• Home
  • popular
  • Events
  • Submit New Event
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • News
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Home + Design
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Innovation
  • Sports
  • Charity Guide
  • children
  • education
  • health
  • veterans
  • SOCIAL SERVICES
  • ARTS + CULTURE
  • animals
  • lgbtq
  • New Charity
  • Series
  • Delivery Limited
  • DTX Giveaway 2012
  • DTX Ski Magic
  • dtx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Your Home in the Sky
  • DTX Best of 2013
  • DTX Trailblazers
  • Tastemakers Dallas 2017
  • Healthy Perspectives
  • Neighborhood Eats 2015
  • The Art of Making Whiskey
  • DTX International Film Festival
  • DTX Tatum Brown
  • Tastemaker Awards 2016 Dallas
  • DTX McCurley 2014
  • DTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • DTX Beyond presents Party Perfect
  • DTX Texas Health Resources
  • DART 2018
  • Alexan Central
  • State Fair 2018
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Zatar
  • CityLine
  • Vision Veritas
  • Okay to Say
  • Hearts on the Trinity
  • DFW Auto Show 2015
  • Northpark 50
  • Anteks Curated
  • Red Bull Cliff Diving
  • Maggie Louise Confections Dallas
  • Gaia
  • Red Bull Global Rally Cross
  • NorthPark Holiday 2015
  • Ethan's View Dallas
  • DTX City Centre 2013
  • Galleria Dallas
  • Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Homes in Dallas Texas
  • DTX Island Time
  • Simpson Property Group SkyHouse
  • DIFFA
  • Lotus Shop
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Dallas
  • Clothes Circuit
  • DTX Tastemakers 2014
  • Elite Dental
  • Elan City Lights
  • Dallas Charity Guide
  • DTX Music Scene 2013
  • One Arts Party at the Plaza
  • J.R. Ewing
  • AMLI Design District Vibrant Living
  • Crest at Oak Park
  • Braun Enterprises Dallas
  • NorthPark 2016
  • Victory Park
  • DTX Common Desk
  • DTX Osborne Advisors
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • DFW Showcase Tour of Homes
  • DTX Neighborhood Eats
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • DTX Auto Awards
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2017
  • Nasher Store
  • Guardian of The Glenlivet
  • Zyn22
  • Dallas Rx
  • Yellow Rose Gala
  • Opendoor
  • DTX Sun and Ski
  • Crow Collection
  • DTX Tastes of the Season
  • Skye of Turtle Creek Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival
  • DTX Charity Challenge
  • DTX Culture Motive
  • DTX Good Eats 2012
  • DTX_15Winks
  • St. Bernard Sports
  • Jose
  • DTX SMU 2014
  • DTX Up to Speed
  • st bernard
  • Ardan West Village
  • DTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Taste the Difference
  • Parktoberfest 2016
  • Bob's Steak and Chop House
  • DTX Smart Luxury
  • DTX Earth Day
  • DTX_Gaylord_Promoted_Series
  • IIDA Lavish
  • Huffhines Art Trails 2017
  • Red Bull Flying Bach Dallas
  • Y+A Real Estate
  • Beauty Basics
  • DTX Pet of the Week
  • Long Cove
  • Charity Challenge 2014
  • Legacy West
  • Wildflower
  • Stillwater Capital
  • Tulum
  • DTX Texas Traveler
  • Dallas DART
  • Soldiers' Angels
  • Alexan Riveredge
  • Ebby Halliday Realtors
  • Zephyr Gin
  • Sixty Five Hundred Scene
  • Christy Berry
  • Entertainment Destination
  • Dallas Art Fair 2015
  • St. Bernard Sports Duck Head
  • Jameson DTX
  • Alara Uptown Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival fall 2017
  • DTX Tastemakers 2015
  • Cottonwood Arts Festival
  • The Taylor
  • Decks in the Park
  • Alexan Henderson
  • Gallery at Turtle Creek
  • Omni Hotel DTX
  • Red on the Runway
  • Whole Foods Dallas 2018
  • Artizone Essential Eats
  • Galleria Dallas Runway Revue
  • State Fair 2016 Promoted
  • Trigger's Toys Ultimate Cocktail Experience
  • Dean's Texas Cuisine
  • Real Weddings Dallas
  • Real Housewives of Dallas
  • Jan Barboglio
  • Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
  • Hearts for Hounds
  • Okay to Say Dallas
  • Indochino Dallas
  • Old Forester Dallas
  • Dallas Apartment Locators
  • Dallas Summer Musicals
  • PSW Real Estate Dallas
  • Paintzen
  • DTX Dave Perry-Miller
  • DTX Reliant
  • Get in the Spirit
  • Bachendorf's
  • Holiday Wonder
  • Village on the Parkway
  • City Lifestyle
  • opportunity knox villa-o restaurant
  • Nasher Summer Sale
  • Simpson Property Group
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2017 Dallas
  • Carlisle & Vine
  • DTX New Beginnings
  • Get in the Game
  • Red Bull Air Race
  • Dallas DanceFest
  • 2015 Dallas Stylemaker
  • Youth With Faces
  • Energy Ogre
  • DTX Renewable You
  • Galleria Dallas Decadence
  • Bella MD
  • Tractorbeam
  • Young Texans Against Cancer
  • Fresh Start Dallas
  • Dallas Farmers Market
  • Soldier's Angels Dallas
  • Shipt
  • Elite Dental
  • Texas Restaurant Association 2017
  • State Fair 2017
  • Scottish Rite
  • Brooklyn Brewery
  • DTX_Stylemakers
  • Alexan Crossings
  • Ascent Victory Park
  • Top Texans Under 30 Dallas
  • Discover Downtown Dallas
  • San Luis Resort Dallas
  • Greystar The Collection
  • FIG Finale
  • Greystar M Line Tower
  • Lincoln Motor Company
  • The Shelby
  • Jonathan Goldwater Events
  • Windrose Tower
  • Gift Guide 2016
  • State Fair of Texas 2016
  • Choctaw Dallas
  • TodayTix Dallas promoted
  • Whole Foods
  • Unbranded 2014
  • Frisco Square
  • Unbranded 2016
  • Circuit of the Americas 2018
  • The Katy
  • Snap Kitchen
  • Partners Card
  • Omni Hotels Dallas
  • Landmark on Lovers
  • Harwood Herd
  • Galveston.com Dallas
  • Holiday Happenings Dallas 2018
  • TenantBase
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2018
  • Hawkins-Welwood Homes
  • The Inner Circle Dallas
  • Eating in Season Dallas
  • ATTPAC Behind the Curtain
  • TodayTix Dallas
  • The Alexan
  • Toyota Music Factory
  • Nosh Box Eatery
  • Wildflower 2018
  • Society Style Dallas 2018
  • Texas Scottish Rite Hospital 2018
  • 5 Mockingbird
  • 4110 Fairmount
  • Visit Taos
  • Allegro Addison
  • Dallas Tastemakers 2018
  • The Village apartments
  • City of Burleson Dallas

where to travel right now

10 cool summer vacation ideas for August to beat the Texas heat

Amber Heckler
Jul 31, 2026 | 10:35 am

Planning an August getaway in this summer heat can be fatiguing, but CultureMap has plenty of ideas for travelers who want to keep cool on their final summer vacation.

Two new museum exhibits — including one in Fort Worth — are making their debut this month, and a popular family-friendly waterpark resort is hosting its once-a-year summer sale across both Texas locations. Discounts and deals are a common thread for this month's column, a popular biannual boutique sale in Austin to the return of Houston Theater Week.

Here's everything you need to know to plan a heat-busting getaway around the state this August.

Around Texas

Flash sale alert: Great Wolf Lodge is unlocking $84 per night stays at participating waterparks for one-day only on Tuesday, August 4. Guests can use the promo code "84DEGREES" to book rooms for the $84 nightly rate for select dates through December 17, 2026. The offer is based on two guests; a $20 per person fee will be added for extra guests. The deal applies to the Great Wolf Lodge parks in DFW (Grapevine) and the Houston area (Webster).

The Hill Country

Fredericksburg vacationers on the hunt for a stylish new brunch will find all sorts of savory and sweet goodies at The Wellhouse at The Albert Hotel. Whether it's sharing a basket of buttermilk biscuits and jam or digging into Hangar steak and scrambled eggs, the hotel's signature restaurant has all the staples covered, including classic brunchy cocktails like a mimosa, Bloody Mary, Aperol spritz, and espresso martini. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 7 am to 3 pm, and reservations can be booked via OpenTable.

San Antonio

The Witte Museum, San Antonio's natural history and science center, has teamed up with Concordia University Texas for a new immersive exhibit exploring all of the paleontological wonders in Friesenhahn Cave. "Adventures in Texas Deep Time" includes a mapped out adaptation of the famed cave developed using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, giving museum visitors a close look at the resting place of more than 4,000 mammals, reptiles, and birds from the Ice Age. Patrons can also discover giant Texas mosasaur fossils and search for hidden artifacts using archaeological tools. Non-member museum admission ranges from $11-$17 per person.

Travelers in need of a summer de-stressing session should book a visit at Monarch San Antonio's newly opened spa, offering premium services like massages, facials, hydrothermal experiences, cold plunges, saunas, and more. Spa services don't come cheap, but that's to be expected from a luxe hotel that serves up $225 porterhouse steaks and caviar. The spa does provide budget-friendly experiences like the "Rituals Beneath Her Wings" series — free for spa guests and $20 for drop-ins — which includes Tuesday evening Pilates, Saturday vinyasa flow, and a Sunday sound bath at sunrise. Spa services can be reserved online.

Austin

Le Garage Sale, a twice yearly extravaganza featuring end-of-season and clearance deals from 130 local boutiques, is returning to Austin's Palmer Event Center for its summer sale from August 29-30. You might want to bring an extra suitcase to fill with finds from clothing and shoes to accessories and other goods. Tickets to Le Garage Sale (starting at $14.95) are available via Eventbrite. VIP tickets ($29.80) include early access to the sale at 9:30 am. The general admission portion of the sale runs from 11 am to 5 pm.

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa is celebrating National Wellness Month with a Mokara Spa special running every Monday-Thursday in August: Guests who book a facial and a salon service on the same day can receive 20 percent off both services. The spa offers more than just facials, massages, and treatments. Booking a service also grants access to a rooftop pool overlooking the scenic Hill Country, and there are many relaxing places to lounge while enjoying light bites and sips from the accompanying Spa Creek Café. More information about spa services can be found online, and reservations can be booked by calling 512-329-4018.

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa rooftop pool Travelers who can handle the heat can spend some time by the rooftop pool at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.Courtesy of Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

Houston

The fifth annual Houston Theater Week will kick off from August 24-30 with discounts for performances throughout the 2026-2027 season at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Starting on the 24th, patrons can use the code "HTW26" to unlock buy one, get one free tickets to performances across 21 shows, including Tituss Burgess in Concert, A Merry Rockin’ Christmas starring Michael Cavanaugh, Switcheroo at the Houston Zoo! with Houston Contemporary Dance Company, and many more. Tickets can be booked via thehobbycenter.org.

At home in Dallas-Fort Worth

Fort Worth's Stockyards Championship Rodeo is permanently adding Sunday performances to its indoor rodeo event lineup, bringing visitors three days of action-packed roping and barrel racing, plus rough stock events like bull riding and bronc riding. Events are held at the Cowtown Coliseum starting at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 1:30 pm. Ticket prices vary depending on dates and times.

A new patriotic exhibition featuring one of America's most recognizable symbols is coming to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth for a five-month run starting August 15. In collaboration with the Denver Art Museum, "The Statue of Liberty from Bartholdi to Warhol" will showcase nearly 100 artworks and objects that examine the statue’s varied manifestations — from artistic marvel and pop culture icon to symbol of immigration, patriotism, and resistance. Museum admission is free, and the exhibit will be on display through January 3, 2027.

Get ready to check-in in style at Plano's swanky new hotel. The Clara Hotel has made its grand debut in the popular Dallas suburb with the goal of becoming an all-day relaxing hangout for hotel guests and visitors alike. The property is anchored by Field & Vine, a French-Haitian-Texas restaurant helmed by executive chef Daniel Armand, and a chic day-to-night cocktail lounge called Archer. The hotel also features an outdoor pool, landscaped courtyard, and classic guest rooms. Stays at The Clara Hotel begin at $136 per night in August.

The Spa at Monarch San Antonio

Courtesy of Monarch San Antonio

The Spa at Monarch San Antonio overlooks the courtyard and butterfly sculpture.

vacation summer vacation travel hill country hotels museums dallas fort worth houston san antonio austin fredericksburg
news/travel
series
series/where-to-travel-2026-dal

most read posts

Upscale Mexican restaurant Jako Cocina to open in Uptown Dallas

Halal BBQ smokehouse warms the coals for winter opening in Richardson

Halloween takes over 14 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

where to travel right now

Best Texas getaways in November include sipping, spa-ing, and shopping

Amber Heckler
Nov 2, 2026 | 9:56 am
Holiday Night Market at Pearl in San Antonio
Photo courtesy of Pearl
The holiday night markets and tree lighting ceremony at Pearl are can't-miss holiday happenings in San Antonio.

Holiday events are emerging everywhere around Texas in November, from artisan markets to tree lighting ceremonies, but that's not all that's luring travelers out of Dallas-Fort Worth this month.

A luxury wellness brand just debuted a supersized spa-resort outside Austin, and a new whiskey distillery is shaking up new cocktails in the Hill Country. A weekend celebration honoring legendary blues musician Robert Johnson is also taking place at a historic San Antonio hotel.

North Texans can stay close to home and spend time on the ice at CultureMap's City Ice Rink in downtown Dallas, or cross over into Cowtown for a weekend at a newly reopened Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth.

This is everything you need to know to plan a fun, festive, fall getaway in November.

The Hill Country

ICYMI: A new family-owned distillery has joined the Texas Hill Country's vast landscape of breweries, wineries, and other spirit-makers. The newly opened Briggs Distilling Co. is now serving cocktails, mocktails, and more at its spacious facility at 121 Brownson Ln. in Driftwood. Briggs has developed three expressions for whiskey drinkers to try, all made with Texas rainwater and bottled on-site: the Straight Rye Whiskey, Heritage Reserve Bourbon, and Wheated Bourbon. The property also features a treehouse-inspired children's area, family- and dog-friendly amenities, and an on-site food truck.

The long-awaited Hill Country resort Canyon Ranch Austin is now open for luxurious getaways on a sprawling 600-acre property in Spicewood. The resort notably boasts a 40,000-square-foot spa - touted as the largest in Texas - with an extensive lineup of fitness, medical, and wellness services. Other than the rejuvenating spa, guests can also enjoy four on-site food and beverage concepts. The signature restaurant Estella is led by Texas-born chef Val Cantú, who also owns a Californios, a three-Michelin-Star restaurant in San Francisco. All-inclusive nightly rates at Canyon Ranch Austin start at $1,325 per person, which covers lodging, meals, and access to daily fitness and wellness activities.

Spa Lounge at Canyon Ranch Austin This is one of the spa lounges that will be available for guests. Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

Texas travelers can treat their wine-loving friends to an early holiday gift with a passport to the Texas Hill Country Wineries' annual Christmas Wine Affair running November 23-December 18. The deal offers pass holders 25 days of complimentary tastings at participating wineries, with up to four winery visits per day. Participants can also get a 10 percent discount on three or more bottles of wine with their passports. Five dollars from each passport sold will be donated to the Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Fund. Christmas Wine Affair Passports are $65 for individuals and $100 for couples.

San Antonio

San Antonio's Historic Gunter Hotel is hosting a weekend-long celebration from November 12-14 in honor of blues legend Robert Johnson and the 90th anniversary of his music recordings in hotel room 414. The weekend will include guided tours of the Gunter Studio, a panel discussion with Johnson's family, live music showcases, and more. Johnson's grandson, Steven, will record his grandfather's songs in the same hotel room and in the Gunter Studio, which will be released at a later date. Most of the programming for the weekend is free to the public, but tickets must be purchased for the evening music showcases in the Studio Lounge and Crystal Ballroom.

San Antonio's historic Pearl District will brighten up for the winter season with a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 27, followed by the Taste of Pearl Annual Festival on Saturday, November 28. Locals and visitors can enjoy all the twinkly lights and the festive Christmas tree while shopping for their holiday gifts and listening to live music. Both events are free to attend.

Austin

Neighbors Cafe & Wine Bar, the all-day café at 1 Hotel Austin, is hosting a festive fall candle-making workshop with Austin-based candle business House of Wick on Tuesday, November 10 from 6-8 pm. All supplies will be provided so attendees can develop their own signature autumn fragrance during this guided experience. Tickets are $48.19 per person and can be purchased via Eventbrite, and complimentary access will be offered to hotel guests and Mission Members as space allows.

Austin arts organization Future Front Texas will host its flagship holiday market, The Front Market, at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park from November 21-22. The Front Market is one of the biggest and longest-running craft markets in Austin that amplifies diverse Texas-based artisans, designers, and craftspeople. The event at Moody Amphitheater is family- and dog-friendly, and will have a rotating lineup of more than 175 vendors throughout the weekend. Admission is free or by donation.

The Front Market at Moody Amphitheater Holiday markets like The Front Market are a great place to find holiday handmade gifts from local artists and small businesses.Photo courtesy of Future Front Texas

Houston

With football season in full swing, Houston Texans fans can stay close to the game day action at InterContinental Houston and get some additional perks with the hotel's exclusive Tailgate Package. The package includes complimentary parking, late checkout, a $50 credit at The Naturalist Bar & Cafe, and a $25 Uber credit that can be used toward game day travel to or from Reliant Stadium, located two miles away from the hotel. For fans that can't make it to the games in-person, The Naturalist will be screening all Houston Texans games throughout the season. Rates with the Tailgate Package start at $299 per night.

Dallas-Fort Worth

CultureMap is bringing holiday magic back to Downtown Dallas' Main Street Garden with the return of the CultureMap City Rink this winter. The festivities kick off on opening weekend with the Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, November 21. Then, mark your calendars for the Dallas Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 5, a favorite holiday tradition, which passes right by the rink. The rink will be open 4-10 pm Monday-Friday; 10 am-10 pm Saturday; and 10 am-8 pm Sunday. Tickets are $18 for all ages, including skate rentals and 75 minutes on the ice.

Holiday Night Market at Pearl in San Antonio

Photo courtesy of Pearl

The holiday night markets and tree lighting ceremony at Pearl are can't-miss holiday happenings in San Antonio.

Fort Worth is gearing up for the grand reopening of The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7 with public admission beginning at 12 noon. The reopening marks the completion of a $19 million expansion and will feature the debut of a two new exhibits: a photography showcase called "Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of the Cowgirl" that honors the legacy of rodeo’s most intrepid women, and "Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo," a display of costumes from the country superstar's residency in Las Vegas. Admission is $18 for adults with discounts for children, seniors, military, and first responders.

vacation texas travel holiday happenings san antonio austin hill country houston dallas fort worth museums wineries pearl hotels resorts spas city rink
news/travel
series
series/where-to-travel-2026-dal
CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
Get Dallas intel delivered daily.
Loading...