Going on vacation with your family is the most exciting thing ever. When it comes to planning for it, finding an excellent adventure to witness and participate in can help create memories. Planning for the ideal vacation can be a bit of a hassle, and that’s why we are helping you find the best spots to create those memories.
Texas is a land rich in fun and adventure. The state has unique geographical features; it is culturally diverse and contains many attractions to visit and experience. There are beaches, lakes, mountains, deserts, and other picturesque views.
The state is generally laid back and offers the best place to vacation. If your family enjoys good food, historical attractions, and outdoor activities, you will have a good time in Texas.
The 7 Best Family Vacation Spots in Texas
- The Woodlands Resort
- JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
- The San Luis Resort
- South Padre Island
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- San Antonio River Walk
- The Alamo
3 good family vacation spots in Texas
The woodlands resort
This resort would be a lovely place to go with the family, and even kids would enjoy their stay there. There is a water park and slides that will keep the youngins, and yourself entertained for hours on end.
If you’re looking for more water fun, you can dive under and check out the underwater marine mural. Your cabana will have food and drinks services, and you can stay there and relax if that’s what you’re looking to do during your stay.
The resort has a tennis court where you can pick it up as a new hobby or remind yourself how fun it was playing the game. There are both indoor and outdoor tennis courts. There are also professionals available to teach you tennis if you are a newbie and you’d love to learn.
If you love biking and seeing the beautiful outdoors, you can take a bike and go through the resorts’ pathway into the woodlands. The entire area stretches for over 220 miles. You will need a map to prevent you from getting lost. You can rent out bikes, helmets, and bike locks for children and adults.
During weekdays, there will be family movies in the indoor meeting spaces. You can go with your kids there and enjoy this with them. On the weekends, you can have a movie night under the stars around a fireplace. You can make your snacks and cozy up with your partner.
Suppose you need other fun activities outside the resort. In that case, you could go skydiving at iFLY, visit the botanic gardens, kayak at Riva Row boathouse, hike, go shopping in the mall or farmers market.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
When traveling with kids, you will need somewhere to let them have fun, while the adults get time to unwind. This resort offers a water park for kids to enjoy themselves and a spa where adults can relax.
You can engage in many activities during your stay in the resort, like; tennis, golf, steam room, aerobic classes, and an arcade. If your children are too little to be in a regular pool, they have their collection where they can have fun.
Besides having a tennis court, they also have table tennis for those who prefer it.
If you need a bit of time from your kids, you can leave them playing, and the staff offers supervision for them as they enjoy themselves. When traveling with an infant, you will get a free crib for your baby. You don’t have to worry about where they will sleep.
When staying at the resort, you can visit Natural Bridge Caverns or Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. These would be great places to spend in nature seeing its beauty and seeing wildlife animals. You could also go on a riverwalk cruise, a very relaxing picturesque boat ride, or go on a ghost walking tour.
If you’re into historic sites, The Alamo, Mission San Jose, and the museums all over San Antonio would be a lovely place to visit. If you would like something more laid back, go to the Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Gardens, or Mission Trail.
(Looking for more of a country feel? Check out some Airbnbs in the Hill Country!)
The San Luis Resort
The resort has many activities to keep children occupied and entertained. The best thing it provides is access to the beach. Here you will get a broad view of the beach, where you can sit and watch the sunset as you sip cocktails and your kids run around playing with the sand.
If you and your family want privacy, you can take up a private cabana that is lavishly adorned with comfortable lounge chairs, fans, champagne, fruits, and water.
They have a spa where you can relax, have your body massaged and get facials and get pampered as much as you’d like.
Their cuisine is to die for, and if you love meat and wine, they have a steakhouse furnished for you to enjoy.
When at the resort, you can spend as much time as you would love on the beach, visit Galveston’s 61st street fishing pier, go to the marine sanctuary, Baywatch whales and dolphins, visit Bryan museum, the opera house, among other attractions.
(Looking for more Texas vacation spots? We’ve got you covered with that article!)
Where can I go on a Mini-Vacation in Texas?
South Padre Island
This Texan island is an excellent place for a family that loves the outdoors and heat. You can rent out a paddleboard, jetski, kayaks, and other things that could help you be out in the water and enjoy yourself a bit more. You can also get kitesurfing lessons if you’re into that. What’s so cool is that you can rent out glow-in-the-dark kayaks and paddleboards to use at sunset.
If you love horseback riding, this would be your moment to shine. You can ride horses along the beach in the morning. The minimum age requirement to ride a horse is six years. So this is something you can do with your whole family.
It’s even more fun when you hire a scoot coupe, golf cart, or bike and ride it around the island. You could also stop at the Sea Turtle Inc and learn more about sea turtles.
If you’re looking for a non-chaotic activity, you could go to the boardwalk and watch different kinds of birds. Or if you love fishing, go to the Laguna Madre and fish trout or red snapper, then take it to a restaurant, and they’ll cook it for you.
You can stay in many hotels when visiting the island, such as; Best Western Beachside Inn, La Copa Inn Beach Hotel, Isla Grande Beach Resort, and Pearl South Padre Resort. You could even rent an Airbnb. Learn how to choose a good Airbnb in that article!
3 Family Vacations in Texas on a Budget
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
This park is also known as “The Grand Canyon of Texas.” It is enormous and stunning because of the multicolored layers of rock. It has thirty miles of hiking and biking or even horse riding if that’s what you prefer.
If you and your family love hiking, this would be the perfect place to go. You could go hiking then camp in the park.
You can also get souvenirs and snacks at the park store if you need them.
If you want to do horseback riding, you need to bring your horse, documentation, and a water bucket for your horse.
There are musicals performed too at the canyon, and you can book tickets if you would like to attend. It is cheap because it only costs $8 per day for people aged thirteen and older.
If you would not prefer to camp at the park, there are other places you can stay when visiting Palo Duro Canyon state park. These include; Palo Duro glamping, Fortress at Doves Rest Cabins, El Coronado at Doves Rest Cabins, and Starlight Canyon.
San Antonio River Walk
The River Walk is the most visited tourist attraction in San Antonio due to how beautiful it is. You can take in the view by riding a boat or going on foot. By taking a boat tour, you will get to explore the Museum Reach. Here you will get views of native landscaping and public art installations.
There is also a Rivercenter Mall that you can get to by boat. Here you can do your shopping, visit restaurants, theaters, and rest at the end of the day. They have a hotel in there that you can book and stay in during your vacation.
If you happen to be there in April, you will find the Texas Cavaliers with magnificent floats lighting up the River Walk during their parade. Their main aim is to support charities in San Antonio.
If you love beer, wine, or cocktails, you can visit the oldest bar in San Antonio, Esquire Tavern. They also have food options you can indulge in.
Christmas in San Antonio is a hit. The local celebrities perform on floats illuminated with over 1.8 million LED lights at the river bank. If you’re an art lover, you could visit La Villita Historic Arts Village. It is on the Southern banks of the river. The streets of La Villita have a line-up of galleries, art, restaurants, shops selling jewelry, among others.
When visiting the River Walk, you will have various choices of hotels for accommodation.
The Alamo
The Alamo is an essential historical feature in Texas as it symbolizes their independence from Mexico. To know more about it, you could go to Rivercenter Mall IMAX theatre and watch The Price of Freedom, a forty-five-minute video giving you a bit of history on Texas.
Also, walk through the shrine. There is a lot to see, and you won’t have to worry about the sun since it’s a shaded area. Check all the artifacts and the memorial honoring the people who fought for Texas’s freedom.
If you feel you need to get away from the crowd, check out the oak tree with a fantastic shed and history. You could also take the right path from the oak tree, and you’ll find a beautiful garden with a water feature. It doesn’t matter how the day is, and you can catch some breeze and relax there.
There are other notable features to witness, such as the diorama and gardens. You can also check the Phil Collins Collection that’s opposite the Alamo. He generously donated his artifacts for the public to enjoy.
Final Words
Texas is a state full of history, beaches, and natural sights. It is the best place to vacation for your family since anyone could get a little bit of everything. Those who love the beach could enjoy it, while those who love the outdoors, hiking, and sports can also have their fair share. If you love history and museums, you won’t be left out. The above spots and hotels will help you have a lovely time during your stay there.
Explore the rich history of Austin by visiting its diverse historical sites. Our guide to historical sites in Austin will help you uncover the city’s intriguing past.
(Looking for more to do in Texas? Check out these Airbnb experiences in Austin!)