The greater Houston area has a lot going for it. The housing is relatively affordable, and the economy is increasingly diverse. We have a world-class medical center and impressive performing arts venues. To the south is Galveston, where you can enjoy the water without freezing your most sensitive parts blue. And of course, there is the warm weather, unless you are reading this in August or early September, in which case you are probably yearning for a cool breeze.

Despite how the Allen brothers first promoted it in pictures, Houston is somewhat lacking in topography, at least if you're looking for sorts of steep-sloping hills, or rivers backed by mountain ranges – the sorts of things that often make scenic drives truly scenic. That said, Texas is a big place, and there's plenty of interesting scenery to be found if you're willing to put in some time behind the wheel and escape Houston for a day or two. This Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood post has some Texas and Texas-adjacent scenic drive suggestions for you.

Galveston Scenic Drive

Relatively close to home, Galveston offers historic buildings, authentic charm, and an ongoing view of life on the Gulf Coast. You can cruise Seawall Boulevard with endless views of the beach, waterfront resorts, and dining. If you head west, you will encounter expansive marshlands, tidal flats, and a variety of waterbirds, particularly on North Deer Island, home to a massive bird rookery.

Or you could head to the Bolivar ferry for panoramic views of the harbor and coastline. It’s a good place to spot wild dolphins swimming alongside the ferries and shrimp boats, and you will have no problem finding great seafood for lunch.

The Hill Country

As the name implies, if you want topography, this place has it. North of San Antonio and West of Austin, you will find it not quite in the form of majestic mountains, but as “Let’s Texas” describes it, “The Hill Country’s topography resembles a piece of paper that has been crumpled up and straightened out again. Inconstant, rolling, packed with surprising creases and shifts, it provides the perfect, uneven canvas for nature’s paintbrush.” And nature’s paint brush is busy here, particularly in the spring, where the iconic lavender Bluebonnets, red range Paintbrushes, violet Winecups, yellow Square-Bud Primroses, and pink Indian Blankets all compete en masse for hill coverage, painting the hills in a mosaic of hues.

To entertain other senses, due west of Austin and north of Kerrville is also where you can find an endless string of Texas wineries with tasting rooms that are sure to have you coming home with bottles of a favorite vintage.

Big Bend

You certainly can’t get there and back in a day, but this is the country that anyone who has never been to the state, but watched a lot of westerns, imagines, when they think of Texas. Long, scrub-dotted hills, topped by rocky ridges leading to deep canyons and lush river landscapes. The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is the perfect way to take in much of what this area has to offer, including the Sotol Vista Overlook, which provides a panoramic vista of the entire western side of Big Bend National Park. That includes the distant Santa Elena Canyon, where the drive leads to. with its 1500-foot vertical chasms mirrored by a similar chasm on the Mexico side of the border.

El Paso Scenic Overlook

Yes, we are on the other side of the state now, and that really means something in Texas, as you aren’t getting there in a day unless you are really motivated. But if you’ve done the Hill Country and then Big Bend and want to keep going, this provides the most dramatic city view overlook in Texas, thanks to tall rambling mountains just north of the city. From there, you can see all the lights of El Paso at night, and beyond the border to Mexico. The simple trick is to take the 375 North from the I-10 before you reach the city and let it take you along its winding way through the Franklin Mountains state park before depositing you back on the I-10 as it briefly heads due north to New Mexico.

Cajun Country

Head in the opposite direction, just above, and the state border is reached in a couple of hours instead of a couple of days. You’ll be surprised by how much difference can come from a seemingly arbitrary border. Because now you’re immersed in Cajun and Creole culture. Contrast the grand antebellum plantations with the sprawling sugarcane fields and lush cypress swamps. Stop by for a comforting bowl of gumbo or étouffée that we just can’t quite match in Texas, then end the evening with lively Cajun and zydeco music sessions, dancing freely with friendly locals in a vibrant dance hall.

Germany may seem like a long way from Texas, (New Braunfels excepted), but vehicles like the Jetta ,Taos, Golf GTI, or Atlas are engineered and built for long hauls like these, thanks to supportive seats and a comfortable (yet engaging) ride quality. Check out Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood for your next road trip companion.