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Texas is a popular vacation destination in the United States for families. And it’s no wonder: it’s a great place to explore with your kids. And there really is something for everyone. But, planning a trip to Texas can be harder than you would think at first glance. Here are 5 quick and easy planning tips for your Texas vacation to help you plan the best trip ever!
My family and I have lived in Texas for many years. (In fact, both my husband and son were born here.) And we have traveled around this state hundreds of times. So, these tips are coming to you straight from a local!
Tip #1: Stick to one area.
Don’t underestimate just how big Texas is. It’s not just big, it’s huge! It’s approximately 800 miles from top to bottom. In fact, El Paso is closer to San Diego, California than it is to Houston! In most cases, it will take you several hours to get from one Texas city to another.
A lot of people start planning a Texas vacation and think they can hit all the major cities in a weeklong trip. But this is not really practical. It would be like going to Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. all in one week! You could do it, but you won’t get to do much of anything in any of them.
Instead, pick one area of Texas and stick to it during your trip. Trust me, no matter which area you choose, you will have more than enough things to do to keep you busy for your entire vacation. And you won’t waste a bunch of time driving from one city to another.
Tip #2: Plan to have a car.
My next planning tip for your Texas vacation is to plan on having a car with you during your trip. If you are flying in, rent a car.
Not only is Texas a big state, but things are very spread out. For instance, it can take an hour or more to get across Dallas or Houston.
And, outside of a very few exceptions, Texas cities are not great when it comes to pubic transportation. So, having a car will make it much easier for you to get around while you are here.
Tip #3: Don’t try to do it all.
This next tip is a good rule of thumb to remember for almost every destination in the world, but it is especially true for Texas: don’t try to do it all! If you try to cram everything there is to do into your trip, your family will just end up exhausted and cranky. Then no one will have any fun.
Instead, pick out some must-do’s that you know your family will love, and plan on doing those. Then, if you find that you have extra time, you can explore or add in another activity or two.
And don’t forget to build in some down time to give everyone a chance to rest and catch their breath.
Tip #4: Plan for the weather.
I always recommend that you check the weather for your destination when doing your trip planning. But this is a necessity when traveling to Texas. The weather here is unpredictable at best and can vary greatly from location to location.
For example, it is possible to find snow in Lubbock, heat and humidity in Houston, and thunderstorms in Fort Worth all in the same day. It’s also not unheard of to see 90 degrees in December or 55 degrees in May. I’ve also seen the temperature drop 20-30 degrees in a matter of hours here too.
So, definitely check the weather for the area you will be visiting before your arrival and plan accordingly.
And remember, it is hot more often than not in most parts of Texas, so be prepared for that!
You can check the weather at weather.com. And check out my tips for preventing bad weather from ruining your trip in case you run into bad weather.
Tip #5: Savor the food.
Last on my list of planning tips for Texas vacations is to savor the food. Food is a big part of almost everything we do here, so embrace this part of the culture and enjoy the food!
And like most things in Texas, the food portions are huge! So, you are sure to get more than your fill no matter where you choose to eat!
Texas is known for its barbeque, burgers, and Tex Mex. And it’s all worth trying during your trip!
Texas Monthly Magazine creates lists of the best barbeque, burgers, and Tex Mex throughout the state each year. I would recommend checking one or more of these lists before your trip to find a few restaurants to try.
Conclusion
Texas is a great family-friendly destination for your next vacation. But, it is a gigantic state. This can make visiting difficult. But, these planning tips for Texas vacations will help you plan the best trip ever for your family!
For more help with your trip to Texas, see my posts on the Texas SandFest, the best family friendly restaurants in Ft. Worth, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, and the best things to experience in Ft. Worth with kids.
For some general trip planning tips, see how to plan an epic vacation, how to have an amazing vacation on any budget, how to save time on road trips, and my ultimate guide to traveling with kids.
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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