We have three kids ages 10, 6, and will be three by the time we leave. We are planning on being in Texas for at least a week during the last part of February/first part of March. We are coming in on Highway 10 from Lousiana. (We live in Michigan, so this is a big trip for us!) We want to see the Alamo in San Antonio because our kids are history buffs. And we want to spend an afternoon with friends in Austin.
Aside from that, we have nothing planned. We%26#39;d like to see a working oil refinery/drill/plant (whatever it%26#39;s called!), and a working ranch or rodeo would be fun as well. (So, if you know of any, you%26#39;d save me a ton of time trying to find a good one!)
Basically, we want to experience as much of Texas as we can.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Melissa
What should we do/see in Texas with kids?
On your way into Houston, on I-10, you will pass near the oil area of the Texas refineries. During your time in Houston, the rodeo will be here. I think the dates are Feb 27-Mar 18, you can get all the info at www.hlsr.com. Also in refinery area, there is the Battleship Texas State Historic Site and San Jacinto Monument. This is where Texas won its independence from Mexico.
To the southwest of Houston, in Richmond, there is the George Ranch Historical Park. This is a living history park and working cattle ranch (www.georgeranch.org).
To the west of San Antonio, in Bandera, are the dude ranches. Your kids can be cowboys/cowgirls with horseback riding, trail rides, hay rides all that good stuff. This is really fun and we did this when we were kids. There were many posts about this not long ago and you may want to do a search on here for them.
In Austin, be sure to visit the Bob Bullock State of Texas Museum for lots of Texas history.
Welcome to Texas.
What should we do/see in Texas with kids?
A word of caution...
We live in Austin and took the kids to San Antonio a couple of years ago to see the Alamo. Across the street from the Alamo are a bunch of amusements - you know ';Ripley%26#39;s believe it or not'; ';Tussaud%26#39;s wax museum'; etc.
Here is the warning: The prices aren%26#39;t visibly listed and the lines when we went were very long, the kids begged to do one of these attractions and we figured how much could it cost? After waiting on line for a long time we got up to the front where the prices are taped to the tops of the counters and discovered the cost to be, if memory serves, something like $250 for a family of four. We walked away from our hour-long wait without going in but I saw many a Dad cough up the credit card in despair of telling their kids that the hour on line had been for naught.
For Austin with kids - well mine snooze right through the Bob Bullock museum but that%26#39;s them. Do make certain you go to see the bats come out from under the Congress Avenue bridge. Austin has the largest urban bat colony in North America and it is a huge part of our culture - I guarantee your children will be wowed. Google bats and Austin for information on where to view them.
Have fun!
My kids love the bats and it%26#39;s high on my list of ';favorite things to see in Texas';, but I wouldn%26#39;t go in late February/early March. The bats have migrated to Mexico and *some* may be there, but not enough to rely on.
Maybe your kids would like to see some of the caves around the area. There are three that you%26#39;ll be near:
1) Cave Without a Name (in Boerne) which is small (in relative terms) but breathtaking.
www.cavewithoutaname.com
2) Natural Bridge Caverns (north of San Antonio) which is great
www.naturalbridgecaverns.com
3) Inner Space Caverns (in Georgetown, north of Austin).
www.innerspace.com
Also, consider visiting some of the other missions in the San Antonio area if your kids are history buffs, and watching the Alamo movie at the IMAX in River Center.
www.imax-sa.com/
Sea World opens on March 3rd (weekends only) if that might appeal to you.
Please post back about the route you%26#39;re taking back to Michigan (and if your drive will be leisurely or hurried)! If you decide to head north on I-35 to Dallas, I live in Central Texas and can give you ideas about good places to stop with kids.
Enjoy your trip!!
I am a Native Texan and here are some of my suggestions:
In Houston: Museum of Natural Science....wonderful and magical for children. I am a Texas educator and this is a definite field trip each year for my 3rd grade students. WONDERFUL !
South Padre Island: Now, that is a TEXAS style beach! Crystal blue water, clean air, and friendly people! A real MUST for anyone visiting Texas. Beautiful hotels although very affordable and ';family'; oriented and ';kid'; friendly. While in South Texas, ask for ';road trip'; route of orange, grapefruit, and lime orchards....amazing this time of year!
Be prepared for friendly and smiling people all across the LONE STAR STATE!
Have a wonderful trip and Welcome to TEXAS...where ';If you weren%26#39;t raised here -you got here as fast as you could.';
I am a Native Texan and here are some of my suggestions:
In Houston: Museum of Natural Science....wonderful and magical for children. I am a Texas educator and this is a definite field trip each year for my 3rd grade students. WONDERFUL !
South Padre Island: Now, that is a TEXAS style beach! Crystal blue water, clean air, and friendly people! A real MUST for anyone visiting Texas. Beautiful hotels although very affordable and ';family'; oriented and ';kid'; friendly. While in South Texas, ask for ';road trip'; route of orange, grapefruit, and lime orchards....amazing this time of year!
Be prepared for friendly and smiling people all across the LONE STAR STATE!
Have a wonderful trip and Welcome to TEXAS...where ';If you weren%26#39;t raised here -you got here as fast as you could.';
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