12+ Great Inspirations for a Family Vacations in Texas

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print

There are many opportunities for family vacations in Texas. From enjoying the outdoors at the many state parks, beaches, and water parks, to touring the great restaurant scene in one of it’s many cities. Texas has something for everyone.

Here are 12+ inspirations for family vacations in Texas to get you started, all recommended by Gowhee App families.

Houston children museum
Children's Museum in Houston, TX. Source: Gowhee App

1.Visit The Biggest City In Texas

Houston is packed with things for families to do, like visiting the Houston Children’s Museum and the Houston Zoo! There are lots of family-friendly hotels around the city, including the Houstonian Hotel which has a pool with a 30-foot slide, waterfalls, and geyser fountains.

Key Information: Museum admission $15 – Zoo admission varies by date – public transportation is available

Good To Know: Kids love Little Matt’s burger restaurant, which has a candy shop and an arcade.

>>> Discover more places for kids in Houston, here.

2. Visit San Antonio’s Mini Golf Courses

From the space-themed Cosmic Mayhem to the entertainment complex at Green Acres Golf and Games, you and your family can have a blast staying at a downtown San Antonio hotel and enjoying the many mini-golf options. When you’re done on the course, you can chow down at a food truck or a classic burger joint like Tycoon Flats.

Key Information: The Riverwalk lets you easily walk around downtown – lots of kid-friendly restaurants – many outdoor activities because the weather is nice year-round.

Good To Know: San Antonio has a robust bus system, so you can avoid renting a car if you want.

3.Cozy Up In a Cabin at Jellystone Park

Park your RV or stay in a cozy cabin at Jellystone Hill Country! You can tube down the San Guadalupe River, enjoy the nature trails, or play in the indoor and outdoor pools.

Key Information: Cabins start at $138 per night – pet friendly – open year-round.

Good To Know: You are encouraged to bring your own bed linens, pillows, and towels– but if you don’t, you can rent linens for a small additional fee

Jelly Stone Resort outdoor pool
Outdoor Pool at the Jelly Stone Hill Country Resort.

12+ Inspirations for Family Vacations in Texas

4. Stay at a Beach Resort on Galveston Island

Enjoy gulf breezes on beautiful Galveston Island! When you stay at the Hilton Galveston Island beach resort, you’re steps away from the Gulf of Mexico and all that Galveston Island has to offer.

Key Information: Rooms start at $136 – parking is $8 per day – the hotel has a pool.

Good To Know: The kid-pleasing Pleasure Pier is a six-minute drive from the Hilton Galveston Island.

FREE 2022 World Travel Guide for Kids

Join our e-community and receive our 2022 guide of local gems for kids in 25+ countries. You will get free itineraries for kids, travel tips weekly, right in your inbox.

Psst… We don’t spam our people, we don’t share your info!

Need to find fun things to do with kids?

Find places for kids near you or around the world in seconds. 
Gowhee App is the perfect tool to keep the kids busy and parents happy!

Try Gowhee App Now
Gowhee App main logo. Gowhee filter the world for family fun

Find kid-friendly locations in 60+ countries and more added daily...

Design of a world map color blue, with little bubbles showing kid playing, playgrounds and family activities all around the world.

The Gowhee network is present in 60+ country already such as the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, France, U.K, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Croatia, Greece… all locations are added by parents themselves. 

Filter The World For Family Fun!

Discover places around the world for kids and their families, tested and approved by parents themselves.

As seen in

2. Take a self-guided food tour with the kids in Austin

A self-guided food tour is great for kids. Just stop in each restaurant and order an appetizer. Austin is filled with wonderful family restaurants specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine. Maudie’s Tex-Mex Restaurant is one of many of these great places to eat with your family. 

Key Information: Kids menu – high chairs – Changing table – Outdoor seating available. 

Good To Know: There is a great playground outside of Maudie’s Restaurant for kids to blow off some steam. You can watch the kids from the patio seating area.

>>> Find more kid-friendly restaurants near you here.

6. Take a Day Trip To Corpus Christi

If you’re staying near Austin, Houston, or San Antonio during your Texas vacation, you can add even more fun by taking a day trip to nearby Corpus Christi. There, you can visit the Hurricane Alley water park, the Texas State Aquarium, or one of the beautiful beaches.

Key Information: Waterpark admission is $20 – lots of kid-friendly restaurants – all beaches have public restrooms.

Good To Know: McGee Beach has slow currents and shallow water, which is great for little kids.

corpus christi marina
Corpus Christi Marina. Source: @jcotten

7. Experience Life as a Cowboy at Dixie Dude Ranch

You can enjoy horseback riding and the hospitality of one of Texas’s wonderful small towns at the Dixie Dude Ranch. Featuring two horseback rides and three home-cooked meals per day of your stay, it’s the perfect place for a family vacation.

Key Information: $175 per day per adult; kid rates are variable – all food provided – ranch has a pool.

Good To Know: Kids under 6 are allowed to ride double with their parents, so even little kids can enjoy horseback riding.

8. Go Camping at Cedar Hill State Park

Sleep under the starry skies of the Lone Star State when you camp at Cedar Hill State Park. You can enjoy hiking and biking on the trails, swimming in the lake, and cooking out over a campfire.

Key Information: $10-30 a night -restrooms with hot showers – several sites ADA accessible

Good To Know: The 350 developed campsites all have electricity hookups.

9. Enjoy a Serene Seaside Getaway on South Padre Island

The beautiful beaches of South Padre Island are the perfect place for a family getaway. Staying at the Pearl beach resort, you can relax, swim, and have fun in the sun. 

Key Information: Free public transportation on the island – highly walkable and stroller friendly – public restrooms at most beaches

Good To Know: South Padre Island is known for its sandcastles– you can even take lessons from world champion sandcastle builders there.

 >>> Discover more kid-friendly beaches around the world here.

10. Escape to Grapevine with the Family

Grapevine, just outside of Dallas/Fort Worth, is a great place for family fun. You can enjoy visiting Legoland Discovery Center for some indoor fun, or head into the countryside to visit Nash Farm and experience Texas just as it was in the 1890s.

Key Information: Legoland admission is $26.99 – Nash Farm is FREE – limited public transportation on the Grapevine Shuttle.

Good To Know: In addition to Legoland Discovery Center, the Grapevine Mills mall is also home to a Sea Life Aquarium, a dine-in movie theater, and a 1-mile nature trail.

Discover More Places for Kids in Texas, USA

Try the Gowhee App for FREE today.

11. Stay In a Mountain Lodge in Big Bend National Park

Enjoy the great outdoors in Big Bend National Park– the world-famous hiking trails and the beauty of the natural landscape. When you’re done, come on inside at the historic Chisos Mountains Lodge. 

Key Information: Rates start at $171.81 – restaurant onsite – accessible rooms available.

Good To Know: Necessities can be bought at the lodge’s camp store– don’t fret if you forget something!

 

12. Spend a Weekend Lounging By the Pool in Beautiful Texas Hill Country

Sometimes the best part of a family vacation is just having fun in the sun. When you stay at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, you can splash your troubles away. This resort doesn’t just have swimming pools– it is home to the River Bluff Water Experience, a nine-acre water park. You can go offsite to many nearby activities, including Six Flags and SeaWorld, but there’s enough to do here that you might never leave the resort!

Key Information: Hotel rooms start around $300 – you will need a car or take a taxi – kid-friendly food onsite.

Good To Know: If parents want a little bit of alone time, the hotel offers a special Kids’ Night Out supervised activity evening.

Did we miss any of your favorite kid-friendly spots in Texas? Let us know in the comments.

Our Mission...

Follow Us