Family Vacation Ideas in Texas

Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, is a massive, 212-acre amusement park that is full of entertainment, thrill rides and rides that even little kids can enjoy. If you want to experience live music, fun shows, diverse dining options and even water rides (Hurricane Harbor is just across the street), Six Flags Over Texas is a great vacation idea for the entire family. Kids and adults will have plenty of things to do during their visit.

The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is a great source of family fun. There are countless exhibits to explore at this aquarium, including Dolphin Bay, Flower Gardens, Stingray Flats, Hawn Wild Flight Theater, Islands of Steel and Otter Creek. The entire family will be mesmerized by the vibrant and colorful array of marine life on display at this massive aquarium overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Gladys Porter Zoo is located in southern Texas in the city of Brownsville. With 26 acres of 1,300 animals and exotic tropical plants, there is a lot for the whole family to see at this zoo. There are a lot of interesting displays here, including the Free Flight Aviary, California Sea Lion Exhibit, Bear Grottos, Macaw Canyon, Herpetarium, Komodo Dragon Exhibit and much more. There are several areas within the zoo where children can interact with and touch animals, as well.

This is one of the biggest marine life adventure family theme parks on the planet. From watching performing dolphins and whales to playing around with penguins and witnessing sharks up close, there is an abundance of adventure to experience at SeaWorld. Not to mention, since Texas can get scorching hot, there is a wave pool and plenty of water rides to choose from.

beaches are great places for the family to have fun together. Thirty-two miles of beach are located along the Gulf Coast of Texas, and there are plenty things to do at these picturesque shores, including swimming, sunbathing, building sandcastles, examining birds, camping and surfing. There is also a cultural area called Strand Historical District, which is fascinating to explore. Check out Kemah Boardwalk and its many thrill rides and boat shows.

This is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of urban living. The entire family will feel a million miles away from civilization at this sprawling, beautiful national park. The sights of Chisos Mountain are breathtaking, and there are a lot of terrific recreational activities to choose from, including canoeing, camping and hiking. There are even guided tours that can teach the entire family about diverse topics such as dinosaurs, Western outlaws and the area's geology.

Texas' Hill Country is full of dude ranches that have a Western, rustic, old-time charm. If you want to feel like a cowboy, there is no better place to visit than an authentic Hill Country Texas dude ranch. There are countless activities to explore at dude ranches, from trick roping to arrowhead hunting and even arts and crafts. Also, dude ranches are well known for having delicious "down home" country dining choices.