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Book a Taylor Swift tea + 10 more Texas travel ideas for November

The festive fall season has arrived, and with it brings early holiday happenings including makers' markets, light shows, and more. From a bubbly sparkling wine tour in Fredericksburg to a Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea in Dallas, there is a slew of fun events to check out in November.

Houston travelers can visit Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch in Spicewood for an art exhibition, wander through a The Nightmare Before Christmas-themed light trail in Austin, or stay local by booking a spa day at a downtown Houston hotel.

Here are our top 11 picks for autumn Texas travel events, hotel news, and more in November.

Throughout Texas

Hiatus Day Spa – with locations in Dallas, Frisco, Plano, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio – has a new "Get Holiday Ready Package" offering guests a guided experience with discounted services. Guests who book $350 minimum in day spa or med spa services between now and December 31 can receive 15 percent off their first visit, 20 percent off their second, and 25 percent off their third visit.

The Hill Country

Nonprofit trade association Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW) just debuted its Christmas Wine Affair Passport 2025, which offers individuals or couples complimentary wine tastings and a 15 percent discount on 3-plus bottle purchases at more than 50 participating Hill Country wineries. The passport will be valid from November 24 through December 19, 2025. Passes ($65 for individuals and $100 for couples) and a list of participating wineries can be found on THCW's website.

Luck Ranch, Willie Nelson's 500-acre private residence and event venue in Spicewood, will host Austin-based neon studio Ion Art for seven days of art installations, music, and food. The exhibition, called Surreal Luck, will take place from November 7-9 and 13-16. According to a release, Surreal Luck will be a "dimension-bending neon art experience" that will "reimagine" Nelson's Western-themed Red Headed Stranger movie set. Tickets (starting at $49.50 for single-day GA) can be purchased via Etix.

Neon sculptures by Ion Art Surreal Luck will take place November 7-9 and 13-16. Ion Art/Facebook

A new type of wine experience is bubbling up in Fredericksburg: Invention Vineyards is now hosting sparkling wine tours in a new dedicated production facility. The tours will show off the production space and then guide guests through a progressive tasting, meaning one that takes place at different locations. The sampling will cover two sparkling ones and then a personalized tasting drawing from Invention Vineyards' wines. The one-hour tours are offered daily starting at 11 am, and tickets ($45 per person) can be purchased via heathfamilybrands.com.

Austin

A spooky light trail inspired by Tim Burton's stop-motion film The Nightmare Before Christmas is lighting up Austin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center until November 30. The trail depicts the film's iconic Halloween Town and Christmas Town, complete with 3D-printed statues of characters including Jack Skellington, Zero, Sally, and more. The light trail is open Wednesdays through Sundays from "dusk" to 10:15 pm. Tickets (timed entry is $31 for children and $41 for adults, or flexible entry is $51) are available at texasperformingarts.org.

Speaking of light shows: The University of Texas at Austin's 2025 Longhorn Lights show will officially kick off on November 18. The annual tradition transforms the South Mall into a twinkly display of orange and white light stretching through nine miles of campus. The spectacle is free and open to the public, and can be enjoyed from 5-10 pm daily through January 1, 2026.

Oh What Fun!, a new holiday makers' market, is coming to downtown Austin at Republic Square Park starting on November 20 and running Thursday through Sunday until December 24. Local artisans will sell gifts for the holiday season, such as handmade jewelry, ceramics, apparel, candles, and more. The market will also have various food trucks and a holiday-themed bar and lounge. Oh What Fun! will be open from 11 am to 9 pm, and the "What a Wonderful Lounge" will be open until 10 pm.

San Antonio

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is celebrating San Antonio's Native American history and community on Saturday, November 8 for the annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival. The event will feature a drum circle, all day crafts, artist demonstrations, live performances, and much more. The festival and admission to the Briscoe Museum will be free and open to the public, and festival hours will run from 10 am to 4 pm.

Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio The festival celebrates San Antonio's local Native American community.Briscoe Western Art Museum/Facebook

The Westin Riverwalk San Antonio hotel is offering travelers an early peek at its holiday festivities with its new "Deck the Halls" package. Guests who use promo code "ZJ1" can book their rooms on an entirely Christmas-themed floor with festive Christmas trees in every room, and receive a holiday welcome amenity upon check-in. Interested guests can book between now and January 2, 2026 for stays beginning from November 14 through January 5, 2026.

Houston

The JW Marriott Houston Downtown hotel has added four new rejuvenating treatments to its seasonal spa menu running through the end of 2025. The packages include: The "Holiday Relief Package" ($99 for 45 minutes), a jetted thermal soak and a neck, back, and shoulder massage; the "Warm & Cozy Massage + Foot Treatment ($175 for 70 minutes), a Swedish massage paired with a guest's choice between a foot treatment or a mini facial upgrade; the "Merry & Bright HydraFacial Package" ($185 for 50 minutes) which includes a HydraFacial and HydroJelly mask; and a "Comfort & Joy Body Treatment" ($209 for 80 minutes) which includes a full-body exfoliation and Texas winery grape-infused wrap. Spa services can be booked online.

Dallas-Fort Worth

Every Saturday and Sunday in November, Dallas' esteemed Hotel Crescent Court will host a Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea featuring a multi-course menu of savory bites, sweet treats, a curated selection of teas, and optional champagne or mocktail pairings. Live music will set the tone for a whimsical experience in the hotel's Beau Nash cocktail bar. "The Life of a Showgirl SwifTEA" can be booked at 11 am, 12 pm, or 1 pm, and tickets ($53.98 for children and $117.51 for adults) can be purchased via Eventbrite.

Courtesy photo

Swiftees won't want to miss the Taylor Swift Tea at Dallas' Hotel Crescent Court.

holidays dallas travel fort worth austin hill country san antonio houston vacation hotels spas

all routes lead to rome

New nonstop flight connects Houston with Rome for the first time

Photo courtest of Houston Airports

Houston Mayor John Whitmire listens as Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, discusses the addition of ITA Airways at IAH.

Thinking of a Roman holiday? The good news for Houstonians is that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will begin offering direct, nonstop flights to Rome starting next spring. It will be the first time IAH and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Fiumicino, Italy have connected nonstop.

“We welcome ITA Airways to Houston, as it reflects our city's prominence on the global stage," said Houston Mayor John Whitmire in a press conference held on Tuesday, December 2. "The first ever route between Houston and Rome will strengthen our business, diplomatic, and cultural ties with Italy. It will also bring more visitors to experience Houston's vibrant culture, world-class healthcare, and diverse industries."

Starting May 1, 2026, ITA Airways will offer three flights a week between Houston and Rome, expanding to five flights a week beginning June 1. Houston is ITA's ninth North American destination.

“Nonstop service to Rome is a defining moment for Houston and a direct result of the strength and credibility of our airport system. This route will bring new visitors, new investment, and new business opportunities into our region,” said Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports. “It expands Houston’s presence in Europe and proves that disciplined, strategic growth at Houston Airports delivers measurable economic impact. Strong airports don’t just move people. They shape markets, expand opportunity and help define a city’s place in the world.”

Flights will be made via a Airbus A330-900. The model is renowned for its comfort on long flights, including ergonomic seats, ample personal space, and a quiet cabin. Appropriately, many of the interior cabin components are made in Italy and reflect an elegant European design.

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, currently serving as America's ambassador to Italy, also welcomed the new route that connects his hometown with his current job.

“As a Texan and as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, I’m thrilled by ITA’s new direct route between Houston and Rome," Fertitta said. "It strengthens the economic links that drive mutual understanding and shared prosperity. It was great working with ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart, Mayor John Whitmire, and all the partners that helped make this possible.”

The new route to Rome continues the international expansion that has been happening at IAH over the last several years. Last year, the airport announced new non-stop flights to recent vacation hotspot, Puerto Escondido, Mexico. It was part of Houston Airports' goal of making Houston the gateway to America ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Now, it looks like IAH will be welcoming Italian soccer fans, as the routes open up just in time for the sports event next summer.

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