K.A.
Galveston is great for short trips. Too cold to swim, but you still get the waves and the seagulls. They are just finished rebuilding their boardwalk with rides and games and concessions. What's not to love about a ferris wheel ride over the ocean? They also have Dickens on the Strand, where people dress up in period clothing and go caroling. Moody Gardens has a really nice walkthrough display of Christmas lights that is a great way to kick off the holiday season.
We went to Port Aransas last summer, and the kids had a blast. Playground at Robert's cutoff park, beaches, birding area and shops. The weather was pretty warm. They have a tram that goes all over town that is free. Corpus Christi has a really neat aquarium.
Fredericksburg is one of our favorite places to visit, too. Really nice to just walk around town. There is the Pink Granite state recreational area 16 miles out of town and Luekenbach is nearby as well. You can stop by the Dublin Bottling Co. and try some of their new recipes since Dr. Pepper ceased producing the Dublin Dr. Pepper brand.
Texas Ren Fest is in Houston for their last weekend. They decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend. Generally very crowded. Kemah Boardwalk between Houston and Galveston is a lot of fun, too.