Houston is so full of fun, family friendly things to do. There are lots of fun things to do with kids in Houston. I have compiled a list of our favorite things to do with kids in Houston that are sure to bring on the smiles! Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston with kids that you will love and how to visit for free!
Downtown Aquarium
Downtown Aquarium is the product of redeveloping two downtown Houston landmarks – Fire Station No. 1 and the Central Waterworks Building. This magnificent six-acre entertainment and dining complex is a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland, home to over 200 species of aquatic life from around the globe. With a full-service restaurant, an upscale bar, a fully equipped ballroom, aquatic & geographic exhibits, shopping and a variety of amusements, Downtown Aquarium has it all!
You need to look no further than downtown for things to do with kids in Houston. Kids of all ages will enjoy a variety of amusement rides at the Downtown Aquarium. Here are some of the awesome rides you can enjoy at the Downtown Aquarium.
Houston Zoo
The Houston Children’s Museum
If you are looking for something fun to do to entertain the kids, you’ll want to check this out. What if you could do something fun while stimulating their mind and creativity? You CAN! Thanks to the Children’s Museum of Houston. With 90,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, their all-inclusive admission ticket provides access to hundreds of activities, workshops, special performances and every exhibit at the top-rated Children’s Museum of Houston. Celebrate your child and make memories to last a lifetime with every visit!
Save and go for free! Save $2 off on admission Every day after 5 p.m. except for Thursdays. Thursday Free Family Nights 5 – 8 p.m. every Thursday
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens at the Museum of Fine Arts HoustonBayou Bend is the MFAH house museum for American decorative arts and paintings. Displayed in the former home of Houston civic leader and philanthropist Ima Hogg (1882–1975), the collection is one of the finest showcases of American furnishings, silver, ceramics, and paintings in the world. The house is situated on 14 acres of organically maintained gardens in Houston’s historic River Oaks neighborhood. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is a must for your list of things to do with kids in Houston.
Free: Offered free of charge on selected* Sunday afternoons, Bayou Bend Family Days feature music, games, crafts, and a host of other activities that are fun for both children and adults. Families with young children are invited to take guided tours, led by volunteers from the Houston Junior Woman’s Club, of specially chosen rooms in the house.
*Family Days usually take place on the third Sunday of the month, from September through April. Check the calendar for specific days.
Cullen Sculpture Garden
The Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden is the perfect sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Houston. Created by sculptor Isamu Noguchi, this tranquil oasis of art and nature is open every day of the year, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Free: Admission is always free to all. Learn more.
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Creating outdoor experiences for the family in the heart of the city! As one of the oldest nature education facilities in Texas (founded 1967), the Arboretum is dedicated to our mission: “…to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals.” FREE: The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a non-profit organization and donations to help maintain trails and wildlife habitat are appreciated. Programs are available for schools, scouts and other groups. (Reservations are required for group programs.) The grounds of the Nature Center are open daily from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the fall and winter, and 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the spring and summer. The building which houses the Discovery Room, Nature Shop, classrooms, and offices is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The building and grounds are occasionally closed for holidays and special events. Please check here for a full list of building and grounds closures. Find out more and plan your visit here.
Miller Outdoor Theater
Miller Outdoor Theatre offers culturally and artistically diverse daytime children’s programming as part of its season of free productions. These performances are scheduled during the week and on Saturdays, March through October. Since 1923, Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park has been Houston’s venue for free outdoor performances. This remarkable facility with its free high-quality programs is unique in the US. It is the only proscenium theatre in the country that offers an artistically excellent, culturally diverse eight month season of performances totally free of charge to the public. Check out the calendar for events and times.FREE: ALL performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre are FREE OF CHARGE. Evening events (excluding movies) offer ticketed, assigned seating in the covered area. These events are highlighted orange in the monthly calendar listings. Free, assigned seat tickets are available at the Miller Theatre Box Office on first-come first-served basis while supplies last between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm on the day of the performance. Only four (4) tickets per person age 16 and up.
