Houston, Texas is a bustling city with a plethora of fun family activities including various museums, parks, theaters, and cultural experiences. There are plenty of venues to fulfill a fun family weekend.
Come with us as we explore some of the best places for you and your family to visit including family friendly museums, outdoor adventures, and the most unique experiences Houston has to offer.
What Are the Best Family Activities in Houston?
If you want a list of the best things for your family to do this weekend in Houston, you’ve come to the right place. Check out these hotspots:
The Space Center of Houston is a must-see venue that will take you into the history of space exploration. From the beginning of America’s journey into space, you will get to see hundreds of artifacts including tours of the Apollo Mission Control Center and various movies on all things space.
The Express Children’s Theater is a wonderful place to enjoy the performing arts. Its shows are dedicated to family friendly entertainment and there are lots of different plays, shows, and spectacles to take in every weekend.
The Downtown Aquarium in Houston is perfect for those who love to explore the wonders of the ocean. Check out rich, colorful coral reefs with a variety of fish species and roaming sharks. Get the chance to touch live stingrays and explore unique exhibits like the Sunken Temple and Louisiana Swamp.
The Miller Outdoor Theater is another great entertainment venue that hosts plays, concerts, and other shows that are family friendly and open for all to watch. Enjoy the great outdoors while enriching your cultural experience of downtown Houston.
What Family Friendly Museums Are There to Visit in Houston?
If you’re all about museum exploration, Houston is the perfect place to spend your weekend. Check out some of these amazing museums that you and your family can discover in the heart of Texas.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has everything you could ever want from a museum. Walk among the life size replicas of dinosaur skeletons and explore the unique monuments of other ancient cultures. Check out their unique collection of hominid skulls and other fossil findings that will blow your mind.
The Children’s Museum has a child-size marketplace and main street where kids can explore and try their hand at the grown up world in a fun setting. If it’s a hot day, go outside and play in the water pipes. Even your toddlers can enjoy the toy boats and some of the more fun, colorful interactive exhibits.
The Health Museum is a fun and educational way to spend time in Houston. Check out the workings of the human body and explore physiology like never before with giant cell replicas and a peek at the inner workings of your body.
What Are Some Outdoor Adventures for Families to Explore in Houston?
If you want to enjoy the outdoors during your exploration of Houston, there are plenty of great activities that also let you breathe the fresh air.
Go to a baseball game at Minute Maid Park. Your family will enjoy the great American pastime of eating hot dogs and watching an Astros game while singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with a stadium full of baseball fans.
The Houston Zoo is home to over 6000 animals that live in their outdoor exhibits, which you and your family will enjoy exploring. The lion pen and the elephant pool are two of the best enclosures that you won’t want to miss.
If you’re visiting Houston in the middle of the summer, it can get unbearably hot. A great solution to beat the heat is to visit SplashTown. This 40 acre water park has impressive water slides and tons of aquatic rides to cool you off and guarantee fun for all.
In the middle of downtown Houston, you can explore Discovery Green, a natural park that also has lots of educational sculptures and play areas that promote a green environment. Learn about how Houston is helping to achieve a clean and fun space that restores and protects our fragile earth.
Are There Any Unique Family Friendly Things to Do in Houston?
If you’re looking for an experience out of the ordinary, Houston offers some hidden gems that your family will remember for a lifetime.
Check out Rodeo Houston where you can watch the barrel racers, cattle drivers, and bucking horse wranglers do their stuff. This venue also hosts live concerts and has lots of animals to check out including livestock showings.
If you want to treat the family to a sweet surprise, stop by the Chocolate Bar. Its bright purple painted walls and shelves full of jars filled with every kind of candy imaginable will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into Candyland. Satisfy your sugar cravings with all things chocolate!
Maybe you’re looking for a fun activity to get in touch with the artist within. Check out The Mad Potter where you and your family can paint your own pottery pieces that will get fired in the kiln so you can display them at home for all the world to see.
The Lone Star Flight Museum is another great venue to check out to witness some of Houston’s military history and explore planes and flying contraptions of all kinds. There’s even a computerized flight simulator that will let you be the pilot of your own flight adventure.
Summary
Houston, Texas is a treasure trove of amazing places to visit and things to do. Have your family explore the zoo, aquarium, or rodeo if you love to experience all different kinds of animals. If you’re looking for a more interactive fun time, check out Splashtown, a ball game in Minute Maid Park, or the Children’s Museum to have an adventure like no other.
Don’t forget to stop at the Chocolate Bar or the Mad Potter to take home a souvenir from your unforgettable weekend in the heart of Texas!
