Founded in 1846 and named after brothers William Harris and John Austin Wharton, this county has a wild imagination. Dinosaur Park provides a family-friendly park and playground – you can’t miss the home-built brontosaurus from the road. El Campo Museum displays stuffed animals in their natural habitat for a safe up close and personal viewing. If you’re feeling adventurous though, head over to Cowboy Up where you can take in a Birdseye view of Wharton while hang gliding. You’ll be able to see the Colorado River, which cuts through the middle of the county. For a weekend away, the Gulf of Mexico is only an hour drive.