Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Houston Area

One of Texas’ best zoos is right here in Houston. Get your animal groove on exploring animal habitats, giraffe feedings, Naturally Wild Swap Shop (where you can bring in your found treasures), and Meet the Keeper talks/encounters/feedings every half hour. Their Water Play Park, Sneak Peek tours, Zoo Crew experiences, and Vet for a Day programs provide fun for toddlers to teens. Always be on top of what's happening at the Zoo: Click here to sign up for their newsletter.

Bursting with 90,000 square feet of action-packed fun, Children’s Museum Houston is a Playground for Your Mind™.  Be all you can be in Kidtropolis, USA - a city for kids, run by kids; harness the power of water in FlowWorks; climb the three-story Power Tower in PowerPlay; crack codes, uncover clues and outsmart villains in SECRET – the city’s only interactive spy experience and more!  There’s something new to do every day.  Can your mind come out to play?™

This Christmas season, you don’t need to go far or break the bank for a touch of holiday magic! Dewberry Farm is pulling out all the stops with its new holiday tradition, A Berry Merry Christmas! Snuggle up on a wagon ride, sip hot cocoa, and take in the breathtaking trail of 3 MILLION sparkling holiday lights! Feel the warmth of the season as you wander through our Christmas light forest, filled with giant baubles, twinkling stars, and 40-foot dancing trees. Throw snowballs, build a real snowman, meet Santa, and much more! Plus, parking is FREE! ‘A Berry Merry Christmas opens Nov 22 – December 29. Dewberry Farm is located in Brookshire, TX, 45-mnutes from downtown Houston west on I-10. Capture the Holiday Spirit and make Merry Memories this season at Dewberry Farm!​

Experience nature in the heart of Houston at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center! Explore 5 miles of trails, let your imagination run wild on the new Nature Playscape, or learn about Houston’s native ecosystems in the Discovery Room – all free of charge. This 155-acre non-profit nature sanctuary works to protect native plants and wildlife while offering environmental education opportunities for all ages. Become a Member to receive early access to children’s program registration, discounts on classes and events, free parking, and so much more! Trails open daily from 7 am – dusk; Nature Center open daily from 9 am – 4 pm.

When you visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you’re not just going to one place. You’re exploring tropical rainforests and worlds galaxies away. You’re going back in time to when dinosaurs walked the Earth and blasting forward to the future of renewable energy. With five floors of permanent halls and a steady rotation of traveling special exhibits, this Houston attraction will take you beyond our walls to experience the wonder and delight of science. Browse our resources below for information on making the most out of your visit to this must-see location in Houston.

Splashway is your family's new favorite vacation destination! Come for the day and experience the CLEANEST waterpark in Texas or stay a few nights in our gorgeous campgrounds. Our waterpark has something for every member of your family, including high-thrill world class slides, toddler-focused splash pads, and everything in between! Next door, our scenic campgrounds have tons of activities, amenities, and attractions that you can enjoy from the comfort of a cabin, cottage, RV site, or tent! Our amazing staff, cleanliness, and dedication to our guests’ experience have made us the highest rated vacay spot in Texas! So if your family needs a getaway, book your stay today!

Dive into food and fun at the Downtown Aquarium – an underwater adventure! Experience the wonder of the underwater world at the unique Aquarium Restaurant, Dive Lounge, Nautilus Ballroom and as you tour the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit,. You’ll be amazed by all the fascinating sea creatures, sharks and more. Touch and feed the deep-water dwellers at Stingray Reef, and catch a glimpse of the magnificent White Tigers of the Maharaja's Temple. Kids and adults will love our amusement rides and midway games. You can take a thrilling ride on the Shark Voyage Train and go through a tunnel of sharks!

So many memories to be made out at Blessington Farms! Farm Funland includes hay rides, gemstone mining, Jump Pad, pedal cars, hay maze, animal encounters with camels, chickens, goats, awesome aviary and MUCH more. Don't forget barrel train rides, giant slides and even a fossil dig! Tons of events throughout the year....Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival, Easter Egg-stravaganza, Spring Break Spectacular.

Main Event is your ultimate family entertainment center with 10 locations throughout Texas. Main Event offers a unique “Eat.Bowl.Play.” experience featuring state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, thrilling high ropes adventure courses, captivating game rooms featuring the latest video and amusement, stylish billiards, energetic bars and high-quality restaurants. In addition to providing free wi-fi, guests rave about the superior value of activities including happy hour specials, eat & play bundles, and the birthday, private and corporate parties/events. Our 45,000- to 75,000-square-foot family entertainment centers provide plenty of free parking and unrivaled entertainment and dining experiences, all at a great value. #Eat.Bowl.Play.

Discovery Green® is a highly acclaimed 12-acre park in downtown Houston that features sprawling lawns, a one-acre lake, an interactive fountain, a playground, public art installations, gardens and an allée of century-old live oaks. The Discovery Green Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that runs the park, works with hundreds of programming partners to present artistic, musical, educational, family-friendly and health-focused events each year, most of which are presented free to the public. 

Calling all vacationers, staycationers, thrill seekers, and relaxation needers! Get ready for a summer full of GOOD. CLEAN. FUN in Houston. BEST. SUMMER. EVER. Experience the thrills of waterslides, floating on the lazy river, live entertainment.

Since 1923, Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park has been Houston’s venue for free outdoor performances. This remarkable facility with its free high-quality programs is unique in the US. It is the only proscenium theatre in the country that offers an artistically excellent, culturally diverse eight month season of performances totally free of charge to the public.

Watching an Astros baseball game at Minute Maid Park is the perfect activity that the entire family will enjoy. Grab a hot dog, enjoy the game, and escape the Texas heat at an Astros game in the heart of downtown Houston.

Be sure to check out the Astros Buddies Club, presented by BBVA, the official Kids Club of the Houston Astros and the coolest way to show your Astros Pride in school or on the playground.

The Astros Buddies Club has activations and activities for kids throughout the year. For more information, visit Astros.com/Buddies.

Nature has top billing at this park. Be sure to bring your walking shoes, binoculars and camera. Besides marveling at nature, you can also hike and bike, fish, picnic, geocache, ride your horse, and stay over­night. Reserve one of our picnic pavilions or our group hall for your next group gathering. Pay due respect to alligators, which are common in some areas of the park. Read our alligator safety tips before you come. Explore on foot, bike, or horseback. We have 37 miles of trails, some of which are wheelchair-friendly.

Located in Conroe Texas, near the Woodlands. Come play in a 7 1/2 acre old-fashioned Family Fun Park! Visit the petting zoo, mini golf course, western play town, huge playground, gigantic sandbox, rope slide, horseshoes and much more. Healthy family fun that kids love! Open for admissions, school field trips, company picnics, birthday parties, and more.

Cordovan Art School provides children, teens, and adults the best art classes and art camps. In the studio, students explore art hands-on through drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery wheel, mixed media and much more.

Experience nature in the heart of Houston at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center! Explore 5 miles of trails, let your imagination run wild on the new Nature Playscape, or learn about Houston’s native ecosystems in the Discovery Room – all free of charge. This 155-acre non-profit nature sanctuary works to protect native plants and wildlife while offering environmental education opportunities for all ages. Become a Member to receive early access to children’s program registration, discounts on classes and events, free parking, and so much more! Trails open daily from 7 am – dusk; Nature Center open daily from 9 am – 4 pm.