Weekend Getaways with the Family from Houston, Texas
Victorian architecture abounds in Galveston, but the waterfront is all new.
Frontier Texas in Abilene is a fun getaway.
We could spend an entire weekend at Houston's own Art Car Museum.

Houston Metro area families can plan long weekends or short breaks in other parts of Texas, or vacation offshore on a Pacific cruise.

Whether your family is looking for a short break holiday, a cheap vacation package, a fun last minute holiday or a weekend get away from the stress of everyday life, there are lots of options within a 300-mile radius of the Houston, Texas metropolitan area.

Of course, not every weekend getaway from Houston requires a 300-mile drive, but we know many Texas families who don’t even think twice about driving 12 hours to Colorado for a few nights…

Short Breaks & Weekend Getaway Ideas from Houston

That said, here’s a roundup of some of our family’s favorite weekends for those living in or around Houston and south Texas, with reviews of local attractions, kid-friendly festivals and events that suit all ages. Let’s start with our favorite cities for an action-packed family getaway.

Family Guide to Dallas, Texas
The inside scoop on the most fun activities with kids up north in Dallas, from the outdoor Nash Sculpture Garden to the fascinating 6th Floor Museum and the wild pro-am Mesquite Rodeo.

Exploring The Wild West Fort Worth
For the cowboy in all of us: Fort Worth. Its stockyards and rodeos, hisotry and museums, combine for an unforgettable snapshot of the Old West.

Not So Naughty New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana is a great place to share with kids because together you can join a swamp tour, cemetery romp or evening of jazz, and chow down on fresh beignets and po’boys.

Your Mission Is San Antonio
If learning American history at the Alamo Mission sounds like “Mission Impossible” in your house, this fun-filled tour of one of the lone star state’s most family-friendly cities should change your tune.

Haunted Halloweens in Houston, Texas
The city’s Nightmare on the Bayou is one of the holiday’s top attractions, and it’s located right next to the oldest graveyard in town.

A sweet escape to Sugar Land
Not an amusement park as the name might imply but a small town that is great for shoppers, sports lovers and artists. 

Keep Austin weird
Austin has changed- South Congress is now known as SoCo and food trucks are lining up the streets. But the music is still as great with lots of family-freindly activities in, out and around Austin.

Road Trip Breaks in the Lone Star State

Texas Family Road Trip
The largest state in the Lower 48 is also one of America’s most colorful, making a mini Texas road trip a great weekend away if you’ve planned the right itinerary for appropriate ages.

Mosey Over To Abilene
Pick up a Roundup Pass at Frontier Texas and save on the many fun cowboy attractions in this small historic town that’s perfectly sized for families with little ones.

South Texas Family Beach Getaways & Cruises

Along the South Texas Shoreline
Make the beaches of South Padre Island your base for travels throughout the Corpus Christi region along Texas’ southern Gulf of Mexico coast.

Carnival Fun Ship Cruises
Fed up with driving, flying, planning a Texas vacation with fussy relatives? Hop on a mainstream family cruise from Galveston and everything will be taken care of, making this a great choice for multi-generational vacations.

The Gulf Coast of Galveston
There’s nothing better than a renting a big beach house near the sand and surf, especially in a cute Victorian era port like Galveston, Texas, for a calm and relaxing weekend beach getaway.

 

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.