Things to Do in Houston With Kids: Fun & Free Activities (Aquarium + Indoor Ideas)

Family Fun in Houston

If you’ve ever thought that a family getaway to Houston doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, think again. In fact, chances are if your family vacations for a few days in this energetic metropolis, you will quickly realize that there is so much to do here that a return trip in the near future is clearly warranted.

Whether your family is looking for indoor or outdoor fun or a combination of both, the wide range of possibilities will easily fill whatever time you have available for your vacation. With a multitude of options, it ‘s important to plan your time here in advance, avoiding Houston’s world-class rush hour traffic as best you can.

Depending on the age(s) of your kids, you may need to negotiate about which venues are best for the family to enjoy together. Whether that means attending a professional sports event, checking out some kid-friendly museums, or enjoying comfortable fall/winter/spring weather in Houston’s wonderful parks, there’s something here for everyone, and then some. Should the hot and humid summer be your best time to travel, there are still umpteen fabulous things to do that the kids, and mom and dad, will enjoy.

Houston Museums that Kids Will Love

Children’s Museum of Houston

Exhibits geared towards kids highlight the arts, culture, science, math, and the environment. Kids blossom into thinkers at a variety of interactive and very engaging exhibits. Be sure to visit “Kidtropolis, USA” where each kid decides where to work, shop, and spend their money. Nine businesses and more than 20 jobs are possible, and they get to decide. Book your tickets in advance online. Free Family Night is 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, and the museum is closed on Mondays.

Space Center Houston

25 miles southeast of downtown Houston is the world’s leading learning center dedicated to space exploration. This Smithsonian affiliate is Houston’s top attraction overall as well as the number one destination for international visitors. Taking a NASA Tram Tour of various areas of the Space Center will make for an easier visit (less walking!) for families with small kids. Three of the four available tours are included with your general admission ticket, subject to availability. The Mission Control Tour, which has an additional fee, can be booked online as well.

Lone Star Flight Museum

Everyone, especially kids, love airplanes, making this museum an experience the entire family will remember. Located 15 miles southeast of downtown Houston, it’s perfectly combined with Space Center Houston which is 10 miles further down the same highway. This aviation museum celebrates flight with a focus on Texas aviation history. The collection of commercial, general aviation and military aircraft is amazing. And the Boeing Toddler Terminal, included with general admission tickets, brings youngsters 1-4 in touch with aviation via soft play structures, basic STEM learning, and fun, interactive exhibits.

Houston Zoo

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! And a whole lot more. Located just south of the Museum District in Hermann Park a visit to the Houston Zoo is a fabulous way to spend the day. Youngsters love the Wildlife Carrousel, a hand carved and painted attraction that goes round and round to tunes from around the globe. Buy tickets online to avoid longer waits. Animals found at the Houston Zoo include stunning birds, chimps, meerkats, beautiful pink flamingos, tapir monkeys, Malayan tigers, and hundreds more that make their home here. In fact, guests can view and interact with animals from Africa, Asia, the Galapagos Islands, North and South America, many of which you have never seen before.

NOTE: Timed tickets are required to be purchased online in advance, with visitors allowed to enter the zoo anytime after their assigned admission time.

Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve

Billed as an “Interactive Museum Like No Other”, this wonderful family favorite is home to thousands of sea life animals, reptiles, mammals, and other exotic species. Kids love the incredible arcade and bounce house, and while there are additional charges, you can book snorkel and scuba adventures in advance online for kids ages 6-12. Snorkeling with the sting rays is exciting fun, with wet suits and go-pro cameras available for rental. The interactive aquarium is located about 20 minutes north of downtown Houston.

Downtown Aquarium

This incredible and extremely popular attraction is filled with exhibits that kids of all ages will thoroughly enjoy. Our favorite exhibit, Aquarium Adventure, features hundreds of marine life species in a half million gallon tank. Sharks, stingrays, eels, coral reefs, and piranhas are just a few of the fascinating animals you can view up-close. This is also the place where you can get a glimpse of the incredible Maharaja Temple’s tigers. Younger guests will be thrilled riding the Shark Voyage train that visits the seven acres of Houston’s Buffalo Bayou.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Located in the Museum District, HMNS focuses its’ exhibits on the human body and medical science. The Burke Baker Planetarium offers shows that are great for all ages, as does the Giant Screen Theatre. The entire family will enjoy the attached Butterfly Center (added admission fee). Visitors can take a larger-than-life walking tour that explores the human body, focusing on the major organs and their purpose. This fascinating museum includes dozens of interactive kiosks that will answer many of your questions on the spot, and many others that you probably never thought of yourself. The Museum offers FREE admission on Tuesdays from 5-8 p.m.

Other museums

well-suited to families with kids include the Colossal Museum + Kidzeum (Washington Ave.), Color Factory (Greenway/Montrose), and the Balloon Museum (downtown).

Watch Houston’s Favorite Sports Teams in Action

While Houston offers an abundance of opportunities to watch college and professional athletic competition, our top choice is attending a Houston Astros major league baseball game in the comfort of downtown’s Daikin Park . Baseball tickets are usually more affordable than the other professional sports (check out upper deck, outfield, and family sections), and if Houston’s weather is hot and humid when you are visiting, the retractable roof will be closed with air-conditioning maintaining a temperature in the low 70s.

During a summer vacation, this ranks right up there as one of our favorite family things to do in Houston. If you are visiting during the late fall or winter months, our suggestion would be buying tickets for a Houston Rockets NBA basketball game, also in downtown at Toyota Center.

Find Great Family Activities at mommypoppins

Founded in New York City, mommypoppins has expanded across the country and is now available in more than 20 U.S. cities, including Houston. Written and maintained by parents like you, this incredible website is packed with FREE and affordable things to do with kids while you’re here. Something will no doubt grab your attention here, so have a gander prior to traveling and add a cool or unexpected activity to the family’s schedule.

Whether it’s something artsy, an adult event that will also be good for kids, or perhaps exploring Houston’s parks, the mommypoppins.com event calendar will offer enticing options for family fun every day of the week. FREE activities are clearly noted. Also, check out their Facebook page for up-to-the-minute listings.

The Best FREE Fun in Houston for Families

FREE activities for family fun in Houston are plentiful, and a terrific way to make your vacation affordable. Here are some of our favorites:

Houston’s city parks

including downtown’s Discovery Green, Hermann Park on the south end of the Museum District, and Buffalo Bayou Park offer fun trails for walking, running, and biking, and the youngest will have a blast on the playgrounds. There’s even winter ice skating!

Miller Outdoor Theatre

in Hermann Park offers live performances in the heart of the city.

Visit the model train display inside Memorial City Mall.

Hours are quite limited, but your kids will love the trains displayed and operating here. Hosted by the Houston Tinplate Operators Society. This, and the adjacent Frolics Castle, a kid’s playground in the center of the mall, make for a good option when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Open early morning into the evening. Admission is FREE but there is a parking fee. Beautiful grounds for strolling and escaping the bustle of the city.

Mercer Botanic Gardens

If you’re coming or going from the north side of town, this beautiful 393-acre Harris County park is located in Humble, a half-hour drive from downtown.

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Less than two miles from downtown and an experience like no other in Houston. See more than 250,000 bats emerge at sunset flying along the bayou and between downtown’s skyscrapers.

Nature Discovery Center

Ten miles southwest of downtown Houston, area families rave about this spectacular park, especially for little ones. In addition to indoor discovery rooms, the park offers nature trails, a nature play area, and FREE story time and unique events. Be sure to check the schedule for when these events take place.

The Best Areas to Stay in Houston

As with all large cities, there are many different areas worth considering to book hotel accommodations. Houston is no exception, with Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, and the Uptown/Galleria neighborhoods among those closer to the central city.

As always, we rely on the Travelated hotel booking website to get our bearings and book our stay. Prices are always competitive, and they have so many options that there’s no need to look elsewhere.

Here are some of our favorite properties in Houston but bear in mind that Travelated offers scores of possible hotels to consider in all price ranges.

Downtown

centrally located, close to light rail, the Theater District, restaurants, and several sports stadiums:

1. Holiday Inn Houston Downtown by IHG

Address: 1616 Main Street, Houston, 77002, TX, US

Holiday Inn Houston Downtown by IHG

2. Hotel ICON, Autograph Collection

Address: 220 Main Street, Houston, 77002, TX, US

Hotel ICON, Autograph Collection

3. The Westin Houston Downtown

Address: 1520 Texas Avenue, Houston, 77002, TX, US

The Westin Houston Downtown

4. Hilton Americas - Houston

Address: 1600 Lamar, Houston, 77010, TX, US

Hilton Americas - Houston

Midtown

walkable with plenty of nightlife and dining options, centrally located adjacent to downtown and the Museum District

1. Hotel Saint Augustine

Address: 4110 Loretto Drive, Houston, 77006, TX, US

Hotel Saint Augustine

Museum District

great for culture enthusiasts, close to light rail:

1. Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District

Address: 5701 Main Street, Houston, 77005, TX, US

Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District

2. Houston Marriott Medical Center/Museum District

Address: 6580 Fannin Street, Houston, 77030, TX, US

Houston Marriott Medical Center

3. InterContinental Houston by IHG

Address: 6750 Main Street, Houston, 77030, TX, US

InterContinental Houston by IHG

4. Hilton Garden Inn Houston Medical Center, TX

Address: 6840 Almeda Rd., Houston, 77030, TX, US

Hilton Garden Inn Houston Medical Center

Uptown/Galleria

Houston’s luxury shopping area, upscale malls, superb restaurants and nightlife:

1. Holiday Inn Express - Houston - Galleria Area by IHG

Address: 2351 West Loop South, Houston, 77027, TX, US

Holiday Inn Express - Houston - Galleria

2. Home2 Suites At The Galleria

Address: 3414 Sage Rd, Houston, 77056, TX, US

Home2 Suites At The Galleria

3. The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

Address: 5011 Westheimer At Post Oak, Houston, 77056, TX, US

The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria

4. Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria

Address: 2626 Sage Road, Houston, 77056, TX, US

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria

5. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria

Address: 5353 Westheimer Road, Houston, 77056, TX, US

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston

6. Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Galleria Area

Address: 3201 Sage Road, Houston, 77056, TX, US

Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Galleria Area

Kid-friendly Fun is Thriving in Houston

A city vacation offers limitless possibilities for families with kids, no matter what their ages. If you are lucky enough to be within driving distance of Houston, getting here is simple. And if you’re flying in, with two airports and hundreds of daily flights, airfares tend to be more affordable on competitive routes.

Given the metropolitan sprawl, having wheels is a necessity for most activities, but that also means you can choose where to stay based on the area of town where your interests lie.

Now’s a wonderful time to schedule your getaway, peruse the many activities and attractions that Houston offers, and lock in your hotel rate. Prices often rise as your travel dates get closer, so the earlier the better to plan your trip.

Travelated has the best selection of hotels for your well-deserved family vacation, and the best prices too.