TLDR: Watch out for poison ivy in this beautiful tropical oasis (stick to long pants). The Palmetto…read moreInterpretive Trail is short enough for young kids and within walking distance from the picnic area. Stop to pay at park headquarters ($3 p/p; kids 12 and under are free). I loved the whole tropical vibe of this park. Dwarf palmettos everywhere. We stopped here as a waypoint en route to Rockport Beach. It made a great stopping point. The Palmetto Interpretive Trail is only 0.3 miles and very easy. A short walk, really. Both my toddlers (almost 4 and almost 2) were able to walk it. It's unpaved but mostly smooth so you should be able to bring a stroller too (I'd confirm with park staff, just in case). POISON IVY: At the end of the Palmetto Interpretive Trail, there is a water tower. It's locked but my kids love approaching doors. This is where I noticed potential poison ivy growing right by the door. It did have the triple leaf look and AI confirmed that it looks like poison ivy. Leaf shape can vary quite a bit on this plant so it can get a little tricky to identify. Just be wary of any triple leafers. Keep a close eye on where you and/or your kids are stepping and skip the shorts/sandals. Park staff was friendly. You stop to pay at the park headquarters once you enter the park (and display the tag on your windshield). $3 per person; children 12 and under are free. The picnic area was nice with ample seating (both covered and uncovered). I couldn't find a restroom (doors were locked) but there were restrooms by the playground (a short drive away). The restrooms were clean. Make sure you close the door like the sign asks to keep bugs away. Ultimately, I'd love to return to this park and experience more of its lovely trails.

Great, secluded state park next to a neighborhood. I'd consider Palmetto a hidden gem in Texas. I…read moredrove here from Austin and it took me about 1.5 hours. The way I took lead me down a neighborhood street, which led me straight to the park's headquarters. They had a small and very limited selection of gifts for purchase, but the park ranger there was friendly and recommended a couple of trails and points of interest. I hiked a series of trails along the outside perimeter of the park, which combined was about 3.5 miles. Each new segment had a different ecosystem and it was interesting to see different sights and hear new sounds. The trails are mostly shaded, though I went on an overcast day. There's also a low river crossing where I saw some people fishing on. At all Texas state parks, no fishing license is needed to fish. The sound of the river was soothing and refreshing. I genuinely enjoyed my time here and would love to return here to visit again someday.

We were nearby supporting a Taiwanese restaurant so I randomly pulled up kids activities in San…read moreMarcos on Yelp. The Children's Park appeared and looked like a lot of fun. Since the kids were still wide awake and the little one hates car rides, getting their wiggles out before heading back to Austin seemed like the right strategy. We came and this park did not disappoint! It was a Saturday afternoon at 3:15pm and all the kids were out having fun. We couldn't park in the parking lot so had to do roadside parking with a short walk. I especially loved the smaller kids area for the 1.5 and 5 year old. We spent a good hour here just goofing around. We spent the next 30 minutes in the bigger area and my 5 year old had a blast, 1.5 year old, not too much. Overall, I really like the layout and will be back when we visit San Marcos again!

Awesome and fun place to take the kids. This place is definitely worth the drive if you are coming…read morefrom San Antonio.

Walnut Springs Park is such a charming, peaceful spot to walk around. It runs right along a small…read morecreek, and the stone walls, low bridges, and shaded paths give it a really unique, old-school feel. Because it's set a bit lower than the surrounding streets, it feels surprisingly cool and quiet even though you're right near the center of town. It's not a huge park with big athletic fields, but it's ideal for a quick, relaxing stroll or taking a break in the shade.

Short walkway in the walnut springs park if you plan to walk back and forth but crossing towards…read morethe library is like a hidden gem. Beautiful painted squirrels definitely recommend walking this area leading to max stark park.

Nice, smallish park, with a play scape, some covered tables, some benches, walks along a creek, and…read moreaccess to hiking trails.

I can't say I recommend Lockhart State Park from my last visit here. Even though it's the only…read moreTexas state park with a 9-hole golf course, the hiking trails weren't very interesting and I was concerned about getting hit by golf balls as one of the trails cuts right through the fairway. The trail system here seemed almost like an afterthought, as there weren't any scenic viewpoints to look forward to. There were large shrubs everywhere and nothing interesting around. They say to my have a fishing pond, but it was small and it looked like it was devoid of any life. I thought the CCC group area and the day-use areas were cool. I can see locals taking advantage of the amenities. But for me, hiking trails are the biggest draw and unfortunately I left disappointed.

I enjoyed hiking the trails to take a break from the highway while on a roadtrip. It was well…read moreworth the $3 entrance fee. While I've seen prettier landscapes, the ones at Lockhart are decent. No waterfalls, apparently, the creek onky flows when it rains... But there are a few nice views from the higher elevations of the hiking trails. They have some flatter trails and a few that are more challenging. I hiked several as they were short. I managed to finish 5 in 30 minutes, and it was an enjoyable hike. Lockhart also has a golf course, camping spots, and a swimming pool (in season). It would make a nice place to camp out for a weekend get-away. The gentleman at the office was kind and helpful.

Lake Kyle Park is such a fantastic spot to unwind. With nearly 120 acres, it's huge and never…read morereally feels crowded. The walking paths are well-maintained and connect directly to the Plum Creek Trail, making it perfect for a morning run or a long walk. The lake itself is beautiful--it's a great spot for catch-and-release fishing--and they have a nice playground and covered pavilion if you're bringing the family. They even installed an outdoor fitness court if you want to get a quick workout in!

Big open range park with one single trail that leads to the lake with reflective water. Mini…read morewindmills surrounding the body of water. The terrain is flat and the views are the houses on the hill to the north and west. At the end of the trail, it leads to the catch and release fishing dock. There's a huge round yellow picnic table. This park is great for sunrise views, meditation and yoga in the park. The trail is less than a mile long. I would have liked it more if there were nature trails and longer paths to walk on. I think they use this park for community events. The air is crisp and fresh. It smells like sweet grass cornbread. No pollution.

Came out to this little park to get some disc golf practice. 9 holes. Park had plenty of parking,…read morewalking trail, picnic tables, very spacious. If you want to get in some good old disc golf come out here and get you some fresh air and enjoy the scenery

Went with an out of town friend. She wanted to walk outside and tour around since she's never been…read moreto this area. We went to this park since it was close. Parking was plenty. Looks like they have sports games here. We had to use the bathroom but unfortunately it was closed. Had to use the portapotty. After that, we got walking and it was a beautiful area. The water was dried up in some spots but other parts had a beautiful water area. Just wish it were a longer walking path along the water. The trail was fairly short. But otherwise clean and safe. Good place to bring my dog except I wouldn't let him near the water since it was pretty dirty.

A nice place to walk at, although, I would do five stars, but due to recent droughts, five mile dam…read moredoesn't have much water, sadly.

Jayden gave the best tour you could possibly give very knowledgeable very very patient and made…read morethe tour a wonderful experience for me and my family. This establishment is very underrated.

Our guide, Will, was great. He did a great job of explaining and talking about the cave. He was…read morepatient with the kids. If we ever went back, we would ask for Will to be our guide. It was nice hearing the history of the cave. The kids linked the zoo and feeding the animals. The whole grounds area is run down and needs a refresh. The gift shop and bathrooms are old and need updated. As soon as I walked in the gift shop area, all I smelled was cleaning solution. I didn't see a baby changing station in the bathroom. Our group had a good time but I wouldn't go back until things are updated.

The park was recently upgraded with new playground equipment & a splash pad for the kids. It was a…read morenice trail around the park and the disc golf course.

Great park. Lots of walking space and disc golf course fun. Have birthday parties, basketball…read morefootball. Baseball fields needs some work but still good