Texas & The Big Easy

Day 1 UK - Dallas - Fort Worth

VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Dallas. On arrival we make our way to Fort Worth and the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth Downtown/Blackstone (3T+) for three nights.

Day 2 Dallas

Today begins with a city tour of Dallas, followed by a visit to Dealey Plaza and The Sixth Floor Museum. Set in the former Texas School Book Depository, from which Lee Harvey Oswald is alleged to have fired the shots that killed President John F Kennedy, the museum chronicles his assassination and his legacy. We also take a trip to Southfork Ranch, the backdrop for the 1980s TV show ‘Dallas’.

Day 3 Fort Worth

This morning we explore Fort Worth, taking in the downtown area and the Cultural District, home to five museums set within one large park. The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, dedicated to honouring the women of the American West, is our next stop, before finishing at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District with its many landmark buildings.

Day 4 Fort Worth - Austin

We head south to Austin today, popping in to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame along the way. In the evening, we’ll join a boat cruise to the Congress Avenue Bridge - at sunset, the biggest urban colony of bats in North America is known to emerge from under the bridge and fly across town. We stay at the Renaissance Austin Hotel (4T) for the next two nights.

Day 5 Austin

Today, we’ll show you Austin’s highlights on a guided tour. As well as exploring the 19th century State Capitol (a designated National Historic Landmark), we stop by the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, home to thousands of historical papers, photos and objects from the former president’s time in office.

You’ll have the evening free to experience a little of Austin’s nightlife - restaurants serve everything from gourmet barbecue fare to Mexican-inspired dishes, and live music can be found around almost every corner.

Day 6 Austin - Fredericksburg - San Antonio

On our way to San Antonio, we’ll take a detour to Texas Hill Country and the quirky city of Fredericksburg. Thanks to the influence of early settlers from Germany, Fredericksburg has a German flavour that’s evident in the architecture, food and festivals. It’s also at the centre of the Hill Country’s wine region - look out for locally produced reds, whites and rosés.

We’ll continue to San Antonio, a city strongly influenced by the age-old splendours of classical Spain. After a visit to the Alamo, where Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Colonel Travis fought to the death in the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, we’ll check in for a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk (3T).

Day 7 San Antonio

This morning, we explore the sights of San Antonio, including Missions National Historical Park. These frontier missions were established in the 1700s by Franciscan missionaries, and have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore the marketplaces and speciality boutiques which edge the tree-lined River Walk, the focal point of the city.

Day 8 San Antonio - Houston

Driving east to Houston, Texas’ biggest city and the fourth-largest in the US, we call in at the Space Center Houston. Here, you’ll glean an insight into NASA’s past, present and future, with exhibits including the Apollo 17 Command Module, a Saturn V and a replica space shuttle. After checking in to the Sheraton Suites Galleria (4T), you’ll have the evening at leisure to see a little of the city.

Day 9 Houston - Lafayette

Crossing the state border into Louisiana, we’ll make our way to Lafayette. At the heart of Cajun and Creole Country, the city is a melting pot of culture and cuisine. The area’s Cajun history takes centre stage at the Acadian Cultural Center, where we’ll spend the afternoon. Our hotel for the night will be the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette (4T).

Day 10 Lafayette - New Orleans

Today, we’ll head for New Orleans. Set on the banks of the Mississippi, this sultry city offers an intoxicating mix of jazz, cocktails, festivals, Creole cuisine and French-colonial architecture. We’ll have a guided tour of the city when we arrive, before checking in to our hotel for the next two nights, the Sheraton New Orleans (4T).

Day 11 New Orleans

You’ve got the whole day free to discover the delights of the ‘Big Easy’. Fuel up on coffee and sugar-dusted beignet doughnuts, then head off to see the balconied buildings and boutiques of the French Quarter or Uptown’s grand mansions and restored streetcars. When it comes to dinner, be sure to sample a local favourite or two - you’ll find jambalaya, gumbo and creamy seafood bisque on most menus. Follow up with a trip to a jazz bar and a few Sazeracs (the city’s official cocktail).

Day 12 New Orleans - In flight

Most of the day is free until we transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 13 UK

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.