Sam Houston, who led the Texas Army in the Battle of San Jacinto, lived in Huntsville, where you can find his statue. The small historic town is some 70 miles north of Houston, the largest city in the Lone Star State. The city is in the East Texas Piney Woods region, and you can explore the history of the Wild West or enjoy the great outdoors. The city has a great location on the road between Houston and Dallas, and you can easily incorporate it into the Texas itinerary.
Foreign travellers on a Texas road trip must obtain travel authorization. The quickest and easiest way to get the permit is through the Visa ESTA USA program available for people from the Visa Waiver Program. A simple online application process, a three-day wait, will, in most cases, result in a travel authorization. With ESTA, you can travel without limits to the US, with a maximum stay in one visit up to 90 days.
Huntsville Texas attractions
Sam Houston had a pivotal role in the early Texas days, and you can learn more about the history of the place, his role as a leader in war, and as a politician by visiting Sam Houston Statue and Visitor Centre. In addition, there are numerous videos and maps about that period.
Historic Downtown Huntsville looks like you stepped in the 19th century with preserved buildings and style. Main Street is the place to browse antique stores and boutiques and find the best restaurants and cafes. All the biggest town festivities take place downtown.
You can experience the great outdoors in Huntsville State Park. Numerous hiking trails will guide you through pine trees characteristic of East Texas. Lake Raven offers fishing and some watersports opportunities, and State Park is famous for birdwatching, and you can spot many animals with wildlife very much alive in the area.
Oakwood Cemetery is the resting place for Sam Houston and some other notable historical figures. Joshua Houston was Sam’s slave who became a businessman, and Henerson Yoakum wrote the first history book on Texas in mid 19th century.
Sports lovers will come to its territory in Raven Nest Golf Club. An 18-hole course takes advantage of domestic pine trees, native grasses, creeks and follows the terrain. The popular golf club is among the most affordable in the broader Houston area.
There are some accommodation options in Huntsville, but you will have a much better offer in Houston. Some of the best hotels in Houston include Hilton Americas, Hyatt Regency, Cambria Hotel, The Lancaster and Marriott Marquis. In addition, you can find some more affordable options in Hampton Inn, Le Meridien Houston, Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham, and Aloft Houston.
Fun things to do in Cypress Texas
On the way out of Houston, you can stop in the unincorporated township of Cypress. Houston Premium Outlets is the go-to shopping spot in the area. A vast shopping area with countless shops and discounts will occupy you for hours if you like to buy clothes naturally.
The Boardwalk is another spot for great shopping and dining. Located on Towne Lake, you can find numerous restaurants, shops, and a business area, or you can take a walk on the lake shores.
Little Cypress Creek Preserve or Cypress Top Historical Park are other fun places to explore before heading on the road to follow your Texas Itinerary.
Sonora Texas things to do
Focusing on smaller Texas towns with exciting history, go west through San Antonio and stop in Sonora. On the way, do check out San Antonio Riverwalk and Alamo.
Sonora is a small town but offers plenty of fun things to do. Historic Main Street and Depot is a great place to start exploring. In addition, you can check out Sutton County Courthouse, Old Ice House Ranch Museum and a couple of preserved historic estates and buildings.
Sonora Old Ice Ranch Museum revolves around the story of Will Carver, an outlaw from Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch who was shot in the city in 1901. The museum is in the 1920s historic Ice House and holds memorabilia, and you can learn about the pioneering and outlaw days.
The biggest attraction in the region is the Caverns of Sonora, a well-known National Natural Landmark with 95% of the geological formation still in the making. The more accessible tours last under two hours and go almost two miles through the caverns. More advanced dwellers can choose Discovery Challenge Adventure Tour with four hours in the Caverns and a sneak-peek into Devils Pit.
If you want to explore outdoor West Texas, go to Eaton Hill Nature Center & Preserve. Wildlife preserve with trails on 37 acres estate will teach you about local animals and plants.
