Spring Break with 5 Kids and 2 Adults

You don't say the age of the kids, but there are lots of good places to go in Texas. Of course, San Antonio is one of the preferred vacation spots with Sea World and the Riverwalk, it makes a great family vacation. The Big Bend area is also wonderful if you want more of a nature experience. But if you don't want to drive too far and keep the cost down, I highly recommend the Glen Rose area. It is only one and a half hours or so from Dallas and has lots to offer. If you want something rustic, then Tres Rios is a great place for camping or renting a cabin. We have not been in several years, so I am not as up to date on the hotels. Years ago we stayed at the Best Western and it was wonderful. Lots of families and the owners were really trying to make it fun. They had free popcorn and other snacks every afternoon and even a cook out one evening.

Things to do in that area - Fossil Rim Animal Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park (also nice for camping) and Dinosaur World are the three main attractions.

If you go, look for Big Rocks park. It is a city park off the main drag that is just a bunch of huge rocks to climb on and a small beach area by a river (more of a creek at this location, not deep but perfect for wading). This was my kids favorite thing when they were young. Could spend all day there. Also, outside of town is a small little fossil store (if it is still there). I think it was called the Rock Shop or something like that. The man that ran it was very knowledgeable about fossils and told us where to go and how to hunt for fossils. There are lots of Bar-B-Q places in town, but ask about the place outside of town that is only open on the weekends. It is a lot of fun to take a family. It is on a family ranch in the middle of nowhere. While you wait for a table, families are playing football or frisbee on the large lawn.

You are also close to Granbury and there are several attractions there. We liked to take the kids to the Brazos Drive-In, a real old fashion drive-in theater. Both cities have neat little historic downtown areas to wander around. The Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant is nearby and has an interesting and educational information center.

Like I said, it has been several years since we have been, but we used to go almost once a year when our kids were under 12. Google Glen Rose and Granbury to see what all there is to do. Trip Advisor is also good for giving you info about vacation spots. If you go, be sure to ask the locals for tips, because most of them were very helpful and that is how we learned about the off the main drag type of things that ended up being our favorite!

The Beaver's Bend State Park area in OK is beautiful and only 3 hours or so from DFW area. We are renting a cabin up in the mountains and the cost is very reasonable. They are in the heart of Beaver's Bend and next to Broken Bow Lake. Each cabin comes with a jacuzzi tub and our cabin is near the top of the moutain near a river. We plan on hiking, renting 4 wheelers or a boat. In the town of Broken Bow (12 miles from cabin) they have mini train rides through the woods for the kids, horseback riding and minature golf. Most of the cabins have full kitchens so we plan on taking our own food to save on costs. Just looking forward to being in nature!
www.hiddenhillscabinsok.com

Take a trip to south west Texas to the McDonald Observatory. It is amazing.
http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/

On your way you can stop at the Sand Dunes, they are huge!!
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/monaha...

Then you can stay at Balmorhea State Park, they have little motel. Some have kitchenettes in them.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/balmor...

We usually left on a Friday night, drove to Abiline (3 hrs), slept over night, then continued to Monahans on Saturday which is about another 3 hrs. Spent most of the day at the Sand Dunes and then drove to Balmorhea which is about 1-1/4 hours. We left on Friday arrived Saturday late afternoon in Balmorhea. Lots to do in that area. Sunday you can drive an hour to the McDonald Observatory... great view on the mountains along the way, Fort Davis, etc.

Balmorhea State Park is REALLY fun in the Summer. Check out the natural swimming pond.

Have fun with whatever you do!

Austin. We spent our spring break there one year. You can hit a different part of Austin every day and not be bored.

Don't get me started on where to eat. Its the BBQ capital of the world, and then some if you don't care for BBQ. Austin is know for its airstream dining, where you can drive up to an airstream parked along the road and it is the best food, like Gourdoughs village andBananarchy (frozen bananas). Any place off Lamar will serve you well. If you want to splurge on brunch, Moonshine (downtown) and Jack Allen's (off 290) are the best w/upscale variety bfast/lunch items, hot and cold, pastries, everything, although they the most expensive but its goooooood eating.

Downtown - children's museum, tour the capital, surfboard sailing on the river, Duck Tour (the bus rides on land and in the water and you get your own quack whistle for the tour!)

Zilker Park FREE - playland, swimming, stream train ($)

Wild Basin - FREE - hiking along Lake Travis near the dam, or hiking galore off highway 360. Austin has a ton of hiking trails though but I promise you won't go wrong anywhere near Wild Basin. There is also hiking near Georgetown so I hear - I've never been but my husband and son has, and a ziplining in the hill country.

Austin Rodeo $$ - should be going on during spring break for a few weeks, its as nice as the big one in Houston but not as crowded and crazy, and very very country/western and extremely kid of all ages friendly. Make sure to check out the gun show - its adorable AND teaches kids about gun safety.

Natural Bridge Caverns $$$ - about 45 mins from Austin, caves, hiking.
Wildlife Zoo - drive in your car zoo to look at a bunch of exotic animals..if you like animals. Its right next to NBC and pricey.

I'm sure there is more...if i think of anything I'll add on. Hope you go!

Galveston? Sea World? The Riverwalk?

I know you are talking Texas, but have you thought about Hot Springs, Arkansas? It's a National Park and I think it's about 5 hours from here.

We like going to Carlsbad Caverns and Waco Tanks near El Paso. There is camping and hiking. My favorite is watching the bats fly out at sundown.