Paddleboarding

Stand-up paddleboarding on Broken Bow Lake is a must-try for families with older kids. The water is so clear you can see the bottom in many spots and the calm coves are perfect for beginners learning to balance. PaddleSUP is the premier local outfitter with board rentals and lessons right on the lake. Kids pick it up fast and love the independence of cruising around on their own board. On a calm morning the lake surface looks like glass and you can paddle to a nearby island in about 15 minutes for a fun destination goal.

A no-wake reservoir on the Colorado River through downtown Austin where families can rent kayaks and paddleboards to explore miles of calm water surrounded by the city skyline and lush greenery. Kids love spotting turtles sunning on logs and the occasional great blue heron hunting along the banks. The 10-mile hike-and-bike trail around the lake is one of the best urban trails in Texas for families on foot or wheels.

Plano’s biggest park sprawls across 800 acres with wide boardwalks that are perfect for strollers and little walkers, plus wilder dirt trails through old-growth forest and blackland prairie. Kids who are ready for a bigger thrill can try the Go Ape treetop adventure course, and the park offers kayak and paddleboard rentals on the creek. Picnic pavilions with grills make it easy to turn a morning hike into an all-day family outing.

The 9.4-mile paved loop around this 1,015-acre lake is one of the most popular family biking routes in Dallas. The trail is wide and flat enough for kids on training wheels, and there are restrooms, water fountains, and picnic spots spaced around the whole loop. Families can rent kayaks and paddleboards right on the water, and the north end has a dog park for four-legged family members. On a clear day the downtown Dallas skyline makes a great backdrop for the ride.