Mesmerizing museums
During a visit to Houston you can explore subjects as diverse as natural sciences, contemporary art, and war. If you’re traveling with kids, however, there’s one museum in particular you should make a beeline for. Children’s Museum of Houston
Proudly proclaiming itself as "a playground for your mind", this is one of America’s widely acclaimed children’s museums. It offers interactive experiences across a colorful array of themed zones – highlights include Kidtropolis, a miniature city in which children can open a bank account, take on a job, elect a mayor, and even run for office themselves. If your youngsters have energy to burn, take them to the Powerplay zone, where they can undertake thrilling physical challenges, and learn about how their bodies actually work.
1500 Binz, Houston TX 77004. Creatures great and small
If you’ve any animal lovers in the family, they’ll go wild for this pair of perennially popular family attractions. Houston Zoo
Home to over 6,000 animals from every corner of the globe, Houston Zoo boasts rare species like graceful Malayan tigers, majestic African lions, fearsome Komodo dragons, and adorable red pandas. There’s also a fantastic children’s zoo, where youngsters can get up close and personal with farm animals, explore an authentic bat cave, and leap around a beautiful butterfly pavilion.
6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston TX 77030.
Downtown Aquarium
This centrally located aquarium houses over 200 amazing species of aquatic life. You can take a tour through an atmospheric Louisiana swamp, and enjoy thrilling encounters with catfish, bullfrogs, and gators. You can then marvel at a shipwrecked Spanish galleon, which is today home to eerie underwater creatures. It’s not all about sea-dwellers, however – the complex is also home to some breathtakingly beautiful white Bengal tigers, who roam around a replica of an ancient Maharajah’s temple.
410 Bagby Street, Houston TX 77002.
Perfect parks
Houston is renowned for its extensive urban sprawl, but the city conceals a wealth of beautiful parks and green spaces. You can recharge your batteries with a gentle stroll, and the kids can let off steam in one of many free-to-use play areas. Memorial Park
This glorious expanse of greenery is one of the largest public parks in the United States. It’s a haven for sports enthusiasts, with sprawling playing fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, fitness center, miles of biking trails, and even a golf course. The park is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike, but its sheer size ensures you can always find a quiet spot for a family picnic.
6501 Memorial Drive, Houston TX 77001
Family dining
Houston's dining scene is friendly and informal, so kids are made to feel very welcome. Simple all-American classics like hamburgers and hot dogs feature on many menus, so even the fussiest of eaters will find something they love. Bernie’s Burger Bus
Local chef Justin Turner took Houston by storm with his gourmet burgers, which he serves all over the city from a bright yellow school bus. His empire has since been expanded to include this stationery establishment, though the food is still prepared in and served from the back of a bus, parked in the corner of the restaurant. Kids and parents alike will fall in love with the hand-crafted burgers, which are made with fine Black Angus Beef, and feature mouth-watering toppings like caremalized onions, homemade chipotle aioli, and applewood smoked bacon.
5407 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire TX 77401.
Amazon Grill
No fuss, no bother, and very little waiting time: that's what's on offer at Amazon Grill, where luscious Latin treats like puffy tacos and crispy enchiladas will please all palates. Kids will go crazy for the popcorn chicken in particular.
5114 Kirby Drive, Houston TX 77098.
