Get ready for the most exciting Spring Break of the century! The year 2023 is your family’s time to shine, with more offerings than ever available for a thrilling week of fun and adventure! You (probably) stopped traveling for the past year or two, but now you’re ready to take on the road with gusto!
If you insist on staying in The Woodlands for the break (and we totally get it), here are 25 Fun Activites to add to your list! But if you’re itching to get away for a day or a week, here are a few Editor’s Picks that your family is sure to enjoy:
Water Play that can’t be beat!
Kalahari Resorts @ Round Rock + Austin, TX
Kalahari Resort is a waterpark and so much more! Located in Round Rock, TX, it’s America’s largest indoor waterpark and luxurious accommodations all under one roof! There’s plenty to do at this one location, but please note that Kalahari Resort is located only 20 miles from Austin, the Capital City of Texas. 
- Distance from The Woodlands: 2 hours & 40 minutes
- Waterpark w/rides and slides (Kalahari Resort)
- Live Music & Entertainment, Escape Rooms, Arcade, Bowling (Kalahari Resort)
- Texas State Capitol (Austin) – Take a tour
- Thinkery Museum (Austin) – Austin’s children’s museum prides itself on being a STEAM engine to power kids’ imagination, creativity, and love of learning.
- Barton Springs Pool (Austin) – Have a dip in the springs - a 100% natural swimming environment that maintains a comfortable 68 degrees F year round, with no chlorine,
- Bats-Watching (Austin) – Watch up to 100,000 bats emerge from under the Congress Ave. bridge just before sundown
- Austin Aquarium (Austin) – an interactive adventure with marine life, reptiles, birds, and mammals
Rustic family adventure in the mountainous outdoors!
Ruidoso, New Mexico
Yep, your child’s one-week Spring Break from school is plenty of time to road trip to an adjacent state! For a laid-back family escape to the mountains, Ruidoso is a best pick! Rent a cabin, hotel room, air b & b, or a bed & breakfast. There’s plenty to do and see here in the great outdoors!
- Distance from The Woodlands: 11 hours
- Pillow’s Funtrackers – Go karts, mini golf, bumper boats, games
- Fishing – Reel in some trout at one of the many lakes / creeks
- Horseback riding – sign up for a sightseeing horseback riding tour to see Ruidoso
- Paddle boats
- Stroll through Midtown – Explore boutiques, wineries, restaurants
- Watch for wildlife – elk, bears, wild horses, oh my!
- Hiking – Wear your comfy shoes! Ruidoso hiking trails are plentiful!
- Adventure Mountain Family Fun Center
- Ski Apache – scenic gondola rides, skiing not required
Camping with all the frills!
Jellystone Park – Waller, TX
Old fashioned outdoor fun is what Jellystone is all about. The Waller location is the closest, and you can choose to rent a cabin, reserve an RV site, or go tent camping, while enjoying a full day (or week) of activities such as Yogi Bear visits, fire engine rides, swimming, sports, and more.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 35 minutes
- Water sports: swimming, fishing, pedal boats, splashpad, lazy river
- Go fishing – catch and release bass, bluegill, and catfish
- Jumping pillow, mini golf, playgrounds
- Outdoor sports – basketball, volleyball, horseshoes
- Arts & Crafts – sand art, tie dye, glitter tattoos, and more
- Arcade -– from video games to air hockey
- Rent a cabin or an RV / tent site
- Daily schedule of fun events such as movies, train rides, sack races, karaoke, etc.
Below is a complete list of all Jellystone Park and Camp Fimfo Parks in Texas:
- Jellystone Park Waller
- Jellystone Park Tyler
- Jellystone Park Wichita Falls
- Jellystone Park Kerrville
- Jellystone Park Hill Country
- Camp Fimfo Waco
- Camp Fimfo Hill Country
Waterfront fun & entertainment!
Kemah Boardwalk
One of the closest spring break suggestion on our 2023 list might actually be the best surprise for first-time visitors! Once you visit the Boardwalk once, you’ll return throughout the year for fun rides (including coasters), good eats, and love music. Boardwalk Inn is the boutique hotel conveniently located on the Boardwalk.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 1 hour & 8 minutes
- Eat at one of the many restaurants
- Shop at the old fashioned shops near the boardwalk as well as the stores along the walk
- Take a river cruise – The Boardwalk Beast Speedboat Thrill Ride cruises Galveston Bay at speeds up to 40 MPH
- Play carnival style games at the midway
- Carnival-style rides – over a dozen rides including Wonder Wheel, Carousel, Train, and a coaster!
- Space Center Houston - a science museum which serves as the official visitor centerof NASA Johnson SpaceCenter in Houston
Nothing but blue skies!
South Padre Island, TX
A drive along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail south on 59 takes you to the clearer, cleaner waters of s padre island, or save an hour or so and lodge at n padre - Corpus Christi instead.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 6 hours
- Swim and picnic at the beach – explore beautiful beaches and warm Gulf waters
- Parasail – It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s YOU parasailing!
- Horseback Riding – horse stables offer riding right on the beach!
- Dolphin watching – see bottlenose and spinner dolphins in the wild
- Banana boat rides – jump on a 6-person inflatable boat
- Rent jet skis – they’re fun and easy to ride; first-timers welcome
- Sea Turtle, Inc. – learn about and meet sea turtles
Beach vibes close to the big city!
Galveston, TX
A year-round favorite for Houston-area residents, Galveston is charming and full of irresistible fun and good eats!
- Distance from The Woodlands: 1 hour & 25 minutes
- Dolphin sighting tours
- Stewart Beach – swimming / splashing / picnicking / kiting
- Galveston Children’s Museum – pint-sized fun for the tots
- Galveston Trolley Ride – take a ride! It’s only $1
- Moody Gardens (Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, 3D & 4D theaters, Paddlewheel Boat, more
- Texas Seaport Museum and Elissa – learn about Galveston history and explore a Scottish sailing vessel
- Surrey & Bicycle rentals – the whole family can pedal!
- Shops & Eats along The Historic Strand
- Pleasure Pier – Carnival-Style Rides & Midway Games
- Schlitterbahn – thrilling waterpark withs something for everyone
Did someone say “Fiesta”?
San Antonio, TX
The city is the most family-friendliest in Texas, with dozens of fun stuff to do year-round!
- Distance from The Woodlands: 3 hours
- Fiesta Texas theme park – family-friendly theme park with rides and shows for all
- San Antonio Riverwalk – people-watching
- Doseum Children’s Museum – interactive fun and hands-on learning
- The Alamo – the jewel of Texas heritage
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not & The Wax Museum
- LEGOLAND – ultimate indoor LEGO playground
- Natural Bridge Caverns – an underground geological wonder
- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – feed the animals from your vehicle in this unique safari experience
