spring break ideas for a family with young kids?

[BigL]

Trying to figure out something to do for spring break. My son is 5 and is in kindergarden so it's his first time going on spring break. We also will have an 18 month old in tow. Any suggestions?

Here's what we are thinking about. Not necessarily in order, but the top 2 are the leading ones with #1 really out in front of the others. #2 is interesting since my sister lives in Palestine and we could stay for free with her.

1. Dinosaur Valley State Park + Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (Glen Rose)
2. The Waterpark @ the villages (Flint) + Texas state railroad (Palestine/Rusk) + Cherokee Trace Safari (Jacksonville), Caldwell Zoo (Tyler)
3. Great Wolf lodge + Grapevine Vintage Railroad + BPS (probably will save this for summer when the aquarium and legoland open)
4. Fort Worth Stockyards, FW Zoo, FW Nature and Science Center (and other FW attractions)
5. Dallas zoo, aquarium, & railway museum (and other Dallas attractions)
6. Houston zoo, battleship Texas, and other Houston attractions (have already done NASA and a few others)

We may just stay home as well and if so Nick and I will go camping at Tejas Park (3 miles from the house) and white bass fishing. Not sure what Nicole and Lucy will be doing that's what this isn't a good option for the family. That's the same week as the Austin Rodeo is so we may go out there one day to look at the animals, etc.

[bowmech]

If you do the Houston Zoo, you have to go and visit the Childrens museum, the kids will love it.

[akey]

Living in Tyler, I will comment on option #2.

1. Waterpark at the Villages: Great little place but it IS little. We live 4 miles from it and my parents have a time share there. My 8 year old son has been to larger waterparks but still has a good time going there. It is not Great Wolf Lodge though. Also, being the main attraction at a time share resort means it will be swamped during Spring Break.

2. Texas State RR: Kids love trains, but this can be a long train ride.

3. Cherokee Trace: No opinion as I have never been.

4. Caldwell Zoo: Great zoo for the size of town it is in. The reptile house and Africa area are pretty sweet.

One other place in the area to think about is Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge. I personally haven't been but I know it is a big draw for school field trips, etc.

http://www.tigercreek.org/visit_tc.html

[jooger17]

Houston also has that HUGE walk through aquarium with an amusment park outback. Its really cool even for the grown folks. I took my girlfriend there a couple years ago.

[youngbuc]

[QUOTE=BigL;3323274]

1. Dinosaur Valley State Park + Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (Glen Rose)



We did this last spring break on the spur of the moment since we were down that way, The kids loved it, (girl-4, boy 3), There was a little to much walking for them both, wife and I wound up carrying them the last 1/4 mile or so. That being said, they loved it, especially digging in the sand for their fossils and playing in the playground.

[Hot4huntin]

1. Dinosaur Valley State Park + Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (Glen Rose)

We did this trip awhile back when the kids were small. I think Hunter was about 2. This was one of our favorite trips. The kids loved it! In fact, this weekend Hunter and I went to Dickinson Bayou Wildlife Park and she was recalling our visit to Fossil Rim when the Red Stag slobbered on her. Eight years later and she still remembers it.

If you do the Houston trip, you have to make time to go to Dickinson Bayou Wildlife Park. It is about 30 miles south of Houston. You ride a tram through the park and feed the animals. They have quite a few species and it is pretty hands on as you are riding the tram.

[Brute Killer]

Great Wolf lodge + BPS. Last year we went here.
Also went to the new Bass museum across from the FW stock show grounds.
I don't recommend it. What a snooze. The oilfield thing was interesting to me and the kids liked the dinosaur thing, but the rest was dullsville.

[Brute Killer]

We have been to the FW zoo in the cold season, and th big lion was out and really roaring. You don't see that on summer trips.
There was no crowd, either.

[BigL]

Thanks everyone. We have narrowed it down to #1 or staying home and fishing the San Gabriel/Lake Georgetown. Right now staying home fishing is leading. I'll probably take my son (5), and his two nephews camping & fishing (14, 5) either at Tejas Park or Lake Georgetown. The two nephews are complete city boys with a dad who would be as scared of the dark as the youngest one is. I'm trying to get them into the outdoors and away from the video games when I can!