Texas Summer Bucket List

By theadmin

Ensure there are no dog days this summer with this quintessential Texas summer bucket list. From backyard butterfly gardens to outdoor entertainment and adventures to the coolest ways to beat the heat, this Texas summer bucket list has activities for the whole family.

Pickleball

A new racket sport has taken over courts across the country. Pickleball borrows from tennis, pingpong, and badminton to create a social game that’s accessible for players of all ages. Pick up a round of pickleball at your local park’s tennis courts or check out pickleball-dedicated destinations, such as Chicken N Pickle in Grand Prairie.

Jacob’s Well

Jacob’s Well is thought to be Texas’ second-largest fully submerged cave, after Phantom Springs Cave in the West Texas Desert. At least 4,500 feet of its underwater caverns have been explored. The refreshing Trinity Aquifer fills the well to an average depth of 120 feet, giving adventurous visitors a perilous free-diving challenge and the rest of us an idyllic place to kick back and cool off. The well sits on 80 acres of protected land perfect for an early morning hike before you take the plunge.

Dance Hall

Texas’ dance halls date back to the very founding of the state, when they were once the linchpin of rural social life. Today, these halls sustain a living history that’s over 100 years old — and they’re guaranteed to create a magical evening. Break out your boots and practice your two-stepping at the historic Luckenbach Texas, Broken Spoke, Gruene Hall, Kendalia Halle, Twisted Sisters, and more.

Barton Springs Pool

Take advantage of Texas’ favorite natural swimming pool.
Barton Springs Pool is fed by a natural spring, which means its clear waters stay nice and cool all year long, even in triple-digit temperatures. The huge pool has a diving board, tons of space to soak, and is even home to an endangered species of salamander.

Horseback Riding

No Texas bucket list is complete without a dusty trail ride on horseback. Tap into your inner Wild West in the “Cowboy Capital of the World” with Bandera Historical Rides, which range from a one-hour river ride to a four-hour Hill Country tour. There are plenty of horseback-riding opportunities across Texas, so look for a ranch near you.

Space Center Houston Sleepover

Spend a night exploring space and sleeping under the stars at Space Center Houston. Check out the center’s overnight calendar: On special evenings throughout the year, families with children age 5 and older can spend the night learning engineering design and coding, programming and operating robotic rovers, and building a rocket to test how high it will launch. Pitch a tent under the Falcon 9 rocket, the Boeing 747, or the shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905 — or head inside to sleep among rare spaceflight artifacts.

Sea Turtle Hatchings

One of the best places to watch the magical sea turtle hatchling releases is Padre Island National Seashore. The releases typically happen from mid-July through August and take place around 6:45 a.m. on Malaquite Beach. The hatchling releases do not occur on a regular schedule, but you can check out the National Park Service’s current nesting season log to find out when found nests are expected to hatch.

Butterfly Garden

Create your own Texas butterfly sanctuary. Select a spot that gets plenty of sunlight
and pick a variety of nectar and host plants, which will serve as a food source and a home for the butterflies to lay their eggs. Avoid toxic pesticides, and add butterfly bait — overripe fruit, sugar, or molasses — and a dish of water throughout your garden. Watch as pretty pollinators begin to flutter from flower to flower.

Baseball Game

Baseball is an American classic, and seeing a game in person is the only way to get the full experience — hot dogs, peanuts, and all. Cheer on your favorite team this summer, whether it’s the Rangers or the Astros. Find games in a city near you; whether it’s the minor leagues or your local college’s game, you’re guaranteed a fun time full of classic chants and cheers. Batter up!

TEXAS Outdoor Musical

Did you know there is an amphitheater in the Palo Duro Canyon? This stunning outdoor stage comes alive every summer to put on TEXAS Outdoor Musical, a family-friendly production that tells the story, struggles, and triumphs of the 19th-century settlers of the Texas Panhandle.

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Spelunking at Longhorn Cavern

Longhorn Cavern State Park is the perfect place to begin your spelunking adventures. The three-hour guided “wild cave” tour takes you through the basement of the cave. Be prepared to get a little wet and muddy as you walk, crawl, and push yourself through the otherworldly caverns.

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Snorkel, dive, or fish to your heart’s content at Texas’ aquatic treasure. At 80-125 miles off the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, the Flower Garden Banks is a long trek away, but the underwater world below is beyond worth it. There’s so much to see, from schools of bluehead wrasses and colorful butterfly fish to coral and the occasional nurse shark, sea turtle, or stingray.

Hit a Roadside Stand

If you find yourself on a Texas highway this summer, you’re guaranteed to see fruit and produce stands along your way — especially if you’re along “the Peach Triangle,” where Texas peach orchards famously thrive. These stands are always worth a stop. Find a few good ones here.

Route 66

Route 66 is more than just a road. It’s the great mother road of America — a pilgrimage that Americans and people all over the world want to make. As it swoops down on its trail from Chicago to LA, it cuts right through the middle of the Texas Panhandle, through Amarillo, and westward through New Mexico — passing through some iconic roadside attractions and amazing American iconography. It should be on every Texan’s bucket list.

Blue Bell Creamery

Blue Bell ice cream is almost synonymous with Texas. The iconic brand, now nearly 100 years old, has stood the test of time. Blue Bell fanatics will be pleased to know that you can visit its hometown location in Brenham and cool down with a fresh scoop of your favorite flavor.

Drive-In Movie

Drive-in movies are the perfect summer date night or family outing, especially under the big, starry Texas sky. Summer evenings are perfect for cozying up with pillows and snacks and watching your favorite classic film from the back of a pickup. Find a list of drive-in movie theaters here.

Looking for more iconic destinations to hit this summer? Check out our complete guide to bodies of water in Texas for the best springs, pools, lakes, rivers, and beaches to enjoy with friends and family.