10 Best Family Things to Do in Houston
What to Do for Fun in Houston with Your Kids?
As one of the great Texan metropolises, Houston offers a good variety of family things to do. For one, it’s famous as the command center of the United States’ crewed space flights, and its Space Center continues to inspire the next generations of rocket scientists and space explorers.
You can take the kids to see great apes and African wildlife at Houston Zoo, spend an exciting day out splashing and sliding at a waterpark, and even learn to skydive without leaving the ground. Here’s a list of great things to do with your family in Houston, showing you some of the best family-friendly places in this fun-filled city.
1. Space Center Houston
Exploring the wonders of space
Good for: Families, Photo
Peek into mission control of the United States’ crewed space flight program at Space Center Houston. The special visitor hub of NASA’s Johnson Space Center has lunar mission exhibits, flight simulators, and programs where you can meet and listen to stories from real astronauts.
Immerse yourself in the wonders of space by watching compelling documentaries in one of America’s largest 4K theatres. Out on Independence Plaza, check out the magnificent Independence space shuttle replica, piggybacking on a historical carrier jet. Read more
Location: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058, USA
Phone: +1 281-244-2100
Space Center Houston
2. iFly Indoor Skydiving
Where you can live your dream of flying
Good for: Families, Adventure
Enjoy the exhilarating freefalling sensation of skydiving, all in the safe and controlled environment of a specially designed indoor chamber. Slip into a special flight suit, strap on a helmet and protective goggles, and the fun begins. The minimum age limit is 3, but there’s no upper limit.
Skydiving is like trampolining, but on a constant upright flow of fan-blown air. You’ll be getting the hang of floating mid-air and doing all sorts of flips and maneuvers under the guidance of a skilled skydiving instructor. Read more
Location: 9540 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77055, USA
Phone: +1 281-942-4359
iFly Indoor Skydiving
3. Houston Zoo
One of the most popular zoos in Texas
Good for: Families, Photo
Most of the enclosures at Houston Zoo are designed to closely resemble the natural habitats of the animals in its varied collection. The McNair Asian Elephant Habitat has a herd of the gentle giants roaming and playing freely and you can get up close to and feed some of the giraffes.
Additionally, there are numerous exciting encounters for kids, such as learning about the animals directly from the knowledgeable zookeepers, participating in interactive educational sessions, and even receiving a playful kiss from a friendly seal.
Location: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 713-533-6500
Houston Zoo
4. Children’s Museum of Houston
A hands-on world just for kids
Good for: Families
The Kidtropolis is the main attraction at the Children’s Museum of Houston. It has a bank, a market, a government, and jobs that would make a city tick. Kids can choose whatever they want to be. It fosters creativity and a hands-on experience. They can become a mayor that other kids elect, while others can choose to become business owners and customers.
Other features in the museum are obstacle courses, 3D printing labs, an Invention Convention exhibit, and an outdoor EcoStation where they can learn about nature and solar energy.
Location: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Open: Friday–Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm, Thursday from 9 am to 8 pm
Phone: +1 713-522-1138
Children’s Museum of Houston
5. Downtown Aquarium
Feeding stingrays and riding a Ferris wheel
Good for: Families, Photo
Families can have a great time at Houston’s Downtown Aquarium. It’s a massive leisure and dining complex, and its onsite aquatic attraction is home to over 300 species of marine life. You can enjoy a full-service restaurant with an upscale bar here, as well as shopping and amusement rides such as the eye-catching Ferris wheel.
The aquarium itself isn’t very large, but there’s enough to see to keep the little ones curious. Some kids will love the stingray tank, where you can feed and pet them.
Location: 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, USA
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to 8.30 pm, Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm
Phone: +1 713-223-3474
Downtown Aquarium
6. The Houston Museum of Natural Science
Traveling back to the Jurassic period through dinosaur exhibits
Good for: Families, History, Photo
Inspire your kids’ awe with the magnificent collection of dinosaur exhibits at The Houston Museum of Natural Science. The Morian Hall of Palaeontology features towering dinosaur fossils such as those of a T-Rex, a triceratops, and other prehistoric beasts.
For stunning IMAX documentaries, check out The Wortham Giant Screen Experience. For a close-up view on nature, the Butterfly Center features colorful living specimens. It showcases chrysalises and the intriguing metamorphoses of some of the world’s most beautiful butterfly species. Read more
Location: 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +1 713-639-4629
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
7. SplashTown
Splashing slides to ride
Good for: Families
As Houston’s largest waterpark, SplashTown offers a collection of fun slides and pools to suit varying ages and thrill levels. The RipQurl is one of the top options for those wanting the ultimate thrills. Here 1 or 2 riders zoom through a dark tunnel 26 ft (8 meters) per second landing into a gigantic bowl, after which they are thrust through a corkscrew chute into a splash pool.
Younger kids can enjoy the Paradise River lazy river pool with mum and dad. The Hurricane Bay also offers fun for all ages. Read more
Location: 21300 Interstate 45 N, Spring, TX 77373, USA
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +1 281-355-3300
SplashTown
8. Jumping World Houston
Trampolining fun
Good for: Families
The Jumping World Houston trampoline park is where your active kids can bounce to their heart’s content. It has an adjoining foam pit where young and old can jump in from ropes like Tarzan, into thousands of squishy foam squares.
You can also run, bounce high, and score slam dunks into basketball rings, or team up and play some rounds of dodgeball. Jumping World Houston offers more than just bouncing. There’s a dedicated court for toddlers with inflatable castles, and a video game arcade as well.
Location: 14147 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77040, USA
Open: Monday–Thursday from 10 am to 10 pm, Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 11 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm
Phone: +1 713-996-7811
Jumping World Houston
9. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
Fun races and more
Good for: Adventure, Families
Settle any rivalries you might have at the Andretti Indoor Karting & Games entertainment center. This exciting venue has multiple neon-lit karting tracks where you can don a helmet, hop into a colorfully painted go-kart, and put the pedal to the metal to fight for first place. The tracks are designed with different age groups in mind, with the mini Mario Kart track dedicated to drivers between the ages of 4 and 7.
Aside from karting, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games also boasts a 2-story laser tag arena where you can spice up the competition, along with cool arcade games and cutting-edge VR games to keep everyone entertained. Head out to Katy, just west of Houston, for an adrenaline-packed adventure.
Location: Grand W Blvd #1230, Katy, TX 77449, USA
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to midnight, Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 1 am
Phone: +1 832-974-2201
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
10. Memorial Park
Green urban space for biking, strolling, and playing
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
The massive grounds of Houston’s Memorial Park offer vast green spaces with tree-shaded pathways and hiking and jogging trails. There are also cool playgrounds where your kids can go climbing, sliding, and balancing along rickety bridges. Come in springtime and you can find patches of the Texan state flower, bluebonnets, in full bloom.
Right next door to the park is the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, where you can enjoy birdwatching and nature walks. This combination of recreational activities and natural beauty makes it an ideal destination for families seeking outdoor fun and relaxation.
Location: 6501 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007, USA
Open: Daily from 5 am to 11 pm
Phone: +1 713-863-8403
Memorial Park
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