Gaye, as Lucy Jones mentioned, TxDOT publishes Texas Highways magazine. The magazine's url is http://www.texashighways.com/. You can check there for a listing of destinations and upcoming events. Looking at the website may give you an idea of what the various parts of Texas look like, because, at the risk of echoing a major Texas cliche, Texas is big and diverse. I would recommend going out to El Paso, but ELP is 600 miles from Austin. If you have the time, I think the beautiful hill country and west Texas are worth the trip. The area around Cuidad Juarez and ELP is where the first Spanish entradas from 1581 on crossed the Rio Grande going north to what became New Mexico (El Paso del Norte=Pass of the North). The archeology is fascinating, the food wonderful, statistically the city is very safe, and you can get a real flavor of Northern Mexico without going into drug war-torn Juarez. 
 
In reference to archeology, check out http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/ for information on the types of archeological sites in Texas. 
 
I would also recommend San Antonio as many other listers have. Go to the places mentioned, but include a visit to the Institute of Texas Cultures (http://texancultures.com/). At least 32 different groups immigrated to Texas, and that diversity is reflected regionally. Despite what others may imply, Texas was settled by 'foreign entities' and that tradition is upheld. 
 
Oh, and, I do live in Austin, I grew up on a ranch, and one of my ancestors died in the Easter Massacre at Goliad (and his father signed the Texas Declaration of Independence). BJH
 
 
 
Barbara J Hickman, Staff Archeologist
Archeological Studies Program
Environmental Affairs Division
Texas Department of Transportation
125 East 11th Street
Austin TX 78701
Telephone: 512.416.2637
Fax: 512.416.2680
 

As of 1 August 2010, my email address has changed to [log in to unmask] Please update your address book.



 
>>> On 29 October, 2010 at 5:38 AM, in message <[log in to unmask]>, Gaye Nayton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi all



I am going to the SHA conference in Texas and want to look around Texas
afterwards to see how they present their historic heritage. So:

.         what are the best must see western/historic heritage attractions
in the state (I am already going to the Alamo) are there any natural wonders
I should not miss?

.         I am on my own so does anyone know of any great tours (small
groups though not bus loads) or ways to organise for a personalised tour/s.
I had a great time in Arizona when a docent of the Flagstaff museum drove me
around her part of the state and introduced me to all the locals she knew
who did public archaeology or archaeology. A student at the uni also took me
on a personalised day tour of the Painted Desert. I paid the student for the
tour and the docent by buying up big at her museum as she would not take
payment. Satisfaction all around.

.         Can anyone recommend a dude ranch experience. There are lots to
choose from but it's hard to tell the duds from the good ones from the
advertising.



I have always wanted to go to Texas, having been raised on a steady diet of
B grade westerns. Now I have the chance I don't want to miss anything.



Cheers Gaye

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