Get ready for the most exciting Spring Break of the century! The year 2025 is your family’s time to shine, with more offerings than ever available for a thrilling week of fun and adventure!
If you insist on staying in The Woodlands for the break (and we totally get it), here are 25 Delightful Ideas to add to your list! But if you’re itching to get away for a day or a week, here are a few Editor’s Picks that your family is sure to enjoy:
Water Play that can’t be beat!
Kalahari Resorts @ Round Rock + Austin, TX
Kalahari Resort is a waterpark and so much more! Located in Round Rock, TX, it’s America’s largest indoor waterpark and luxurious accommodations all under one roof! There’s plenty to do at this one location, but please note that Kalahari Resort is located only 20 miles from Austin, the Capital City of Texas. Visit website.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 2 hours & 40 minutes
- Waterpark w/rides and slides (Kalahari Resort)
- Live Music & Entertainment, Escape Rooms, Arcade, Bowling (Kalahari Resort)
- Texas State Capitol (Austin) – Take a tour
- Thinkery Museum (Austin) – Austin’s children’s museum prides itself on being a STEAM engine to power kids’ imagination, creativity, and love of learning.
- Barton Springs Pool (Austin) – Have a dip in the springs - a 100% natural swimming environment that maintains a comfortable 68 degrees F year round, with no chlorine,
- Bats-Watching (Austin) – Watch up to 100,000 bats emerge from under the Congress Ave. bridge just before sundown
- Austin Aquarium (Austin) – an interactive adventure with marine life, reptiles, birds, and mammals
Rustic family adventure in the mountainous outdoors!
Ruidoso, New Mexico
Yep, your child’s one-week Spring Break from school is plenty of time to road trip to an adjacent state! For a laid-back family escape to the mountains, Ruidoso is a best pick. Rent a cabin, hotel room, air b & b, or a bed & breakfast. There’s plenty to do and see here in the great outdoors.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 11 hours
- Pillow’s Funtrackers – Go karts, mini golf, bumper boats, games
- Fishing – Reel in some trout at one of the many lakes / creeks
- Horseback riding – sign up for a sightseeing horseback riding tour to see Ruidoso
- Paddle boats
- Stroll through Midtown – Explore boutiques, wineries, restaurants
- Watch for wildlife – elk, bears, wild horses, oh my!
- Hiking – Wear your comfy shoes! Ruidoso hiking trails are plentiful!
- Adventure Mountain Family Fun Center
- Ski Apache – scenic gondola rides, skiing not required
Camping with all the frills
Jellystone Park – Waller, TX
Old fashioned outdoor fun is what Jellystone Park is all about. The Waller location is the closest, and you can choose to rent a cabin, reserve an RV site, or go tent camping, while enjoying a full day (or week) of activities such as Yogi Bear visits, fire engine rides, swimming, sports, and more.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 35 minutes
- Water sports: swimming, fishing, pedal boats, splashpad, lazy river
- Go fishing – catch and release bass, bluegill, and catfish
- Jumping pillow, mini golf, playgrounds
- Outdoor sports – basketball, volleyball, horseshoes
- Arts & Crafts – sand art, tie dye, glitter tattoos, and more
- Arcade -– from video games to air hockey
- Rent a cabin or an RV / tent site
- Daily schedule of fun events such as movies, train rides, sack races, karaoke, etc.
Below is a complete list of all Jellystone Park and Camp Fimfo Parks in Texas:
- Jellystone Park Waller
- Jellystone Park Tyler
- Jellystone Park Wichita Falls
- Jellystone Park Kerrville
- Jellystone Park Hill Country
- Camp Fimfo Waco
- Camp Fimfo Hill Country
Waterfront fun & entertainment
Kemah Boardwalk 
One of the closest spring break suggestion on our 2025 list might actually be the best surprise for first-time visitors! Once you visit the Kemah Boardwalk once, you’ll return throughout the year for fun rides (including coasters), good eats, and love music. Boardwalk Inn is the boutique hotel conveniently located on the Boardwalk.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 1 hour & 8 minutes
- Eat at one of the many restaurants
- Shop at the old fashioned shops near the boardwalk as well as the stores along the walk
- Take a river cruise – The Boardwalk Beast Speedboat Thrill Ride cruises Galveston Bay at speeds up to 40 MPH
- Play carnival style games at the midway
- Carnival-style rides – over a dozen rides including Wonder Wheel, Carousel, Train, and a coaster!
- Space Center Houston - a science museum which serves as the official visitor centerof NASA Johnson SpaceCenter in Houston
Nothing but blue skies
South Padre Island, TX
A drive along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail south on 59 takes you to the clearer, cleaner waters of South Padre Island, or save an hour or so and lodge at North Padre / Corpus Christi instead.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 6 hours
- Swim and picnic at the beach – explore beautiful beaches and warm Gulf waters
- Parasail – It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s YOU parasailing!
- Horseback Riding – horse stables offer riding right on the beach!
- Dolphin watching – see bottlenose and spinner dolphins in the wild
- Banana boat rides – jump on a 6-person inflatable boat
- Rent jet skis – they’re fun and easy to ride; first-timers welcome
- Sea Turtle, Inc. – learn about and meet sea turtles
Beach vibes close to the big city
Galveston, TX
A year-round favorite for Houston-area residents, Galveston is charming and full of irresistible fun and good eats!
- Distance from The Woodlands: 1 hour & 25 minutes
- Dolphin sighting tours
- Stewart Beach – swimming / splashing / picnicking / kiting
- Galveston Children’s Museum – pint-sized fun for the tots
- Galveston Trolley Ride – take a ride! It’s only $1
- Moody Gardens (Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, 3D & 4D theaters, Paddlewheel Boat, more
- Texas Seaport Museum and Elissa – learn about Galveston history and explore a Scottish sailing vessel
- Surrey & Bicycle rentals – the whole family can pedal!
- Shops & Eats along The Historic Strand
- Pleasure Pier – Carnival-Style Rides & Midway Games
- Schlitterbahn – thrilling waterpark withs something for everyone
- La King’s Confectionery – hand-pulled taffy and delicious ice cream treats
Did someone say “Fiesta”?
San Antonio, TX
The city is the most family-friendliest in Texas, with dozens of fun stuff to do year-round! One of the area's top attractions, Fiesta Texas is a medium-sized theme park packed with exhilaration. Expect pint-sized rides for tots and preschoolers, family-style rides, and even large thrill rides and coasters. Live shows, gift shops, and restaurants will enhance your experience, making this a complete day of fun. Fiest Texas will be having its Mardi Gras festival during Spring Break. Be transported to The Big Easy with authentic live music, unique performances, and a Mardi Gras parade with over-the-top floats and beads galore!
- Distance from The Woodlands: 3 hours
- Fiesta Texas theme park – family-friendly theme park with rides and shows for all
- San Antonio Riverwalk – people-watching
- Doseum Children’s Museum – interactive fun and hands-on learning
- The Alamo – the jewel of Texas heritage
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not & The Wax Museum
- LEGOLAND – ultimate indoor LEGO playground
- Natural Bridge Caverns – an underground geological wonder
- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – feed the animals from your vehicle in this unique safari experience
Indoor waterpark amusement near Dallas
Grapevine, TX
*Great Wolf Lodge in Webster is currenty open and 2.5 hours closer to home! However, the location in Grapevine is still a worthy visit since it's nearby other fun Dallas-area attractions. For the purpose of this article, we're including them both.
With a heated indoor waterpark equipped with multiple slides and pools, a lazy river, wave pool, and more, this lodge is a paradise for families with kids of all ages! When you’re not swimming, you can enjoy daily family activities like dance parties and story times in the lobby area, several eateries, lodge-style accommodations with rooms that include bunk beds, an arcade, Starbucks, large gift shop, a sophisticated MagiQuest treasure-seeking game built throughout the lodge, and much more.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 3.5 hours
- Round 1 Bowling & Amusement – bowling, arcade games, karaoke, and more
- Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens – Breath-taking, award-winning gardens with trails and water features
- Six Flags Over Texas – large them parks with thrill rides and family rides
- Fort Worth Stockyards – rodeo shows, bull run, and more
- Gaylord Texan
- Meow Wolf
Indoor waterpark amusement closer to home
Webster, TX
A vibrant indoor resort packed with a variety of activities, including a bowling alley, ropes course, arcade, Build-a-Bear Workshop, mini golf, and much more. The highlight is the heated indoor waterpark, complete with thrilling slides, pools, a lazy river, and a wave pool. When you’re ready for a break from the water, enjoy daily family activities like dance parties and storytimes in the lobby. With a range of dining options and lodge-style accommodations featuring rooms with cozy bunk beds, it's a delightful spot for family fun and relaxation.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 1 hour
- Kemah Boardwalk - family-fun rides, games, shopping, and dining
- Space City Rock Climbing - indoor rock climbing
- Top Golf - entertainment complex with high tech golf
- Space Center Houston - immersive learning experience for science and space exploration
- FunCity Sk8 - roller rink, adult lounge & bar, arcade
It's worth a trip to "the Show Me state)
Location: Branson, Missouri
Branson's biggest attractions, Silver Dollar City is an 1880’s style theme park with over 40 rides and attractions, 100 craftsmen, live shows and concerts, 18 award-winning restaurants, live entertainment, and dozens of unique shops, all sitting atop of one of Missouri’s deepest caves.
There’s no shortage of fun in the Branson, Missouri area, and especially along the Branson Strip! It’s Vegas for families! Live shows, fun dining options, and hundreds of fun attractions.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 9.75-hour drive / 1.25-hour flight from The Woodlands
- Silver Dollar City
- Branson Coasters
- Sights & Sounds Theater
- Wonder Works
- Fritz’s Adventure
The thrill of a lifetime: Ziplining!
Leander, TX
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is an outdoor experience that offers multiple options for guests of all ages! Guests may choose from: the full course 3-hour guided adventure with 5 of the fastest and longest ziplines in Texas; the “Double Barrell Shotgun,” a 1.5-hour tour, which includes soaring over Lake Travis on the longest and fastest zipline in Texas; or experience the 3-hour guided adventure “Full Moon” night tour offered monthly in conjunction with the full moon schedule; headlamps and glow sticks provided.
In between gliding across beautiful canyons and soaring over Lake Travis, zipliners will take nature hikes through the Texas Hill Country with two professional tour guides. Each adventure includes all necessary equipment, boat transportation and bottled water throughout the tour, with additional all-day access to a private lake front property where adventurers can picnic, play games, or relax in one of the hammocks.
- Distance from The Woodlands: 3 hours
- Kraus Springs
- Watercraft rentals
- Waterloo Adventures
- Lakeside parks
- Campgrounds
- Austin, TX attractions
