Home to an estimated 16-million cattle, the vast and varied state of Texas, second largest state in the US, has plenty of people too in its half-dozen huge cities. It has often been said that everything is bigger and better in Texas, and visitors who have explored the state tend to agree.

Between its Gulf Coast in the southeast and the Red River boundary north of the Panhandle there are plains, rolling hills, lakes, soaring mountains, bogs, beaches and desert. In Texas' large cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio it is possible to swap the bright lights for a day at the ranch at the drop of a cowboy hat, or soak up culture at a world-class art gallery before taking a stroll through a scenic park. Outside the urban enclaves Texas has 23-million acres of woodlands, including four national forests and 125 state parks, from the great pine forests of the south and east to the rugged mountains of the west.

Most are aware that Texas is home to the largest oil industry in the US, but visitors are generally surprised to discover that the state has one of the country's biggest wine-growing regions too; that Austin is a musical Mecca; that Texas is leading the country in high-tech production; and that it is at the heart of a gourmet movement with some of the nation's finest restaurants within its borders.

Historically the Texas plains were the haunt of Native American tribes like the Comanches and Apaches. The Spanish put in an appearance in 1519 but only began settlements in 1690. In the ensuing centuries Texas became a conglomeration of settlements of various immigrant groups, becoming an independent republic for 10 years with its characteristic Lone Star flag, before acquiring statehood in 1845.

The word Texas is a corruption of a Native American term for 'friend', and the friendliness of the cosmopolitan Texan people is the cherry on the top for a state that has something to cater for everyone's interests, whether it be space flight or rodeo riding.

Old City Park

Address: 1515 South Harwood Street, Dallas

Admission: $7 (adults), $4 (children 4-12) Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm (until 2pm in January, February and August) and Sunday 12pm to 4pm; closed on major holidays

Telephone: (214) 421 5141

Sixth Floor Museum

Address: 411 Elm Street, Dealey Plaza, Dallas

Admission: $13.50 (adults), $12.50 (children 6-18). Audio tours are available for an additional $3.50 Daily 9am to 6pm; closed Christmas Day

Telephone: (214) 747 6660

Fort Worth Stockyards

Address: East Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth

Admission: Daily cattle drives at 11am and 4.30pm. Various other events at different times

Telephone: (817) 624 4741

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Address: 3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth

Admission: $10 (adults); concessions available. Free on Wednesdays, and first Sunday of the month Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday 11am to 5pm. Closed Mondays and holidays

Telephone: (817) 738 9215

Cattle Raisers Museum

Address: 1301 West Seventh Street, Fort Worth

Admission: $3 (adults), $1 (children 4-12) Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.

Telephone: (817) 332 8551

Fort Worth Zoo

Address: Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth

Admission: $12 (adults), $9 (children 3-12). Half price on Wednesdays Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm (April to October); daily 10am to 4pm (winter)

Telephone: (817) 759 7555

Cadillac Ranch

Address: On the old Route 66, south of I-40 between exits 60 and 62

Admission: Free Open 24-hours daily

Don Harrington Discovery Center

Address: 1200 Streit Drive

Admission: $7 (adults), $5 (children) Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 4.30pm; Sunday 12pm to 4.30pm. Closed Mondays

Telephone: (806) 355 9547

Amarillo Museum of Art

Address: 2200 South Van Buren Street

Admission: Free Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 5pm

Telephone: (806) 371 5050

Palo Duro Canyon

Address: The park is located about 12 miles (19km) east of Canyon on State Highway 217

Admission: $4 (adults), children under 12 are free Gates are open daily: 8am to 5pm (November to February); 8am to 10pm (March to October)

Telephone: (806) 488 2227

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Address: 1601 NASA Parkway

Admission: $19.95 (adults), $15.95 (children 4-11). Other concessions available. Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, weekends 10am to 7pm (extended hours in summer)

Telephone: (281) 244 2100

Museum District

Admission: Most institutions have free admission, otherwise entry fees range from $2-9 for adults Various

Telephone: (713) 715 1939

The Orange Show

Address: 2402 Munger Street

Admission: $1 Wednesday to Friday 9am to 1pm; Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 5pm (31 May to 6 September). Saturday and Sunday only 12pm to 5pm (10 March to 31 May and 6 September to mid-December)

Telephone: (713) 926 6368

Sam Houston Historical Park

Address: 1100 Bagby Street

Admission: $10 (adults) for Historic House tours; Museum gallery free Museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sundays 1pm to 4pm. Historic House tours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm, Sundays 1pm and 2.30pm

Telephone: (713) 655 1912

Bayou Bend

Address: 1 Westcott Street

Admission: $10 (adults), Admission to the gardens is $3 (adults) Other concessions available. Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Guided tours are available Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2.45pm and Saturday 10am to 11.15am, but advance reservations are necessary. No guided tours in August. The gardens are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm

Telephone: (713) 639 7750

National Museum of Funeral History

Address: 415 Barren Springs Drive

Admission: $10 (adults), $7 (children) Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm; Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4pm

Telephone: (281) 876 3063

Texas State Capitol

Address: Congress Avenue between 11th Street and 14th Street

Admission: Monday to Friday 7am to 10pm, weekends 9am to 8pm

Telephone: (512) 463 0063 (Tour Guide Office) or (512) 305 8400 (Visitors Centre)

Zilker Park

Address: 2100 Barton Springs Road

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Address: 4801 La Crosse Avenue

Admission: $8 (adults); $3 (children 5-12) Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm; Sundays 12pm to 5.30pm

Telephone: (512) 232-0100

Governor's Mansion

Address: Colorado Street

Admission: Generally open Monday to Thursday 10am to 12pm. Last tour starts at 11.40am and advance reservations are required.

Telephone: Reservations: (512) 463 5516; Capitol Complex Visitors Center: (512) 305 8400

Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art

Address: University of Texas

Admission: $9 (adults), children under 12 are free. Other concessions available. Free on Thursdays Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (until 8pm on Thursdays), Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Closed on major public holidays

Telephone: (512) 471 7324

Congress Avenue Bridge

Address: Congress Bridge

Admission: Dusk daily. Bat season is mid-March to beginning of November, but the best months are July and August

Telephone: (512) 416 5700 (Bat Hot Line)

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Admission: $5 per adult for a seven-day pass The park is open year round. The Headquarters Visitors Center opens 8am to 4.30pm

Telephone: Headquarters Visitors Center (915) 828 3251

Dallas Holocaust Museum

Address: 211 N. Record Street, Suite 100, Dallas

Admission: $6 (adults); concessions available Daily Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm

Telephone: (214) 741 7500

The Alamo

Admission: Free; donations appreciated Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm; Sundays 10am to 5.30pm

Telephone: (210) 225-1391

Riverwalk

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Address: 17000 IH 10 West

Admission: Adults $49.99, children $34.99; concessions available Mid May to mid August: 10am to ppm daily.

Telephone: (210) 697-5050

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

Address: 318 E Houston St, two blocks from the Alamo

Admission: Adults $11; seniors(55+) $10; Children (ages 3-11) $8 Open: Peak season 10am to 6pm; off season 10am to 5pm.

Telephone: (210) 247-4000

Spanish Governor's Palace

Address: 105 Plaza de Armas (Military Plaza)

Admission: Adults: $2, children $1 Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm; Sundays 10am to 5pm

Tower of the Americas

Address: 600 HemisFair Park

Admission: Adults: $10.95 children: $8.95

Telephone: (210) 207-8615

Texas Hill Country

Las Canarias

Address: 112 College Street, River Walk

Food Type: Tex-Mex

Silo Elevated Cuisine

Address: 1133 Austin Highway, Northeast

Food Type: Fusion

Fig Tree

Address: 515 Villita

Food Type: International

Francesca's at Sunset

Address: Westin La Cantera Resort, 16641 La Cantera Pkwy.

Food Type: Fusion

El Tiempo Cantina

Address: 3130 Richmond Ave

Food Type: Tex-Mex

Mark's American Cuisine

Address: 1658 Westheimer Rd

Food Type: American

Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse

Address: 1510 Texas Ave

Food Type: Steakhouse

Indika

Address: 516 Westheimer

Food Type: Indian

Chez Nous

Address: 217 S Ave G, Humble

Food Type: French