We have lived in the area for a while now and we just love everything about McKinney Roughs!…read more First and foremost their hiking trails: they have a variety of trails for different levels and the views are spectacular. It's never super crowded, sometimes you may run into for horses if you're on horse-friendly trails and you can hike down to the Colorado River as well. The trails are pretty well maintained and marked. Summer camps: my son (7) has been attending their day summer camps for three years now and absolutely loves them! They are from 9-4 so very friendly for those parents working. There is also a bus that brings kids in from Austin as well. The price can't be beat as well. Each day he comes home telling me about what he learned and got to experience (most times I am jealous- like you got to go kayaking? Make and drink yaupon tea? What- how cool!) The camp counselors are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and treat the kids with kindness and respect. They also have a beautiful facility, overall. The grounds are clean and well-kept. McKinney Roughs is simply the best!

Love this place. I've been here for some events but also just to hike. I love that their trails can…read morehelp you practice some different skills. For instance, I was told by one of their staff that there is significant grading to help with elevation hikes. They are very helpful with any questions you have. Inside the main building where the small gift store is, there's a small nature area with some fish, snakes, fossils, and more. My kiddo loves looking at this section. Their Halloween event, Tricks, Treats, and Trails is also always a big hit with my family. They have a rock wall, paintball, archery, and other things to do. This was our second year and it was great!

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.

We camped here spontaneously one weekend in February. The good: the trails are lovely! There are…read moremany miles and different terrains to explore. I love the pine trees and views from some of the trails. The campground is lovely as well. Very clean. Spaces are large. People are respectful. But... A big con is the traffic noise at night! We stayed in the Copperas Creek Camping Area, which is quite close to the road, so we expected some noise. But it was intense both noise. A loud, long crash woke me up in the middle of the night, with a second crash crashing into the debris from the first one. That whole incident kept me up for 2 hours. I don't know if the other campgrounds in the park are any better. The park is nestled in a populated area so I doubt it. But the trails and area are beautiful!! So I would definitely recommend for hiking!! Not so much tent camping... (maybe it's better in an RV?).

This is a lovely park! But beware- it's pretty exposed so bring plenty of sunscreen and water!…read more The park is really beautiful with a lot of different trails and the longest one being over 8mi. I came out here with a group- most of ours first time. We enjoyed the smell of the tall pines, some bridges and steps and switchbacks. The overviews left some to be desired as they overlooked the highway. Overall the park is clean and beautiful and we didn't see many people which made it better! I can't wait to go back and tackle the 8mi trail!

I hate this place i went to it and it is poorly runned bad its bad staff i got hurt on The main…read morecable and we are forced to stay on the wibit to 11.00-3.00 stay away the worst camp one Earth.

We loved the water park at Quest! We took three pre-teen boys to the park and they had a blast…read more The "blob" was so fun to launch them skyward, and they loved the giant obstacle course. The slides and the swings were great, too. Being able to bring our own food helped us save some money, and all the people there were extremely friendly and supportive. The "big kids" were so nice to our kids and it made for a really nice environment. Will definitely be back.

The only zoo here in Austin. has a cappaberra and easy for me (78) to get around. Family friendlyread more

TLDR: Small private zoo that's in obvious need of some repairs/upgrades (and has received safety…read morecitations in the past) but nonetheless has a rustic charm. I'd still remain vigilant and aware of surroundings as a result. No handwashing station at the petting zoo so make sure you either walk your kids to the nearby restroom or bring soap sheets (more below). Open daily including holidays (365 days a year) 9-5. They offer a variety of animal encounters for a fee. CONDITIONS: This small private zoo is definitely a bit run down and unkempt. The ramp from the office/reception area to the zoo had broken wooden boards that seemed like they were heading toward collapse. Felt a bit nervous pushing our stroller wagon over it. The owner should definitely address that. I got the vibe that the owner does really care about the animals but some of the cages did seem too small. The owner also told us he wanted to construct a train (which is always nice) but I think fixing up the zoo/improving the habitats should be a priority. Some of the exhibits seemed confusing -- there was a sign for a bear but the area seemed overgrown and inaccessible. I don't know if the exhibit was just removed or what. As far as the provenance for the animals -- I think some are rescues but not all. They are also a breeding facility for endangered animals. CITATION HISTORY: I did a little bit of digging and it turns out the zoo has received citations in the past. In 2022, the USDA issued an official warning to the zoo regarding inadequate enclosure fencing. I was able to track down the official document in APHIS. I also found a reference to an official warning in 2013 that noted inadequate veterinary care for underweight animals, inappropriate feed/diet, repeated problems maintaining facilities in good repair, sanitation/cleanliness problems, and inadequate pest control (resulting in a financial penalty). I was not able to track down the official document for this, only a senate filing (regarding an accreditation association) that referenced the warning. In theory, they could have pulled it from PETA, who has published a 10-page "fact sheet" online that details countless other USDA citations and claims that in 2022, a dog broke into an enclosure and killed 4 cavies and 1 muntjac (to simplify, rodents and deer). I have not been able to verify the dog attack claims and don't have the time to look into the other alleged citations. Ultimately, PETA is a special interest group with a dubious record. PETTING ZOO/SAFETY: It's not the sort where you can go inside but you can feed the animals through the fence. There is no handwashing station but the restroom isn't that far. Make sure you take your kids to wash their hands right after. Watch smaller kids carefully to ensure they're not putting their hands in their mouth while/after interacting with the animals. You can use hand sanitizer immediately after but you really should wash their hands ASAP. I believe hand sanitizer can kill e.coli but will not kill cryptosporidium (parasite that can be carried by farm animals). You can buy soap sheets that are good on the go (Fomin is the brand I have, available on Amazon). You just pour water and the sheet becomes soapy and then you rinse. There was some charm here -- for instance, the farm animal area was chaotic in an amusing way -- pigs and chickens and peacocks and little prairie dogs trying to steal food -- it was cute pandemonium. The talking macaws were fun and the hippo put on a show for us -- opening his huge maw. Zoo experiences are a bit subjective in that sense, depending on how the animals are feeling when you arrive. Mornings seem to be best as it's cooler. Keep your expectations low -- it's a place to see animals and entertain your kids for an hour or so. Just remain vigilant and keep an eye on surroundings for safety reasons. They also offer a variety of animal encounters which we did not partake in. Ultimately, I do hope that they take any USDA citations seriously and allocate sufficient capital to improve/fix their facility.

My son had been begging to go fishing and I know nothing about fishing nor do we have any of the…read moresupplies. Moby dick was great because they provided everything (poles, bait, etc). They were kind and helpful and my son caught his first fish! I will definitely be back! Bring lots of water to drink and hand sanitizer bc there is no running water at the pond!

Made reservation and went out to fish with my boys. They're 9 and 11 and both caught a fish and…read moreowner said he'd come out and help catch one if they couldn't. Very quiet and beautiful. Highly recommend it. Appreciate it.

I can't say enough about this place! The park itself is clean, lush, and absolutely beautiful, with…read moreplenty of cabins, camping spots, RV sites, and scenic hiking trails. But did you know they also have an event hall for rent? We booked it for a family gathering, and it was perfect. The space has a charming vintage look, with plenty of tables and chairs, clean restrooms, a spacious kitchen equipped with burners, a sink, a fridge, and enough trash bins. The concrete floors are a bit cracked, but that's hardly a dealbreaker when you're getting such a gem in the middle of a state park. Guests pay a discounted $3 entrance fee, but since we had an RSVP list, we purchased tickets ahead of time to make the process smoother for everyone. You receive the event hall key at 9 AM on the day of your event and can drop it in the designated box whenever your party ends. The space comfortably accommodates 70-80 guests, making it a great choice for gatherings. You're expected to leave the hall in the same condition as you received it, but the trash bins can be left as they are staff will come by later to collect the trash. It's that simple!

While on a meandering day trip, we came across the inviting entrance to Buescher State Park…read more We parked outside the small but organized ranger station, and I stepped inside to pay the fee. $3 per person if you choose to stay in your vehicle (driving through) or $5 per person is you get out to walk around. Affordable either way! There's also an area set up with mugs, stickers and such for sale. So glad we decided to drive through! A lot of different scenery, well-maintained and mostly empty roads, new undergrowth in burn areas, peaceful and quiet overall. We continued through what seemed a residential area with private houses, then onwards through Bastrop State Park, exiting there. Nice introduction to Buescher State Park. We'll return to hike in cooler weather.

We had these ladies and their traveling zoo to our house and had so much fun. They brought a pony…read morefor rides, sheep, goats, chicks, and a duck. It was her 3rd birthday party and we had kids of all ages. The pony rides were in our back yard and it just turned out to be so much fun. SUCH a good idea and they are cheap!! The truth about the ladies. . .I asked one of the ladies how long ducks live (because she was holding one during the entire party) and she said 10 years or something and then I asked how old is that one (referring to the one she'd been petting) and she said, "She's never going to die b/c she's my baby!" Not to mention she never smiled once during the party and she made me remove all of the balloons from the back yard in case they scared off the pony. Which I did. I'm still giving them 5 stars, b/c the party was so awesome. The lady just added to the comedic value. Her partner was much more approachable.