Best of the Lone Star State

Day 1 : Arrive in Fort Worth

We arrive in Fort Worth, Texas and check in to our downtown accommodations.

Day 2 : Dallas

After breakfast at our centrally located hotel, embark on a Dallas city tour complete with major historical buildings, attractions, and places including Dealey Plaza, the birthplace of Dallas and Pioneer Plaza with its massive bronze cattle drive replica as well as the Dallas Police Memorial, Klyde Warren Park, the Arts District, Farmers Market, Thanksgiving Square, famous sculptures and much more! Take a self-guided tour of the 6th Floor Museum book depository that explores the life of JFK and his assassination. In the spirit of Texas’ state motto “Friendship,” we gather together for a Holiday Vacations Welcome Dinner.

Day 3 : The Wild West

Begin the day with a visit to Texas’ oldest botanical garden, the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, featuring 23 gardens with thousands of plant species and a 10,000-square-foot conservatory. We then have time to explore historic stockyards where “the West began.” The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is an embodiment of the Western way and heritage. With its original brick walkways and wooden corrals, every inch reveals history of the famous Texan livestock industry. Witness a longhorn cattle drive as the Fort Worth Herd are rounded up down the street.

Day 4 : George H. W. Bush Collections

Enjoy some morning sunshine at the Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, Texas where we may shop, visit the gardens, lounge on the lawn, and choose lunch from a variety of food trucks. From there we head to College Station and visit our 41st president George H. W. Bush’s Presidential Library and Museum where we learn about his fascinating life and presidency through exclusive film footage, photographs, artifacts, and documents. Traveling farther south into the heart of Texas this evening, we arrive in Austin and settle in for a two-night stay.

Day 5 : Austin

Today we experience Austin, the state capital of Texas. Start the day at the Bullock Texas State History Museum where we are immersed with Texan culture through film, stories, and other historical artifacts. We then tour the charming State Capitol. Spend the evening exploring, grabbing dinner, and enjoying the famously eccentric Texan city.

Day 6 : San Antonio River Walk

San Antonio bound, we shift gears with a morning visit to the Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historic Park and LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, chronicling the life of our 36th President. After enjoying the ranch’s natural beauty, we arrive in San Antonio where we check in to our hotel for two nights. This evening, board a River Walk flatboat for a cruise on the Paseo del Rio canal, located 20 feet below street level. Gain a unique perspective of the River Walk while the boat captain, famous for storytelling, entertains us with fascinating details of San Antonio’s past. The famous River Walk defines San Antonio with its beauty, public art, restaurants, bars, shops, and historic missions.

Day 7 : The Alamo

The story of the Alamo comes to life as we view Alamo: The Price of Freedom at the IMAX© Theatre. We are transported back to 1836 as the 13-day siege of the rise and fall of the Alamo is presented on the big screen. Then, witness the Alamo itself with a guided audio-tour, appreciating the architecture and cultural significance of the famous historic Spanish mission, its chapel now dubbed the “Shrine of Texas Liberty,” a bold symbol of the Texas Revolution. We conclude the afternoon with a factory tour of SAS Shoes to see how they make the “most comfortable shoes in the world.” Enjoy unstructured time in San Antonio this evening with your choices in dinner, exploration, and relaxation.

Day 8 : Houston

Our final day of Texan fun brings us to Houston, “Space City,” where we get to enjoy time at NASA! Experience a tram tour, movies, and exhibits at Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and a Smithsonian Affiliate. Savor a Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner before parting ways with new friends.

Day 9 : Arrive Home

We arrive home with fantastic memories from the Lone Star State.