As you make your summer travel plans, consider visiting any of the seven Texas communities listed as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

Fredericksburg, Galveston, New Braunfels, Fort Davis, Fort Worth, Bastrop, and San Angelo have all been recognized for the unique attractions and dedication to historic preservation they offer visitors.

Stroll along the beautiful Concho River that runs through the heart of San Angelo, the most recent Texas city to be added to the list (in 2011). A West Texas city bursting with a dynamic heritage, San Angelo is home to historic Fort Concho, a post that once protected America’s frontier. The town of Bastrop, located just east of Austin, is a participant in the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) Texas Main Street Program and features two state parks offering numerous outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. New Braunfels, situated in the heart of the Hill Country, is the site of the beautiful J. Riely Gordon-designed Comal County Courthouse, which is currently being restored through the THC’s Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.

Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations program has recognized cities and towns that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes, and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability, and revitalization.

In each community, residents have joined together and taken action to protect their city’s character.

To learn more about Texas cities included on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations list visit www.preservationnation.org. For additional information on the THC’s Texas Main Street Program and Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program visit www.thc.state.tx.us.