We spent about four weeks total in Texas, in three different locations. We started our time in the absolute middle of nowhere. We went for the solar eclipse and because it was in the path of totality, finding a campground with vacancies was difficult.
Our journey began with a quick stop at Lake Tawakoni - a fleeting beauty in the middle of nowhere. With the weather forecast looking gloomy, we decided to pack up after a mere day and set our sights on Pocahontas, Missouri. A spontaneous overnight drive later, we arrived just in the nick of time to witness the breathtaking eclipse. It was a celestial spectacle that truly delivered on all the cosmic hype.
(Jackson enjoying the solar eclipse)
There was still a lot that we wanted to do in Texas so after the eclipse, we drove back to Texas, this time to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Aside from avoiding some tornados (shout out to my dad's consistent weather updates!) the drive was smooth and the kids slept.
We do the majority of our long trips at night. It's much smoother with traffic and the kids sleep no problem.
We had a blast in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Our first stop was the Fort Worth Stockyards. We checked out the famous Hotel Drover, the lobby and grounds were beautiful and a great stop to explore.
We ate at Cattlemen's Steakhouse, I absolutely recommend this spot for dinner. Not only were the steak and ribs phenomenal, but the kid's meals were not your average puny hotdog & fry kid menu.
After dinner we crossed the street for the championship rodeo. It felt like we entered into a new world. The bull riding, barrel racing and mutton scramble made it very clear we were far from Massachusetts! The kids loved it and it was a great learning lesson for how different each part of the country is.
The very next day we went to Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR race. This was our first time going to a NASCAR event and it probably won't be our last; the kids absolutely LOVED it! I recommend going to a race if you have the opportunity. The speedway also lets you bring in coolers of food and drinks so it makes the whole day super smooth.
To wrap up our crazy week of events, we went to the Naval Air Station to attend the Wings Over Cowtown air show. If you’ve seen the Blue Angels before, you know how incredible they are to watch.
The third destination on our tour de Texas was the Austin area. On our way down we stopped in Waco to check out Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Market. It was such a gem of a place; the cafes and shops were right out of a magazine and the grounds had a cute area for the kids to play and stretch their legs. You could certainly spend the day there and fill up on their many food trucks on site.
When we arrived in Austin, our first destination was the Texas Science & Natural History Museum situated on the University of Texas Austin Campus. This visit was primarily organized as an educational outing for the kids and is highly recommended, especially if you have dino-lovers in the fam. The museum has four floors brimming with awesome historical exhibits.
Something we promised the kids was a trip to a water park. Lennon had been asking for a while so we spent a night at Kalahari in Round Rock (Near Austin) and it did not disappoint. The water park portion has a ton to do for all ages/heights and the resort is packed with restaurant options, arcades, bowling and sweet treats. It's definitely worth a stay if water parks are your thing.
While we were in the Austin area, we checked out the Inner Space Caverns. These Caverns offer a captivating journey through a vast underground world filled with stunning limestone formations and prehistoric wonders. Discovered in 1963, this natural marvel invites visitors to explore its hidden beauty and rich geological history through guided tours and immersive experiences. We were guided on an hour long tour through the canverns and got to expereince the history of this underground space. I highly recommend!
Aside from all of the outings we went on, Texas was a really cool stop. Obviously, it's a massive state and there's so much more I'd love to go back and do (Big Bend National Park & Guadalupe Mountains National Park to name a couple), but I really enjoyed the atomosphere there. The weather is beautiful, the BBQ is decadent & there is SO much to do.
With love,
The Thompsons
Comments