where to travel right now

New Hill Country treehouses top this Texas travel roundup for October

Onera Wimberley debuted in September, following the success of Onera's first location in Fredericksburg that opened in 2021.

Photo by Jeff Jones

From new resort openings to fall festivals and immersive art experiences, there is plenty to do and see on a fun-filled weekend vacation or staycation in October. Texans looking for ideas on where to travel can find them here, in our big monthly roundup of top tips around the state.

In the Hill Country

A new treehouse resort is swinging its way into the Hill Country: Onera opened its second location in Wimberley in mid-September. The resort offers 28 treehouse and "earth home-style units" with panoramic views of the beautiful Hill Country landscape. The property also features a 125-person event space with an atrium and courtyard, and an infinity-edge pool and spa. Rates at Onera Wimberley begin at $279 per night.

This fall will be filled with family-friendly celebrations and raucous bar crawls throughout the Hill Country, and CultureMap has rounded up nine of the best San Antonio Oktoberfests happening throughout the month. Notable events include Oktoberfest at The Rock at La Cantera, Six Flags Oktoberfest, and Stable Stein Fest.

Texas pitmaster Al Frugoni is bringing together more than 90 barbecue-lovers — both pitmasters and content creators — for an "Open Fire Meat Up" on Saturday, October 26 at The Barn at Quail Crossing in Hondo, about 40 miles west of San Antonio. Guests can taste tons of BBQ meats and sides, and the family-friendly event also includes live music and kids' activities. The event raises funds for Medina County first responders via GoMedina. Early bird tickets are $20, and increase to $25 after October 18. Tickets can be purchased via ticketleap.events.

Fredericksburg's Fort Martin Scott has recently been designated a State Historic Site by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The fort, which was established in 1848, was the first frontier military post in the state. According to a press release, Fort Martin Scott will soon add a gift shop to the premises. The grounds are open daily from 8 am to 8 pm, while the site is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is free until November 1.

Fort Martin Scott in Fredericksburg Fort Martin Scott is the Texas Historical Commission's 39th historic site.Photo courtesy of The Texas Historical Commission

In North Texas

The State Fair of Texas has returned for a fun-filled three-week run until Sunday, October 20. CultureMap has all the details on how to score discounted tickets, find the best fair food, and new attractions and events. Visitors can find out more about this year's extravaganza in our comprehensive Texas State Fair editorial series.

Paranormal activity enthusiasts should take advantage of Fort Worth's renowned Stockyards Ghost Tours, which are available on Thursdays through Saturdays every month. The 90-minute tours are hosted by Cowtown Winery and led by a "seasoned storyteller [who is] a master of the eerie and the unexplained." Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, and $13 for children aged 10 and under. Reserve via tickets.grapevineticketline.com.

In Austin

Travelers who want to feel like they've been transported into the paintings of two of most famous artists in history won't want to miss out on the immersive "Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet" exhibitions at the Austin American-Statesman Building, which will run until Sunday, October 13. Animations bring the paintings to life on projectors that boast a 4 trillion-pixel resolution, so details remain firmly intact. Tickets start at $29.99 for adults, and can be found on beyondexhibitions.com.

If supporting local artists is on your agenda, Georgetown's third annual South Main Arts Festival is taking place on Saturday, October 19 from 10 am to 6:30 pm at the new South Main Arts District. The festival will feature several local artisan vendors, a community chalk art project, live music, printmaking activities, and much more. This event is free to the public, and more information can be found on visit.georgetown.org.

The Loren on Lady Bird Lake in Austin is offering a cozy fall discount for weekday stays all month long. Guests who book a stay from Monday to Wednesday in October using the code "FALLESCAPE" will receive 15 percent off the hotel's best available rates for all guest rooms and suites. Rates for the Fall Escape discount begin at $293 per night.

In anticipation for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin from October 18-20, Hotel ZaZa Austin is offering the most luxurious package for racegoers who don't want to get stuck in traffic on the way to Circuit of the Americas. The hotel's premium "F1 High Roller" package includes private transport to a downtown Austin heliport that will fly guests to the track, where COTA will provide seamless car service from the helipad "straight to the action." The package is $1,500 per person per day, and interested guests should email MediaInquiry@HotelZaZa.com to inquire while availability lasts.

At home in Houston

Houston’s highly anticipated Meow Wolf has set its opening date for Thursday, October 31, and revealed its immersive theme: Radio Tave. It's described as a radio station that’s been transported to another dimension, where visitors will be able to explore dozens of rooms filled with interactive elements such as hidden doors, paths, and portals. General admission tickets start at $40 per person, and can be purchased via meowwolf.com.

The recently opened Great Wolf Lodge in Webster is celebrating spooky season with its first-ever Howl-O-Ween celebration from now until October 31. The family-friendly festivities include a Great Wolf Spider balloon installation, a "Monster Bash Dance Party," arts and crafts activities, and drink specials. Nightly rates at Great Wolf Lodge begin at $349 per night, and reservations can be made via phone by calling 800-905-9653.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

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