Tours in Texas

Run by Texas State University, The Meadows Center introduces visitors to the lush diversity of the San Marcos Springs and intricate system of waterways. Glass-bottomed boats set out for guided tours of Spring Lake, gazing at the aquatic life and University midterm papers below. Above the springs that bubble up from the bottom, soft shell turtles and bluegill sunfish swim in the clear waters and songbirds survey the sky. Eight endangered species populate the lake, including beetles, two species of salamander, and soft-shell turtles. On land, visitors can explore gardens of native Texan plants or a hall of nature exhibit.

In a feature showcasing Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour, a My San Antonio writer mused, "Maybe the connection of the past to the present is stronger in old towns like Galveston and Granbury." Perhaps Granbury, which was founded in 1854, is a paranormal hot spot because it teems with unresolved murders and historic conflict. Legend has it that the infamous outlaw Jesse James died here, and that his final resting place is the grave of an unknown man.

The knowledgeable guides at Granbury Ghosts and Legends—mother-daughter team Coletta and Brandy—explore these centuries-old, supernatural conflicts with their historical tours. Dressed in Civil War period costume, they guide groups through the town square and presumably haunted buildings in pursuit of such celebrated local spirits as the Lady in Red, the Faceless Girl, and Indian Joe. The tour has been named one of the seven best ghost tours in the country by Frommer's.

Segway Inc.'s tour guides lead guests past the clear-flowing streams, cedar trees, and rolling hills of the world’s largest JW Marriott resort on self-balancing personal transporters. Departing three times daily, the gliding tours of Hill Country’s heart begin as each rider is introduced to his robotic steed, learning how to navigate the machine and gaining its trust by feeding it computer chips. Meticulously manicured greens and shimmering blue pools frame the tour’s trail, with the meandering circuit weaving its way past two golf courses, a serene garden, and Lantana Spa.

The façades of Galveston homes may not appear menacing by day, but when night falls, pitch-black shadows hint at the secrets hidden inside. Tracy Richardson, a medium, paranormal investigator, and the owner of Texas Ghost Tours, unearths these lingering evils during her two-hour walking tours of the city’s haunted sites. As a member of the Haunted Society, National Paranormal Society, and Galveston Historical Foundation, Tracy’s knowledge of the local lore is nearly as daunting as the task her tours tackle: to educate visitors about the existence of paranormal activity. After sunset, she leads the way to nearby buildings imprinted with past horrors, and the dilapidated Normandy Inn. She dives even deeper into the supernatural during paranormal investigations, during which she dons a bed sheet and a Sherlock Holmes hat.

When Sandra Lord first visited Houston in 1984, she only planned to stay a month. But the city's diverse community, rich history, and distinctive architecture quickly lured her in, and nearly 30 years later, the cheerful history buff still resides in the Emerald City. Today, she partners with Urban Adventures—an international touring company—to share her love of the city through exciting and informative walking tours of Houston’s underground tunnel system and historical local pubs. Locals have nicknamed Sandra “The Tunnel Lady,” as she was one of the first guides to introduce tourists to the city’s subterranean system of shops and restaurants, originally constructed to shield commuters from the hot Houston sun and the stray hacky-sacks of med students on study breaks.

Originally a TWA aircraft, the Southern Cross Douglas C-47 was adopted by the Army Air Corps to shuttle troops to the front. The twin-propeller plane survived World War II and in the ensuing years underwent a series of makeovers. Its career includes years spent as a reliable set of wings for Delta Air Lines, a troupe of skydiving enthusiasts, and at least one head of state. The C-47 is now meticulously restored to its original WWII-era condition and in the dutiful care of Greatest Generation Aircraft, a nonprofit organization that introduces 21st-century crowds to the C-47 during rides and aerial shows. Flying out of Fort Worth's Meacham International Airport, the C-47 also shares a hangar with an A26 Counter Invader and other veteran planes.

Author and radio host Ken Hudnall leads groups on an informative trek through El Paso's famed, and oftentimes spooky, past during the Downtown History and Mystery Tour. Each traipse through time begins at the Camino Real Hotel, where ominous tales of a distressed bride and the lingering presence of Pancho Villa cast a spectral tone upon the outing's onset. Winding through city streets, Ken and crew stop at the Cortez Building, the Plaza Hotel, and the very first Hilton Hotel, which has hosted several celebrity weddings. As night falls and shadows begin to dance and pants unsuspecting patrons, a stop at the Mills Building—constructed on the site of a hotel that burned to the ground—rounds out the tour's itinerary.