Driving through West Texas, the only thing within hours are oil rigs and dirt. Finding towns like Lubbock, Texas is the middle of this mesquite desert is pretty close to Dorothy finding Oz! Most West Texas towns are very small and are lucky to have a Walmart or even a McDonalds. While that is the West Texas norm, Lubbock feels like civilization! It has a large variety of restaurants, attractions, shops, and more.
So to a West Texas local, lets just say Lubbock is a West Texas haven. To a traveler, Lubbock may seem like more of a small-town feel, but you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find in this prairie desert town. Lubbock promises adventure and excitement whether you are stopping by for a weekend, spending a week exploring with kids, or escaping small town life for a day.
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Best Things to do in Lubbock, Texas with Kids:
Stop For An Ice Cream Sundae At Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe
Lesson number one to surviving in West Texas, always know where the nearest ice cream shop is! Ice cream is a basic necessity in the heat of West Texas. Even in the winter, it still is never too cold for ice cream. Naturally what better way to eat ice cream than in a 50s diner jammin to the music of an old juke box.
Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe is the most adorable ice cream shop in town. It has the classic checkered floor, and tacky colored booths to sit in. Let’s not forget to mention the delicious ice creams they have available; from floats and milkshakes, to sundaes and cones.
Location: 3404 34th St, Lubbock, TX 79410
Walk Through Old Planes In The Silent Wings Museum
If you have a little boy that loves airplanes, then here is your chance to take them up close to some really amazing aircrafts! This historic museum takes you through a timeline of aircraft history. Each exhibit is filled with artifacts and memorabilia of the wars fought in the air and the soldiers who flew them. It is a fun way to educated your kids, while immersing yourself in history.
Location: 6202 N. I-27, Lubbock, TX 79403
Play With Hank The Cowdog At National Ranching Heritage Museum
Speaking of history, this museum captures Texas history better than any other museum in the area. Texas was and still is built on the backs of ranchers and farmers. Cattle and horses have roamed all over this land and with cowboys leading and raising them.
This museum walks you through several buildings that have been restored that portray the history of those that settled and ran cattle across this countryside. It is like walking into a village back in time. While this section of the museum might not be as exciting for kids, there is a section that they will love.
Growing up one of the number one series I read was the Hank the Cowdog series. This series was about the adventures of a dog that grew up on a ranch. So naturally he has his own exhibit in the museum, where to leads kids through a series of interactive, hands-on ranching activities.
There are multiple on-screen activities indoors, but the highlight is the outdoor features. Kids can play with water pumps, touch and feel animal feed, and even create their own homestyle meal; as well as many other fun activities all involving ranch life.
Location: 3121 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79409
Play Glow In The Dark Mini Golf At Main Event
If museums aren’t really your style than, perhaps arcade games and bowling are. Main Event is a popular company with entertainment centers all over the country. This is a family fun center to escape the quirky Texas weather, with a series of exciting activities. Billiards, laser tag, arcade games, bowling, VR games, escape rooms, ropes course, glow in the dark mini golf, gel blasters, and amazing food; all under one roof. If you want nonstop fun, this is the place to be.
Location: 6010 Marsha Sharp Fwy W, Lubbock, TX 79407
Catch Butterflies At Texas Tech Horticulture Garden
West Texas is as barren and bland as it comes. All around you all you will see is dirt, oil rigs, and mesquite bushes. It has never been one to brag on its beauty, but Lubbock has a spot that will absolutely make you question whether you are even in West Texas.
Texas Tech University is the thriving jewel of Lubbock, many activities and attractions originate from this college. One of those is their Horticulture center. This center is located on campus and it is where they have classes to teach students about gardening, soil, and other landscaping skills. The students learning take amazing care of these gardens and it is open to the public to come and enjoy.
The gardens are filled with gorgeous flowers, giant murals, and even a kids play area. There are giant tires for kids to climb in and over, a large butterfly garden for those looking to chase butterflies, and other fun natural play areas.
Location: Texas Tech University, 3340 Main St, Lubbock, TX 79409
Feed Prairie Dogs At Prairie Dog Town
This is our favorite FREE thing to do in Lubbock, Texas! Bring a bag of carrots to this large bricked in field that is home to tons of little Prairie Dogs. You can sit and watch as these chubby little rodents scurry in and out of their little holes and bask in the sunlight. We love watching them munch on the carrots we bring and chirp at the birds that fly nearby. It is a simple, yet super fun thing to do in Lubbock, Texas with kids!
Location: 301 I-27, Lubbock, TX
Go Ziplining At Adventure Park
Pedal boats, bumper boats, rock walls, go-karts, mini golf, a ropes course, nature trail, and the list goes on and on. If you want fun and adrenaline, this is the place to be. The adventure park features an adventure tower playground that puts all other West Texas playgrounds to shame.
This is a center for families of all ages. Teenagers will love zipping on the ziplines, grandparents will love the mini golf, parents can race their kids in go-karts, young kids can swing into foam pits of the ninja course, and toddlers will love the arcades and sticking their hands in the water of the mining chutes. Literally an activity for everyone to enjoy!
Location: 5110 29th Dr, Lubbock, TX 79407
Perform Several Experiments At Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater
Whoever said education can’t be fun? If my kids had to pick their favorite attraction in that Lubbock has to offer, this would be the place. This science museum is filled to the brim with activities, floors and floors of nonstop interactive fun. Each floor has so many stations, each with an activity or experiment for kids to try and understand the wonder of science.
There are dinosaurs, a mouth of teeth big enough to fit your whole family, a bubble station to make bubbles go all the way over your body, air-rocket launchers, and hundreds of other stations. Just in the science museum itself, you could spend the whole day here. Let’s not forget to mention the amazing shows they have at the connecting OMNI theater.
Location: 2579 S Loop 289 #250, Lubbock, TX 79423
Try Eating Alligator At The Catch
I know, most kids don’t love seafood so why would I suggest bringing your kids to a seafood restaurant? I don’t know about your kids, but my kids are completely enthralled in the abnormal and The Catch in Lubbock, Texas has something pretty out of the ordinary. While it does serve fish and shrimp, it also serves alligator.
If you want to give your kids a new experience, take them to try alligator for the first time and be sure to tape their reactions! Trust me, this is such a fun thing to do with kids in Lubbock, Texas.
Location: 5111 82nd St, Lubbock, TX 79424
Eat Kolaches For Breakfast At Get N Go Donuts
Grabbing donuts and kolaches for breakfast is an essential part of the West Texas experience. Each town in West Texas may not have a McDonalds, but you can bet each one has a donut shop. If you are looking for the best donuts and kolaches in town, then Get N Go Donuts is it! The bread around the kolaches has a hint of sweet and is SO soft and the donuts are just as soft.
Location: 10208 Frankford Ave, Lubbock, TX 79424
Jump and Jump and Jump At MaxxAir Trampoline Park
We just had New Years and I asked my kids if they could do anything this next year then what would that be. I went off naming things like going to the ocean, going hiking, swimming with sharks, or riding horses; with all of these as options the one thing that each and everyone of the them wants to do is go to a trampoline park.
As a parent, sure I love trampoline parks cause they completely wipe the energy out of my kids. Would I say it is what I want to do more than anything else, nope! For a kid though this is such an exciting place to be. They can spend hours jumping, throwing balls at each other, swinging into giant foam pits, and climbing foam rock walls. No matter what I take my kids to do, this will forever and always be their favorite.
Location: 4525 Milwaukee Ave Suite #1100, Lubbock, TX 79407
Escape A Volcano At Blazing Bouncers
Trampolines are cool and all, but if you want to one up this takes your kids to Blazing Bouncers! This warehouse has 6,000 sq ft of inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses. If that didn’t sound fun enough let’s add dinosaurs, a play city, interactive video games, and arcade games.
One of the coolest features available at this fun center, are its adventure games. If you love escape rooms, but don’t really enjoy taking kids into a confined room for over an hour, then you certainly will love these games. Enter into an escape room built for kids, one that you have to escape within minutes instead of hours. This could mean escaping a volcano or even outwitting vampires, all built for families in mind.
Location: 11401 US-87, Lubbock, TX 79423
Race Down Waterslides At Water Rampage
Summer in Texas is no joke. If we are not eating ice cream, then we are doing some sort of water activity! While we generally stick to splash pads, we are huge fans of water parks and believe it or not, Lubbock, Texas has its very own waterpark.
Toddlers will love the dumping bucket of the Pirates Cove splash area, mom can float down the lazy river, teenagers can race dad down the large water slides, and the whole family will love riding the waves of the wave pool. This family friendly escape makes you feel like you are near the ocean instead of the middle of a desert!
Location: 6602 Marsha Sharp Fwy W, Lubbock, TX 79407
Catch A Movie At Stars And Stripes Drive In
Taking my kids to the movie theater is equivalent to preforming magic. Movies are always exciting to kids; and not gonna lie, as an adult I don’t mind sitting back, snacking on popcorn instead of chasing kids around. Lubbock, Texas is one of those few towns that still has that unique experience to watch movies in a drive-in theater.
You can bring your truck with a couch or bed in the back, park it and enjoy the outdoor movie on a big screen. The real gem of this theater is their food! They have adorable Cadillac snack boxes with all the delicious fatty foods and candies you could want for a movie night.
Location: 5101 Clovis Rd, Lubbock, TX 79416
Walk Around Dinosaurs At Museum of Texas Tech University
I have mentioned quite a few fun things to do with kids in Lubbock, Texas that can cost quite a pretty penny, so let’s bring out another free fun thing to do in Lubbock. Texas Tech University has a nice museum located on their campus that is free for the public to enjoy.
As soon as you walk through the doors, you will be greeted by giant T-Rex and Triceratops skeletons. You will find more dinosaurs, butterfly collections, a full-sized mammoth, planets revolving, old dresses and other antiques, and even a zoo of taxidermy animals. While there aren’t many touchable exhibits, your kids will have so much to see they won’t even be bothered that they can’t touch it all.
Location: 3301 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79415
Hike Around An Active Archeological Site At Lubbock Lake National Historic Site
The sad part about West Texas is the lack of hiking trails. Sure you will find a couple every couple hours, but for the most part, West Texas hiking is considered walking on trails in a park. To find one as unique as the Lubbock Lake National Historic Site is a real treat.
The start of these trails is actually a free, small museum that educates visitors on the Native Americans that first settled the area. The trail that follows takes you on a journey through time. Several statues of ancient creatures like prehistoric bears and mammoths are placed along the path. The trail leads around an active archeological site where you can witness workers digging and uncovering artifacts.
Location: 2401 Landmark Dr, Lubbock, TX 79415
Play In A Mini Town At Play Street Museum
I swear kids just want to play adults and not necessarily like kids. My daughter loves pretending to clean and take care of a baby, while my sons love pretending to cook and wash dishes. The Play Street Museum in Lubbock, Texas takes that love of pretend and has built an entire play town for kids to pretend to be adults.
They can cook in a restaurant, drive a firetruck, be a vet for a day, and even milk a fake cow on the farm. Play Street is an exciting and fun way for kids have fun doing everyday things they see their parents doing.
Location: 10609 Slide Rd #400, Lubbock, TX 79424
Splash Around Lubbock’s Splash Pads
Summer in West Texas means water activities are mandatory on the itinerary. For the longest time, Lubbock’s only water activities were the lake or paying a pretty penny for Water Rampage. Lubbock finally has created 3 splash pads that are completely free!
Pick Your Own Bouquet At SkyGardens
Lubbock has several beautiful gardens, but none of them are quite like this one. SkyGardens is an active growing garden of seasonal flowers. The flowers grown are then open for self-picking to make beautiful homemade bouquets. This garden actually supplies the flowers to several local florists, and it offers classes on how to build bouquets.
Throughout the year the time that this garden is open to the public vary according to season and supply of flowers. When it is open though it is full of family friendly fun! Flower picking, cooking smores fireside, highland cows and other fun farm animals, and more. Also several local businesses will jump in the fun and set up at the garden in the evenings, including a bunny farmer with plenty of bunnies to cuddle!
Location: 3576 Hummingbird Rd, Levelland, TX 79336
Enjoy The Fall Season At Local Pumpkin Patches
Pumpkin patches are a seasonal activity, but if you are in Lubbock in the fall season there are several pumpkin patches that you have to visit.
At’l Do Farm– Ride horses, take a hayride, feed goats, ride a barrel train, and so much more!
Old MacDonald’s Farm– Pumpkins are fun, but this farm has all the animals you could want to play with on the farm.
T&J Farms– If you need a place to get a fall photo op or shop around for a pumpkin, this is the farm to visit.
Admire The Flowers At Helen Hodges Rose Garden
One last garden you need to visit while exploring Lubbock, Texas with kids. While most gardens are filled with a variety of flower species, this tiny garden only showcases roses. This small, free garden will only take you about 5 minutes to walk through, but if you are traveling with toddlers then 5 minutes is about the extent of any attention they will give towards any activity.
Location: 2410-2498 40th St, Lubbock, TX 79412
Fun Things To Do Nearby:
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