Texas offers something for every taste when it comes to summer vacation destinations – from beachside retreats with endless outdoor fun, to charming small towns filled with Southern charm. Offering family-friendly attractions, museums, and outdoor adventures this diverse state makes an excellent summer getaway destination.
Austin offers families numerous activities for enjoyment. One can see over one million bats roost at Congress Avenue Bridge or cool off in Barton Springs Pool, an outdoor pool fed by underground springs.
Houston
Houston may be best known for NASA, oil companies and hurricanes; however, its charm makes it an ideal summer vacation spot. You’ll find outdoor activities, family-friendly attractions and culinary fun all within this bustling metropolis.
At the top of Houston’s must-sees is visiting Buffalo Bayou Park, an expansive urban park covering 160 acres, where you can spend the day hiking or biking through its miles of trails. This massive urban park has become nationally known for its beauty and variety of experiences – Wortham Foundation Grove features exquisite sculptures while Waugh Bridge hosts its nightly bat roost of millions of Mexican free-tailed bats at dusk each evening!
Discovery Green is an idyllic 12-acre village green featuring two restaurants, a water park, kayaking lake (1-acre), dog parks and event lawn. Perfect for fitness enthusiasts seeking a variety of classes such as Zumba, parkour yoga and circus arts!
Start exploring your city quickly by taking a guided tour that visits downtown landmarks, Museum District attractions and “graffiti art” districts in just a few hours of sightseeing. Or embark on a street art crawl led by someone familiar with where to find unique murals.
Baseball fans will delight in visiting Minute Maid Park to support the Astros while indulging in classic stadium treats such as peanuts and an all-American hot dog from the concession stand. And if that isn’t enough to cool you down, nearby Texas Medical Center features an oasis-like scuba diving pool – providing relief during Houston’s hot, humid summer heat!
Corpus Christi
Entertaining visitors of all ages requires visiting the beach, and Corpus Christi offers many beautiful options. Mustang Island State Park and Padre Island National Seashore provide clean sand and calm waters ideal for swimming, beachcombing, kayaking and other outdoor activities. Families will especially love visiting Texas Surf Museum downtown which combines history and surfing into an exciting experience!
Cole Park offers visitors the perfect setting to relax with family or have some fun on an outing, while history enthusiasts can tour the USS Lexington battleship built here and later destroyed during WWII by a bombing raid. Other historical spots to visit in Corpus Christi include Oak Grove Cemetery – with famous Texasans resting here – as well as Mission Tejas State Park where you can follow in the footsteps of early Spanish explorers and experience first-hand what life was like during their exploration.
Fredericksburg is known for its wineries and historic landmarks in Texas Hill Country, but this charming town offers so much more! Family-friendly attractions like Grapevine Vintage Railroad offer great fun for all ages while Bob Hall Pier provides the ideal setting to catch an evening sunset. Additionally, Fredericksburg boasts Enchanted Rock State Park for hiking enthusiasts as well as Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park to explore as well as numerous vineyards to tour.
Fredericksburg
Experience Fredericksburg for yourself this summer to create memories you will remember for years. Featuring hotels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, vineyards, wineries, day spas and golf courses as well as plenty of other services – this Texas Hill Country gem provides everything needed for an idyllic summer escape.
Texas offers visitors a treasure trove of historic German towns and scenic ranches like these in Texas – not to mention food, wine and shopping that will enchant their senses! Visitors will appreciate all that history-infused culture there is here – as evidenced in its cuisine, wine selection and shopping options.
History buffs will not want to miss visiting the National Museum of the Pacific War, Old Tunnel State Park and Vereins Kirche Museum for some exceptional history-focused attractions in town. Outdoor activities also abound with Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offering stunning panoramic views and winding hiking trails for outdoor adventure.
Are you in search of an enjoyable way to unwind during this summer? Book a massage appointment at one of the city’s many healing therapists before exploring Main Street to shop antiques, gifts and clothes – including Otto’s and The Old German Bakery restaurants which specialize in German cuisine!
Experience Fredericksburg wine country at its best on a guided tour with Absolute Charm or aboard Wine Road 290’s shuttle bus, exploring local wineries such as Lost Draw and Fredericksburg Winery for tasting all their tasty offerings – you may even take some home as souvenirs of Texas!
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is an ideal summer vacation spot for many Texas families, offering beautiful beaches, family-oriented activities and attractions, such as swimming in the Gulf of Mexico or relaxing beachfront resorts that feature kid’s clubs, waterparks or spas – not forgetting swimming of course! For many Texas families the ideal summer destination is South Padre Island – not only due to its warm waters and stunning coastline but also for its wide array of kid-friendly amenities including kid’s clubs, waterparks or spas!
Summer nights bring spectacular fireworks displays in Summerville. Additionally, it is home to Sand Castle Days where children and adults alike can witness amazing sandcastle creations during this event. Additionally, there are various family activities including learning how to build professional sandcastles or visiting Sea Turtle, Inc. to see large reptiles that require protection.
South Padre Island can get quite busy during spring break, making the rest of the year the ideal time for families to visit South Padre. Crowds will be significantly lower and you’ll be able to take full advantage of its great weather and many activities available on the island.
Winter Texans (known as snowbirds) are drawn to this sunny spot due to its tranquil energy and amazing activities. This location provides the ideal opportunity to witness massive bird migrations such as roseate spoonbills during their annual journey through the area. Furthermore, you can learn about local flora and fauna at SPI Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary.
Tyler
Texas offers everything from rugged hiking adventures to relaxing beach vacations, offering authentic Southern experiences through plenty of outdoor activities and welcoming towns. Read on to discover some of the top spots to visit in Texas this summer.
Rose Rudman Park in Tyler Texas is an ideal place for nature enthusiasts. Boasting over 13 miles of hiking and biking trails as well as diverse species such as birds, reptiles, and mammals; you can even engage in exciting activities like horseback riding and kayaking here!
Attractions to see in Tyler include the Caldwell Zoo. Here, visitors can admire many species of animals – many endangered ones – as well as learning about conservation efforts to preserve these species. There are plenty of activities you can participate in at the zoo such as feeding zebras or taking pictures with big cats!
Tyler attractions also include the Historic Aviation Mechanics Museum (HAMM). This museum contains numerous aviation artefacts and hosts several premier air shows annually. Furthermore, its hangar facility allows you to see old aircrafts.
As Tyler offers such an array of vibrant cultures, spending some time exploring them is the ideal activity. Tyler’s downtown district features rustic charm with small coffee shops and art galleries nestled alongside an eclectic selection of restaurants and bars – you might even catch a live musical event here! Additionally, CoCo Bean, which serves some of Texas’s best coffee, can also be found here.
