Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- 1. Visit The Menil Collection
- 2. Play at Discovery Green Park
- 3. Listen to a Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre
- 4. Go Skating at the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
- 5. Hug a Tree at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
- 6. Take a Break at the Water Wall
- 7. Sail Around the Port of Houston
- 8. Enjoy Some Contemporary Art
- 9. Get a Free Tour Guide from the Houston Greeter Program
- 10. Check Out Buffalo Bayou Park
- 11. The Art Car Museum
- 12. Lawndale Arts Center
- 13. Catch a Sunrise or Sunset Light Show
- 14. Rest at Rothko Chapel
- 15. The Japanese Gardens
- 16. Free Things to Do with Kids On Thursdays
- Bonus: How to Save Money on Other Fun Things to do in the Houston Area
- Visiting Texas during the Spring? Here’s where to find Texas Bluebonnets:
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the free things to do in Houston! It’s the largest city in Texas, and one of the fastest growing cities in the USA. Houston has plenty of large scale attractions for family fun.
Houston, we have a problem. There may be TOO many fun things to do here. The city boasts the Johnson Space Center, NASA’s base for Mission Control, a Museum District with world class art, great parks and restaurants to fit a budget or palate, plus plenty of family-friendly hotels. There are rodeos, professional sports from major league baseball (the Houston Astros) to football (Houston Texans) and basketball (Houston Rockets).
Those are fun, but pricey, things to do in Houston. Save the family vacation budget by sprinkling in some of these free family-friendly things to do.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Always check the website for an attraction before planning your trip. Opening dates and hours can change without notice.
1. Visit The Menil Collection
The Menil Collection, a private art collection by John and Dominique de Menil, has more than 15,000 paintings, sculptures, photos and books, including works by Jackson Pollock, Max Ernst, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. It stresses making art accessible, so the museum is always free. There is also free street parking nearby. The art work includes Surrealist and modern European painting and sculpture, medieval art and artifacts; African, Pacific Islands, and Pacific Northwest Native art, and art of the ancient Americas and the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Kids are welcome to run around outside after checking out the art indoors – there’s even a big swing.
2. Play at Discovery Green Park
This is a 12-acre green space in downtown Houston. In the spring and fall, listen to local musicians perform in the amphitheater. There are also family friendly movies, fitness classes, arts and crafts and water features. In the winter, ice skate on Kinder Lake.
SheBuysTravel Tip: In summer, Houston can be extremely hot. Be sure to carry a water bottle and a hat. I speak from experience; I collapsed at the Houston Zoo when I was pregnant with my third child. It was over 100 degrees and humid but I had promised my kids that we would visit. Be sure some of the hot weather things to do involve sitting in the shade or strolling through a cool museum.
Check out our favorite kid-friendly restaurants in Houston!
3. Listen to a Concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts a range of performances including classical music, ballet, dance, film, and Shakespeare from March through November.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Looking to make the most of your travel budget while maximizing the fun? With a wide range of deals on local activities, dining, and experiences, Groupon helps you stretch your budget by offering discounted options near you.
The theater, set inside Hermann Park, also allows picnicking. And you can BYOB – except no glass bottles. Bring your own cans. Or boxed wine.
4. Go Skating at the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
This $2.2 million state-of-the-art skatepark contains one of the largest cradles in the world. The 30,000 square-foot skatepark is near the Sabine Street Bridge in Buffalo Bayou Park. Helmets are required.
Looking for a day trip from Houston? Try Brenham, Texas, especially during bluebonnet season in the spring.
5. Hug a Tree at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Trees are on display across this 155-acre nature sanctuary. Find five miles of trails and interactive exhibits. There is a Discovery Center and free guided nature hikes. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
6. Take a Break at the Water Wall
A 64-foot-tall fountain built to look like a “horseshoe of running water,” the Water Wall sits among several oak trees at the base of the 64-story Williams Tower. The landmark tower is near the Galleria.
7. Sail Around the Port of Houston
The Port of Houston Sail is a free, 90-minute tour of the Port of Houston about the Sam Houston. Learn about the history of the seaport as you watch ocean freighters and barges navigate the 50-mile channel. The tour is free, but reservations are required.
8. Enjoy Some Contemporary Art
The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft showcases the work of local and national artists who use fiber, metal, glass, clay and wood.
9. Get a Free Tour Guide from the Houston Greeter Program
The Houston Greeter Program provides volunteer hosts for up to four hours to introduce visitors to local attractions. The service is free, and METRORail provides free passes for visitors and greeters.
10. Check Out Buffalo Bayou Park
Buffalo Bayou Park includes biking and hiking trails, a huge dog park and Lost Lake wetland gardens. The Kitchen at The Dunlavy is a great place to eat an inexpensive breakfast or lunch. Be sure to cool off at the Gus S. Wortham Memorial Fountain, a large fountain that sprays water in a starburst pattern.
11. The Art Car Museum
The Art Car Museum includes contemporary art and a specialty in art cars, fantastically decorated vehicles. The museum is open by appointment only.
12. Lawndale Arts Center
Located in the Museum District, the Lawndale Art Center specializes in exhibitions of contemporary works of art, including many regional artists
13. Catch a Sunrise or Sunset Light Show
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice University campus has free lights shows at sunrise and sunset, Wednesdays through Mondays. This is one case where it’s useful if your kids are early risers! The LED light sequence projects on the ceiling and lasts about 40 minutes.
14. Rest at Rothko Chapel
Rothko Chapel is a serene place to meditate. The non-denominational chapel exhibits modern art, including 14 paintings by Mark Rothko.
15. The Japanese Gardens
The Japanese Gardens in Hermann Park, a symbol of friendship between the U.S. and Japan, provide a quiet place to sit, meditate and watch the Koi fish swimming in the pond. There is a teahouse and traditional Japanese plants.
Bonus: How to Save Money on Other Fun Things to do in the Houston Area
CityPASS packages five of the more expensive things to do in the Houston area in a discount coupon book. But it only saves you money if you have the time and inclination to visit all five attractions. You have nine days to use the passes, which include:
- Space Center Houston
- Downtown Aquarium
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Houston Zoo (see summer warning, above) OR Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Kemah Boardwalk OR Children’s Museum of Houston
SheBuysTravel Tip: Take advantage of a free attraction on Thursday, above, and use the CityPASS for the other options.
Visiting Texas during the Spring? Here’s where to find Texas Bluebonnets:
Bluebonnets, state flower of Texas, bloom everywhere across the state, and Houston is no exception. Bluebonnets bloom from late March to early April (blooming dates vary depending on how cold the winter was).
If you are driving from San Antonio to Houston on I-10 you will see lots of patches of bluebonnets along the highway. There have historically been thick patches just outside of Katy, a Houston suburb. With any location, if you’re stopping alongside the highway, follow these safety tips. Rob Fleming Park in The Woodlands has historically had good pictures spots, too.
Hermann Park, which is near the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science will often have great patches of bluebonnets. More on where to find bluebonnets across the state here.
Amy Tank says
The tour around the Port of Hudson sounds really cool! Thanks for sharing this list, I’m looking for a few things to do with my kids soon. interior window cleaning