Texas Bucket List: Spring Edition

By theadmin

Check these can’t miss items off your spring bucket list!

Take the Perfect Bluebonnet Photo

Every year, peak bluebonnet season hits a little differently. It’s part of our state flower’s magic. But whenever the surprise comes, one thing is reliably true: Texas will be covered in a blanket of blue. From the meandering 40-mile bluebonnet trail in Ennis to the towering 3-foot bluebonnets in Big Bend, there are plenty of opportunities to get your iconic bluebonnet photo. Pick one of Texas’ top five bluebonnet destinations here.

Join a St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Irish soldiers, who were often indentured servants in the British Army, brought St. Patrick’s Day to the U.S. in the 1700s. As Irish immigration increased in the 1800s during the potato famine, the celebration became a way for immigrants to reclaim their heritage at a time when they were not always welcomed. Over the centuries, the tradition has transformed into citywide festivities rife with merriment, good luck, and — most obviously — green. Texas cities rival any for their enthusiasm for green on March 17. San Antonio’s boat parade down the green-dyed River Walk has gained recognition as the fourth-best parade in the nation, while Dallas’ Greenville Avenue hosts the largest parade in the Southwest, with over 90 floats drawing a crowd of an estimated 125,000.

See the Marfa Lights

Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, the Marfa Lights are a sight to behold. Some believe the glowing orbs that appear sporadically in the sky, just after sunset or before sunrise, could be spirits or UFOs. Others attribute the phenomenon to more mundane causes, like atmospheric reflections of car lights. Take advantage of spring’s early sunsets and cool temperatures to make the drive and make up your own mind. The official viewing center lies about 9 miles east of Marfa, along Highway 90. And if you don’t get the spooky experience you’re looking for, a visit to Marfa is a great consolation prize.

Make a Pilgrimage to Magnolia Market at the Silos

If you watch HGTV religiously, then you know Chip and Joanna Gaines. But you don’t have to be a “Fixer Upper” fanatic to appreciate this couple’s now world-famous Magnolia Market, which has spurred a reawakening in Waco. The collection of abandoned silos that they “fixed up” into curated boutique shops features endless rows of vendors and attracts actual millions of tourists from across the country. Don’t miss brunch at the chic Magnolia Table nearby, where the biscuits have earned a cult following. Arrive early to avoid long lines and capture aesthetic photos without the crowds.

Paddle Caddo Lake

Atmospheric Caddo Lake lies on the Texas-Louisiana border, but it feels like entering another world. With Spanish moss dripping from towering cypress trees into the water, this diverse wetland habitat is a mystical landscape that Caddo Indians first inhabited as early as 200 B.C. Today, the vast bayou is sodden with bogs and crawling with alligators. Are we selling it? You may not want to jump into these waters, but you will want to explore its wild, quiet beauty. Enjoy this East Texas gem during temperate spring, when wildflowers are in bloom and baby wildlife begins to appear.

Visit the Grand Canyon of Texas

The second-largest canyon in the country lies in Texas, cutting an 800-foot-deep crag in the Panhandle. Palo Duro Canyon State Park spans 120 miles of scenic views — so stunning, in fact, that it was the setting for the final shot of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” when the title archaeologist rides off into the sunset. You can do the same, over 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails — plus explore a labyrinth of caves, spot longhorns, and climb to the famous Lighthouse rock formation for the ultimate photo ops.

Trek to the Gorman Falls Grotto

Tucked into a unique 6-mile curve in the Colorado River lies a lush hidden world — so distinct from the surrounding Hill Country grasslands — of green and shade, rocky peaks and underground caves, spring-fed pools and, most wonderful of all, a living waterfall. Reached via a 3-mile roundtrip trek into Colorado Bend State Park, the almost tropical-feeling Gorman Falls drops 70-ish feet but is constantly growing and transforming, as its mineral-rich water deposits calcite that builds into terrestrial limestone. The crystalline water pooling at the bottom is so clear you can name each of the Guadalupe bass, Texas’ state fish, flickering through it. Beyond the cascade of the waterfall lies the little hidden grotto.

Go Fish

Texas fishers look forward to spring every year. If you haven’t experienced a fishing trip yet, this is the ideal time to tackle one (get it?), although there’s great fishing across the state year-round. Find out more about fishing in Texas in our guide.

Find Your Best Local Food Truck

In the past decade, food trucks have exploded in popularity. It’s food. It’s a truck. What’s not to love? Most Texas cities have a revolving cast of popular food trucks and central food truck spots, where you can grab a taco, a slushie, or pretty much anything you can imagine while enjoying the fresh spring air and taking in the sights. Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park, Austin’s Rainey Street Food Truck Lot, Houston’s Galleria Food Truck Park, and San Antonio’s Area 51 Food Park are just a few destinations. Look up food truck schedules online and start exploring.

Go to a Farmers Market

Farmers markets are the perfect places to chat with neighbors on a Saturday morning, shop in-season produce, and support local farmers and artisans. You’re guaranteed to learn something you didn’t know from vendors and find something you didn’t know you needed. For the full experience, make a day trip to Houston Farmers Market, a 40,000-foot open-air market on Airline Drive that’s open year-round. The city’s oldest and largest market began in 1941, set up by a farmer’s co-op. Many of today’s vendors have set up shop there for generations.

Visit a Botanical Garden

Who doesn’t want to enjoy spring flowers? Botanical gardens are the perfect place to appreciate the season’s beauty and learn more about Texas botany and ecology, as they devote resources to plant study and conservation. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, named one of the best places to see spring blooms by Southern Living, hosts an annual Dallas Blooms spring festival. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s First Peoples Demonstration Garden recognizes the history of its prairie land and its debt to the Indigenous people who once lived there. Houston Botanic Garden hosts art installations, gardening classes, kids’ camps, and even a community garden that neighbors can share. These gardens are the some of the best places to learn about the land we live on.

Pick Your Own Tulips

Tulip farms might make you think of Holland before Texas. But one Netherlands family has brought the famous Dutch tulips to Texas at Texas-Tulips, a family farm just north of Dallas. Pick-your-own tulip farms have become a quirky Texas experience, not native to Texas but certainly quintessential to spring. Spend an afternoon outdoors and bring home a bouquet to brighten up your home.

Go Berry Picking

By mid-spring, Texas’ berries are ready for harvest, which makes for the perfect weekend activity. The state has no shortage of fresh berries in spring. Pick ’em and bring ’em home to bake a seasonal tart or berry cobbler.

Have a Picnic

Plan the perfect picnic in spring, when the birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and the air isn’t yet scorching. For some inspiration, we have seven themed picnic ideas to try across the state, from morning (think coffee and poetry) to nighttime (think stargazing and astronaut food).

Survive SXSW

South by Southwest takes place mid-March in Austin and showcases everything from film and music to conferences celebrating the convergence of tech, arts, and culture in our ever-evolving world. Of course, if a 10-day festival isn’t your speed, there are plenty of local live music and film opportunities throughout Texas.

Cheer on Opening Day

There’s nothing like the excitement and energy of opening day. Head to the baseball field, grab a hot dog, and root, root, root for the home team. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros start their season on March 30. If you can’t make it for a major league game, check your local team’s schedules.

Plant an Herb Garden

If your green thumb gets itchy in spring, this is your sign to start growing your own food. Herb gardens are an easy place to start. If you plan ahead, your kitchen will be stocked with fragrant herbs for all your fresh spring and summer meals. Get started here!