One week in Texas
 

Hello- We're a family of four traveling to Dallas at the end of July (7/23) and would like some tips on where to go and what to see. Two things we do plan on; "Sixth Floor Museum Building" and we are taking in a Rangers bb game on 7/25. I'm considering breaking up our stay, maybe a few nights in Dallas and then onto another location, possibly Forth Worth.
I've read a few other postings about Sundance Square and the Stockyards Rodeo (kids are boys ages 6 & 12). My older son wants to do Six Flags, but I'm not reading such great things about it (and we can always to that nearer to home). Thinking about New Orleans also since I believe it's only a 4 hr drive...but thinking maybe it'll not be too kid friendly & heard humidity is unbearable mid-summer. Thanks for your advice!

New Orleans is definitely not a 4 hour drive. So X that from your itinerary. You could go to Austin. and float the guadalupe river depending on where you put in and how far of a drive you want to do.

<<Thinking about New Orleans also since I believe it's only a 4 hr drive.>>

Your belief is incorrect. New Orleans is about 5 hours from Houston and upwards of 8-8.5 from Dallas.

Be prepared. It will be really hot in July because . . . TEXAS.

In Dallas: Arts District, Perot Museum, Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas Zoo (now better than the FW Zoo), Trinity River Audubon Ctr.

In FW: Museum district, Stockyards, Sundance Sq.

In Arlington: Six Flags, Wet & Wild, the only current major league quality baseball team in Texas.

In Frisco: soccer, less expensive baseball (minor league).

OK New Orleans is out. Can you recommend where to stay. Thinking possibly Homewood Suites in Dallas, and wondering if we should
make that our base or move to another location after a few nights? I see FW is only 45 min, but thinking of staying at another property there.

Thanks for the tips above!

If you get a chance, go to New Braunfels and visit the Schlitterbahn. You can go tubing on the river too. Great summertime activities.

San Antonio is really fun too with the Riverwalk, the Alamo, Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld, etc.

Dallas is a great city, but it is a big city with a big city feel. Fort Worth is fun and the Stockyard area is a great place to visit.I have stayed at the Stockyard Hotel and the Hyatt Place – Stockyard. The Stockyard Hotel is where Bonnie and Clyde stayed. Mid-morning they do a cattle drive (very old cattle, but still fun) down the main street of the Stockyard - your boys might enjoy that.

If you aren’t set on Dallas, Austin is great.It is more laid back and has a smaller city feel to it. Austin is the Capital of Texas, home to the University of Texas, the “Live Music Capital of the World”, and the home of the largest Mexican free-tailed bat colony in North America. The bats summer under the Congress Bridge and come out at dusk. I think there are approx. 1,500,000 bats and when they come out at night it is quite a sight and quite the tourist attraction. New Braunfels, which was mentioned above, is about a 30 minute drive and San Antonio, also mentioned, is about a 1 ½ hour drive.

Texas is great – but HOT! Have fun.

We visited Texas last summer, namely Houston, Galveston, and Arlington. Our main reason for going was to see the Astros and Rangers play, but we had a lot of fun. Galveston was a really nice break and we did the Space Center, Kemah Boardwalk, and Hermann Park as well. Closer to Arlington, we did the Hurricane Harbor since it was 110 degrees. Get your tickets for the Rangers ahead of time! We rarely do, but there were only standing room only tickets left when we got to the ticket window. Even with 100 degree temps at game time (6 p.m.)!

Wow being new to this site I'm very impressed and thankful for all the nice responses and great advice! You've given us alot to think about! Thank you to all.
I'll be sure to report back upon our return!

As a follow up-I'd like to run our (tentative) itinerary by all of you. Turns out we'll have 10 days in Texas rather than 1 wk.
7/23 to 8/1/13. We're locked in to the first 5 days at our hotels, b/c I booked through Hotwire, but the rest of the trip is flexible.

[Days 1-4 Tues-Wed-Th-Fri nights staying in Irving, TX.]

Day 1-(Tues) Arrive @ Love Field @ 2pm. Get rental car-check in to hotel in Irving-(Omni)-4pm. Relax by pool-nice dinner out somewhere (suggestions?)

Day 2-(Wed) Sixth Floor Museum -Perot Museum- Texas Rangers game that eve-already have our tickets.

Day 3-(Thurs)-Six Flags

Day 4-(Fri)Dallas Zoo or more likely the Aquarium (indoors).

Day 5(Sat) Drive towards FW- Ck into new hotel (Hyatt) in Hurst, TX.Go to Stockyards, Sundance Sq., then attend Rodeo that eve.

Day 6-(Sun) Back to FW to see cattle drive in FW in the morning, then head south towards Austin. Go to waterpark in New Braunfels for the day, ck into hotel (not yet selected-suggestions?) in Austin later that eve.

Day 7-(Mon) Sight see a bit around Austin(?) then head to San Antonio for Riverwalk & The Alamo. (Hope to see Congress Bridge & bat colony in Austin that eve or the eve before)

Day 8-(Tues) Head to Houston. Check-in to hotel(suggestions?) Visit the Johnson Space Center.

Day 9- (Wed) Take tour of Astros stadium. Nice meal somewhere (?)afterwards-for our final eve in Texas.

Day 10-(Thurs)Head back North to Dallas for 2pm flight out of Love Field.

Suggestions for best routes (any reason to head to Houston before Austin?) & restaurants along the way are greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much for your help!

This is a good resto right up the road from the Omni: http://www.theranchlc.com/our_story - just take the highway to the MacArthur Blvd exit, go under the first overpass then bear right and take the first entrance to the shopping/restaurant area on the right. It's in the back right off the road.

This is a good restaurant within walking distance of your hotel: http://jinbeh.com/lascolinas.htm - exit your hotel and turn left.

The Aquarium doesn't take all day. It's walking distance from the 6th floor museum, so you could actually do both in a day and do the Perot another day. The Perot is large.

State a budget for hotels, suggestions follow. Would consider staying near Houston's expansive museum district were it me. Minute Maid Field is ok, but don't think a tour is necessary. Note that Houston is huge - more than double the physical size of NYC.

Great BigRuss. We will plan on visiting The Ranch, maybe on our 1st evening in town -Tues. Menu looks good.

We'll also plan to do the 6th floor museum & aquarium the same day. Will do Perot separately.

Been reading about Saltlick rest-maybe when we're staying near/in Austin?

As far as budget for hotels in Austin & Houston -around $150/night. Museum area in Houston is fine with us although hotels prob. a bit more pricey there. We are big bb fans-so hoping to do MM park in the morning. Suggestions for other activities in Houston (which museums?) after tour? (Tho may decide to just chill by pool-for last afternoon :)
Thank you.

If you're going to Johnson Space Center/NASA, you'll definitely want to visit the Kemah Boardwalk too. It's in that same area, and there are lots of restaurants where you can eat right along the water, lots of rides for the kids too. Glad you're going to make it to Minute Maid Park. It's a neat stadium, and has a train on top that runs when they get a home run. There's a nice hotel close by called the Inn at the Ballpark, not sure of the price. Houston also has a nice zoo and the Museum of Natural Science with a butterfly rainforest, IMAX, and all that. Museum of Fine Arts if great too, but probably not what you're looking for with young kids. There's also a Children's Museum.

Here's info. on the Kemah Boardwalk dining, etc. Sometimes they have live music too.
http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/

If you make your way to Galveston, which is not too far from Kemah and NASA, then Moody Gardens is a lot of fun. It has a rainforest pyramid, aquarium, and lots of neat things to do. Kids love it.

http://www.moodygardens.com/

Thanks Vocanogirl. We'll def have to fit the Kemah bw into our plans. I see they'll have "Tribute band Tuesday" when we're there so that fits into our visit well!
Thank you

You're welcome, sayville; the live music is great. The kids would enjoy the rides, and there's a train that runs around too. Hope you guys have a great trip.

And here's a fun place to go for ice cream/dessert if you're in the area. The frozen hot chocolate is really good.


http://www.theoriginalchocolatebar.com/

Volcano girl- How'd you know I'm an icecream nut?! Must get there too!

Inn at the Ballpark a bit too pricey, even though the Astros won't be in town (touring park anyway). Must do more research about where to stay. Thanks very much!

It will probably be close to 100 degrees, so ice cream and frozen hot choc. are definitely in order! :)

Most places near the ballpark will be pricey I think. I'd stay in the Galleria area - lots of choices, and lots of shopping and restaurants and also close to the Loop.