We love Palo Duro, but avoid it in the summer. Sure, the show is going on, but you will have to endure the heat. We go for Spring Break sometimes, but the weather can turn on a dime. Once we almost got snowed in on our last day; another time it snowed during the middle of the trip and was incredibly beautiful. Anyhow, if I wasn't a teacher I'd visit in April or early May.
If you want to avoid the low water crossings (when the water is high, of course), stay in the Hackberry area. As I remember, it is close to a playground for the kids, too. The Mesquite area is very scenic, but across a series of low water crossings. I don't remember if there is a playground there.
