Texas
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Texas gives you the essential Lone Star State experience, from the vibrant live music scene and extraordinary food culture of Austin to the magnificent Big Bend National Park, the most remote and extraordinary national park in the contiguous United States, and the extraordinary Hill Country landscape of wildflowers and spring-fed rivers. This route covers the heart of Texas. The extraordinary 6th Street live music corridor and South Congress Avenue of Austin, the finest BBQ in America on the Texas BBQ Trail, the extraordinary Chisos Mountains and Santa Elena Canyon of Big Bend National Park and the extraordinary Barton Springs Pool and Sixth Street music clubs of Austin.
Best Time To Visit
October to April. Big Bend is brutally hot June to September.
Getting There
Fly into Austin-Bergstrom (AUS)
Getting Around
Rental car essential. Big Bend is 6 hours from Austin.
Budget Per Day
Approx $110 to $180 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some desert hiking
DAY 1
AUSTIN
MORNING
FRANKLIN BARBECUE AND THE TEXAS BBQ TRAIL
Franklin Barbecue on East 11th Street is the most celebrated BBQ restaurant in the world, its extraordinary brisket, pork ribs and pulled pork smoked over post oak for 18 hours earning the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant and the first perfect score ever given by Texas Monthly. The queue begins at 9am for an 11am opening. The restaurant sells out daily by 1pm. The brisket is the most extraordinary single piece of smoked meat in America. Approx $25 per pound. Drive: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE AND THE BARTON SPRINGS POOL
South Congress Avenue is the most extraordinary street in Austin, its extraordinary strip of vintage clothing boutiques, food trailers, independent bookshops and the legendary Continental Club honky-tonk giving the finest example of the Keep Austin Weird culture. Barton Springs Pool, a 900-foot spring-fed swimming pool in Zilker Park maintained at 68 degrees year-round by the Barton Springs, is the most extraordinary urban swimming hole in America. Pool entry $9. Drive: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
6TH STREET LIVE MUSIC CORRIDOR
6TH STREET LIVE MUSIC CORRIDOR 1.5 hours Austin's 6th Street is the most extraordinary live music street in America, its extraordinary three-block Dirty 6th of bars playing live country, blues, rock and jazz from 2pm to 2am every day of the year alongside the more refined Rainey Street bar district and the honky-tonks of Red River Cultural District. The Continental Club on South Congress is the finest live music venue in Austin, its extraordinary nightly programming unchanged since 1957. Most venues free before 9pm.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin is the finest hidden outdoor recreation area in any American city, its extraordinary 12 miles of hiking and swimming holes through limestone canyon walls entirely free and within 10 minutes of downtown. The Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls swimming holes are extraordinary. Free. The finest hidden gem in Austin.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Juan in a Million, East Austin The finest breakfast taco in Texas. Extraordinary Don Juan taco with eggs, potato, bacon and cheese. | Lunch: Franklin Barbecue The most extraordinary BBQ in America. Queue from 9am. Extraordinary brisket, ribs and sausage. | Dinner: Uchi, Austin The finest Japanese restaurant in Texas. Extraordinary sushi and hot plates with local Texas ingredients.
DAY 2
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, THE MOST REMOTE PARK IN THE LOWER 48
Big Bend National Park is the most extraordinary and remote national park in the contiguous United States, its extraordinary 801,163 acres of Chihuahuan Desert, Rio Grande canyons and the Chisos Mountains giving more diversity of landscape than any other park in Texas. The extraordinary Chisos Basin, a bowl of mountains rising to 7,832 feet from the desert floor, is the finest base in the park. The view from the Window Trail at sunset is the most extraordinary in Big Bend. Entry $35 per vehicle. Drive: 5.5 hr drive
MIDDAY
SANTA ELENA CANYON, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CANYON IN TEXAS
Santa Elena Canyon is the most extraordinary canyon in Texas, its extraordinary 1,500-foot sheer walls of Mesa de Anguila rising directly from the Rio Grande in a slot canyon accessible by a short trail that crosses the creek at the canyon mouth. The extraordinary turquoise reflection of the canyon walls in the still water at the canyon entrance is the finest sight in Big Bend. The trail through the canyon gives extraordinary close-range views of the limestone walls. Entry free with park pass. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RIO GRANDE VILLAGE AND THE DESERT STARS
Big Bend National Park has the darkest skies of any national park in the lower 48 states, its extraordinary remoteness from any significant light pollution giving a Milky Way view from the Chisos Basin or Rio Grande Village that is the most extraordinary stargazing experience in Texas. The Hot Springs historic district at Rio Grande Village with its extraordinary natural hot spring on the bank of the Rio Grande is the finest soak in the park. Hot springs free with park entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Boquillas del Carmen in Mexico is the most extraordinary border crossing in America, a rowboat ferry across the Rio Grande from the Big Bend Boquillas Canyon trailhead landing in a tiny Mexican village of 200 people entirely off the grid. The extraordinary cold beer and tamales at Jose's cantina are unmissable. Passport required. Free ferry, tips appreciated.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Starlight Theatre, Terlingua The most legendary restaurant near Big Bend. Outstanding local Texas cuisine and live music most nights. | Lunch: Chisos Mountains Lodge Dining Room Outstanding lunch inside the park. Local Texas beef, green chile and Rio Grande views from the terrace. | Dinner: Starlight Theatre, Terlingua The finest dinner near Big Bend. Outstanding Texas BBQ and live music in the most extraordinary ghost town.
DAY 3
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
MORNING
ENCHANTED ROCK STATE NATURAL AREA
Enchanted Rock is the most extraordinary natural landmark in the Texas Hill Country, its extraordinary 425-foot pink granite dome rising from the surrounding live oak and cedar woodland in a geological formation 1.1 billion years old. The summit trail gives the finest 360-degree view of the Hill Country. The extraordinary vernal pools at the summit support unique fairy shrimp and spadefoot toads. The Comanche and Tonkawa people regarded the rock as sacred. Entry $8. Drive: 2 hr drive
MIDDAY
FREDERICKSBURG AND THE TEXAS WINE COUNTRY
Fredericksburg is the most extraordinary small town in the Texas Hill Country, its extraordinary Main Street of 19th-century German immigrant architecture housing the finest concentration of wineries, peach orchards and antique shops in Texas. The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg is the finest WWII museum in America, honoring Admiral Chester Nimitz. The Fredericksburg Brewing Company is the oldest craft brewery in Texas. Museum entry approx $20. Town free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
LUCKENBACH TEXAS
Luckenbach Texas is the most extraordinary honky-tonk venue in America, its extraordinary 1849 general store and dance hall the living embodiment of outlaw country music and the spirit of the Texas Hill Country. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jerry Jeff Walker all made Luckenbach famous. The dance hall has free music every weekend and the bar serves cold Lone Star beer to a crowd of cowboys, tourists and locals in extraordinary harmony. Free entry to grounds.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Willow City Loop near Fredericksburg is the finest bluebonnet drive in Texas, its extraordinary 13-mile private ranch road open to the public in April when the limestone hills are carpeted in the state flower of Texas in the most extraordinary wildflower display in America. Free. Open only during peak blooms in April. The finest hidden gem in the Hill Country.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Rather Sweet Bakery, Fredericksburg The finest bakery in the Texas Hill Country. Extraordinary peach kolaches and strong Texas coffee. | Lunch: Auslander Restaurant, Fredericksburg Outstanding German-Texas lunch. Extraordinary schnitzel, sausage and Hill Country beer. | Dinner: August E's, Fredericksburg The finest restaurant in Fredericksburg. Extraordinary local Texas venison, lamb and Hill Country wine.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Austin, Night 1 Hotel Saint Cecilia or South Congress Hotel. Approx $150 to $280 per night. Terlingua or Study Butte, Night 2 Lajitas Golf Resort or Big Bend Motor Inn. Approx $100 to $200 per night. Fredericksburg, Night 3 Fredericksburg Inn or Cotton Gin Village. Approx $120 to $200 per night.
Top Tips
1. Franklin Barbecue in Austin opens at 11am and sells out by 1pm. Join the queue by 9am for the finest BBQ in America.
2. Big Bend has the darkest skies of any national park in the lower 48 states. The Milky Way from Chisos Basin is extraordinary.
3. Barton Springs Pool in Austin is free before 8am. The spring-fed 68-degree water in summer heat is extraordinary.
4. Luckenbach Texas is the finest honky-tonk dance hall in America. Free music every weekend. No cover charge.
5. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area sells out online before 9am on weekends. Book at texas.reserveamerica.com.
6. The Willow City Loop near Fredericksburg in April is the most extraordinary bluebonnet drive in Texas. Go early.
Total Budget
$110 to $180/day