Lone Star Trail: Dallas, San Antonio, Albuquerque & More
- Duration
- 14 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,444
FIRST CLASS | SELF-DRIVE: A fascinating journey around Texas and New Mexico, filled with history, great cities, and awesome landscapes. Let gleaming skyscrapers dazzle you in Dallas and Houston, experience New Mexico’s desert scapes and delight in the historical charm of San Antonio and Santa Fe. Realize the close proximity to Mexico when you visit El Paso, offering a taste of the best of two worlds.
LONE STAR TRAIL Overview
On this 14-day trip discover Texas and New Mexico’s go-it-alone spirit which makes for the interesting characters you’ll likely meet along your travels in this proud land, still teeming with cowboy-culture and adventure.
Dallas may be a modern Texan city, but as soon as you sit down for your first dinner in this bustling place, the people here may be city slickers, but you’ll find warm hospitality and heaping portions from the moment you arrive.
In Austin, the capital city of Texas, live music can be heard somewhere almost any time of day and sidewalk dining is part of this chill spot where a fog infused cocktail or a classic margarita at a trendy or laid-back Texan bar is a perfect way to unwind and chat to locals. Tour the city by an electric bike or kayak, check out shrunken heads at the Museum of Weird or get serious at the impressive Texas State Capital, a great spot for a picnic.
Rapper Drake loves Houston so much he’s made this hip city his second home and you can see why as you photograph the artful graffiti walls, explore NASA’s Space Centre and top it off with a steaming Tex-Mex meal so good you might want to live here too.
In the charming beach town of Galveston, investigate the glass pyramids (Aquatic, Rainforest and Discovery) at quirky Moody Gardens and wander past ornate Victorian houses to bring out the romantic in you on this special slip of an island. The windy open range of Corpus Christi harkens to the days of bonneted settlers on the way to San Antonio where the greatest gun fight of Texan history took place at the Alamo. With a full day ahead of you in this colonial, colourful city, head to the namesake river for a walk and gaze at serene, sun dappled waters as you sip your prickly pear margarita. Contemplate the small group of Texans almost 200 years ago who fought for 18 gruesome minutes and won Texas for their own. Visit the Alamo Mission to immerse yourself in this key moment in history or stay just where you are - San Antonio is a great place to take it slow and talk even slower – just like a Texan.
Pecos County is the stuff of Western legends and films starring the likes of John Wayne have been shot in this authentic ranching town where the first rodeo is recorded to have happened. By the time you arrive in Fort Stockton it’s very possible to have picked up a cowboy hat or let ‘y’all’ slip out and absolutely love it; Texas charm is real. The sun is always shining in New Mexico’s El Paso and the fried dough of steaming, stuffed empanadas warms you to the core just as well as the sun which shines 302 days on average a year here. Snag a ride on a hot air balloon above the plains in Albuquerque, count the cattle in Amarillo and snuggle into the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains in the Northern Rio Grande Valley in sweet Santa Fe, a whopping 7,198 ft above sea level.
The truth is out there in Palo Duro Canyon where remains of pre-Pueblo inhabitants are intriguing and mysterious. You can’t leave Texas without a little dancing - grab your partner or get one in a second at the world’s largest honky-tonk in Fort Worth, cheer at a rodeo which happen daily here and toast to Texas with a frozen margarita and a tip of your hat before heading home.
- Duration
- 14 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,444
Itinerary View Trip Map
Dallas
Arrive at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport and transfer independently to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival you might have time to explore the city. If US history is on your list, you may want to explore the life of President John F. Kennedy at The Sixth Floor Museum or an in-depth look at 8 years of presidential history at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Overnight Dallas
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
Dallas - Austin
Today head out for the capital city of Texas, Austin, home to the handsome State Capitol Building and the Texas State History Museum. Austin is a lively city that bills itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World", filled with more than 250 music venues and a vibrant arts scene. The Warehouse District with its trendy bars, night-clubs and huge variety of restaurants is a great place to spend a fun-filled evening.
Overnight Austin
| Duration | 2 nights |
|---|
Austin
Enjoy a full day to explore Austin. There is not just music in Austin. This city is famous for its many parks and lakes, very popular for hiking and swimming. If you are a fan of Formula One, don't miss the possibility to visit the only F1 circuit of the US: the Circuit of Americas.
Overnight Austin
Austin - Houston
Discover Houston's past in Heritage Park amid the skyscrapers of downtown. Visit the Johnson Space Center for a fascinating history of America's love affair with outer space to enjoy an out of this world experience.
Overnight Houston
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
Houston - Corpus Christi
Take a short drive to the island of Galveston, filled with Victorian architectural reminders of its reign as Texas' leading port. Galveston dominated commerce along the Gulf until its growth was halted by a hurricane. Then head for Corpus Christi, known as Texas' playground.
Overnight Corpus Christi
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
Corpus Christi - San Antonio
See the open range and farmland of early settlers on the way to San Antonio. San Antonio's unique blend of cultures makes it one of the most charming cities in the U.S. Your hotel for the next two nights is in the heart of San Antonio within easy reach of the major sites.
Overnight San Antonio
| Duration | 2 nights |
|---|
San Antonio
Stroll along the River Walk or visit El Mercado. The Spanish Governor's Palace or one of the many Spanish missions will take you into the historical heritage of this charming city. But most of all, remember the Alamo and visit the site of the courageous battle between a handful of Texans and Santa Ana's vast army, which was instrumental in creating the Republic of Texas.
Overnight San Antonio
San Antonio - Pecos County - Fort Stockton
The rolling hill country was the site of early settlements in mid-Texas and even today you can see that farmers must have had a tough time to survive living off such an infertile land. The code of the West rules here as you travel through Pecos County where giants and legends, such as Pecos Bill, are made. Look for deer, jackrabbits, and coyote as you journey across this seemingly uninhabitable terrain.
Overnight in Fort Stockton
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
Fort Stockton - El Paso
The city of El Paso is located on the westernmost tip of the state of Texas and is on the U.S./Mexico border. Its proximity to Mexico helps promote the best the two worlds have to offer, and El Pasoans have long enjoyed the benefits of being situated between three states and two nations. El Paso's climate, typical of the southwest desert, and its mix of cultures and traditions makes the Sun City a unique and interesting place to visit.
Overnight El Paso
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
El Paso – Albuquerque
Although the I-25 is the most direct route between the two cities, you might consider getting off the highway in a couple of places for a more scenic experience. Hatch, the chili capitol of the world, just over an hour north of El Paso and Belen, an hour before Albuquerque offers very interesting rural glimpses, if you follow the secondary roads for a short while.
Overnight Albuquerque
| Duration | 2 nights |
|---|
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a city full of exciting attractions and events, from Historic Old Town, where the Villa of Albuquerque was founded in 1706, to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the most popular ballooning event in the world.
Overnight Albuquerque
Albuquerque - Santa Fe - Amarillo
Unique to this area are the Pinyon pines, which produce an edible nut considered a gourmet delicacy in the west. Continue eastward to the panhandle of Texas and hopefully you'll get a glimpse of the Texas blue sky or a towering thundercloud, both prevalent features of this flat plain. Amarillo was once a railhead town for cattle shipments to the north. The cattle industry remains an important element of the city's economy. Amarillo is well known for its Cadillac graveyard.
Overnight Amarillo
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
Amarillo - Fort Worth
Drive eastward today to Palo Duro Canyon and see artifacts of pre-Pueblo inhabitants. Then continue south toward Fort Worth. The City of Cowboys and Culture is the 16th-largest city in the United States and offers visitors rich Western history, world-class art, and entertainment. The Old West is alive and well in Fort Worth; learn to two-step at the world's largest honky-tonk, watch a year-round rodeo, see a daily cattle drive in the Stockyards National Historic District or have a drink in a real Western Saloon.
Overnight Fort Worth
| Duration | 1 night |
|---|
Fort Worth
Make your way to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for your flight home unless you plan to extend your stay in the area.
Other Information
DEPARTURES:
Daily departures: April 1 - October 31, 2024
PRICE INCLUDES:
- 14 days Intermediate Car Rental with unlimited mileage (Mazda 3 or similar)
- Detailed day by day itinerary
- 1 night first-class accommodations in Dallas
- 2 nights first-class accommodations in Austin
- 1 night first-class accommodations in Houston
- 1 night first-class accommodations in Corpus Christi
- 2 nights first-class accommodations in San Antonio
- 1 night first-class accommodations in Fort Stockton
- 1 night first-class accommodations in El Paso
- 2 nights first-class accommodations in Albuquerque
- 1 night first-class accommodations in Amarillo
- 1 night first-class accommodations in Fort Worth
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Car rental insurance
- Travel insurance
- International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
- Entrances fees to sites not explicitly listed as included
- Meals and beverages not mentioned
- Road tolls
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa fees if applicable
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- Live large and think big in Dallas, a city built on big dreams
- Visit Austin, Texas’s capital city and the “Live Music Capital of the World”
- Catch an optional live performance at one of Austin’s nearly 200 music venues
- Visit Texas’ largest city and the fourth largest in the nation, Houston
- Embark on an optional journey through space at NASA’s Johnson Space Center/Space Center Houston
- Stop in Galveston, a treasure trove of things historically Texan
- Explore Corpus Christi, one of Texas’ most popular Gulf Coast playgrounds
- Stroll along the quaint pathways of San Antonio’s River Walk, an urban sanctuary
- Remember the Alamo, a symbol of courage and sacrifice for the cause of liberty
- Travel through Texas’ Hill Country where rolling hills dominate the region
- Discover El Paso, an ancient mountain pass surrounded by mile-high peaks and the largest U.S. city on the Mexican border
- Sample rich culture and the true Southwest in Albuquerque
- Visit Santa Fe, a UNESCO designated City of Design, Crafts and Folk Art
- Experience wide-open spaces and rolling plains in the Texas Panhandle
- Pay an optional visit to Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch, a ritual site for those who travel The Mother Road
- Celebrate the Old West in Fort Worth by, optionally, watching the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive in the Stockyards National Historic District.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request. Additional terms and conditions apply for car rental - please inquire.
1 Oct 2024
