Best Family Weekend Destinations in Texas

Texas's scale means family destinations vary dramatically by region. From world-class space exploration to river tubing to coastal wildlife — there's no shortage of options.

Space Center Houston (Clear Lake, Houston)
NASA's Johnson Space Center visitor complex is one of the most impressive science attractions in the country. The Independence Plaza exhibit features the actual Space Shuttle Independence mounted on a full-size replica of a 747 carrier aircraft. Mission Control (the historic Apollo Mission Control room, now restored to 1969 condition) is a genuinely moving experience. Tram tours go into the astronaut training facility. Allow a full day.

San Antonio (SeaWorld and the Zoo)
The San Antonio Zoo, in Brackenridge Park along the San Antonio River, is one of the finest mid-size zoos in the country. San Antonio's SeaWorld focuses increasingly on conservation education alongside thrill rides. For younger children, Morgan's Wonderland — the world's first ultra-accessible theme park designed for people with special needs — is a remarkable experience and free for people with disabilities.

Schlitterbahn Waterparks (New Braunfels)
New Braunfels on the Comal and Guadalupe rivers is the undisputed tubing capital of Texas and home to Schlitterbahn, consistently voted the top waterpark in the country. The natural spring-fed Comal River runs through downtown — families can tube it with inner tubes rented from local outfitters.

Natural Bridge Caverns (San Antonio area)
The largest commercial cavern in Texas, with formations that took 140 million years to form. Tour options range from the standard Discovery Tour to adventure spelunking for older kids. The attached zipline and escape room add non-cave options.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (Glen Rose)
A 1,800-acre drive-through safari park where visitors hand-feed giraffes, cheetahs, white rhinos, and zebras from their car window. Endangered species breeding is the core mission. Glen Rose also has Dinosaur Valley State Park, where actual dinosaur tracks are preserved in the Paluxy River bed — one of the best such sites in the world.