Family day trips in Texas

When in Dallas, Houston or San Antonio, Texas, you don’t have to hang out in the city all the time. Take a day trip nearby to get away from the hustle and bustle of the urban areas. Check out these day trips that your whole family will enjoy.

Outside Dallas – Grand Prairie

You don’t have to go far to enjoy some family fun. For those who love to shop, Traders Village – an amazing flea market – attracts thousands of visitiors each weekend and sells a variety of local goods. Louis Tussaud’s Palace of Wax and Ripley’s Believe It or Not are also located in Grand Prairie, which is a suburb of both Dallas and Ft. Worth. Families can also visit Joe Pool Lake for fishing and other water activities. If you are in the area around the holidays, enjoy Prairie Lights – a two-mile seasonal event that features more than 500 lighted displays. Your kids will enjoy the endless lights, as well as an out-of-car experience at Holiday Village midway through the drive. Holiday Village features carousel rides, games, concessions, Santa’s Store, and much more. This 40-day event takes place from around Thanksgiving until the end of the year.

Grand Prairie, TX. Hours and admission: Vary upon attraction.

Outside Houston – Galveston Island

Take a drive and head to the islands – Galveston Island, that is. Just an hour and a half drive from downtown Houston, Galveston Island offers beach parks, shopping on the strand, a historic downtown district, Schlitterbahn WaterPark, Moody Gardens aquarium and theme park, and numerous interesting museums. You and your children will enjoy getting around in the Island Trolley or horse-drawn carriages.

Galveston Island, TX. Hours and admission: Vary upon attraction.

Outside San Antonio – New Braunfels

Families flock to New Braunfels to tube down the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers in the summertime. These cold-water rivers are fun for both children and adults alike. New Braunfels has a sizeable German-Texan poulation and the city holds Wurstfest (a sausage festival) each November to celebrate the area’s heritage. Also in New Braunfels, you’ll find Schiltterbahn WaterPark Resort, as well as Gruene Hall – a hotspot for live music. New Braunfels is just 25 miles north of San Antonio.

New Braunfels, TX. Hours and admission: Vary upon attraction.