Family Weekend in Burnet County – 3 Day Itinerary
Burnet County is built for a family weekend. Whether this is your first visit or your tenth, this three-day plan moves you through the best of the Highland Lakes — swimming holes in Marble Falls, river cruises and arcade games in Burnet, dinner under string lights, and one of the darkest sky stargazing spots in Texas. Follow it the whole way through, or pull the parts that fit your weekend and make it yours.
Day 1 – Marble Falls
Blue Bonnet Cafe — Breakfast
The Blue Bonnet Cafe is a Marble Falls institution — a classic Texas diner where the biscuits are made from scratch and the coffee is always hot. It’s exactly the kind of breakfast spot families love, where the kids get a great meal and the adults get a moment of nostalgia.
Mosaic Kids Museum
Inside the Marble Falls Visitor Center, the Mosaic Kids Museum offers hands-on interactive exhibits that spark imagination for the little ones while parents take a breath. It’s a great first activity for families with younger kids and a natural place to pick up maps and local tips.
Harmony Park — Stroll & Stretch
Harmony Park in Marble Falls is a peaceful waterfront space perfect for stretching legs, letting kids run, and soaking in the natural beauty of the Highland Lakes. It sits right along the river and makes for a lovely in-between stop before lunch.
Old Oak Square Burger — Lunch
Old Oak Square Burger serves up the kind of smash burgers that make kids and adults equally happy — customizable, satisfying, and priced for a family. It’s become a staple stop for visitors making the rounds through Marble Falls.
Ms. Lollipops — Sweet Treat
Bella Sera brings Italian lakeside dining to Marble Falls with a well-curated menu and views that make the whole evening feel like a special occasion. It’s the right note to end Day One on — elegant but welcoming, perfect for a girls dinner.
Krause Springs — Hiking & Swimming
Krause Springs is one of Burnet County’s most magical outdoor destinations — natural spring-fed swimming holes, a cypress tree canopy, and trails that feel worlds away from everyday life. It’s the outdoor anchor of a family weekend in the Highland Lakes and the stop that everyone talks about on the drive home.
Opie’s BBQ — Dinner
Opie’s BBQ wraps up Day One the way Texas always does it best — with slow-smoked brisket, ribs, and sides that hit the spot after a full day outdoors. The outdoor seating and relaxed atmosphere make it easy with kids of any age.
Day 2
Numinous Coffee Shop
Start Day Two with coffee at Numinous before heading into Burnet — it’s a calming morning ritual that sets the pace for a fun and full day. Grab a pastry for the road if you’re heading straight to Putters & Gutters.
Putters & Gutters
Putters & Gutters in Burnet is a family entertainment center with something for every age — bowling, mini golf, arcade games, roller skating, and go-karts all under one roof. Plan to spend a couple of hours here; it’s the kind of place where you keep saying ‘one more round.
Bill’s Burgers + Burnet Riverwalk — Lunch
Bill’s Burgers delivers a reliably great lunch, and the Burnet Riverwalk right nearby is a lovely bonus for families — a shaded path along the creek where the kids can feed the ducks and burn off some post-burger energy.
Vanishing Texas River Cruise — Lake Buchanan
The Vanishing Texas River Cruise offers narrated boat tours on Lake Buchanan that are both educational and genuinely beautiful — bird life, canyon walls, and the wide-open Highland Lakes landscape from the water. It’s a standout experience for families and one of the most memorable activities in Burnet County.
Templeton’s Tavern — Dinner + Live Music
Templeton’s Tavern in Burnet is the kind of place families genuinely love — a casual outdoor setting with yard games, a stage with live music, and a menu that covers all the bases. It’s an easy, happy evening that doesn’t require anyone to be on their best behavior.
Eagle Eye Observatory — Optional Evening Stop
If the family still has energy after dinner, the Eagle Eye Observatory at Canyon of the Eagles offers one of the best stargazing experiences in all of Texas. Advance tickets are recommended — the Highland Lakes is one of the darkest sky areas in the state, and the views through the telescope are genuinely unforgettable.
Day 3 – Kingsland
Hooper’s — Brunch and Chainsaw Massacre Movie House
Hooper’s in Kingsland is a favorite Sunday brunch destination — a relaxed, welcoming spot with a family-friendly menu perfect for a leisurely meal before the drive home. For families with older kids or teens who enjoy horror movie history, it also makes an ideal stop after a quirky tour of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre filming house nearby, turning your visit into one of those memorable only-in-Texas experiences that caps off a Highland Lakes weekend perfectly
Where to stay
The right place to stay can make or break a family weekend. Burnet County is loaded with family-sized cabins, lakeside lodges, and vacation rentals just outside town, the kind with room for everyone, easy lake access, and a quick drive to everything on your itinerary. Pick your base camp below and reserve ahead, especially in summer.
Container City Burnet
Fun, visually exciting for kids — central to Burnet for Day 2
Creekside Camp & Cabins
Family cabin camp near Marble Falls — on-site creek
Log Country Cove on Lake LBJ
Classic lakefront cabin resort — paddleboats, swimming