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These Are The Best Texas State Parks for Kids

Find parks that bring out the child in every visitor.

Story by Texas Parks and Wildlife

May 2023

Sonja Sommerfeld

Sonja Sommerfeld

MONAHANS SANDHILLS STATE PARK

THIS TEXAS-SIZED sandbox brings out the kid in all of us. Learn about the park at the visitors center with a video game explaining the park’s aquifer and an interactive display called the “Dune-o-matic” where kids can create their own sand dunes. You can rent a disk to surf down the dunes; some tower as high as 70 feet tall. The park also features a huge forest of oak trees that most children would tower over (they’re called shin oaks).

DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK

Laurence Parent

Laurence Parent

See tracks from two kinds of dinos in the bed of the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

LONGHORN CAVERN STATE PARK

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Trek down into the cave to find the science and geology that lie beneath the ground. Kids can crawl around and get dirty at the Longhorn Cavern Wild Cave Tour.

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PEDERNALES FALLS STATE PARK

Maegan Lanham | TPWD

Maegan Lanham | TPWD

The whole family will enjoy cooling off in the turquoise pools of the Pedernales River and exploring the nooks and crannies of the falls area.

SHELDON LAKE STATE PARK

Chase Fountain | TPWD

Chase Fountain | TPWD

For kid-friendly fishing fun, head to Sheldon Lake State Park’s pond areas; for panoramic views, climb the 82-foot John Jacob Observation Tower.

As Seen in the
May 2023 Issue
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