Big Bend National Park Lodging, Seeing Stars, and Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jackie Jones on

There are several easy hikes in Big Bend National Park that kids of all ages enjoy.

Big Bend National Park in southern Texas is an excellent destination for families looking to spend time together "off the grid." The park is vast, rugged, and remote, spanning more than 800,000 acres along the border of the US and Mexico, right in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Big Bend is one of the least visited national parks, but I'm here to argue that should not be the case! Big Bend offers amazing hiking, memorable wildlife viewing, adventures on the Rio Grande river, and spectacular stargazing at night. Visiting does require serious planning because it is so far removed from modern civilization (cell phone service, for example, is unreliable at Big Bend). Yet a trip here may just change your life, as it did for me and my kids.

Read on for our guide to visiting Big Bend, including itinerary ideas, a Big Bend National Park map, where to eat, and lodging and hotels near Big Bend National Park. Check out our US National Parks Family Travel Guide for more national parks to visit with kids, including our top-ten list of family-friendly national parks.

Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience is Coming Soon to Washington, DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on

Jump into a giant bubble-bath ball pit at Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience. Photos by Quentin Guyot for Fever Productions

Need some joy and inspiration this summer? Tickets are now on sale for Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience, set to open at Washington, DC's Rhode Island Center on June 26, 2025. In this multisensory experience, guests of all ages can travel through fantastical, interactive landscapes and explore imaginary metaverses filled with optical illusions and fun photo ops.

Get all the details on Bubble Planet below and find out why we added it to our epic DC summer bucket list. Then visit our Ultimate DC Kids Summer Vacation Guide for more things to do to make summer 2025 the best one yet!

Swimming Lakes Near Los Angeles You Need to Discover

Brian Steele's picture Submitted by Brian Steele on

Go swimming at Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Meghan Rose

Los Angeles kids grow up swimming at some of the country's most iconic beaches, not to mention an array of flat-out awesome public swimming pools. But wait—there's more! Did you know that there are some wonderful swimming lakes near Los Angeles? And if you're willing to drive a little farther, lake options get even more plentiful. Whether you want to take a dip in a secluded swimming hole or join the masses at a lavish lake resort, here are some of the best spots to take a swim out in nature.

For more places to go swimming in Los Angeles, check out our Guide To Pools and Splash Pads in Los Angeles. Or keep it natural at one of these Surf-Free Beaches Where Toddlers Can Swim!

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