Elizabeth R.

Elizabeth R. is a writer, editor, and mom. She shares all the fun things to do in Houston on social @mommypoppinshouston

Latest posts by Elizabeth

School Break Camps: Holiday and Spring Break Camps That'll Keep Kids Busy on Days Off

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Sun, 03/03/2024 - 9:32am

Texas Rock Gym Camps. Photo courtesy Canva

If you don't have travel plans and need to find a few spring break camps, then you're in the right place. After all, parents can always use extra help when schools are closed—not just for spring break, but for weeks off during the holidays, not to mention those non-holiday long weekends.

From The Heights to Bellaire and the arts to aviation, we think you'll find something perfect for your family in the camps we've rounded up here. As an added benefit, some places offer holiday camps on long weekends when schools are closed and summer camps too! Speaking of summer, popular camps fill up fast, so check out our favorite free and affordable camps in the Houston area and more camps for kids of all ages and interests in our Houston Summer Camp Guide.

Best Events To Celebrate Mardi Gras in Houston with Kids

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Sun, 01/21/2024 - 7:22am

Galveston's Mardi Gras parade is a fun spectacle. Photo courtesy of Mardi Gras Galveston

Mardi Gras is sometimes thought of as an adult affair, but there are tons of options around the Houston area for celebrating with kids. Your family will love Houston's festive parades, the floats decorated in bright colors, the free-flowing candy, the great music at many events, and the shiny beaded necklaces to catch and wear.

Read on for our selection of the best Mardi Gras celebrations in Houston. And if you're looking for more kid-friendly ideas, check out our Winter Activities Guide for Houston Families for fun seasonal activities.

Immersive Slime Experience Sloomoo Institute Now Open in Houston

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Thu, 01/18/2024 - 7:21am

Sloomoo is inside of a colorful warehouse that's sectioned off into different sensory-slime experiences. Photo by Nan Ross

Sloomoo, billed as the “World’s #1 Slime Experience,” recently opened a new location in Houston–and you'll want to check it out if you have a kid that likes slime. The Marq-E Entertainment Center opening follows popular Sloomoo locations in New York, Atlanta, and Chicago.

We recently had a chance to visit, and it was a big hit with our kids. We all loved playing with different textures of slime, and the kids enjoyed making personalized slime to bring home.

Read on to get the scoop on this awesome new experience. Check out our Indoor Fun Guide for Houston Kids to find more fun places to play indoors.

Best Things to Do in Bellaire with Kids

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Sun, 01/14/2024 - 9:45am

Palace Social in Bellaire has a bowling alley, arcade, and VR rides. Photo courtesy of Palace Social

Bellaire is located just minutes from Houston’s downtown, straddling the loop in the southwest part of town, and it makes for a fun day trip or quick visit for a meal or recreation. The compact city is a mere 3.5 square miles, but its small footprint packs in a lot of family-friendly activities and events.

From playgrounds and pools to indoor activities and kid-friendly restaurants, read on for some of the best things to do with kids in Bellaire.

If you’d like to explore options for more local adventures, check out our 100 Things To Do With Houston Kids Before They Grow Up post and the Visitors Guide.

Mega-Sized Indoor Action Park Slick City Now Open at Katy Mills Mall

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Tue, 12/19/2023 - 7:18am

Slick City is a massive action park now open in the Katy Mills Mall. Photo courtesy of the Slick City Katy Facebook page

Slick City, which is billed as the world’s largest indoor waterless slide park, has opened a new location in the Houston area–and there's a good chance your family is going to have a blast at the Katy Mills Mall action park.

The unique theme park is just the third Slick City location nationwide, and it's designed for all ages. The Katy location features 66,000 square feet of indoor sliding experiences, go-karts, and a sports court park.

We were invited to check it out, and my oldest child called it “the most fun we’ve ever had,” so, needless to say, it was a big hit with the kids. As a bonus, the adults had a lot of fun, too!

Read on to get the scoop on this awesome new experience, and find more fun places to play indoors on our list of the Top Indoor Play Spaces in Houston.

Houston Botanic Garden's New Light Show Will Illuminate Your Holidays

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Thu, 12/07/2023 - 6:43am

"Radiant Nature," at the Houston Botanic Garden, features huge lantern installations that make for great photo ops.

"Radiant Nature," the new holiday light show at the Houston Botanic Garden, offers an enchanting after-dark experience. The botanic garden has been transformed into an illuminated wonderland featuring dozens of Chinese lantern installations, and the installation will remain in place through late February, following Chinese New Year.

We think it’s an amazing place for your whole family to check out. Read on to learn what to expect from your visit.

Don't forget to check out our list of Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows for more wonderous light shows to explore in Houston this holiday season.

Not-S0-Scary Halloween Events in Houston for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Fri, 10/13/2023 - 12:00pm

Malloween is a safe Halloween event for younger kids. Photo courtesy of sugarland.com

This October, Houston is jam-packed with fun Halloween events for kids, but if you have a toddler or preschooler in tow, you might prefer events with more fun treats than spooky tricks. Get your little ones' costumes on, because there are many awesome, not scary, Halloween events in Houston for toddlers and preschoolers.

For more Halloween ideas, don't forget to check out our top area Trunk or Treats, and our Houston Halloween Fun Guide.

Best Things to Do in The Houston Heights with Kids

Submitted by Elizabeth R on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 8:26pm

MKT has great family-friendly restaurants! Photo courtesy of @mendocinofarms and MKT

Looking for things to do with kids in the Houston Heights? Here's the scoop on kid-friendly activities in The Heights neighborhood.

The Houston Heights, located just northwest of Downtown, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Houston. Known for its Victorian Houses along Heights Boulevard and quirky stores, it’s also home to many family-friendly events and activities. From playgrounds and museums to indoor activities and kid-friendly restaurants, we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do with kids in The Heights.

If you’d like to explore options for more local adventures, check out our 100 Things To Do With Houston Kids Before They Grow Up post and the Visitors Guide.

Elizabeth R.

Latest posts by Elizabeth

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