Traveling to Houston?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Houston.Heading to the most populous city in Texas? Space City, formally known as Houston, is the most populated city in its home state and the 4th most populous city in the US! So it’s bound to have some great family-friendly things to do, right??? We did some digging and identified so many wonderful options for you and your little ones to enjoy in the city known as the world capital of space exploration. So, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1……blast off! And head to Houston for your next family vacation! Here is your Houston travel guide.
Space Center Houston is great for kids of all ages
To kick off your Houston adventure, you might as well start with what the city is known for and go to Space Center Houston. The museum is the official visitor center and exhibit that’s part of the NASA Johnson Space Center. So, needless to say, this place is legit. The JCS is a training center for real-life astronauts and the official Mission Control for space expeditions. Pretty cool, huh?! You and your kids can explore over 400 artifacts and exhibits in the museum, see real and replica spacecraft, and even have lunch with an astronaut!
Visit the Museum District of Houston
On day two of your trip, head to the Museum District. Sarah Korus, Houston mommy and YouTube blogger, @hausvonfloof, says: “One of my favorite kid-friendly activities in Houston is going to the Museum District. You have the Houston Zoo, the playgrounds at Hermann Park and The Cockrell Butterfly Exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science. They are all within walking distance of each other. We like to start at the Zoo and then take the little train over to the museum and then to the playgrounds! Hermann Park also has plenty of open grass to plop down a blanket and enjoy a picnic. It’s truly our favorite way to spend a weekend in one of the prettiest parts of town!” Sounds like a pretty perfect day to us!
Explore TotSpot & Kidtropolis at the Children’s Museum of Houston
After your picnic lunch, head over to the Children’s Museum of Houston, which is also within walking distance of the same district. The museum’s name says it all! You’ll find tons of exhibits that are super hands-on and the kids will be exhausted after exploring all the museum has to offer. It’s likely they will sleep super well that night! For your little ones, make sure to go to TotSpot for kiddos 35 months and younger. And for the big kids, you’ll want to check out Kidtropolis, a metropolitan, make-believe city!
There is so much to do and see at Discovery Green
Make sure to plan a day at Discovery Green near East Downtown. It’s a 12-acre park with TONS to offer so it had to make our Houston Travel Guide. No matter what time of year you’re in Houston, you’ll be able to enjoy the park. There are restaurants, performance venues, splash pads, ice skating in the winter, playgrounds, gardens, and a jogging trail. The list goes on and on!
Make time for Houston’s famous Water Wall
After you spend the day at Discovery Green park, take a short 15-minute drive to the Water Wall, the most photographed site in Houston. We recommend going around sunset or dusk, the natural lighting and the lighting of the wall are gorgeous!
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Drive a short distance from Houston to experience more fun places
If you’re looking for places to explore just outside Houston, you should head to one of these three places for sure: Moody Gardens in Galveston, Kemah Boardwalk, or Old MacDonald’s Farm in Humble.
Moody Gardens
Moody Gardens has 9 attractions spread out over 242 acres, including a full hotel and convention center. There are tons of animal experiences, water fun, and even a golf course for mom and dad! It’s about an hour away from Houston, so go for the day or spend the night. Either way, you’ll have a great time!
Kemah Boardwalk
Kemah Boardwalk is also about an hour away and is an old-timey boardwalk perfect for all ages. It sits on Galveston/Trinity Bays and offers all the traditional rides and amusements of a boardwalk, plus dining, shopping, and events! Most of the rides are more suitable for older kiddos, but they also offer a playground and “Dancing Water Fountain” that would be tons of fun for little ones too!
Old MacDonald’s Farm
If you have a toddler or preschooler, chances are you frequently sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and make hilarious animal noises to appease said toddler or preschooler. Well, why not indulge their love of the song even more and take them to Old MacDonald’s Farm! Located about 30 minutes from Houston, the farm has been around since 1991 and offers 12 petting zoos, a train, a swimming pool (for humans!), playgrounds, and more! There are a few seasonal offerings too – like baby ducks and pumpkins!
Plan your trip around the Texas Renaissance Faire dates!
Looking for an event to attend while you’re in Houston? If you’re there between October and December, then we recommend the Texas Renaissance Faire, which is about an hour away from Houston. The festival has all the traditional offerings of a “ren faire” plus lots of extras and special themes because it runs for nearly 3 months! We recommend visiting on a Sunday; kids 12 and under are free. You and your clan can make candles, try some armour on, and even do some blacksmithing! The faire also has lots of rides and kid-specific activities in the New Market Village area. So, “fare thee well” and enjoy the festival!
Express Children’s Theatre and Main Street Theater
Both Express and Main Street Theater are among Houston’s best and most well-established theater institutions, known for their engaging and stimulating performances. Express Children’s Theatre is Houston’s oldest and largest multicultural performing arts and education organization dedicated to children and families.
It is worth it to catch a performance! Express Theater and Main Street perform at many public venues in the city and also run a range of residencies and workshops for kids of all ages. Many are even free of cost! They bring the magic and excitement of quality interactive theatre and storytelling directly to children in their schools and communities.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a 155-acre non-profit urban nature sanctuary located just miles from Downtown Houston on the western edge of Memorial Park. Established in 1967, the Arboretum was one of the first nature education facilities for children in the state of Texas.
Visitors can enjoy 5 miles of nature trails, winding through native prairie, savanna, wetland, woodland, and riparian habitats. Six educational Field Stations throughout the site offer information about local plants and wildlife as well as places to sit and take in the views.
The Arboretum’s eight ponds and wetland areas, along with Buffalo Bayou on its southern border, provide ample opportunities for exciting wildlife sightings. The Nature Center building is open to the public and includes a Nature Shop filled with items for nature lovers of all ages as well as an interactive Discovery Room.
Educational exhibits, hands-on activities, live ambassador animals, biofacts, and a weekly botany display make the Discovery Room the perfect place for visitors young and old to explore.
The Chocolate Bar
The Chocolate Bar provides the city with delicious handmade chocolates, ice cream, and baked goods you won’t find anywhere else! The Chocolate Bar is Houston’s unique, all-chocolate alternative. Even if you have dietary restrictions, the Chocolate Bar has something for you to indulge in.
Satisfy all those sweet cravings in this restaurant that pays tribute to all things chocolate. Dig into delicious cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, and the must-try ‘trompe l’oeil’ pizza. Stock up at the traditional candy counter and enjoy live music and swing dancing on Thursdays.
The Galleria
The Galleria is Houston’s most popular retail and tourist destination, meeting every style and taste. A plethora of amenities, including a full-size ice rink for recreational and figure skating, a state-of-the-art children’s play area, two swimming pools, and much more! Check out the 400-plus stores and refuel at one of the many eateries that include chain favorites such as Shake Shack and Chipotle.
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
MFAH packs in over 6,000 years of history in its 64,000+ pieces of art from 6 continents. View world-renowned artwork such as Monet’s Water Lilies, Glieze’s La Femme, and sculptures and paintings from the Roman period.
Taking the 45-minute tour is the best way to cover all the highlights. A part of the MFAH, Bayou is the museum’s 14-acre facility that houses American furniture, paintings, and decorative art. The building was once home to Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. Bayou Bend offers a range of interesting activities to visitors, such as Family Days, Detective Days, history book discussions, and a summer history camp.
Schlitterbahn Water Park
Cool off in the Houston heat at Schlitterbahn Water Park near Houston on beautiful Galveston Island. From mild to wild, there’s something for everyone at Schlitterbahn Galveston.
Rivers connect for a mile of fun through three distinct park sections at Schlitterbahn Galveston. The waterpark is a thrill-seekers paradise with high thrill speed slides including Rohr!, MASSIV, and the immersive Screaming Serpents body slide. Each section has raft rides, pools, and water coasters with great picnic pavilions and pint-sized water playgrounds for kids of all ages.
Ride the uphill Dragon Blaster water coaster, or catch lovely views of the park while riding the Soaring Eagle Zipline. You’ll have to navigate the park through its lazy river—quite a fun, unique feature!
Houston Area Live Steamers
Attention train enthusiasts, Houston Live Steamers is a must-do! Dedicated to live steam modeling, the Houston Area Live Steamers is “the” organization for free rides aboard steam engine and diesel model trains, along a 4,700-foot track. Take the Cypress Creek and Southern Railroad track for a scenic ride through the Northwest Harris County park, replete with miniature bridges and windmills. You can also picnic in Zube Park.
Houston Urban Air Trampoline Park
Urban Air is one of the city’s best indoor adventure parks, setting the stage for a day of family fun! There’s something for everyone here, including rope courses, tube playgrounds, climbing walls, a DropZone, plenty of trampolines, a tumble track, and even dodgeball! There’s also a dedicated area for tots under 7.
SplashTown
There are countless ways to hit the water in SplashTown, including jumbo slides and plenty of wading pools and tubes. Try the 75-foot drop into a ginormous pool of swirling water in The Tornado, or the 5-story Texas Freefall for a serious adrenaline rush! There are also many family rides, such as a lazy river, and many kid-friendly eateries.
Best food in Houston, Texas
We’ve saved the best for last. Let’s talk Houston food. A vacation isn’t complete without lots of eating! We’ve found a handful of awesome Houston eateries that are perfect for the entire family.
Little Matt’s
The first stop on your mini Houston food tour has to be Little Matt’s. It is the definition of “kid-friendly”, complete with a mini arcade, soft-serve ice cream, a candy bar, and even an Icee machine! Kids of all ages (this includes grown-up kids!) will love the food too: burgers galore, salads, and tons more.
American Girl Bistro
If you’ve got an American Girl fan, then you’ve gotta head over to the American Girl store and eat at the bistro. You can book a special package, have afternoon tea or attend one of their scheduled events. No matter what, you’ll be “parent of the year.”
Red River Bar-B-Que and Grill
It wouldn’t be a Texas vacation without some barbecue. Make a pit stop at Red River Bar-B-Que and Grill (they have multiple locations) to get your barbecue fix and to entertain the kids. There’s a sandbox to keep them busy while you relax and indulge in some delicious food!
Jimmy Changas
We’ll wrap up our food tour with a visit to Jimmy Changas. They have 4 locations in the area so you’re bound to run into one during your Houston adventure and we guarantee a good time! The food is Tex Mex so go hungry because you’ll want to try everything. They are known for their “Jimmy Jungle” specifically for the “little monkeys” in your group. They’ll play for hours in between snacking and while you sip on one of their delicious adult beverages!
There is much more to do in Houston and we hope this guide is a great starting point for your Space City trip! Are you a Houston local or native? Add to the list! We love hearing what your favorite places are. Comment below!
No matter your agenda, a trip to Houston means tons of walking! Little legs can tire out fast. If you aren’t interested in lugging a bulky stroller through the airport, rent one instead. BabyQuip has multiple providers in Houston who will deliver a clean, safe and insured stroller right to your location!
Traveling to Houston?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Houston.
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
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What’s the best time of year to visit? I’ve heard it can get really hot.