Whether you’re looking for beautiful beaches or aquatic adventure, you’ve come to the right place. Texas boasts over 600 miles of coastline and more than 5,000 square miles of freshwater. Families can do everything from fishing and canoeing in state parks, to building sand castles on soft powder-white sand.
If you’re looking for a little outdoor fun, then pack up the gear, grab a tent and go camping at Guadalupe River State Park where you’ll find wildlife—including white-tailed deer, coyote, gray fox, and the Texas-famous armadillo—along the beautiful cypress-lined Guadalupe River. There are plenty of activities to choose from including fishing, canoeing, hiking, biking, swimming and tubing. And horse lovers will be happy to know that the park recently opened a five-mile equestrian trail. For those who want a sense of the history and geology, there’s a two-hour guided interpretive tour that examines the local flora and fauna.
Fishing aficionados should not miss Caddo Lake State Park, where the exotic cypress trees and aquatic plant life combine to create a maze of bayous and ponds and amazingly diverse fishing opportunities. Anglers will be pleased that there are 71 species of fish to be found here, including large-mouth and white bass. Of course, there’s more than just fishing; visitors can also rent canoes or take a pontoon boat tour. Or you can enjoy watching wildlife such as waterfowl, alligators, beavers, turtles and frogs. Visitors can stay in the park’s quaint cabins which where built in the 1930s and blend in well with the surrounding nature.
For the “Water Recreation Capital of Texas” head to Canyon Lake, located on the rim of Texas Hill Country and home to 80 miles of shoreline along the Guadalupe River. Canyon Lake is unique in that the topography includes rolling hills in the midst of lake and river waters. Here you’ll find camping, hiking trails, boat ramps for easy aquatic access, fishing, kayaking, sailing, canoeing and more. You can even enjoy concerts on the river.
For low-key family fun on the beach head to South Padre Island—a 34-mile-long barrier reef. It’s located on the tip of Texas bordering the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay. Padre Island appeals to so many different travelers. You can stay in a beachside campground or a five-star high-rise hotel. Eat fresh seafood at upscale waterfront restaurants or at small stands along the beach. Some places will even cook your catch! Spend the days lazing on the powder-soft beaches making sand castles with your family, or partake in the dozens of water sports including jet-skiing, deep-sea fishing, windsurfing and parasailing. Ecotourism is vibrant with dolphin boat cruises, birding and sea turtles. You can come for a quick getaway or stay for a week—there’s plenty to see and do at this year-round destination.
At Mustang Island, discover five miles of open sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico perfect for exploring waterfowl and shorebirds as well as an estimated 600 species of saltwater fish found along the coast. This coastal barrier island has beautiful sand dunes reaching up to 35 feet in height. Hiking and mountain-biking are two favorite activities here, but you can also find surfing, kayaking and fishing.
From outdoor adventure to peaceful days on the beach, families will have a great time exploring the coastlines and waterways of Texas.
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