If you follow me on Instagram then you know that my name is @westtexastravelmom. Just like the name says I base most of my travel in the West Texas region. Now this isn’t the most thrilling section on Texas if I am being completely honest. It is practically nothing but dirt and oil rigs as far as the eye can see. Occasionally you drive through towns that surprise you and add a little more than dirt and oil to your life; Abilene Texas is one of those places.
Abilene is one of the bigger towns of West Texas and so going to Abilene (to those that live in West Texas) is like going to the city. There are tons of wonderful stores! There is a zoo, splash zones, playgrounds, museums, good food, a lake, and so much more.
Abilene is located between Sweetwater (home of the world largest rattlesnake roundup, click here to learn more about that) and Weatherford, Texas. It is one of the 1-20 towns that drive you straight through West Texas. Since it is on the more east side of West Texas it tends to feel a little bit more like the hill country area. So it does get more green here and a lot prettier. It is the prettier side of West Texas.
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Things To Do In Abilene, Texas with Kids:
Not many West Texas towns have as much things to do with kids as Abilene, Texas. I would say the good majority of West Texas attractions are more centered toward adults. Most West Texas attractions are art related, alcohol related, or history related. None of which are super interactive, therefore not really kid related.
Abilene, Texas is the exception! I mean this town is literally referred to as the storybook capital of America! The town is covered in storybook characters and children’s book quotes! Can you get more kid friendly than that!?
Here is a list of our favorite things to do in Abilene, Texas with kids:
Historic Fort Phantom Hill
There is a very limited amount of places in West Texas that have hikes, like Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe National Park, Fort Davis, and El Paso mountains. Other than that hiking is few and far between, minus walking around parks. That is why it is super exciting that Abilene has hiking trails! I mean of course it has the state park, but Historic Fort Phantom Hill is about as kid friendly of hiking as you can get!
Fort Phantom Hill is the remnants of the old fort built back in the 1850s that was built to protect those traveling westward in the westward expansion. It is kinda crazy how these old broken down buildings can actually be so beautiful!
The majority of the ruins that you will hike around are just chimneys, but there are a couple other buildings on site. The trail is about 0.7 miles long, so very short. It is a super easy trail, though it is not super well marked. It is a flat trail with no stairs or rocks to climb over. It is as easy of a trail as can be.
Admission: FREE
Distance: 0.7 mile loop
Location:
Johnson Park/Lake Fort Phantom Hill
I don’t know about your husband, but mine is like a kid at Christmas when he has the chance to take the boat out. North of Abilene is the Lake Fort Phantom Hill and it is a pretty good sized lake for West Texas. A great place to take a boat out for the weekend, so an easy way to get the husband out for a weekend!
Not a boater, no problem! Lake Fort Phantom Hill has more to offer than just boating and fishing! On the northside of the lake is Johnson Park. Johnson Park is like a regular park, you know with the playground and picnic tables, but it also has a beach to swim at, BBQs, and bathrooms! It is a great place to have a lakeside picnic and swim day.
Admission: FREE
Hours: 5:30am-12am daily
Location:
Abilene Zoo
I may be addicted to zoos. I mean if there is a zoo in the area anywhere that I travel than I am totally there! As far as I know there are only 3 zoos in West Texas; Amarillo Zoo (technically panhandle area), El Paso Zoo, and Abilene Zoo. Abilene Zoo is definitely my favorite of the 3! Abilene Zoo is pretty small, but it is still a cute and fun zoo.
The coolest area is where you can feed the giraffes. There is a upper deck where you can pay a little bit extra to feed a giraffe some lettuce. It is totally worth it! This zoo has all the basic favorites; from lions, reptile rooms, parrots that talk, alligators, flamingos, monkeys, and so much more.
Besides the giraffes we also love feeding the carp in the lake next to the zoo. Bring a quarter to get the food and watch as hundreds of fish try to eat the food you throw in. All of them are at the surface with their mouths open wide! It is hilarious! We also love the sand pit that is a place that toddlers can dig.
There is also a carousel and a mini train that you can ride for an extra price.
Location: 2070 Zoo Ln, Abilene, TX 79602
Admission: $10 adult, $7 child, $9 senior/military/first responders, 2 and under FREE
Hours: 9am-5pm daily
Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden
Did you know that Abilene is actually the Storybook Capital of America!? I am pretty sure if you didn’t know that, you would figure that out on your own just driving through downtown Abilene. There are storybook character statues all over town! Even better, there are 2 gardens in Abilene, Texas that are covered in storybook characters.
Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden is an adorable little garden with some of the classic characters that you grew up loving, like Wilbur and Charlotte from Charlottes Web. You will find the Big Bad Wolf blowing at the little pig’s house, the kittens crying for losing their mittens, and goldilocks running from some bears!
This is such a cute park, and super exciting for the little kids. My kids got so excited finding characters and naming them off! Great photo ops too!
Location: 1008-1098 N 6th St, Abilene, TX 79601
Admission: FREE
Everman Park
If I were to ask you to name 5 children’s books right now, what would they be? I bet that at least one of the books you thought of was written by one of the most well known children’s author, Dr Suess. Everman Park is pretty much a Dr Suess park!
Walk through it and see if you can find Horton, Yertle the Turtle, the Lorax, Sam I Am, the Cat In The Hat, and even the Grinch! Actually before you go make sure you download the Goosechase App and join the Storybook Sculpture Scavenger Hunt.
This hunt requires you to take at least 8 pictures with certain characters throughout town. After completing the hunt go collect your prize button at the T&P Depot (1101 N 1st St, open 8:30am-5pm weekdays).
Location: 1007-1099 N 1st St, Abilene, TX 79601
Admission: FREE
The Grace Museum
This museum is a half and half win for kids. So the majority of this museum is an art museum. I love art, but if I am being honest art museums with kids stress me out and are not the most fun places to visit. So Grace Museum can be a little stressful.
BUT……..
In the Grace Museum is also a children’s museum! This adorable tiny museum is on the second floor of the Grace museum. It has all sorts of art areas, a playhouse, building areas, a puppet area, a dress up stage, and more! It is perfect especially for the younger kids, though my toddlers did love it.
There are 2 parking areas right next to the museum which is super nice since parking is so hard to find in downtown Abilene.
Location: 102 Cypress St, Abilene, TX 79601
Admission: $6 adults, $3 children 4-17/seniors/students & educators (with ID)/non active military (with ID), FREE children 3 and under/active military & families (with ID)
Hours: Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-8pm, closed Sun-Mon
Prairie Dog Preserve
Animal activities with kids are always a win in my book! In Redbud park there is a giant enclosed field. In this fenced in area is home to a ton of West Texas native wildlife critters, Prairie Dogs! I think these adorable tubby rodents are so fun to watch. You can watch them dig, listen to them chirp, and enjoy the show they put on running around the lot.
Location: 3125 S 32nd St, Abilene, TX 79605
Admission: FREE
Hours: 5:30am-12am daily
Life Of Pie
One of my biggest complaints about life is the lack of pie shops in this world. Every town has ice cream shops, most have cookie stores, and especially in Texas there are donut stops around every corner. Where are all the pie shops!? Luckily Abilene, Texas has a pie shop!
Not only does Abilene, Texas have a pie shop, oh no, it has the BEST pie shop ever! Life of Pie is an adorable little shop that sells all sorts of delicious pies. Inside there is even a pie slice vending machine! I will forever dream of their Banana Crème Pie! It is such a dreamy and amazing taste! We also love their apple pie! This is pretty much a must stop if you are in Abilene, Texas!
Location: 3386 Rebecca Ln, Abilene, TX 79606
Hours: Tues-Thurs & Sat 11am-2pm, Fri 11am-6pm, Sun-Mon closed
Big Stars Farm
If you are traveling through Abilene, Texas with kids during fall there than you have to stop by a local pumpkin patch! Big Stars Farm is on the south side of Abilene, practically out in the middle of no where. So it fits right in to having a West Texas experience!
The best part about this tiny farm is the hay ride out to the cow pasture! When you get out to the cow pasture, not only do you get to see some cows, but you get to feed the cows! My kids loved throwing the food in the these giant animals!
There is also horse rides, pumpkin catapults, a small petting zoo, play areas, and photo ops. If you are looking for other fun pumpkin patches in West Texas than click here.
Location: 434 Co Rd 176, Ovalo, TX 79541
Admission: $10 ages 3+, 2 and under FREE
Drive By Art On N 1st St
Though the majority of statues around town are of storybook characters, not all of them are. Actually if you drive down N 1st St near downtown Abilene, you will drive through an assortment of art and statues. Our personal favorites were the giant flamingo and the buffalo photo op that you can ride on!
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