Shake the Winter Chill and Head on Down to Texas
eTN
'Winter Texans' From the North Encouraged to Experience the Great Variety of Activities Texas Offers Including: Beaches, Birding, Scenic Drives, Outdoor Adventures and Golfing Galore
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 22 /-- Howdy, Winter Texans! Yes, that's right, we even have a name for our winter visitors to Texas. Many visitors from the northern United States and Canada migrate to Texas each winter searching for relief from the winter chill and to enjoy Texas size fun-in-the- sun. Why should folks hibernate up North when they can visit Texas and experience everything from beaches to birding, scenic drives to exciting outdoor adventures, and golfing galore?
Texas boasts more than 600 miles of sparkling coastline fronting the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas beaches and coastal habitats offer more fun-in-the-sun with magnificent fishing, camping, birding, sight seeing and more.
The Texas coastal region averages more than 250 days of sunshine each year and offers a variety of seaside destinations and experiences for winter travelers. History buffs love to explore Galveston Island's Historic Strand District and its many historic mansions when they are not enjoying its 32 miles of beaches. Texas' central Gulf Coast offers visitors Corpus Christi's museums, Texas State Aquarium and sunny beaches of Mustang Island. Near Corpus Christi, the fishing villages of Port Aransas and Rockport-Fulton have long been destinations for winter Texans looking for tranquil seaside relaxation. Moving on down Texas' coast, the Padre Island National Seashore offers 80 miles of unblemished natural seashores. And, visitors to the southern tip of the Texas coast are rewarded with the white sand dunes of the beach resort town of South Padre Island where fishing, nature tours and beachcombing abound.
With more than 600 species of birds to see and catalogue, Texas is arguably the birding capital of America. In fact, according to the American Birding Association, the Lone Star State is the nation's most popular state for bird watching and has been for five straight years. A confluence of three major migratory paths makes Texas birding especially rich in variety.
The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail runs along the Texas coastline from Beaumont to the Rio Grande Valley. The highway trail connects more than 300 established and new birding sites. It's the first such trail in the nation and, by far, the most diversely populated. Other famed birding areas in Texas include the Texas Hill Country and the Piney Woods of East Texas. Texas is also home to the World Birding Center, a network of nine birding sites dotted along 120 miles of river road from South Padre Island west to Roma.
For an exhilarating, outdoor adventure of a more rugged sort, Texas' Big Bend Country is the ideal location for a three day "gourmet" rafting trip through one of the spectacular canyons of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. Visitors will enjoy gourmet, imaginative and unexpected cuisine along the way and will be serenaded by local and regional musicians each evening around the campfire.
Texas is also an important winter golfing destination with over 900 courses, many of which are home to numerous PGA and LPGA tour events, that can be enjoyed throughout the states' mild winter months. New golf resorts are joining an acclaimed list of existing resort courses in Texas offering a variety of golfing experiences from seaside links to Hill Country fairways. A full listing of the golf courses in Texas can be found in the 2006 Official Texas Golf Guide. For a copy, visit http://www.traveltex.com/ and click on 2006 Golf Guide. With new and expanded public and resort courses, Texas is a golf-lover's winter getaway.
"Whether visitors are looking for adventure, nature, golf or other exciting activities, this winter, Texas is the ideal destination," said Julie Chase, Tourism Director of the division of Economic Development and Tourism of the Texas Governor's Office. "Texas welcomes all the Winter Texans who come for our temperate winter climate and fun-filled activities."
About Tourism In Texas
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Texas, employing 491,000 Texans. In 2004, travelers spent more than $44.4 billion in Texas. Travel expenditures generated $2.3 billion in state taxes and $770 million in local taxes. For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, visit http://www.traveltex.com/ or for a free Texas State Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX.
Source: Economic Development and Tourism of the Texas Governor's Office
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published Aug 22, 2006
