Labor Day is often the last hurrah of summer — school’s starting again, temperatures are just starting to cool, and the next work holiday isn’t until November. Take advantage of it by making a weekend trip to one of these six destinations in Texas.


Plan A Labor Day Vacation In Texas!


1. Galveston

If Labor Day Weekend is going to be your last trip of summer, make the most of it by going to the beach. Galveston, located on a barrier island off the Texas Gulf, has 32 miles of beaches, in addition to Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Pleasure Pier — ensuring that you always have the opportunity to get soaking wet. The town also has galleries, historical theaters, transportation-centric museums, and great shopping.


2. World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off - Brady

The tiny town of Brady refers to itself as the “Heart of Texas” because of its location at the geographic center of the state, but its annual Labor Day Weekend event also represents how the town embodies the spirit of the state. During this two-day cook-off, more than 100 teams and tourists take over the town events that include a washer pitching contest, arts & craft fair, welcome dance, and, of course, the actual cooking and judging of the BBQ goat entries.


3. Austin

The state’s capital, Austin, is known for being “weird” and for it’s great music scene. Enjoy both if you go Labor Day weekend: Spend a night bar hopping on on 6th Street, visit the Capitol building, and watch the bats emerge from under Congress Avenue Bridge in the evening. When you want to cool off, either head to Barton Springs Pool, a public outdoor swimming pool filled with natural spring water, or rent a boat and visit Lake Austin.


4. Westfest - Brady

Westfest is a Czech polka festival held annually on Labor Day weekend in West, Texas, a city near Waco that was settled by Czech immigrants in the late nineteenth century. The festival includes polka bands and dancing, a parade, a Miss Westfest competition, a mass, a Toraky Tournament, a baking contest, and more.


5. San Antonio

San Antonio has the perfect mix of historic and recreational for tourists looking to both learn something and have fun. The historic comes in the form the Alamo, the site of a siege during the Texas Revolution, as well as many other missions in and around the town. The fun comes in to play at the city’s famous River Walk, which is lined by bars and restaurants, as well as the nearby Six Flags and SeaWorld amusement parks.


6. South Padre

South Padre is a resort town located on a barrier island of the same name off the southern tip of Texas. In addition to its beautiful beaches, the town offers every watersport imaginable — from parasailing to kiteboarding to flyboarding. There’s also Sea Turtle Inc., a sea turtle rescue organization where tourists can visit the fascinating creatures. Mondays on the island are when the farmers market and flea market take place, including on Labor Day Weekend.



This article was written by Isabella Sayyah.