New Braunfels, Texas: An old German town with a whole lot of charm. What once was a small city, has now become one of the fastest growing cities in America. This San Antonio suburb’s rapid growth is not surprising, considering how family-friendly it is.
If you’re visiting New Braunfels, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see as many attractions as you can jam in to your trip!
If you are planning on traveling to New Braunfels with your family, there is plenty to keep you entertained and having TONS of fun!
While summer is the ultimate time to visit New Braunfels and all of its water attractions, you can find a lot of kid-friendly activities, year-round!
You’re going to love this list of Kid Friendly Things To Do in The United States!!
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in New Braunfels, TX:
#1 McKenna’s Children’s Museum
The McKenna’s Children’s Museum is a child’s dreamland, that offers HOURS of fun and excitement. From the outdoor water play area, to the climbing apparatus to the painting and craft room indoors, this place will engage and entertain your kids (and you) for hours! When you get hungry, head over to the cafe for a delicious lunch! After you’re done playing, you can look through the Children’s Museum’s gift store that is packed with unique gifts for kids.
#2 Landa Park
Landa Park is easily one of the best attractions in New Braunfels. If you’re looking to spend time in nature with your family, this is THE place to do it! With 51 acres of play space, you and your kids will have a blast. Your kids will enjoy the variety of playscapes (one for toddlers, and one for older kids) and swingsets, not to mention the mini train that takes you on a ride through the park and next to the beautiful Comal River.
If you visit Landa Park in the summer, make sure to check out the spring-fed pool, as well as the swimming hole. These are both fed by the clear, spring-fed water of the Comal River.
On most weekends throughout the summer, you can rent paddleboats to take out on Landa Lake. It’s incredible for kids to see the Comal Springs and all of the wildlife in the park! Make sure to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy under the sprawling oak trees. There are picnic tables throughout the park that make it easy to sit down and refuel!
#3 The New Braunfels Railroad Museum
If you have a little train enthusiast (Thomas the Train, anyone?), the New Braunfels Railroad Museum is a must-see when you’re visiting. The museum is open to the public and admission is FREE.
Your kids will love checking out the real dining car, caboose and box car. They can actually go into each of the train cars and make believe to their heart’s content.
Throughout the museum there are also amazing train model railroads that will be a hit with kids (and adults) of ALL ages!
Check out the Railroad Museum’s website as their hours do change depending on the season.
#4 Fischer Park
Fischer Park is another amazing park that New Braunfels has to offer. It is the largest park in the city, at a whopping 62 acres! Within those 62 acres, you can find plenty of places to play, like the fishing and kayaking pond, walking trails around the pond, a HUGE sand box with (pretend) dinosaur bones to dig for and a Butterfly garden that is managed by the park’s Nature Center.
If you walk up the hill from the ponds and butterfly garden, you will find the highly-acclaimed splash pad! If you’re visiting in the hot months (and there are plenty of them!) then you definitely want to check out the splash pad! Your kids will LOVE the huge overhead bucket that dumps hundreds of gallons of water out, and the rest of the splash pad to cool off!
Near the splash pad, your kids can also run and play on the playground. There is a playground for toddlers, and a playground for older kids. Either way, they are close enough to each other that everyone can get in some play time!
You can also take the hiking trail around the park (bring lots of water if you go in the summer) and take in the magnificent views of the city of New Braunfels from the hilltop.
#5 Drive in Movie Theater
Time warp to the 1950s anyone? How cool would it be to enjoy a movie with your family AND share a piece of history with them?
The Stars and Stripes Drive In Movie Theater is just the place to slow down the pace with your family and chat about the history of drive-in theaters. You can enjoy their 50’s Cafe and then pull out your lawn chairs to enjoy the double feature!
If you’re traveling in an RV, don’t fret! You can park your RV to watch the movie. Check out their FAQ on their website for more information.
The drive-in theater is open year-around, rain or shine!
#6 Schlitterbahn
What would a visit to New Braunfels be without a visit to Schlitterbahn Waterpark? If you’re traveling to New Braunfels in the summer months, you HAVE to spend a day (or 3!) at the world-renowned Schlitterbahn. This place HAS IT ALL for your family!
There are plenty of toddler-friendly pools around the park, and thrilling rides for the older kids in your family! If you would rather sit pool-side, you can find a picnic table and pull up a lawn chair while you watch your kids splash in the water. Or, maybe you would rather take a relaxing float around the Krystal River. You can do that too! There is something for everyone.
Looking for more luxury? Rent a cabana! These are like a home away from home, with a TV, refrigerator, ceiling fan, electrical outlet and more!
Schlitterbahn allows outside food and drinks, but no glass containers. You can bring in coolers of food and drinks to have while you play at the park.
Don’t worry about parking, either. If you can’t find a parking spot on the side of the park you want to play at (yes, there are TWO sides to the park!), then you can take one of their busses to the other side.
#7 Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo
Calling all snake and animal lovers! Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo is home to over 500 different types of species. From snakes to jaguars, and lions to crocodiles, there are so many creatures to see!
You can book (24-hours in advance) an Animal Encounter to get up close and personal with your chosen animal. Check out the events calendar to see what’s going on during your travel dates!
Katrina is a south Texas mom of 2, who loves spending time with her family. She loves all things nerdy and can often be found working on her side hustle, Rule This Roost, while blaring classical music. You can also find her on Facebook and Pinterest.