Home > Tours > USA Tours > Southwest Tours > Highlights of Texas & Eclipse (Reverse)

Highlights of Texas & Eclipse (Reverse)

No Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Travel Advisor
Sold Out
 Trip Length
8 Days
 Trip Starts
Houston
 Trip Finishes
Houston
8 Day Highlights of Texas & Eclipse (Reverse) Itinerary (Explore)
Countries Explored: USA
Trip Style
Discovery
Accommodation
Comfortable
Max. Group Size
13
Pace
Relaxing
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
TXE-1

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Explore's 8 Day Highlights of Texas & Eclipse (Reverse). Cowboys, BBQ and live music; the Lone Star State has Americana written all over it. Combining NASA's Johnson Space Center, in Houston, with the spectacle of an annular eclipse in Texas Hill Country, this trip travels through back country USA to the honky tonks and BBQs of Austin, and Spanish-American San Antonio.

Itinerary

Arrive in Houston. America's fourth-largest city is part cowboy boots and Texas charm, and part high-powered urban metropolis.

Due to the number of evening flights into Houston, your Leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two, and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive at any time. We don't provide arrival transfers on this tour, but information on how to reach the hotel will be provided in your final documentation.

Our hotel is located in uptown Houston. If your flight arrives early in the day, why not take a stroll through Memorial Park or down Buffalo Bayou, two of the green arteries running through the city. Alternatively, head to the world-class museum district - try the Holocaust Museum or the excellent Museum of Natural Sciences, if you have time. Stay: Drury Inn & Suites Houston near the Galleria (Comfortable)

NASA's Johnson Space Center seems like a fitting beginning to our eclipse journey, being home to the USA's long and illustrious career in space exploration. The center serves as the training base for the country's astronauts, and is also the site of the famous Apollo Mission Control.

The 'tram tour', which forms part of our entrance ticket, is a guided tour through several of the different Johnson Space Center locations - for example, the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park, where three of the original Saturn V rockets are proudly displayed, the Astronaut Training Facility, and Apollo Mission Control Center. There are also a large number of other galleries housing memorabilia and artefacts such as spacesuits and shuttle carriers, as well as films and occasional live shows. There is a lot to see in this enormous site, so we may not get around everything.

After our morning visit, we'll drive back to the city where we have some free time. Stay: Drury Inn & Suites Houston near the Galleria (Comfortable) (B)

We're driving into the heart of Mexican America today, towards San Antonio. While we'll visit the city proper in a couple of days time, today we are heading directly towards the San Antonio Missions National Park, the only UNESCO Heritage Site in Texas.

The park is a collection of four Spanish frontier missions, dating back to the early 1700's and the founding of the town San Antonio. Of course, prior to the Spanish arrival, the area was populated by several Indigenous populations, and the role of the missions was to forcefully convert these Indigenous people to both Catholicism and the Spanish language. Each mission has its own character, and by exploring them we'll dive deeper into the intricacies of First Nations, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo relations in this part of Texas.

Afterwards, we'll leave the city for the big open skies of Texas Hill Country, journeying into the heart of cowboy country to our dude ranch for tomorrow's eclipse. Stay: Mayan Dude Ranch (Comfortable) (B/D)

An annular eclipse of the Sun will take place today, 14th October 2023. Our location for the eclipse is at our ranch, so we just need to step out of the front door when, at around 11.50am, we can expect to experience some four minutes and 45 seconds of annularity (weather permitting).

Eclipse glasses will be provided to allow you to view this natural wonder safely and we will be accompanied by an expert astronomer to provide an insight on the science behind the eclipse, and to answer any questions you may have. There will be another Explore group with us, and we'll be able to share stories about our travels so far.

According to weather records, this day in Texas Hill Country has had some level of cloud cover 61% of the time (since 2000), although we are unable to make any guarantees regarding the weather conditions and the likelihood of seeing the eclipse.

The afternoon will be spent doing ranch activities. We have horseback riding available to us, and all manner of other rootin' tootin' cowboy experiences. Every day is different on the ranch, but typically you might take a hayride or saddle ride to the cowboy breakfast cookout where southern grits and over-fresh biscuits will be on the menu. After the eclipse it might be lunch, listening to some country-western music and swimming in the outdoor pool (unheated!), walking the trails of the ranch's 300+ acres, playing table tennis or learning the art of 'roping' (using a lasso). Spend the evening with country dancing or roasting marshmallows around a fire. Stay: Mayan Dude Ranch (Comfortable) (B/L/D)

Leaving the big skies of Texas this morning, we'll head back towards San Antonio and this time into the city proper. Our first stop is the famous Alamo. This site has a complex history, that lives at the heart of Texas lore as the cradle of their fight for 'freedom', with the names of Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie being known worldwide. In the 1800s, Mexico first sought to gain its independence from Spain, and then in turn Texians (mainly Anglo settlers, with some Mexicans) fought to establish Texas as an independent state, using the Alamo as a base of resistance.

While a visit to the Alamo today mainly concentrates on the 'heroism' exhibited by Crockett, Bowie and the like, contrasting them with the 'villainous' Mexicans, it's worthwhile remembering that this is not the site's only history. Before the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, the Alamo was also set up as a Spanish mission church, and therefore has a long history prior to the Texas Revolution.

After the Alamo, we'll head to the beautiful River Walk that carves its way through the heart of San Antonio. Lined with eateries, bars, cafes, cobbled bridges and beautiful architecture, there's plenty to stop and look at aside from the river itself, and we'll stop somewhere along route for lunch.

Afterwards, we'll drive to Austin, arriving in the afternoon. This arty, creative and outdoorsy city is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, and on that front it doesn't disappoint. There are more than 250 live music venues in the city, from ice houses to honky tonks, and from BBQ restaurants to coffee houses. Over the next two days our Tour Leader will see what's on so that we can get out and catch a performance - whether country, tejano, blues or more, Austin has it all. Stay: Drury Inn & Suites Austin (Comfortable) (B)

We have the day free in Austin to spend as we choose. For music fans, there is the option to take a venue tour of the Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater - home of the longest running music series in American TV history. You could also visit the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and stroll through Zilker Park and its Botanical Gardens or swim in Barton Springs if its hot. There is a 10-mile hiking trail around Lady Bird Lake, or keen shoppers might want to head to Allen's Boots in South Congress to purchase the classic Texan souvenir - a pair of your very own cowboy boots. With an array of museums, the State Capitol Building (free to enter) and plenty of parks, open spaces and shops to explore, Austin is a great city in which to spend a day.

In the early evening, we'll get an unusual take on the city, with a sunset boat trip to view the enormous colony of Mexican free-tailed bats that make their home under the Anne W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. This spot on the Colorado River is actually the largest urban bat colony in the world, and most often the bats start emerging as the sun goes down. Afterwards we'll head out for dinner and maybe find some live music.

Note - the Austin City Limits music festival may be on, or being set up, while we're in the city. Dates for 2023 are not yet released, but it's commonly in October. If you're particularly interested in music, you may want to keep an eye on online ticket availability. And if not, just be aware that Zilker Park may have restricted access. Stay: Drury Inn & Suites Austin (Comfortable) (B)

It's a three hour drive to Houston this morning, as we return to the big city. The road between Austin and Houston is peppered with small Texas towns and outposts that offer a classic slice of Americana. The rest-stop of Buc'ees is one such place - this gas station's souvenirs offer the classic kitsch of an American road trip. While driving through the back roads, we also plan to stop at one of the state's many vineyards for a wine-tasting under the famous Big Texas Sky.

Arriving in the afternoon to Houston, we have the rest of the day free to enjoy the end of our time in the Lone Star State. Time permitting, head to the Museum District for a bit of culture, or to the Buffalo Bayou for hundreds of acres of green space and waterways right in the heart of the city. The city also has some great breweries and bars if that's what you fancy. You could try La Carafe - the oldest building in Houston - a cash only haunt with character. Stay: Drury Inn & Suites Houston near the Galleria (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Houston.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Houston at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), which is a 30 minute drive away. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Witness an annular solar eclipse from a Texas cowboy ranch
  • Take in the history of space exploration at NASA's Johnson Space Center
  • Visit the Alamo and listen to live music at an Austin honky tonk

  • You can enjoy easy-going activities and experiences on these Relaxed pace tours, with opportunities to absorb the sights and immerse yourself in the local surroundings, but still come home feeling relaxed and refreshed.

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
About Explore!
About Explore!

Launching in 1981, Explore offer trips from over 130 countries - from classic small group tours. Read more

Explore Leaders
Explore Leaders

Explore's leaders are more than just your typical guide. They're your local expert are are passionate about sharing their expertise with you. Read more

Where do we Stay?
Where do we Stay?

The places Explore stay are every bit as important as the sights they visit and the things you do. Read more

Play Youtube Video

Brochure

Small Group Adventures

Explore Small Group Adventures (2023-24)

From big wows to hidden gems, our tours leave you feeling that you’ve really explored. We’ll take you closer to the country, its culture and people, often in spontaneous, impossible-to-replicate ways. You’ll come home having seen and experienced the destination in a way that others might never have. We’ve been leading tours to extraordinary destinations...more all over the world for more than 40 years. There’s a reason why 98% of customers say they’d book with us again.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Explore. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Explore. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

Similar Tours

9 Day Best of the American West (Explore)

9 Days Las Vegas Las Vegas

Operated By: Explore

From 4,649
Save 401
14 Day Western USA National Parks Explorer (Summer) (Explore)

14 Days San Francisco Las Vegas

Operated By: Explore

From 7,779
Save 781
13 Day Outdoor Alaska (Explore)

13 Days Anchorage Anchorage

Operated By: Explore

From 8,308
Save 792