Texas Hill Country Adventures: A Kid-Friendly Travel Guide

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Advisor - Alexandra Duhl
Curated By

Alexandra Duhl

  • Texas

  • Active Travel

  • Adventure Travel

  • Family Travel

  • Food & Wine

  • Sightseeing

  • Outdoors

  • Kid-friendly

A woman in white dress in a park with trees and outdoor blue chairs.
Curator’s statement

Welcome to the Texas Hill Country, where the landscape is as vibrant as your family's imagination! Get ready for an unforgettable kid-friendly adventure filled with scenic wonders, outdoor escapades and a splash of Texas charm. From riverfront fun to wildlife encounters, this trip is tailor-made for the whole family. Join us as we explore this enchanting region that promises laughter, learning and cherished memories. Let's dive into the heart of Texas together!

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Where to stay in Texas

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Things to do in Texas

A man and woman standing in front of a vineyard.

The Blue Hole

This is in the heart of Wimberley and is so fun for the family. Kids (and adults feeling like kids) can jump into the clear water using a rope swing. There are picnic areas to enjoy the whole day here enjoying the shaded area in the hot Texas weather. Reservations required.

Canyon Lake

Rent a boat for a few hours to enjoy this beautiful lake. The lake is a great place to swim, enjoy the scenic views and take in the sun. Pro Tip: Rent a boat with a slide; the kids will not be disappointed!

Wimberley Boot Hunt

Kids love a good scavenger hunt, and if you stop by the main visitor's center, you can get a map of all these fun, painted cowboy boots all around the region!

Pedernales State Park

This is a beautiful area to go for a family-friendly hike. There are trails ranging from .5 to 11 + miles. Entry tickets are required.

Hamilton Pool Reserve

Another great swimming hole is the Hamilton Pool Reserve. This spot takes a short hike in to admire all the beauty. Be sure to check the website for swimming restrictions. Reservations are required.

Brewery Tour

This one is geared towards the adults, BUT there are so many fun outdoor playscapes at almost every brewery in the area. Our favorite ones were: The Shady Llama, Lone Man Mountain Brewing, Twisted X, 12 Fox Beer Co., Jester King Brewery and Ghost Note Brewing. Many of the area breweries also have animals for the kids to check out!

Wine Tour

If you're in the area and want to check out the wineries (without the kids) we highly recommend Heart of Texas Wine Tours. They will fully customize your day out enjoying the beautiful wine country.

Almost Grown Play Cafe

If you're having a bad-weather day or just need a place to get the kids' energy out while you enjoy a coffee and breakfast sandwich, this place is great for younger children!

Jacob's Well

This is another place for a beautiful swim. Be sure to also check the water conditions on line and reserve your ticket ahead of time!

Places to eat & drink in Texas

A man and kid in front of  a white and blue truck and a place saying Desert Door.

Desert Door - Looking to try out a new distilled spirit that is local to just Texas? Desert Door Texas Sotol is an incredible distillery with extremely yummy craft cocktails. There is also a food truck on-site, a really cool gift shop and frequent live music.

Rolling in Tyme & Dough - We love a good bakery for breakfast when we have the kids and need something quick. This small business in Dripping Springs has some of the most incredible pastries, great coffee and a really cute outdoor patio.

Chill's on the Creek - Located right on the river in the heart of Wimberley, we ended up eating here twice, we loved it so much. Try the Boudin Balls...trust me.

The Shady Llama - Mentioned above with our favorite breweries with playgrounds. I wanted to add more about this wonderful place. They brought misters to your table in the heat, served up ice-cold brews and had two food trucks available.

Bonus with kids - Llamas and a pig to check out!

Treaty Oak Distilling - You can't go to Texas and not have the famous BBQ! This was one of our favorite spots because we could get platters of multiple types of meat and sides. Everything was delicious. Another bonus-great play area for the kids and amazing craft cocktails. This is a whole "campus" of sorts, with many different areas to check out, each with its own vibe.

The Wooden Spoon - This frozen yogurt spot is great for the kids!

Jobell Cafe & Bistro - We had a delicious meal here. Our starter was a charcuterie board and each of us enjoyed our main course!

The Salt Lick BBQ - This is another great BBQ spot in the area. It is onsite with Fall

Creek Vinyards if you want to also do some wine tastings. We loved everything we ate and found the sweet tea very refreshing. This is a kid-friendly venue with lots of space to eat outside!

Advisor - Alexandra Duhl

Travel Advisor

Alexandra Duhl

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Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my guide, 4 Epic Hikes in 4 Days: Southern Utah National Parks. This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Texas.