10 best family-friendly hotels in Texas
Interactive museums and street art. Hiking and horseback riding. Dinosaur tracks and early settlements. These Texas hotels give adults and kids easy access to all the state has to offer. And with on-site pools, tennis courts, and even TopGolf simulators, it's more than okay to just hang out on the property, too.
Overlooking the famous River Walk, the 338-room, Spanish Colonial-style Omni La Mansión del Rio (which dates to 1852 itself) boasts an enviable perch in the heart of it all. From cooking classes to scavenger hunts to a courtyard pool, there's plenty for kids to do right on-site. Alternatively, hop on a 35-minute narrated river cruise showcasing the city's architecture and blend of cultures, or tour the Alamo, a Spanish mission where a key battle of the Texan Revolution was fought. ('Remember the Alamo' would go on to be a rallying cry during the Mexican-American War.)
Good to Know: A children's museum with maker space, a bubble lab, and an outdoor play area, San Antonio's DoSeum is consistently ranked among the top attractions for kids.
An opulent 1925 estate with stained glass windows and a stone fireplace, The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is the ideal base from which to explore these sister cities' top museums. Among them are the Perot Museum of Nature and Science; The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (best for older children and teens as it chronicles the assassination and contributions of President John F. Kennedy); and multiple museums dedicated to aviation. After a day out and about, return to the hotel's impeccable service and comforts, which means families are well taken care of—think cribs, baby monitors, bottle warmers, pint-sized robes, slippers, toys, and sweet treats.
Good to Know: Dallas's Klyde Warren Park, a 5.2-acre green space with a playground, interactive fountains, and food trucks selling everything from donuts to pizza, is a great spot for families.
In western Texas, named for the Rio Grande's dramatic curve in flow, Big Bend National Park is synonymous with starry skies, limestone canyons, and desert wildlife. Families will love the easy hikes, ranger-led programs, and fossil discovery area. As for where to stay, consider the Old West-themed Lajitas Golf Resort, nestled among the mountains. The sprawling property offers a variety of room configurations, including two-bedroom suites in the remodeled La Cuesta building (next to the pool!) as well as standalone haciendas and cottages.
Good to Know: The property maintains its own stables and equestrian center, so be sure to book a family horseback riding experience.
(Related: 10 best things to do in Texas.)
If you have plans to visit Galveston, then consider staying at Moody Gardens. A veritable playground for young and old, the complex features an aquarium, rainforest, and discovery museum (each housed within its own striking pyramid-shaped building), as well as a golf course and 428-room hotel. Beat the heat during the summer months, when Moody Gardens operates a manmade beach-cum-water park with a wave pool, lazy river, tower slides, and a splashpad. Remarkably, Moody Gardens is a non-profit as part of the education-focused Moody Foundation.
Good to Know: Galveston Island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, though free ferry transport is also an option.
In Texas Hill Country, off Fredericksburg's Main Street, the new 105-room Albert Hotel feels inviting and cozy, seamlessly combining historic buildings with new construction just behind them. Families will appreciate the bunk bed-configured rooms, sunken limestone pool, and on-site artisanal market and deli, not to mention proximity to attractions such as the Pioneer Museum, where costumed docents take visitors back in time to the town's early days as a German settlement.
Good to Know: Several nearby nature spaces, including Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, are great for short walks, getting out, and picnicking.
Upon arriving at this 490-room ranch-style resort on the outskirts of Austin, visitors will quickly realize why guests rarely leave the property. The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa has an on-site water park; a corral with longhorns, horses, and pigs; biking trails; and archery and tennis to keep kids active and parents happy. Opt for one of the 450-square-foot double queen rooms with patio access or an 860-square-foot family suite with a dining area and sleeper sofa.
Good to know: For those ready to step off-property, the McKinney Roughs Nature Park, with ziplining and UTV rides, is just minutes away.
A boutique property in sleepy Glen Rose, an hour from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, La Palmilla features bright, whitewashed rooms with terracotta tiles and colorful textiles. For families, the property's two and three-bedroom casitas are a great fit with living and dining areas as well as full kitchens. Nearby, Dinosaur Valley State Park is the town's star attraction, with preserved dinosaur footprints (from the Cretaceous Age some 13 million years ago when central Texas was covered by a shallow sea) visible in the riverbed. Canoeing and fishing in the river are also permitted.
Good to Know: Keep the prehistoric theme going at Dinosaur World, an outdoor park with some 150 life-size dinosaur replicas spread across 20 acres.
(Related: Visiting Texas? Here's what the locals love.)
Movie stars to former Presidents have stayed at the Hotel Paso Del Norte, originally opened in 1912. Stand in awe within the historic lobby topped with a blue-green stained-glass dome and walls made from gypsum from nearby White Sands. Request a room facing the Franklin Mountains. From hiking to the farmers market, El Paso has lots to offer, though families will want to hit nearby White Sand National Park, where kids can sled down powdery, soft dunes.
Good to Know: El Paso boasts a vibrant art scene with several museums as well as dozens of murals celebrating Chicano heritage. Consider a walking tour through the Lincoln Park and El Segundo Barrio districts to catch some of the colorful street art.
Spot quail, roadrunners, rabbits, and even coyotes from one of Doves Rest Cabins' 20 accommodations, all just three miles from the Palo Duro Canyon entrance. The cliffside SkyHouse cabin is notable for its spectacular views of the canyon floor, especially at sunrise and sunset, but also for its vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, and terrace patio, not to mention its full kitchen and grill.
Good to Know: The second-largest canyon system in the U.S., Palo Duro measures approximately 120 miles long and 20 miles wide. From hiking to horseback riding to birdwatching, there's plenty for families to do.
A favorite among families for its attention to detail and service, the 404-room Four Seasons Hotel Houston, housed within a sleek downtown high-rise, recently unveiled a multi-million-dollar renovation, outfitting rooms and public spaces with custom-made furniture by Houston-based designer Eric Brand, as well as plenty of leather and brass accents.
Along with the pool and children's amenities, the property's two Topgolf game simulator areas on the first floor are very popular with junior golfers.
Good to Know: Bookmark a day to spend at NASA's Johnson Space Center, just beyond the city limits, to tour the mission control (used during the Apollo missions) and an astronaut training facility.
(Related: Visiting Texas? Here are 10 things to do when visiting the Lone Star State.)
Tanvi Chheda is a Mumbai-born, LA-based freelance writer who covers family travel. She loves seeing new places through her children's eyes. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, AFAR, OLTRE Magazine, Qantas Magazine, and Pasadena Magazine, among others.
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