Spring Break 2023 is approaching, and it’s time to make a plan if you haven’t already. If you’re looking for a destination for your family this Spring Break, Texas has plenty to offer.
We’ve spent lots of vacations all over Texas and have so many ideas for whatever your family enjoys, from beaches to city life. The lone star state is enormous, and no matter which direction you head, there is sure to be a Texas Spring Break destination for you and your crew. So let’s get to planning your Spring Break vacation!
Port Aransas
We love Port A! Located on Mustang Island, it’s a classic beach town with plenty of fun for the entire family. When we brought our girls here when they were little, one of their favorite parts was taking the ferry over to Port Aransas from the mainland.
Once you get over to the island, you’re greeted with a super cute town with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and 18 miles of beautiful shoreline. There are stretches of beach with or without lifeguards, so check out the Port Aransas beach safety page, to find the perfect spot for your family. You can park on the beach with a parking permit (currently $12 a year), but you can also find some free parking between the Jetties and Horace Caldwell Pier and between Markers 52-58.
There are tons of fun options for dining in Port A. We always make sure we stop for lunch at Moby Dick’s. It was recommended by a friend and has become a favorite for its eccentric, nautical-themed decor and tasty eats.
Port Aransas is an awesome spot to spend a couple of days or the entire week. With the city of Rockport only 30 minutes away and Corpus Christi and the USS Lexington about 45 minutes away, you can easily visit other beaches and towns if you’re looking to visit the sights.
And if you’d like to save money on your trip to Port Aransas, consider staying in Aransas Pass and taking the ferry back and forth each day. Hotels are considerably cheaper if you don’t mind the travel time to and from the island.
Rockport
Less than 20 miles up the coast from Port Aransas is the town of Rockport. We found Rockport when we were looking for a clean, family-friendly beach to take our (then) little girls. Rockport was the perfect solution.
Rockport Beach Park is the first Blue Wave beach in Texas, meaning it’s part of the Clean Beaches Coalition and committed to maintaining a clean and healthy beach. This is a huge plus! It does cost to park at the beach park, but it is definitely worth it for the clean beach and amenities. We bought yearly pass, since we were staying for a week, and it came out cheaper than paying each day. At the time this was written, day passes are $10 and yearly passes are $40.
Some of the other things we love about Rockport Beach are the multiple playgrounds and restrooms on the beach. Another amazing thing about Rockport Beach Park is the saltwater pool, where my kids could play in the water, and I didn’t have to worry about tides, but still can enjoy the beautiful beach and views.
There are plenty of delicious places to eat in Rockport, so make sure you try some of the local offerings. One of our favorites for incredible views and mouthwatering seafood is Paradise Key Dockside Bar and Grill. Their patio is one of the best spots in Rockport to relax with the family after a day at the beach.
Galveston Island
If you’re looking for a beach town with lots of other activities and close to a big city, Galveston is the perfect spot. Located about an hour south of Houston, it’s a popular destination for families.
Historic Pleasure Pier
This oceanside amusement park is so fun if you’ve got some thrill seekers who are looking for something other than lazy days at the beach. They offer an All Day Ride Pass for individuals and families, and at Spring Break they offer a special Spring Break Pass, that will give you unlimited rides at 3 popular parks (Pleasure Pier, Kemah Boardwalk, and the Houston Aquarium).
One thing to note is that even if you aren’t riding rides, you’ll have to pay to enter the pleasure pier. If you change your mind when there and decide to ride, you can always upgrade your “walk-on” pass to an all-day ride pass by paying the difference.
Galveston Beach
Galveston has 32 miles of beaches, providing plenty of room for everyone to enjoy! You can park at the popular Stewart Beach, where you’ll find restrooms, showers, concessions, lifeguards, and other amenities. You’ll have to purchase parking and there are no in-and-out privileges.
If you want to find less crowded areas to spend a day on the sand, you’ll want to head west down the island towards Jamaica Beach. You’ll find many beach access points and the option to park on the beach. We really enjoyed our day at Sunny Beach and loved not having to pay to park or tote all our beach gear plus kids to and from the car. Just know that there are no lifeguards on duty here, and you’ll want to pay extra close attention to rip current and high surf warnings.
I won’t pretend that Galveston is one of the most beautiful beaches, but it is absolutely a great beach destination in Texas! We’ve been to Galveston more times than we can count and ALWAYS have a great time.
If you’re used to the white sand and crystal water of the Florida panhandle beaches, you might be disappointed when you get to Galveston. The water is murkier looking here due to the shallow floor and the sediment turnover. But I do love not finding powdery white sand in my car for months. And since we mostly hang in the sand or at the water’s edge, Galveston is perfect for our family.
Moody Gardens
The Moody Gardens is truly something for the entire family. This non-profit educational center feels like a resort, as it includes a hotel, spa, golf course, restaurants, and lots of fun, educational attractions.
It’s easy to spot with its three pyramids, housing an aquarium, rainforest, and discovery center. Located on Galveston Island the Moody Gardens is an ideal option for Spring Break if you want everything in one locale.
You can also choose to stay somewhere else and visit Moody Gardens for specific attractions. We chose this option one year and took our girls on the Colonel Paddlewheel Boatride around the bay, which was really enjoyable for all of us. There’s a playground near it, so we had some bonus entertainment for free.
Parking at Moody Gardens and the hotel is surprisingly free, so if you don’t want to spend any money on attractions, you can still walk around the beautiful resort and take in the lovely views of the water.
South Padre Island
My favorite beach in Texas is South Padre Island beach. It really is a gorgeous, white sand beach with the clearest water you’ll find along the Texas gulf, in my opinion.
While it often gets a bad rap during Spring Break for being a party scene with college students, you can try and avoid that. The locals recommend that you call around a find condo that doesn’t allow Spring Breakers and head towards the northern end of the island where it is less busy. If you’re too concerned about partying crowds, you might want to wait until after Spring Break, when prices are lower and the beachgoers are less rowdy.
When you’re in South Padre, make sure you plan a breakfast or brunch at Yummies Bistro. It was our favorite…so good! Make sure to get there early to beat the crowds and knab a table on the patio.
Houston
Houston is just an hour’s drive from Galveston island, and a great spring break destination to add to your beach trip or as a destination in itself.
Museums
Houston has several amazing museums in their museum district, but our favorite is the Children’s Museum Houston.
The exhibits are such a blast and stimulate their imaginations. The kids can pretend to be a grown-up in Kidtropolis, USA, a city run by kids.
There are so many other interactive exhibits for big and little kids to get them moving and doing. We always wish we had more time when we visit!
Space Center Houston
At Space Center Houston, your outer space-loving kids (or partner) will have a blast! (Pardon the pun.)
There are interactive exhibits, shows, a tram tour, and incredible artifacts from space travel. If you’ve never been, it is definitely a must-do. The Space Center also offers a couple of paid Astronaut Experiences. We haven’t done that yet, but having breakfast with an astronaut sounds pretty cool!
Make sure to stop at the gift shop for some, ahem, classy, memorabilia to take home.
San Antonio
San Antonio is another family favorite of ours! I’ve been visiting San Antonio since I was five years old, and it never gets old.
San Antonio River Walk and Alamo
I have to start with one of my favorite parts- the River Walk. My ideal Spring Break is staying at a San Antonio River Walk hotel, so I don’t have to drive the entire time I’m there. Everything you need for a fun few days is within walking distance, including the Alamo.
It seems that everyone has the same idea as me, so it gets really busy on the River Walk during Spring Break. I definitely suggest you choose atypical eating times, so you don’t have to wait quite as long for a table, especially if your end goal is Tex-Mex on a patio overlooking the river.
River Walk hotels can be pretty pricey, so we’ve also stayed close by near the Alamo and were still within walking distance to the River Walk and saved some money!
Amusement Parks
San Antonio is home to two great amusement parks: Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Sea World of Texas.
Both parks offer day tickets or passes and offer calm rides for little ones to wild rides for the thrill seekers in your family. If you’re more into roller coasters, you might enjoy Fiesta Texas more, as it does have more rides. And if you purchase a yearly or season pass, you can use it at any Six Flags park. We love this feature since we live close to the Six Flags in Arlington.
If you’re looking for a different kind of amusement park, you might enjoy Sea World in San Antonio, with its sea animal shows and attractions, and the Sesame Street Bay of Play. Seeing and dancing with Elmo was definitely the highlight of our San Antonio trip for our youngest kiddo! Cookie Monster, not so much.
Austin
If you head north of San Antonio up I-35, you’ll eventually end up in Austin, the capitol of Texas. If you’re limited on time, Austin is great for a two or three-day trip. You can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
If you’re visiting Downtown Austin, you can see the Capitol building. Tours are available if you book in advance. It’s also fun to wander and eat around downtown, visit a museum or park, and stop for a few photo ops. You can easily spend a couple of days enjoying Downtown Austin.
Austin also offers some incredible outdoor activities. We loved walking the trails around Lady Bird Lake. You can also find other outdoor activities, like wandering around the beautiful Zilkner Botanic Gardens, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, or hiking one of the many trails.
If you’re a foodie, Austin is going to make you so happy. They have what seems like unlimited food options. There are just too many amazing spots to choose from.
One of our favorites for food and atmosphere is Mattie’s. We went here without kids for a non-fussy but romantic dinner. The southern food is seriously delish, and I’m drooling just thinking about the pimento cheese (not pictured because I devoured it).
Waco
Waco is another top idea for a Texas destination if you have just a couple of days to play. We took our girls on an overnight in Waco and were able to have plenty of fun in this short amount of time.
One of the top attractions in Waco is the Magnolia Silos, where you can shop and eat the day away and enjoy the beautiful outdoors there. It will be crazy busy during Spring Break, and they are offering some special Spring Break events, so make sure you reserve and plan ahead of time! I prefer visiting during the week and avoiding the weekend crowds but to each her own!
Waco also has some beautiful parks you can enjoy. We loved Cameron Park! The playground is extra fun and it is situated along the Brazos River. With over 400 acres, this park has lots of hiking trails as well as the Cameron Park Zoo.
We weren’t able to visit the zoo during our trip, but it is definitely on the agenda for next time. The Riverwalk connects Cameron Park Zoo to other parts of Waco, such as Downtown, Baylor University, and the Suspension Bridge. Spring break is a great time to take advantage of this 7-mile looping trail if the weather cooperates.
We suggest making a stop at the Suspension Bridge. The kids will love walking across this 150-year-old cable bridge that spans from Indian Spring Park to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. There are also restaurants, museums, and shopping within walking distance of the bridge, so you can make it a few hours worths of entertainment and exploration.
Just a little over fifteen minutes from Downtown Waco in Woodway is the magical Carleen Bright Arboretum. We were able to visit on a cool, sunny day, and it was gorgeous! It’s a great place to snap some photos of the family and enjoy the lovely surroundings. And bonus, it’s free to enter!
Dallas/Fort Worth
I’ve lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex practically all my life, so I’ve got some great ideas for Spring break around the Big D and Cowtown!
Dallas
While a lot of Fort Worthians like to hate on Dallas, I love Dallas!
It’s a huge city surrounded by a lot of smaller cities, so there are endless things to do. Every once in a while, we like to stay a night in Dallas and explore different areas.
Parks
Dallas has some incredible green spaces for such an urban center. If you’re in Dallas, you have to visit Klyde Warren Park. It’s one of my very favorite parks we’ve ever visited.
You can find outdoor fitness classes and story times on the weekend, an AMAZING play area for kids, beautiful outdoor fountains that double as a splash pad, a dog park, plus shady spots to relax and take in the scenery. Not to mention the food trucks parked along the park’s perimeter. We spent hours there on a Saturday and only left because my husband and I were melting (hello Texas summer). But Spring Break is the perfect time to visit.
Museums
Another treasure in Dallas is the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. It’s pretty incredible looking from the outside and is equally impressive inside.
The five floors of exhibits will keep you busy all day. Our kids had a blast, and truthfully, so did we. It’s definitely a museum for kids and adults alike. Our kid’s favorite part was the Moody Family Children’s Museum. We saved this for last, so we can sit and our kids could run around and play. It’s super interactive and fun! Tickets are on a timed-entry system, so make sure you arrive within the hour listed on your ticket.
Local Art
If you enjoy art and are looking for a unique photo op, the eclectic Dallas Design District is not far from Downtown and is a trendy area for art galleries, dining, and shopping, and has some larger-than-life murals, perfect for a photo shoot!
We spent a morning there to have breakfast and of course, take advantage of the amazing murals and art installations by crazy talented local artists.
Shopping
For the ultimate shopping experience, head to the Galleria of Dallas. We spent a few days at a Galleria hotel and loved having the option to wander around there when the weather wasn’t great.
You’ll find both regular and luxury retail stores, lots of dining options, a movie theater, and a huge ice skating rink on the bottom level.
It’s fun to sit with a coffee or ice cream and watch the ice skaters when you need a break from walking around the three levels of shopping.
Arlington
Situated between Dallas and Fort Worth is the city of Arlington, home to the famous Dallas Cowboys football team and Texas Rangers baseball team. If you’re in the area, you can take a tour of either state-of-the-art stadiums, and then head to Texas Live for eats and drinks.
Arlington is also home to Six Flag Over Texas and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. You’ll have to wait until late Spring for Hurricane Harbor, but Six Flags Over Texas is open for Spring Break.
Take advantage of a yearly pass or daily tickets, and enjoy the crazy thrill roller coasters and other rides and shows and appearances by the Looney Tunes characters.
If you have little ones, they’ll love Bugs Bunny Boomtown, with attractions designed just for them. There are also great shady spots to rest while the kids play on the Adventure Camp playground if that’s your thing. ????♀️
Fort Worth
I might be partial, but Forth, aka Cowtown, is one of the best cities in Texas! I’ve spent many a Spring Break here in Fort Worth, and there are tons of things to do. If you’re in Fort Worth for a day or two or the whole week, you’ll have plenty of options.
Parks and Zoo
Located near Downtown along the Trinity River, you’ll find some of the best Fort Worth outdoor activities. Trinity Park is home to awesome walking and biking trails along the Trinity River. The Trinity Trails are extensive and lead you all over Fort Worth.
While you’re in Trinity Park, definitely make a stop at Dream Park, an all-inclusive and accessible playground for people of all abilities. You can also find the Forest Park Miniature Train that runs through the park. And not far is the Fort Worth Zoo, which is one of the very best in the nation.
One thing to note about the zoo is that it gets INSANELY busy during Spring Break on half-price Wednesdays. Prepare to wait a long time to get in. If you don’t need to save a few bucks and want to be able to enjoy more of the zoo, like the giraffe feedings, definitely go on a different day. We’ve noticed that afternoons are less busy than mornings. (Thank you, nap time.)
Across from Trinity Park is the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It used to be free, but alas, no longer. It is definitely worth a visit, though! It’s the perfect spot for a picnic and strolling around the gorgeously blooming gardens. And during Spring Break, they offer special programs for families. (They do require you to book ahead, so be sure to grab your tickets early!)
Stockyards
Visiting the Stockyards is an absolute must! To get the feel of Cowtown, make sure to plan a day there to see the Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive, check out the attractions, like the maze and petting zoo, listen to some live music, and get a taste of the Stockyard’s cuisine. We love staying with our family of five in the Stockyards Springhill Suites, where the rooms are spacious enough for all of us, we can leave our car at the hotel and walk to everything!
If you’ve never been, a visit to the Stockyards definitely should include Tex-Mex on the sprawling patio at Joe T. Garcias. The patio is breathtakingly beautiful and the margaritas are strong. It’s one of the most popular spots in Fort Worth for a good reason.
Museums
Visiting the various Fort Worth during Spring break is one of the best times. They offer special Spring Break programs for families and some of them are even free!
You can visit the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter of Modern Art, and the Sid Richardson Museum for free any day they’re open. The Modern Art Museum is free on Fridays and kids are free every day.
Fort Worth also has its popular Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, which is a hit with kids! They do offer special discounts, so check to see if you’re eligible.
Wrapping-Up
It’s hard to stop here because there are so many incredible Spring Break destinations and ideas in Texas. These spots definitely top the list with my family. No matter what you decide to do or where you decide to go, we hope you spend Spring Break making memories with your family.
And if you’re looking for Spring Break ideas with your teenager, we have a list your teen will love.
