Another summer rolls around in Texas… you’re in Austin… it’s hot and you’re looking for a fun place to take the kids to cool off. On top of that, it would be nice if you could also fit in some fun and relaxation. Look no further than Typhoon Texas in Pflugerville!

Typhoon Texas was formerly known as Hawaiian Falls Pflugerville. It is located about 30 minutes north of downtown Austin, near the intersection of I-45 and SH-130.

What’s At Typhoon Texas Pflugerville?

Typhoon Texas Pflugerville is a water park and adventure park. Therefore, it has…

Water Rides

Typhoon Texas Pflugerville has a total of eleven water rides…

• There are 7 exciting tube rides. Four have a height restriction of minimum 42 inches, and the other three tube rides have a restriction of 48 inches.
• The Reef Racer is a 6-lane racing slide. Racers must be at least 42 inches tall.
• There is a very nice wave pool called Breaker Beach.
• The lazy river, called Pfluger Cooler, is a great place to just cool off and relax. I did many loops on this one!
• Then there is a shallow open pool, called Splashwater Harbor, that is nice for lounging about and hanging out with the little ones.

We enjoyed every single one of those rides during the day that we spent there.

Adventure Attractions

Access to the adventure park is included in water park admission ticket, and features six great attractions:

• The Big Island Adventure Trail has 18 rope bridges and tunnels to climb over and through.
• The Ropes Challenge Course has various ropes activities on various levels, ranging in heights of 2 – 60 feet off the ground.
• The Pineapple Express Zip Tour is a 500-foot zip line that spans across the park.
• The Cliffhanger Free Fall lets you jump off a 7-story tower and free-fall to the ground. Don’t worry, there is a braking system that stops you safely before you get to the ground!
• Captain Cook’s Mast Climb is a 30-foot high rope ladder that requires a bit a of skill and determination to climb to the top.
• Mount Pfluger Rock Wall is a 36-foot rock climbing wall that will challenge most climbers.

Keep in mind that closed-toe shoes and a shirt are required to enter the adventure park. There are also height restrictions on these attractions.

Food

One thing that I really used to enjoy enjoy about the old Hawaiian Falls Pflugerville was that you were allowed to take your own cooler. This is not the case anymore, so keep that in mind.

They have two food stalls where you can buy pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, and so on.

Parking

Parking is free and gives easy access to the park.

Beating The Heat

Remember, this is Texas and it does get hot in the summer. Take flip-flops or water shoes to protect your feet from hot sidewalks. Also take hats and sun screen. Be sure to drink plenty of water while at the park.

We have been to Typhoon Texas Pflugerville and had an absolute blast for a whole day. I’m sure you will too!

Here is what others think too.

Have you been to Typhoon Texas Pflugerville before? Tell us about it in the comments…

Bandera Texas is called The Cowboy Capital of the World… and for a very good reason! It looks like a cowboy town!

Not a fake cowboy town with people wandering the streets wearing cowboy costumes…. No, Bandera Texas is the real deal!

Here you will see ranchers coming town, wearing jeans, boots and worn-out spurs. You’ll see horses tied up at a restaurant or bar, patiently waiting for their riders to finish their business inside. You’ll see store fronts that still look like a store from the old cowboy era.

Things To Do In Bandera Texas

Dude Ranches

Since we’re talking about cowboys, a dude ranch is a good place to do something fun. Here you can get a real ranch experience that includes roping, horseback riding, and interacting with other animals like goats or donkeys.

The good dude ranches also have a pool to help you stay cool in the summer.

My favorite dude ranch is the Silver Spur Guest Ranch, but there are others too, like the Dixie Dude Ranch, Rancho Cortez, the Flying L Guest Ranch, Mayan Ranch, and the Running R Guest Ranch.

Hill Country State Natural Area

The Hill Country State Natural Area is about 10 miles southwest of Bandera, basically next door to the Silver Spur Guest Ranch.

It is a very beautiful and undeveloped area of the Hill Country. There is plenty to do, including hiking one of the many trails and horseback riding.

Remember to take your own water along!

Frontier Times Museum

The Frontier Times Museum contains many artifacts reflecting Bandera’s history and cowboy heritage. It is well worth a visit!

Cowboy Bars in Bandera Texas

The last time that we were in Bandera, we spent some time at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar. This place is something special. They have live music on Wednesdays and on the weekend.

Although the bar is popular with bikers, it is not uncommon to see a couple of horses tied up in front of the bar while their owners enjoy a refreshment inside!

Another nice bar that has live music, is Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar.

The Chikin Coop is another bar / restaurant that I like. More about them below…

Tubing on the Medina River

When the Medina river is high enough, it is great fun to rent a tube and float down the river. This is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

The Bandera River Yacht Club rents tubes, kayaks, and even paddle boats.

Places To Stay in Bandera

A decent place to stay in Bandera is the River Front Motel. They have individual cabins that are nicely furnished. The River Front Motel is within walking distance of several popular bars and restaurants in Bandera, which is very convenient.

The dude ranches also offer accommodation, so check them out as well. They might cost you more, but they give a unique “cowboy ranch” experience!

If you are into camping or have a RV, try the Cowboy Capital RV park. The owner is a real friendly guy.

Places To Eat in Bandera

Our first meal in Bandera was at the Chikin Coop, a bar / restaurant on Main street. They serve burgers, sandwiches, salads, and have a full bar. They also have band and dancing at the Chikin Coop on the weekends.

If you like a really good cup of coffee, go to the Dogleg Coffeehouse, also on Main street. Not only do they make great coffee, but also have a nice variety of excellent pastries and scones.

Another great restaurant in Bandera Texas to try is O.S.T. Restaurant, also on Main street. They make some excellent chicken fried steak and chicken fried chicken, both traditional Texas meals. Their Mexican food is very good too.

If you will be spending some time in the San Antonio area, be sure to spend a day or two in Bandera as well. It will give you a genuine and unique experience of “cowboy” that you won’t find in too many places!

PS. Have you visited Bandera Texas before? Tell us about your experience in the comments below…

Imagine this… It’s December and you’re standing on the edge of a pool, ready to take the leap. But wait a second, you’re thinking, it’s December. Nobody swims in December.

At Great Wolf Lodge they do!

 No, it’s not that someone will be pushing you into ice cold water at Great Wolf Lodge. There they warm the water for you… to a nice and comfy 84 degrees (Fahrenheit, that is!).

Great Wolf Lodge is located in Grapevine, which is a few miles north of Dallas.

What’s so cool about Great Wolf Lodge?

For starters, it’s a waterpark. But not just any old waterpark… it’s a massive indoor heated waterpark with a bunch of different rides!

This means that it doesn’t matter what’s going on outside, you can swim. Ice storm, snow, rain, wind… no problem, you can have fun in the water.

Don’t think for one second that the rides are boring because it’s an indoor facility.

The water rides are awesome, and there are easy rides for the little ones and thrill rides for the teens and parents. Yes, I know sometimes moms don’t like the thrill rides, but there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy.

To add to it all, there are several great restaurants, including a breakfast restaurant, a snack shop, and bar & grill, and even a Starbucks.

They also have two spa salons! One for grown-ups and one for kids.

Great Wolf Lodge also has a fitness room for those who would like to stick to their fitness routine while having fun in the park.

Where do we stay?

Here’s another thing about Great Wolf Lodge that makes it great for out-of-town people. They have their own beautiful accommodations on site! The suites can be a little pricey, but they often have special deals available, and waterpark passes are included in the price.

Overall, I think Great Wolf Lodge is one of the best things to do in Dallas (Grapevine). Here you have an indoor waterpark that you can use all year long, several restaurants, spas, and you can stay on-site.

How much better can it get?

There are many fun things to do in San Antonio Texas… from historic attractions all the way to fun water attractions. It is one of our favorite Texas vacation destinations.

It of course helps a lot that we live only about 100 miles away… 

So far, my family and I have visited the Alamo, the Riverwalk, Fiesta Texas (Six Flags), Sea World, and Splashtown. These are our FAVORITE things to do in San Antonio Texas – we’ve gone over and over!

If you don’t know much about San Antonio or Texas history, I can tell you that “San Antone” (as some locals call it) played a prominent part in Texas history. 

Things To Do In San Antonio Texas

The Alamo

The Alamo, where a very important battle against Mexico took place, is probably one of the most-visited historical sites in the US! It is a blast! We have been there several times, and loved it every time.

Visit The Alamo with us!

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The Riverwalk

Near the Alamo is the famous and very popular Riverwalk. The first time I went there, it was a Friday evening. For the first few minutes, it felt to me like I was in Europe. That same sense of “magic” has stayed with me ever since.

Visit the San Antonio Riverwalk with us! I think you’ll enjoy it. After you see the Riverwalk, you’ll probably also want to look at our favorite San Antonio Riverwalk hotels. I love staying there!

Fiesta Texas (Six Flags)

My kids love to have “wet” fun! As a matter of fact, they love “speed” fun too. Fiesta Six Flags have both… water rides… roller coasters. The greatest Christmas gift ever to them would be if we bought a house smack in the middle of Fiesta Six Flags. Your kids might agree!

Visit Fiesta Texas (Six Flags) with us! Your kids, especially, will have a great time.

If you’d like to stay close to Six Flags, look at our favorite hotels near Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.

Sea World

A trip to Sea World is always fun too. The nice thing about Sea World is that it not only has roller coasters and water rides, but also animal shows that the kids love so much.

Visit Sea World in San Antonio with us!

Splashtown

I’m guessing that Splashtown is the least known of the San Antonio water parks. It is certainly smaller than Sea World and Six Flags. To me, that is one of its advantages. Not so many people (shorter lines)!

It is also easier to keep an eye on your own kids at Splashtown. As a parent, that was very handy when my kids were still small.

Splashtown has several different water slides, some suitable for little kids and others are great for older kids and adults. They also have a nice wave pool. We’ve always had a good time there, and I think you will too.

Kiddie Park

My kids are a little big for it now, but if you have small kids, Kiddie Park is a nice place to take your kids to. With “small kids” I mean kids under 10, or so.

They have quite a big variety of different rides for the little kiddos, and rides fairly cheap too. Kiddie Park has been open since the 1920s and many of the rides are from an era when we and our parents were kids. So it’s something special that your kids won’t see everyday.

As I said, the rides are from a bygone era, so don’t expect Disney World here, but I nevertheless think the little guys will enjoy it.

Natural Bridge Caverns

If you’re looking for something really cool with some adventure on the side, Natural Bridge Caverns is the place to go. As the name says, these are caves, which makes it a great place for boys in particular.

They have several tours and attractions. My favorite is probably the Discovery Tour, which takes you into a cave with some spectacular formations. It can be warm and humid inside, so taking some water along can be helpful. Also take some good walking shoes along.

Other tours include the Hidden Passages Tour and Lantern Tour. And then there is the Watchtower Challenge, which is a huge outdoor climbing wall with zip lines to slide down.

Another thing I like about Natural Bridge Caverns is that Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is right next door. So it’s quite easy to visit both!

San Antonio is a great Texas city to visit. With a little planning, San Antonio can provide you with a memorable vacation!

You might not think there are many fun things to do in New Braunfels Texas since it is quite small.

However, my family and I were pleasantly surprised when we first visited New Braunfels.

New Braunfels has a rich German heritage, a famous water park, and tubing the Guadalupe river is great fun!

Our favorite things to do in New Braunfels are a visit to Schlitterbahn (water park) and tubing the Guadalupe river.

Things To Do In New Braunfels Texas

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels

Schlitterbahn water park in New Braunfels is the “mother of all water parks”… and I am not the only who says that!

I know that the Travel Channel agrees with me… They rated Schlitterbahn New Braunfels as the #1 water park in the US not too long ago!

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is split into two water parks, Schlitterbahn West and Schlitterbahn East, with a free tram running between the two. In all, Schlitterbahn has 7 children’s water playgrounds, 17 water slides, 3 uphill water coasters, and for the surfer in the family, the world’s first surfing machine.

My kids LOVE water. If they have to choose among the things to do in New Braunfels Texas, a day at Schlitterbahn always wins. We go every summer!

Tubing in New Braunfels

The Guadalupe river runs from Canyon Lake and through New Braunfels. There are several locations along the way where you can do tubing, i.e. float down the river on a tube.

This is my favorite of the things to do in New Braunfels Texas!

Some people just lay back on the tube and enjoy the ride. Others try to have as much fun as possible. I’ve even seen a few try to stand up on the tubes! Most people take coolers that float along in its own tube.

I usually don’t mind doing a bit of driving to get to fun. A stretch of the river called “Horseshoe Loop” is a great place to go tubing. The river makes a big loop. This means that the point where you exit the river is only a few minutes’ walking away from where you enter the river. So you can go round ‘n round all day long!

If you’re not really in the mood to drive out of New Braunfels to go tubing, try Rockin R River Rides to tube on the section of the river that goes through New Braunfels. They also have a location out at Horseshoe Loop.

Landa Park

Landa Park is another of the fun things to do in New Braunfels Texas!

There is a lot to do there. You can rent paddle boats, play miniature golf, ride on a small train with the kids, and swim. There are also hiking trails and a playground for the kids. You can also go picnicking in Landa Park.

The Comal river is also right by Landa Park, so you can go tubing here as well.

This is really a great place to spend a day!

Snake Farm and Exotic Animal Park

About 4 miles south of New Braunfels, just off I-35, is the Snake Farm and Exotic Animal Park. It is a small, clean animal park that is a lot of fun for little kids.

It is a snake park, so you will see a lot of snakes, including some venomous ones and a big python.

The petting zoo is fun for the kids. They have some goats (and you can feed them), some pot-bellied pigs, and a mild-mannered llama.

I think the snake park is definitely worth a visit, and it’s quite affordable too.

As you can see, there are at least four major fun things to do in New Braunfels Texas. We live within about 90 minutes’ drive from New Braunfels and my family and I love going there for a weekend of fun.

Whatever you do in New Braunfels, I’m sure you’ll have a good time!

Why would there be fun things to do in Galveston Texas? Well, it’s an island in the Gulf of Mexico, and that spells FUN!

Galveston has nice beaches, a theme park, a water park, a museum, a nice shopping area, several restaurants, and plenty of hotels.

I like it that most of the fun things to do in Galveston Texas are also located close to one another.

That means you don’t have to do endless driving to get from one thing to another. 

Things To Do In Galveston

Beaches

My kids love to swim. They just don’t seem to get tired of it. So if Galveston only had beaches, I think we’ll still have a good time there.

Galveston has a few miles of public beaches along Seawall Blvd. The water is a comfortable 80°F through the whole summer. Just in case the sun gets too much, we usually get one of the umbrellas that are readily available. We also like to take a few beach toys along.

Stewart Beach

Stewart Beach is really nice. It’s a family beach that has many family activities, like sandcastle competitions, bumper boats, and a mini golf course. It also has a nice playground.

Stewart Beach is a State park. There’s an entrance fee per car, but it’s worth the money.

Poretto Beach

Poretto Beach is another favorite beach in Galveston. You have to pay a few dollars to park for the day. On the beach are chairs and umbrellas already set up that can be rented for the day. There are also floats available to rent, and plenty of food and drinks available.

A great source of information on safety at Galveston’s beaches is the Galveston Beach Patrol.

Moody Gardens

I think Moody Gardens is one of the coolest things to do in Galveston Texas. They have several attractions to visit, like a rainforest inside a huge glass pyramid, aquarium, a science exhibition (discovery pyramid), a collection of lagoons and waterfalls (Palm Beach), and an IMAX theater.

It can become quite costly to visit everything (around $40 per person), so I would suggest you pick one or two to visit. I like the rainforest and the aquarium the best.

Here’s an article about Moody Gardens that I wrote for Vacation Home Rentals – Why You Should Not Miss Moody Gardens In Galveston.

Schlitterbahn Galveston

My kids will tell you that a day at Schlitterbahn water park is one of the funnest things to do in Galveston Texas.

If you’ve ever been to the Shlitterbahn in New Braunfels, you know what Schlitterbahn is all about. If not, and my kids will confirm this, Schlitterbahn is a fantastic waterpark, with water rides for young and old. One of the water slides even goes upwards!

Part of Schlitterbahn Galveston is indoors, which is very nice when everyone gets a little sunned-out, but want to continue having fun.

The Schlitterbahn in Galveston is relatively new. It is smaller, but it is nevertheless a lot of fun. It is located next to Moody Gardens.

Galveston Shopping – The Strand

The Strand in Galveston is an interesting shopping and dining area that has a unique charm to it. There is a wide variety of stores and restaurants to choose from in The Strand. My kids love the horse and carriage rides!

There are several other attractions within walking distance of The Strand. We like to park at The Strand and then explore the area on foot.

Texas Seaport Museum

If everyone needs a break from the sun and would like a little Galveston history, a visit to the Texas Seaport Museum is a good option. It won’t break the bank either.

Among the exhibits at the Texas Seaport Museum is Elissa, a working sailing ship built in 1877.

The Seaport Museum is close to The Strand and Stewart Beach.

These are our favorite things to do in Galveston Texas and we always have a great time!

PS. Also see our pages on Galveston hotels and restaurants.

We have known about Hamilton Pool long before we ever went there. When we finally went there, I couldn’t believe that it took us so long to go. It is sheer magic!

It is quite easy to get to Hamilton Pool, and definitely worth the drive.

From Austin, go west on Hwy 71 for about 18 miles. Turn left onto Hamilton Pool Road and drive approximately 13 miles. The entrance is on your right.

This is a Travis County Park, so you’ll have to pay $10 entrance fee per vehicle.

Considering what you get, this is excellent value! 

Our Visit To Hamilton Pool

After parking, we started the short walk of about a quarter mile down a path to the pool. This in itself was fun because it is a partially covered path with trees growing over the top.

There are also several interesting rock formations along the way.

When we finally got to the pool, we couldn’t believe what was in front of us!

It was as if this magical place suddenly appeared before us in the forest!

On the left was a small beach where several people were sitting and enjoying the view. Some brought coolers along and were having mini-picnics.

It was still Spring at the time, but some people still brought swim suits along and were playing around in the water.

There is a path that goes all the way around the pool and under the massive rock formation hanging over the pool. We took a slow walk around the pool and often stopped to look at interesting formations along the way. We found many fossils embedded in the rock.

After walking all the way around the pool, we ended up back at the beach and sat down there for a few moments to absorb and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of Hamilton Pool.

There is a small stream that runs from Hamilton Pool to the nearby Pedernales river. A maintained pathway makes the half-mile walk to the Pedernales river fairly easy. We walked down to the river and enjoyed that beautiful view as well before making our way back to the car.

Tips For Visiting Hamilton Pool

• The park typically opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.
• Don’t take any pets along. They are not permitted.
• No glass containers are allowed.
• You’re not allowed to be seen drinking alcohol, so it’s best not to take any.
• Only foot traffic is allowed, so don’t take any strollers or bikes along.
• Hamilton Pool is very popular in the summer. Get there early. They only allow 75 cars in the parking lot. If the lot is full when you arrive, you’ll have to wait outside until somebody leaves.

Hamilton Pool is a magical place. If you’re visiting Austin or you’re lucky enough to live in Austin, it is one place you don’t want to miss!

We’re planning on returning there this summer… 

We moved to San Antonio (with the Army) from Illinois in 2010. We had talked about going to the coast (South Padre) for a while but never did until this past weekend.

We went to South Padre Island with our 89 pound dog and we were able to get a condo right on the beach. When we opened the living room and bedroom doors, there it was.

We only stayed for 3 nights and now I wish we would have planned a week vacation. We thought we would get bored in South Padre, but we didn’t. Not even close.

I will say this, the food was not great on the island anywhere we ate. The best food we found was at Psychadeli- however, take your patience because a sandwich will take about 45 minutes. We cooked most of our meals in the condo.

So of course the real reason we all go to the coast is the beach and we spent a good amount of time just walking the beach, building sandcastles, wading in the water, just enjoying. The beach was clean and well maintained.

We went at the end of April and there were enough people that you did not feel like you were alone, but there was not a lot of people there- it was perfect for us.

We took a pirate ship cruise in the South Padre bay which was great. We also took wave runners out to see the dolphins. We could have spent all day in the little shops. Don’t forget parasailing… I am scared of heights but it was actually amazing.

We want to go back to South Padre and spend more time on the beach and do some horseback riding and atv’ing.

Overall, it is a great place to go and relax and just get away nice and close to home. We will be back soon!

Have you ever thought of taking a kayak tour to see the Congress Ave bats? This is exactly what we did… take a kayak tour on Lady Bird Lake!

We met up with Casey, our Live Love Paddle tour guide, at Joe’s Crab Shack on Riverside Drive. After a little review on how to kayak properly, he sent us off and told us he’d meet us at the bridge.

My daughter and I (who had never kayaked before) had so much fun, and we stopped to take pictures lots of times.

Casey zipped up behind us in his kayak and as we sat and enjoyed the beautiful sunset reflecting on the Austin downtown skyline, he told us all about the bats.

Then at dusk we watched over a million bats come out from under the bridge in these tubes that were like swarms of locusts! So cool!

It was our favorite thing that we did in Austin!

A couple of nights later, we watched them from the bridge and it didn’t even compare to watching them from below in a kayak!

So I would highly recommend… If you want to see something different, take a kayak tour to see the Congress Ave bats!