Rachael Cherry

Latest posts by Rachael Cherry

Nature Trails & Giant Playgrounds: Playing at Spring Creek Park in Tomball

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Mon, 08/06/2018 - 7:35pm

Nestled into the side of a slow, winding road in the small town of Tomball northwest of Houston, you'll find Spring Creek Park, an expansive park that is bursting with things to do. It's also home to some of my fondest memories growing up, as I used to frequent it often with my family, and being able to bring my kids to this park is like stepping back in time. This isn't just any park, though; it's a place that begs for adventures, appeals to kids of all ages, and could just be your next camping trip - all without having to very far from the city.

The sprawling 114-acre facility is home to a plethora of activities set amongst the trees (which is why it's already claimed a spot on our list of parks with LOTS of shade - a must for any Houston park in the summer!) making it the perfect spot to settle in for the day; just pack a picnic and get ready to explore!

15 Things To Do in Houston With Kids Before Summer Ends

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 10:36pm

Summer is quickly drawing to a close, so it's time to squeeze in as much seasonal fun as you can before the back to school grind begins! My oldest is starting his last year of preschool in the fall (cue the tears), and in an effort to make sure we have as much fun together as possible before he starts his last year as a toddler (can I still call him a toddler? Please say yes!), I've started compiling a list of activities and events that we can do to take advantage of our fleeting time together. If you're in a similar situation - or you just need to keep the kids occupied and out of the house for a few days a week - this summer bucket list of sorts is exactly what you need because most of these events won't be available in the fall!

Want even more ideas? Then be sure to check out our s ummer fun guide for Houston kids.

Family Fun at Port Aransas: Clean Beaches, Fishing & More

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Mon, 07/09/2018 - 7:12am

When it comes to beach getaways, we regularly pack up and head down to nearby favorites like Surfside and Galveston Island, sometimes for a day trip, other times for a longer weekend stay. However, it rarely feels like an actual vacation because it's so close to home and so easy to do. So when we're in the mood for a longer family-friendly beach vacation, our destination is always the same: Port Aransas. Clocking in at almost four hours away, it's far enough from home to truly feel like we're getting out of town and packed with plenty of coastal town charm and activities that appeal to all family members.

Taste and See Texas Tradition at Blue Bell Creamery

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Mon, 06/25/2018 - 3:50pm

Nestled in the heart of nearby Brenham, Texas is Blue Bell Creamery, a small town factory that is home to one of the best-selling ice creams in the country. Like many native Houstonians, I grew up eating Blue Bell ice cream, and to this day you never have to look hard to find it on the freezer shelves in grocery stores. So, on a recent trip out to Brenham, we decided we could finally introduce our kids to the birthplace of one of our favorite Texas treats. Brenham is full of small-town charm, and "The Little Creamery," as it is affectionately known, offers a fantastic tour and delicious ice cream samples to boot. In short, this is a must-do for all Houston (and Texan!) kids.

16 Kid-Friendly Restaurants With Room to Play in Houston

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 06/22/2018 - 12:01pm

Relaxing on the patio with good food and drinks is something that, prior to kids, we used to love to do... and then we had kids and going out to eat became nothing short of a nightmare that quickly got nixed from our weekend plans. Where we once sat back and talked uninterrupted about our respective weeks, we now went through constant rounds of "don't touch that!" and, "honey, leave those nice people alone." All seemed lost, and we resigned ourselves to spending our evenings out at Chick-fil-A... until we found restaurants with play spaces for kids (we also spent an exhaustive amount of time eating near the green area at CityCentre).

Talk about a game changer - it's like these restaurants knew that us parents needed a space to unwind a bit with the kids in tow, and they delivered with patios that opened up to enclosed playgrounds, sand pits (ok, this one is a catch-22 because of sand everywhere), and toys.

Where to See Fourth of July Fireworks Around Houston With Kids

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 12:59am

Stars and stripes, street festivals, live music and fanfare all make the Fourth of July spectacular, but no celebration is complete without an impressive display of fireworks. Luckily, when it comes to celebrating our nation's independence, there's one thing that's certain: the Bayou City knows how to light up the sky and throw down (...in a family-friendly way, of course).

50 Free Things to Do with Houston Kids This Summer

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 4:51pm

Summer days mean extra sunlight, lots of time with friends and filling our days with as many engaging and entertaining activities as possible. However, thrifty is in my genes - and being primarily a one income family, is a necessity for us - and while I love to plan full days of fun with my kids, I also love to primarily plan days that don't require opening my wallet often, if at all. To help any other families who may want to save a buck without sacrificing any fun, here's a bucket list of 50 FREE activities we'll be taking advantage of this summer.

*This post is currently being updated for Summer 2019*

Summer Fun: Free & Cheap Movies for Houston Families

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 06/01/2018 - 9:51pm

Pool days, water parks and splash pads may be the name of the game when it comes to summer - especially in Houston where any day below 90 degrees is considered cool - but sometimes you need something a little more low-key to entertain the kids. You know - an activity that involves less sunscreen, towels, wet swimsuits and sunburns and more air conditioning and sitting (relatively) still. The solution? You take the kids to see a movie. The problem? Going to the movies can get pretty pricey, especially when you have multiple kids in tow who all want popcorn and candy. But fear not, there are plenty of free and low-cost movie screenings around Houston this summer, both indoor and outdoor just waiting for you.

Read on for lots of free flicks you can enjoy under the stars (just grab a blanket or lawn chairs) and cheap movies at the theater (think $1 or less) you can hit up during the day, and visit our Summer Fun Guide for more things to do around Houston.

Rachael Cherry

Rachael Cherry

Latest posts by Rachael Cherry

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