Austin, TX
7 of The Best Travel Experiences in Texas
Texas is home to some of the USA’s most treasured attractions and natural wonders. But you don’t have to follow what every other tourist is doing to truly experience the magic on offer. Below, we share some of Texas’ most exclusive travel activities to elevate your adventure.
7. Wake Up in Luxury at ARRIVE East Austin
You need a great night’s sleep with all these adventures, right? We recommend choosing ARRIVE East Austin as your base for the most luxurious stay.
Located in one of Austin’s trendiest areas, you’re just a few steps from the most buzzing bars and talked-about eateries. Moreover, the hotel offers a boho style that’s both modern and effortlessly timeless. Enjoy complimentary beer or wine on check-in and take your pick from any of the 83 luxuriously appointed guest rooms.
6. Space Center Houston NASA VIP Tours
Imagine if you could witness fragments of a 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid or meet a real-life astronaut without the hassle of jostling with hundreds of tourists. Well, you can. With Space Center Houston NASA’s VIP tours, you can enjoy all the exhibits and behind-the-scenes access to astronaut training facilities in groups of no more than ten people.
In the morning tour, you’ll tour the Crew Systems Laboratory, Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, Apollo Mission Control Center, and the all-important ISS Mission Control. If you find yourself on the afternoon tour, you’ll head to the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility, Astronaut Training Facility, and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. These locations showcase the high-tech ways astronauts prepare for their physically demanding missions into outer space.
NASA VIP Tours take place on weekdays. Guests must be 14 years old or older to participate. Tickets start at $199.95 per person per tour.
5. See Texas From Above With a Private Hot Air Balloon Adventure
Between San Antonio and Austin, in the heart of Hill Country, Air Carriage Over Texas has been delighting passengers for over a decade. For the ultimate luxury travel experience in Texas, level up your Hot Air Balloon experience by booking an exclusive private ride.
Arrive just before sunrise in the beautiful city of San Marcos, load into a chase vehicle, and travel to one of a few different launch sites, depending on ideal wind conditions.
As the sun rises over the Texas Hill Country, cruise over the river and marvel at the breathtaking views guided by wherever the wind takes you. You’ve got the whole balloon to yourself, so think of it as a private tour of the Lone Star State with your expert guide.
Tickets start at $2,500 per party. You can look forward to a 45-minute scenic sunrise flight with a complimentary champagne toast, a private and personalized tour, and a free ride back to your vehicle.
4. Hire a Limousine to Travel Texas in Style
If you’re celebrating a special occasion or want to get around the state in style, look no further than Texas Coast Limo. With a fleet that includes a Large Party Bus, Stretch Hummer Limo, and the more understated Black Lincoln Stretch Limo, ensure you’re the envy of all passersby as you toast another day of exclusive exploration wherever you are in Texas.
3. Charter a Private Jet For a Day of Texas Sightseeing
At almost 700,000 square kilometers, Texas can be an overwhelmingly large place to get around. Driving from San Antonio to Dallas can take over four hours, but with premium air charter services, you could complete it in a little over an hour.
Instead of spreading out your Texas trip over four or five days and spending much of that time driving, you can hire a private jet and enjoy the same excitement in one or two. Spend the morning at Space Center Houston NASA before jetting to Austin for lunch and walking around McKinney Falls State Park. Hop back in your private jet to witness sunset at The Alamo before wrapping up your day in Houston with a ballgame at Minute Maid Park.
Traveling by private jet maximizes comfort and security, with your dedicated team caring for all your needs. Last-minute change of plans? No problem. With a premium air charter service, you set the schedule.
2. Watch the Houston Astros in the Phillips66 Diamond Club
Baseball is one of the great all-American pastimes, and the Houston Astros are undoubtedly the best team in Texas. Seeing the Astros is almost a rite of passage, so this one should be at the top of your Texas bucket list.
The Phillips66 Diamond Club offers the finest personal entertainment with a “front row seat” that puts them closer to the batter than even the pitcher or the 30-foot projection screen in the dining room. Enjoy a pre-game dining experience with menus inspired by Houston celebrity chef Dominic Soucie and a guaranteed seat on one of the first nine rows behind the home plate.
Getting seats here isn’t easy, with tickets in the Diamond Club often going for between $500-$1,000 per game, but if you’re looking for exclusive Texas experiences, they don’t get much more exclusive than this.
1. Embark on a San Antonio Day Trip With Alamo and Boat Cruise
Few things are more exclusive than sipping champagne on a river cruise in the Texan sunshine, so why not enjoy a full-day trip that includes a 15-mile boat cruise along the San Antonio River? This 7-hour tour from Austin consists of a visit to the Alamo, Riverwalk, and the Tower of Americas observation. Learn about the region’s complex and colorful history from experienced tour guides with encyclopedic knowledge of one of the nation’s largest states.
After the drive from Austin to San Antonio, with pitstops at all the famous landmarks along the way, you’ll meander down the winding river, passing the first neighborhood, La Villita, the Old Mill Crossing, and Selena’s Bridge.
Tickets start at $254 per person for this full-day experience.
Exclusivity Awaits
With so much to do and so little time, treat yourself to any of the above luxury experiences to save time, gain insight, and, most importantly, travel in style.
Looking for more of the best travel experiences? Check these out!
Featured photo via Torsten Asmus on iStock
Austin, TX
Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love
Craving something sweet? Maybe something flaky? Austin may be known for tacos and barbecue, but its bakeries are the unsung heroes of the local food scene. We think it’s time to give them the spotlight they deserve.
Whether you’re looking for pastries by day or celebratory cakes by night, these locally owned bakeries are proof that life is butter with carbs.
Comadre Panadería, 1204 Cedar Ave. | Try something new at this Mexican-American bakery (which is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist) like the highly raved-about concha and pink cake.
La Pâtisserie, multiple locations | A case full of colorful macarons is the main attraction at this French bakery, which also offers pastries, cake, scones, buns, croissants, and wine.
If you’re lucky (like City Editor Morgan was), you may be able to find a frowning gingerbread man at Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery.
Quack’s Bakery, multiple locations | Keeping Austin sweet since 1983, these beloved bakeries make pies, cakes, pastries, and more from scratch with no additives. Be sure to check out seasonal offerings like Pride, Halloween, and Christmas-themed cookies.
Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. #200 | Owned by award-winning pastry chef Amanda Rockman, this newly opened bakeshop is all about caffeine, gluten, butter, sugar, and booze. Grab a rip ‘n’ dip bagel, strawberry cheesecake croissant, or focaccia sandwich.
Sour Duck Market, 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | The neighborhood bakery within this American restaurant + beer garden is not to be missed. Snag a traditional bite like a savory Danish pastry or a creative concoction like the sweet potato-chai bearclaw.
Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, 1905 S. 1st St. | Desserts are king at this sugary locale that offers classic cupcakes, cookies, lemon + pecan bars, cakes, and mini-pies in-store, with custom offerings available for larger orders.
Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande St. | Currently housed in an Airstream trailer, this small but mighty bakery (serving Austinites since 1981) sells goods on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll have to visit in person to see the full menu of bread, pastries, and sweets available each day.
Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd. | This family-owned scratch bakery has it all, whether you want a cup of coffee and a pastry, a smoked turkey sandwich for lunch, or a layered cake to take home and enjoy.
The inside of Walton’s Fancy and Staple is charming as ever.
Walton’s Fancy & Staple, 609 W. 6th St. | Amid a cluster of bars on West 6th Street, this bakery + deli owned by Sandra Bullock is a beacon of sweetness. Its pastries and sweet treats are made daily, but you can also order custom cakes.
Zucchini Kill Bakery, multiple locations | Calling all vegan, gluten, and soy-free folks with a sweet tooth. This woman-owned bakery is a haven for those with dietary restrictions and incorporates the spirit of punk music into its delicacies.
What’s your favorite bakery in Austin? Let us know and we might add it to this list in the future.
Austin, TX
Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats
AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats have released their initial student-athlete availability report ahead of Saturday’s meeting in Austin.
Texas is listing receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable due to a foot injury while linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. is questionable after sitting out for the 20-10 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks last week.
“He’s progressing this week,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Moore Jr. during Wednesday’s SEC Weekly Teleconference. “We’ll see if he’ll be ready to go here Saturday, but we’re surely a better team when he’s out there.”
Fortunately for Texas, running back Jaydon Blue was not listed on the report after being seen in a sling following the Arkansas game.
Here’s the full report for both teams:
Sarkisian provided an injury update on Moore Jr., Blue and Blackwell Jr. on Monday during his weekly press conference.
“I think Blue’s good,” Sarkisian said. “Like I said, he went with us today and worked this morning. So we’ll see how it goes. … Mo Blackwell was out last week. … I’m hopeful we can get him back this week. We’ll see how it goes. … DeAndre got nicked up during the game with a foot injury. Again, those two guys (Blackwell) are integral parts to our program, not only on offense and defense, but on special teams. They’re critical. So hopefully we get both those guys back.”
No. 3 Texas and Kentucky will kick off from DKR on Saturday at
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Austin, TX
UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will partner with industry and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to build and expand a hub for hydrogen energy production along the Texas Gulf Coast that will help increase and diversify the nation’s energy supply. UT serves as founding member and lead academic organization.
The HyVelocity Hub (HyV), a regional energy consortium, aims to become the largest hydrogen hub in the nation. It will leverage the region’s high concentration of existing hydrogen production and end-use assets to develop low-carbon intensity hydrogen that can power trucks, industrial processes, ammonia production, refining and petrochemical production, and marine shipping fuel.
“Texas is the nation’s energy capital, and UT is the energy university, and we are no stranger to playing a leading role in America’s energy innovation,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “The success of the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub is critical to our nation’s future energy security. We are excited to work with our industry partners and apply our vast energy, business and policy expertise to develop the hydrogen workforce and accelerate production along the Gulf Coast.”
UT will provide expertise to support community benefits activities and hydrogen workforce development efforts. UT, through the IC2 Institute and the RESET lab in the Cockrell School of Engineering, has a significant track record of working with over 80 communities in Texas and bordering states to understand community needs and connect these to economic development initiatives to improve the lives of all community members. The hydrogen proto-hub demonstration facility at the Center for Electromechanics will serve as a key resource for hands-on workforce training activities. UT researchers will also conduct life-cycle and techno-economic analyses for the projects. For example, they will provide the analyses required for meeting emissions criteria, clean hydrogen standards, and cost benchmarks, and will report these data to the Department of Energy.
“UT Austin’s role in the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub will be vital to both providing the research and expertise needed to accelerate the global market for hydrogen, and to developing the workforce needed to support the industry’s advancement over the long term in Texas and the Gulf Coast,” said Brian Korgel, the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and the director of the UT Energy Institute. “We are proud to be part of this important project that will advance secure and sustainable energy in the U.S. and all over the world.”
HyV’s work will be at the forefront of maintaining and expanding Texas as a global leader in hydrogen energy development. With $22 million in the first tranche of funding, HyVelocity is expected to create up to 45,000 well-paying jobs over its lifetime and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7 million metric tons per year — equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 1.5 million gasoline-powered cars. The Department of Energy is investing $1.2 billion in the project.
As the nation’s premier university for energy innovation and excellence, UT brings an unmatched scale, depth and breadth of expertise and a pragmatic approach to advancing solutions across the full spectrum of energy. Situated in the heart of Texas, UT is in the center of the energy capital of the world. The University boasts numerous top-10 academic programs and a vast community of minds spanning a multitude of energy departments, centers and institutes. UT’s extensive industry partnerships and field research extend from the oil fields of West Texas to the other side of the world, with faculty, students and staff engaged in applied research in hydrogen, carbon capture, wind, solar, batteries and more.
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