40 Fun Things To Do in Houston With Kids and Toddlers
Looking for fun things to do in Houston with kids and toddlers? In a city as big as Houston, there’s a plethora of great attractions, events, and things to do for families. In fact, the city is routinely ranked among the most family-friendly in all of the country. But with so many things to do with kids in Houston, how can you know which ones are really worth your time and money?
So, whether you are in search for “things to do in Houston for kids,” “things to do with toddlers in Houston,” or “free things to do in houston with kids,” then we have you covered!
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the best Houston things to do with kids. Being a great parent, you’ve likely already done some of these, but hopefully, there are a few surprises on this list that will give you something new and exciting to do with your little ones!
If you end up liking the article below, bookmark our Things To Do in Houston This Weekend With Kids article. It gets refreshed before every weekend and serves up the latest in fun, interesting kids’ events happening in and around Houston.
Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the latest information. However, all information mentioned in this article is subject to change. As always, please confirm before heading out.
Also, check out our posts on the Corn Maze in Houston and Best Campsites and Campgrounds in Houston.
TOP PICK — YMCA After School: Peace of Mind for Parents
YMCA After School: Peace of Mind for Parents
The Y makes the most of a child’s after-school time by offering active learning opportunities designed to engage and expand young minds. Housed in local schools, YMCA After School Care gives children the opportunity to participate in active play and collaborate on fun projects.
But YMCA After School programs are more than child care. Students engage in a variety of structured activities that promote positive social interactions, indoor and outdoor play and reinforce academic learning concepts, as well as lessons in empathy, inclusion, and service learning.
Get more information about YMCA After School Care and find out if the YMCA program is offered at your child’s school site today!
List of the best Things To Do in Houston With Kids and Toddlers
Go on a mural tour
Image Credit: viator.com
Explore Houston’s colorful side and get a collection of Insta-worthy photos along the way. Pose in front of downtown’s most vibrant street art, including hidden murals that even most locals don’t know about. Cover lots of ground in an open-sided electric cart, and get personalized attention and tips from your street-savvy guide on this private tour.
Update your profile pic with snaps in front of Houston’s best street murals. Learn about the history and culture behind the city’s colorful street art scene. Cruise around downtown Market Square in an eco-friendly electric cart. This personalized mural tour is private or semi-private, with a group size limited to five
Where: 800 Preston St #800, Houston, TX 77002
Private Houston Mural Instagram Tour
Explore Houston’s colorful side and get a collection of Insta-worthy photos along the way. Pose in front of downtown’s most vibrant street art, including hidden murals that even most locals don’t know about. Cover lots of ground in an open-sided electric cart, and get personalized attention and tips from your street-savvy guide on this private tour. Update your profile pic with snaps in front of Houston’s best street murals Learn about the history and culture behind the city’s colorful street art scene Cruise around downtown’s Market Square in an eco-friendly electric cart Personalized tour is private or semi-private, with group size limited to five
Get more information and book your Private Instagram Tour today!!!
Have outdoor fun in The Woodlands
Walk the Woodlands Waterway or ride along it by renting a water bike or kayak. Make sure to check out the colored and choreographed light and fountain show in the evening. Check out our post on 10 Fun Things to do in the Woodlands!
Where: Woodlands Waterway
Spend a day at the Houston Zoo
Image Credit: Houston Zoo FB Page
Visit every exhibit at the Houston Zoo and save big on this and 4 other top destinations with CityPASS. The zoo has many new safety guidelines in place, like encouraging visitors to wear face coverings, using one-way walking paths, closing certain exhibits, and more.
Where: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Hermann Park
Image Credit: hermannpark.org
Visit the scenic Hermann Park for Japanese Gardens, Art in the Park, and more fun.
Where: 6001 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030
Start out the school year with a Learning Tool from Nickelodeon! Now offering a FREE TRIAL for 30 Days!!!
You heard that right! Nickelodeon launched Noggin, a learning tool that lets children develop their social skills, communication, and critical thinking by the help of interactive games!
Boosting your kids’ emotional and social learning, this tool lets your kid explore through 1000+ educational games, videos, and books starring their favorite characters- Peppa Pig, Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol, Blues Clues and more!
And the best part is that Right Now Nickelodeon is offering a FREE 30 Day Trial!
Find out why parents LOVE this new app.
Enjoy nature at Brazos Bend State Park
Great Blue Heron Eating Snake at Brazos Bend – Pic courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife
Spot the gators at Brazos Bend State Park. Go geocaching, fishing, and hiking, then check out the nature center before you leave! Advanced day pass reservations are required right now, and face coverings are recommended.
Check out our comprehensive guide to Brazos Bend State Park!
Where: 21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX 77461
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Spend some time at the 7 Acre Wood Farm
Image Credit: 7 Acre Wood Farm FB Page
Gives you access to mini golf, a petting zoo, a zip line, a scooter track, a chalk room, a giant lego room, giant chess, checkers & connect 4, a giant sandbox, little tykes town, horseshoes, ladder golf basketball, soccer, tetherball, football, puppet house, playground & swing set. Saturday’s & Sunday’s pony rides are $5 (Children 100# and under) barrel train rides are $3 (Children only).
Where: 4401 N Frazier St, Conroe, TX 77303
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Check here for deals on admission to the 7 Acre Wood Farm
Take a journey to outer space at the Space Center Houston
Image Credit: spacecenter.org
The award-winning Space Center Houston is one of Houston’s most popular family attractions and takes visitors behind the scenes of the NASA Johnson Space Center. Filled with interactive exhibitions, multi-media displays, cutting-edge technology, and fascinating space artifacts, there’s something to amaze and entertain all ages. Full-day entrance ticket to the Space Center Houston includes the Nasa Tram, Mission Briefing Center, and Starship Gallery Choice of entrance times throughout the day
Where: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Deal Alert – Get the lowest admission price at Space Center Houston
Take Horseback Riding Lessons in Conroe, TX
Image Credit: Lone Star Horsemanship FB Page
A trainer at the highly-rated Lone Star Horsemanship helps students bond with horses & gain riding confidence through 60-minute English or Western lessons with four or fewer pupils.
Where: 16463 Edgefield Lane, Conroe, TX 77302
Deal Alert – Check for discounts on horseback riding in Conroe!
Enjoy a picnic at Discovery Green
Image Credit: Discovery Green FB Page
Have a picnic in the park at Discovery Green, Market Square Park, Memorial Park, or any of Houston’s great parks! One of the best things to do with kids and toddlers in Houston!
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday 6:00 am – 11:00 pm
Visit Houston’s best public skatepark
Image Credit: Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark FB Page
Bring drinks and a snack to get your skate on or watch the skateboarders and rollerbladers at the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark.
Where: Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, 103 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
TOP PICK — YMCA After School: The perfect mix of fun and learning
YMCA After School: The perfect mix of fun and learning
The Y makes the most of your child’s after-school time by offering active learning opportunities and fun, collaborative play. Housed in local, Houston area schools, YMCA After School Care gives your child the opportunity to participate in active play and collaborate on fun projects.
A typical day in the YMCA After School program consists of:
Y Community Time: A daily welcome into the program with ice-breakers and group games
Brain Power Hour: Dedicated time for students to work on daily homework and participate in self-guided academic learning centers
Exploration: Age-appropriate, hands-on, fun activities designed to reinforce learning concepts
Enrichment: Activities such as music, art, theatre, service learning, and character education
Energize: Physical play taking place either outside or in the gym/cafeteria
Get more information about YMCA After School Care and find out if the YMCA program is offered at your child’s school site today!
Things To Do in Houston With Kids and Toddlers
Start out the school year with a Learning Tool from Nickelodeon! Now offering a FREE TRIAL for 30 Days!!!
You heard that right! Nickelodeon launched Noggin, a learning tool that lets children develop their social skills, communication, and critical thinking by the help of interactive games!
Boosting your kids’ emotional and social learning, this tool lets your kid explore through 1000+ educational games, videos, and books starring their favorite characters- Peppa Pig, Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol, Blues Clues and more!
And the best part is that Right Now Nickelodeon is offering a FREE 30 Day Trial!
Find out why parents LOVE this new app.
Go under the sea at the Houston Downtown Aquarium
Image Credit: Downtown Aquarium FB Page
Travel the world’s underwater treasures at the Houston Downtown Aquarium, where elaborate exhibits showcase unique aquatic environments. A recreation of the Louisiana swampland’s marshes and bayous crawls with gators and snapping turtles, and a 17th-century shipwreck gives visitors an intimate view into a Spanish galleon’s hull and the coral reefs that surround it.
The adventure doesn’t end at mealtime. Basking in the glow of the 150,000-gallon aquarium and its denizens—including reticulated rays, sawfish, and shovel-nosed guitarfish—families can nosh on New Orleans–style tilapia and shrimp platters or tried-and-true kids’ favorites such as popcorn shrimp and sand dollar pizza.
Where: 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002
Operating Hours: Monday – Thursday and Sunday 10:00 am – 8:30 pm | Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Houston City Tour & Downtown Aquarium All Ride Pass
Find out what the largest city in Texas has to offer during a sightseeing tour by bus, and a visit to the Houston Aquarium. Includes one admission ticket for the Houston Aquarium and one ticket for the Houston City Tour.
Find out more details and book your Houston City Tour and Downtown Aquarium Pass TODAY!!!
Head away from the city for stargazing
Take a long nap during the day, then camp out at the George Observatory during a meteor shower. Kids, adults, and families alike will enjoy this.
Where: 21901 FM 762 Rd Needville, TX 77461
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Saturday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Go underneath the city with the Underground Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston
Image Credit: Downtown Houston Underground Tunnels FB Page
Did you know that Houston has the most extensive downtown tunnel system in the US? Join them on their Underground Tunnel tour (air-conditioned) without outdoor views for an in-depth look at the incredible metropolis below ground-floor in Texas’ largest business district including the most award-winning downtown skyscrapers which host many of Texas’ most noteworthy Fortune 500 corporate headquarters & historical venues.
As part of this day tour, they will visit multiple historical and artistic sections of Downtown Houston’s tunnels as well as the corporate buildings that lie on top of them. Make sure to bring your smile and camera as they will provide you with unique photo-op opportunities and inside secrets that most native Houstonians don’t even know about!
Where: 909 Fannin St #1650, Houston, TX 77010
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Deal Alert – Enjoy the lowest price on a Tour of the Downtown Houston Underground Tunnels!
Enjoy free outdoor fun at City Centre
Image Credit: City Centre FB Page
Check out the great free events in the Plaza at City Centre. The plaza has seating, green space, water features, and plenty of restaurants to grab a quick bite.
Where: 800 Town and Country Blvd, Houston, TX 77024
Operating Hours: Open 24 Hours
Get wet at one of the many waterparks in the Houston area
When summer is in full swing and the temperatures scorching, there’s no better way to cool off than hitting water parks. It’s one of our favorite things to do in Houston on the weekend or any day of the week! Thankfully, there are plenty of great water parks in Houston, TX, and the surrounding area. Whether you are looking for indoor water parks in Houston texas or outdoor parks, we have you covered!
Where: Multiple Locations available across Houston and surrounding areas
Learn and have fun at the Children’s Museum
Image Credit: Children’s Museum Houston FB Page
Tinker, dabble, and play with the exhibits at Children’s Museum Houston. Experience new worlds and make new discoveries about science, the environment, culture math, and the arts. One of our top picks for things to do with kids and toddlers in Houston!
Where: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004
Deal Alert – Check for the latest discount at the Children’s Museum of Houston!
Take your dog along for some fun at the park
Let Fido loose at any of the other great dog parks in Houston. If you don’t have a dog, bring the kids to play with someone else’s!
Where: Multiple Locations available across Houston and surrounding areas
Stop and smell the roses (or azaleas) in this garden in the city
Image Credit: mfah.org
Enjoy the beautiful Rienzi Gardens where beautiful seasonal plants and flowers bloom throughout the year. Tour the amazing gardens for free! Advanced timed tickets are recommended.
Where: 1406 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77019
Experience a Drive-in movie at Moonstruck Drive-In
Image Credit: groupon.com
Drive-In Movie Package for One Car includes
- Admission for One Car – up to the legal seat belt limit
- One Large or Two Small Popcorns (depending on availability)
- Two Drinks
- They also have the best sunset!
Where: 100 Bringhurst Street, Houston, TX 77020
Visit this beautiful cemetery
Experience the unique and gorgeous Glenwood Cemetery. Leave flowers and pebbles on the graves or talk about the circle of life with the kids.
Where: 2525 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
DEAL ALERT: – SAVE 50% ON HOUSTON MUSEUMS & OTHER TOP ATTRACTIONS
The CityPASS is the best way to enjoy museums and other popular attractions around Houston. It offers prepaid admission to five must-see attractions including Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo OR Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Kemah Boardwalk OR Children’s Museum of Houston.
Child passes valid for ages 3–11; adult passes valid for ages 12 and up. Definitely among the smartest things to do in Houston! Click here to Save 50% on Admission at Houston Attractions!!!
Fun Things To Do in Houston With Kids and Toddlers
Enjoy the beauty and magic of aviation at William P. Hobby Airport
Go planespotting at Hobby Airport and stop by the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. Admission is cheap and you can not only visit photo and video galleries but see vintage and restored planes in the hangar.
Where: 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77061
See some larger-than-life art at Cullen Sculpture Garden
Image Credit: mfah.org
Get a dose of art, culture, and nature at the Cullen Sculpture Garden and visit Houston’s own “bean” sculpture, Cloud Gate.
Where: Montrose Boulevard at Bissonnet StreetHouston, TX 77006
Watch the bats fly at dusk
Go during dusk to visit the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony and watch the bats make their daily venture out from the bridge for their nighttime feeding.
Where: Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77002
Push the big red button
Park near the Preston Street Bridge, wander near the Sesquicentennial Park and dare the kids to push the Big Red Button on Buffalo Bayou.
Where: Sesquicentennial Park, 400 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Take in a story
Image Credit: Houston Public Libraries FB Page
Settle in for storytime at Houston Public Libraries. Many libraries are offering virtual story times during these uncertain times, and hopefully, in the near future, in-person story times will return. Makes our list of top picks for things to do with kids and toddlers in Houston!
Where: Houston Public Library, 4100 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
Taste something new at this market
Image Credit: Phoenicia Specialty Foods FB Page
Explore Phoenicia Specialty Foods and let them pick their own meal then eat it there! You can also bring the kids to their MKT bar for live music and drink specials.
Where: Phoenicia Specialty Foods, 1001 Austin St, Houston, TX 77010
Hang out at Market Square Park
Go people-watching, get in a workout, visit the dog park, and cool off at Niko Niko’s in Market Square Park.
Where: 301 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002
Take a picture at the Water Wall
Image Credit: uptown-houston.com
Get ready for your close-up at the Gerald D. Hines Water Wall. The water feature is great for photo ops and you can also bring your own picnic and play Frisbee in the park.
Where: Gerald D. Hines Water Wall, 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
Support local businesses at a farmer’s market
Shop local and get your fix of handmade goods at local farmers’ markets. Check out our full guide to farmers’ markets in Houston, too!
Where: The Houston Farmers Market, 2520 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009
Make a splash at Quillian Rec Center
Image Credit: Quillian Recreation Center FB Page
Hop aboard Noah’s Ark at the Quillian Recreation Center at First United Methodist Church in Richmond. The center has a huge pool area with water features and a Noah’s Ark replica with slides, all for a nominal fee. Camp Quillian reopened on June 1 with new rules in place.
Where: 10570 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042
TOP PICK — Kids will have a blast in YMCA After School Care
Kids will have a blast in YMCA After School Care
When it comes to YMCA After School programs, we’re the experts in awesome adventures! Housed in local, Houston area schools, YMCA After School Care instills positive social, and emotional learning and provides the fun children need. Serving thousands of children on a daily basis, the Y offers safe and affordable care providing parents peace of mind during after-school hours.
The program features caring, supportive staff, care on early dismissal and in-service days, healthy snacks, homework assistance, academic enrichment, and more!
Get more information about YMCA After School Care and find out if the YMCA program is offered at your child’s school site today!
Best Things To Do in Houston With Kids and Toddlers
Levy Park
Image Credit: levyparkhouston.org
This classic green space features a softball field & playground, plus a community garden & dog park.
Where: 3801 Eastside St, Houston, TX 77098
Enjoy a free outdoor show at Miller
Catch a free play or show on the hill at Miller Outdoor Theater. All performances are canceled through July at the moment, but hopefully, the free outdoor theater returns after that. Be sure to bring your blankets, bug spray, and a picnic to enjoy a totally free event with the kids! It’s always one of the best free things to do in Houston on the weekend!
Where: 6000 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Keep it weird at these unique local attractions
Image Credit: orangeshow.org
Dive into the world of the fun and the funky at Smither Park, home of the Orange Show, the Beer Can House, and the Art Car Museum. Some of these spaces are temporarily closed but did reopen for Memorial Day weekend, so we’re hopeful they’ll be fully reopened soon. It’s the weirdest and best thing to do with kids and toddlers!
Where: Smither Park, 2441 Munger St, Houston, TX 77023
Visit the city’s best museums for free
Check out Free Museum Family Days on Thursdays and get free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and several other museums!
Where: 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005
Let the kids run wild at one of the many Indoor Playgrounds in Houston
Image Credit: Wonderwild FB Page
Burn off some energy at Wonderwild, Houston’s best indoor playspace for kids with jumping pillows, 3-story playscapes, giant slides, and more! Play sessions must now be reserved online.
Where: Wonderwild, 767 N Shepherd Dr #400, Houston, TX 77007
Pick fresh fruit at local farms
Image Credit: Atkinson Farms FB Page
Head down to our local farms to pick berries, enjoy locally-made products, and more!
Where: Atkinson Farms, 3217 Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX 77388
Go on a bike ride at Buffalo Bayou Hike & Bike Trail
Take a ride on any of the great bike trails in the greater Houston area! It’s a great way to explore the city while being active and getting some exercise. Don’t have a bike? Rent one at any of the local BCycle stands around the city and cruise Houston from a whole new perspective.
Where: 1019 Commerce Street, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77002
Shop this monthly arts market
Image Credit: First Saturday Arts Market FB Page
Check out First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights every month to shop for locally-made goods. The popular event is officially reopened as of June 6, 2020, with socially distanced booths and other safety procedures in place. As the name indicates, the event takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
Where: First Saturday Arts Market, 540 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008
Take a ride around town to see these amazing roadside attractions
Houston has a number of impressive attractions you can see from the comfort of your car or get out and see up close. Highlights include the President Heads sculptures, Beer Can House, We Heart Houston sculpture and more. Check out our full guide to the best Houston roadside attractions for more info.
Where: Beer Can House, 222 Malone St, Houston, TX 77007
Escape to an African safari down in Alvin
Image Credit: Bayou Wildlife Zoo FB Page
Just 30 minutes south of Houston, tucked behind some trees off a busy road, an 80-acre African-style safari thrives with over 500 exotic animals from nearly 20 different countries. The Bayou Wildlife Zoo in Alvin is one of the Houston area’s true hidden gems and the perfect destination for a day full of family fun.
Where: Bayou Wildlife Zoo, 5050 FM517, Alvin, TX 77511
Hang out with the butterflies at the Cockrell Butterfly Center
When visiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of butterflies and insects at the Cockrell Butterfly Center and Brown Hall of Entomology. The entrance ticket admits you to both exhibits where you can see both live and preserved specimens and learn about them with interactive games and displays. Explore a rainforest environment with a 3-floor butterfly habitat, get a close look at a range of insects, and visit a play area for kids.
There are always lots of fun events going on in Houston. Check out our weekly updates to Things to do in Houston this Week, Things to do in Houston this Weekend, and Things to do in Houston this Weekend with Kids to stay up to date!
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Also check out Things to Do with Kids in San Antonio, Things to Do with Kids in Austin, Things to Do with Kids in Dallas, and Things to Do with Kids in Boston!
