Stewart's Beach Park, Texas, is a favorite family beach vacation destination. Located near Houston on Galveston Island, the park has lots of family activities including water and volleyball courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, amusement park, bumper boats, miniature golf course, and a water coaster. During the summer there are volleyball tournaments, sandcastle competitions, and concerts. This is one of many excellent south Texas getaway spots.
Texas Vacations Idea #2:
The 825,000 acre King Ranch is considered the birthplace of Texas ranching and is now a National Historic Landmark. This is a working ranch with 60,000 head of cattle and 300 quarter horses. Bring the family for a close up view of this historical ranch's abundant wildlife and birds.
Guided tours will show you what Texas ranching is all about both in the past and in present modern day. See the cattle at roundup time as they are branded and tagged. Some of the buildings are important historical points of interest like the beautiful home that founder Captain King's widow, Henrietta, built in 1912. Take a private tour and see the details of how the ranch handles the horse, cattle, farming and feed mill operations. Take a birding tour of the ranch which is home to over 350 species. And be sure to visit the award winning museum and extensive saddle shop.
Texas Vacations Idea #3:
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the world's largest. Held annually it lasts for 3 weeks and hosts premier concert entertainment, top-ranked rodeo competition, and over 34,000 livestock entries. A few of the many activities that help draw over 1 million visitors to the event are pig races, a petting zoo, pony rides, trail rides, dominoes, horseshoe and washer pitching contests, team penning contests, quilt and photography contests.
Vacation Idea in Texas #4:
Big Bend National Park is on the Texas Mexican border and flanks the Rio Grande River. Most of it is cactus, yuccas, creosote bushes and other desert vegetation. Possibly the best national park for a walking vacation it has over 150 miles of trails. Other popular activities here at Big Bend National Park are camping, bird watching, wildlife viewing, and float trips.
Texas Vacations Idea #5:
A great family vacation ideas for Texas is spend some time tubing on the Guadalupe River in central Texas. New Braunfels River Park, located midway between Austin and San Antonio, is one of the most popular and convenient places for tubing. Go by yourself or as a group, either way you will have a delightful relaxing trip floating down the river. While you are in New Braunfels you can browse some excellent antique shops. The town is also host to one of the largest German festivals in America.
Vacation Idea in Texas #6:
The Balcones Fault Line Cave at Wonder World Park in San Marcos, Texas, is the nation's only earthquake-formed cave. You can take a guided tour through the cave or the Texas Observation Tower for a birds-eye view of the fault line's drop-off point. This official Texas historical site has the largest petting park in the state. You can take a train ride through the waterfalls of Mystery Mountain. Have some vacation fun at the Anti-Gravity House where things that go up do not always come down and water runs uphill!
Texas Vacations Idea #7:
Sea World Adventure Park, in San Antonio, is the world's largest marine life adventure park. It’s the perfect place for family entertainment with 25 different shows. Plus rides, animal attractions and educational experiences. Shamu the killer whale is a favorite. Or thrill to 2,500 feet of breathtaking loops on The Great White inverted steel roller coaster. It’s 250 acres of vacation fun for everyone.
Vacation Idea in Texas #8:
Take the family for a ride. Six Flags has 3 theme parks and 2 water parks in Texas. Six Flags Astrodome and Splashtown in Houston. Six Flags Fiesta in San Antonio. Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Arlington. Six Flags has been providing fun thrills for 40 years. Their parks feature live shows, cutting-edge thrill rides, games, kid friendly play areas, land animals, marine mammals, concerts, and special events.
Texas Vacations Idea #9:
Port Aransas is a great town to relax on the Gulf coast. Situated about 2 1/2 hours from San Antonio this popular town has miles of beach to play, swim and surf. You can charter a boat for fishing or fish from the public piers and the beaches. At Fisherman’s Wharf you can take a boat out for bird watching and nature tours. Or take off out into the Gulf of Mexico for some gambling on a Texas Treasure Casino Cruise.
Texas Vacations Idea #10:
If you prefer quaint shops and the side streets than head for Fredericksburg. Browse the over 100 shops for arts and crafts, antiques, gifts, and novelties. This popular tourist town is located in the Texas Hill Country, known nationally for its scenic beauty. Take a drive and visit some of the excellent wineries and vineyards nearby. Also close by is Enchanted Rock State Park where you can enjoy camping, hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, and other outdoor activities.
Texas Vacations Idea #11:
The Armand Bayou Nature Center is an unspoiled section of wetlands prairie, forest and marsh habitats along the Texas Gulf Coast between Houston and Galveston. This nature center surrounds the Armand Bayou and is dedicated to preserving the bison, reptiles, raptors and other wildlife along with their wilderness habitat. You can hike the trails in the preserve either self-guided or with a guide. Bird watching is excellent here as there are over 350 species of birds and animals. You can go for a pontoon boat cruise or take a guided canoe trip of Armand Bayou. For a special time try their moonlight or sunset cruise. In November there's the Martyn Farm Fall Festival where the early 1900's farm life is celebrated with music, hayrides, crafts and lots of fun.
Texas Vacations Idea #12:
If you are a fan of the 1980's television phenomena Dallas then you may want to schedule a vacation trip to Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. Every year about 300,000 people visit the ranch, which was home to the legendary Ewing family. Southfork Ranch is open daily for guided tours of the Ewing Mansion and grounds. There are lots of Dallas memorabilia on display. See the gun that shot J.R., Jock's Lincoln Continental and Lucy's Wedding Dress. Watch film clips from the television series and interviews with the show's stars. While you are there pick up some Southfork gift items and Texas collectibles at the "Ranch RoundUp" shop.
