From its expansive canyons to its wide prairies, Texas is as scenic as it is vast. With more than 268,820 square miles, Texas has something for just about everyone. Whether native to Texas or a visitor, these beautiful locations are not to be missed.
Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas is in the most remote and scenic location in the Lone Star State. Featuring wide basins, deep valleys and the Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park is hundreds of miles from the closest town. Big Bend provides those looking for a quiet escape with the opportunity to explore Texas's wildlife and see the stars where they shine the brightest. Ranger-guided tours and educational seminars are available for visitors interested in learning about the park. Though hiking and camping brings many visitors to the park every year, Big Bend is extremely remote and visitors are urged to plan far ahead of their trip and make adequate arrangements for their stay in the park.
Big Bend National Park
P.O. Box 129
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834
nps.gov/bibe
Inner Space Caverns are Texas' most well-preserved, expansive limestone caverns. With formations such as The Flowing Stone of Time, Lake of the Moon and Soda Straw Balcony, Inner Space Cavern makes an ideal destination for those seeking one of Texas's most beautiful features. The temperature in the cavern is 72 degrees, parking is free and three tours are available to visitors. The Adventure Tour is a nearly mile-long guided walking tour, at a depth of 69 feet, and a new tour leaves every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day. The Explorer Tour is a 1-1/2-mile long guided walking tour, at a depth of 69 feet. The Wild Cave Tour, a spelunking tour, is three to four hours long and is by reservation only.
Inner Space Cavern
4200 S. Interstate 35
Georgetown, TX 78626
(512) 931-CAVE or (877) 931-2283
myinnerspacecavern.com
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the second largest canyon in the United States, is 29,182 acres of painted canyon in Texas' panhandle region. About 27 miles southeast of Amarillo, Palo Duro Canyon is 120 miles long, 20 miles wide, and almost 800 feet deep. Palo Duro offers backpacking, horseback riding, camping sites and rustic cabins.
Though the park is beautiful, the most popular attraction in Palo Duro Canyon is the musical T.E.X.A.S, which takes place in an amphitheater carved out of a small basin nestled at the base of the canyon wall. This spectacular musical, held between June and August every year, tells the story of the Texas, set to music. The show is spectacular and vacation packages are available.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
11450 Park Road 5
Canyon, TX 79015
(806) 488-2227
palodurocanyon.com
T.E.X.A.S
1514 5th Avenue
Canyon, TX 79015
(806) 655-2181
Texas-show.com
