Panhandle

• If you are traveling through the Panhandle, you might want to spend a little time in Amarillo. Named after the Spanish word for yellow because of the color of the soil, Amarillo is a town steeped in the heritage of the Old West. A major local attraction is one of the nation's largest canyons (over 18,000 acres): Palo Duro Canyon. You might also be interested in visiting the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in Texas. You can also find the American Quarter Horse Museum as well as the Don Harrington Discovery Center with its brand new Digital Space Theater. And if you can eat a 72-ounce steak, they'll give it to you for free at the Big Texan Steak Ranch & Opry.
  
  

East

• For something completely different, you can visit Tyler, a small city in East Texas. Affectionately referred to as the rose capital of America, Tyler produces more commercial rose bushes than anywhere else in the world. Besides visiting the rose garden, which is a free attraction, you might also be interested in seeing the Texas Equestrian Center or the Historic Aviation Museum. In addition, Fire Mountain Amusement offers go-karts, bumper boats, miniature golf and a video arcade.
  
  Another interesting place to visit in East Texas is Glen Rose. Known as the dinosaur capital of Texas, Glen Rose is the home to Dinosaur Valley State Park, where visitors can come to look at authentic dinosaur tracks. You can also have your picture made with replicas of a 70-foot Apatosaurus and a 45-foot Tyrannosaurus rex. Additionally, Glen Rose is the home of Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and the preservation of their natural habitats.
  
  

Central

• Deep in the heart of Central Texas, you won't want to miss San Antonio, where you can remember the Alamo. In fact, more than 2.5 million people each year visit this 4.2-acre complex that includes the mission where a small band of Texans held out against the forces of Mexican Gen. Santa Anna. San Antonio is also known for its beautiful River Walk---sort of the Venice of Texas. You can take boat tours of the river through the heart of the city, or you could stay at one of the hotels that overlook the river. You can also eat at one of the many restaurants beside the river. For someone looking for a few thrills, San Antonio is the home of various theme parts, including: Sea World, Six Flags and Splashtown.
  
  

Coast

• No trip to Texas would be complete without visiting the Gulf Coast, and Corpus Christi is one of the most popular vacation spots in Texas. Corpus Christi has great opportunities for boating, swimming, sunbathing and fishing, and is near the largest undeveloped barrier island in the continental United States, Padre Island National Seashore. You might also be interested in visiting the USS Lexington -- Museum on the Bay, the Texas State Aquarium, Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Mustang Island State Park, Fulton Mansion, Texas Maritime Museum, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History and Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens. You can even see dolphins in their natural habitat in Corpus Christi Bay.