where to travel right now

11 top Texas travel ideas before going back to school this August

Back-to-school is just around the corner, and there's still time to plan a last-minute summer escape. From a recently opened glow-in-the-dark immersive experience in Dallas, to a pur-fect traveling cat expo in Austin, there are plenty of ways to plan a fun-filled August getaway. Houstonians can "escape" closer to home by visiting a popular water park resort after taking advantage of a one-day-only flash sale, or by booking a stay at a historic bed and breakfast in nearby Galveston.

Here are our top picks for summer travel events, hotel deals, and more in August.

Throughout Texas

Great Wolf Lodge, which has resorts in Dallas and Houston, is gearing up for the biggest sale of the year for one day only on Monday, August 4. The annual flash sale offers discounted stays starting at $84 per night for the first two guests, and additional guests will only cost $24 extra per person. The promo code "84DEGREES" will be valid for single- and multi-night stays booked through December 18, 2025. Sale prices include resort fees and unlimited access to the indoor water park.

History buffs who want to immerse themselves in Texas lore will find a home among these six bed and breakfasts. Among the legendary lodgings are Elvis' "home away from home" in Waco, Georgia O’Keeffe’s favorite hangout in the Panhandle, and Ulysses S. Grant’s East Texas escape. Find even more storied stays through the Texas Historical Commission's Historic Overnights program, which helps guests discover details about historic places and experience history in an immersive way.

Elvis House, Waco Elvis became friends with the radio DJ who owned this Waco home in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of The Elvis House

Texas thrill seekers who purchase or renew Six Flags Entertainment Gold ($95) or Prestige Passes ($170) from now until September 1, 2025 will receive unlimited access to every Six Flags park in North America, which includes six Texas properties. Season passes are currently available for purchase for Schlitterbahn Galveston, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, and Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Season passes for Hurricane Harbor Arlington and Hurricane Harbor Splashtown go on sale on Monday, August 4.

The Hill Country

Wine trade association Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW) has partnered with the educators at Wine Folly to develop a free online guide exploring the Hill Country region's many vineyards and tasting rooms. The guide serves as a one-of-a-kind database for the area, with six main topic pages spanning wines, wineries, terroir (growing conditions), history, region, and travel. It also includes overviews of 62 local wineries to help visitors make an itinerary for their next journey to the Hill Country.

Austin

The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel is celebrating Austin Pride Month with the unveiling of its new Rainbow Room and a "Rainbow Room Experience Package" from August 5-31. The hotel collaborated with local LGBTQIA+ artists Bode Robinson and Hailey Gearo to create themed decor and original artwork for the room. The experience package includes a waived destination fee, two complimentary Pride-themed cocktails, breakfast for two at Café Fuller, and late checkout. The hotel will additionally donate a portion of proceeds from each Rainbow Room booking in August to Central Texas LGBTQIA+ nonprofit Out Youth.

Domesticated cats are taking over Austin's Palmer Event Center from August 16-17. Pop Cats, a touring annual expo for cat-lovers, will feature several cat-themed activities including cat cosplaying, making cat toys, and more. Attendees can bring their own cats, but must follow guidelines to keep everyone safe. Tickets (starting at $25 for adults and $15 for children) are available at popcats.co.

Cat at Pop Cats expo This cat got to experience the expo firsthand...or firstpaw. POP Cats/Facebook

The Downright Austin hotel restaurant Swim Club is helping visitors prepare for back-to-school season with its free Dive-In Movie Series during the first three Thursdays in August. Screenings will include Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Aug. 7), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Aug. 14), and Clueless (Aug. 21). Guests can arrive as early as 7 pm and order movie-themed cocktails, and screenings will begin at 8:30 pm.

San Antonio

As the Hill Country continues to recover from the devastating July floods, The Westin Riverwalk Hotel is supporting the community by extending its "Visit San Antonio" discount on standard king and double rooms for anyone affected by the floods or helping with recovery efforts. Guests can use promo code "T4973" to receive 30 percent off stays from now through August 31. Room rates with the discount begin at $132 per night.

Several Pearl retailers will host a "Sidewalk Sale" event from August 14-15 to help visitors prepare for back-to-school season. Participating shops include clothing stores Niche, Adelante, and Dos Carolinas; footwear and accessory shop LeeLee; jewelry and gem store Ruby Road Gems; home goods sellers The Tiny Finch and Rancho Diaz; gift shop Feliz Modern Pop, and The Twig Bookshop. The sale will run from 10 am to 5 pm both days.

Dallas-Fort Worth

Glow or Go, a recently-opened glow-in-the-dark immersive experience in Dallas' Design District, offers visitors the opportunity to bond over several team-based challenges such as obstacle courses, reflex games, and coordination tests, all set in a pulsing, LED-lit environment. Tickets prices depend on your group size, starting at $28 per person for groups of eight, up to $42.80 for groups of three, and are available through the Fever website

Glow or Go in Dallas. Glow or Go

Don't let heat exhaustion ruin an otherwise nice summer day: CultureMap has rounded up several new and unique things to help North Texans beat the heat this month, from a new waterpark attraction to a glacial facial at a lavish spa. There are also affordable ideas on the list, from visiting the UTA Planetarium to cooling off with a "chimney cake"-style ice cream cone at Crispy Cones in North Richland Hills.

Visitors can learn about grape varieties, history, wineries, and more before arriving in the Hill Country.

Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW)/Facebook

Visitors can learn about grape varieties, history, wineries, and more before arriving in the Hill Country.

travel summer vacation hill country wineries great wolf lodge dallas houston austin san antonio fort worth entertainment hotels movies

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.

san antonio tejano music museums hall of fame music openings

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New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history