(NAPSA)—Americans looking for an exciting place to visit should think big: big state and big cities. The state Texas has come a long way from its Old West origins and today boasts three of the country’s 10 largest cities—Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Also in the nation’s top 25 are Austin, El Paso and Fort Worth. Whether you enjoy shopping, art galleries * or Tex-Mex cantinas, Texas cities serve up sophisticated cosmopolitan getaways with small-town hospitality. Dallas’ motto is “Live Large. Think Big,” and thecity delivers with the Dallas Arts District, the largest downtown area dedicated to the arts in the U.S. The District includes the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center and Latino Cultural Center. Dallas is home to a luxury shopping paradise, offering the world’s most elite brands along with trendy neighborhood boutiques. When shoppers havefinally dropped, they have plenty of nourishment options—Dallas has more restaurants per capita than any other U.S. city. Just west of Dallas lies Fort Worth, known asthe city “Where the West Begins.” Visitors can see evidence of Fort Worth’s cowboy heritage at the Forth Worth Stock Show, the Stockyards National Historic District, Billy Bob’s “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk,” fascinating museums and authentic saloons. Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, Texas—Mark di Sivero’s “Eviva Amore”with Building, courtesy of the Nasher Sculpture Center. Photographer: Tim Hursley Visitors can also explore a wide variety of museums andart galleries—from the artistic to the historic, from the ancient to the modern. Houston is a dining hotspot, specializing in cuisine reflective of the city’s immigrant influences. Authentic Vietnamese, Thai, Indian and African eateries stud the landscape alongside renowned steakhouses. After grabbing a bite to eat, visitors should head to the Theater District, a 17-block area in the heart of downtown that is home to Houston’s eight worldclass performing arts organizations, the 130,000 square-foot Bayou Place entertainment com- plex, movies, plazas and parks. In San Antonio, theater happens not just in auditoriums but on the street every day. Along the River Walk, meandering through downtown, visitors enjoy sidewalk cafes, shopping, boat tours on the river, hip clubs and dinnercruises. Another colorful attraction is San Antonio’s Market Square (El Mercado), the largest Mexicanstyle marketplace outside Mexico. Almost every weekend, a party or festival adds to the already-lively atmosphere of the plaza’s shops, galleries, farmer’s markets and Mexican restaurants. And of course, no San Antonio visitor can leave without remembering the Alamo. Just a quick trip north of San Antonio visitors will find themselves in the capital of The Lone Star State; Austin. There is some- thing for everyone in this eclectic city surrounded by the Texas Hill Country and numerouslakes. With its many museums, galleries and theater companies, Austin is experiencing a cultural renaissance. Austin is also the live music capital with a variety of music genres playing at over 100 different venues on any given evening. Every September, visitors come from all over the world to hear the top artists perform at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. El Paso, with its vibrant blend of Texas and Spanish culture, is home to the Wyler Aerial Tramway Franklin Mountains State Park. An aerial cable car carries visitors to the top of the Franklin Mountains where they can admire seven thousand miles of the Southwest's magnificent terrain.
