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…

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!

Looking for a few fun things to do in Houston Texas? Many people think of Houston as a city full of oil companies… oh, and NASA, but there are lots of other fun things to do in Houston too.

It’s a great destination for family fun!

I’ve already mentioned NASA, and I’m planning to tell you more about it, but what about other things to do in Houston?

I will tell you about other great Houston attractions, like Discovery Green Park, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, and several more.

Here are our favorite… 

Things To Do In Houston

1. NASA

NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston is where astronauts are trained. The famous Mission Control, seen in several movies and from where space flights are controlled, is also located here.

That makes it a very exciting place!

Space Center Houston is the official visitors’ center. It has several fun attractions, like Space Center theater, Blast Off theater, Feel of Space, and more.

We even took a tour to Mission Control, which is open to public tours whenever there aren’t any space missions.

2. Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is another cool place that I like a lot. It is a very interesting place where one can learn a lot about the world we live in, and have fun while doing it.

My youngest son loves dinosaurs, which makes the Paleontology Hall a great place for him to hang out. My favorite is the Energy Hall and African Wildlife exhibit.

There are many other exhibits, some permanent and some on display only for for a fixed period.

HMNS has something for everybody.

3. Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum of Houston is within walking distance of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, so it’s easy to spend a whole day in this one area and visit both museums.

The Children’s Museum has some very cool, interactive exhibits for kids. Among many others, How Does It Work? is a science exhibit that shows kids how interesting things work. Moneyville teaches kids about finances and how money works.

I think the Children’s Museum is truly a great place for kids!

4. Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo is also within walking distance of the Houston Museum of Natural Science… another reason to visit this area.

With more than 4000 animals, the Houston Zoo has it all… all kinds of apes and monkeys, lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, bears, birds, snakes, and much more. They even have a white alligator!

Kids like the Children’s Zoo where they can pet animals too (the non-dangerous kind).

The Houston Zoo is one of the coolest things to do in Houston! Don’t miss it!

5. Discovery Green Park

Discovery Green Park is a huge park near downtown Houston and is a great place for families to hang out.

It has huge lawns, a children’s playground, dog runs, a jogging trail, a large lake, water features, two great restaurants, and even an outdoor ice skating rink.

There is even wireless internet available if you need it!

To me, Discovery is a nice place to hang out for a more quiet day or afternoon.

6. Splashtown Waterpark

Any decent water park will have a variety of pool, slides, and raft rides. SplashTown Water Park in Spring, just north of Houston, is no exception!

Can you imagine being launched through a dark tunnel, accelerating down steep, arcing turns that takes you into a bowl, and then end with a splash into the pool below? Well, that’s the RipQurl, and that’s only one of the many rides!

I won’t try to describe every fun activity here, but I can tell you that kids and parents alike ought to have a lot of fun at SplashTown!

With all these fun things to do in Houston, you should have a memorable time in Houston. I know we do!

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.

Dallas is a big city, and to some it may seem difficult to find fun things to do in Dallas Texas… but they’re out there!

We have been there a few times and I want to tell you about the things to do in Dallas Texas that we have discovered! These include some fun attractions, like the Dallas Zoo, Southfork, the Dallas Aquarium, and more.

If you are planning a Dallas vacation, you will also need a few places to eat at, and a place to stay in, so I will tell you about a few great restaurants to try and few hotels to consider (including downtown hotels and Bed & Breakfasts).

Before I continue, when I say “Dallas”, I do mean the Dallas area and that will include other cities too. Now on too… 

Things To Do In Dallas Texas

Dallas Aquarium

The first of our favorite things to do in Dallas Texas is a visit to the Dallas Aquarium (aka Dallas World Aquarium), which is a fascinating place.

They have a big aquarium with an underwater tunnel and several cool exhibitions, like the “Rainforest” (South American jungle), “South Africa”, and “Mundo Maya” (Mayan civilization).

My kids love the Dallas Texas Aquarium. I think yours will too.

Dallas Zoo

Another of my kids’ favorite things to do in Dallas Texas is a visit to the Dallas Zoo.

The Dallas Zoo is near downtown Dallas. It covers about 95 acres and has around 1800 animals! The Dallas Zoo also has a very nice area for little kids.

If your kids like animals, take them to the Dallas Zoo. They’ll have a good time!

Water Parks

There are at least three water parks in Dallas Texas.

Two are two Hawaiian Falls water parks, one in Garland and the other in The Colony. The third is Bahama Beach water park, south of downtown Dallas.

The Dallas Texas water parks are really great in Texas’ hot summers!

Horseback Riding

Horse back riding was one of my favorite things to do as a kid. I had a horse named Dusty and had lots of fun riding her. My kids also like horses a lot, but they don’t get to do horse back riding as often I did.

I was so happy when I discovered the Double D Ranch where we could all do horse back riding in Dallas Texas. There is much more than only horseback riding to do though.

I think it is a great place for kids to get the Texas experience!

Six Flags

Six Flags near Dallas Texas is called Six Flags Over Texas in honor of the flags of the six nations that governed Texas. It is located in Arlington, about midway between Dallas & Fort Worth.

Six Flags has a free-fall tower, a wooden roller coaster, several steel roller coasters, trains, and many other rides that my kids love.

A day at Six Flags is always a fun day in my kids’ lives! I like it too, but these days I check out roller coasters carefully before I get on them!

JFK Assassination Site

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza, Dallas Texas on November 22, 1963. The shots were supposedly fired from the 6^th floor of the Texas School Book Depository building. Today, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is located in this building.

I think a visit to the museum is worthwhile since the death of Pres. Kennedy had such a profound effect on our country.

Southfork Ranch

If you were old enough to watch the TV series “Dallas” back in the 80s, a visit to Southfork Ranch will be a treat.

Since the end of “Dallas”, Southfork Ranch, the Ewing home, has been turned into a tourist attraction. It is located in Plano, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Dallas.

We have been there several times… We once took my parents there. They were big Dallas fans and loved Southfork Ranch. We also went there a couple more times for my kids’ Taekwondo tournaments.

I must honestly say that my kids couldn’t really be bothered because they never watched the show. However, my wife and I enjoyed every visit to Southfork!

TopGolf Dallas

If you like golf or mini-golf, TopGolf Dallas is a great place to go spend a few hours!

I think of TopGolf as a golf entertainment center!

They have several different types of point-scoring golf games to play, including a huge mini-golf course. They also have a bar and a restaurant that serves great meals. You can even host parties there.

This is a place that grown-ups and kids can enjoy. If you haven’t been to TopGolf yet, give it a try. I think you’ll like it!

Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge is a fantastic waterpark in Grapevine, towards the northwest of downtown Dallas.

I won’t say too much here, but I urge you to read why Great Wolf Lodge is something you do not want to miss when vacationing in Dallas.

These are some of our favorite things to do in Dallas Texas. There are of course many more… the Dallas area is huge… and I will be adding more of the best things to do as I discover them. So return to this page often!

I hope you have a lot of fun while visiting Dallas! We do!

Without a doubt, South Padre Island Texas is one of our FAVORITE vacation destinations!

My family and I discovered this little tropical paradise a couple of summers ago. We have been hooked ever since!

Some of our favorite things to do in South Padre Island are the beaches, a visit to Schlitterbahn, and fishing.

Where Is South Padre Island?

If you’re wondering where South Padre Island is, follow the Texas coastline towards Mexico. It is a couple of miles off the coast just about on the border with Mexico. A bridge connects South Padre Island to Port Isabel on the mainland. 

Things To Do In South Padre Island

Beaches On South Padre Island

The beaches on South Padre Island are probably the main reason why we go.

A seemingly endless stretch of soft, white, powdery sand along the Gulf-side of the island…

We usually take some goodies for the beach, like a beach shovel, frisbee, and boogie boards along. This provides for hours of fun in the sun. I like building sand castles with the boys. Last summer their quest was to ride the boogie boards in shallow water standing upright!

The boys also nagged me last summer to go parasailing. As a Dad, I was a little nervous, but in the end it was a fantastic experience! They just loved it…

Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen! 

Schlitterbahn South Padre Island Texas

Although somewhat smaller than the Schlitterbahn waterpark in New Braunfels, Schlitterbahn South Padre Island makes for at least a whole day of water fun!

My kids usually race from one ride to the next. I prefer to simply lie on a tube and go round and round on the “river” that connects all the rides.

Schlitterbahn could seem a little pricey, but at least they let you take a cooler. So once you’re in, you don’t have to spend anymore money.

There is a restaurant (Shrimp Haus), and a sports bar (El Jefe’s Sports Bar) in Schlitterbahn. After every three or four laps around the river, I also enjoy stopping off at Jefe’s Backyard for a drink. It’s important to keep the hydration up…

Next time we go to South Padre Island, we’re definitely spending a day at Schlitterbahn!

Fishing South Padre Island Texas

If you’re into deep sea fishing, South Padre Island Texas has it!

The story goes that South Padre Island is closer to the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico than any other place along the Gulf coast. So you spend less time getting there, and more time fishing! Afterall, that’s why you’re there, right?

You can fish for Red Snapper, Grouper, Kingfish, Shark, and more.

Keep in mind that these fishing trips last anywhere from 3 to 12 hours, depending on what you choose. Fishing captains are typically not in the habit of turning back if one person gets sea-sick. Be sure to take motion sickness medication if you’re unsure how you’re going to handle the sea!

There are a couple of outfits that offer fishing trips in South Padre. We have used Osprey’s before and had a great time! I took my 12-yr old son on a trip recently and he caught his biggest fish ever! He was all smiles and that made me a happy dad!

Horseback Riding On The Beach

Do you think horseback riding on the beach could be fun? I certainly do. If you agree and want to do it, the Island Equestrian Center is the place to go.

You don’t have to be an experienced rider to do this. Beginners can do it too. The guides are experienced and they take good care of everybody.

The rides take you out along the beach, and you’re allowed to let your horse go a little bit into the surf, which is a lot of fun.

Horseback riding on the beach in South Padre Island Texas is fun activity that the whole family can enjoy!

Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center

A really great, value-for-money place to take the kids while on vacation in South Padre Island is the Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center.

The kids can get a hands-on experience at the touch tanks, where they can touch sea creatures. Their dolphin experience is also among the best you will experience anywhere. Captain George is an excellent, informative guide who tries to give you the best experience ever!

The Center is located in Port Isabel right by the Light House Square and Pirate’s Landing restaurant. Worth a visit!

Sandcastle Lessons

Taking a few sandcastle lessons can add an interesting twist to your vacation.

Andy Hancock has been teaching people how to build sandcastles for a number of years. He’s a nice guy who is very skilled at building sandcastles, and he enjoys teaching people his craft.

Here is more about sandcastle lessons in South Padre.

If you’ve never been to South Padre Island Texas, you have to go! It’s a blast!

South Padre used to be overrun with college students over Spring Break and the usual advice was to avoid it then. However, Andy Hancock tells me that it is not the case anymore.”The days of out-of-control kids everywhere have long gone… Spring break is now being aimed at families on the island,” he says. 

C’mon summer… c’mon South Padre!

PS. Also see our page on South Padre Island hotels.

I know that Six Flags San Antonio (a.k.a Fiesta Texas) is a blast! I know because every summer my kids nag me, “C’mon Dad, let’s go to Six Flags”… again… and again… and again.

If you don’t know what Six Flags San Antonio is, it is a really cool amusement park with many roller coasters and water rides of varying thrill-levels, a nice wave pool, and several other fun things… all-in-all, a kids’ paradise!

I don’t mind going at all. Yes, it can be somewhat costly, and it can be a tiring day, but we all have so much fun that it is certainly worth it. 

I want to tell you about things we learnt when preparing to go to Six Flags San Antonio. It doesn’t help much if you plan to go, but you don’t know how to get there, so I’ll tell you about getting there. To get in, you’re going to need tickets, and we’ve discovered that there are different ways to go about getting tickets to Six Flags.

Once we’re in the park, we usually do things in a particular way that makes sense to us, and I think it will help you too. We head towards the Water Park first, but on our way there, we often go on one of the many Rides.

Sometimes we go to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for the whole weekend. In such cases we like to stay in one of the hotels near Six Flags.

Visiting Six Flags San Antonio

Preparing to go

Since you’ll typically go to Six Flags San Antonio in the summer and this is Texas, you could expect it to be quite hot. So prepare around that.

Take plenty of sunscreen. (If you forget sunscreen, you can buy it in the park.) It’s also a good idea to take hats for everyone, especially for the smaller kids. Also take river shoes (water shoes) with you. The pathways between rides and pools can get very hot.

Six Flags doesn’t allow you to take a cooler inside, so you’ll have buy all your food and drinks inside. The food and drinks are fairly pricey.

To save a little, we make sure we eat something before arriving at the park. 

Getting There

Getting to Six Flags San Antonio is quite easy. Six Flags is located north-west of downtown San Antonio. Going north from downtown San Antonio on Hwy 87, take the Fiesta Texas exit immediately after Loop 1604. At that point the park will be on your left.

I’m sure by then the kids would’ve spotted it and announced their discovery quite excitedly!

Getting Tickets

The easiest way to get tickets is by simply buying them at the ticket booth… this is also the most expensive way, as we’ve discovered!

Since then I noticed discount coupons on Diet Coke cans. I seem to recall seeing people in line at the ticket booth with discount coupons clipped from local newspapers. Hotel lobbies often have brochures for local attractions that contains coupons. My kids like rummaging through those!

If you think you might be going to Six Flags San Antonio more than once in the season, I think a season pass is definitely worth it! A weekend pass may also be a good option if you anticipate going two days in a row over a weekend.

You can also buy tickets online at the Six Flags San Antonio website – a cool way to avoid long lines at the ticket booths!

Once You’re In The Park

Once we’re in the park, the kids are chomping at the bit, ready to go.

So our first step is to find a spot that will have shade throughout the day. This acts as our “home base”. If the kids run off to go ride something, they know where to return to. If you have smaller kids, I’d suggest you pick a spot in the water park at the Texas pool.

After that, buy a few bottles of water. Make sure the kids drink water regularly. We always have to remind our kids to drink water. We usually get a “but Mom…”, but it only takes one crying, dehydrated kid at the end of a long day to avoid that mistake forever!

Six Flags also has great lockers – at a fee of course . I don’t mind spending the $7 if it means I can also have fun without worrying about our valuables.

The Water Park

The Water Park usually opens an hour after the rest of Six Flags. Since we usually get there about 15 to 30 minutes after opening time anyway, we don’t have to wait long for the Water Park to open. Just enough time for one or two roller coaster rides!

Once we get in, we head for the Texas pool and set up our “home base”. Then the kids take off!

If you have smaller kids, they can have lots of fun in the Texas pool. There is also a “little kids” section right at the entrance to the Water Park.

Other than several great water-slides, the Water Park also has a “river” that you could just go round-‘n-round on a tube… wonderful if you’re just looking to relax and cool down!

If you go up the stairs to behind the water-slides, there is a great “water playscape” that my kids simply love!

The Rides

Six Flags has many roller coasters of varying thrill-level. I’m not going to attempt to describe all of them to you.

I can however tell you that there are rides ranging from mild ones that will delight little kids, all the way to roller coasters and other rides that will freak out the greatest thrill-seekers!

My elder son is now in the latter category… 

I have to admit that I’m a little weary when it comes to roller coasters, but recently my elder son managed to drag me onto the Superman. Whoa! What a ride that was! We got right back into the line and rode it a second time!

Hotels Near Six Flags

There are several hotels near Six Flags San Antonio Texas. Instead of squeezing it in here, I decided to tell you more about that on a separate page covering hotels. This way I can give you a fairly decent idea on what to expect at each of them. Read about the hotels near Six Flags in San Antonio.

SeaWorld San Antonio has a great variety of different activities ranging from their famous animal shows and exhibits to water rides and roller coasters.

If you’re hot, you can cool off in the wave pool or do some water rides.

If you want a little action, the rollercoasters will give it to you.

If you’re getting tired and want to sit down for a while, an animal show will keep you entertained.

All of this makes SeaWorld one of our FAVORITE San Antonio family attractions! 

Our Favorite Activities

We usually drive to SeaWorld San Antonio for a day. By the time we get there, at least one of us needs to go to the restroom. So we turn to the left immediately after going through the gates, where there are restrooms about 50 yards further.

Since we’re just about there after the restroom stop, we then continue to the left to Dolphin Cove, where there are several Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins in a pool where they van be viewed from close-up.

Behind Dolphin Cove are the Sharks. The shark tank is very cool and my kids love this exhibit.

After the sharks we head back towards the main gate and on to the rest of Sea World’s fun stuff…

Lost Lagoon

The Lost Lagoon is all about water fun. It’s a great place to hang out on a hot day.

The Wave Pool is a great place to stay cool, but there are also several other water rides to keep the kids happy.

We hang out here for about an hour before we hit the rollercoasters and shows.

Shamu Show

Along with the late Keiko (Free Willy), Shamu has to be one of the most famous Orcas in the world!

Shamu, along with a handful of other Orcas, play with their trainers in a show that delights everyone. It is very obvious that the trainers have a very close bond with the whales.

The Shamu Shows are amazing. My kids always sit in the splash zone! They love to get wet! We see Shamu every time we visit Sea World.

(Hint: Try to see the evening show if you can. It is even more stunning than the day shows.)

Great White Rollercoaster

The Great White rollercoaster is by far my favorite rollercoaster at SeaWorld San Antonio!

The seats are suspended below the rails, so your feet hang free. This thing twists and turns and make you feel like you’re a fighter pilot on a serious mission!

Unfortunately the height requirement to ride the Great White is 54″ and my youngest son can’t ride it yet. (There are usually a few tears over this…) He has one more inch to go, and he can’t wait!

Journey To Atlantis

Journey To Atlantis rollercoaster is one of SeaWorld San Antonio’s newest rollercoasters and is a lot of fun too.

You sit in a single boat-like car that makes a steep climb, rotates through 360+° in such a way that you go backwards through the next stage. Then you rotate through another 360+° to face forward for the final downhill and through water to arrive quite wet at your destination!

Luckily my youngest can ride this one. He likes the part where you go backwards because it feels like your stomach stays behind.

Sea Lion Show

The Sea Lion shows are a lot of fun and delight young and old.

The show we saw is called The Cannery Row Caper. It’s a very funny show featuring two “detective” sea lions investigating the disappearance of fish from the cannery.

My wife, in particular, enjoyed the sea lion show a lot.

Steel Eel Rollercoaster

The Steel Eel is a rollercoaster that doesn’t go upside-down and doesn’t twist, but it goes up and down at incredible speeds. It’s a high-energy ride that leaves you quite pumped by the time it finishes.

This is the fastest ride that my youngest can ride, and he loves it. I let him go one or two extra times to make up for him missing out on the Great White.

Other things we like to do in SeaWorld San Antonio are watching the Ski Show ang going through the Penguin Encounter. The Penguin Encounter is very well done. They created an Antarctic habitat behind a glass wall where the penguins live. You can see them swim underwater in their pool. These little suckers can swim!

If you have smaller kids, Shamu’s Happy Harbor is a great place for them to play!

SeaWorld San Antonio Tickets

I bought our last SeaWorld San Antonio tickets from their website. It’s a little cheaper than at the gates, and you avoid standing in line. I also upgraded our day tickets to season passes once we were there and knew we’d like to come back regularly. It only cost a few dollars extra.

SeaWorld San Antonio certainly has something for young and old. It truly makes for a great day of fun!