where to travel right now
Back-to-school is just around the corner, and there's still time to plan a last-minute summer escape. From a one-day-only flash sale at a popular water park resort, to a recently opened glow-in-the-dark immersive experience in Dallas, there are plenty of ways to plan a fun-filled August getaway. Austinites can "escape" closer to home by visiting a purr-fect traveling cat expo at the Palmer Events Center, or by venturing to the Hill Country to explore numerous local wineries.
Here are our top picks for summer travel events, hotel deals, and more in August.
Throughout Texas
History buffs who want to immerse themselves in Texas lore will find a home among these six bed and breakfasts. Among the legendary lodgings are Elvis' "home away from home" in Waco, Georgia O’Keeffe’s favorite hangout in the Panhandle, and Ulysses S. Grant’s East Texas escape. Find even more storied stays through the Texas Historical Commission's Historic Overnights program, which helps guests discover details about historic places and experience history in an immersive way.
Elvis became friends with the radio DJ who owned this Waco home in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of The Elvis House
Texas thrill-seekers who purchase or renew Six Flags Entertainment Gold ($95) or Prestige Passes ($170) from now until September 1, 2025 will receive unlimited access to every Six Flags park in North America, which includes six Texas properties. Season passes are currently available for purchase for Schlitterbahn Galveston, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, and Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Season passes for Hurricane Harbor Arlington and Hurricane Harbor Splashtown go on sale on Monday, August 4.
The Hill Country
Wine trade association Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW) has partnered with the educators at Wine Folly to develop a free online guide exploring the Hill Country region's many vineyards and tasting rooms. The guide serves as a one-of-a-kind database for the area, with six main topic pages spanning wines, wineries, terroir (growing conditions), history, region, and travel. It also includes overviews of 62 local wineries to help visitors make an itinerary for their next journey to the Hill Country.
San Antonio
As the Hill Country continues to recover from the devastating July floods, the Westin Riverwalk Hotel is supporting the community by extending its "Visit San Antonio" discount on standard king and double rooms for anyone affected by the floods or helping with recovery efforts. Guests can use promo code "T4973" to receive 30 percent off stays from now through August 31. Room rates with the discount begin at $132 per night.
Several Pearl retailers will host a "Sidewalk Sale" event from August 14-15 to help visitors prepare for back-to-school season. Participating shops include clothing stores Niche, Adelante, and Dos Carolinas; footwear and accessory shop LeeLee; jewelry and gem store Ruby Road Gems; home goods sellers The Tiny Finch and Rancho Diaz; gift shop Feliz Modern Pop; and The Twig Bookshop. The sale will run from 10 am to 5 pm both days.
Dallas-Fort Worth
Glow or Go, a recently-opened glow-in-the-dark immersive experience in Dallas' Design District, offers visitors the opportunity to bond over several team-based challenges such as obstacle courses, reflex games, and coordination tests, all set in a pulsing, LED-lit environment. Tickets prices depend on your group size — starting at $28 per person for groups of eight, and up to $42.80 for groups of three — and are available through the Fever website.
Don't let heat exhaustion ruin an otherwise nice summer day: CultureMap has rounded up several new and unique things to help people in North Texas beat the heat this month, from a new waterpark attraction to a glacial facial at a lavish spa. There are also affordable ideas on the list, from visiting the UTA Planetarium to cooling off with a "chimney cake"-style ice cream cone at Crispy Cones in North Richland Hills.
At home in Austin
The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel is celebrating Austin Pride Month with the unveiling of its new Rainbow Room and a "Rainbow Room Experience Package" from August 5-31. The hotel collaborated with local LGBTQIA+ artists Bode Robinson and Hailey Gearo to create themed decor and original artwork for the room. The experience package includes a waived destination fee, two complimentary Pride-themed cocktails, breakfast for two at Café Fuller, and late checkout. The hotel will additionally donate a portion of proceeds from each Rainbow Room booking in August to Central Texas LGBTQIA+ nonprofit Out Youth.
Domesticated cats are taking over Austin's Palmer Event Center from August 16-17. Pop Cats, a touring annual expo for cat-lovers, will feature several cat-themed activities including cat cosplaying, making cat toys, and more. Attendees can bring their own cats, but must follow guidelines to keep everyone safe. Tickets (starting at $25 for adults and $15 for children) are available at popcats.co.
This cat got to experience the expo firsthand…or firstpaw. POP Cats/Facebook
The Downright Austin hotel restaurant Swim Club is helping visitors prepare for back-to-school season with its free Dive-In Movie Series during the first three Thursdays in August. Screenings will include Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (August 7), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (August 14), and Clueless (August 21). Guests can arrive as early as 7 pm and order movie-themed cocktails, and screenings will begin at 8:30 pm.
Home Away From Home
Austinites who are inclined to flee the Austin City Limits Music Festival crowds but feel a bit of FOMO about the music have a pre-planned escape available in the Feels Like Home Festival. This more rustic festival is about two and a half hours northwest of Austin, in Brownwood, and combines popular regional country music and local barbecue on Saturday, October 4.
This festival is a new effort, having only launched in 2024; making it an extra-bold strategy to schedule it during ACL Fest, which this year runs from October 3-5 and 10-12.
Despite the remote location, this festival has pulled some recognizable names for many Texans: Pat Green, Josh Abbott Band, Stoney LaRue, Bottomland, the Central Texas-based Graham St. Clair Band, and Joe Peters. There will also be a Local Spotlight Stage, featuring smaller acts from Central Texas. They include Mason & The Mercenaries, Brian Pounds, Ripken, and The Cadillac Thieves.
On the barbecue side, there will be 10 participating pitmasters, and attendees can try bites by all of them. The festival website provides short descriptions for each, as seen below. They're especially useful for showing which participants made it onto Texas Monthly's prestigious best barbecue list.
After all that barbecue and music, attendees still have a whole day to get back to Austin before the weekend is over. To give them some ideas while they're still in town, the festival also links to this visitor's guide that shares tips on restaurants, parks, cultural and historical attractions, shopping, places to stay, and more to do and see in Brownwood.
Tickets to the Feels Like Home Festival (starting at $64 for just music, and $91 for music and barbecue) are available at feelslikehomefest.com.
