Texas Trails

The Texas Heritage Trails Program started in 1968 as a way to promote heritage tourism in each region of the state. The program encompasses not only the trails but also the stories of families who lived and prospered there.

Originally, looped driving trails throughout the state were divided into ten groups and labeled along the road in order to enable visitors to the World’s Fair to view Texas more comprehensively than “just San Antonio.” In 1997 the Texas Historical Commission set out to extend these regions beyond their highways to include the communities themselves. “We’re promoting the real deal: rural Texas, its culture and heritage beyond the highway,” said Janie Hendrick, the state program coordinator.

The official launch of the full program and ten regional “trails” websites took place on March 13. Each region has its own website and office, all of which are in various stages of development. Some sites may only have a description of the cities in the region, while others offer suggested trips and itinerary assistance.

Here’s the lowdown on the Trails of Texas!

By Kelley Thompson

Published in cooperation with Leisure Group Travel (www.leisuregrouptravel.com) a leader within the industry, delivering pertinent, timely content on the global group travel industry.  Leisure Group Travel’s team understands intricately what planners deal with on a day-to-day basis and trends that are shaping the group travel marketplace.