9 fantastic places to visit in Texas with kids the whole family will love

River walk in San Antonio Texas with colourful umbrellas on river side cafes

Find below a handpicked selection of 9 of the best places to visit in Texas with kids of all ages: the best cities to visit in Texas with kids, child friendly attractions and natural landscapes you’ll love.

The first time we looked at ideas for the best destinations for a family vacation in the USA, we didn’t think of Texas as a contender.

Coming from Europe, our attention focussed on New York, Boston, the West Coast and things didn’t change after our first family vacation in California: we loved the place so much that we simply kept going there for several years!

However, while enjoying and afternoon in the sun with local friends, Texas came up as their favorite destination for a family vacation and what they said piqued our attention.

In their words, Texas was one of the most family friendly destination in the US, a place with many fun things to do with kids, great cities and fabulous nature.

Home to a spectacular array of natural beauty, cultural attractions, excellent zoos, and numerous activities and museums spread all over, Texas is one of the most exciting states to visit as a family.

If you’re currently planning to bring the kids to Texas or you’re a local looking for fun outings the entire family can enjoy, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking out what to do next.

Visiting Texas with children, you will be able to introduce your kids to marine conservation through hands-on activities, explore National Parks, enjoy the most beautiful coastal towns of Texas and the State’s most exciting big cities.

You will even be able to take them back in time to the Jurassic era!
Below, you find some of the best things to do in Texas with kids guaranteed to provide fun for the entire family!

The best time to visit Texas with kids is spring, when the weather makes it one of the best family destinations in the US for spring break.

9 of the best places to Visit in Texas with Kids – things to do in Texas with kids

Explore Dallas, TX

Growing up in the 80s in Europe, I always only associated Dallas with the famous TV series by the same name; however, looking into it from a family travel perspective, I quickly learned Dallas is a fun destination for families!

Sunset photo of Dallas, Texas, USA downtown plaza and skyline.

Among the many things to do in Dallas with kids, the most exciting is probably Dallas World Aquarium

Located in Dallas’s historic West End, the Dallas World Aquarium is one of the best places to take kids in Texas and introduce them to conservation (while having fun, of course!)

This enormous aquarium is home to many marine animals and wildlife, including various endangered species.

While here, the entire family can enjoy learning about various water animals including manatees, penguins, and fish from all over the planet, but you’ll also get the chance to explore a replica of the Amazonas to see tropical birds, bats, sloths, and more.

As well as the Aquarium, Dallas has the great Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Perot Museums (great for dinosaur lovers), the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, which is really exciting for sports lovers, the national video game museum, Kidzania, and the Dallas Arboretum, perfect to relax and play outdoors.

To tap into the spirit and traditions of Texas, Dallas also offers the option to visit Fort Worth Stockyards, where kids and adults can experience in cattle drives, and the Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum.

When you want to escape the heat, Dallas also has fantastic amusement and water parks perfect for kids to all ages where you can easily find refuge (and lots of fun!).

You can find here >>> 30 awesome things to do in Dallas with kids

Explore Palo Duro State Park

If your family is outdoorsy, Palo Duro State Park is a wonderful place to visit with kids regardless of their age.

Palo Duro is the second largest canyon in the USA, which is why it has the nickname the ‘Grand Canyon of Texas’.

It is a place of great natural beauty and its photos are somewhat reminiscent of some of the landscapes we have seen in Utah, all red and green hues, hoodos and spectacular rock formations.

A visit to this wonderful state park provides an amazing opportunity to experience the unraveled natural beauty Texas boasts.

Aside from seeing the canyon from up above, there are several activities you can enjoy with kids in tow, including easy hikes through colorful geological formations, horseback riding, zip lining or enjoying a show about early settlers in the area.

The park is wonderful for a day or an overnight stay, especially if you make the most of the option or experiencing a night in the wild inside a glamping tent!

The park has plenty of kid-friendly hikes, which make it one of the best destinations in the US for outdoorsy families.

Padre Island National Seashore

The coast of Texas doesn’t always get a lot of attention, however, it has some absolutely wonderful stretches!

A fantastic place for a beach vacation in Texas with kids is Padre Island National Seashore.

Padre Island National Seashore is the largest underdeveloped barrier island in the world.

It a wonderful place to visit in Texas with kids to enjoy nature at its rawest combined with lots of seaside fun, making is perfect for kids of all ages. .

The island measures over 130,000 acres and houses plenty of different landscapes, ranging from massive sand dunes to pristine grasslands and a beautiful coastline that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico.

While here, you can enjoy the island in various ways, be it by scenic driving across it, taking a four-wheeler cruise, or simply enjoying the beach and all the activities that come with it.

An absolute must-do with kids is checking out Sea Turtle Inc, where they can learn about sea turtles and marine conservation through interactive hands-on activities, including arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and newly hatched turtle release missions.

Find here >>> all you need to know about Padre Island National Seashore

Learn conservation at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose

Set just outside of Glen Rose, the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is one of the best places to take the kids in Texas. 

This incredibly special center specialises the conservation of endangered wildlife, with over 50 species living within its boundaries.

While here, you’ll get the chance to meet all sorts of threatened and endangered species, including cheetahs, bison, antelope, giraffes, zebras, and more!

The most popular way to experience the center is by driving its 7-mile long scenic road on your own, but if you want to get the chance to learn more about the animals, you can also book a guided tour.

Find here >>> info and opening hours

Explore Houston

Famous Houston is one of the best places to visit in Texas with kids for choice of activities and family fun.

The city has a plethora of museums for kids and child friendly attractions and it is, of course, a special treat for families and kids who love space!

Among the very many things to in Houston with kids, there is the Houston Space center, the zoo, the many city parks and the Children museum of Houston.

Constantly rated the number 1 museum for children in the United States, the place is packed with tons of interactive exhibits, all of which come with education in mind.

No matter your little one’s interest, they’re bound to find a way to stay entertained during their visit, be it by checking out a Wild West-inspired exhibition, solving math puzzles at Cyperchase, learning all about physics at the Newton Know-How, and so much more! 

Find here >>> over 100 things to do in Houston with kids

Experience the Wyler Aerial Tramway in El Paso

Located inside the Franklin Mountains State Park, the Wyler Aerial Tramway is an adventure your kids are bound to never forget.

While here, you’ll get to go on a family adventure of a lifetime by riding a gondola that will take you over a canyon, where you’ll get to see birds-eye views of the Texas plains.

From up above, the kids will be able to catch views through a telescope of wildlife and flora unique to the state as well as see tons of interesting rock formations guaranteed to get them interested in geology.

Find info and opinion hours here.

Enjoy the stunning nature of Big Bend National Park

Being the largest national park in the USA, Big Bend is one of the best places to visit in Texas with family if you’re keen to take them on a true adventure out in nature.

Home to some of the most iconic natural landscapes in Texas and incredibly varied terrain, families can enjoy the park’s majestic scenery by going on a scenic drive, taking in a few family-friendly hikes, walking along the Rio Grande River, exploring through canyons, or going on a rafting adventure!

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Have fun in Dinosaur World amusement park in Glen Rose, TX

If your kids love all things dinosaurs, they they will adore visiting Dinosaur World, where kids and adults can walk amid life-sized dinosaur sculptures, enjoy interactive exhibits to learn about these prehistoric giants, and relish numerous themed slides and games scattered throughout.

For a super fun activity, join the park’s Fossil Dig, where kids will get to search for fossils in a pit area, with finds including shark teeth, stingray barbs, dinosaur teeth, and more.

Find here >> info and prices

Explore exciting San Antonio with kids

San Antonio is one of the most enjoyable cities in Texas for kids.

The city has many kid friendly attractions such as the zoo, the aquarium, Logoland Discover center and the DoSeum (children museum), amusement and water parks but it also has a lovely downtown area with pleasant river walk and lots of shops and restaurant for kids and parents to enjoy.

A fantastic, all round destination for families in Texas!

I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of the places to visit in Texas with kids and it inspired you to look more into this interesting State.

Safe travels!

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Photo collage with images of San Antonio, Big Bend and Dallas and overlay text: 9 awesome places to visit in Texas with kids