And the sights in-between are fine examples of everything
America has to offer. The huge size of Texas means that it
exhibits every possible type of landscape, from the sandy
beaches of the Gulf Coast to the hot and cold peaks of the
desert west, 'Big Bend Country'. No matter where you are
visiting from, there will be a climate, landscape and lifestyle
to suit you.
In addition to this, the ethnic traditions of the many groups of
settlers who have colonised Texas over the last two hundred
years bring a rich diversity of culture that is hard to find
anywhere else. The close proximity to Mexico brings an influx of
both Mexicans and Spanish, as well as Native Americans and many
other Europeans, now settled into America to produce their own
unique State atmosphere. There is even evidence of Native
Americans hunting bison on the Panhandle Plains in prehistoric
times!
The diversity of Texas can be felt everywhere. Country music and
rodeo riding, surfing or basketball, the historical significance
of the Kennedy Memorial in Dallas, memories of the Wild West at
the Alamo and Fort Worth, and the star-searching future of the
Lyndon B Johnson Space Center in Houston - Texas can guarantee
something to interest all comers. Outdoor activities are
prominent all year round, such as rock-climbing, fishing,
canoeing, or camping, with many national parks to visit, to view
the undisturbed beauty of this beautiful State. Art lovers can
visit the cultural centres of Texas' larger cities, with ballet
and symphony, art museums and stand-up comedy. Sports fans will
enjoy lineups that include the Houston Rockets, Texas Rangers
and Superbowl champions, the Dallas Cowboys.
Whether you are visiting Texas for a vacation, or coming to live
or study, there are urban centres or small country towns, giving
a wide variety of social locations to choose from. The rugged
cowboy-land of the Panhandle Plains, holding Lubbock, the
birthplace of rock legend Buddy Holly; working ranches on the
South Texas Plains, next door to Mexican-influenced cities of
Laredo and Nuevo Laredo - historical battle sites marking Texas'
independence nestle alongside modern cities, metropolitan shops
and neon nightclubs. Austin is known as the 'live music capital
of the world', with entertainment seven days a week, and public
festivals, such as the Oktoberfest and Aquafest. Rio Grande is
itself a border between Texas and Mexico, whilst Fort Davis was
a frontier fort, providing protection from angry Indians.
Internationally renowned for shipping, banking and commerce, the
skyline of Texas' capital, Dallas, rises tall above the prairie,
signifying everything that this magnificent State stands for -
urban and country, summer and winter, past, present and future,
American and international. The diversity of cultures,
landscapes and people means that you are sure to feel at home in
Texas, giving you a taste of the United States from within its
boundaries.
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