Things to do / Travel Guide
Each of the cities in southeast Texas has a major park near the city center. The parks themselves make good destinations to visit, and they offer activities for everyone. They also double as good places near major tourist sites where kids can go and blow off steam. Not every kid will have the patience for gardens and historical sites, so as a reward, you can prepare them for these places:
Austin
At 351 acres, Zilker Metropolitan Park in Austin has plenty to offer kids. Families can ride the Zilker Zephyr miniature train, swim in the spring-fed Barton Springs Pool, which is always 68 degrees (no matter what season), or swing on the gigantic playscape designed for all ages.
Corpus Christi
Situated right on the Corpus Christi Bay near downtown, Cole Park has a fun hilly landscape full of large play areas to climb and explore, complete with mazes and slides. There's a large pier full of fishermen, and the bay is full of windsurfers, too.
Houston
The largest urban park in Texas at 1,466 acres, Memorial Park in Houston is a nice green oasis in the middle of the city. This place is better known for its trails, sports facilities, and municipal golf course, but Memorial Park also has many picnic areas where kids can swing, slide, and run around.
In the center of Houston is beautiful Herman Park. The park itself is full of colorful vendors, a classic carousel, and a train ride that travels through the park and to the nearby Herman Park Zoo.
San Antonio
Located just two miles from downtown, San Antonio's Brackenridge Park is the home of the San Antonio Zoo, the Japanese Tea Gardens, and a municipal golf course. Of course there's also all the other expected amenities of a park this size: trails, picnic area, and playgrounds. If the trip downtown to the Alamo and the Riverwalk is making kids a bit keyed up, this also is a good place to let them loose to run off their energy.
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