18 of The Best Family Resorts in Texas
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This is a list of eighteen of the best family resorts in Texas from all over the state.
Texas is filled with breathtaking scenery, remarkable historical attractions, diverse museums, pristine parks, shopping meccas, and of course mouthwatering barbecues making it one of the best places to visit in the US. As a result, there are plenty of family resorts in Texas that take your vacation experience from ordinary to extraordinary!
- JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
- San Luis Resort
- The Woodlands Resort
- Wildcatter Ranch and Resort
- Moody Gardens
- Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
- Lajitas Golf Resort
- Lakeway Resort and Spa
- Isla Grand Beach Resort
- The Resorts at Schlitterbahn
- Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort
- Horseshoe Bay Resort
- Margaritaville Lake Resort
- Hyatt Lost Pines
- La Cantera Resort and Spa
- Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort And Spa
Why Stay in One of the Family Resorts in Texas?
When it comes to taking a vacation with my family, I’ll choose a resort over a hotel any day of the week. If you are trying to decide between a family resort in Texas, an Airbnb [be sure to ask these things about an Airbnb before your stay], or a hotel, here are some benefits of staying in a resort that might help you decide:
- On-site services: A resort offers services such as child care, shops, places to eat and drink, and so much more.
- Activities on-site: Resorts offer activities that you and your family can do without leaving the facility such as swimming, fishing, or even waterparks.
- On-site entertainment: Resorts offer their own entertainment and sometimes that means live music, a magic show, or something unique to the resort.
To put it simply, family resorts in Texas offer convenience, simplify vacation planning, and offer a unique experience.
Best Family Resorts in Texas
Thanks to world-class cities, vast parklands, and numerous attractions, there’s no end to the fun things you can do in Texas! With all Texas has to offer, it’s no surprise that they have some of the top-rated resorts in the U.S. of A. Here’s our pick of the best family resorts in Texas:
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa
Located in San Antonio, TX, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa resort is elegant and luxurious. This huge 4-star resort features a magnificent River Bluff Water Experience which consists of a sprawling water park with a 1,100 foot long lazy river and 650-foot rapid river ride.
Families can also enjoy golfing lessons, table tennis, and movies. And, with 7-different restaurants, there’s a variety of menus to serve everyone’s palate.
San Luis Resort
San Luis Resort with its beachfront location makes it one of the best family resorts in Texas. The resort, located on Galveston Island, boasts over 30 acres of luxury fun for everyone in the family. Spend your family vacation in the Texas sun at their pool called The Cove. It features private cabanas with dining options and even a private plunge pool. Unwind and decompress at the Spa San Luis where they offer massages, facials, and other treatments to enhance your stay. And if that wasn’t enough, there are also plenty of things to do in Galveston with kids!
The Woodlands Resort
Located in The Woodlands, TX, the Woodlands Resort has a little bit of everything. Enjoy hiking, tennis, golfing, biking, or yoga. Although there is a plethora of activities, you’ll find the best thing about this resort is the water park! Popular for its vast waterslides, lazy river, and poolside movie, The Woodlands Resort is perfect for the kiddos.
You can stay in one of their many rooms, or enjoy a Cabana all to yourselves. With 6-dining options, you’ll find something for even the pickiest of eaters.
Wildcatter Ranch and Resort
Located in Graham, TX, Wildcatter Ranch is the perfect way for families to get that Texas-dude ranch experience. In addition to their standard hotel rooms, you can upgrade to larger suites and family units for the perfect fit.
With 25-miles of riding trails, families can enjoy plenty of picturesque views and natural beauty on horseback. Aside from horseback riding, you can try out sport clay shooting, tomahawk throwing, historical jeep tours, archery, hiking, or unwind at the infinity-edge pool & hot tub. Top it all off with a fat, juicy steak from the resort’s Steakhouse.
Moody Gardens
With over 30 years of business under its belt, Moody Gardens is the landmark resort of Galveston Island. While not officially marketed as a family resort in Texas, this hotel definitely fits the bill. Rooms are comfortably appointed with family-friendly amenities like Wi-Fi, refrigerators, etc. but the real gems are in the rest of the resort.
Guests receive complimentary access to Kids Crew, a kids-only recreation area with activities tailored to young fun. For additional admission, families can also enjoy an aquarium, a discovery pyramid, an IMAX theatre, a paddlewheel boat, and so much more. Not to mention the multiple restaurants on the property and their world-class spa!
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center is a family-friendly resort, located in Grapevine, TX, that offers seasonal activities for everyone! It’s one of the most kid-friendly resorts but is equally well-suited for those on business. Rooms and suites are spacious making them perfect for families.
Make a splash at Paradise Springs Water Park featuring a 6,000 square foot family lagoon, a giant water playhouse, a lazy river, and 4-exhilarating waterslides. In addition, you can enjoy spa treatments, live music, shopping, multiple dining options, events, shows, and live entertainment right at the resort.
Lajitas Golf Resort
If your idea of the perfect family resort in Texas includes an escape from it all, then Lajitas Golf Resort is for you! The resort is known for its solitude and ruggedness over 27,000 acres of desert landscape. It’s between Big Bend and Big Bend State Park and stays true to its Old West roots. Families can enjoy horseback riding, clay shooting, cowboy activities, ziplining, and more. They also have a pool boasting crystal clear waters, a luxury golf course, and an on-site spa.
Lakeway Resort and Spa
Nestled on the banks of Lake Travis, TX the Lakeway Resort and Spa resort is about as family-friendly as it gets! With a dedicated kids’ pool complete with an adventure slide and splash pad, kids feel right at home at Lakeway Resort and Spa. In addition to the kids’ pool, there’s an adult-only pool with a swim-up bar and a courtyard family pool for everyone.
With countless amenities, outdoor movies, seasonal evening s’mores, fun-filled activities, a rejuvenating spa, and a plethora of dining options this resort is a quintessential family vacation destination.
Isla Grand Beach Resort
South Padre Island is arguably one of the nicest beaches in the state of Texas. So it is no wonder that the city’s beachfront resort, Isla Grand Beach Resort, would be included in this list of best family resorts in Texas. Go dolphin watching, parasail over the Gulf of Mexico, go deep sea fishing, horseback ride along the beach, or build sand castles on the shore. There’s also a water park, surf lessons, scuba diving lessons, a pirate ship cruise, and a sea turtle rehabilitation center.
The Resorts at Schlitterbahn
Located in New Braunfels, TX, The Resorts at Schlitterbahn has a variety of resort options including rooms, lofts, cabins, suites, condos, and vacation homes. No matter what size family you have, there’s a place to stay for you at The Resorts at Schlitterbahn.
The biggest highlight of this resort is its TWO separate water parks complete with a lazy river, tubing river, water coasters, surfing rides, and waver rivers. There’s fun for everyone, and admission to the waterparks is included in the price of your stay.
In addition to its massive waterparks, the resort offers other amenities such as dining options, swimming pools, volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts, fishing, hiking, and BBQ pits. It’s literally your home away from home.
Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort is hands down one of our favorite places to stay in Texas. [If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our list of things to do in Frisco with kids!] It’s located in Frisco [near Dallas] but feels like its own escape. Check out the Top Golf swing suite where you can play a few rounds of golf [or play dodgeball with zombies], slide down fun pool slides at the pool, partake in the spa, or play on the new Activity Lawn with games for everyone in the family.
Horseshoe Bay Resort
Horseshoe Bay Resort is one of the family resorts in Texas that is truly deep in the heart of Texas. Located about 45 minutes from Austin, the family resort offers luxury leisure in the hill country. Many families choose Horseshoe Bay Resort for its expansive golf course but they also offer family-friendly amenities like boating, tennis, and five on-site restaurants.
Margaritaville Lake Resort
There are plenty of family-friendly activities offered at Margaritaville Lake Resort including boat rides, miniature golf, special performances, and more. They also offer several on-site dining options where you can get meals ranging from a four-course dinner to a casual meal on the go.
Their claim to fame, however, is without a doubt their fun waterpark. Cool off from the Texas sun in their lazy river or get a little thrill on one of their water slides. Both parents and kids are welcome to indulge in some relaxation at their spa or take in a round of golf on their luxury green. [You can check out even more things to do in Conroe here!]
Hyatt Lost Pines
Hyatt Lost Pines prides itself on its rustic charm while being nestled in comfort. If you’re looking for family resorts in Texas that keep that quintessential Texas feel, this is the one for you. It’s nestled in 440 acres of amenity-packed land in Cedar Creek, TX. They offer horseback riding, s’mores on a firepit, a waterpark, on-site dining and so much more.
La Cantera Resort and Spa
Looking for a hill country oasis in the middle of a bustling city? Well, La Cantera Resort and Spa is it! This resort has not just one but two top notch golf courses, five pools [including one designated for families], an awesome arcade, and one of the most luxurious spas I’ve ever experienced. There’s plenty to do at the resort but lots of restaurants and city attractions are just a short, free shuttle ride away too. If you’re feeling extra “splurgy”, check out their villas with semi-private lodging!
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort And Spa
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa is a family resort in Texas that really brings the fun! The entire resort is designed with families in mind and offers entertaining amenities like a waterpark, multiple pools, nature trails, and leisure sports like sand volleyball and tennis. This quaint resort maintains its Texas charm while still delivering Texas sized fun for families.
All-Inclusive Family Resorts in Texas
When it comes to true all-inclusive family resorts, there aren’t many in the U.S. However, if you are planning to visit Texas, there are some resorts that roll in the price of at least some of your food and activities. Here are 3 semi all-inclusive resorts in Texas:
Great Wolf Lodge
Located in Grapevine, TX, Great Wolf Lodge offers several all-inclusive options such as their over-the-top water park, MagiQuest interactive wizarding game, arcade, and seasonal programming. These are all included in your stay which makes it the perfect kid-friendly resort.
Lake Austin Spa Resort
The Lake Austin Spa Resort is the only true all-inclusive resort in Texas! With their all-inclusive packages, all meals and most of the activities are included in your stay! However, this resort is more for families with teenage kids (14 and older). There are indoor and outdoor pools, spa treatments, hikes, yoga, and a variety of scheduled activities.
Did your favorite family resort in Texas make the cut? If not, which of the family resorts in Texas is your favorite?
More Fun in Texas
Looking for more fun in Texas?! Check out some of our other Texas posts to really amp up your vacation!