Welcome to Texas and WildTexas.com, Kai!
Fall foliage in South and Central Texas is pretty spotty, compared to some other states. Our primary fall foliage viewing opportunities are in the hill country, especially
Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool, Texas, where there are stands of bigtooth maples that turn every year. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) provides free weekly updates of the fall foliage conditions at Lost Maples SNA starting the first of each October and running through the fall -- be sure to bookmark their
Lost Maples Fall Foliage Report so you can check it after October first!
The weather conditions have to be just the right mix of precipitation, cold and sunlight to result in a spectacular fall foliage display at Lost Maples. I visit every season and have yet to see the foliage at true peak, but it's always worth a visit in the fall -- even "lackluster" years are a treat, since the hillsides of the park become mottled puzzles of subdued color. Photos at the park headquarters show the maples in their full fall glory.
Other places in Texas that are known for their fall foliage are areas in West Texas, particularly
McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
It generally takes until mid- to late-October for us to get our first cold snap of any kind, and some years we don't get actual freezing temperatures until Thanksgiving or even Christmas. This summer has actually been mild (and wet), by Texas standards, so we may be in for an atypically cooler winter, as well. We shall see! Generally, our coldest temperatures of the winter are in the first or second week of January.
Welcome, again, to the site and to our beautiful state. I hope it grows on you and becomes a treasured home!