Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Houston Area

Splashway is far more than your average waterpark - we’re experts in family vacation, fluent in fun, and mega clean freaks! Like you, we believe your family deserves the best and we strive to deliver just that. We have something for every member of your family - from the thrill seekers to the first time swimmers. Our amazing staff, cleanliness, and dedication to our guests’ experience have made us the highest rated waterpark in Texas! So what are you waiting for? Come check us out!

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.

A Playground for your Mind™! The Children’s Museum of Houston is packed with 14 hands-on exhibits, including the chance for kids to program robots and invent things; anchor the news; run a business; get elected as mayor; explore nanotechnology and climb a three-story tower! Plus, their Thursday Free Family Nights, Family Adventures, and membership rates make it affordable for all.

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team and play at Minute Maid Park. 

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!

The iconic three pyramids are just the tip of the iceberg at Moody Gardens.  The Rainforest Pyramid®, the Aquarium Pyramid®, and the hands-on discovery museum are treasures.  Add to that the 3D and 4D Theaters, Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, Palm Beach and the annual Festival of Lights, you’ve got a multi-day destination that kids of all ages will enjoy.

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!   

Fall family entertainment at its very best, just a short country drive from Houston! 30+ attractions. 10 yummy eateries. Acres and acres of fun! And then Christmas trees a little later. We will be starting our Christmas Trail of Lights in December. Click here for directions.    

Little Beakers is a science lab built especially for kids where they can do fun and exciting hands-on experiments with parents or while being guided by our own scientist.

That big Ferris wheel enticing you from I-45 and I-10 invites you to experience all the Downtown Aquarium has to offer.   Amusement rides and carnival games thrill alongside aquarium adventures and hands-on encounters with stingrays. Sharing much more than an underwater voyage, the Aquarium boasts incredible rare white tigers which you can experience on your own by visiting the Tiger Exhibit or during a Sea Safari Camp, a Wild Dreams Overnight, or an Aquarium Birthday Party.

Explore the far reaches of outer space, roam with the dinosaurs, wander through Africa's Serengeti, and marvel at the world's rarest and most beautiful minerals. Discover all this and much more at one of the nation's most heavily attended museums. 

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community.

Main Event offers a unique, “EatBowlPlay” 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.

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.

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, presented by Huntsman, is an outdoor amphitheater that provides the Greater Houston region with an array of performing arts events, educational outreach programs and contemporary entertainment.

5,000-acre gem 40 miles from downtown Houston, offers a variety of activities for every age: biking, fishing, hiking, birding, camping, star-gazing, and opportunities to learn about Texas’ bountiful natural history via free programs and guided hikes.

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team and play at Minute Maid Park. 

Topgolf is the premier golf entertainment complex where the competition of sport meets your favorite local hangout. You can challenge your friends and family to addictive point-scoring golf games that anyone from the a pro golfer to a 7-year-old kid!