By: David Unsworth | From: Fox News

As the second-largest state in America, with a rich cultural and historical legacy, Texas has long been a popular tourist destination for family vacations.

From rugged mountains and plains in the west, to a lengthy coastline with famed beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, Texas has something that everyone in the family can enjoy. 

It also boasts some of the nation's best museums, historical sites and cultural attractions.

Its major cities include Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio and the state capital, Austin.

As these cities are located in a triangular pattern on the eastern side of the state, it is entirely feasible to conveniently visit them all on a family road trip. Transport is made even easier by the state's excellent highway system.

San Antonio River Walk

In nearby San Antonio, the city's famed River Walk has long been popular with tourists of all ages.

It's a 15-mile complex of canals, biking and hiking trails, and walkways, packed with history museums, fine dining and shopping. It also features the historical site The Alamo.

River Walk is broken down into three sections: Museum Reach, Downtown and Mission Reach, and they can be toured on foot, on bicycle or by boat.

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Top attractions include The Pearl, a complex of Second Empire-style buildings, the Grotto, where you can walk into a jaguar's mouth, and the San Antonio Museum of Art, featuring impressive Greek, Roman and Egyptian collections.

The Alamo

The Alamo is a family-friendly museum located on the site of a former Spanish mission and fortress, which commemorates 1836's famous Battle of the Alamo.

It excels in engaging children of all ages in history, with scavenger hunts and worksheets designed to make learning about history enjoyable. Make sure to allow time for the church and the gardens.

The Texas State Capitol

The impressive Texas State Capitol, in Austin, is a must-see on a family vacation.

It features a wealth of history, with a wide variety of statues and monuments, including the Heroes of the Alamo Monument, and the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument.

The structure, built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, features a 302-foot dome and a massive open rotunda. 

It was modeled on the design of the U.S. Capitol, but, true to the local geology, features an exterior clad in local red granite.