See aquatic life without a fee at Sea Center Texas. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
Keep Cool in Houston: Top Beaches, Swimming Lakes, Splash Pads, and AC Spots
Photo courtesy of Frogs, Snails and Fairy Tales
Top 10 Best Indoor Play Spaces in Houston
Explore our guide of classes for kids in Houston.
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Guide to Classes for Houston Kids
Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
25 Back-to-School Tasks You Didn't Know You Could Pay Someone Else to Do
Houston has a variety of affordable afterschool programs. Photo courtesy of GirlStart
Free and Cheap Afterschool Programs in Houston
There's no shortage of fun baby activities in Houston.
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Houston has many kid-friendly museums, and not all are children's museums. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
Best Museums in Houston for Kids and Families
We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
Find Trusted Babysitters and Nannies Now on Mommy Poppins–Powered by Care.com
Your little learner will love the variety of toddler classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Fun Preschool and Toddler Classes in Houston for Little Learners
Never Stop Live Tour photo courtesy of the Kidz Bop Facebook page
Best Things to Do in Houston August 2023 with Kids
Splashway Waterpark is located in Sheridan, TX, about 90 minutes drive from Houston. Photo courtesy of Splashway Waterpark
Splashway Waterpark: Beat the Heat this Summer with a Daytrip From Houston
Treat your kid to one of these Houston spas with services for children. Photo courtesy of Float Baby
Kid-Friendly Salons and Spas Near Houston
Climb with your kids at one of these indoor rock climbing gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Texas Rock Gym
Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms in Houston for Kids
Levy Park is a splash pad in Houston's inner loop. Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks, and Water Playgrounds in Houston
Houston's bucket list for kid activities
100 Things To Do In Houston Before Kids Grow Up
Bowling is a fun indoor activity to add to your list this summer. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
Kid-Friendly Bowling Alleys in Houston
Cool off at one of Houston's free public pools. Photo courtesy of Houston Parks - Houston Parks & Recreation
Free Public Swimming Pools in Houston for Summer 2023
Dinos Alive is the perfect indoor activity this summer.
Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience Featuring Life-Sized Dinosaurs
Fishing at Sea Center in Freeport, TX. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
Freeport with Kids: Best Things To Do in Freeport, Texas
These water parks and other swimming spots are perfect for summer birthday parties in Houston. Photo courtesy of the City of Conroe Parks and Recreation
Swimming Spots to Host a Pool Party for Your Houston Kid
Texas has 367 miles of coastline for you to explore. Photo by Michael Hogan, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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Photo courtesy of the City of Friendswood
Houston's Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families This Summer
Photo courtesy of Osprey Cruises
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The Houston Museum of Natural Science is free every Thursday! Photo courtesy of Levy Park
50 Free Things To Do in Houston This Summer With Kids
Movies Under the Moon offers free outdoor movies in Houston this summer. Photo courtesy of Kings Harbor
Free Outdoor Movies in Houston this Summer for Kids
Round up the girls and head out for a kid-free night in Houston. Photo courtesy of Thirsty Bee Meadery
Mom's Night Out in Houston: 5 Fun Itineraries for a Kid-Free Evening
Even little ones can enjoy the slides at Strawberry Water Park. Photo by Ashley Jones
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The GardenBar at Tiny Boxwoods is perfect place for families to enjoy a delicious meal.
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Kids love the carousel on Kemah's boardwalk.
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Indoor Fun Guide for Houston Kids
Cool off this summer at one of these Houston water parks. Photo courtesy of Big Rivers Waterpark
Best Outdoor Water Parks in Houston for Family Fun
There are lots of farms offering berry picking near Houston. Photo courtesy of P6 Farms, Facebook
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Photo by Mommy Poppins
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San Antonio has a lot of budget-friendly things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Botanical Garden
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Fishing in Lake Somerville. Photo courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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Mad Science is a science summer camp in Houston. Photo courtesy of Mad Science of Houston
Top Science Summer Camps for Houston Kids
Art summer camps in Houston offer creative fun this summer. Photo courtesy of the Mad Potter
Best Art Summer Camps for Houston's Creative Kids
These Houston summer camps are the perfect day camps for preschoolers. Photo courtesy of Kidventure
Best Houston Summer Camps for Preschoolers
Spend the summer at one of these fun summer camps near Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Gymnastics Academy
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Birdwatching at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, photo courtesy of Houston Audubon
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Summer Camp photo courtesy of the Houston YMCA
Free and Affordable Summer Camps In Houston
Photo courtesy of Cypress Academy
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Hero Headquarters is a birthday party entertainment company in Houston. Photo courtesy of Hero Headquarters
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Check out one of these breakfasts in Houston for a casual meal when the kids get up early. Photo courtesy of Snooze
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Free activities like feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park are simple and still great fun for kids. Photo by Rachael Cherry
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Photo courtesy of Threadfare Children's Boutique
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The Houston Zoo is a great stop for kids, and near other things to do in Houston, too. Photo by Jessica A., courtesy of the zoo
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Photo courtesy of Bellagreen
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Houston: Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat
Montessori preschools focus on hands-on learning. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Montessori School
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Levy Park in Houston. Photo courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture
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Playgrounds Without Limits photo courtesy of Memorial Park, Facebook
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Take a look at one of these popular toddler dance classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Ballet preschool program.
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Baby music classes are a great way to bond and learn. Photo courtesy of Musik Garden
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Photo courtesy of Texas Health Resources
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Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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Birthday party places near Houston include arcades, escape rooms, climbing gyms, and more. Photo courtesy of The Main Event
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There are a variety of fishing lakes near Houston to fish with your kids. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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SwimJim offers baby swim classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of SwimJim Baby Swim School, Facebook
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San Antonio is full of amusement parks, good food, and lots of other things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Riverwalk
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Try fishing for the first time in Lake Livingston. Photo courtesy of Lake Livingston State Park, Facebook
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Get building at Dig World TX near Houston.
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Kids eat Free at Dickey's on Sundays with each adult purchase of $10 or more. Photo courtesy of Dickey's
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The St. Regis in Uptown is one of Houston's best family-friendly resorts.
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Photo courtesy of Lake Conroe KOA Campground, Facebook
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Hiking at Garner State Park in the Texas Hill Country. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Fresh air is one of the best antidotes to a grumpy toddler or baby. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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Come for the queso, stay for the ice cream at these Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston.
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Explore the 21 miles of trails around the park, of varying lengths and difficulty to suit your family’s needs.
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Kids can learn about Robotics at the Houston Space Center. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Ortiz.
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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Samuel Sykes, owner of Trill Taco, photo courtesy of Samuel Sykes
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Calling all space lovers! NASA’s Space Center Houston, photo by Rebecca Matheson Ortiz
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Toddlers can enjoy playing with the foam block structures at Exploration Park. Photo courtesy of Exploration Park
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The Menil Collection is a free art museum in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Menil Collection
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​Galveston's Schlitterbahn is an indoor waterpark near Houston. Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn in Galveston Island
The Best Indoor Waterparks in Texas
Reaching for Butterflies at the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
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Kids walk a nature trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum
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Horseback riding is a favorite kid activity in Conroe
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Photo courtesy of texasgatorfest.com
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Walking inside Hermann Park's Japanese Garden. Photo courtesy of Vicky Li Yip.
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Building sandcastles at Port Aransas Beach.
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Photo courtesy Sweet Pecks Photography
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Kids learn and play at the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum. Photo courtesy the Dallas Arboretum
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Explore the amazing parks in Pearland. Photo courtesy of Pearland Parks and Recreation
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Make it an unforgettable family getaway from Houston by hiking Enchanted Rock. Photo courtesy Passport to Texas.
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Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks
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Back to School Bash is happening this weekend in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum Houston
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Houston Escape Rooms: A New Type of Family Fun

11/15/16 - By Carrie Taylor

Escape rooms are the perfect way to mix up family nights out. A fairly new but popular entertainment concept, escape rooms bring out a person's inner Sherlock Holmes. Guests are locked in a room full of clues and codes and have one hour to solve the room's mystery and find a way out. Or else. Well, the door still opens after an hour (some rooms have a 90-minute time limit), but you may leave some pride behind.

Most rooms require guests to be at least 10-years-old, but double check with the facility before your visit. Most list age requirements online. Aside from protecting younger visitors from any "mature" or potentially scary content inside the rooms, it's more fun to play when your kids are at an age when can focus and fully participate in the escape. So, does your family have what it takes to make a great escape? Find out at one of the locales below...

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Houston Escape Room
100 Jackson St., Ste. 120
832-786-9323
Room themes: Mo's Safehouse, Grandma Codebreaker (set in "grandma's house"), The Scarlet Scam, Dark Side of the Moon
Team size: 4-10 people
Cost: $25 (per person for public booking), $250 (private booking for 4-10 people)

Real Escape Room
9889 Bellaire Blvd., Unit C321
832-856-1148
Room themes: Capture Berlin (set in WWII), The Office
Team size: 4-10 people
Real Escape Room also features virtual reality games where participants wear VIVE and Oculus VR glasses. 
Cost: $25 (escape room, adult), $12.50 (escape room, kids under 10), $10 (for a half hour of VR gaming)

Break the Cipher
1735 Westheimer Road
713-588-0306
Room themes: Captive, The Heist, Black Gold (set in the 1920s, coming soon)
Team size: 4-12 people
Cost: $29

Crazy Cat Escape Room
3231 Houston Avenue
832-582-7525
Room themes: The Scene of the Crime, The Western, Saloon Robbery, The Deadly Dining Room
Team size: 2-12 people
Cost: $34.99

Escape Hunt
125 West Gray St.
346-240-9111
Room themes: Theft of the Texas Lone Star; Murder in Marylebone; Houston, We've Had a Problem
Team size: 2-6 people
Cost: $30

Bamboozled
12825 Gulf Freeway
281-940-2944
Room themes: Obsidian Sword's Chamber of Horror, Bamboozled Room, Escape from Alcatraz
Team size: 2-10
Cost: $25

Room Escape Time
Room Escape Time is in the process of moving - check online for latest location info
832-590-0511
Room themes: Room with a Zombie, Villian's Hideout, The Crash
Team size: 4-10 people
Cost: $28

The Lock
26797 Hanna Road, Building 2, Stes. 5 and 6
281-676-5023
Room themes: Oceans Royale (escape the casino), Shenandoah Redemption (escape the prison), Presidential Treasure (escape the oval office), Resident Industries (escape the lab)
Team size: 2-10
Cost: $25

Mystery Room Houston
7620 Katy Freeway, Ste. 110
832-916-4386
Room themes: Escape Egypt, Helter Skelter, Pirates Plunder
Team size: 2-16 people
Cost: $32

Escape Now
13243 Jones Road
832-220-5948
Room Themes: The Sherlock Room, The Chocolate Factory
Team size: 2-10 people
Cost: $24

Photo courtesy of Houston Escape Room

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