| Texas is the second largest state in the | | | | activities. There is also a landscaped |
| Union both in terms of area (after | | | | sandy beach, IMAX theater, and a |
| Alaska), and of population (after | | | | paddlewheel cruise boat. |
| California). There are many interesting | | | | 5. Plano Balloon Festival (in Plano): An |
| places and events to see around the | | | | annual hot-air ballooning festival. The |
| state, including: | | | | festival also offers other activities |
| 1. The Alamo (in San Antonion): | | | | such as live bands, activities for kids, |
| Originally built as a Spanish mission, | | | | and great food. |
| the site became legendary as a result of | | | | 6. Plaza Wax Museum (in San Antonio): |
| the 1836 siege that took place during | | | | Two attractions in one - Louis Tussard's |
| the Texas Revolution of 1836. | | | | Plaza Wax Museum (a traditional wax |
| 2. Forbidden Gardens (in Katy): An | | | | museum) and Ripley's Believe It or Not! |
| outdoor museum of Chinese culture and | | | | (a museum of the strange and unusual). |
| history. Perhaps the most impressive | | | | 7. SeaWorld San Antonio (in San |
| exhibits are a 1/20th scale model of the | | | | Antonio): The famous marine-themed theme |
| Forbidden City, as well as a Terracotta | | | | and zoological park. |
| Army of 6,000 1/3 scale figures. | | | | 8. State Fair of Texas (in Dallas): An |
| 3. Hartman Prehistoric Garden (in | | | | annual event including many attractions |
| Austin): A site where fossilized tracks | | | | including the largest ferris wheel in |
| and bones have been found, this is one | | | | North America, a college football game, |
| garden of several within the Zilker | | | | and even an Auto Show. The fair is also |
| Botanical Garden. The Hartman | | | | well-known for its deliciously high-fat |
| Prehistoric Garden has been set up to | | | | foods such as deep-fried Oreo cookies, |
| resemble a Cretaceous habitat, and even | | | | pork ribs and corn dogs. |
| contains an actual-size sculpture of the | | | | 9. Texas Rose Festival (in Tyler): An |
| dinosaur Ornithomimus. | | | | annual festival held in October of each |
| 4. Moody Gardens (in Galveston): A large | | | | year, this popular festival celebrates |
| and spectacular tourist attraction, | | | | the area's rose-growing industry. |
| Moody Gardens contains three "pyramids" | | | | 10. USS Texas (in La Porte): A |
| which themselves contain the largest | | | | battleship which served with the US Navy |
| aquarium in the world, rainforest fauna | | | | during both World Wars. |
| and flora, and science exhibits and | | | | |