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TexasNature & adventure

Our most recommended Texas Nature & adventure

Austin: Sunset Bat Watching Kayak Tour

1. Austin: Sunset Bat Watching Kayak Tour

Witness the incredible spectacle of millions of Mexican Free-tailed bats emerging from beneath Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset. Get the best view from a kayak on the river below to watch one of the city's most celebrated natural attractions. Meet your guide for an introductory paddling lesson, and learn all about how the local bat colony came to make the bridge their home. As you paddle the waterways towards the bridge, you'll get to see Austin's gorgeous downtown skyline and bridges along Lady Bird Lake, locally known as Town Lake. Get a chance to snap social media-worthy photos as the bats form enormous surreal dancing clouds, and ascend into the night sky. Once the tour is over you'll make your way back to the starting point.

Houston: Downtown Aquarium All Day Pass

2. Houston: Downtown Aquarium All Day Pass

Step inside a six-acre entertainment complex that houses a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland and is home to over 300 aquatic species from around the globe. Take advantage of an all-day adventure pass that includes entry to the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, Stingray Reef, and unlimited amusement rides. Marvel at the different fish and other types of marine life as you make your way through 8 different areas including the Louisiana swamp, an underwater shipwreck, tropical rainforest, a sunken temple, an offshore rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the education room, and the maharaja’s temple. Get up close and personal with the fascinating creatures of Stingray Reef, where you can touch and feed live stingrays. You can also enjoy unlimited rides that include the Aqua Wheel, Shark Voyage Train, Lighthouse Dive, Diving Bell Ferris Wheel, Aquatic Carousel, and Frog Hopper.

Waco: Horseback Riding Tour with Cowboy Guide

3. Waco: Horseback Riding Tour with Cowboy Guide

Head off on a guided horseback riding adventure through the beautiful countryside just outside of Waco. Enjoy an accessible activity, suitable for all skill levels, with expert cowboys serving as your guide through the rural landscape. Upon arrival at the ranch, meet your expert guides who will introduce you to your horse companion. Benefit from an introductory lesson on how to ride your calm and approachable horse, ensuring that you will be comfortable and safe throughout the adventure. Set off on the ranch and learn more about the life of cowboys in the modern day with your guides. Imagine what it is like to live away from the stresses of modern life. Ride through open fields and down tranquil forest paths. Have photos taken of your adventure which will be sent to you afterward.

Houston Museum of Natural Science: Cockrell Butterfly Center

4. Houston Museum of Natural Science: Cockrell Butterfly Center

Visit the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Walk through a living butterfly habitat, admire spectacular live and preserved specimens of some of the world’s largest and weirdest arthropods, and enjoy interactive games and quizzes. Upon arrival, enter a three-story glass structure built around a 50-foot (15-meter) waterfall. Once inside, discover a simulated tropical rainforest filled with exotic plants and hundreds of live butterflies imported from butterfly farms around the world. Marvel as these delicate creatures flutter through the vegetation, stop to sip nectar or fruit juices, and occasionally alight on lucky visitors. Feel the enchantment continue with astounding living insects, mounted specimens, larger-than-life models, and interactive games. Search for camouflaged creatures, meet a cricket weatherman, learn how insects are used to solve crimes, watch leaf cutter ants at work, see giant wasp nests, get a close-up look of some of Houston’s largest cockroaches, and more. Tucked underneath the waterfall and behind the cenote pool, discover how insects are particularly important to humans. Listen to interviews with real-life entomologists and take a peek into an entomologist’s lab, where you can look up close at insect specimens. The last entry of the day is at 5:30 PM.

San Antonio: UNESCO World Heritage Missions Tour

5. San Antonio: UNESCO World Heritage Missions Tour

Experience the beauty and history of the great city of San Antonio. Throughout this experience, you will visit several of the Spanish-influenced landmarks on the river, which was named in honor of San Antonio de Padua. Travel to sites such as Mission San José, Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan, and Mission San Francisco de Espada on this guided, half-day sightseeing tour. Watch birds and wildlife along the new Mission Riverwalk Hike and Bike Trail, and experience mission life at Mission San Jose and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Visitor Center. Later, view original frescoes at Mission Concepción, before seeing the old Espada Acequia (irrigation system) with its dam and aqueduct which are still in use today. You will also enjoy mission silhouettes with Spanish and Moorish-influenced architecture against the South Texas Sky, which makes for a magical sight.

SEA LIFE Aquarium San Antonio

6. SEA LIFE Aquarium San Antonio

Explore the magical underwater world at SEA LIFE Aquarium San Antonio. Immerse yourself in a tropical sea where sharks and rays swim overhead in 155,000 gallons of water. Be amazed by the underwater ocean tunnel. See the aquarium’s largest sharks and fish swim directly overhead for the ultimate shark selfie. Reach in and touch a chocolate chip sea star, sea anemones, hermit crabs, and more. Dive into a shipwreck to spot some of the most unique creatures at SEA LIFE San Antonio. Be mesmerized at a technicolor reef full of live corals, count the schooling bannerfish, and wave hello to beautiful coral fish. Optionally, you may choose to also experience the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center San Antonio. Surround yourself with LEGO Bricks, take flight on Merlin's Apprentice ride, blast skeletons on Kingdom Quest ride, and see your favorite characters on screen.

Grapevine: SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium General Admission

7. Grapevine: SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium General Admission

Embark on an underwater adventure and escape to a magical world at SEA LIFE Grapevine. Here, you’ll be offered a wave of underwater adventures with sea animals from around the globe. Encounter more than 5,000 sea creatures and learn about the diversity of marine life. Head to Stingray Bay and be amazed by these magnificent creatures. Then make your way to Rainforest Adventure and explore the mysterious world of the rainforest. Meet SEA LIFE’s two caimans, Mulder and Scully, or if you dare, venture through the Piranha Tunnel. Enter a kaleidoscope of color at Clownfish Caves where you’ll witness underwater cities teeming with fish that come in every shape, color, and pattern. Then learn more about the captivating jellyfish at Jellyfish Discovery and watch them dance through the water. Explore the awe-inspiring Ocean Tunnel where you can take a stroll under the sea. Make sure to enjoy the views as shoals of glittering fish flutter along beside you while sharks, rays, and two rescued green sea turtles, Thally and Eddie, glide over your head. Discover the Seahorse Temple and get up close to these mythical creatures as they grip at seagrass with their curly tails and suck up tiny shrimp with their straw-like snouts. Then make your way towards the Interactive Rockpools and see amazing rockpool creatures such sea stars, urchins, anemones, and more. After, get up close with the Moray eel, one of the most fascinating creatures at SEA LIFE Grapevine.

Cow Town Ghosts: Hauntings of the Wild West

8. Cow Town Ghosts: Hauntings of the Wild West

Step back in time and wind through the haunted streets of the wild, wild west. See Fort Worth's most haunted spots as you discover the city's dark past on this history-packed ghost tour by US Ghost Adventures. Meet your guide at the Stockyards Museum, where Fort Worth earned the nickname “Cowtown.” From there, explore 8 historic, haunted locations, unearthing stories of gunfights, stagecoach robbers, brothels, and rodeo stars. Hunt for the spirit of John Wayne at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and guard your wallet from outlaw Sam Bass at Second Rodeo Brewing. At the final stop, delve into the chilling tale of the city’s last gunfight — a dramatic showdown between corrupt Sheriff Longhair Jim Courtright and White Elephant Saloon owner Luke Short. Who won? Let the spirits tell you.

Waco: Sunset Horseback Ride with Campfire, S'mores, & Games

9. Waco: Sunset Horseback Ride with Campfire, S'mores, & Games

Nothing says romance like riding off into the sunset like in a Western movie. Step into the shoes of a Texan cowboy for the evening. Explore a typical Texas ranch mounted on your steed during a riding tour. Play games, eat s'mores, and share stories around the campfire. Meet your guide and horse at the ranch. Listen to the guide's instructions to ensure you and your horse have a relaxing ride, especially if you have little or no experience. Then, mount your horse and set off along the trail for an unforgettable horse-riding experience with a distinctly Texan twist. Stop at a scenic cowboy camp viewpoint to admire the beautiful colors in the sky. Dismount for a break around the campfire. Toast s'mores and warm up with a hot drink as it gets colder when the sun goes down. Play fun cowboy-themed games before mounting your horse again and returning to the ranch.

Austin: City and Hill Country Non-Stop Tour in a Mercedes

10. Austin: City and Hill Country Non-Stop Tour in a Mercedes

Explore Austin with some real locals, covering 30 miles of interesting sights. Sit back and relax in a 14-passenger Mercedes-Benz sprinter and enjoy Austin's attractions and landmarks. Visit local hangouts, learn about the live music scene, the “Keep Austin Weird” culture, and the city’s extraordinary gastronomic scene. Go to the Six Square District in East Austin, where you'll learn more about Austin’s Black music, arts, and cultural history. Let a local resident be your guide as you discover lively parks, trendy shopping districts, and the Hill Country’s lakes and vistas.

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What people are saying about Texas

Overall rating

4.1 / 5

based on 7 reviews

Everything was great. Michael was a great tour guide. I don’t appreciate the push for tips though. We got told in the beginning and end that they accepts tips in different forms. Felt very pressured. The tour isn’t cheap to begin with and we are paying for the service. I am not a fan of being pressured to tip. If he went over and above for us, we are perfectly happy to tip but when people push for tips like that, it puts a sour taste in my mouth.

So much fun ! The driver and the description was so thoroughly explained and fun! We learned so much(myself my husband and our 2 yo daughter) about the city of Austin!Loved the path and all the food recommendations too! Usually guide tours are boring and not worth the money but THIS ONE WAS DEFINITELY WORTH IT and to be honest it was a great price! The bus was so clean and spacious as well (smelled great too lol!)

The San Antonio Mission tour is very informative. Just the right amount of time and interaction at each mission. Alex G is a great tour guide. His overall knowledge and information were appreciated and he made the trip fun.

My guide Michael was great. eventhough it was a rainy day he showed me around and i got a great overview of Austin

This was a great value. We got to see all the important sites and learned a lot.