Lifestyle

A Tale of 4 Seasons: What’s the Best Time to Visit Texas

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Experiencing the best of what Texas has to offer, including beautiful, blooming flowers, nature trails, water sports, holidays, and festivals, can fill up an entire calendar year! Texas packs a full list of year-round events and great seasonal opportunities to look forward to which make for an exciting trip. Take a look at this guide to Texas’ top seasonal activities and attractions to plan your ideal time to visit, and what to pack.

1. Visiting in the Spring

A Tale of 4 Seasons: What’s the Best Time to Visit Texas

Photo: Flickr/Counse

A Texas springtime brings beautiful wildflowers lining the roadways, with bluebonnet blooms at their peak in April (depending on the weather). Birdwatchers also come to the state in April for a number of bird festivals, and nature lovers, in general, enjoy the ample opportunities for outdoor activities. There’s great fishing, plenty of hiking trails and loads of spring festivals and events throughout all regions of Texas. Plenty of food festivals and cookoffs can be had, and the locals may even fill you in on what their secrets are and where to get their special ingredients. The temperatures are usually quite pleasant in the spring here in Texas, normally in the mid-70s to 80s, however, there are also good possibilities for rain in these months.

2. Visiting in the Summer

A Tale of 4 Seasons: What’s the Best Time to Visit Texas

Photo: Wikimedia

Texas is a prime locale for water sports and water parks during the summer heat. We have a wide variety of indoor and outdoor water parks throughout the state, and the festivals that celebrate the season are equally as abundant! Events such as the Luling Watermelon Thump, the Great Texas Mosquito Festival, and the Texas International Fishing Tournament are prime opportunities to get out an experience this state at some of its summer finest. Texas summer temperatures normally reach the mid-90s with high humidity levels, so be ready to drink lots of water and find ways to cool off regularly.

3. Visiting in the Autumn

A Tale of 4 Seasons: What’s the Best Time to Visit Texas

Photo: Wikimedia

The Texas State Fair is a highlight of this time of year, spanning three weeks and entailing carnival rides, great fair food, and so much more than what you would expect a fall fair to include. Auto shows, art festivals and football games also highlight this season in the Lone Star State. As the humidity lessens, the weather improves for more outdoor activities, including golf, biking, and general touring of historic sites and state parks. Great Texas fall events include the Houston Hot Sauce Festival, the Texas Renaissance Festival, and a variety of Thanksgiving parades and festivities through the state. Texas fall temperatures average around the 70s and 80s, sometimes dropping into the 60s close to the end of autumn, making packing a little bit harder.

4. Visiting in the Winter

A Tale of 4 Seasons: What’s the Best Time to Visit Texas

Photo: Flickr/Allen Sheffield

Although the weather is highly unpredictable, winter in Texas can still provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy a holiday. Laredo celebrates George Washington’s birthday in February at an annual event, including fireworks, parades, a carnival, as well as an air show. Opportunities to golf are plentiful at this time of year, and festivals such as Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, and sports events such as the Cotton Bowl, not to mention the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo help make the season a great time to kick back and enjoy. Temperatures will typically sit in the 50s and 60s throughout the winter months but have also been known to drop below freezing.