Family guide to Bastrop State Park — Lost Pines hiking, family camping, swimming at Bastrop Lake, recovery from the 2011 wildfire, and honest logistics.
Hill Country
Pedernales Falls State Park with Kids — Swimming Holes, Hiking & What to Know
Swimming holes, hiking trails, and the real logistics for a family day at Pedernales Falls — reservation tips, flash flood rules, and best spots for young kids.
Blanco State Park with Kids — The Easiest Hill Country River Day Trip
Blanco State Park is right in the middle of town, costs almost nothing, and has some of the best toddler-friendly river access in the Hill Country. Here’s the full breakdown.
Canyon Lake with Kids — Boating, Swimming & the Canyon Lake Gorge
Canyon Lake has some of the clearest water in Central Texas and a gorge that looks like it’s from another state. Here’s what families with young kids should know before making the drive.
Garner State Park with Kids — Texas’s Favorite Family Camping Destination
Why Garner State Park books out months in advance — what makes it worth the planning, what the camping situation is actually like with young kids, and when to go.
Marble Falls with Kids — Lake, Bluebonnets & What Families Actually Do Here
Marble Falls is more than a pretty lake town — here’s the family breakdown: Lakeside Park, bluebonnet drives in spring, Johnson Park swimming, and the best kid-friendly stops.
Bandera Texas with Kids — Cowboy Capital, Dude Ranches & Real Hill Country
Bandera is the real deal for a Texas family trip — dude ranch day rides, the Frontier Times Museum, Hill Country State Natural Area trails, and the Medina River.
Wimberley Texas with Kids — Blue Hole, Jacob’s Well & the Small Town Family Guide
What to actually do in Wimberley with kids — Blue Hole Regional Park, Jacob’s Well (and its age limits), the Cypress Creek swim spots, and where to eat.
Hamilton Pool Preserve with Kids — Timed Entry, the Waterfall & What Parents Need to Know
Hamilton Pool requires timed entry reservations — here’s how to actually get one, plus what to expect at the swimming hole with young kids and when to skip it.
Kerrville Texas with Kids — Schreiner Park, River Access & Louise Hays Park
Kerrville is one of the most underrated Hill Country family stops — Kerrville-Schreiner Park camping, Louise Hays Park river beach, and the Guadalupe River access that doesn’t require planning months ahead.