10 best things to do with kids in Texas
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is located in the very southwest corner of Texas, along the border with Mexico. It is very far away from everything, and is huge and desolate. It is also almost the same size of Rhode Island! But it also has lots of different types of areas and habitats that are great for exploring. You can hike the Chisos Mountains, explore the Chihuahuan Desert, swim in a hot spring, or float in the Rio Grande River in Santa Elena Canyon. There is also rock art and artifacts created by Native tribes about 9,000 years ago. The art is known as Pecos River Style art and feature a towering shaman holding an ancient spear in his hand. You can camp in the park or stay in nearby Terlingua (there is a ghost town here!). If you are up for a drive, make your way up to the artsy community of Marfa in West Texas.
Padre Island
Padre Island is a very long barrier island that goes along the south coast of Texas. The beaches here are beautiful and have lovely plant-covered sand dunes. The Padre Island National Seashore is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped barrier island in the world! South Padre Island is a fun town with great weather all year long. There is Sea Turtle Inc, where you can see rescued sea turtles and learn about the very endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. There is also the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, horseback riding, and lots of water sports.
Coastal Bend
There are a lot of great beaches and communities in the Coastal Bend area of Texas. Coastal Bend refers to the area of Texas along the bend in the Texas Coast. The biggest city here is Corpus Christie. One of the most popular areas to visit is Port Aransas. Port A is a barrier island right off the coast. Port A was hit very hard by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and many homes and business were destroyed. Luckily, rebuilding continues and Port A is coming back. Just south of Port A is Mustang Island State Park. Starting from here, it is basically one 131-mile long beach that runs through North Padre Island. Rockport is also a great community to visit. There is a beach here that is wonderful for kids (there are very small waves and no one is allowed to drive on the beach here) and there are lots of good restaurants.
San Antonio
There is a lot of Texas history to be seen in San Antonio. Visit the Alamo and learn about the famous battle. Or take a walk (or boat!) through the historic River Walk that runs through downtown San Antonio. You can either walk or take a boat down the river! There is also the DoSeum kid’s museum (bring a change of clothes in case you decide to play in the outside river/splash area), the gorgeous Japanese Tea Garden, and the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium, and the Botanical Garden.
Enchanted Rock
Enchanted Rock is a is a pink granite mountain located in the Central Texas Hill Country, near Llano and Fredricksburg. Humans have been visiting this are for at least 11,000 years!You can hike all the way to the top of the dome. Even kids are able to do this hike! But don’t attempt this in the summer heat!
Austin
Austin is the capital of Texas and is the live music capital of the world! There are over 250 live music venues here! It is known for being a very friendly place that likes to keep things weird. One great thing about Austin is all of the amazing swimming spots you can find here! There are the well-known Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy Pool, Lake Austin, Lake Travis, and more hidden spots throughout the city. These swimming spots help Austinites make it through the long hot summers! There is also a kid’s museum called the Thinkery, Laguna Gloria, Mayfield Park (full of wild peacocks), the boardwalk trail at Lady Bird Lake, the State Capitol Building, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. If you visit during the summer, watch the bats stream out from under the Congress Bridge is a must. Or rent a kayak or canoe and explore Lady Bird Lake.
Caverns
Some of the most beautiful sights in Texas are underground! We know of about 3,000 caves and sinkholes in the state. Visiting caves is a great thing to do on a hot day because they stay nice and cool. Visit Longhorn Cavern State Park, Interspace Caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns, and the Caverns of Sonora.
Houston
There is so much to do in Houston with kids! There is the Museum District with the Rothko Chapel, Children’s Museum of Houston, Houston Museum of Science, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Houston Zoo. There is also the Johnson Space Center, which is NASA’s headquarters for the International Space Station operations and missions. They also train astronauts for space explorations!
Moody Gardens
Moody Gardens is in Galveston Island. Here there are three colorful glass pyramids, an aquarium, a rain forest, and traveling exhibitions. Nearby is the Texas Seaport Museum and Tall Ship Elissa - a ship built in Scotland in 1877!
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
The Dallas Arboretum Botanical Gardens has been named of the top in the nation. There is a huge area that is dedicated to letting kids explore and learn about nature. In the spring you can see thousands of blooming tulips and cherry trees. While you are in Dallas, also make a visit to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. There are 6 floors of fun here!