Things to Do with Kids in Houston: Attractions, Zoos & Theaters

Houston city panoramic view of the main attractions
Best things to do with kids in Houston Texas, paddle boat attraction in park

Are you also planning a trip to Houston and seeking some exciting things to do?

Well, Houston is a paradise for travel enthusiasts, with numerous good options to learn and enjoy at the same time.

Houston is a vast metropolitan city offering extensive attractions for kids, such as museums and tours for adults.

One should plan a trip to this exciting place and fun-filled place. You can read more about these exciting places at Houstoning.com.

Here are some of the attractions that Houston offers are:

Popular Attractions in Houston

Houston City panoramic view, skyline of attractions

The Mad Potter

This is one place where both the kids and adults can try their hands by making their pottery studio and bringing out the artist in them. Founded in the year 1998, this pottery painting studio in Houston has three branches in the city. The studio offers perfect chances to people to try to draw fabulous paintings and let their artists find a way out.

They let you select dishes and provide painting accessories such as paints, artistic books, and other tools required to do pottery painting. 

Opening Hours: Sunday -Thursday 10 am-6 pm and Friday-Saturday 10 am-8 pm

Ticket Prices: No price for entry, items for sale available

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The Galleria

The Little Galleria play area features smaller versions of Nordstrom, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc. It also specially invites children to play in the soft foam area, including a grand entrance, slides, tunnels, climbers, shopkeepers, a stroller area, and even a seating area for the adults.

The Galleria provides fantastic entertainment options for the visitors. It is renowned as one of the popular tourist destinations for people visiting Houston.

Opening hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Ticket Prices: No Entry Ticket

The Chocolate Bar

As the name suggests, it is a place full of chocolates everywhere you see. The store has stuff made of chocolate like- cell phones, toys, cars, and many more.

There is an area inside the store where kids can view how the chocolate is made.

The major attraction of this store is its excellent ice cream cooler with various flavors of chocolates being used.

Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday: 12pm-8pm and Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 9pm

Ticket Prices: No Entry Ticket

Museums Worth Visiting

Building of Houston Fine Arts Museum, things to do

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)

People get an opportunity to explore the world of art at the Museum of Fine Arts with exciting family programs like Story Time and Family Tours, family packs, target-free first Sundays, etc. These things are specially designed for both kids and adults to explore art together.

The museum opened to the public in 1924, and since then, it has never failed to attract people worldwide. The museum has lots to offer to the public in terms of attractions, including paintings, photographs, exhibitions, and visual tours. The museum is renowned for being the 12th largest art museum globally. 

Opening Hours: Thursday : 10 am – 9 pm; Friday: 10 am – 7 pm; Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm; Sunday: 12:15 pm – 7 pm; Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 10 am – 5 pm; Wednesday: 10 am – 5pm

Ticket Prices: Adult: $19; Seniors (65+): $16; Youth (16-18): $12; Child (12 and younger: Free; Military: Free

Children’s Museum of Houston

It is one of the world-class museums that offer crazy fun for kids, including ninety thousand square feet of attractive and bilingual exhibitions in science and technology, culture and heritage, history, health, and human development, and of course, the art. It enables kids to be the king of their city, makes gadgets of their interest, etc. It also offers a particular section of fun-filled games and activities for toddlers.

Opening Hours: Mon – Tue: Closed; Wednesday: 10 AM to 6 PM; Thursday: 10 AM to 8 PM; Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM; Sunday: 12 PM to 6 PM

Ticket Prices: Adults and Children (Ages 1+): $12; Senior Citizens (Age 65+): $11; Members of Military with Active ID: $10; SECRET Spy Game: $7; Children Under 1: Free

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

It is a historical museum loved by kids. It offers no-cost entertainment and learning for kids and adults and features different indoor and outdoor activities and performances.

Built in 14 acres of space, this museum was established in 1979. It enjoys the architectural styles of the Regency era and Neoclassical architecture. The museum offers an assembly of the USA’s prestigious decorative artists for people to enjoy. 

Opening Hours: Monday: Closed; Tuesday To Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM; Sunday: 1 PM to 5 PM

Ticket Prices: entry ticket: $10.70 and guided tours: start from $10.70 per person.

The Health Museum

Health Museum is an excellent attraction for kids as it offers kids to explore a Human body while going through a magic school bus. It allows them to identify their personality, view their internal organs, and one can also have a look at how they would look in the following years.

Founded in 1969, the museum is a prestigious Texas Medical Center member. It has much to offer for health, the human body, and medical science exhibitions.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM; Thursday: 9 AM to 7 PM; Sunday: 12 PM to 5 PM

Ticket Prices: Adult: $10; Children (3 to 12): $8; Seniors (65+): $8; Children below 2 years: Free.

Things to do Outdoors

Hermann Park Zoo Entrance in Houston Texas for Kids

Houston Zoo

The zoo offers a great experience to children as it offers a great view of various animals and different kinds of exotic aquatic species. The zoo is an initiative to encourage humans to explore wildlife and make efforts to save it as well. 

The zoo is home to more than 6000 animals and 900 species! These distinguished animal species attract more than 2.1 million visitors to the zoo every year.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 AM to 7 PM

Ticket Prices: Child: $15; Adults: $19; Senior: $12.50; Houston zoo tickets for members and children 1 and under: Free; Giraffe feeding price: $7

Splash Town of Houston

Splashtown Waterpark in Houston Texas, Activities for kids
Source: sixflags.com

It is Houston’s most diverse as well as the largest water park. It features more than two million gallons of exciting fun for adults and kids. A Tornado ride offers a great experience that begins on a platform of seventy-five feet above in the air, from where riders lie down in the long tunnel and are thrown into a powerful open-ended funnel.

Opening Hours: Closed in 2021, will open in 2022

Ticket Prices: Season Pass: $49.99

Discovery Green Park

This is a twelve-acre park featuring a model boat pond, playground for children, water activities, and other unique programs attracting many families. Established in 2008, the park is crafted to offer engaging yet interesting activities for all ages. 

People can enjoy a variety of activities, such as concerts, jogging trails, fabulous fountains, and even carry their canine friends for a walk in the park.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 AM to 6 PM

Ticket Prices: Entry ticket free

Hermann Park

Hermann national park in Houston Texas for Kids, train in a park

A Nickelodeon Parents Pick award winner park it is. This vast urban park is an excellent place for kids to spend their time in activities like riding the train along the Hermann Park Railroad, pedal boating on McGovern Lake, and enjoying a splendid day in the Japanese Garden.

Opening Hours: Monday To Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM

Ticket Prices: Free Entry

Day Trips From Houston

Moody Gardens entertainment center for Kids near Houston Texas
Moody Gardens, source: moodygardens.com

Moody Gardens

It is one of the tropical places less than an hour away from Houston is a fantastic spot to spend time with family and friends. People usually come here to enjoy the gulf breezes.

A theme park is a perfect place for family vacations. Surrounded by rainforests and pyramids, the Moody Gardens offers a scintillating way to explore natural habitats in a day trip.

Opening Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Ticket Prices: kids under 3: Free; Tickets for Adults: As per the event

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Kemah Boardwalk

This place is nearly half an hour away from Houston. This place offers coastal getaway features themed restaurants, amusement areas, retail shops, and many other things to enjoy with your near and dear ones.

This is a 60-acre theme park that is about 30 miles (ca. 48 km) away from Houston. Opened in 1197 for the public, the theme park is built along with the shares of the famous Clear Lake and Galveston Bay.

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11 AM to 10 PM; Friday to Saturday: 11 AM to 11 PM; Sunday: 11 Am To 10 PM

Ticket Prices: No entry ticket, tickets for rides and tours

Schlitterbahn Water Park

This place is located on Galveston Island, whatever the climate be, whether hot or cold, rainy or sunshine, offers great temperature-controlled rivers, pools, and slides. It is one of the award-winning parks and was recently featured on the Travel Channel as well. It even provides people with free tubes and life jackets and takes proper care of their safety.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10 AM to 8 PM

Ticket Prices: Adult: $28, Child and Seniors (65+): $23

Houston Grand Opera’s to Go

This series of shows offer one to view different versions of traditional stories for more than half a lakh children and families throughout Houston.

It is a 45-minutes long opera that is sung in the English language and is designed with students in focus. 

Opening Hours: Thursday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm; Friday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm: Saturday: Closed; Sunday: Closed; Monday: 9 am – 5:30 pm; Tuesday: 8:30 am – 5:30 p; Wednesday: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Conclusion

So, what are you waiting for? Please read about the places mentioned above in detail and make our stay in Houston a grand affair to remember. Happy traveling!

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