Texas Bucket List: Top 10 Creative Travel Experiences
With a diverse landscape, rich art culture, and plenty of unique attractions, Texas offers an inspiring creative travel experience for all types of creative minds. Here are the 10 unique creative travel experiences for your Texas bucket list.
There are many reasons to visit Texas for creativity. Whether you’re looking for unique experiences to inspire creativity or seeking a creative Airbnb surrounded by nature to work in peace, there are endless possibilities to personalize your trip to the Lone Star State.
This Texas bucket list is designed around travel elements that can boost creativity and support well-being. To get the most out of your Texas trip, set travel goals and learn how to plan a creative retreat to travel deeper and have a more meaningful adventure.
Texas Bucket List
- Hike Big Bend National Park
- Attend South by Southwest (SXSW)
- Explore the San Antonio River Walk
- Spray Paint a Cadillac at Cadillac Ranch
- Cruise Route 66
- Visit the State Fair of Texas
- Marvel at the Painted Churches
- Be a Cowboy at a Dude Ranch
- Float Down a River
- See the Bluebonnets
The Best Time to Visit Texas
Spring
The best time to visit Texas is in the spring, from March to May. Spring has the most comfortable and mild weather and is when wildflowers begin to bloom, like the bluebonnets that you will find on this list.
Fall months from September to November can also be a great time to visit with fewer tourists and comfortable weather.
Winters can be cheaper and still enjoyable if you bundle up and don’t mind the more of a chill, but Summers are hot, humid, and very dry.
Hike Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park, located in West Texas and bordering Mexico, is a geological marvel rich with cultural history. Named after a large bend in the Rio Grande/Río Bravo, this national park has many activities to inspire the creative mind.
From scenic drives, hikes, camping, hot springs, fossil, and many more activities to connect with nature and the park’s history.
Travel Tips
- Stay at a unique and creative Airbnb nearby.
- Be mindful of the seasons. Fall and spring are the best recommended times to visit.
- Book camping and lodging in advance.
- Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated.
- Take a river rafting trip to explore Big Bend in a unique and refreshing way.
- Reconsider taking pets. Dogs are allowed in campgrounds and roads but aren’t allowed on most of the trails.
Attend South by Southwest (SXSW)
South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual festival featuring a collection of film, cutting-edge interactive media, music festivals, and creative conferences in mid-March in Austin, Texas. Whether you’re going for fun, networking, or other creative reasons, this festival is a must for any creative travel bucket list.
Thousands of people and creative minds from all over the world descend upon Austin, Texas, to participate in this event. The conference lasts for ten days, with the interactive track lasting for five days, music for seven days, and film for nine days. There are plenty of creative things to do and see.
Travel Tips
- Book and plan early.
- Don’t just do SXSW events. Explore Austin.
- Visit the Cathedral of Junk by Vincent Hanneman, which is a giant sculptural structure made entirely of discarded items.
- Network. Creatives come from all over to learn, network, and share their creativity.
- Be patient, walk and avoid driving downtown.
Explore the San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio is a popular travel destination and Texas bucket list destination, packed with a rich colonial heritage, including the famous Alamo. When visiting, one creative experience you don’t want to miss is the San Antonio Riverwalk.
The River Walk is a city park and special-case pedestrian street one level down from the automobile street where visitors can wander down a river, take a boat tour, sit down for a great with to the sounds of a mariachi band, and more.
If you’re visiting during the spring, enjoy the springtime Fiesta San Antonio and the River Parade, where flowery boats float down the river.
Travel Tips
- The recommended best time to visit is between 5 and 6 pm.
- Vist creative stops along the river like the San Antonio Museum of Art, Arneson River Theatre, Aztec Theatre, La Villita Historic Arts Village, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, and more.
- Celebrate Chinese New Year in San Antonio, where guests can personalize candle-lit paper lanterns and send them floating on the river.
- Plan a meal at one of the many amazing restaurants along the river walk.
Spray Paint a Cadillac at Cadillac Ranch
Few monuments are as interactive and unique as Cadillac Ranch. This roadside attraction has welcomed creative travelers since the 70s. Visitors are welcome to spray paint and leave their mark on one of the ten artful Cadillacs sticking out of the ground.
Created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels from the Ant Farm art group, this unique attraction is a fun stop for any Texas road trip and bucket list. Many famous creatives have visited the site and even used the imagery in their creativity. Bruce Springsteen has a “Cadillac Ranch” song on his 1980 album The River. James Brown featured the ranch in his music video for the 1985 song “Living in America.” In 2020, Rihanna shared a political message and “art” selfie to show her disapproval of Donald Trump.
Whatever your goal or message is Cadillac Ranch is a fun road trip stop for creative expression.
Travel Tips
- Bring your own spray paint.
- Bring a camera.
- Pick up your trash. Don’t litter.
- Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Cruise Route 66
Few roads are as famous as U.S. Route 66, which was one of the first U.S. highways. Of the 2,448 miles (3,940 km) that route 66 covers, you can travel 180 miles of the famous highway through the Texas Panhandle between Shamrock and Adrian.
Route 66 has symbolized escape and adventure in creative works since the 1960s, with the most popular being the hit song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” by Bobby Troup.
If you’re planning a Texas road trip, you don’t want to forget this route on your Texas bucket list, as it also includes many other creative travel destinations like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo.
Travel Tips
- Stop at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo.
- Be spontaneous and enjoy all the unique and quirky stops along the way.
- Keep the creative mind active and entertained on your road trip by playing some road trip games.
- Stop at the unique Galleries at Sunset Center, Amarillo.
- Take a break at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, the official center of Route 66.
Visit the State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas in Dallas at the historic Fair Park is considered one of the best in America and has a long history going back to 1886.
Celebrate all things Texas in this family-friendly environment packed with fun attractions and creative entertainment.
Play is an important element in all types of travel, especially creative travel. Adding destinations like the state fair to your creative travel bucket list is a great way to celebrate the joy of being a kid again. There are also plenty of attractions for adults like the auto show, beer garden, concerts, rodeo, and more.
Travel Tips
- Don’t try to get everything done in one day.
- Be sure to protect yourself from that hot Texas sun.
- Bring comfortable shoes as you will be walking a lot.
- Catch the pig races, pumpkin painting, backyard circus, starlight parade, and more ways to play.
- Visit the Creative Arts Building to see hundreds of Texans share their creative and unique arts, crafts, culinary creations, cooking demonstrations, butter carving, performing arts, and more.
- Enjoy some beautiful views from the Texas Star Ferris Wheel.
- Dive into the Texas history and culture at the Hall of State.
- It’s not the healthiest of food choices, but the State Fair of Texas has some delicious and interesting options.
- Try the many fried foods like fried Oreos, fried twinkies, fried Dr.Pepper, fried pickles, fried beer, fried fruit loop, and more. Basically, anything you can imagine but fried.
- Also, don’t forget to try the famous corny dog.
Marvel at the Painted Churches
The Painted Churches in Texas are a hidden gem in Texas and a great creative activity for your Texas bucket list. Dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s, these creative churches were built and painted by Czech and German immigrants who came to Texas to start a new life.
Simple on the outside, these churches are a beautiful surprise when you step inside and see the bright colors, detailed designs, and creative storytelling through art about the heritage of these creative immigrants.
Travel Tips
- Find over 20 painted churches in the Texas Hill Country in Moravia, Praha, Giddings, Serbin, La Grange, Dubina, Fredericksburg, Ammannsville, Flatonia, and Schulenburg.
- St. Mary’s Church High Hill in Schulenburg is considered the “Queen of the Painted Churches.”
- Join a painted churches tour to learn more about the history.
- All but one of the churches are still active. If you’re planning a visit on Sunday, wait until the afternoon when services have finished.
Be a Cowboy at a Dude Ranch
Who hasn’t wanted to be a cowboy at some point?
There’s a lot to enjoy in the cowboy life, traveling across the open range, riding off into the sunset, and sleeping under the stars. In this modern world full of distractions, it is hard to find a moment of peace and connection with nature.
If you’re seeking the simple life and wanting to unleash your inner cowboy on your creative vacation to Texas, there are many dude ranches where you can live out your western fantasies.
Dude ranches are a great way to learn how to ride a horse, go skeet shooting, fishing, trick roping, and more. Whether you’re looking to rough it like the wild west or find a balance between luxury and life on the range, Texas has some of the best dude ranches in the USA.
Travel Tips
- Many dude ranches also have summer programs for kids.
- Get the right gear. Check what you will be needing before arriving, such as; breathable jeans or riding pants, boots, gloves, hat, etc.
- Find the right ranch for your creative travel goals.
- Listen to the cowboy stories from the ranchers and wranglers.
- Don’t rush. Enjoy slow travel to soak in all the beauty and unique experiences.
Float Down a River
Texas gets hot, especially during the summer when the heat can be unbearable. One way to beat the heat, enjoy the Texas scenery, and enjoy other fun activities in the water is to float down a river.
River floating is a popular travel activity not just for tourists but also for locals, and there are also many ways to enjoy a river float. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing float, party floats, or even white water rafting, there are many water activities for all types of creative travel.
Travel Tips
- Best Texas Tubing Rivers:
- Guadalupe River, Blanco River, San Marcos River, Comal River, Pedernales River, Frio River, South Llano River, Brazos River, Trinity River, Colorado River, and Medina River.
- Many of the rivers are in state parks and camping spots that you can attach to your experience.
- BYOB, bring an extra tube and cooler to pack snacks and drinks to enjoy along the river. Remember, don’t pollute! Bring a bag to bring all your trash with you.
- Best Texas White Water Rafting:
- Guadalupe River, Hill Country rivers, and Rio Grande River.
See the Bluebonnets
The Texas bluebonnet or Texas lupine is the state flower of Texas. The bluebonnet flower fields are a must for any texas bucket list as these fields are as calming as they are eye-catching.
There are many legends about the flower, with the most famous being their origin from the Spanish explorers, believing they brought the seeds as a good luck charm for the new land.
Since time in nature is such an important aspect of creativity, you’re gonna want to stop and smell these flowers. It’s also a great opportunity to stop and be in the present moment. The pleasant smell and wind rushing through the air can aid your senses to focus and relax.
Travel Tips
- Spring, especially March, is the best time to start finding these bluebonnet fields.
- Best Places to See Bluebonnets in Texas:
- Marble Falls, Llano, Terlingua, Fredericksburg, Atascosa county, Mason County, Ennis, Washington County, Brenham, Willow City Loop, Big Bend, and many more.
- Bluebonnet festivals, featuring arts and craft fairs, take place all over Texas during spring.
- Improve your photography and other art skills with the many Texas bluebonnet creative workshops, guided tours, and self-guided tours.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
