There are so many amazing things to do and see in Houston with kids! Our family keeps a pretty careful budget so I’m always excited when I can find something fun to do for under $20. We’ve come up with quite the list over the years, and it just keeps growing! I’m excited to be partnering with Rent.com today to share with you some of our absolute favorites!
Jesse Jones Park – This is an amazing nature park located in Humble (just NW of Houston). Miles of walking trails that will lead you over bridges, to lakes, and all through the woods. There are weekly kids clubs where children can come and learn about the wildlife and nature found in the park. There are several amazing annual events such as homestead day and Pioneer day, where they turn the park into an old fashioned settlement. Kids are able to make corn husk dolls, try bread that’s been cooked over fire and even play with toys from “back in the day”. Always free, this is fun whether there is a special event happening or not. We even took our family photos there one year (see below). Our rating: 5 stars (it’s a favorite!)
Mercer Arboretum – Also located in Humble, just south of Cypress Creek the arboretum is a great place to walk with kids. Gorgeous flowers and bushes to learn about and lots of nature trails to explore. There’s even a playground for the kids after you’ve finished walking the gardens. Although it sounds like a very “adult” location we always enjoy taking our kids there as there is plenty of room for them to run and explore. Our rating: 4 stars
Miller outdoor theater – If you love the art this is the place for you. You can get free tickets or simply “sit on the hill”. The theater backs up to a grassy hill that many people bring blankets to and sit to watch with binoculars. Everything from plays to musicals and even dance and symphony events can be found at the outdoor theater.
During the Summer they host a variety of plays specifically for younger kids in the mornings which is always fun. We like sitting on the hill, because it allows younger kids the chance to stand up and run a little if they need to while still immersing them in the arts! our rating: 5 stars
The Houston Zoo – The zoo in Houston is a must for visitors and Houston natives alike. There are so many animals, from bears to lions and even a new gorilla exhibit. There are educational activities for the kids and a petting zoo too! It’s a very hands-on zoo which my kids love.
There’s lots of space, so you cna go with large groups, or walk around by yourself. I’ve been with three families (and collectively 10 kids) at once and we had no trouble sticking together without feeling like we were in every one’s way, which is rare for a place like that!
If you are looking at ticket prices and wondering how this make the under $20 list, it’s because I recommend getting a membership. They have a variety of options but for a family membership right now it’s $119. That gets two adults and up to 3 kids in for free for an entire year. During the Summer you can find us at the zoo weekly, we love it so much and it ends up being about $5 a trip if you break the $119 over the whole year and parking is always free. Our personal rating: 5 stars
Galveston Beach – This is a bit of a drive from Houston, but still worth mentioning. For about $8 in parking you can spend the whole day at the beach! We’re talking sandcastles, walking along the beach and even some fun shops to explore! We always enjoy a family day at the beach and the kids beg to go about every other day!
Monkey Bizness – Another one of our favorite locations, there are lots of inflatables for kids (and adults) to enjoy, a rock wall and even an area specifically for younger kids. We love that adults are able to jump up there with the kids and our young kids did too since some of the inflatables are very large and intimidating, especially for the three year olds. We always have an amazing time when we go and no one ever wants to leave. Entry is between $6-$8.50 per person depending on the day/time and worth every penny. Our rating: 5 stars
If you are planning to move to Houston to check out some of these awesome places be sure to check out rent.com to see all of the amazing options in our area. I used it a lot when were moving to scope out which apartments we wanted to choose. I love how user friendly it is, it saved me a lot of phone calls and hours in the car driving to places that I would never have worked for us.
What is your favorite thing to do in your city? Have you ever been to Houston to visit or stay?
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