Activities to Make the Most of This Autumn in Texas

Outside of Alaska, Texas is America’s biggest state. This sprawling landscape has everything: big cities, incredible nature, and an entirely unique local culture. But while Texas is known for its blistering summer heat, summer isn’t the only season in Texas that makes for an incredible time. Autumn in Texas is a fall paradise, with tons of great scenery and activities.

Texas is a huge state with many major cities with their own great spins on the fall season. If you’ve been searching for the best places to spend your autumn, you may have found it in Texas. Let’s explore some of the best fall activities Texas offers in four of its biggest cities, Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Austin

Austin has seen a major explosion in population and reputation in recent years, and this formerly small city is clearly in the middle of a major boom. Known for its incredible local music scene, vibrant culture, and delicious food, Austin is a good time every season. This most certainly includes fall, where there are limitless fun ways to spend the season of pumpkin-spiced lattes and apple pie.

For a classic fall activity in Austin, you can go pumpkin picking and explore a five-acre corn maze at Barton Hill Farm. This activity is a blast for the entire family and a great way to spend a fall day outdoors. For more of a spooky fall vibe, you can go on a haunted tour of the creepiest sites of the city with the Austin Ghost Tours. Austin is known for its food and drink, so take advantage of it by sipping some seasonal craft beers at the Austin Beerworks.

Dallas

Dallas is one of America’s ten biggest cities, with a sprawling landscape known for the countless amount of great cultural activities available. With a massive art scene, a major state fair, and of course, the Cowboys, Dallas is a significant city that has more fun things to get up to than anyone can name. This certainly doesn’t change in autumn.

For an immersive and eerily beautiful fall experience, head to Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms. This half-mile walking path features over 3,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns and several other forms of live entertainment, including fire dancers and pumpkin games. For the more adventurous among us, head to the Dark Hour Haunted House, known as one of the nation’s scariest haunted houses. Lastly, it’s not fall in Dallas without the Texas State Fair, featuring food, Ferris wheels, live-stock, and the most classic Texas atmosphere imaginable.

Credit: dallas.culturemap.com

Houston

Houston is America’s fourth-largest city in terms of population and its second-largest in terms of space. Houston is a massive, major American city that has a little something for just about everyone. Known as a major economic powerhouse that is the world’s center for space exploration and numerous other mechanical industries, this huge city is the perfect place to spend an autumn season in Texas.

The fall foliage in Houston is jaw-dropping, and so too are some of the best fall activities. Houston has many great fall festivals, but arguably the most significant is the Texas Renaissance Festival, a massive immersive experience that, every fall, transports attendees back to the days of Da Vinci and Shakespeare. A fun activity for the whole family is the Houston Zoo’s Zoo Lights, a light festival that brightens the evenings at this well-known animal hotspot. Lastly, Friday Night Lights are great across Texas in the fall season, but make sure to catch a football game if you stop by Houston during autumn, where the fans are fanatics.

Credit: texrenfest.com

San Antonio

San Antonio is a cultural hotspot in Texas. Known for its unrivaled Texas Mexican food and the uniquely walkable downtown area, San Antonio is a city that is attracting new residents in droves. While this city stays warm year-round, that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy an incredible fall season filled with great activities that are fun for the whole family.

One spooky yet beautiful way to spend a fall evening in San Antonio is their annual Día de Los Muertos events. This is the largest celebration of its kind in America and features weeks of festivities culminating in a boat parade on the actual night itself in early November. In late October, head to the Tower of the Americas to enjoy Fall Market Day, featuring local artisans and vendors selling high-quality fall foods and wares. Lastly, for a day of family fun, head to Devine Acres Farm for pumpkin picking, farm animal petting, and some tasty autumn treats.

Credit: visitsanantonio.com