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A coastal food festival + 8 more top Texas travel tips for September

Tacos y Tequila Festival on South Padre Island

The annual Tacos y Tequila Festival is a two day September extravaganza.

Photo courtesy of Visit South Padre Island

Summer is winding down, but that doesn't mean traveling around Texas needs to slow down, too. There are still plenty of museums, festivals, and new ritzy hotels to visit throughout the month for a fun-filled weekend vacation or staycation. Texans looking for ideas on where to travel can find them here, in our big roundup of top tips for a fun-filled Texas getaway in September.

In Austin

Pumpkin Nights, an immersive art event that puts 7,500 carved jack-o'-lanterns on display and sets up a series of scenes along a meandering path through Pioneer Farms in North Austin, is returning for spooky season, from September 19 to October 31. The exhibit is the perfect setting for a haunting jaunt through historic buildings, centuries-old trees, and woodsy retreats, in addition to plenty of other activities. Guests can check the calendar to be sure what they'll see on any given date, but some things to look forward to are face painting, live fire dancing, and live pumpkin carving by world class artists. Early bird tickets are on sale at pumpkinnights.com.

In San Antonio

The highly anticipated InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk is now open and ready to serve guests along the River Walk at 111 E. Pecan St. Previously the Wyndham San Antonio River Walk, this hotel was sold and dramatically updated to include 390 rooms and four new bar and dining concepts. The 21-story hotel is great for walking, but guests can also opt for a water taxi. Other big features include a rooftop pool and the Club InterContinental Lounge, which is not a member lounge but a perk for guests who book at a luxury rate. Nightly rates begin at $215.

It's definitely a hot month for San Antonio hotels: The Kimpton Santo, the first Kimpton in the city so far and the largest in all of Texas, has officially made its debut in the Alamo City. Some of the hotel's design comes from the property's scholastic history, with some 19th century schoolhouse buildings preserved and used to house eight guest suites today. The cultural sensibility follows more threads than that, though, including "vintage craftsmanship fused with modernist touches and Spanish-inspired décor," according to a release. Rates begin at $262 per night.

Around Houston

The Webster location of the famous Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark chain opened its doors ahead of the Labor Day weekend, featuring 532 rooms, a 92,000-square-foot indoor water park, and a 61,000-square-foot family entertainment complex. The latter includes an indoor rope course traversed by climbing harness, a 150-foot indoor zipline that gives riders a panoramic view of the entire park, and Great Wolf Lodge’s live action role playing game MagiQuest.

Great Wolf Lodge preview Climb or hop on structures throughout the park. Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

Along the Gulf Coast

Visit Corpus Christi has launched its very first official Corpus Christi Barbecue Trail that spotlights eight different barbecue hotspots around the city. Participants can earn points to redeem exclusive merchandise every time they check in at one of the participating locations. Points can be redeemed at the Gulf Coast Capital Store located inside the Corpus Christi Visitor Information Center. More information about the Corpus Christi Barbecue Trail and its participating locations can be found on visitcorpuschristi.com.

South Padre Island’s Tacos y Tequila Festival is returning for a two-day extravaganza from September 14-15 to honor Mexico's rich culinary traditions with top chef demonstrations, tequila tastings, and live music performances. Other activities include taco and jalapeño eating contests, a grito contest, Lucha Libre matches, an arm-wrestling competition, a Loteria area (a traditional Mexican game similar to bingo), kid-friendly activities, and more. Ticket prices range from $10-$155 including one- or two-day GA or VIP passes.

Across Dallas-Fort Worth

Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown, a boutique hotel located in the former Hotel Texas Annex building, is now open at 811 Commerce St. First announced in late 2023, this 14-story hotel boasts 188 guest rooms and suites, featuring mid-century modern design, floor-to-ceiling windows, and scenic views of downtown. Other amenities include a fitness center and a rooftop pool on the sixth floor, plus nearly 5,000 square feet of function space, including a ballroom and breakout rooms for events, weddings, and meetings. Rates at Le Méridien begin at $197 per night.

With the State Fair of Texas coming up at the end of September, The Joule Dallas is ramping up the rodeo ante with its new "State Fair of Texas" offering. The package includes two tickets to the fair, a $50 food and beverage credit that can be redeemed at any of the hotel's dining establishments, transportation to the fairgrounds, and overnight accommodations in one of The Joule’s luxurious rooms. Nightly rates for the special package begin at $509.

Disney is bringing its iconic royal heroes (and its villains) to the Arlington Museum of Art with a show-stopping experience for enthusiasts of all ages. Starting Friday, September 14, two new exhibits will debut over 300 artifacts, costumes, accessories, and more sourced from Disney films and shows over the last 65 years: Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume and All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives. Once open, the exhibits will be available for patrons until March 23, 2025. Ticket prices vary.

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lets go camping

Llama ranch near Dallas roams onto America's 50 favorite camping spots

Courtesy of Hipcamp

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A family-owned, llama roaming ranch just an hour outside Dallas was just declared one of America's 50 favorite camping spots in 2026.

The field guide was compiled by online marketplace Hipcamp following a review of campsite ratings from users, regional trends, cultural relevance, and a "spirited debate" of Hipcamp experts. Campgrounds were chosen from 35 different states and organized into seven regions: the Pacific Northwest; California and Hawaii; the Southwest; the Mountain West; the Great Plains and Midwest; the Northeast; and the Southeast.

Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas was one of nine total campgrounds featured in the Southwest region. The ranch is the perfect place for families to go on core memory-making excursions like meeting the free roaming llamas or watching out for other wildlife like wild boars. The ranch spans 101 acres, and a 50-foot deep creek also flows along the property lines for fishing and swimming.

"The llamas will come to greet you and so will many more things in this wonderful place," the ranch's listing says. "We are conveniently located in a secluded area, but just a short drive from many local conveniences."

The listing also specifies that the pastures are only mowed three times a year and some of the property is on rough terrain, so campers are welcome to bring their own machetes if they want to explore the area thoroughly.

There are 14 sites available for guests to set up camp, with a mix of tent-only, RV/tent, and RV-only sites. The ranch is also very affordable; sites can be booked for as little as $15 per night.

Many reviewers enjoy getting out into the country to reconnect with nature, and many also praise the ranch's owner, Judy, who says the ranch has been in her family since 1987.

"I went with a group of women for an overnight camp at the pond," one reviewer wrote. "It was so beautiful and a much needed break from city life. The host was wonderful and kind. She was also very accommodating to our group."

A second Dallas-Fort Worth-area campground tucked away in Texas' newest state park was also highlighted in the report. Warbler Ridge Campground, located in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, was the only other Texas representative on the list.

The pet-friendly campground's listing doesn't offer many details, but it says there are 22 RV and tent campsites for visitors, as well as showers, toilets, potable water, and picnic tables. There are activities galore for visitors, including a 68-acre lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, and over 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says campsites at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park start at $13 per night (plus a daily entrance fee) for hike-in primitive sites. Walk-in campsites with water are $15 per night and campsites with electricity are $30 per night.

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