that are perfect for relaxing. The square in downtown Weatherford is home to antique shops and local boutiques as well as the historic Parker County Courthouse building.

In the afternoon you could choose to enter the Fort Worth area via the Stockyards for a true Western welcome, or continue on to your pre-booked hotel.

120 miles

The Ashton Hotel, Fort Worth

We recommend heading to the Fort Worth Stockyards for breakfast this morning. There are lots of food outlets to choose from so you can have your pick of classic southern fare or a Tex-Mex platter to start your day.

You will then be set to explore the historic stockyards district. You can walk the cobblestone streets, browse the leather shops and try on some proper cowboy boots and hats. You may even like to make a purchase! As well as the shops you can also wander around the Stockyards Museum. the Cowtown Coliseum and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that you are in place at 11:30am for the daily Cattle drive, where a herd of Longhorn cattle are paraded down Exchange Avenue (they also return at 4pm).

If you need a break from all the cowboy culture, then you could choose to visit one of the art galleries in the cultural district. Of particular interest maybe the Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

For those wanting something a little more energetic then you can head to Trinity Trails where a walk along the river will provide some nice city skyline views.

In the evening you may be able to visit the rodeo (usually weekends only) or take in some live honky-tonk music at one of the downtown venues. After all the travelling you may prefer to just relax around Sundance Square and enjoy a cocktail. Look out for some hidden away speakeasy-type bars!

The Ashton Hotel, Fort Worth

Although your holiday may be ending later, there is still time to do a little more exploring. After checking out of your hotel we recommend heading to the historic town of Grapevine for breakfast. (Grapevine is just 10-15 minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport). Grapevine has a historic downtown with a local flavour and is a great place to spend your final morning.

After breakfast you may like to take a stroll along Grapevine’s main street and browse in the local boutiques, art galleries and gift shops. At the top of the hour you should stop by Grapevine’s glockenspiel clock tower to witness the animatronic show.

Depending on the time you have available you may like to visit the Grapevine Vintage Railroad or one of the art galleries and museums that are in the centre of town.

After grabbing a light lunch, drive the short hop to the international airport in time to return your rental car and check-in for your flight home, or to continue your holiday.

25 miles