A gorgeous spring-fed swimming hole on Cypress Creek shaded by towering bald cypress trees with a rope swing that kids will remember forever. The water stays cool and clear all summer and the grassy banks are perfect for spreading a blanket and watching the kids play. Daily capacity is limited by reservation to keep it from getting overcrowded which means it never feels hectic.
A dramatic limestone gorge carved by a massive flood in 2002 that exposed layers of rock millions of years old along with real dinosaur footprints and fossils. Access is by guided tour only through the Gorge Preservation Society and kids who are into geology or dinosaurs will be absolutely riveted. The guides are knowledgeable and make the science accessible for school-age children. Tours require advance registration and fill up fast.
A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall spilling into a jade-green natural pool surrounded by massive limestone overhangs draped in ferns and moss. It is one of the most stunning natural swimming holes in Texas and kids are awestruck the moment they see it. Reservations are mandatory and sell out quickly. The quarter-mile trail from the parking area descends steeply so it is not suitable for very young children or strollers.
A world-renowned bouldering destination with thousands of rock climbing problems on massive syenite rock formations that also contain over 3,000 ancient pictographs. Access is limited to protect the rock art which means reservations are required but the experience feels exclusive and special. Guided tours of the pictograph areas teach kids about the people who lived here thousands of years ago. Even non-climbers enjoy scrambling through the natural rock basins called huecos.
A crystal-clear artesian spring that wells up from a deep underwater cave system creating one of the most pristine swimming holes in Texas. The water is a constant 68 degrees and so clear you can see straight to the bottom. Swimming requires reservations and is limited to protect the spring. Kids who are strong swimmers will never forget the experience of floating over the well opening and peering into the blue depths below.