Collect your car on arrival and stay two nights in Houston.

Houston is a cosmopolitan city with Southern hospitality and charm. As America’s fourth largest city, it boasts restaurants, nightlife, museums and galleries to match. Also in Houston you can visit NASA and enjoy the IMAX theatre in the Johnson Space Center, or experience pioneer living at the George Ranch Historical Park. Don’t forget your appetite – Houston has some of the top restaurants in the USA, with cuisine from around the world. 

Named as the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is home to more than 250 live music venues and hosts major music events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival and SXSW. Nevertheless, music and entertainment is not all that Austin is famous for. Take a historic walking tour of the city, and explore the Nation’s tallest state capitol building. This unique city also boasts beautiful outdoor spaces, with thousands of acres of parkland with numerous hike and bike trails as well as mountain biking trails. Some must-see attractions for Austin’s natural beauty include the Zilker Metropolitan Park and Barton Springs. There are also opportunities for paddling, boating and fishing. 

Stay two nights in Austin.

San Antonio is a beautiful old city filled with colourful shops and sidewalk cafés. Take time to visit the Alamo – one of Texas’ most famous spots, established in 1718 to serve Spanish colonial missions in North America. Take a stroll along the popular River Walk, aka Paseo del Rio, the largest urban ecosystem in the nation. This verdant oasis of cypress-lined paved paths, arched stone bridges and lush landscapes, attracts millions of visitors each year. Take a boat cruise on the San Antonio River or sample the perfect margarita at Aldaco’s in Sunset Station. 

Stay two nights in San Antonio.

Surrounded by beautiful Texas Hill Country, the small town of Fredericksburg has a unique German flavour in its quaint bakeries, Hauptstrasse (Main Street) boutiques and generations-old peach orchards. Outside of town, go hiking at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, take a horse riding tour or visit some of the Hill Country vineyards that up one of the country's largest vinicultural areas. You can also sample local wines in one of the many tasting rooms located on the Urban Wine Trail or taste great BBQ or Tex-Mex food in the downtown area. 

Stay one night in Fredericksburg.

Located almost a mile above sea level, the city of Alpine may be small, but there is plenty to visit in this lively community from boutique shops to art galleries. The city also provides a great base from which to explore the surrounding area. Make sure to visit Fort Davis, one of the one of the best remaining examples of a frontier military post in the American Southwest.

Stay one night in Alpine.

Encompassing over 1,100 square miles of vast desert basins and majestic mountains, Big Bend may be of the United States' biggest national parks, but it is also one of its quietist, offering peace and tranquillity to those who visit. Known for its vast starry skies and temple-like canyons, carved from limestone which provide an incredible contrast to the weather-beaten Chihuahuan Desert. There are driving routes and hiking trails to help you experience the best of the park’s beauty, however, its after sunset you will really be struck. Boasting the least amount of light pollution of any National Park, people flock to Big Bend to stargaze. On the clearest nights, you can see about 2,000 sparkling stars with the naked eye.

Stay three nights in Terlingua or in Big Bend National Park itself.

Located in the high desert planes of the Trans-Pecos region, Marfa is a peaceful desert town surrounded by the Texas mountains, sprawling ranches, and stunning sunsets, and is a perfect place to relax and appreciate why the small number of residents have made their home here. See some of the incredible outdoor art installations, gaze at the stunning night sky or shop in one of the eclectic stores – your visit here will certainly be memorable. 

Stay one night in Marfa.

Situated at the foothills of the Franklin Mountains at the edge of the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso is home to a range of cultures and historical sites unique to the Lone Star State. Over the past four centuries, Native American, Mexican, Spanish and Western cultures have shaped modern-day El Paso and visitors can experience the diversity in the food, entertainment, arts and retail opportunities here. Don’t miss the city’s best views along the Scenic Drive overlook, offering stunning vistas of El Paso, the Rio Grande and neighbouring Juarez, Mexico.

Stay two nights in El Paso.

Day 15 – Return your car to El Paso Airport in time to check in for your flight