The Best Day Trips To Take From Houston Texas

To tame this Texas longhorn of a city and its surrounding areas, you’re going to have to travel on four wheels or even four hooves if you really want to throw yourself into the local culture. Within one day, you will find enough new experiences to fill a small country. Here are some excellent day trips to take from Houston.

Moody Gardens

Only an hour’s drive from Houston, Moody Gardens has so many different attractions contained within its trio of pyramids that you’ll want to visit this sprawling hub of learning and fun more than once. Indeed, you could spend a whole week here. It features a 12-story aquarium pyramid, another one containing tropical plants, birds, reptiles and animals, along with a water park, a 4D theatre, a beach, a golf course, a zip line and much more.

Kemah Boardwalk

Take a short ride out of Houston to suddenly find yourself surrounded by sea, sand and an amusement park at the Kemah Boardwalk. Every type of thrillseeker is accommodated at this fun attraction over the sea – from the gentle Ferris wheel and carousel to the 73ft-tall (22m-tall) looping rollercoaster. The retail shops, restaurants and, of course, revitalizing sea air make this well worth the trip out of town. A 40-minute car journey is all it takes to get you to the Texas Gulf Coast and all the funnel cake you can eat.

Brenham, Texas

If you’re weary of the pace of Houston and want a taste of the more peaceful, small-town Texas life, visit Brenham. It’s a town rich in history and home to multiple museums covering pretty much every aspect of the authentic Texan experience and many picturesque historical buildings. For those more interested in the artistic side, Brenham has a busy calendar of gallery shows, live music and theater, all of which are worth checking out. Plus, there’s a tearoom and Blue Bell Creamery, where you can wrap up your day with a sweet treat. Getting to Brenham is a straightforward one-hour trip down the US-290.

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

If you want to learn about Texas’s wildlife and ancient landscape, this beautiful 37,000-acre (14,973ha) wildlife reserve is the place to do it. Houston is known as the Bayou City, and here, the swamps and marshes of Texas, as well as their critter residents, are on full display. Relax and take things at a more leisurely pace as you explore the trails, woodland, fishing areas and beaches of this stunning area of natural beauty. Make sure to keep an eye out for the superb species of butterflies that make their home here. The primary visitor’s center is located near the town of Anahuac, Texas, on FM 563.

Greater Houston Soaring Association

How about an experience that will let you see Texas from a whole new angle? The Greater Houston Soaring Association (GHSA) offers glider adventures to visitors, co-ordinated by experienced FAA-certified pilots, providing a thrilling ride and stunning views of the Greater Houston area. Go up in one of these peaceful, quiet, motorless vehicles, and maybe you’ll come back down with a taste for more (the GHSA also gives flying lessons for those who catch the bug). Flights operate on weekends, weather permitting. Make a reservation, and then it’s just an hour’s drive from Downtown Houston.

USS Lexington

Civilians don’t get many opportunities to get up close and personal with a military aircraft carrier, especially one of this size, so it’s worth paying a visit to this imposing World War II vessel. The 33,000-ton Lexington isn’t just a stunning piece of engineering for visitors to admire; it is a tangible piece of American history. More than a ship, it also houses exhibitions, a flight simulator and a cinema. Also, tours take place throughout the day, so there are plenty of fun activities. To get here, take a three-hour journey down the US-59 along the coast.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.