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