Where You Can Take Me: My TEXAS Travel BUCKET List
A love-soaked, adventure-first travel guide for couples who want their session to feel like a story, not a to-do list. From Enchanted Rock sunsets to Big Bend desert magic to Austin’s hidden gems, these are the 2026–2027 destinations calling my name for elopements and bonus sessions. If a place feels like you, I want to meet you there.
My 2026 Travel Bucket List
Destination bonus sessions and elopements with wanderlust, calm luxury and unapologetic you-ness.
There’s something sacred about choosing a place that feels like you. Some people fall in love inside the city noise. Some find clarity under open skies. Some choose the in-between, where the blend of both hits just right.
Wherever your story lives, I want to meet you there. This list shares the places I’m craving to photograph for 2026-2027... state parks, editorial venues, hidden gems and open landscapes that make your love feel like the main plot.
Enchanted Rock State Park
For the lovers drawn to pink-granite sunsets
Enchanted Rock sits just outside Fredericksburg, rising out of the landscape like a quiet spell. Wide horizons, rose-tinted rock, and golden hour that feels like someone dimmed the whole world so you two could glow. This is actually where I eloped with my husband in 2021!
Perfect for: engagement sessions, self-concept portraits, nature-forward micro weddings, sunrise elopements
Before or after your session, explore Fredericksburg’s wineries, German-inspired main street, or nearby lavender fields. Stay overnight for stargazing that doesn’t feel real.
Big Bend State Park
Where the desert turns into a love story
Rugged. Cinematic. Soul-quieting. Big Bend is for the lovers who want their images carved out of canyon walls and desert silence. From Santa Elena Canyon to the long dusk-lit roads, everything feels like a movie still.
Perfect for: elopements, anniversary sessions, creative editorial portraits, solo empowerment sessions
Make a trip out of it — Terlingua ghost town cafés, stargazing that looks like glitter dumped across the sky, river overlooks and sunrise desert walks.
Marfa + Prada Marfa
Minimalist art meets desert dreamscape
Marfa is slow mornings, neon sunsets, desert air, and art installations that shift your whole mood. The Prada Marfa building is the perfect minimalist statement — fashion-luxe in the middle of nowhere.
Perfect for: editorial couples, creative portraits, self-concept shoots, anyone who loves off-beat magic
While you’re there, explore Chinati Foundation, hit the local galleries, stay in a retro trailer or dome, or drive the quiet desert roads for golden hour portraits.
Texas Hill Country
Wildflowers, wineries, and winding roads
Warm air, rolling landscapes, and rustic-but-romantic charm — from Dripping Springs to Wimberley to Blanco. Hill Country is soft, serene, and endlessly photogenic.
Perfect for: engagements, micro weddings, maternity, editorial lifestyle portraits
Nearby: wine tours, wildflower fields, swimming holes, and creeks perfect for post-session picnics or “day after” wedding portraits.
Cypress Valley, Austin
A venue in the treetops
Cypress Valley feels like stepping into a treetop fairytale. Rope bridges, treehouses, and golden light drifting through leaves — a venue built for romance and cinematic vibes.
Perfect for: elopements, couples sessions, whimsical portraits
Stay nearby in Dripping Springs, explore the breweries, or pair your session with Hamilton Pool while you’re in the area.
Secret Theater (Seekrit Theatre), Austin
Your modern fairytale backdrop
Stone ruins wrapped in greenery. Romantic, mysterious light. Everything feels like a world hidden just for the two of you. This venue is a dream for couples who want elegance with a hint of magic.
Perfect for: bridal portraits, styled elopements, editorial couples sessions, self-concept galleries
New Braunfels, TX
River, charm, and slow-living magic
Between the Guadalupe River, rustic architecture, and warm Texas light, New Braunfels creates the perfect balance of relaxed and editorial.
Perfect for: anniversary trips, couples portraits, weekend-getaway sessions
New Braunfels River Road Treehouses are iconic — wooden textures, warm sunset reflections, cozy intimacy. Make a weekend of it with float trips, Gruene Hall dancing, or waterfront brunch.
Ironworks Manor, Montgomery
Vintage elegance meets modern editorial
Tall arches. Textured stone. European-estate energy without leaving Texas. Ironworks Manor is perfect for couples who want architectural drama and cinematic luxury.
Perfect for: bridal portraits, creative fashion-infused sessions, anniversary sessions
The Cypress, Austin
Modern, architectural, clean lines
This venue feels like a modern art museum whispered into the woods. Clean architecture, soft shadow play, and crisp editorial mood.
Perfect for: modern couples, editorial portraits, creative concepts
Hamilton Pool Preserve
A little wanderlust without the 25-mile hike
Hamilton Pool looks like a hidden world carved from limestone — cavern walls, turquoise water, and a waterfall mist that sparkles in sunbeams. Permits sell out fast, but it’s 100% worth it.
Perfect for: adventurous couples, elopement-style portraits, anniversary sessions, soft-adventure vibes
You can swim, explore the cavern, and enjoy shaded paths. Pair the session with a Dripping Springs brewery or a sunset dinner in Austin.
Barton Springs Pool, Austin
Casual, playful, girls-trip and bachelorette energy
Picture hundreds of people, sunshine everywhere, ice-cold water, and laughter echoing across the grass. Barton Springs is chaotic joy in the best way.
Perfect for: best friends, bachelorettes, “day after the wedding” jumps-in-the-water portraits, casual vacation sessions
It’s iconic Austin energy — a mix of locals, visitors, sunshine, and pure fun. Bring cute bathing suits, sunglasses, and low-pressure vibes.
Galveston Beach Elopements
Saltwater, softness, and open horizons
Moody blue skies, muted tones, and slow tides — Galveston is endlessly romantic. Sunrise sessions here feel like the world stopped just for you.
Perfect for: sunrise elopements, romantic sessions, maternity, editorial portraits
So where do you want to go?
I love nature. I love cities. I love quiet pockets of world-building hidden inside Texas venues. Mostly, I love photographing people in places that feel like home to their spirit.
If your session feels more like an adventure than a checklist, point me in the direction — I’m already packing.
Want to book a 2026 session or check my availability? https://nikkiplans.com/contact
If one of these spots made your heart whisper yes, take the hint. Book a session at any of these locations and get 10 percent off. Pick the place. I’ll bring the camera and the adventure energy.
(If you felt even one tiny spark reading this, that’s your sign.)