Family Travel
While Texas has activities and attractions for every type of traveler, many of the state’s museums and natural wonders are particularly enjoyable for families to experience together.
Midland in western Texas is situated at the heart of the state’s petroleum industry. Learn about the city’s oil-rich past at the Petroleum Museum, where you can see the world’s largest antique oil drilling collection and a gallery of minerals. If you have little artists in your crew, let them get creative at a free Works of Art class at the Museum of the Southwest (Tuesdays and Thursdays). The vast campus also has a children’s museum, planetarium, art exhibits and a sculpture garden. In the evening, challenge your crew to a game of mini golf at Green Acres, which also has an arcade and go-karts, or bowling at Bowlero, where you can also play laser tag, billiards and more.
Galveston, about 50 miles southeast of Houston, is an island city on Texas’ Gulf Coast. Moody Gardens—an entertainment center with pyramid-shaped buildings housing an aquarium and rainforest habitat, 3D and 4D theaters and other attractions—is a popular stop for families. Climb aboard Moody Gardens’ Colonel Paddlewheel, a boat that whisks groups on 45-minute daytime and dinner cruises along Offatts Bayou. Other activities include paddling, swimming and picnicking at Galveston State Park and riding the coasters, Ferris wheel and other fun-for-all amusements at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. At the latter, kids will love the carnival-style eats, from corn dogs and pizza to funnel cakes and cotton candy.
Also nestled on the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi offers families the best of the land and sea. Don’t miss the Texas State Aquarium, where habitats house more than 4,000 marine animals. That includes an impressive coral reef exhibit that replicates the features of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, a marine region that stretches across four countries in North America. The USS Lexington Museum, a naval museum housed in a decommissioned World War II aircraft carrier, is also worth a tour. Take a self-guided walk through the boat, check out the flight simulator and learn about one of the most devastating events in United States history at the Pearl Harbor exhibit.
To spend a day on the beach, venture 33 miles south from Corpus Christi to Padre Island National Seashore, a narrow barrier isle that protects 66 miles of bucolic marshland teeming with wildlife. Pass the time on Padre Island hunting for seashells, birding, boating and swimming. Visit during the summer months to watch the release of the island's famous sea turtle babies; and learn about efforts to save the beloved animals year-round at Sea Turtle, Inc., a rehabilitation and educational facility on the island.
Dallas, the region’s commercial and cultural hub, is a future-forward city with a Southern soul. There are tons of things to do, including many options for families with kiddos of all ages. Feel dwarfed next to gigantic dinosaur skeletons and dive into topics such as energy, anatomy and flight at the 180,000-square-foot Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Or check out the largest collections of African American folk art in the U.S., as well as Black renaissance paintings and contemporary works at the African American Museum of Dallas (bonus: admission is free). Everyone in your group will appreciate a ride on the McKinney Avenue Trolley—Dallas’ last remaining streetcar line. It goes from uptown through Uptown, offering access to some of the city’s most popular sights, including Klyde Warren Park (a lovely place to stretch your legs), Nasher Sculpture Center and The Dallas World Aquarium.
Where to Stay in Texas
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, teens or grandparents, Best Western Hotels & Resorts has properties in Texas to accommodate multi-generational groups of all sizes. Affordable rates make it easier on your bank account to book multiple rooms, and the chain’s many pet-friendly properties accommodate four-legged family members, too.