I must admit, I was a bit surprised. I’d never thought of Houston as a place for a family getaway. My first visit changed my opinion of the largest city in Texas due to the variety of attractions and activities to please every member of the family. Here are some of the best things to do for a long weekend in the city.
This waterfront entertainment has a lot to offer. Elementary and younger teenagers will love the midway games, amusement rides from the tame train to more thrilling Bullet roller coaster and 140-foot Drop Zone, as well as the interactive Stingray Reef. The boardwalk runs along the waterfront where you’ll find a variety of dining venues, retail shops, lounges, and live entertainment. Strategically located in the center of the boardwalk is an elegant boutique inn with private balconies overlooking Galveston Bay channel.
Photo source: © Some rights reserved by Mike Fisher, BFS Man, Flickr
Encompassing 55 acres containing over 6,000 animals from around the world, the zoo will delight children of all ages. Exhibits include the African Forest, Carnivores, and a Sea Lion show. Coming in 2014: Shanti, a 23-year old Asian elephant is set to give birth in January and a new Insectarium is under construction and scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend.
Photo source: © Some rights reserved by Katie Haugland, Flickr
The theater district is an excellent central location. Within walking distance you’ll find hotels for every budget. Bayou Place, located in the heart of the theater district is a 130,000 square foot entertainment complex with theaters, bars, and restaurants including the headliner Hard Rock Café.
Photo source: © Some rights reserved by TheAustinot, Flickr. Learn more about Space Center Houston.
This is the official visitors’ center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. There’s a lot to experience here, so it’s wise to check out the tours and exhibits ahead of time to plan what’s best for your family. Some highlights are Mission Control, historic space artifacts, a real moon rock, Launch to Mars in the Blast-Off Theater, astronaut training, and rockets. Tram tours are recommended.
Enter the unique underwater world and examine over 400 specimens of marine life, including the chance to touch sea creatures in the Discovery Rig. The Aquarium is also host to the Maharaja’s Temple where two stunningly beautiful white tigers prowl the sanctuary.
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The most affordable way to see as many sights as possible is to purchase a CityPASS which will give you a substantially discounted entrance to the best attractions in Houston.
Have you been to Houston? What other attractions would you add to this list?
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This is a great list! I would also add the Houston Museum District as we have one of the best Children’s museums in the country. Another attraction would have to be our Houston Rodeo; although it is only around once a year, we have huge acts come and they are not all country singers. My kids, nieces, and nephews also love Splashtown, which went through renovations and a name change for this upcoming year, Wet n’ Wild Splashtown. I would be remiss in not adding that we have some of the best restaurants, which encompass some of the best ethnic foods around! There are also a lot of different festivals that are held each weekend, year round. For example, right now you can find many different events for the Chinese New Year celebrations.
My sister just moved to Houston with her kids and so I definitely think that she should take her kids to the Aquarium. Her oldest son really loves learning about marine life and I think that they would really enjoy exploring the Maharaja’s Temple. However, is the temple really a place where kids can go exploring with the white tigers walking around it?
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