Texas Recreation & Entertainment

Texas is a state of great variety, offering visitors and residents the finest of outdoor and urban life.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Texas is home to numerous activities, most enjoyable year-round. Hiking and camping can be found in several parks, such as Big Bend National Park, located on the border of Mexico along the Rio Grande river, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which encompasses El Capitan, the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet (2,667 m). Scenic mountain bike trails are plentiful in locations such as Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Dinosaur Valley State Park. Nature lovers may explore one of the richest ecosystems in the world at Big Thicket National Preserve, while avid huntsmen will find a hunting calendar for everything from waterfowl to white-tailed deer to alligator. Texas is also a golfer’s paradise, with world-class country and golf clubs offering golf and tennis, among other recreational sports.

Water sports are popular in Texas’ mighty rivers, large lakes, or the Gulf of Mexico. Swimming and diving are available in many areas, including Amistad National Recreation Area. Canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting are widespread, especially along the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, which includes Class II, III and IV rapids. Texas boasts incredible beaches, such as Padre Island National Seashore, the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. But fishing may be the most beloved water activity in the state, available in many of Texas’ lakes and rivers, home to bass, trout and catfish, or in the Gulf Coast, a mecca for deep sea fishing.

Sports play a large role in Texan entertainment. Texas hosts 11 professional sports teams, including the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, MLB’s Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, and the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Texas college teams are among the best in the nation.

Vast metropolitan areas, encompassing cities such as Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas, host a variety of cultural events. Hundreds of theatres are located throughout the state, such as the Alley Theatre, in Houston, and the Plano Repertory Theatre. Opera houses include the Dallas Opera and the Houston Grand Opera. All types of art can be enjoyed in one of Texas’ many museums, including the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum and the Dallas Museum of Natural History. Other popular urban activities include shopping and dining in one of Texas’ thousands of restaurants.

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