Bandera County, Texas
For every child who wanted a horse, or to be a cowboy, here's the perfect opportunity to play fantasy. Bandera County in Texas is a rustic western-style town known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" and it features dude ranches, rodeos, and old west culture. The county seat, Bandera, has a population of under 1,000 but the area's population is approximately 20,000. Its seat is located 45 minutes outside San Antonio, a good place to rent a car. Rent a camper or take a tent along as the area offers camping opportunities. Visit some of the 100 dude ranches, some are working ranches such as the Mayan Dude Ranch. Most ranches offer horseback riding, hayrides, fishing, swimming and golf courses.
Rodeos are popular throughout the region and on most weekends it is possible to find one at a nearby ranch or small town. There are parks in the area that lend themselves to hiking. At nearby Houston, the George Ranch Historical Park, 484 acres of living history, allows visitors to see a stock farm reminiscent of the 1820s, a 1890s Victorian mansion and cowboys working cattle as they did in the 1930s.
Recommendations: Start at either Houston or San Antonio and take a road trip. Enjoy the ranches, unique bed and breakfasts, the scenery, and explore the major cities at each end of the trip.
For more on Bandera County:
http://www.backroadstexas.net
http://www.banderatex.com (click on "visitor information" for a list of dude ranches and other conveniences)
