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.

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.

Discovery happens at Children’s Museum Houston – A Playground for Your Mind™! Get ready for an Epic Adventure scavenger hunt designed to keep minds engaged while keeping everyone safe. Explore 11-Adventure Zones on a one-way trail, collect the clues and claim your prize. Free Thursday Family Nights and membership rates make it affordable for all. Open Wednesday – Sunday.

 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.

What’s on at Miller?  The best music, dance, theatre and more.  And, always free!

Since 1923, Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park has been one of Houston’s most beloved cultural treasures, a gathering place for the community and the site of thousands of memorable free performances. 

Miller is unique in the United States, offering an eight month season of professional, artistically-excellent and culturally diverse entertainment completely FREE of charge to the public. This is the largest "always free" program of its kind in the country and it attracts hundreds of thousands each season.  From daytime programs especially for young children to family friendly evening performances of classical music, jazz, ethnic music and dance, ballet, Shakespeare, musical theatre, popular concert artists, films and more, this is Houston’s best entertainment value.  For more information visit milleroutdoortheatre.com.

My Gym offers fun-filled, exciting physical early learning programs for children ages 7 months through 10 years.  The children gain confidence and self-esteem as they develop physically, cognitively and emotionally in age-appropriate classes.  In addition to our amazing classes, we also offer energy packed birthday parties, camps, and parents night out.  Our promise to love and nuture children through meaningful play.

Of course, the libraries in the Houston area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!

CYT Houston offers classes for students ages 5-18 throughout the school year. Classes include drama, voice, dance, and behind-the-scenes training in makeup, costumes, tech, and more. Classes are held for two hours once a week and run for nine consecutive weeks in Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions. Class sizes are small and offer supervision both inside and outside the classroom. Each session culminates in a high-energy showcase to demonstrate to family, friends, and fellow students the skills acquired.  Students who are enrolled in classes are eligible to audition for our Broadway-style musical productions. 

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.

The Sugar Land Skeeters are a Minor League Baseball team of the Triple-A West and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, and play their home games at Constellation Field.

 Topgolf features 102 bays over 3 floors, an amazing rooftop terrace, lively bars and a golf game concept that is sure to blow you away!

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!

The Kemah Boardwalk is open daily providing fun for everyone! Located just 20 miles from downtown Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk is home to fabulous waterfront restaurants, amusements, charming retail stores, festivals and seaside shows!   

Welcome to the Ranch! Founded in 1824, the George Ranch Historical Park brings Texas and Fort Bend County history to life through interactive school programming, group tours, special events and Saturday programs for the general public.

The George Ranch Historical Park is a 423-acre living history museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting Texas' rich history. Historic homes, a beautiful country setting and costumed presenters set the stage for trekking through Texas history.

My Gym offers fun-filled, exciting physical early learning programs for children ages 7 months through 10 years.  The children gain confidence and self-esteem as they develop physically, cognitively and emotionally in age-appropriate classes.  In addition to our amazing classes, we also offer energy packed birthday parties, camps, and parents night out.  Our promise to love and nuture children through meaningful play.