Texas road trip: From honky-tonks to ranch life

It's finally time. 'Texas, here I come!' Totally hyped, you set off, and before you know it, you're having one last dream about the wild American West, with its laid-back cowboys, endless desert landscapes and glittering cities.  After landing, you pick up your hire car at the airport, and it's not long before you're rolling into Grapevine.  Once you've checked into your stay, you set off to explore Historic Main Street, where the old buildings from the town's early days still stand. One of the things Grapevine is known for – as the name suggests – is its delicious wine tasting rooms. And you'll find eight of them on Historic Main Street. So if you're interested, pop into one and sample some genuine Texan vino (optional, payable on site). Pro tip: Every evening, you can listen to live music in the bars and restaurants here. From jazz, blues and country to rock and bangin' beats from DJs, there's sure to be something for you! Looking for the perfect place for a relaxing stroll or leisure activities? Then look no further than Grapevine Lake, where you can hire a kayak and put your balancing skills to the test (optional, payable on site). So hungry you could eat a horse? How about a delicious Texan dinner at the city's most legendary meeting place: Tolbert's Restaurant & Chili Parlor (payable on site)? 

Your go-to country song blares through the speakers of your hire car as you step on the accelerator and leave Grapevine behind. Time to explore the Texan countryside! The roads lead you through wide open fields, endless prairies and rolling hills, and soon, you can see Houston slowly cresting the horizon.  The largest city in Texas, and the fourth largest in the US, welcomes you with a sparkling skyline and radiant green nature. The streets are lined with huge skyscrapers, typical American food trucks and countless colourful murals adorning the walls of the buildings. The city's absolute highlight? The NASA Space Center, where along with exploring real spaceships, you can meet robonauts and touch real moon rocks (optional, payable on site)! But what Houston is also known for is its deep connection to the blues. If you're a music lover who's always on the lookout for new treasures, definitely check out Sig's Lagoon and browse the countless records on offer (payable on site). And when the Southern sun tucks in for the night, you've simply got to visit a honky-tonk! Our recommendation: Mo's Place (optional, payable on site). Be sure to check the event calendar online in advance, as there's something different on the program every day. But one thing's certain: the food is always delicious, the vibe is electric and, if you want, you can also pop off on the dance floor! 

Last night go longer than expected? No problem. Grab a coffee to go and start your day relaxed with a stroll through downtown and marvel at the colourful murals scattered about the city. Fun fact: The Gulf of Mexico is just under an hour away from Houston, so if you want to get a taste of the coast, hop in the driver's seat and jet off to Galveston, a historic port city with some of the most beautiful beaches in Texas. Be swept away by the gentle sound of the waves as you step out the car and into the light sea breeze. And if you'd rather stay dry than dive straight in, the famous Pleasure Pier is home to fairground games, amusement rides and a 100-foot-tall Ferris wheel – the perfect place to enjoy the view of Galveston Bay (payable on site).

With a steaming, aromatic coffee in the centre console and the smell of wild flowers wafting through the open window, you let the sat nav guide the way to San Antonio, the birthplace of the American cowboy! Yeehaw!  This is the perfect place to get a taste of that Wild West feeling. Just outside the city, you can try your hand at lassoing on a ranch (optional, payable site), and even in the city, cowboy boots and hats are everywhere. Incidentally, the largest cowboy boots in the world are right in front of the North Star Mall – definitely go have a look! And if you're still hunting for your own pair, you're sure to find them here. Then there’s one of Texas’s ultimate highlights: the San Antonio River Walk. The banks of this gorgeous riverside promenade first developed in the 1920s are loaded with boutiques, bars and restaurants. So if you're hungry while you're out and about, nab one of the coveted spots on the riverbank, grab a cocktail and tuck into some tacos (optional, payable on site)!