piney forest family vacation (Lufkin, Palestine: waterpark, living, cabin)

[mkwensky]

I'm planning a trip to the piney forest area in East Texas. I have a three year old so having kid friendly activities available is important. Ideally it would be a long weekend kind of trip where we spend a few hours hiking in the forest during the day and then go to a small town's downtown area to relax. Smaller kid-friendly museums and zoos are also great. We've been to all of the other parts of Texas but have left this portion of the state unexplored.
Are there good all-inclusive resorts in the area? Is Lufkin the best place to stay?

[alsal29]

We have stayed in a cabin near Big Thicket National Preserve and really enjoyed it. The cabin had canoes you could use and it was close to the visitors center of the preserve which is kid friendly and had some short hikes. They also have a great schedule of Ranger lead hikes and talks there. You can drive up to Woodville and they also have a museum there that is pretty highly rated. Not a lot of happening in downtown's around there though.

You might also check out The Retreat at Artesian Lakes.

[Watchful]

Heritage Village in Woodville is a nice “minor” attraction - that is also close to the Alabama-Coushatta Indian reservation (near Livingston).

https://www.heritage-village.org/

[mikeyyc]

While not deep in the Piney Woods, Hyatt Lost Pines outside Bastrop is fantastic, and you'll still get your pokey tree fix.

[SugLandDAd]

We had a great family time at the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site.

https://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-s...-historic-site

Not far from there is the Texas State Railroad at Rusk, great train ride.

https://texasstaterailroad.net/

[Thoreau424]

^ Nothing against Caddo Mounds, but it's only for a short stop and look (10-60 minutes). Nothing to plan a vacation around. And there's not much else to see or do in that particular area.

You might plan a trip that takes in the Rusk-Palestine train ride, deep through the forest of that region.

[SugLandDAd]

We have been to this place at Lake Palestine......not as East Texas as the others, but is a kid friendly waterpark on a lake.


Indoor water park villages tyler texas


Which isn't too far from the Tiger Sanctuary


http://tigercreek.org/


Or the train ride above

[mkwensky]

Thanks everyone for these suggestions.

[GrandmaChris]

Originally Posted by alsal29

We have stayed in a cabin near Big Thicket National Preserve and really enjoyed it. The cabin had canoes you could use and it was close to the visitors center of the preserve which is kid friendly and had some short hikes. They also have a great schedule of Ranger lead hikes and talks there. You can drive up to Woodville and they also have a museum there that is pretty highly rated. Not a lot of happening in downtown's around there though.

You might also check out The Retreat at Artesian Lakes.

I will second Alsal29 - The Visitor Center is a must see for your 3 year old. When my youngest was 2 1/2 and her big sister was 5 - they LOVED going to the Visitor Center.