Cross-Timbers

A classic Texas state park with a renovated swim beach and fishing pier on Lake Brownwood. The CCC-era stone cabins have been updated and offer a comfortable family overnight option. The Cross Timbers Hiking Trail connects to the nearby Cross Timbers Nature Trail with interpretive signs that teach kids about the ancient Post Oak Belt. The park store rents fishing gear which makes first-time fishing trips easy to pull off.

A 758-acre preserve protecting one of the last intact stretches of Cross Timbers forest in North Texas. The trails are short (topping out around two miles) and easy enough for toddlers, which makes this an excellent first hiking spot for very young families. Over 1,100 species of plants and animals have been documented here, and the nature center runs hands-on programs for kids throughout the year that are consistently well-organized and engaging.