Retreat to the great outdoors for a relaxing time with your family or adventurous activities. With access to swimming, fishing, and hiking near vacation rentals on Lake Livingston, you can get wet and wild in the hot sun or make your next trip an educational one by studying nature with your little ones. Get ready for some much-needed family time with these 10 Lake Livingston family activities.
1. Tour the State Park
Pack a picnic basket and head to Livingston State Park to embrace the great outdoors with your family. Spend the day hiking while viewing the tall trees and various creatures running along the trail. Make sure you don’t miss the beautiful sunset on the lake in the evening.
2. Swim and Float
Take a dip in the cool waters of Lake Livingston near your vacation rental to beat the heat. Rent some tubes from one of the local marinas or bring along your own floaties and life jackets to relax in the water with your family on a hot summer day.
3. Shop Until You Drop
Visit the many specialty stores and antique shops along Livingston’s historic Main Street to find just the right souvenir to take home. If you’re a fan of flea markets, take advantage of the trade days during the third weekend of each month where vendors display artwork, food, crafts, and homemade gifts on the dedicated 200 acres of land used for this event.
4. Take In Some History
Show your family the significance of the Lake Livingston area with a trip down memory lane. Tour the Polk County Courthouse, and walk around the square that has preserved its look. Just a mile down the road is the Old City Cemetery, which serves as the resting place for the historical figures of the county since 1840.
5. Visit the Dam
Watch your family gasp in awe when watching the floodgates open at the Livingston Lake Dam. Make this experience educational by sharing the story of how this dam created Lake Livingston when joined with the Trinity River. Take your sightseeing to a higher level by bringing binoculars and bird watching while listening to the rushing water.
6. Hop on a Horse
Explore the beauty of Lake Livingston and the state park with a leisurely horseback ride through the trails. Enjoy a guided tour with the staff members at Faith Ridin’ Stables for supervised lessons, or let your little ones pet the ponies in the stables.
7. Fish Like a Pro
You can’t visit Lake Livingston without taking time to fish with the family. This lake is known for its white bass, crappie, bass, perch, and catfish. With two fish cleaning stations onsite at Lake Livingston Park, you can fetch your dinner for the evening while enjoying a relaxing time on the lake shoreline with your rod in hand.
8. Watch for Butterflies
If you’re enjoying a vacation rental in the fall, set your sights on the flurry of butterflies fluttering over Lake Livingston. The lake is on the path of the Monarch Butterfly Migrating trail, so your family can watch as these colorful insects make their way to Mexico.
9. Skim the Waves
Boating is one of the most prominent activities for families to enjoy while vacationing at Lake Livingston. Head over to Indian Hills Boat Rentals to choose a pontoon boat for a leisurely ride on the lake, or select a few jet skis for the thrill seekers in your family.
10. Pick Some Blueberries
Treat your family to a sweet treat that is homegrown by venturing out for a day of blueberry picking. Pick your own at Baxter Blueberry Farm or at Moorehead’s Blueberry Farm. The berries are right for picking in late May and early June. Sample the berries as you pick or pack up a bunch for a day of family baking at your vacation rental.