Sarah Banks is a Houston-based mom of two boys and a dog. She loves the local vibe, from the Houston Rodeo to Tex-Mex, BBQ, and exploring the state's beautiful parks. Learn more about her writing and editing business, Spring Tide, at springtideeditandwrite.com.
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In 2021, Houston saw some exciting openings for new activities, restaurants, and things to do for kids all over the city. Whether your kids love entertainment centers, art, nature, science, or just a great donut, we have the list of the 10 best new kid-friendly things and places that opened or upgraded in 2021 in Houston.
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Although we may miss having snow at Christmas in Houston, one of the benefits is that the weather is great for a winter day trip to outdoor and indoor attractions. You shouldn’t have to worry whether the roads will be clear of snow or need to pack thermal sweaters! We’ve drawn up a list of family-fun-filled winter day trips that can help you get out of the house and make festive memories. Plus, these destinations are all less than two hours from Houston by car, so you shouldn’t have too many cries of “are we there yet?” Read on for details of trips North, South, East, and West of Houston. Whichever direction you want to head in, we have a fun destination!
Check out our car games to have fun even while you drive. For ideas closer to home, don’t forget our Winter Activities Guide.
All timings are approximate and by car from the center of Houston.
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This year, make your children’s holiday season spectacular with a visit to somewhere full of Christmas cheer—without leaving Texas. We may not always have real snow, but we have enough Santa's villlages and Christmas towns in Texas to celebrate in style.
Venture somewhere new and let your kids’ faces light up with the magical sights, tastes, and sounds of Christmas towns in Texas that go all-out to celebrate the season. Read on to find out more about the best Christmas towns in North, South, East, West, and Central Texas. These towns go all out to celebrate the season:the hardest part will be choosing the right one for your family.
For more holiday and Christmas ideas for kids, check out our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Houston Families.
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Looking for a kid-friendly day trip or weekend away? Try Conroe, a city with plenty of fun things to do with kids and located just an hour north of Houston, not far from The Woodlands. With a huge lake and a national forest, Conroe excels in outdoor activities, but there are also some great indoor options if you hit bad weather.
Here are our favorite things to do in Conroe with kids, from the best parks for stunning scenery to the best places to catch a show.
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Did you know that there are an estimated 500,000 or more alligators in Texas? And did you know that alligators love fruit and can climb trees? Your kids can learn these facts and more about alligators at several fun gator experiences and organized alligator attractions in Houston and beyond. Getting up close with an alligator is definitely a jaw-dropping activity that will WOW your kids, so we've included gator activities for every budget—from the local Brazos Bend State Park to Gator Country Adventure Park to a Louisiana gator roadtrip.
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At just over three hours from Houston, Corpus Christi is a fantastic destination for a weekend getaway. With over 70 miles of Gulf Coast seashore, you can easily find an uncrowded beach for you and your kids. There’s something about sun, sea, and sand that relaxes the whole family, but if you get tired of the outdoors, there are plenty of indoor things to do in Corpus Christi with kids, too. We’ve selected our favorite things to do in Corpus Christi to make planning your trip a breeze. When you’re not enjoying the natural beauty of the area, you can visit some of the city’s top attractions, such as the enormous aircraft carrier USS Lexington or the state aquarium of Texas!
Looking for beach time closer to Houston? Check out our guide to Galveston. For more weekend trip ideas, check out our Houston getaways guide. And for ideas on travel with your kids across the US, click on our Family Travel Guide.
