11 Texas Weekend Trip Ideas

2020 has definitely cancelled a lot of travel plans and scaled down my vision for any traveling I plan to do in the future. Its not what I had in mind for the start of a new decade, but what can you do? When life throws you a huge curveball, you just have to regroup and roll with it! I’m lucky that I live in the big and spacious state of Texas and that there are so many interesting small towns and big cities for me to visit all within driving distance. And despite growing up in Texas, I have to say there are many places I have yet to see. So I thought I would make a list of Texas weekend trip ideas that I have already gone on this year or plan to go on early next year! I’m not seeing an end to this pandemic anytime soon and there is no way I can curb my wanderlust by not traveling so Texas travel it is.

Dripping Springs - Located about an hour outside of Austin, Dripping Springs is filled with local wineries, Pedernales Falls, and the Texas Olive Company. There’s plenty of opportunity to experience the outdoors while still having a taste of civilization. I’ve actually been to Dripping Springs twice for weddings and the scenery is truly beautiful. This past September I visited again (you can check out my adventures here) and toured a beautiful winery called Bell Springs and ate delicious food at Treaty Oaks Distillery.

Spicewood/Marble Falls - Spicewood is an outdoorsy trail filled area located about 40-50 minutes from Austin that has natural wonders such as Krause Springs and Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. There is also a gorgeous winery in the area, Flat Creek Vineyards, that offers prepackaged wine tastings (Covid safety measure), a full service restaurant, a breezy outdoor patio, and beautiful scenery. Spicewoods is often combined with Marble Falls, which is located about 30 minutes further north. I did a girls trip to Marble Falls this fall and had a blast. You can check out my adventures here! Spoiler- there’s more hiking, more food, and more wine involved.

Canyon Lake - The coolest Airbnb is located here, so I don’t think I’ll need any more convincing to visit Canyon Lake… Aside from that amazing Airbnb, there are tons of other unique places in the area to stay at including treehouse inspired cabins and waterfront homes. It sounds like the perfect place grab a bunch of friends to enjoy the great Texas outdoors while living in affordable luxury!

San Antonio - Everyone’s heard of the Alamo and the Riverwalk, but did you know that San Antonio also has the La Canterra Resort? The Resort has its own golf course, workout classes, walking trails, and spa treatments. It’s an ideal social distancing getaway and an opportunity for a cute staycation. And while you’re in town, why not check out the yummy Mexican food that is everywhere? Pearl District is a newly developed neighborhood that is filled to the brim with a variety of food and shopping options. Plus, there are world class museums, such as the McNay Art Museum (housed in a Spanish Revival style mansion) and the San Antonio Museum of Art, as well as outdoor activities like the San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio Botanical Gardens, and the Japanese Tea Gardens. There is obviously plenty to do and eat for everyone! Located only 3 hours from Houston and 2 hours from Austin, it definitely makes for a great weekend trip.

Fredericksburg - Filled with gorgeous vineyards and wineries as well the popular Enchanted Rock hike, Fredericksburg reads like the perfect girls weekend. To top it off, there are plenty of adorable Airbnb cottages surrounding the main street so even if crowds aren’t your thing and you want to continue social distancing, enjoying a cool Airbnb is still a great option here. Enchanted Rock is a state natural area that includes over 11 miles of hiking trails, including the most popular one to the summit of the rock for optimal viewing. Enchanted Rock does need advanced reservation though because there are capacity limits in place and it can get quite busy on the weekends. The most popular activity in Fredericksburg though is to tour the various wineries that surround the town. I have Das Peach Haus (check out its photos on Instagram because they are so pretty!), Grape Creek Vineyards, Pedernales Cellars, Fat Ass Ranch and Winery, and Fiesta Winery (also located in Marble Falls) all on my list. Although, I’m sure there are tons more out there!

Brenham/ Round Top - Home of the famous Blue Bell ice cream factory (with tons of free ice cream samples!) and the Round Top Antiques Fair (set for an October weekend), the towns of Brenham and Round Top would be the perfect day trip from Houston. It is only 2 hours away! There is also the most adorable bed and breakfast (The Frenchie Boutique Hotel) and an equally cute winery (Blue Mule) nearby that help set the scene for a fun trip. However, the biggest reason why people visit the area is for the bluebonnets in the spring! Texas’ state flower is in peak bloom come spring and the roads surrounding the towns is filled with them.

Corpus Christi - Imagine yourself sipping an iced latte on the balcony of your beachside Airbnb condo with the slight breeze and the smell of saltwater in the air. That image alone makes me want to head down to the Corpus Christi beach and spend a few days lounging in paradise. I recently heard about Lively Beach hotel, with its private beach access and spacious pool, and have been dying to book a reservation and experience the Corpus Christi beaches in paradise. In addition to the beaches, the town also has a Selena Museum (that is actually owned and operated by Selena’s family as this is their hometown), the South Texas Botanical Gardens, and cute coffee shops like, Hester’s Cafe.

Lufkin/Nacogdoches - Many people haven’t considered East Texas a real travel destination, but it does have a lot to offer! In short, its a great day trip for hiking and outdoor adventures that aren’t overflowing with visitors. I actually headed to Lufkin for a day trip earlier this summer- you can read about my adventures here.

Waco - Another random town I would have never been interested in before the pandemic, but now, after doing some research I’ve realized there are tons of fun activities in Waco! The biggest draw being the Magnolia Market, owned and operated by the famous couple Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame. I headed to Waco in October with my best friend and spent a glorious 2 days in the most unique Airbnb- check out our adventures here!

Fort Worth - It is often overshadowed by its neighboring city, Dallas, but Fort Worth should be a destination in its own right. With a little research, you’ll discover that the city has tons to offer. I spent 3 days in Fort Worth and discovered my share of world class museums (National Cowgirl Hall of Fame), outdoor experiences (Fort Worth Botanical Gardens), amazing food (Hatsuyaki Handroll Bar), and colleges (Texas Christian University). Check out my entire Fort Worth weekend here.

Marfa - Marfa has been on my list for a while now, but due to the distance (its almost 9 hours from Houston!) I still haven’t had a change to make the trip, Just the thought of eating the same Marfa Burrito that Matthew McConaughey ate and taking a photo in front of the iconic isolated Prada store (that isn’t actually a store…) makes me so excited. Other Marfa highlights include their mysterious green Marfa Lights and their unique art scene with art museums such as, the Chinati Foundation and the Ayn Foundation. The little town is also located less than an hour away from McDonald’s Observatory, which apparently is the place to stargaze.

I’ve heard of many other amazing small Texas towns that make fun little day trips and I’m hoping to check them all out as well! Let me know if any of yall have visited already:

• Ennis- Located an hour from Dallas and famous for its bluebonnet trail.

• Weatherford- There is an annual peach festival!

• Beaumont- Apparently, there is a giant fire hydrant located in the middle of town that was gifted in celebration of the 101 Dalmatians movie coming out.

• Farmesville- Hiking and anitiques make up this small town’s charm.