Hitt Photography

If you have a family member fascinated by railroads, or if you yourself used to have a train set and want to get a look at where it all began, then the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum is a must-see attraction. The city of Temple was founded in 1881 by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company as a major junction point, and it makes sense that one of the city's main attractions is this railroad museum. Among seeing vintage pieces and artifacts, the center point of it all is the Rails Across America exhibit that presents the impact of railroads in American life for the past 50 years.

Connect with nature and unwind at Mother Neff State Park, one of Texas' earliest state parks, pure natural beauty on 6 acres since 1921. Take a leisurely walk, hike, spread a picnic banquet, pitch a tent for camping or rent a campsite cabin, explore with geocaching, enjoy the wildflowers in the prairie, or explore the canyon trails. Interact with various displays at the visitor's center to learn more about this Texas treasure and its rich history.

The Cameron Park Zoo has the distinction of being the nation's newest natural habitat zoo. The sights and sounds of some of the world's most extraordinary animals await you at this family fun attraction. Explore the Flower Garden Banks Reef and follow the Brazos River to see a herd of bison graze, or watch otters, black bears and jaguars coexist in an amazing recreation of their natural habitat. And don't forget your camera because you'll want lots of photos of the elephants, lions, white rhinos and giraffes.