Happy September! A new month means another addition to our Travel Series and this week we are focusing on Texas! We will be changing up our Travel Series by highlighting two states per month, one being a blog post and the other a social media post. Make sure to head to our social media pages (IG, FB) to read up on our next addition to the series!
Texas is another great state where we staff facilities with Travel Nurses for specialties including ICU, OR, PICU, Med/Surg, and more! We staff metropolitan cities to smaller towns, so wherever you’re looking to go to Texas, KPG Healthcare can get you there.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the great Texas cities we staff!
Austin
Austin was voted the No. 1 Place to Live in America for three years straight since 2017 and has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the country with big tech companies like Apple, Google and Facebook moving into its city limits. As the capital of Texas, Austin is a hub for entrepreneurship, with no shortage of outdoor/nature activities, so much amazing food and an incredible arts/music scene. Affordability is another great appeal to Austin with affordable housing and no personal income tax.
There’s no question the food in all of Texas is great, but Austin allows visitors to experience incredible and unique eateries from Tex-Mex to James Beard Award-winning chefs, Texas Barbecue to killer dives. Into food trucks? There’s no shortage of food trucks in Austin with a handful of food truck parks to choose from, but have you ever tried eating out of a trailer venue? Trailer venues are big in Austin – imagine a typical trailer you’d find attached to a U-Haul but a food stand!
With all the great food in Austin, you’re wondering how to burn it all off (or don’t – do you). The city sits along the Colorado River, which means you have access to so many great river/water activities including, paddle boarding, kayaking, boat rentals and riverboat tours. Another option for outdoor recreation that’s unique to Austin is the natural swimming holes located within minutes of the city center or a drive out to more reserved areas.
While eating and getting exercise are great, there are also over 100+ attractions and activities to choose from including, museums, theaters, art galleries, walking tours and the occasional festival. Whatever you decide to do or wherever you decide to go, Austin has something in store for people of all ages and all interests.
Things to do in Austin: 50 Free & Cheap, Thrillist’s Things to Do during COVID-19, US News Best Things, TimeOut’s 27 Best Things to Do,
Dallas
The birthplace of the convenient store we all know and love, 7/11, Dallas has become a top destination for travelers and those looking to move. The best way to tackle Dallas is to look at its five main districts: Central, North, East, South and West, each containing different aspects of what makes Dallas a top destination.
Central Dallas covers a lot of ground and is in the midst of a period of incredible growth with neighborhoods like the Design District, Deep Ellum, Oak Lawn, Uptown and Downtown. There’s so much to do in Central Dallas that anyone can find something to do from good food to unique attractions, unique shopping to rooftop bars. Downtown Dallas is lined with American history featuring a memorial for President John F. Kennedy, a Bonnie and Clyde Tour and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. There’s an endless supply of things to do in Central Dallas, depends on what you’re in the mood for.
North Dallas, and for this blog we will include Northwest and Far North Dallas as “North Dallas,” is the wealthier part of Dallas is where you’ll find the suburban homes. Being more residential areas, these parts of town visitors will find golf courses and parks. South Dallas is a growing section and features a National Historic Landmark, which contains the nation’s largest collections of art and Art Deco architecture, Fair Park. You can also find a handful of rooftop bars, a collection of local eateries and fun for all ages.
West Dallas is home to the iconic Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Continental Avenue pedestrian bridge. You can head to the Trinity Groves for some good ole fashion outdoor shopping or dive into some delicious local eateries. East Dallas is where you’ll find outdoor activities like Lake Highlands Park, Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden and the Bath House Cultural Center. If you’re in the area, you should head over to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden for beautiful garden walks that make for great Instagram photos.
Wherever you go in Dallas, there is always something to do and you’ll never be disappointed.
Things to do in Dallas: Thrillist’s Things to Do during COVID-19, 50 Free Things, TimeOut’s Best Things to Do in Dallas,
San Antonio
San Antonio is the most visited city in Texas, and it comes to no surprise with all the great things this city has to offer. Being A World Heritage Site, San Antonio is a hub for multicultural experiences, a thriving culinary scene and never-ending fun.
In San Antonio, culture sings. Head to the Historic Market Square or El Mercado to enjoy the sights and flavors of Mexico with over 100 locally owned businesses. Here you can shop, watch live performances, eat and drink, and experience the beauty of Mexican culture that spans three blocks. If El Mercado isn’t enough, take a trip to one of five San Antonio Missions to get a glimpse of life for the people who lived in the Spanish missions in the 1700s. It’s where history meets national parks. Then make your way to one of the great museums the city has like the Witte Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art or the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum.
Head to San Antonio’s #1 attraction, The River Walk, to experience live performances, eat more food, or take a nice boat ride down the river. You can start your River Walk journey at The Pearl, a brewery turned into a shopping area that also hosts an incredible farmers market, and hop on a boat to make your way south toward Downtown for more action.
Into outdoor recreation? You can make your way to the Government Canyon State Natural Area, the only known public land with known dinosaur footprints. Government Canyon is a 12,000-acre park with over 40 miles of hiking/biking trails, a campground and plenty of opportunities for photos. There are also plenty of parks within the city such as Confluence Park and San Pedro Springs Park, which is the second oldest park in the United States.
San Antonio is such a popular destination in Texas and with an abundance of things to do for visitors, it comes at no surprise.
Things to do in San Antonio: Thrillist’s Things to Do during COVID-19, Free Things to Do, TimeOut’s Best Things to Do in San Antonio, Unusual and Cool Things,
Fort Worth
Dallas’ next-door neighbor, Fort Worth started as an Army outpost over 150 years ago and grew into the complex, cultural city it’s known for today. In that time, Fort Worth became known as “Cowtown” because it was king of the cattle industry thus earning the nickname.
Fort Worth is beaming with American history and one of the best districts to visit would be the Stockyard. The Stockyards National Historic District was home to cowboys, cattlemen and outlaws, but today it is considered one of the most popular attractions in all of Texas. Visitors can get a taste of the Wild Wild West with a twice-daily cattle drive, a selection of saloons, horseback riding, plenty of barbecues, and an abundance of curated shopping.
Since you’re in the Stockyard area, head a bit south to Panther Island Pavilion where you can find outdoor recreation and an outdoor venue along the Trinity River. The PIP hosts some events like Oktoberfest, Walk to End Alzheimer’s, local bands/artists and 4th of July Fireworks. If you’re into ale or distilleries, Fort Worth has its very own Ale Trail with 13 breweries from a local brewery to a nationally recognized brewery that produces over 20,000 barrels of beer a year. The Distillery Trail contains five distilleries that produce whiskey, vodka, gin and rum.
Fort Worth is a Texas treasure and is the cultivation where rich Texas and American history meets the modern era.
Things to do in Fort Worth: TimeOut’s 10 Best Thing To Do, US News 17 Best Things To Do, 22 Free Things to Do, Thrillist’s 28 Free Things To Do
Frisco
Once a small farm town, now a booming suburban city, Frisco has become another reason many are moving to Texas. Frisco was just another train stop along the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway until a community started to form resulting in the growth we see today.
Frisco boasts great outdoor recreation, a loud sporting community, a local culinary scene and a small art scene that gives visitors a taste of what makes this city so great. The city was also named a “Bicycle Friendly” Community in 2016, one of eight Texas cities to receive this honor, and provides citizens with over 90 miles of paved and natural trails. Take a stroll at Central Park, head to Harold Bacchus Community Park or take your bike to the Frisco Mountain Bike Trail – you have options!
Did you know Frisco is home to seven professional sports teams? That’s right, seven. The NFL Dallas Cowboys recently moved to their new headquarters at The Ford Center at The Star. The NHL’s Dallas Stars, MLS’s FC Dallas, and the Frisco RoughRiders are just some of the other professional sports teams that call Frisco home. Sports are huge in this community, so prepare to be decked out in different gear!
As you can see, Frisco may be a small city but it sure does pack a punch with an abundance of activities and attractions for people of all ages with different interests.
Things to do in Frisco: VacationIdea’s 18 Best Things to Do, Crazy Tourist’s 25 Best Things to Do, 20 Free Things to Do
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If any of these wonderful cities caught your eye, KPG Healthcare offers Travel Nursing assignments in the cities above and more! Email your resume to [email protected] or you can DM us on our social media pages! Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn