Skip to content

Top Navigation

Parents Parents
  • GETTING PREGNANT
  • PREGNANCY
  • BABY NAMES
  • BABY
  • TODDLER
  • BIG KID
  • FUN
  • HEALTH
  • PARENTING
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAY
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES
  • MORE

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Parents

Parents Parents
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. Read More Next
    • Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Learn to overcome friendship hurdles and bond with women who get you. Read More Next
    • How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      I’m a pediatric sleep specialist who has seen it all, and I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to get your child to (happily) stay in his own bed all night long. Read More Next
  • GETTING PREGNANT

    GETTING PREGNANT

    See All GETTING PREGNANT

    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month

    When sex coincides with your most fertile ovulation days, you'll increase your chances of getting pregnant. Get to know each phase of your cycle to make conception faster and easier.
    • Ovulation
    • Reproductive Age
    • Maximizing Your Fertility
    • Pre-Pregnancy Health
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Dealing With Infertility
    • Genetics
  • PREGNANCY

    PREGNANCY

    See All PREGNANCY

    Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon

    Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Learn to recognize the first signs of labor approaching, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.
    • Signs of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Week-by-Week
    • Giving Birth
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Due Date Calculator
    • Pregnancy Complications
    • Fetal Development
    • Gender Prediction
    • Baby Showers
  • BABY NAMES

    BABY NAMES

    See All BABY NAMES

    These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020

    Curious which baby names stole the show this year? From new classics like Noah to tried-and-true faves like Ava, here are the top boy and girl names of the year so far, plus more naming trends to consider.
    • Baby Girl Names
    • Most Popular Names
    • Names by Origin
    • Twin Names
    • Baby Boy Names
    • Names by Religion
    • Celebrity Baby Names
    • Baby Name Quizzes
  • BABY

    BABY

    See All BABY

    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? Listen for wheezing, hacking, or barking first, then read on to find out what's normal and when it's time to worry.
    • Newborn Care
    • Crying Baby
    • Health
    • Baby Development
    • Safety
    • Gear
    • Breastfeeding
    • Diapers
    • Sleep Issues
    • Feeding
    • Nursery
  • TODDLER

    TODDLER

    See All TODDLER
    • Preschool Activities
    • Behavior & Discipline
    • Toddler Development
    • Milestones
    • Potty Training
    • Starting School
    • Health
    • Safety
    • Childcare
  • BIG KID

    BIG KID

    See All BIG KID

    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    Mean kids aren't just a middle-school problem. The trouble has trickled to the youngest grades. Learn how to spot it—and how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school.
    • Education
    • Health
    • Food & Nutrition
    • Bullying & School Problems
    • Child Development
    • Safety
    • Manners & Responsibility
  • FUN

    FUN

    See All FUN

    17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

    A fun celebration doesn’t need to cost a pretty penny. Throw a memorable bash with these clever cost-cutting kids’ birthday party ideas.
    • Birthdays
    • Indoor Activities
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Printable Coloring Pages
    • Kids' Entertainment
    • Best Toys
    • Holidays
    • Family Vacation Ideas
  • HEALTH

    HEALTH

    See All HEALTH

    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    Here’s everything you need to know about the disease that originated in Wuhan, China.
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Autism
    • Cold & Flu
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19
    • Cough
    • Down Syndrome
    • Emergency Aid
    • Fever
    • Medication & Vitamins
    • Obesity
    • Rashes
    • Stomach Aches
    • Vaccines
  • PARENTING

    PARENTING

    See All PARENTING

    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    Everything you need to thrive at home as a family.
    • Positive Parenting
    • Parenting Style
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Family Dynamics
    • Divorce
    • Home
    • Adoption
    • Just for Mom
    • Money
    • Toy Recalls
    • Stroller Recalls
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Family Recipes
    • Baby Food
    • Toddler Finger Food Recipes
    • Hints & Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • Birthdays
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Meals
    • Food For Pregnant Women
  • HOLIDAY

    HOLIDAY

    See All HOLIDAY

    6 Easter Egg Science Experiments for Kids

    Smarten up your annual Easter tradition with these easy, educational egg dyeing ideas.
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES

    OUR MAGAZINES

    See All OUR MAGAZINES
    • Parents
    • Parents Latina
    • Ser Padres
  • MORE

    MORE

    • Newsletters
    • Contests
    • ParentsIRL
    • Adulting
    • First Year Playbook
    • Celebrate Your Way

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Fun
  3. Family Vacation
  4. Vacation Planning
  5. How To Spend a Family Fun Weekend in Houston

How To Spend a Family Fun Weekend in Houston

By Melissa Klurman
October 01, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
A year after Hurricane Harvey, Houston is back on track and ready to say “Howdy” to families.
Start Slideshow

1 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

With its plethora of kid-friendly activities, especially in the realms of science and technology, and plenty of green spaces and hands-on fun, Houston is the perfect destination for a weekend family getaway. And according to Brenda Bazan, president and CEO of Houston First Corp., the majority of Houston has bounced back quicker than many anticipated from the impact of last year’s Hurricane Harvey, the inspiration for the hashtag, #HoustonStrong. So pack the car, grab the family, and get ready to explore this great Texas town!

  • RELATED: 6 Quick Getaways Perfect for Your Next Long Weekend

1 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Day One

Credit: Tricia Daniel/Shutterstock

To Infinity and Beyond

Today explore the furthest reaches of space, and then get hands-on with science back on the ground.

Space Center Houston

Houston, we have lift off—with those words, Houston became synonymous with space exploration, making the Johnson Space Center and Visitors Center one of the most popular attractions in Houston.

The Space Center is best for kids ages 5 and up, and even then, skip the 90-minute tram tour with kids under 8—it’s slow and quiet, and parents are encouraged not to enter Mission Control with small children who are making noise—an impossible task. Instead, you can see the highlights simply by following our tour hack: go out the side door and straight to the shuttle mounted on a full-size airplane, the only place in the world you can walk through both. Then check out the rocket that fills an entire airplane hangar. Indoors, watch the short space movie to give your kids an overview of why Houston is important to the space program. Then watch a Stellar Science Show and visit the displays where you can touch a moon rock and see a real astronaut suit. (Admission: Adults, $30; kids 4 to 11, $25)

Tip: If you’re planning on visiting the Space Center as well as any of the other attractions in this itinerary, it pays to purchase a Houston CityPASS (adults, $59; kids 3 to 11, $49). It provides admission to the Space Center and all the other stops on this itinerary, and will save you 49% off the combined admissions (you can purchase it in advance or at any included attraction after you arrive).

Lunch Break

Make a pit stop for a true Houston specialty: Real Texas barbecue cooked over mesquite at Goode Co. BBQ, a local tradition for four decades. Order at the counter and grab a table outside. There’s no children’s menu, but an order of ribs will easily feed two children, and there are heaping sides including coleslaw, jambalaya rice, and potato salad.

2 of 6

3 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Philip Lange/Shutterstock

Children’s Museum of Houston

Head to the Museum District for an afternoon of hands-on fun at the innovative Children’s Museum. Highlights here include a kid’s banking system—every guest receives a credit card pre-loaded with Kids Cash, that they can spend at spots like the grocery store or restaurant, and then can earn more with jobs as a vet, banker, or other services in a pint-size town. Warning: You may have trouble leaving this bustling area! Downstairs, explore more of the STEM inspiration from the morning’s visit to the space center with plenty of interactive science experiments Kids 8 and up can also work in the high-tech Maker’s Space, where projects range from creating solar-powered cars to 3D printing, all of which are included in entrance fees (a $5 charge may apply to occasional reserved space workshops). (Ages 8 and up, $12; kids 1 to 7, $11)

  • RELATED: The 15 Best Children's Museums in the U.S.

Round out the day at Discovery Green, a pint-size park that prides itself on catering to families, with kayaking on a small pond, a large playground, water sprinkler fun, and specialty programs ranging from Toddler Tuesdays to goat yoga.

3 of 6

Advertisement

4 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Day Two

Credit: Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

Natural Explorations

Get outside for fresh air fun and explore animal life past and present prehistoric.

Get a good breakfast for a full day’s fun at The Breakfast Klub—this is a Houston tradition and the breakfasts are Texas size, which is to say huge. Waffles and plate size pancakes (you only need to order one pancake per kid) are specialties, as are fried catfish and chicken and waffles.

Houston Zoo

Start the day at this lush green oasis when the animals are at their most active before the Houston heat sets in. Insider tip: Head straight to the Asian elephants that can be seen getting a bath every day at 10 a.m. Other highlights include feeding giraffes, spying on gorillas and primates in the Great Ape House, and following the wooden boardwalk through the Children’s Zoo, which gets kids close up to porcupine and mongoose enclosures, and includes small slides and crawling options near the river otters, who provide plenty of inspiration. One unusual option in the kid’s area: The Trading Post. Here junior collectors can bring their found nature items, such as shells, rocks, and flowers to trade in for new natural wonders, including gems and minerals and even skulls and bones (sorry squeamish parents). Lunch it up at the zoo’s on-property food trucks that serve everything from Asian to barbecue food to eat on the go. (Ages 12 and up, $19; kids 2 to 11, $15).

Tip: Leave your car parked at the zoo and hop on the train around Hermann Park. The zoo is set along the rolling green lawns of Hermann Park Conservancy where a pint-sized locomotive ($3.50) circles and has several hop-on, hop-off options, including at our next stop, the Natural History Museum. The park also features pedal boats and an extensive all-access children’s playground with water play area.  

4 of 6

5 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Fotos593/Shutterstock

Houston Museum of Natural Science

This may be the greatest museum you’ve never heard of—until now. The largest collection of dinosaurs and fossils in North America are displayed in cavernous space where there’s plenty of room for the museum to create memorable dioramas: Museum curators are quick to point out that the skeletons “chasing, eating, and escaping as they struggle for life” are based on real-life possibilities. There are three (!) T-Rex skeletons here as well—your budding paleontologists will want to spend the whole day (if your kids want to get the inside scoop on all things dinosaur, book a guided tour with Jurassic James, $30 per person with admission, the head tour guide and family favorite). For kids with an interest in Ancient Egypt, the vast range of crypts and tombs and mummies here will both delight and possibly scare. Notable are the elaborate displays crafted to feel like you’re walking through an Egyptian temple, with music to match the mood. In fact, the whole museum has musical accompaniment for each area, as well as unique lighting and theming. Another favorite stop is the Cabinet of Curiosities, a display that looks like a Victorian Library filled with old globes, furs, skeletons, shells, and more. Drawers open, there’s no glass in the cabinets, and you can touch and feel everything. (This is great for kids with sensory issues.) The third floor Energy Hall is hands-on fun and a look at Texas’ Oil history. (Ages 12 and up, $25; ages 3 to 11, $15)

Dinner

El Real for Tex Mex served in a converted movie theater with soaring ceilings and plenty of space for families to spread out. Everything here is made from scratch, including the tortillas that are fried up for puffy tacos filled with ground beef. The children’s menu of tacos and quesadillas, and the movies—think Westerns and travel videos of the Grand Canyon – playing on a back wall, make this a kid pleaser.

  • RELATED: 6 Specialty Museums Kids (and Grown-Ups!) Will Love

5 of 6

6 of 6

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Where to Stay

Marriott Marquis Houston Hotel—One of the newest properties in Houston is also one of the top choices for families due to its massive pool deck with a Texas-shaped lazy river pool (it’s seriously cool), you’ll be hard pressed to get your kids out of. Across the street is Discovery Green Park and it’s also walking distance to Minute Maid Field, home to the World Series Champion Astros.

Magnolia Hotel—Three words: Bedtime. Cookie. Buffet. Every night, an unlimited assortment of cookies and milk are set out for nighttime treats here. There’s also a rooftop pool and well-priced rooms.

Best Western Plus Downtown Inn & Suites—You can’t get more bang for your buck than this centrally located chain which offers free breakfast, free WiFi, free parking, and a free shuttle to area highlights, as well as full suites with kitchens and an outdoor pool all in a convenient downtown location.

6 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 6
2 of 6 Day One
3 of 6
4 of 6 Day Two
5 of 6
6 of 6 Where to Stay

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Parents

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • From Our Sponsors this link opens in a new tab
  • Affiliate Program this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Parents.com is part of the Parents Network. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com

View image

How To Spend a Family Fun Weekend in Houston
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.