There’s nothing quite like November in Texas. The hustle and bustle of summertime and the beginning of fall have passed, giving us more time to take in the changing colors, fallen leaves, and cooler breeze that have finally arrived. Plus, those delicious Thanksgiving meals are so close that we can already taste them.
Aside from exploring your local spots, it’s always nice to get on the road and explore nearby towns (or not-so-near, considering driving from border to border in Texas is roughly 870 miles), national or state parks, museums—you name it!
A list of Texas’ top destinations for families in November:
Holiday in the Gardens in Galveston, TX
Moody Gardens’ Holiday in the Gardens is a great place to visit for all the holiday fun. Starting November 20th, they’ll have the festival of lights, holiday 3D films, an arctic slide, train rides, pictures with Santa, nightly s’mores, and holiday dinners.
Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool, TX.
During November, Lost Maples is a great spot to view all of Texas’ fall foliage. The Bigtooth Maples that fill Lost Maples last only about two weeks in their autumn colors, so plan accordingly.
Garner State Park in Concan, TX.
Garner State Park is the ideal spot to witness cypress, oak, mesquite, and persimmon trees change from their vibrant green to various shades of red, orange, and yellow. This state park is great for day trips, camping, or cozying up in one of their equipped cabins.
Wurstfest in New Braunfels, TX.
New Braunfels’ Wurstfest takes place November 5th – 14th this year. This unique annual celebration is rich in German culture, but full of Texas fun. These 10 days are packed with good food; music; dancing; carnival rides; games; German, Texas and domestic beer; and special events.
Caprock Canyons State Park in Quitaque, TX
Located in Texas’ panhandle, Caprock Canyon State Park is home to many free-roaming bison.
Tyler State Park in Tyler, TX
Boat, fish, hike, have a picnic, and more in Tyler State Park, all while taking in the autumn view of the color-changing sweetgums, maples, dogwoods, and oak trees. Want to stay overnight? They have campsites, cabins, and screened shelters.
Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission, TX
Visiting the Texas Ren Fest means stepping into an enchanted world of queens and kings, knights and nobles, fairies and elves, pirates, peasants, and more. Being one of the nation’s largest renaissance festivals, it has 500 costumed actors, 25 stages, and 400 shops which include food, artisans, rides, merchants, and crafts.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, TX
For 30+ years, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center has participated in a worldwide network of wildlife conservation organizations working to restore the delicate balance between people, animals and the environment. Fossil Rim represents more than 1,100 animals, including 50-plus species of native and non-native animals living peacefully at the 1,800-acre park.
Old Town Spring’s Home for the Holidays in Spring, TX
Running from November 14th all the way up through Christmas, Old Town Spring’s Home for the Holidays is a great place to visit for that small-town winter wonderland feel. Stroll decorated streets, take a rain ride, and visit Santa Claus’s house.
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park in Pittsburg, TX
From October until mid-November, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park is full of vibrant tones of red, orange, and yellow as the sweetgum, hickory, and red maple trees change seasons.
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