Howdy y’all!! Everything IS bigger in Texas. Biggest continental state, big scenery, big art galleries, big belt buckles, and big fun for families! From Big Tex to big canyons, the Lone Star State is a mecca for family fun in a BIG way. Here are Trekaroo’s top 10 fun things to do in Texas with kids.
Going all out for your visit to Texas? Check out our handpicked collection of Luxury Family Hotels in Texas.
Fun Things to do in Texas with Kids
1. Go to the Texas State Fair
You’ll know you’re at the Texas State Fair when you can hear the “Yee-Haws” from a mile away! At the Texas State Fair, you can tour the Innovations in Agriculture exhibit, watch the Amazing Archery Show, cheer at the Dog Stunt Show, and whirl away on the rides of the Midway.
Let the kids get in on the action as a member of the Backyard Circus. Little ones will especially love Home on the Range, a farm-to-market themed play area incorporating the petting zoo.
At night, watch the magical water and light show, Illumination Sensation, and the Starlight Parade. You haven’t been? Don’t let another year pass you by!
The fair is held for an entire month, from the end of September to the end of October. Get to the fair, grab a fried snickers or cotton candy taco, and don’t forget to wave hello to Big Tex (seriously, you can’t miss him).
Check for amazing deals on family-friendly hotels near the Texas State Fair.
2. Experience Cowboy Culture in Texas with Kids
Do you want to introduce your kids to an authentic cowboy experience? Picture this: riding horses, wrangling cattle, camping under the stars, and listening to coyotes howl in the distance. Sounds heavenly, right? There are excellent opportunities to bring out the hidden cowpoke in your family.
The Sugar and Spice Guest Ranch creates a unique experience for moms and daughters to bond through horse riding. Kids even get to take ownership of their own horse for the week!
Farm Stays U.S. offers farm-style accommodations like those of Greer Farm. Families will find working cattle operations, sustainable agriculture, cooking classes, berry picking, and good old-fashioned fun on the farm.
Not completely sold on camping overnight and just need a taste of cowboy culture? If a day excursion is more your style, the Fort Worth Herd in the Ft. Worth Stockyards will be a hit!
Here is a great guide filled with Fort Worth activities.
You can watch real cowboys and cowgirls lead a longhorn cattle drive. They also have rodeos, a kid maze, an old-fashioned steam train, and some unique shopping opportunities.
At Enchanted Springs Ranch, an old west theme park, families can go on horseback rides, view wild and exotic animals, watch a pistol show, eat out of a chuck-wagon, and learn about the history of cowboy culture.
Here’s a list of more places for families to experience cowboy culture in Texas.
3. Spend Time in San Antonio
San Antonio is a melting pot of flavor, history, and entertainment.
At SeaWorld, families can experience up-close animal encounters with whales, dolphins, and penguins. For thrill-seeking families, check out the Superman: Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Families who have kids with special needs shouldn’t miss Morgan’s Wonderland.
History buffs should head over to the Alamo and the Institute for Texan Cultures, an educational museum with artifacts and great information on the early settlers of Texas.
The Riverwalk is a 15-mile long pedestrian pathway along the San Antonio River. Restaurants, hotels, museums, and markets line the route. Enjoy a long stroll or hop in a canal boat and cruise the river on the Rio Taxi.
The Riverwalk is especially magical during the holidays, with special events like the Ford Holiday River Parade, and beautiful lights during the entire season.
Book a family-friendly hotel in San Antonio!
Need specifics? Here are our Top 10 Things to Do in San Antonio with Kids and our Guide to History and Culture in San Antonio.
5. Explore the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Texas is just desert, right? WRONG! The Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex is surrounded by lakes! The Grapevine Mills Mall (with LEGOLAND Discovery Center and the SEA LIFE Aquarium) is on Lake Grapevine and The Dallas Arboretum looks out over White Rock Lake.
Dallas is an extremely family-friendly place with great art galleries, zoos, nature and science museums, and a few wildlife refuges.
Trekaroo is a trusted CityPass affiliate. Save almost 40% on discount tickets to popular Dallas attractions.
The Dallas Museum of Art allows families to explore art together with hands-on activities! You’ll find a planetarium, IMAX theater, prehistoric creatures, and more at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
The Ft. Worth Zoo is a favorite, with a clean, easy-to-navigate layout, and well-cared for animals. For an underwater experience, the Dallas World Aquarium has an underwater tunnel where you can see sharks swim over your head!
Wondering where the best place to stay with kids in the Metroplex might be? Try the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. It made our list of the best hotel pools in the USA!
Check out our Top 10 Things to Do in Dallas and our guide to Two Days in Fort Worth!
5. Get to Know Houston
See how astronauts live on the International Space Station, dine with a live astronaut, check out real space shuttles, relax as your kiddos play on the giant space-themed play structure, or watch a science show at the Space Center Houston.
If your family contains Star Trek junkies, “The Galileo Seven” is a life-size replica of the films’ ship and is on permanent display.
Even though the Space Station is a major attraction, there are tons of museums and parks to explore in downtown Houston like the Children’s Museum.
Check out our Top 10 Things for Families to Do in Houston to find more fun activities in Houston.
As a trusted CityPass affiliate Trekaroo can help you save 47% on discount tickets for popular Houston attractions.
Check for deals on amazing hotels in Houston.
Beaumont is another fun town to explore about an hour from Houston. Here are the best things to do in Beaumont with kids.
6. Relax at Texas Beaches
Flat, sandy shores blending with the salty sea in a dramatic expanse of blue and white hues. What’s not to love?
South Padre Island is a National Seashore. It’s well maintained with an education facility, snack bar, sand dunes, clean restrooms, and wildlife.
Our favorite beach town in all of Texas is Port Aransas, about four hours due south of Austin. It’s funky, laid back, and offers plenty of opportunity for fun in the sun.
Check out places to stay and all of the fun things to do in our guides to both Port Aransas and South Padre Island!
We can’t mention beaches without boardwalks! The Kemah Boardwalk near Houston is filled with roller coasters, a train, dancing fountains, and a live stingray touch pool.
For an underwater dining experience, the Aquarium Restaurant has a floor to ceiling aquarium allowing every table a unique view of its creatures.
At Galveston’s Pleasure Pier you can ride a roller coaster out over the Gulf of Mexico! There are also midway games, shops, and family dining joints, like the Rainforest Café, Fishtales, and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
But wait, there’s more. Here are all our picks for the best beaches in Texas for families.
Check for deals on family-friendly hotels in Port Aransas.
7. Stay Weird in Austin
Austin is all about exploring trails and swimming holes, good food, and good music. Zilker Park has a bunch of free family-friendly activities.
The Botanical Gardens has a children’s garden, a Japanese Garden, and an aromatic rose garden. At the Nature and Science Center, kids can view objects under the microscope, uncover a dinosaur fossil in the giant sand pit, and play in the indoor cave.
Ladybird Lake has easy hiking trails, a playground area, and large expanses of green grass for kiddos to fly kites or expend some pent-up energy.
Barton Springs Pool (an underground spring) is open year-round and is famous for its celebrity crowds, as well as locals and tourists.
Bring your best game to the diving board! Last but not least, you have to check out the Congress Bridge Bats which put on quite a show at sunset.
For more on Austin, check out our guide to Day trips from Austin with Kids and our Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids!
Look for amazing hotel deals in Austin.
8. Sports Fans Unite in Texas!
No matter the sport, Texas has a team ready to entertain and amaze with their dynamic spirit. Picture hot dogs, peanuts, singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and your kiddo catching his first ‘outta the park’ hit.
Imagine the excitement in shouting for the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns, protecting their coveted pigskin ball, while painted college kids cheer from the sidelines.
Cheer for the Dallas Stars sliding effortlessly over a sheet of thick ice and the Houston Rockets going straight for the slam dunk. There’s a game somewhere for every season and the venues are geared toward family fun!
Here’s a list of even more favorite family-friendly sports venues in Texas for families.
9. Get Wild in the Great Outdoors
Have you ever gone on a hunt for dinosaur tracks, taken an African-style safari, or rafted through igneous rock cutouts? Texas has a ton of outdoor activities to thrill the whole family.
At Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, families can spot prehistoric tracks from an Apatosaurus and a T-Rex. Junior Ranger Explorer Packs and available and include binoculars, a magnifying glass, an animal tracking key, a sketchbook, flower and animal guides, and more!
Dinosaur Valley State Park made our list of the best state parks in Texas. See what other great parks made our list!
If an African-style Safari is more your thing, then check out Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. It’s a 400-acre drive-through ranch where guests can observe giraffe, ostrich, zebras, rhinos, and wildebeest, all from the safety of their own vehicles.
Just south of Amarillo is Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in America. Guests can camp in a basic cabin overlooking the canyon, hike on one of the many trails, or arrange a tour via Jeep or horseback.
Here are some more Texas State Parks you won’t want to miss.
And last, but not least, Big Bend National Park is one of the largest and most unspoiled national parks in the United States. Families can hike along trails used by Native Americans and early settlers, visit hot springs, raft through the Colorado Canyon, and participate in the Junior Ranger program.
We’ve got all the details on the best spots for outdoor adventure. Check out our West Texas Road Trip Itinerary, our guide to the Best Family Friendly Lake Resorts in Texas, and our guide to the Best Swimming Holes in Texas.
10. Enjoy Extreme Adventure on Your Texas Family Vacation
There’s nothing like a jolt of adrenaline! From race car driving to explosions, Texas has a range of family activities that are sure to delight even the most hardcore thrill-seekers.
Sport vacations allows you to choose your own adventure, including feeling weightless in a zero-gravity experience, skydiving, hang gliding, and hot air balloon rides. With Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, families can zip line across the lakes’ inlets on the largest zip line in Texas!
Rusty Wallace’s Racing Experience allows children as young as 14 to ride with an experienced driver in a real NASCAR Sprint Cup Car! Adults can even drive the cars themselves!
How about explosions? Families visiting Stunt Ranch have the opportunity to learn about physics and engineering while watching explosions, experiencing a zero shock airbag, learning about movie special effects, and making extreme weather!
Looking for a fun Texas escape without the kids? Take a break with these 11 amazing things to do in El Paso on a girls’ weekend away!
Special thanks to Heather Reed who wrote the original version of this article.
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