A Texas travel round-up

“Everyone expects cowboys in Texas – which we have – but we’re so much more,” said Rosalyn Hunter, director of communications for Travel Texas/VoX International.

Hunter was joined by four other tourism representatives from the Lone Star State during a recent trade mission in Toronto, with a focus on the 45+ baby boomer market. With 500,000 Canadians travelling to Texas in 2017, Texas’ cities are looking to welcome increasing numbers of Canadian travellers this winter.

Additionally, with a new Air Canada direct flight from Toronto to San Antonio contributing to the carrier’s 9,000 seats to the state, Hunter said that Texas continues to position itself as a destination for a long weekend escapes, accessible via a 3.5 hour flight.

READ MORE: Why Texas should be on every Canadian's bucket list for 2018

New and notable

The cities of San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Fredericksburg and Fort Worth all have new developments in store for travellers heading south this winter. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new in Texas, from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast.

Corpus Christi

• Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi features access to beaches and much more.
• The USS LEXINGTON, CV-16, is a World War II-vintage aircraft carrier. Decommissioned in 1991, The USS Lexington is open year-round seven days a week (except for Christmas and Thanksgiving Day) for touring and special events.
• Padre Island National Seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre and provides a safe nesting ground for the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle and a haven for 380 bird species. It also has a rich history, including the Spanish shipwrecks of 1554.

San Antonio

• While the city’s year-long tricentennial celebrations wrap up in December (culminating in a parade along the city’s River Walk), San Antonio is already looking ahead to 2019 with a number of developments said Sana Keller, public relations account director – Canada, for Visit San Antonio.
• The annual San Antonio Cocktail Conference returns from Jan. 14-20, while the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo welcomes crowds to get a taste of cowboy culture from Feb. 7-24, 2019.
• Ruby City, a 14,000 sq.ft art gallery will also open its doors, with a grand opening hosted by British architect David Adjaye.
• The city will also see a number of new properties opening in the coming year including a new Thompson Hotel and properties by Hilton including those under the Tru, Canopy and Embassy Suites brands.

Fredericksburg

• Located in Texas’ Hill Country, Fredericksburg is now home to more than 45 wineries.
• Fredericksburg and Gillespie County are home to more than 1,200 guesthouse/bed and breakfast rental units. Many of these have been developed into “retreats” with multiple units, geared towards groups.
• With its German heritage, it’s no surprise that Fredericksburg is home to several breweries, including the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, deemed the "oldest and most acclaimed brewpub in Texas." A new brewery, Altstadt, will open this fall.

Fort Worth

• The new TEXRail train will also debut next year, quickly connecting travellers from DFW Airport to downtown Fort Worth, Hunter said. A $1 billion rail project, the new train can be accessed for just a few dollars.
• The new Whiskey Ranch distillery, located on an historic golf course, will offer a merchandise store, tours, bar and tasting room, and back porch with outdoor fireplaces overlooking the golf course.
• The African Savanna is the first stage of A Wilder Vision, a $100 million expansion to the Fort Worth Zoo. Sitting on 10 acres of existing Zoo land, guests will be able to stroll through the African Savanna and see giraffes, zebras, ostriches and more in one exhibit.