Route 66 and Texas Hill Country – Suggested Self Drive

Get your bearings in the city with a trip 470 feet (143 metres) up to the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck to enjoy 360-degree views of Dallas. Stay for dinner in the elegant Five Sixty Restaurant, which is 50 stories up. See the city with a free ride on one of the vintage M-Line trolleys, available at 40 stops around Dallas and running through Uptown and Downtown (watch for the vintage advertisements on the trolley). Set aside time to explore the Dallas Museum of Art, one of the largest art museums in the USA and featuring some 22,000 works from around the globe. Expand your cultural adventure with a stroll through the Bishop Arts District, home to more than 60 independent shops, galleries, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. 
Over night in Dallas, Texas.

Two and a half hours north of Dallas is the serene and unspoiled Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur, Oklahoma. The area draws nature lovers and fishermen who enjoy outdoor recreation in the streams, springs and lakes here. Nearby, at the Chickasaw Cultural Centre, learn about Native American culture and history in an expansive, interactive museum dedicated to Chickasaw life. The café serves traditional foods such as grape dumplings and fry bread. From Sulphur, head about 90 minutes north to Oklahoma City to browse through the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, filled with Old West artefacts, or go modern with a trip to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, home to one of the largest collections of Chihuly glass sculptures in the world. In spring, grab a seat at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo, one of the biggest events of the professional rodeo season.
Overnight in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Head south to Carlsbad, with a stop along the way at Roswell. It’s the site of the 1947 Roswell Incident, which put Roswell on the map as the location of a possible UFO landing – and now home to the UFO Museum, attractions and shops. Continue to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, tucked beneath the scenic and rugged Chihuahuan Desert, in the rocky slopes and deep canyons of the Guadalupe Mountain range. The world’s most-famous cave system has huge underground chambers filled with spectacular, varied cave formations, viewable on a self-guided tour. Visitors may choose to hike along the steep 1.25-mile (2 km) paved trail, entering through the cave’s Natural Entrance, which leads them into the spectacular 1.25-mile (2 km) Big Room Trail. Or, simply take an elevator ride from the visitor centre directly to the Big Room Trail.
Overnight in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Get an early start and head into Texas Hill Country to Fredericksburg, where walking tours illuminate the area’s German heritage. Afterwards, sample local culinary fa-vorites and brewing at the town’s bistros, bakeries and beer gardens. Hill Country also takes pride in its barbecue tradition, with mesquite coals lending a signature flavour to meat, including tender brisket. Seek out an iconic barbecue restaurant such as Backwoods BBQ.
Overnight in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Drive Scenic Highway 16 from Fredericksburg to Kerrville, the unofficial capital of Texas Hill Country. Take time to visit its excellent museums, galleries and shops before continuing on to San Antonio. Explore San Antonio’s 18th-century Spanish Catholic missions, including Misión San Antonio de Valero (known as The Alamo), which collectively were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby, the River Walk is a paved path along the city’s namesake river. Follow it to restaurants with open-air patios, or take a boat tour. In this gateway to Latin America, Mexican-made clothing and artisan wares make unique souvenirs, and the cuisine is in a class of its own. Tex-Mex, as it’s called, blends Mexican and American culinary traditions. Sample tasty enchiladas at a family-owned restaurant or fresh fish tacos from a small taqueria.
Overnight in San Antonio, Texas.

Today, take more time to explore Texas Hill Country on the way to Austin. Pause to cool off in the area’s natural springs: Krause Springs, Blue Hole and Hamilton Pool are local favourites. Austin earns its reputation as a live music capital with some 250 venues. Slip into a retro bar such as The Continental Club for Rockabilly, Country and Swing shows, or get tickets to Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre, a venue that hosts concerts of all genres and the taping of Austin City Limits, the USA’s longest-running televised music series. You may know Austin for its springtime South by Southwest Music Festival. However, you can find music festivals almost any time of the year, so listen up when you’re in town. From breakfast tacos stuffed with farm-fresh eggs and avocados to top-shelf margaritas, Austin is also revered for its take on Tex-Mex. Try ordering from one of the city’s popular food trucks or trailers.
Overnight in Austin Texas.

Depart Austin and head to Fort Worth, an easy 30-minute drive west of Dallas, Texas, and a modern city that honours its cowboy roots. Start at the always-bustling Stockyards National Historic District for Old West shops selling cowboy boots and hats, many saloons offering live entertainment, and lots of barbecue and other dining options. Learn about the strong women who shaped the American West with a visit to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, which is packed with artwork and stories from women such as artist Georgia O’Keeffe and singer Patsy Cline. Take a walk around the 35 blocks of Sundance Square downtown, a large shopping, dining and entertainment district.
Overnight in Fort Worth, Texas.

Return your rental car prior to your departure flight.