Texas has hill country? Who knew? Well, the Lonely Planet guide to Texas," which calls the Hill Country "rightfully one of the state's biggest tourist draws . . . an area of gently rolling hills and valleys freckled with cacti and cattle ranches, lined with rivers and dotted with peaceful, picturesque little towns." And any self-respecting Texan might know as much. Forty miles west of Austin and fifty north of San Antonio, the Hill Country is within an easy drive of two of the state's biggest cities, putting back-country quiet and beauty within reach of countless urban dwellers seeking respite. This book brings the remarkable Hill Country of Texas home to the back roads traveler. Whether it's wildflowers you're drawn to, or dude ranches, natural areas, historic sites, or quaint Texas towns redolent of history, this is your passport to an experience like no other. Backroads of the Texas Hill Country" introduces travelers and armchair tourists alike to the emerging wine country of the Lone Star State, the meticulously preserved culture of East European immigrants, the "cowboy capital of the world" (Bandera), and the childhood home of LBJ at Johnson City. Follow this irresistible guide into the Hill Country, and find yourself deep in the heart of Texas.

The Lone Star State shines in Texas: A Photographic Journey, by award-winning photographers Kathy Adams Clark and Larry Ditto, with captions by Houston Chronicle columnist Gary Clark. These three Texans guide readers on a grand tour from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast and from Big Bend to the Piney Woods. Get a taste of West Texas: see the Pecos River, ghost towns, and the Hill Country; paddle Santa Elena Canyon and hike Big Bend National Park. Visit East Texas' Big Thicket and the Panhandle's longhorns. Then head down south for Gulf-style fishing, birdwatching, and beachcombing. With views of everything from moss-shaded bayous to the stately Alamo, these splendid color photographs are a true Texas experience.