9 Top Places To Visit In Texas This Fall
The fall season is full of festivals, events, and one-of-a-kind experiences across the massive state of Texas. From attractions like the River Walk in San Antonio and the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission to the gorgeous vistas of foliage at Big Bend National Park, autumn is a bustling time in the Lone Star State. With nearly all small towns accessible through central hubs like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, visitors can plan multiple exciting getaways during the cooler months to the top places to visit this fall without extensive travel.
Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), Austin
Since 2002, the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Zilker Park, Austin, has been one of Texas travelers' most popular fall destinations. Dozens of top artists in multiple genres play the event, making it a high-traffic attraction. The event draws an average of around 450,000 people to the area for those two weekends in October. Its placement in the cooler months rarely has the event peaking above a manageable 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Combining that with 350 acres of beautiful property changing its appearance as autumn sets in, the venue becomes a haven for nature and music fans alike.
Despite the impressive lineups and excitement about the festival every year, coming to the performances also allows you the opportunity to explore Austin’s many dining spots, attractions, and cultural centers. For example, South Congress Avenue is only a few miles from ACL and features local favorites like Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, and Home Slice Pizza. As the "Live Music Capital of the World," there is more to the city and what it offers fall travelers than a fun ACL weekend.
San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio
Despite its being such an old and classic component of the structural and economic stability of San Antonio, the River Walk continuously provides fresh, seasonally appropriate activities and offerings for travelers. The River Walk itself is designed for long strolls. The walkways follow a very active river with boat traffic to shuttle people up and down this shopping district. Fresh foods and dining dishes become more of a staple during the fall season, including the Pearl Farmers Market in the nearby district. Al fresco dining is also prevalent in locations like The Boiler House or Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery.
While you can spend hours on a day trip wandering the River Walk, it is a gateway to the Mission Historic District in San Antonio. The iconic shopping destination is mere minutes on foot from one of history's most recognizable locations, the Alamo. With the cooler weather of the fall season, walking tours of the city and longer days on foot are much more manageable. When you include fall events like the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, the fall becomes a very appealing time to visit San Antonio.
Big Bend National Park
When you come to Texas, it is not hard to find attractive views. The wonders of nature abound within multiple ecosystems, like forests, deserts, and coastlines. Big Bend National Park is one of the most iconic examples of preserved natural wonder, which comes even more alive during the fall seasons. The cooler temperatures, rarely exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit, become an appealing environment for avid hikers, as the park features more than 150 miles of trails. The destination does experience leaves changing colors as well, creating a stunning experience of witnessing nature’s renewal.
Stay in the area for more than a day and check out the Terlingua Ghost Town nearby, pointing to the area’s rich mining history and paranormal connections.
Wurstfest, New Braunfels
New Braunfels, down in the greater San Antonio area of Southern Texas, features one of the most recognizable and iconic fall festivals every season. In early November, the community hosts Wurstfest, a celebration of the German heritage of the original settlers in the area. Positioned along the Comal River, guests at the festival experience traditional Bavarian music, authentic German foods and snacks, and a sizable biergarten. Since this happens in November, temperatures only reach a high of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal for all-day enjoyment, even in lederhosen.
Even if you do not choose to spend your entire time at this large festival setting, you can explore a little at nearby attractions like Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas, in the Gruene District. Those looking for adventure and excitement on their outing could also participate in the various recreation and water sports, such as tubing and fishing, available in the Guadalupe River. Whether it is wonders like the nearby Natural Bridge Caverns or the excitement of fall festivals, New Braunfels is ideal for fall travelers.
State Fair of Texas, Dallas
One of the things that makes the State Fair of Texas in Dallas so attractive to many autumn visitors is how quickly they can reach it from this major city. Nearly 2.4 million people from all over the state and the country come to this annual gathering, which falls at the end of September into mid-October at the Fair Park property. The fall season is excellent for this event, with daily highs rarely exceeding the mid-80s, so there is no difficulty in many getting around for the more than 70 rides, a midway of snacks and vendors, and entertainment happening every day.
At the same location, you will find the stadium where the Cotton Bowl is played, which is also the site of the long-running collegiate battle between Oklahoma University and the University of Texas on the gridiron called the Red River Rivalry. They work to ensure that this game is played during the state fair so people have another attraction within the gathering to attend. But even if you don’t want to spend your entire time at the fair, there is plenty of culture around the city, including the Dallas Museum of Art or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Texas Renaissance Festival, Todd Mission
Those looking for an entirely different experience on any weekend in October and November can appreciate the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission. Guests to the festival can be taken back to the 16th century in a makeshift village complete with period-specific wares and crafts. Any day you participate, you can see over 200 performances, from jousting to comedy. The pleasant fall weather makes it perfect to eat all festival goodies without the heat slowing you down.
For those looking to partake in the festival for a couple of days and see the other sites and attractions around this medieval village, the town of Magnolia is close and filled with charm and local favorite spots on the Magnolia Stroll. The Bernhardt Winery provides tastings and tours of the facilities north of town, but you also have the full measure of Houston being only an hour away.
The Galleria, Houston
One of the places that you want to make sure to visit in Texas this fall is The Galleria in Houston. This is the biggest shopping mall in Texas and one of the biggest in the country. You can easily spend an entire day enjoying and exploring the more than 400 stores to suit the styles and desires of every type of shopper. From famous national brands to luxury designers like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, there is something to complement every taste. During the fall and winter months, an indoor ice-skating rink is even more appealing, as skaters flock to this attraction and enjoy this seasonal activity with their friends and family.
Because this is in Houston, you have a wealth of cultural and entertainment venues available if you do not spend all day at the mall, like the Houston Zoo or the NASA Space Center. During the fall months, activity ramps up around The Galleria as holiday shopping kicks into full gear. This is a must-stop destination for those looking to check some names off of their shopping list before Christmas.
Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth
A fun fall activity is getting to the Fort Worth Stockyards to see true Texan tradition at its best. With the milder highs of the later fall months, you can make a day of appreciating all the authentic Western activities, such as learning to herd animals or lasso things. This historic district also features a championship rodeo series every Friday and Saturday night. For those looking to get into the spirit of the Wild West, you can deck yourself out in cowboy fashion by checking out M.L. Leddy‘s or Maverick Fine Western Wear on the property for all your garment needs.
While plenty can keep you busy in the stockyards, the closeness to downtown Fort Worth presents various options for every party member. Those looking for a cultural experience can visit the Kimbell Art Museum or nature lovers to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden; the area is rich in attractions and entertainment to amplify your fall season.
Moody Gardens, Galveston
Moody Gardens is a popular destination year-round for those traveling to Galveston. This coastal community has hundreds of thousands of visitors a year who do not permanently reside here. Hence, locations like Moody Gardens consistently change up their programming and exhibits to complement repeat guests. This attraction mainly comprises memorable glass pyramids that feature three environments for visitors: a rainforest, an aquarium, and a place to discover more about animals and wildlife. Moody Gardens leans into the spooky season during the fall months with events like "Ghostly Gardens" before finding its holiday footing with the "Festival of Lights" in November.
For those looking to stay more than a single day, Galveston has much more to offer than this popular destination. A walk in the historic Strand District can show you Victorian architecture, ultimately taking you to the Galveston Historic Seaport and Texas Seaport Museum, which showcase this island’s nautical history and rich connection to maritime trades.
The fall is an appealing time for traveling, as families near the holiday season and festivals abound. With so many creative ways to enjoy autumn, it is no wonder how Texas has become a popular travel destination for visitors. Guests from around the world travel to the Lone Star State for its one-of-a-kind State Fair and Renaissance Fair, a taste of tradition at the Fort Worth Stockyards, or to see the "stars at night are big and bright" (as the famous Texas anthem suggests) in the heart of Big Bend National Park.
