Things to Do in Broken Bow With Young Kids

The best things to do in Broken Bow with toddlers and kids 5 and under are Local 259, the new playground at Tucker Park, the Hochatown Petting Zoo or Beavers Bend Safari Park, the Forest Heritage Tree Trail, gemstone mining at Beavers Bend Mining Company, and the little train at Beavers Bend Depot. All six are easy outings with little ones, and most are a short drive from each other.

By Jamie, owner of Beyond Pines · Updated November 2026

We're a Dallas family with two young kids, and these are our picks for kids 5 and under. Everything here is a short drive from Beyond Pines, our family cabin on the south side between Broken Bow and Hochatown.

Hochatown

Local 259: lunch, shopping and room to run

Local 259 is your new favorite hangout in the woods. There's a gourmet market and grocery, a children's boutique, a candy shop and a turf lawn where little ones can run. Toddlers can be picky, so between the market and the food trucks, everyone finds something to eat.

Our tip: An easy lunch stop for the whole group.

Downtown Broken Bow · 5 min from the cabin

Tucker Park playground

Downtown Broken Bow's new playground sits right in the middle of the action. A compact climbing and sliding structure is just the right size for toddlers and preschoolers, and a poured rubber surface makes tumbles softer and strollers easier.

Our tip: Pair it with lunch at Papa Poblano's or Roma's.

Hochatown

Hochatown Petting Zoo

Hands-on time with barnyard animals, birds, reptiles and a few exotics. It's both a petting zoo and a certified wildlife rehabilitation center, which makes it a little more special than most.

Our tip: After rain it gets really muddy. Go to Beavers Bend Safari Park instead.

Beavers Bend State Park

Forest Heritage Tree Trail

An easy 1.2-mile loop through the woods that takes about 30 minutes. Park at the Forest Heritage Center, then explore the center and stop by The Hochatime Hideaway, our favorite gift shop in the area.

Our tip: It's popular, so expect to share the trail with other families.

Beavers Bend Mining Company

Gemstone mining

Kids pour pre-seeded bags into the sluice and take their finds home. With a little imagination, small stones become diamonds or ancient fossils.

Our tip: Buy one large bag and split it between kids.

Beavers Bend State Park

The little train at Beavers Bend Depot

Ride a 1/3-size replica of the 1863 C.P. Huntington train through the forest to Wahoo Hill. Rides run twice an hour and no reservations are needed.

Our tip: Bring cash for corn to feed the deer along the route.

Where to eat with little kids

• Local 259: the market and food trucks make it easy when everyone wants something different.
• Grateful Head Pizza and Mountain Fork Brewery in Hochatown are family favorites. On busy weekends, go before 3 PM to avoid long waits.
• Papa Poblano's and Roma's in Broken Bow usually have shorter waits than Hochatown on busy evenings.

Tips for Broken Bow with toddlers

• Plan around the traffic. On Fridays during spring break and holidays, traffic into Hochatown is heaviest from about 3 to 6 PM. Do your Hochatown outings in the morning.
• Bring cash for the train's deer corn and the smaller shops.
• Check the weather before the petting zoo, and have the Safari Park as a backup.
• Download maps before you go. Cell signal can be spotty in the forest.
• Pack a pack 'n play if you need one. Beyond Pines doesn't provide cribs.