10 Best Hidden Gems in Texas

Get off the highway and stretch your legs at Cadillac Ranch, a one-of-a-kind public art installation off Route 66. Created in 1974 by a group of experimental artists known as the Ant Farm, the installation consists of 10 painted Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground. Fun fact: They’re all inclined at the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

An iconic Texas curiosity, countless travelers have stopped at Cadillac Ranch over the years to see the spectacle and add their mark to the thick layers of paint.

Sightings of the Marfa Lights have been reported for more than a century by people from all walks of life. They’re usually seen as small glowing orbs that move across the southeast horizon. The cause of the lights remains mysterious. Some propose that they are the result of atmospheric activity or other natural phenomena, while others suspect the paranormal or extraterrestrial.

Look for the lights from the viewing area just east of the town on Highway 90. Be aware that they can be difficult to spot even under the best conditions. If you’re visiting in the fall, stay for the Marfa Lights Festival, where locals celebrate the lights with live music, food, and a parade.

The Cathedral of Junk is a towering, whimsical structure made from recycled materials. Standing at more than three stories tall and spreading over 1,000 square feet, it was built with more than 60 tons of junk, including old bicycles, car parts, furniture, and discarded toys.

It’s in the backyard of its creator, Vince Hannemann. The Cathedral has narrow passageways, hidden rooms, and a variety of eclectic objects to discover. Visits are by appointment only, so call before you head over.

There’s a reason why Terlingua is Texas’ most-visited ghost town. A mining community established in the late 1800s, the town thrived on its quicksilver mines until it went bust in the 1940s. Visiting today you’ll see some of the original buildings, a one-room stone jail, and the town cemetery.

Although the miners are long gone, Terlingua is still alive and well, with rustic Texas lodgings and a handful of restaurants and shops for visitors. Make sure to stop in the Starlight Theatre and Saloon, a funky eatery housed in an old movie palace serving up chili cheeseburgers and prickly pear margaritas. Roam around the town, visit old St. Agnes Church, or sit on a porch and take in the view of the Sante Fe de Los Pinos mountain range.

Boca Chica State Park is 1,000 acres of fine-sand beaches and grassy dunes at the southernmost point of Texas. Outdoor enthusiasts come to explore the many hiking and biking trails as well as swim, hike, and surf at Boca Chica Beach. A national wildlife refuge, the area is also designated as part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. It has an exceptionally diverse bird population including endangered species such as the piping plover.

Aside from the wide variety of wildlife, Boca Chia Beach has another thing you won’t see most other places: rockets. They launch from a SpaceX platform nearby, so bring the family to see one, or plan your visit around them for a more tranquil getaway.

About an hour north of San Antonio, you’ll find a familiar sight: the famous Stonehenge, or rather, a replica of it. Created by two local artists in 1989, Stonehenge II is about two-thirds the size of the original monument in Wiltshire, England. It is not fenced off like its counterpart, so you’re free to explore it up close.

Admission is free, but visitors are asked to call in advance to confirm that the site is open. Stonehenge II is under the care of the Hill Country Arts Foundation, which also has an active community theater and a visual arts center that displays work from local artists.

The Natural Bridge Caverns are one of the largest cave systems in Texas. They were discovered in 1960 by a group of college students. The first half-mile of caves is accessible to visitors, going as deep as 180 feet. Exploring the limestone caverns, you’ll see some of the 10,000 rock formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and draperies.

The site offers a number of other activities once you emerge on the surface. Weave your way through ropes and climbing courses 60 feet in the air, or race to the finish of a 5,000-square-foot outdoor maze.

Jacob’s Well is a karstic spring in the Texas Hill Country that draws visitors with its crystal-clear water and distinct geographical features. The well is habitat for several species of threatened and endangered aquatic life such as the ghostly Texas blind salamander.

Only 12 feet in diameter, the spring has striking depth: Beyond the 30-foot well itself is a series of underwater tunnels and chambers that descend a total of 140 feet. Diving here is restricted to trained professionals because of the inherent dangers of cave diving, but visitors can swim and snorkel in the shallow areas of the well, which maintains a constant 68 degrees F.

The National Cowgirl Museum celebrates women past and present who embody the courageous, independent spirit that helped shape the West. Located in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural district, the museum has interactive exhibit galleries featuring items from its collection of 5,000 artifacts, primarily out of the American West. See Annie Oakley’s shotgun and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman costume, or try your skill on the museum’s bucking bronc.

The Cowgirl Museum’s exhibits and research library offer information about more than 750 trailblazing women from the U.S. and abroad including Sacagawea, Georgia O’Keefe, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

East Coast and Midwest ecosystems converge at the Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas. Known for its lush forests, swamps, and wetlands, the preserve is an excellent place for hiking, backcountry camping, and paddling. Take a guided nature walk or canoe trip with a ranger to learn about the area’s diverse array of plant and animal species, which includes American alligators and carnivorous Venus flytraps.

Unlike most national parks, this 112,000-acre preserve is divided into 15 units, each with a distinct ecosystem. Developed units have hiking trails, picnic areas, and other facilities, while primitive units offer a more challenging, off-road experience. Paddle along the bayou under bald cypress trees in the Beaumont unit or listen for woodpeckers in the longleaf pine uplands of Big Sandy Creek.