While the kids are still out of school, take advantage of some of these destinations and attractions where the whole family can have some summer fun.
When it is too hot to be outside, the Flix Brewhouse movie theater is a great option for indoor fun. Flix Brewhouse has locations in Round Rock and Frisco, and is coming soon to El Paso. It’s revolutionizing the moviegoing experience: you can’t beat the food, drinks and comfy seats. This next-generation theater is the first to include an in-house brewery for the adults, with seasonal drafts, and special recipes on their food menu. We love their hummus with pita and veggies. Get there about 15 minutes before the movie to peruse the menu and order before the trailers start. You can choose from appetizers, entrees and milkshakes.
We’ve never experienced anything quite like Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures in the Central Texas city of Leander. It includes an inflatable obstacle course on the water – we were blown away! This is a perfect activity to get the kids outdoors and off their devices. And for the adult in charge, it’s a great and superfun workout.
Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures gives guests daylong access to beach games, swimming and exploring the additional attractions in the Aqua Park. Adults can relax in the shade on a hammock or lounge chair, and enjoy one of the most spectacular views of Lake Travis. Adventure Island offers food and beverages, including wine, beer and frozen drinks.
Another great option when it’s hot outside is Typhoon Texas, just outside of Austin. This water park is just the right size for a day of fun. It’s small enough that older kids can head off by themselves, but big enough that they won’t get bored. One of our favorite things to do is relax on the lazy river while the kids run themselves ragged. We like to get a table with shade (or rent a cabana), and have a home base for the kiddos and then let everyone go where they please.
For an up-close and personal experience with some of the world’s most majestic animals, check out Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, located in New Braunfels outside of San Antonio. With over 450 acres of natural, scenic and protected environment, the ranch showcases amazing creatures from all over the world. The safari trek covers miles of the scenic Texas Hill Country, and it takes visitors about an hour and a half to drive through. The ranch also features a walk-through area that includes an up-close look at the giraffe environment. The park is also home to southern white rhinos, lemurs, zebras and ostriches.
Texas Live! will kick off its first summer in Arlington with fun for the whole family. Located between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas Live! combines restaurants, entertainment and accommodations into one destination. Don’t miss the chance to see some of the hottest acts with the Throwback Concert Series, featuring Chris Kirkpatrick of ‘N Sync, Aaron Watson and the Eli Young Band. Visitors can also choose to chill indoors at the movies. Get out the calendar and start making plans for all the events on the list, all season long.
If you’re looking for a place to cool off from the sun in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, then look no further than Jellystone Park’s Pirates’ Cove water play park. The park features a number of waterslides and aquatic attractions. Construction is also underway on a unique type of rental unit that families won’t find anywhere else: a fully furnished pirate ship! The ship will be 260 feet long, and it will look like something out of a storybook. It’ll even be outfitted with two cannons with red lights, to simulate the firing of cannonballs.
This post has been updated.
