Texas: the deal adrenalin rush for outdoor adventurers and sports enthusiasts

The pumping of your blood as you race down the steep, hilly terrain. The mysterious echoes as you hike through the canyon. The scream of your fishing reel as line is ripped by a redfish. The explosion of cheers as your favorite team makes that buzzer-beating shot. If you like getting your adrenaline pumping — as an active participant or a sideline spectator — Texas is the place for you.

Hiking, biking, horseback riding…and more

Pitch a tent and spark a campfire in Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in the US. The 800-foot-deep canyon exposes brilliant and breathtaking multicolored rock strata not soon forgotten. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are just a few of the activities to be experienced on a visit to this Texas natural wonder.

In West Texas, Big Bend National Park — with more than 800,000 acres of rolling mountains and desert flora — welcomes backpackers, hikers, mountain bikers, rafters, and photographers seeking to explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the country. While many visitors are content to enjoy Big Bend from the comfort of the paved scenic drives, adventurers prefer the challenge and remoteness of the park’s many dirt roads in rugged all-terrain vehicles or on the back of a sure-footed pony.

Fishing&hunting anyone?

Texas was recently named the number one destination for hunting and fishing in the U.S. Texas offers hunters more than one million acres of pristine hunting habitat on both public and private lands. White tail deer, wild turkey, dove, and quail are just a few of the species to be found during the various hunting seasons throughout the year.

Texas fishing is world renowned. Texas’ freshwater lakes are some of the country’s best for hot top water action for large mouth bass, the non-stop action in schools of crappie, or just lazy bait soaking for catfish. For the saltwater angler, Texas sports the nation’s longest inshore bay system with year-long opportunities to catch speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Looking for a relaxing day watching the cork at the end of your cane pole? Ready for the line-stripping action of offshore game fishing? Seeking the ultimate fly fishing experience stalking redfish in the bay? Texas is a fisherman’s paradise.

“The recently released Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation report confirms what Texans have known for years, that Texas is a top fishing and hunting destination,” said Julie Chase, Chief Marketing Officer for the Office of the Texas Governor, Economic Development&Tourism Division. “The economic impact of these sports to the state is enormous, more than $6.6 billion annually. And as such, Texas works hard to ensure the very best in hunting and fishing habitats statewide that will appeal to all the outdoorsmen and women seeking the adrenaline rush of stalking their prey or bringing in a trophy size bass.”

Start your engines and get ready for top spectator sports

Get your engines revving at the famed Fort Worth Texas Motor Speedway and race around the track at speeds of 150 mph or more as part of the Team Texas High Performance Driving School — the ultimate experience for any NASCAR fan.

For the best in spectator sports, catch the action as man challenges bulls and broncs at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo or head down to San Antonio and catch the reigning world champion San Antonio Spurs in action. If that’s not enough, fans of the round-ball will love March Madness in 2008 as the Alamo City plays host to the NCAA Final Four. Football fans will cheer on their favorite teams as the Super Bowl comes to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington in 2011.

Sports enthusiasts are sure to find all the adrenaline pumping outdoor adventures and top sporting events to fill a vacation to the Lone Star State. For more information on all there is to see and experience in Texas, visit www.traveltex.com/