Travel nursing can send you to the best places you never knew you needed to visit. Has your travel nursing contract landed you in Texas? You’re in luck! There’s more to the Lonestar State than just cowboy hats, shiny belt buckles, and horseback riding. As the second-largest state in the U.S., Texas is full of opportunities for fun and adventure during your travel nurse assignment—from the panhandle to the southern tip!
Because of its size, visitors could spend a month and still not experience everything Texas has to offer—and there’s a lot. Since there’s no shortage of must-see spots and attractions, we’re here to lend a helping hand. No matter the travel nursing job, there are a few stops to make after your shift is over.
Dallas Arboretum
Beautifully laid out over 66 acres, the Dallas Arboretum is one of the top botanical gardens in the United States. It was built in 1984 and has been consistently showcasing, preserving, and educating visitors on the natural life of Texas and its history—fun for nature lovers and history buffs alike. Amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Dallas, the arboretum brings calm and color, a welcome change of pace in a travel nursing schedule.
Wander through the 16 different gardens or enjoy the view and have a picnic on one of the extensive lawns in between exhibits. A popular site is the Women’s Garden, furnished with an infinity pool, aquatic plants, fountains, and sculptures. The six-and-a-half-acre Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Color Garden hosts more than two thousand azaleas, alongside many other international trees, ferns, flowers, and shrubs. There is also an 8-acre museum that showcases artifacts, demonstrations, games, and more in a whopping 17 galleries.
Fort Worth Stockyards
Founded in 1866, Fort Worth was part of the Old West and took its name from the cattle industry, claiming its nickname “Cowtown.” Fort Worth was a staple stop for cowboys, where millions of cattle were rested, sorted, or shipped out to other points across the state. Now, the last surviving facility of its kind in the U.S., these historic stockyards have transitioned into modernity.
Visitors can experience rodeos, concerts, theatrical performances, and western-themed shopping throughout the stockyards. Professional cowboys still showcase cattle drives in the stockyard for interested guests. To get a good taste of the western experience, stop at Billy Bob’s Texas, also known as “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk.”
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
About 100 miles east of El Paso, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the four highest peaks in Texas, the Guadalupe Peak being the tallest. While the barren and hostile-looking land can seem intimidating at first, this national park hosts the world’s most wide-reaching Permian fossil reef, plenty of lush woodlands and inviting hot springs, and rare animals like golden eagles. It’s also popular for hikers thanks to its trails that span more than 80 miles—including an 8.5-mile trail on the Guadalupe Peak that’s an 8-hour round trip. This destination is the dream for nature-loving travel nurses.
Hamilton Pool
There’s only one place to go for travel nurses wanting to beat the Texas heat. Just a short trip west of Austin is a breathtaking natural spring and relaxing oasis emerging out of the hill country chaparral. Hamilton Pool was formed in the limestone bedrock, and its water comes from an underground river that provides fresh water to the plants and tributaries around the main pool. The abundant freshwater has allowed a diverse population of trees and vegetation to emerge surrounding the pool, forming what is now a protected nature preserve.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Just like Texas, the Houston Museum of Natural Science will have you spoiled for choice on what to do. The museum features 16 permanent exhibits that cover a wide range of topics such as wildlife in North America, local Texas ecology, and even the history and culture of the Native Americans.
The most popular exhibits are tied between the Morian Hall of Paleontology, packed with two stories of fossils and prehistoric replicas, and the Cockrell Butterfly Center, home to three stories of humid tropical “rainforest” and hundreds of fluttering insects. There is also a planetarium, a showcase of minerals and gems, and a fascinating Fabergé exhibit.
Prominently known for its cowboy aesthetic, Texas holds various wonders and adventures within its expansive borders. It also has opportunities that travel nurses could never get anywhere else. If you’re looking for a new travel nursing experience, Texas is sure to have the right thing for you!
Look at our job board for available travel nursing assignments to get started or reach out to our travel nurse agency for more information.
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