Have some fun in the snow at Polar Palooza. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum Houston
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Check out Gingerbread Village at City Place on Christmas Day in Houston. Photo courtesy of City Place Plaza
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Head to the Houston Zoo for a fun outing this Christmas break. Photo courtesy of the zoo
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Take a road trip to play in the snow. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Bass Pro Shops Present Santa's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of the event.
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Dickens on the Strand in Galveston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Go Rio Riverboat at Hilton Palacio del Rio San Antonio during Christmas. Photo by Nan Palermo via Flickr 2.0
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Christmas trains near Houston 2024. Photo courtesy of The Polar Express Train Ride at the Texas State Railroad
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It's time to get your annual picture with Santa, and we know just where to go. Photo courtesy of the Houston Galleria
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Photo by Mommy Poppins
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There are so many ways to see The Nutcracker in Houston this season. Photo courtesy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
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Holidays at Moody Gardens. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Beautiful neighborhood Christmas lights are all around Houston. Photo courtesy of the Franck's Christmas Light Show
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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See animals up close at some of these farms near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Pleasure Pier in Galveston is a top attraction near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo for some cool photos on your roadtrip to the Texas Panhandle.
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Baywatch Dolphin Tours are a fun, kid-friendly tour near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Make dining out with kids more fun at one of Houston's themed restaurants. Photo courtesy of Rock N Roll Sushi
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City Park Skate Park near Houston. Photo courtesy of the Sugarland Texas Govt.
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Urban Air has quite a few trampoline parks near Houston. Photo courtesy of Urban Air Adventure Park
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Batting cage photo courtesy of the Bellaire Bats
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Houston's Walking Stick Brewing Company has plenty of outdoor space. Photo courtesy of the Walking Stick Brewing Company
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Plan a magical quinceañera with these dress shops and venues. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Photo courtesy of Big Air in North Houston
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In winter, visit Luminations at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photo by Ann Alva Weiding Photography, at bigredmuse.com.
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The outdoor pool at the Moody Gardens Hotel, photo courtesy of Visit Galveston.
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One of our favorite petting zoos near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Make it an unforgettable family getaway from Houston by hiking Enchanted Rock. Photo courtesy Passport to Texas.
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Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks
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Photo by author Rebecca Matheson Ortiz for Mommy Poppins.
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Little girl playing at an indoor play space in Houston. Photo courtesy of Frogs, Snails and Fairy Tales
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Houston has many kid-friendly museums, and not all are children's museums. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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John P. McGovern's state-of-the art playground is perfect for both younger and older children. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green.
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Ice at the Galleria provides year-round ice skating in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Galleria
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MKT has great family-friendly restaurants! Photo courtesy of @mendocinofarms and MKT
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Fishing in Lake Somerville. Photo courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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There's no shortage of fun baby activities in Houston.
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Your little learner will love the variety of toddler classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
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Treat your kid to one of these Houston spas with services for children. Photo courtesy of Float Baby
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Climb with your kids at one of these indoor rock climbing gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Texas Rock Gym
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Bowling is a fun indoor activity to add to your list this summer. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
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Fishing at Sea Center in Freeport, TX. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Photo courtesy of Osprey Cruises
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Round up the girls and head out for a kid-free night in Houston. Photo courtesy of Thirsty Bee Meadery
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Kids love the carousel on Kemah's boardwalk.
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San Antonio has a lot of budget-friendly things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Botanical Garden
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Birdwatching at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, photo courtesy of Houston Audubon
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Photo courtesy of Cypress Academy
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Hero Headquarters is a birthday party entertainment company in Houston. Photo courtesy of Hero Headquarters
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Check out one of these breakfasts in Houston for a casual meal when the kids get up early. Photo courtesy of Snooze
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Free activities like feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park are simple and still great fun for kids. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Photo courtesy of Threadfare Children's Boutique
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The Houston Zoo is a great stop for kids, and near other things to do in Houston, too. Photo by Jessica A., courtesy of the zoo
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Families enjoying a night out. Photo courtesy of Paradigm Brewing in Tomball
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Montessori preschools focus on hands-on learning. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Montessori School
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Levy Park in Houston has one of our favorite playgrounds. Photo courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture
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Playgrounds Without Limits photo courtesy of Memorial Park, Facebook
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Take a look at one of these popular toddler dance classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Ballet preschool program.
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Baby music classes are a great way to bond and learn. Photo courtesy of Musik Garden
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Photo courtesy of Texas Health Resources
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Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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Birthday party places near Houston include arcades, escape rooms, climbing gyms, and more. Photo courtesy of The Main Event
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There are a variety of fishing lakes near Houston to fish with your kids. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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San Antonio is full of amusement parks, good food, and lots of other things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Riverwalk
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Try fishing for the first time in Lake Livingston. Photo courtesy of Lake Livingston State Park, Facebook
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Kids eat Free at Dickey's on Sundays with each adult purchase of $10 or more. Photo courtesy of Dickey's
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The St. Regis in Uptown is one of Houston's best family-friendly resorts.
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Hiking at Garner State Park in the Texas Hill Country. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Fresh air is one of the best antidotes to a grumpy toddler or baby. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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Come for the queso, stay for the ice cream at these Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston.
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Explore the 21 miles of trails around the park, of varying lengths and difficulty to suit your family’s needs.
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Kids can learn about Robotics at the Houston Space Center. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Ortiz.
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The Menil Collection is a free art museum in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Menil Collection
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​Galveston's Schlitterbahn is an indoor waterpark near Houston. Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn in Galveston Island
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Best Kid-Friendly Tours in Galveston For Your Family Trip

New to fishing? Try a Galveston fishing boat tour.
New to fishing? Try a Galveston fishing boat tour.
5/12/24 - By Sarah Banks

Tours in Galveston are a great addition to any family trip to the island. Galveston has so many top things to do, like Pleasure Pier, Moody Gardens, the Children's Museum, and of course the many Galveston beaches. But sometimes it's nice to just book a tour, show up, and let the guide do the entertaining. From boat rides to beach tours, here are some of the best family-friendly tours in Galveston.

 

 

Galveston Boat Tours

Capt. Hal Newsom’s Airboat Tours

Climb aboard a 450-horsepower airboat for a thrilling ride around Galveston Bay. See birds, alligators, and turtles as you glide over hundreds of acres of open marshland.  Bring your supplies and stop for an island picnic. Captain Hal will make sure your family has a great trip out! READ MORE

Galveston Harbor Tours

Take an hour-long tour around Galveston Bay on Seagull II. The boat has a comfortable main deck sheltered from sun and rain, and soft drinks and bottled water are available for sale. An open upper deck affords a panoramic view. Playful dolphins frequently show up to entertain the red-and-white boat's passengers. READ MORE

Artist Boat

Join an eco-art kayak adventure at the Coastal Heritage Preserve on Galveston Island's West End. The tour includes kayaking, a watercolor demonstration, and a time to paint your own work of art. No previous paddling or artistic experience is required, but be prepared to paddle around 3 miles. Children aged 7+ can participate in a 3-4 hour adventure and take home their artwork as a great souvenir of their experience. READ MORE

Get Hooked Charters

Jump aboard a Get Hooked Charters Bay trip, especially designed for families. The trip involves a boat ride and lots of fun-filled fishing time. Depending on the season, the catch is usually redfish, trout, drum, whiting, jacks, mackerel, sharks, and more. READ MORE
Combine sightseeing and horseback riding with a Galveston beach tour.
Combine sightseeing and horseback riding with a Galveston beach tour.

Galveston Beach Tours

Bucket Brigade

Join the Bucket Brigade for a FREE tour exploring the creatures and features that make Galveston beaches unique! All ages are welcome! The beach tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer vacation and last approximately 45 minutes. Beach Tours are provided at Stewart Beach, Midtown, and Pirates Beach. READ MORE

Galveston Island Horse and Pony Rides

Take your children 6+ on a horse ride lasting either 30 or 60 minutes. The ride begins at the outskirts of the nesting area for sea turtles and seabirds, located near East Beach. The trail will lead you through a picturesque natural lagoon that is home to a variety of wildlife. Keep an eye out for dolphins playing in the nearby ship channel - sightings are quite common! READ MORE

Galveston Sling Shot Rentals

Nothing says summer like cruising along the coast in a Slingshot, so why not create your own tour in this fun vehicle? If your kid is 5+, you can rent a two-seater slingshot in the Galveston area with Galveston Slingshot Rentals. Helmets are provided, and the Slingshots have Bluetooth audio so you and your kid can sing along to your favorite tunes. READ MORE

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