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Texas is a wonderful destination for your family vacations. It has everything you could want: lakes, cities, outdoor activities, museums, zoos, and so much more! But, to really have the true Lone Star experience, you must visit one (or more) of these six bucket list experiences in Texas!
#1: The Fort Worth Stockyards
If you think of cowboys, cattle, and horses when you think of Texas, then you can’t miss the Fort Worth Stockyards! What was once a major hub for cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail is now one of the most unique tourist attractions in all of Texas.
In the Stockyards, you can watch a real cattle drive, take a photo of your kids on a longhorn steer, buy a cowboy hat, and even watch a rodeo! And when the sun goes down, you can kick up your heels at Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honky tonk!
The Fort Worth Stockyards is definitely a can’t miss experience in Texas for everyone who’s ever wanted to be a cowboy!
#2: Texas SandFest
While you may think that Texas is all about cowboys, you would be wrong! Texas has tons of beaches too! They can be found all up and down the Gulf Coast. And they are all uniquely Texas.
One of the best beaches can be found in Port Aransas, just outside of Corpus Christi. And each spring, Port Aransas hosts the Texas SandFest.
This three day, family-friendly festival brings professional and amateur sand sculptors from around the world to create larger-than-life art pieces out of sand. And you can stroll along with your toes in the sand and watch them work their magic.
The festival also features live music, a kids’ sand sculpting area, local vendors, food, and more. It is one of the more unique bucket list experiences in Texas that you have to see to believe!
Get more information about SandFest at the official website. And check out my list of the best beach destinations in Texas for more beach fun.
#3: Buc-ee’s
You’ve never heard of Buc-ee’s? You are missing out! Buc-ee’s is a chain of convenience stores in Texas. But, they aren’t just any convenience stores. They are epic, Texas-sized convenience stores! Buc-ee’s is a prime example of how everything is bigger in Texas.
Almost all of the Buc-ee’s locations have 30+ gas pumps and huge (super clean) bathrooms. Additionally, you can buy just about anything at Buc-ee’s from t-shirts and coffee mugs to ice chests and barbeque grills.
Of course, you can’t have a convenience store without snacks! And Buc-ee’s has you covered there too! They have a whole section of candy, a wall of coolers with cold bottled and canned drinks, a short order grill, and much more! They even make their own line of snacks!
Going to Buc-ee’s is an experience in and of itself. No vacation to Texas is complete without a stop at Buc-ee’s!
#4: San Antonio Riverwalk
Texas has a lot of cities, but one of the best ones to visit for families is San Antonio. And one of the most popular attractions in San Antonio is the Riverwalk.
The Riverwalk is a dining, entertainment, and shopping district in the middle of downtown San Antonio. The unique thing that sets the Riverwalk apart from similar districts in other cities is that it all lies on the banks of the river below street level.
As you walk around the streets of downtown San Antonio, you can’t see the Riverwalk, unless you look over the edge of the bridges. Head down any of the many staircases to reach this awesome area!
Adults and kids alike will love strolling through the Riverwalk. And to get a different view of the Riverwalk, hop aboard one of the boats that will take you down the river on guided tours.
During your trip to San Antonio, take a short walk from the Riverwalk to the King William neighborhood to eat breakfast at Guenther House! It is the best breakfast in San Antonio!
#5: A Rodeo
While rodeos aren’t unique to Texas, they are a big part of the Texas lifestyle. And they are one of the best bucket list experiences in Texas for families.
Rodeos are thrilling, even if you know nothing about cattle or horses. Kids love watching the rodeo clowns. And adults can’t help but get caught up in the excitement of the various events.
You can find a rodeo in many Texas towns. But to see the best ones, head to Fort Worth in late January or Houston in early March.
After watching a rodeo during your trip to Texas, you can say that you had the true Texas experience!
#6: A Sporting Event
Texans love their sports. So, to experience the best bucket list experiences in Texas, you must go to a sporting event during your trip.
While football is the king of all sports in this state, baseball, basketball, and even soccer and hockey are big events here.
So, during your trip, plan to catch a game in person. You can’t go wrong by getting tickets to watch one of the professional or college teams in action. Or you could go watch a high school game. In Texas, even high school football is a big deal.
Whatever sport and level you choose, you and your family will have a blast watching a sporting event in Texas!
And check out these tips for surviving football games with kids to get you ready!
Conclusion
Texas is a great destination for family vacations. The above list contains the best bucket list experiences in Texas for families. I hope you enjoy some or all of them on your trip to the Lone Star State!
For help planning your Texas vacation, check out my planning tips for Texas trips.
For more trip planning help, see how to take amazing vacations on any budget, how to plan an epic vacation, my ultimate guide to travel with kids, and the best places to start trip planning.
Happy travels!
P.S. Need help finding the best places to go on your family vacations? My Ultimate USA Bucket List for Families will instantly give you 60 of the best vacation destinations for families in the United States! Get it for FREE in the box below and start planning your next trip today! Plus, as a bonus, you will receive my weekly email newsletter full of family trip tips and inspiration!
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