Summertime is a great time to hit the road and travel. If you’re looking for an adventure for all ages, this is the perfect time to plan a trip to explore the depths of the Earth with the Cascade Caverns, and make a splash on the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi. Pack up your car with friends, family, and your favorite snack and prepare for adventure in your own backyard with the best places to roadtrip in Texas!
Cascade Caverns
Located less than two hours South East of Austin in Boerne, this attraction features a living cavern with millions of shimmering drops of pure water falling on to stunning rock formations. Offering tours since 1932, Cascade Caverns is part of the Glen Rose Formation, a shallow marine to shoreline physical formation from the early Cretaceous period. This geological marvel is open year-round but is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. After your guided one-hour tour, relax by enjoying a picnic in the sprawling 105-acre park complete with picnic tables and a fun playground for the kids. Take time to explore Texas’ natural beauty through the nature trails or set up camp for the night in their camping area complete with showers, barbecue grills, and campfire rings.
Looking for a little more adventure? Check out their Adventure Tour or Flashlight Tour for groups of 12 or more. If you’ve ever wanted to try spelunking, the Adventure tour is your chance to descend into the lower depths below the lake and learn about cave hydrogeology, the study of geology focusing on water occurring underground. The Flashlight Tour offers an exciting extended nighttime tour for one and a half hours using only flashlights and candles. During this exploration you’ll see the nocturnal, blind salamanders to captivate all.
Corpus Christi
If you’re looking for more of a beach vibe, head to the south-eastern part of the state to Corpus Christi, Texas. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi offers sun, sea, and lots of fun activities for everyone. Visit the incredible Texas State Aquarium and get up close and personal with sea life featuring Dolphin Bay, a protected habitat for dolphins unable to survive in the wild. Don’t miss the additional Exclusive Encounters to go behind the scenes and interact with the animals one on one, including Feed the Flock, Feed the Fish, and Discover Dolphins where you’ll learn about how the Animal Care staff take care of their feathered and marine animal friends. Some encounters include feeding and photo sessions. Dolphin encounter includes a special interaction with the dolphins that is sure to create lasting memories.
Visit Padre Island and take in the salty sea air with a drive on the beach or a dip in the warm ocean water. Test your balance on a stand-up paddleboard or rent a kayak and paddle your way along the calm and mild waves. Summer, ideally mid-June through August, is the perfect time to witness sea turtle hatchlings make their appearance into the world. Watch hatchlings emerge from their eggs and make their way across the beach and into the water.
For a historical adventure, take a tour of one of the most famous aircraft carriers in U.S. naval history, the USS Lexington. The ship was the oldest working carrier in the U.S. Navy and was decommissioned in 1991. During WWII the carrier was involved in almost every major operation in the Pacific Theater and spent 21 months in combat. Self-guided and guided tours are available. Five different routes including the Flight Deck, Foc’sle (forecastle), Gallery Deck, Lower Decks, and Hanger Deck are all available for the self-guided tours covering over 100,000 square feet and eleven decks of this carrier. Each tour is unique and features interactive exhibitions for your interest. Guided tours include the Hard Hat tour that explores 15 areas not included on the public tour or the Flight Operations tour where you’ll be part of the exciting operational sequence of a naval aviator.
No matter where you decide to spend your weekend travels in Texas, from the depths of Cascade Caverns to the salty sea air of the beach in Corpus Christi, be sure your car or truck is read to take on the road with Sun Auto Service. Our service centers can ensure your vehicle is prepared to handle any road trip near or far. Schedule your road trip inspection with Sun Auto Service to ensure your vehicle is road ready.
