People are fond of saying everything’s bigger in Texas, but it applies to more than just huge buildings and epic steaks. It’s also true of sporting excitement, local history and opportunities for adventure.
The AT&T Center in San Antonio, for example, isn’t just the famed home of perennial basketball powerhouse the San Antonio Spurs. It also hosts everything from ice hockey and wrestling to rodeo and music concerts.
Houston’s massive NRG Stadium, meanwhile, is one of the most soughtafter venues in the country. It’s packed out on Sundays with fans cheering on the NFL’s Houston Texans, but this retractable-roof coliseum is also a regular location for the football we’re more used to in the UK – 17 matches have been played there, including Manchester United against MLS All-Stars in 2010 – with the best still to come. This summer’s Copa America Centenario will see some of the world’s biggest stars playing in the US, with Houston holding group games and a semifinal. Bucket list stuff.
Don’t let the sporting superstars have all the fun, though – these are two cities tailormade for finding your own adventure and excitement. You can recreate the travels of legendary explorers by visiting Spanish colonial missions in San Antonio or hire kayaks and canoes to traverse the river that flows through it.
If you like your activities to have a pumping soundtrack, San Antonio’s annual Rock ’n’ Roll weekend in December features races from 5km to marathon, all with live music every step of the way. In Houston, the adventurous active traveller can try wakeboarding or even indoor skydiving.
Still thinking about the steak we mentioned earlier? Houston is the culinary capital of the southern US with its cultural melting pot creating a dazzling array of dishes, while San Antonio’s border location means it has Tex-Mex food to die for. All that’s left to decide is how you want your steak cooked…
Fly with United
With unrivalled access to the US from seven UK airports, United is the perfect choice for your Texan adventure. Enjoy a choice of three daily flights from London Heathrow to Houston, with connections to 17 cities across Texas, including San Antonio. You can also connect to cities across the Lone Star State from United’s hubs in New York (Newark), Washington DC and Chicago. united.com, facebook.com/UnitedUKIE, @United
Book with Hayes and Jarvis
Book your San Antonio and Houston adventure with Hayes and Jarvis. Current offers include:
8 nights with return flights for £1,199pp (based on departure 15 November 2016) departing London Heathrow (4 nights at the Hyatt Place San Antonio Riverwalk and 4 nights at the Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria). Car hire included. hayesandjarvis.co.uk/texas, 01293 762465 (01293 calls are charged at your providers’ local or national rate. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary.)
