Houston is home to a wide variety of family-friendly activities. Whether you have toddlers or teens, they’ll find something to enjoy in the area — and more often than not, the whole family can find fun in one place.
Kemah Boardwalk
At Kemah Boardwalk, you’ll find food, rides, entertainment, shopping — and the waterfront, of course. You can get an all-day ride pass for under $20, take a wild ride on the Boardwalk Beast, and try the rock-climbing wall. Enjoy casual or more upscale dining — or eat at Aquarium, an underwater dining experience you’ll never forget.
215 Kipp Ave., Kemah, TX 77555. Hours: Rides: Sunday-Thursday 10:30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday: 10:30am-11pm. Other venues vary. Admission: Free, All-day ride pass $16.99 under 48″, $19.99 48″ and up.
Moody Gardens
Just a short drive from Houston is Galveston Island’s Moody Gardens, an incredible tropical destination with all kinds of places to explore. Its original purpose was a Hippotherapy riding program for people with head injuries. Today, it’s one of the premier educational/recreational facilities in the Southwest, and provides therapies, education, and jobs for people with all kinds of physical and emotional disabilities. But it’s also an amazing, fun-filled vacation spot, with a hotel and spa, golf, rainforest and aquarium pyramids to explore, 3D and 4D movie theatres, and much, much more.
One Hope Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77554. Hours: Open 365 days/year 10am-6pm all year, open till 8pm in summer. Admission: one-day pass$49.95/person; 2-day pass $59.95/person.
Space Center Houston
No visit to Houston is complete without a full tour of Space Center Houston. You can watch real astronauts train for actual missions, touch a moon rock, land a shuttle, and go for a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA. You’ll find plenty of hands-on exhibits, special presentations, and fun that’s truly out of this world.
1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058. Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am – 5pm. Saturday-Sunday: 10am – 6pm. Admission: Adults: 19.95, Children 4-11: 15.95, Seniors: 18.95.
Old MacDonald’s Farm
If you’re looking for a quieter way to spend the day, consider a visit to Old MacDonald’s Farm in Humble, a short drive from Houston. This 15-acre farm has a petting zoo, pony rides, a train ride, and even a swimming pool, plus plenty of room for picnics and just enjoying time with family and friends. Feed the ducks, walk right up to a stray calf, and spend some time at the sand table and swingsets. Pay once, stay all day, and enjoy everything as much as you want.
3203 FM 1960 Rd E, Humble, TX 77338. Hours: Open 10:00 a.m. Daily March 1st – October 31st; weekends November – February, weather permitting, closing time varies with season. Admission: $8 per person, Babies under 18 months: free.
Health museum
The Health Museum is an often-overlooked attraction in Houston. The museum is a member of Houston’s phenomenal medical center and offers all kinds of hands-on activities for kids and families, including a walk through the human body, real organ dissections, family science labs, a world of insects, and more.
1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm, Mondays (June – August only) 9am-5pm. Admission: Members: Free, Non-member adult: $8, Non-member child or senior: $6; Children under 3: Free.
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