309 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Texas - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Texas

Dripping Springs, Texas

Hamilton Pool

An emerald-green grotto just a short trip from Austin.

Museum of the Weird

Continuing the tradition of the dime museum in style.

Cathedral of Junk

A unique structure in suburban Austin comprised entirely of other people's castaways.

Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth Water Gardens

A modernist landscape of water and sci-fi concrete.

Uncommon Objects

One part antique store, one part curiosities hodge-podge.

Amarillo, Texas

Cadillac Ranch

A sculpture made of 10 Cadillacs as a monument to the "Golden Age" of the American automobile.

Congress Bridge Bats

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

Wimberley, Texas

Jacob's Well

A popular swimming hole that hides one of America's most deadly diving spots.

See All 309 Things to Do in Texas See All 309 Places

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Texas

Cedar Creek, Texas

Pecan Pie Vending Machine

A 24-hour vending machine restocked daily with homemade full-sized pecan pies.

The Hobbit Café

A taste of Middle Earth, in the middle of the Bayou City.

Dr Pepper Museum

Housed in a century-old building, this museum's dedicated not just to soft drinks, but to the free enterprise system.

The Gas Station

The pit stop from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" now serves beef and pork barbecue, not people.

See all 17 places to eat in Texas See all 17 places to eat in Texas

In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with Get Your Guide

Guided Tours Nearby

Itinerary Sponsored by Visit San Antonio

7 Creative Ways to Take in San Antonio’s Culture

If you’re planning a trip to San Antonio, all signs will point you to the Riverwalk, the most-visited tourist destination in the whole state. And while the area offers countless bars, restaurants, and shops, the city is host to a wide array of cultural gems, waiting in plain sight. Whether it’s visiting gorgeous missions, touring sculpture gardens, or immersing yourself in African-American history, San Antonio contains fascinating excursions that will brighten up any trip.

Explore Texas

Launch Map

Texas Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Texas Activity

kd8bqt has been to Fort Worth Stockyards

fishstic666 has been to Fort Worth Water Gardens

cinder wants to go to L-Bird Flying Museum

cinder wants to go to The Grave of Rope Walker

cinder wants to go to The Gas Station

Stories About Texas

Podcast: Chapel Creek Ranch

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

September 14, 2022

Video: Roaming the Salado Sculpture Garden

Salado Creek is guarded by a sculpture of a doomed mermaid, whose tears are said to feed its waters today.

Sponsored by Visit Salado

Video: A Resilient Fairytale Cottage

This house, considered the most ornate small cottage in Texas, features incredible architectural ornate details as well as a combination outhouse and former lending library.

Sponsored by Visit Alvin

Video: The Joys of Bat-Watching

Every evening, locals and visitors congregate at Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge to watch a show made up of 1.5 million performers. Specifically: bats.

Sponsored by Visit Austin

Video: Next Stop: Space History

This facility is home to a lifesize replica of the original shuttle Independence—the only one of its kind in the world that’s mounted to an aircraft carrier.

Sponsored by Visit Bay Area Houston

Video: A Legendary Texas Music Community

In this town located 15 minutes outside of Fredericksburg, musical performances are hosted 363 days a year. Grab a beer and kick back under 300-year-old oak trees that have heard some of the best country musicians of all time.

Sponsored by Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau

Video: The Garden Where Nature Comes to Life

Riverside Nature Center is a 2-acre property that packs in over 200 species of wildflowers, grasses, and ferns, 140 species of trees, and a Monarch Waystation for butterflies to stopover on their way from Canada to Mexico.

Sponsored by Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau

Video: Reliving the 19th-Century Schooling Days

School is always in session at the West Bay Common School Children’s Museum, where the 1898 Schoolhouse Session is designed to showcase a day in the life of a turn-of-the-century student.

Sponsored by Visit League City

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Lists Featuring Texas