Texas Tourism PR

[editor]

For those of you wondering about where your tax dollars go, I just happened to stumble across the latest press release from Texas Tourism. So, here it is:

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Texas Says 'Howdy Neighbor!'

East Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston/Galveston Island offer visitors

outdoor adventure, museums, zoos, aquariums, beaches ... and more

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In need of an end-of-summer

getaway? Planning ahead for a fall break? Look no further than your

neighbor to the west. Texas is the perfect destination, with outdoor

adventure, museums, zoos, aquariums, beaches, and a taste of Texas culture

and cuisine. An array of end of summer adventures is only a car ride away

in the Lone Star State.

Travelers seeking a relaxing escape can explore the beauty of East

Texas. In Tyler, visitors can enjoy a variety of museums, historic homes,

the nationally-recognized Caldwell Zoo, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden

(the nation's largest), and countless antique shops. Marshall, location of

one of the largest manufacturers of glazed pottery in the U.S., is famous

for producing millions of red clay pots and hand-turned stoneware pottery

yearly. In historic Jefferson, visitors can take a stroll, a horse drawn

carriage, or a trolley tour along the town's original brick streets, lined

with antique and gift shops. Visitors can also take a riverboat tour of Big

Cypress Bayou and end their evening by retiring to one of more than 60

quaint bed and breakfasts the town has to offer.

For those looking for a great family-oriented excursion, Dallas and

Fort Worth have much to offer. Destinations sure to please kids and parents

alike include Six Flags Over Texas, The Dallas Zoo, the Dallas World

Aquarium, or Fair Park (home to the Texas State Fair held every September

and October). Families can also take in a day at the Dallas Museum of Art,

stroll through the Nasher Sculpture Center, or visit the Sixth Floor Museum

for a look into the life and death of President John F. Kennedy. Fort Worth

provides plenty of kid-friendly attractions, including the Fort Worth Zoo

and interactive exhibits at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

No trip to Fort Worth would be complete without a taste of its authentic

Western culture -- from Sundance Square to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame to

the twice-daily cattle drives in the Stockyards National Historic District.

The Houston/Galveston Island area offers a combination of a big city

tour with a more relaxing beach experience. Travelers can visit the Houston

Museum District, explore other worlds at Space Center Houston, or hit the

links at one of 160 Houston-area golf courses. Visitors should be sure to

take in some of Houston's fine dining, exceptional shopping, and exciting

nightlife. After enjoying the sights of the city, travelers can head south

to Galveston for some seaside air and relaxation. With 32 miles of beaches,

restaurants, resort hotels, shopping, and one of the largest and

best-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country,

Galveston is sure to prove an alluring getaway destination.

Big adventure and family-fun await visitors to Texas looking for one

last getaway before summer ends or planning ahead for a fall break. For

more on all there is to see and experience while visiting Texas, go to

http://www.TravelTex.com or call 1-800-8888-TEX for a free copy of the

Texas State Travel Guide and Official Texas Map.

About Tourism in Texas: Tourism is one of the largest industries in

Texas, employing 514,000 Texans. In 2005, travelers spent almost $50

billion in Texas. Travel expenditures generated $2.5 billion in state taxes

and $854 million in local taxes. For more information on Texas travel

events and vacation destinations, visit http://www.TravelTex.com or for a

free Texas State Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX.