Are you going for the weather, scenery, or hot men with Scottish accents?
If it's the weather, you'll be glad to know that it's generally rainy across most of the British Isles all year round.
As for sight-seeing in Scotland - go everywhere, see everything! Bring wet weather gear and a decent pair o238f hiking boots. Rent a car, it's the best way to see it. It's all stunningly beautiful (when not wreathed in cloud, mist or torrential rain!).
Man advice: Be prepared to hang out a lot in pubs. Get to know some Scottish football teams and players, and go to a pub where a match is playing, they will be there in a herd, like gazelles to your Texan lion. Join a free dating site and line up some dates with hot Scottish men in each city before you come! Watch Trainspotting, Late Night Shopping, Dog Soldiers, Gregory's Girl, My Name is Joe, Dear Frankie5b4 and Beautiful Creatures to get to grips with the accent. They don't all look and sound like Gerard Butler or Henry Ian Cusick in the same way Texas isn't full of cowboy-hatted Brad Pitt-type with abs you can grate cheese on. Be realistic, be safe and have fun! Oh and if you do make it give us an update on here to let us know about your adventures
It's too cerebral! We're trying to make a movie here, not a film!

as much as I love Ayrshire, I don't think they have the most "interesting" or "difficult to understand" accent. I am an American, spent time in Ayr, Troon, Glasgow, Edinburgh, worked with a woman from Dundee (while in Ayrshire.)
No matter where you go (well, a lot of places, not all) I think you will meet people from all over Scotland with cool accents.

Scotland is beautiful, and if you're travelling all the way from Texas, my advice would be to move around and try and take in a few different places! Make your airline ticket worth the money! You'll not regret it

FIFE FOR LIFE!!!
They were always here. I just unlocked the door.

I'm fae Kirkcaldy in Fife. Awfie bonnie. Braw wee accent tae gaen wi' it.

"No one's said I was charming before - they've said; 'Rimmer, you're a total git.'" - Red Dwarf

I apologize if this has already been covered, but how's Aberdeen? I might be there this summer.

Go to ayrshire. That is the real scottish accent. None of your singing teuchters or nazily glaswegians

The actor Tommy Flanagan and what I found out about the Glasgow Grin made me feel more like Edinburgh.
The Republican Plan: repeal all reform; collect payoffs; go yachting (but not in the Gulf).

Glasgow has a bad rep but they are actually some of the friendliest people you'lll ever meet in your life!
Should visit the Scottish Borders, very nice scenery. Or Stirling is nice.
Rimmer: I've come to warn you, in 3 million years you'll be dead!
Past Rimmer: Will I really?!?

Unfortunately true - it even goes for the university, which seems to be filled with English students rather than Scottish ones. Even the local accent is incredibly Anglicised. In short, Edinburgh's nice to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Mate You Defo Wanna Visit Glasgow LoL =D Loads To Do There And Its So Great

I can't believe none of the Scots posting on here have mentioned the fact that if you go to Edinburgh expecting to hear Scottish accents you'll be rather disappointed as any time I've visited from Glasgow I've heard more English, Australian, American etc. accents than I have Scottish! Edinburgh is full of people who either WANT to be Scottish or are only visiting Scotland, it's like one big tourist attraction populated by wealthy English people unless you plan on visiting the housing estates in the suburbs.

P.S. Fire89Bug, you should definitely friend your new friend here. He's a cutie! And he's Scottish. See how easy that was?
http://www.blondeheroine.com

So much crime and pollution. However, go further north and south and you will see some spectacular places. I'm desperate to go to the US, even booked my flights to Chicago in June.
Just don't come to Memphis when you do. It will make your fair city look like Smurfland with our rampant crime rate.
Then again, it might make you more appreciative of home.
Chicago is nice. NYC is fantastic. Two years ago, I would have said New Orleans, but I think for tourists, it's a bit hard to absorb right now.
http://www.blondeheroine.com

I agree with most of the people who have already posted; if you want touristy Scotland go for Edinburgh, if you want more of a realistic, down to earth trip visit Glasgow. I can't recommend going up north at least for a while enough - Lock Lomond or Stirling are BEAUTIFUL (especially if you're a photographer like me).
And go to Aberdeen for the beaches

Avid amateur nature photographer, thank you for the tip! We would have to visit Edinburgh as hubby's grandmother home city, but I also have a penchant for old architecture, no specific period- classic I suppose? Any recommendations?
Also, need to defend Texas' honor a bit here. No state has a more diverse landscape, period. High desert to the West, white sand beaches deep South, Piney Woods to the East, the beautiful Hill Country I call home with it's aged oaks and rivers and no end of outdoor recreation. Austin, live music capital. And so on. Sorry the OP isn't happy here, but if she lives in Houston- I understand.

Although I agree with you about the crime and pollution, I still feel very protective over my wee country (and city - Glasgow).
I have a total soft s2000pot for Aberdonian accents because most of family come from there. Plus Doric is the greatest dialect known to man!
I agree with most of the people who have already posted; if you want touristy Scotland go for Edinburgh, if you want more of a realistic, down to earth trip visit Glasgow. I can't recommend going up north at least for a while enough - Lock Lomond or Stirling are BEAUTIFUL (especially if you're a photographer like me).
And go to Aberdeen for the beaches

Born in Peru to a Peruvian mama and a Scottish papa.
Fluent in Spanish.
There's very much a Latin flavor to him.
However, I think the Brit accent detracts from that.
It's
all
good!
Mianne
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HenryIanCusick_Group

I go to University in Glasgow 5 days a week. If you fancy a total historical traditional Scottish city then Glasgow isn't for you. I agree with what most of the other people are saying about the Edinburgh accent being easier to understand.
I would trade places with you anyday! I hate living here. The central belt of Scotland is horrible. So much crime and pollution. However, go further north and south and you will see some spectacular places. I'm desperate to go to the US, even booked my flights to Chicago in June.
fire89bug, do you happen to have msn messenger or a myspace profile?
you can check mines out at www.myspace.com/bigboaby
PS. Is desmond from LOST actually Scottish, I noticed that he was born in Peru :s

As a Glaswegian I'm obviously bias, but Glasgow is for all intents & purposes the true capitol of Scotland Edinburgh is the official capitol, supposedly for historical reasons I guess that means because they have a castle
Glasgow is a fantastic city, lots to see & do, good nightlife & restaurants & accents very strong. Desmond's accent is very clearly Glaswegian The first time he spoke on Lost all my friends & I watching could immediately tell.
Glasgow is probably a more "international" city also, the population is more varied, as there are alot of people who have come here from abroad to study in the city. Be sure to check out Glasgow University & the surrounding area in the west end if you travel to Glasgow, lots of great bars!!!
Anyway, Glasgow is probably a better city in the way of shopping & nightlife than Edinburgh, which is a more touristy area Makes Scotland look like Brigadoon all bagpipes & shortbread which really is not the case. If you ever get to come here, I hope you enjoy it
sorry for the typical Glasgow vs Edinburgh arguments, but I do feel strongly that people should visit Glasgow & perhaps travel to Edinburgh for a day or two, as Glasgow is infinitly more representative of Scotland than Edinburgh is

The west highlands are stunning and skye too.
nae much talent though
You will have fun wherever you go.

Thanks to whoever started this thread and everyone who responded. There's so many places i want to travel to, but Scotland is #1. I'm sure it won't be anytime soon b/c i just started college last year and only have a part-time job, but it's good to get ideas of where to go since i know i want to go there soooo badly.
"If we don't live together, we're going to die alone"
-Lost

I agree. I live on near the west coast, and I've always found when I visit other parts of Scotland, that my accent is the strongest more "scottish" if you care to put it that way. I knew some people from Campbeltown and they sounded more English than Scottish and I felt quite harsh sounding compared.
My personal opinion, although I love Edinburgh and the people are great, I find after a while the accent is too bouncy and can get annoying time to time. But there are far worse accents, generally Scottish accent are the best in the world
Every single night the same arrangements I go out and fight the fight - Once More, With Feeling

I read in a Scottish newspaper that Ayrshire accents are the strongest in Scotland. I was born in a town 2 miles from Dundee, but have lived in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, for most of my life. OK, it's not the nicest place in Scotland, but just outside it you'll find some of the best countryside Scotland has to offer, and if you're looking for strong accents, Ayrshire's the best for it. Apparently. [:

indeed, edinburgh is the best! the centre is beautiful and there's lots t1c84o do in the summer like the festival and fringe. if you ever go make sure to walk down the royal mile and do all the touristy things like the castle and the edinburgh dungeons! but i'm very biased having lived here all my life!