Days 1 and 2 | Dallas

Dallas’s museums are renowned far and wide, so start with a cultural tour of the city. It’ll be tough to choose from the stunning Nasher Sculpture Center, the Latino Cultural Center, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Meadows Museum, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, and the Dallas Center for Contemporary Art, all located in the Dallas Arts District. Acknowledge the city’s 1840s roots with a visit to the John Neely Bryan Cabin at Dallas County Historical Plaza, and then visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, honoring President John F. Kennedy.

Possibilities for entertainment are limitless in any of Dallas’s 13 entertainment districts, including the Bishop Arts District (Oak Cliff; restaurants, shops, art galleries), Deep Ellum (think hip, cool, blues, and jazz), Greenville Avenue (bars and restaurants galore), Knox-Henderson (shops, nightlife, restaurants), and Main Street (Adolphus Hotel, Neiman Marcus, and clubs).

Mockingbird Station is a relatively new addition to the Dallas shopping and entertainment scene. This DART (light rail) hub not only offers great shopping, dining, and entertainment options (catch a show at the Pocket Sandwich Theater) but also allows visitors to catch a ride on DART to attractions like the Dallas Zoo, Dallas World Aquarium (85,000 gallons of salt water filled with sea creatures and marine life from all over the world), the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and much more. Take a ride up the Bank of America tower for a spectacular view of the Dallas skyline–at 72 stories, it’s the tallest building in the city.

If you’re visiting Dallas in the fall, you’re in luck; you can catch the annual State Fair of Texas–two weeks of fun, history, culture, food, and rides. The wonderful Art Deco buildings house a treasure trove of museums, including the Women’s History Museum, the African American Museum, and the Age of Steam Railroad Museum.

Check out Victory Park, the home of the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars, at American Airlines Center. The project has expanded and now includes dining, shopping, and residential space.

Days 3 and 4 | Corsicana, Huntsville, The Woodlands

In Corsicana, browse historic Pioneer Village with its blacksmith’s shop, covered wagon, and other treasures, and then stop at the Pearce Civil War Museum for more of the area’s history. At Dee’s Place, an old-time soda fountain, you can get a burger and a chocolate shake before heading to Huntsville.

Visit the Sam Houston Memorial Museum to learn about the man who called Huntsville home. For a pleasant interlude take a picnic to Huntsville State Park, a popular destination that has lush trees, hiking trails, abundant fishing holes, and secluded camping spots scattered over 2,000 acres.

The next day, head to The Woodlands, a resort community just north of Houston, and enjoy its pools, water parks with all the bells and whistles, championship golf courses, and spa and fitness center. For a memorable meal, have dinner at Amerigo’s Grille (Italian cuisine, plus steaks and wild game).

Days 5 and 6 | Houston, Clear Lake

Houston is another Texas museum city, with 16 renowned museums, all begging to be explored. Start the morning at the Museum of Fine Arts, Moody Mansion and Museum, and the Menil Collection with its more than 15,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and rare books. Take the family to the Houston Zoo in Hermann Park for the afternoon; it has a new water-play area and Wildlife Carousel for fun after you’ve seen the animals (including the newest zoo baby, Indah the Orangutan). The rest of Hermann Park merits some attention also, with its miles of jogging trails and attractions like the Museum of Natural Science, Miller Outdoor Theatre, and the Houston Garden Center. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in the Bayou Place entertainment complex near Buffalo Bayou.

Houston’s Bay Area is home to Clear Lake and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Spend the day exploring space and check out the T-38 Talon jets on display, then take the Level 9 Tour (must be 16 or older) and go behind the scenes to see the real world of NASA astronauts up close.

Next, visit the Astronaut Gallery and its collection of spacesuits, tour the Johnson Space Center, and shop at the center’s gift shop. In the evening, relax on the Kemah Boardwalk and sample the amusement park, rides, and waterfront restaurants.

Days 7 and 8 | Galveston

There’s a wealth of things to do in Galveston. Visit any one of the annual festivals, say, the popular Mardi Gras, Kitefest, or Dickens on the Strand–a holiday celebration amid the beautiful Victorian homes in the Strand National Historic District. The Strand, as it’s known, is worth a day’s tour, with its shops, galleries, restaurants, restored hotels (the Tremont is a prime example of these), and antiques stores.

When you’re done shopping, take the trolley to the city’s 32 miles of beaches for some R&R (Stewart Beach ranks as one of the most popular). As the home port for several cruise lines, including Carnival and Royal Caribbean, Galveston has become a teeming port city with much to offer. Sign up for a chartered fishing boat expedition, go parasailing, or rent a Jet Ski.

Another must-see pair is the Aquarium and the Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens, after which a carriage ride in style to visit some of Galveston’s historic homes, such as the Bishop’s Palace, the Moody Mansion, and Ashton Villa, will be just perfect. Change for dinner, then go by the famous Hotel Galvez for a margarita before you enjoy a great meal along Seawall Boulevard.