Here, the best places to visit in Texas, according to a local.

Perhaps its that friendly Western hospitality and a range of dining options and activities that make it a win.

In theCultural District, visitors can check out five museums dedicated to art, science, and local history.

Sunset and golden hour light over the Guadalupe Mountains in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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TheFort Worth Zooremains one of the best in the U.S. today, too.

Theres also river access all around for fishing, swimming, and floating.

Terlingua is also home to two renowned chili cook-offs, which bring in thousands each fall.

River going by downtown Fort Worth

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Theres also lots of great art throughout town.

Trek to the “Top of Texas” (a.k.a.

Aside from 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, the park has 1,500 acres dedicated to horseback riding.

Austin, Texas skyline seen from the Loren at Lady Bird Lake

Mariah Tyler

Marfa

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This iconic Texas town is a trek, but its worth the drive.

The lights appear in a few different colors, and the cause is still argued today.

There are alsotwo tree houseswhere you could stay.

The garden at the McNay Museum of Art and the structure at Confluence Park

Mariah Tyler

In the downtown square, youll find everything from fine jewelry and boutique clothing to guitars and gourmet foods.

Whether you want room to roam or a great place for restaurants and shopping, this city delivers.

Birders love the area, too, as hundreds of species migrate through the area or call it home.

Desert landscape with plants in the foreground and the Chisos mountains in the distance in Terlingua, Texas

Mariah Tyler ©

Geocaching, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, and windsurfing are popular pastimes as well.

Fiery orange sunset on the beach on Mustang Island near Port Aransas, Texas

Courtesy of Visit Port Aransas

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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Red rocks and grasslands at Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo, Texas

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Aerial view of Marfa, Texas with mountain and desert in the surrounding landscape

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A man walking his dog pas the Pioneer Memorial Library in Fredericksburg, Texas

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Comal County courthouse and main street area of New Braunfels, Texas on a sunny day

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Inside the Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown, Texas

Courtesy of Visit Georgetown

The square’s courthouse in Denton, Texas

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Marina full of sailboats on a sunny clear sky day in Rockport, Texas

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