Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
It’s summertime! Now what? Great family fun doesn’t need to mean a weekend away - there are lots of great summer day trips from Houston. You can spend some time at a nearby water park or at one of these other day-trip-worthy spots near Houston.
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
Houston is home to a ton of parks. A ton. (Including some pretty great splash pads.) And some are better than others. So, if you'd like to find a park with a great playground where you can easily spend a few hours or even the entire day, read on to learn more about 13 parks in Houston with playgrounds that are definitely worth the drive.
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
There's no shortage of good, finger-licking barbecue restaurants in Houston. And because most barbecue restaurants are loud and casual, they make for great family outings. Loud music and loud patrons mean no one will hear my toddler yell in protest when his barbecue sauce drifts too close to his many pieces of white bread. Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly barbecue restaurants in Houston.
For more Houston restaurant recommendations, check out our Houston Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
There's something magical about Christmas lights that make the holidays come alive (even in Houston when it's 80 degrees in the winter). Twinkling lights and snowy scenes always help make spirits bright! From drive-thru (and drive-by) experiences to free walking adventures, and out-of-this-world displays to an old school Santa's workshop, we've rounded up holiday and Christmas lights in Houston to suit every taste. For the best over-the-top Christmas lights in Houston, check out one of the locales or events below. And for more holiday and Christmas ideas, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events.
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is iconic for many reasons, including that it is the closest theme park to Houston, with a history that reflects our city's resilience. At Pleasure Pier you can hop on the Texas Star Flyer and get a bird's eye view of the Gulf of Mexico, test your luck at classic carnival games, and enjoy a full day of classic family fun. There are several restaurants and shops as well as beach entry just steps away from the pier, making it a great Houston day trip with the kids.
For more fun things to do at Galveston, check out our top recommendations for families, from great beaches to where you can see a dolphin in Galveston Bay.
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
Mini golf is a staple in most families' rotation of fun weekend activities, but in Houston, standing in the heat for an hour putting around a small plastic ball isn't always...a ball. Black light mini golf, on the other hand, combines the game with lovely air conditioning indoors and lots of glow-in-the-dark fun. Below are a few fun entertainment spots with glow-in-the-dark, indoor mini golf around Houston.
For more ideas on indoor family activities, check out our Indoor Fun Guide for Houston kids.
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
You read that right: the world's first water park made entirely for guests of all abilities is a short drive away from Houston, in San Antonio, Texas. Of course, Houston kids are already fortunate to have a whole bunch of exciting water park options nearby, not to mention several local splash pads for a hot summer day, but for some kids these may be hard to access or even a little overwhelming. So how lucky are we to have the innovators at Morgan's Wonderland right in our back yard, creating the magnificent and unique Morgan's Inspiration Island—and providing it free of charge for kids with special needs?
Submitted by Carrie Taylor on
If you are looking to travel to the most magical place on earth during the pandemic, rest assured, it's still magical. We recently visited Disney World in Orlando with kids ages 4 and 6 and learned some tips and tricks that we wanted to share — and yes, Disney World's reopening includes most rides and resorts. Here's a rundown of what you need to know before heading to Disney World in 2021.
Planning an Orlando trip? Check out more of the exciting Orlando openings happening this year and a brand-new Peppa Pig theme park coming in 2022.
