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The 10 Best Texas Gulf Coast Sights & Landmarks - TripAdvisor

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Top Texas Gulf Coast Landmarks: See reviews and photos of sights to see in Texas Gulf Coast, Texas on TripAdvisor.

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The Top 10 Things to Do in Fort Worth 2017 - Must See Attractions in Fort Worth, TX | TripAdvisor

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Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Fort Worth, Texas on TripAdvisor: See 21,747 traveler reviews and photos of Fort Worth tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in November. We have reviews of the best places to see in Fort Worth.

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The cars at Cadillac Ranch just outside Amarillo are a popular tourist attraction. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )

The Great Plains stretch thousands of miles across North America from Canada to Mexico. Before settlers arrived, grasses were the predominant species here, providing grazing for bison. From the Texas Panhandle north trees grow primarily near rivers; less than 24 inches of rain falls annually. Many of the region's attractions present visitors with recreational opportunities.

Lake Recreation

Formed by a dam on the Canadian River, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (nps.gov/lamr) is the water supply for 11 cities. Boat, fish and camp year-round; swim seasonally at Spring Canyon, a day-use area northwest of Sanford. Lake Rita Blanca Park (no website; Farm to Market Road 281, Dalhart; 806-244-5511) is known for its winter birding. Seven trail heads allow access for hiking, biking and equestrian activity on more than eight miles of trails around the 150-acre lake. Trout are stocked in a fishing pond. Lake Palo Duro (no website; Farm to Market Road 3214, Spearman; 806-882-4401) has two boat ramps, camping and picnic facilities. Personal watercraft and skiing are not allowed, leaving anglers to fish for bass, catfish, chad and walleye in relative peace and quiet.

Historical Museums

Explore the human history of the Texas Panhandle at the Carson County Square House Museum (squarehousemuseum.org) in Panhandle. Twenty-one buildings, including the namesake structure, are on the self-guided tour. Llano Estacado Museum (no website; 1900 W. 8th, Plainview; 806-269-4735) is on the campus of Wayland Baptist University (wbu.edu). Exhibits chronicle early paleo-Indians, 19th century Texas cattle ranching and the Victorian-era. Indoor and outdoor exhibits on display at the Deaf Smith County Museum (deafsmithcountymuseum.org) in Hereford include a recreated general store, a pioneer "dug-out" home, a railroad caboose and items from a World War II POW camp outside town.

Science and Nature Attractions

Amarillo's Don Harrington Discovery Center (dhdc.org) has interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. Planetarium shows, raptor programs, kinetic weather machines and life-science exhibits are among the permanent displays. Animals from the Great Plains, as well as animals from around the world, live at the Amarillo Zoo (amarillozoo.org). Stop at the "Panhandle Plains Overlook" to see native bison, elk and pronghorn roaming a five-acre enclosure. In the "Native Wildlife" area, look for coatimundi, coyotes, foxes and raccoons. Dioramas of native Great Plain animals are on display at the XIT Museum (xitmuseum.com) in Dalhart. Sponsored by the Dallam-Hartley County Historical Association, the museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Cultural Attractions

Watch live performances in a historic theater throughout the year at the La Rita Performing Arts Theatre (larita.org) in Dalhart. View contemporary and modern art for free at the Amarillo Museum of Art (amarilloart.org), open Tuesdays through Sundays or enjoy the sounds of the Amarillo Symphony (amarillosymphony.org). The tail fins of old Cadillac cars rise from the plains just west of Amarillo at Cadillac Ranch (no website; Route 66, Amarillo; no phone). Planted in 1974, the cars are open to spray painting and graffiti by visitors who want to leave their mark.

About the Author

Karen Sweeny-Justice is a writer living in Surprise, Ariz. Her work has appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine and "RubberStampMadness" magazine, as well as in newspapers around the United States. She also writes book reviews for "RT Book Reviews" magazine.

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Attribution: TheDarthEgg; License: public domain

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Attractions in the Great Plains of Texas

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The cars at Cadillac Ranch just outside Amarillo are a popular tourist attraction. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images ) The Great Plains stretch thousands of miles across North America from Canada to Mexico. Before settlers arrived, grasses were the predominant species here, providing grazing for bison.

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The Mountains and Basins section of Texas comprises the far western region of the state and, as its name implies, contains a good mix of mountainous and flat geographical features. The Pecos River forms the area's eastern border, while the international border with Mexico and the state line with New Mexico form the region's southern, western and northern borders. The region is also known as the Trans-Pecos or Big Bend Country.

Geographical Features

The mountain ranges in the Mountains and Basins section of Texas are made up of more than 150 mountains. Plateaus, basins and deserts make up the area's other geographical features, which include the Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande. The Mountains and Basins region covers more than 41,000 square miles and is the windiest and driest part of the state, receiving only eight inches of rain annually in the basins and deserts and about 20 inches per year in the mountains. Hot days and cool nights characterize the area's normal weather patterns.

Cities and Towns

El Paso is the Mountains and Basins section's most populous city, but the region also has other - though much smaller - cities, including Kermit and Monahans in the Permian Basin area and Fort Davis and Alpine in the mountains. The Mountains and Basins region is in the least populated part of Texas. Visit some of the region's tourist attractions, including the El Paso Zoo, the Adventure Zone, a family fun center in El Paso and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens in Fort Davis. Several national hotel chains, including Best Western, Ramada and Holiday Inn operate franchises in the region. Numerous independently owned hotels and motels are also in the area. Dining options are varied and plentiful.

Attractions

Most of the Mountains and Basins area's attractions are of the natural resource variety, such as Big Bend National Park and Balmorhea State Park Big Bend National Park offers ranger-guided tours that include hikes, evening discussions and workshops on the park's natural and cultural history. The region has interesting museums such as the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine and historical sites such as the Fort Davis Natural Historic Site. The University of Texas at Austin operates the three-domed McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis.

The region also offers rodeos, such as the West of the Pecos Rodeo in Pecos, and cultural events, such as the Davis Mountains Events festival in Fort Davis. El Paso offers many of the tourist attractions you would expect from a metropolitan area, such as movie theaters, a zoo and art galleries, and scenic drives are plentiful.

Weather

The mountainous regions of the Mountains and Basins area offer visitors an assortment of outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, boating and fishing. The desert and basin areas of the region have average high temperatures in the mid-90s F during the summer and in the mid-50s in winter. The mountain areas average high temps in the 80s during the summer and in the 60s in winter.

About the Author

Lou Martin has been writing professionally since 1992. His work has appeared in the "Los Angeles Times," the "Long Beach Press-Telegram" and the "Deseret Morning News." Martin holds a Bachelor of Science in history and communication.

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The Mountains and Basins Section of Texas

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The Mountains and Basins section of Texas comprises the far western region of the state and, as its name implies, contains a good mix of mountainous and flat geographical features. The Pecos River forms the area's eastern border, while the international border with Mexico and the state line with New Mexico form the region's southern, western and northern borders.

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3rd most populated region.

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Use this website to also look up Piney Woods subregion which will give you more information about the Coastal Plains region.

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Look up universities in your major cities.

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Colleges in Texas - List of Colleges and Universities in Texas

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Find the perfect Texas college to help you realize your educational and career goals. Start exploring today!

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Look up universities in your major cities.

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Colleges in Texas - List of Colleges and Universities in Texas

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Find the perfect Texas college to help you realize your educational and career goals. Start exploring today!

# data[].attributes.body
Look up universities in your major cities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Colleges in Texas - List of Colleges and Universities in Texas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the perfect Texas college to help you realize your educational and career goals. Start exploring today!

# data[].attributes.body
Look up universities in your major cities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Colleges in Texas - List of Colleges and Universities in Texas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the perfect Texas college to help you realize your educational and career goals. Start exploring today!