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TOP RANKED TEXAS
ATTRACTIONS
Every year in Texas, the Office of
the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism commissions a
study to determine the most popular tourist attractions in the
state. The results of the study, which was conducted by
Virginia-based D.K. Shifflet & Associates, have been released.
The survey ranks attractions in two
categories: in-state visitors and out-of-state visitors.
In-state visitors must have traveled in excess of 50 miles to
reach the attraction in order for the visit to be counted.
It comes as no surprise that
San Antonio
led the state in the number of Top 10 attractions in a single
city (the Alamo City had five on the in-state list and three on
the out-of-state list). However, one surprise is the distinct
similarity of the two polls. It seems in-state and out-of-state
visitors agree, for the most part, on what is worth seeing and
doing while on vacation in the Lone Star State.
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Alamo -
Originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served
as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly
seventy years. Construction began on the present site in 1724.
In 1793, Spanish officials secularized San Antonio's five
missions and distributed their lands to the remaining Indian
residents. These men and women continued to farm the fields,
once the mission's but now their own, and participated in the
growing community of San Antonio.
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Paseo Del Rio (River Walk) -
In Texas, water has been a lifeline for many generations for
centuries past. The San Antonio River is a source of a South
Texas Treasure, The San Antonio RiverWalk. Development of San
Antonio and its most popular tourism attraction have come along
way together. Come on down and see for yourself why San
Antonio's world-famous River Walk is the #1 entertainment
destination in Texas!
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Six Flags over
Texas - Arlington, Texas grew out of
the westward expansion following the wars with Native Americans
on the new frontier. Arlington was incorporated in 1884, one
year after its first newspaper was established. In 1895,
Arlington College was established, eventually becoming a
military academy and ultimately part of the University of Texas
system, now the University of Texas at Arlington.
In the 1950s and
1960s the face and fortunes of Arlington would change forever
with the vision of a young man who would serve as mayor for
twenty-six years, Judge Tom Vandergriff. While attending the
University of Southern California, Mr. Vandergriff watched Walt
Disney and Disneyland take root. He was fascinated with the
opportunities for Arlington and he saw Arlington's geographic
location in Texas and the Metroplex as the ideal location for a
similar family theme park venture. In 1961, the original Six
Flags Over Texas was opened to the public and now draws over
three million visitors a year and remains the biggest family
theme park in the central states and the southwest.
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San Marcos
Outlet Malls -
the largest factory outlet center in South Texas - is among the
most popular travel destinations in Texas. Every year, more than
six million shoppers visit the Prime Outlets Mall San Marcos,
where they can go shopping for an endless array of bargains...at
factory outlet prices.
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Visit sunny
South Padre Island and see if you
can fit everything this tiny island has to offer into one trip!
Nature tours, fishing, surfing, dining - plan ahead so you can
fit it all in and still find time to lie on the beach.
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SeaWorld
San Antonio, the world's largest marine life adventure park
and family entertainment showplace, presents a splashy lineup of
more than 25 sensational shows, thrilling rides, animal
attractions and educational experiences for all ages. It's
actually four parks in one on 250 acres: a show park, a rides
and slides park, a water park and an amazing animals park. At SeaWorld San Antonio, there's something for everyone!
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Visitors
to Central Texas shouldn’t miss an opportunity to tour the
Texas
State Capitol Complex.
Legend, lore and history combine to make a tour of the Capital
Complex educational, inspirational, and awe-inspiring.
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The oldest continuous zoo site in Texas, the
Fort Worth Zoo was founded in 1909 with one lion, two
bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits.
From these humble beginnings, the Zoo has grown into a
nationally ranked facility, housing more than 350 native and
exotic species.
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San Antonio's first zoo consisted of a
collection of animals assembled in San Pedro Park in the 1800s.
In 1914, Colonel George W. Brackenridge, one of the city's
leading citizens and founder of the San Antonio Express-News,
placed buffalo, elk, deer, monkeys, a pair of lions, and four
bears on land he had deeded over to the city in what is now
known as Brackenridge Park. This collection became the San
Antonio Zoo.
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Padre Island National Seashore,
encompassing 130,434 acres, is the longest remaining undeveloped
stretch of barrier island in the world, and offers a wide
variety of flora and fauna as well as recreation.
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