Texas

From Wikitravel

Texas is the second-biggest state in the United States of America -- although some Texans will maintain that it is a country all to its own. Originally a territory of Mexico, Texas rebelled in 1836 and became its own nation for 10 years before joining the USA in 1845. Texas has maintained its independent spirit, and in fact the state makes a definite travel destination all its own.

Known for their generosity and overall friendliness, Texans are great people to meet. Texans also have a tremendous sense of Texas pride. No other state (well not many) in the United States features their state flag so prominently in businesses, on the backs of pickup trucks and in advertisements.

Table of contents

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Regions

Panhandle -- Amarillo, Wichita Falls - Dust storms, cotton, the Llano Estacado
Prairies and Lakes -- Dallas, Fort Worth
Piney Woods -- Piney Woods, bayous, and Civil War and Civil Rights history
Gulf Coast -- Houston, Galveston, Beaumont islands and beaches
South Texas Plains -- San Antonio, Laredo - Border country along the Rio Grande
Hill Country -- Austin - Historic and state capital
Big Bend Country -- El Paso

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Cities

Addison
Austin - State capital and home to the largest university in the USA - University of Texas
Dallas
El Paso
Fort Worth
Galveston
Houston - Home to NASA and many oil companies
Irving
Midland
San Antonio
Kemah - South of Houston near the coast
Fredericksburg
Plano
Texas City

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Other Destinations

South Padre Island

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Understand

Western Texas is very warm and dry in the summer (commonly higher than 100F or 38C).

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Get around

Texas has a very good system of freeways which make travelling between cities easy. Texas freeways have frontage roads which parallel the freeway.

Speed limits are very strictly enforced in and near small towns in Texas.

Texas is home to major airlines American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines each of which connects to major cities around the world. American and Continental fly to many Texas locations through their hubs in Dallas and Houston respectively. Southwest is the no frills discounter granddad and flies throughout Texas.

Since Texas cities are geographically dispersed, travel by train is expensive. For example, traveling from Houston (east) to El Paso (far west) is one-half of the distance from Houston to Los Angelos.

Greyhound provides intercity bus service.

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