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Texas Travel for Tykes
Big Adventures for the Littlest Visitors to the Lone Star State
Kids can discover the past at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. Or they can blast to new worlds entirely at NASA/Johnson Space Center in Houston or at the McDonald Observatory in West Texas, home to the darkest night skies in the continental United States. Another can't-miss night wonder is the famous Marfa lights.
"One of the great things about Texas is that we have three of the country's 10 largest cities and all the world-class attractions that go along with them, but we still have the spirit of the Old West and its wide open spaces," says Chase. "Families who come to vacation can easily combine the urban and rural in one trip."
More new worlds await underwater in the Lone Star State. Along the more than 600 miles of Texas beaches, the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico meet the state's 80-degree median temperatures, making Texas beaches among the most calming and beautiful in the nation. There are countless sandcastles to build, unrelenting surf to tame and infinite shells to find. Activities perfect for families include parasailing, boating, dolphin watching, bird watching, deep sea fishing and just lazing on the pristine beaches.
Those who prefer freshwater are in luck, too. Texas has hundreds of old-fashioned swimming holes scattered throughout the state, from Barton Springs Pool in Austin to San Solomon Springs in Balmorhea State Park. The state is also home to numerous lakes perfect for swimming, boating, jet skiing and fishing.