Houston

Orlando with Teens: Top 15 Things to Do at the Theme Parks and Beyond

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 04/20/2019 - 1:32pm

I used to think of Orlando as a destination for little kids, but I discovered Orlando is even better with teens. Amusement parks are so much more fun when you can go on all the rides and don’t have to worry about the dreaded “theme park meltdowns.” My big kids were also able to pack in lots of other adventures and hipster shopping areas as we explored all the fun there is in Orlando beyond the theme parks.

We spent our recent spring break in Orlando with two teens and had a blast.

All-Day Fun: Destination Parks in Houston

Submitted by Carrie Taylor on Sat, 04/20/2019 - 12:19am

Houston is home to a ton of parks. A ton. (Including some pretty great splash pads.) And some are better than others if you're looking to spend more than 30 minutes at an unshaded playground, so we've rounded up 13 parks where you can easily spend a few hours, or even the entire day.

Dinosaur Tracks in Texas: Family Fun at Dinosaur Valley State Park

Submitted by Carrie Taylor on Thu, 04/18/2019 - 9:00am

Deep in the heart of Texas runs the Paluxy River, a small tributary of the Brazos River. And on in its shallow bends and shores lie one of Texas' best kept secrets - dinosaur tracks! Dinosaur Valley State Park - located in Glen Rose, Texas - remains one of my personal favorite state parks for family camping trips because of the fossilized treasures its holds and its natural beauty. You don't even have to be a dinosaur fanatic to appreciate all this park has to offer. Add it to your family's travel bucket list, and plan to visit again and again.

Easter Weekend Fun for Houston Kids: Earth Day and Easter Celebrations, April 20-21

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Thu, 04/18/2019 - 12:01am

Happy, hoppy Easter! One quick peek at our Event Calendar and you'll quickly see that this weekend is jam-packed with Easter and Earth Day fun. There are egg hunts happening all over the city, Easter Bunny breakfast and photo opps galore, and plenty of ways you can celebrate and save our planet... the hardest decision you're going to have to make this weekend is choosing which event to attend!

While it's hard to believe that school is actually drawing to a close already, now is also the time to start planning out summer camps for the kids and thinking about what kind of vacations you want to take this summer. Personally, we think a good, old-fashioned Texas road trip would be fun!

Also worth noting: Target's Car Seat Trade-in is currently happening and is continuing through May 4, so if you're looking to upgrade, now is the time. Simply drop off your old car seat, and you'll get a 20% off coupon for a new car seat, booster seat, car seat base, travel system, stroller, or other "select" baby gear - valid both in store and online.

In need of more inspiration? Head over to our April GoList, FREE Things to Do roundup, and our Spring Fun Guide for even more ideas and activities to do with the family, then start picking and planning.

Now let's take a look at what's happening in Houston this Easter weekend.

Top Things to Do in The Woodlands With Kids

Submitted by Carrie Taylor on Tue, 04/16/2019 - 5:49pm

Visiting The Woodlands can feel like traveling to another world - there are so many trees! (Depending on where you live in Houston, this may be a huge change of scenery.) About 45 minutes north of Houston, The Woodlands is full of fun for the whole family. It's close enough that you can spend the day here without much of a drive time but offers enough to do that you could stretch it into a weekend getaway. Read on for of our favorite things to do in The Woodlands with our kids.

Houston Donut Shops Where Kids Can Try Outrageous Flavors

Submitted by Ashley Jones on Mon, 04/15/2019 - 9:30pm

Almost nothing beats starting the weekend with a warm, delicious, sugary donut. While the regular chain donut shops my family frequents offer selections of donuts that include basic glazed donuts and several filled donut options, my kids tend to gravitate toward the donuts topped with brightly-colored icing and sprinkles. What sounds even better to a child's ears than an iced and sprinkled donut is one covered in candy bar pieces or cookie crumbles or filled with Nutella. Yum! At these Houston specialty donut shops, kids can choose from a variety of gourmet flavors to bring joy to their foodie hearts.

See National Parks for Free in 2019 on These Free Entrance Days

Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on Mon, 04/15/2019 - 11:35am

A trip to one of our nation's incredible national parks may already be on your family travel to-do list for 2019. Whether it is or not, you may want to check out the FREE admission days at some of the country's largest parks. Courtesy of the National Park Service, there are five FREE days in 2019, which all take place on easy-for-planning weekends or holiday Mondays, at national parks that typically charge an admission fee.

While many parks have free admission every day of the year, more than 100 of them, including some of the most popular destinations, charge $15 per person or more. Those waiving admission for these holidays include some of those iconic, bucket list spots like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Acadia, Zion, Shenandoah, Joshua Tree, Glacier National Park, Death Valley, and the Cape Cod Seashore. The freebies also extend to a few historical sites under the National Park Service's purview, like the New York home of celebrated American president Franklin D. Roosevelt and national historic parks like Morristown National Historic Park, the scene of an American Revolutionary War battle.

Why Legoland Is My Favorite SoCal Theme Park

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 04/13/2019 - 3:41pm

Southern California is blessed with some of the world's most famous theme parks; families travel from all over to experience Disneyland and the original Universal Studios Hollywood (including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter)—but just 90 miles to the south, in the San Diego suburb of Carlsbad, is a park that has at least as much to offer as the mouse and the wizard. There is a whole lot more to Legoland California than bricks, and truth be told I prefer a day there to any other major theme park.

35 Fun Rainy Day Activities For Houston Kids

Submitted by Ashley Jones on Fri, 04/12/2019 - 3:59pm

Here in Houston, our weather can be pretty unpredictable. Weather that is scorching hot one day and cool the next is quite normal for us. It's also normal to go days on end with nothing but rain, rain, and more rain.

When the weather is drab and your kids start bouncing off of the walls because they've been cooped up inside for too long, finding an activity to keep them occupied and entertained can be challenging. However, the options for indoor fun around town are nearly limitless and getting creative with what you have right inside your own home is definitely not a lost cause. Here are 35 ideas to help keep your kids entertained on the next rainy Houston day.

Weekend Fun for Houston Kids: Houston Art Car Parade, Spring Fling Festival, April 13-14

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Wed, 04/10/2019 - 11:08pm

If you're a theater lover, this weekend is for you! There are no shortage of amazing plays, ballets and musicals spanning a variety of genres happening all weekend long. Standouts include: The Diary of Anne Frank at Crighton Theatre in Conroe (word to the wise: this play does contain sensitive material), Finding Neverland at Jones Hall and Goosebumps at MATCH (both downtown), and Willy Wonka at UHCL Bayou Theater in Clear Lake. For the film buffs, this weekend also features the 52nd Annual WorldFest happening in Memorial.

It's also prime crawfish season, and if a trip down towards the Island is in order for your weekend we recommend checking out Kemah's Crawfish & Zydeco Festival before heading down to Pleasure Pier for their Crawfish Crazy Weekend for mudbugs upon mudbugs and festivities galore.

Two other favorites for this weekend: Family Space Day at George Observatory and Stargazing with the Houston Astronomical Society.

Don't forget to check out our event calendar (it's always being updated!), April GoList, FREE Things to Do roundup, and our Spring Fun Guide.

With so many amazing options, it's hard to narrow down just what to do!