Things to Do With Kids in Houston, Texas

Founded 40 years ago, the Children’s Museum is one of the top attractions Houston has to offer for kids and adults alike. Contained within its iconic building, the museum houses 14 interactive, educational exhibits that cover topics as diverse as science, environmentalism, construction, technology and biology, and hosts a constantly changing calendar of special events. Houston is the size of several cities put together, so it’s only fitting that it has several cities’ worth of museums. The wonderful children’s museum is only one of 19 institutions in the museum district just south of midtown and easily accessible by car or metro.

Anyone looking for a day out that is less cerebral, and more ‘screaming with your family while sliding down a tube full of water and landing in a gigantic pool’, should make their way to Splashway Waterpark, a perfect escape from the heat and humidity of Houston. The variety of slides, swings, pools, boats, waterfalls and every conceivable man-made method of aquatic fun should keep the little ones happy for hours. Splashway Waterpark is an hour drive from Houston, but with affordable entry prices and the ability to bring your own food and drinks in, you can spend the whole day here without it breaking the bank.

The second-most visited zoo in the US, Houston Zoo is home to flora and fauna from every corner of the globe. The zoo isn’t merely catering to the entertainment of visitors however, it also provides environmental and conservation education programs alongside the opportunity for the kids to get up close and personal with some of their 6,000 furry, scaly and feathered residents.The zoo is located in the beautiful Hermann Park in the museum district, with parking options nearby.

Houston’s famous NASA Johnson Space Center is obviously a must-see for people of any age, but the exhibit coordinators have also provided excellent opportunities for fun and learning for the smaller wannabe space explorers in your party. Interactive displays, rockets used in actual space flights and tours around real working NASA facilities make this the crowning jewel of Houston’s tourist attractions. Johnson Space Center is conveniently located for visitors only a 30-minute drive from downtown Houston.

This attraction has the look and feel of a real laboratory, but is made for children to play and learn. Choose from a list of 30 experiments related to subjects such as volcanoes, rockets and polymers, then don your lab coat and glasses and let the fun begin. The location in Cypress is easily reached by car, with plenty of parking in the local area.

This working farm offers visitors a taste of the Texan countryside. The wide variety of activities change from season to season, with different play areas across many acres of land including a sandbox and play space for toddlers, as well as slides and adventure courses for the older kids. The farm has many goats, pigs, sheep, ducks and all other types of farmyard friends to get acquainted with. Only a 50-minute drive from downtown Houston, make sure you come prepared to stay the whole day as Dewberry farm will keep everyone entertained until closing time.