Experience the best of Texas on this immersive journey from the Gulf Coast to the heart of Hill Country. Explore Galveston's storied streets, savor local cuisine, tour historic sites, and discover vibrant cities like San Antonio and Austin. Enjoy scenic drives, cultural landmarks, and unforgettable moments in the Lone Star State.

Suggested arrival at Portland International Airport (PDX) at 7:30 AM.

Depart Portland on Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1420 to Houston (IAH) — nonstop, approximately 4 hours 22 minutes.

Hotel check-in at The San Luis Resort, Galveston, TX for 2 nights.

Welcome Dinner at The San Luis Resort.

We begin our first full day on Galveston Island with breakfast at the resort before setting out to explore one of Texas's most storied and captivating cities.

Our morning takes us to the Strand Historic District, a beautifully preserved stretch of Victorian commercial architecture where galleries, boutiques, and a spirited sense of history await around every corner.

We then step inside Moody Mansion, a magnificent 1895 home whose guided tour brings Galveston's Gilded Age vividly and compellingly to life.

Following a group lunch at one of Galveston's beloved harbor-front seafood restaurants, we return to the resort for a relaxed mid-afternoon break.

The pool, the famous Seawall promenade, and the wide Gulf horizon are all yours to enjoy. For those who wish to venture out further, an optional dolphin cruise along Galveston harbor is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon on the water.

Tonight we come together for a group dinner at one of Galveston's most cherished seafood institutions — a Seawall landmark that has welcomed guests for well over a century. Fresh Gulf Coast seafood, warm and attentive service, and ocean views make for a memorable first full evening on the island.

Overnight at The San Luis Resort, Galveston, TX.

Our final Galveston morning is a leisurely one. After breakfast at the resort, the pool, the Seawall, and the Gulf Coast views are yours to enjoy at your own pace. This is an unhurried morning — the perfect opportunity to take in the salt air and the sweeping ocean light one last time before we move inland.

Enjoy the pool, the Seawall, and Gulf Coast views at your own pace before departing Galveston.

We make our way to the Pier 21 waterfront area, where guests enjoy lunch on their own from a lively selection of harbor-front dining options.

The afternoon then brings us to one of America's most celebrated science and exploration destinations: Space Center Houston. We take in the exhibits and join a tram tour through the working NASA campus, where Mission Control and astronaut training facilities offer a fascinating and inspiring look behind the scenes of human spaceflight.

We continue north to the charming Texas town of Brenham, where we check into our hotel for the night.

After a full and varied day, we gather for a group dinner at a favorite local spot before settling in for the evening.

Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites, Brenham, TX

This morning we depart Brenham and make our way west through the rolling Texas Hill Country — a beautiful drive through ranch lands and cedar-covered hills that signals the distinct character of this next chapter of the tour.

We arrive in Johnson City, where the Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historical Park preserves the boyhood home of America's 36th President. An NPS ranger-led tour of the Victorian home where LBJ grew up from the age of five offers a moving and richly contextual look at the man and the rural Texas world that shaped him.

Following a group lunch in Johnson City, we continue into the heart of the Hill Country wine country, stopping for a private tasting at one of the region's most acclaimed estate wineries.

Set amid sweeping Hill Country terrain, the patio views and the wines — particularly the Spanish varietals for which this area has become known — make for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

We arrive in Fredericksburg in the mid-afternoon, with time to rest or take a stroll along the famous Main Street before dinner.

Tonight we dine together at one of Fredericksburg's finest restaurants, where the menu draws on the town's deep German heritage and the exceptional local ingredients of the Hill Country.

Overnight: Inn on Barons Creek, Fredericksburg, TX

We devote our morning to one of the finest museums in Texas: the National Museum of the Pacific War. Located in Fredericksburg — the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz — this extraordinary facility tells the full story of the Pacific Theater of World War II with depth, humanity, and remarkable artifacts. A docent-led group tour ensures that we move through the galleries with context and meaning. It is an experience that stays with visitors long after they leave.

Following a group lunch on Fredericksburg's historic Main Street, we head out for an afternoon winery visit — a second and different estate from yesterday's stop, offering a fresh perspective on the Hill Country wine scene.

We head out for an afternoon winery visit — a second and different estate from yesterday's stop, offering a fresh perspective on the Hill Country wine scene. We return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon with time to rest, browse the boutiques of Main Street, or simply enjoy the unhurried pace of this remarkable small city.

Our farewell dinner in Fredericksburg this evening is at a restaurant celebrated throughout Texas for its mastery of Hill Country cuisine and its outstanding wine program — a perfect final evening in one of the state's most distinctive destinations.

Overnight: Inn on Barons Creek, Fredericksburg, TX

After breakfast, we depart Fredericksburg and make a scenic stop in Gruene — a beautifully preserved 19th-century cotton community along the Guadalupe River that time seems to have gently passed by.

After breakfast, we depart Fredericksburg and make a scenic stop in Gruene — a beautifully preserved 19th-century cotton community along the Guadalupe River that time seems to have gently passed by.

Gruene Hall, the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas, is a wonderful stop for photos and a sense of this living piece of Texas history.

We arrive in San Antonio at one of the city's oldest and most atmospheric neighborhoods, directly on the River Walk.

Guests enjoy lunch on their own from a wonderful variety of riverside options before we make our way to The Alamo — the most iconic site in Texas history.

Free admission and an afternoon visit allow us to move through the grounds and museum at a comfortable pace, absorbing the full weight and significance of this extraordinary place.

We check into our River Walk hotel this afternoon — ideally positioned for an evening of independent exploration.

Our morning is devoted to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant cultural and historical landscapes in North America. We visit Mission Concepción and Mission San José, two of the four Spanish colonial missions that define this extraordinary corridor south of the city. Free National Park admission and unhurried pacing allow us to fully appreciate the architecture, the history, and the living communities that still surround these remarkable structures.

After the missions, we make our way to The Pearl — San Antonio's most celebrated culinary and cultural district, developed in a beautifully restored historic brewery complex along the River Walk. Guests enjoy lunch on their own and free time to explore the market, the boutiques, and the extraordinary concentration of restaurants that have made The Pearl a destination in its own right.

We then gather for a visit to the Tower of the Americas, where glass elevators carry us to the observation deck 750 feet above the city for panoramic views that take in the Missions to the south, the River Walk below, and the full sweep of San Antonio in every direction.

Tonight we gather for our farewell dinner at one of San Antonio's most celebrated restaurants — a River Walk institution whose chef has been the city's most frequently James Beard-nominated culinary figure. The menu draws on the finest Texas beef, Hill Country venison, quail, and Gulf seafood, all served with floor-to-ceiling views of the river. It is a dinner worthy of the journey.

Overnight: Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX

Depart San Antonio by coach for Austin at 10:00 AM.

Texas State Capitol — free guided group tour (approximately 40 minutes) at 11:15 AM.

Lunch at Terry Black's Barbecue, Austin (Michelin Plate 2024 & 2025) at 12:15 PM.

Free time on South Congress Avenue at 1:45 PM.

Group assembles at Jo's Coffee, South Congress Avenue at 3:00 PM and coach departs for airport.

Arrive Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) at 3:30 PM.

Depart Austin at 6:00 PM on Alaska Airlines connecting service to Portland via Seattle. Estimated arrival at Portland International Airport (PDX) at ~9:30 PM.