You can get more from a trip to the Space Center with these additional cool places to visit. They deserve to be on your radar for an unforgettable fun trip.
Table of Contents
1. Lone Star Flight Museum
2. Kemah Boardwalk
3. Clear Lake Park and Dolphin Lagoon
4. Exploration Green
5. Apollo at McDonald's Nassau Bay
6. Play Space
7. Baybrook Mall
8. Bay Area Park
9. Armando Bayou Nature Center
10. David Braun Park
11. Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library
12. Texas Avenue Park
13. Bounce N Play
14. Sylvan Beach Park
15. La Porte Library
16. Baytown's Arts District
17. Challenger 7 Memorial Park
18. Fairy Trail at Stevenson Park
19. Froberg's Farm
20. Smither Park
1. Lone Star Flight Museum
Address: 11551 Aerospace Ave, Houston, TX 77034
Catch a flight into the history of aviation with dozens of historic aircraft and many aerospace relics. There are many fighter jets mainly operated in World War II that are hands down quite captivating up-close – the B-17 Flying Fortress, aka Thunderbird and the largest aircraft at the museum, the B25 bomber, a combat jet of World War II, and many others.
To dive deeper into history and learn more about famous aviators,
take a walk through the Texas Aviation Heritage Gallery, the Texas
Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Special Exhibits Gallery. Make sure to stop by the Flight Academy with its simulators and hands-on exhibits.
Located at Ellington Airport, the trip to a museum is a perfect respite from the scorching days in Houston.
2. Kemah Boardwalk
Address: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX 77565
A 60-acre theme park in Kemah is only 7 miles away from the Space Center
Houston. It's a destination all its own. The boardwalk's Salsa Sundays
to dance the night away, summer fireworks over Galveston Bay, and plenty of
gut-wrenching and gentle rides for the whole family to enjoy are just a
few things that make this trip so memorable. Unlike the Pleasure Pier
in Galveston, the Kemah Boardwalk is free of charge to walk around and
enjoy its vibrant scenes and pleasant breeze year-round.
3. Clear Lake Park and Dolphin Lagoon
Address: 5001 E Nasa Pkwy, Seabrook, TX 77586
Houston summers are made for cooling off on the splash pads. A top-notch park if your kiddos have some energy to burn. It's one of the
favorite places among the locals. Numerous barbecue areas, the Dolphin
Lagoon splash pad, a fishing pier, covered canopies, two big playground
areas for little ones and bigger kids make this park a must-stop for
families traveling with kids. And sweeping views of Clear Lake with a
pleasant breeze and pelicans lazily gliding on the water is the cherry
on top.
4. Exploration Green
Address: 16205 Diana Ln, Houston, TX 77062
Designed in place of an old golf course to provide flood control for the
Clear Lake area, the six-mile trail is slowly but surely turning into a
beautiful, multi-purpose community promenade with scenic green spaces
for leisure and photo opportunities. This natural area encompasses recreational hike-and-bike trails, ponds, athletic fields, native wildlife,
tree nursery, and other open space areas for game and picnic
activities. Hundreds of native trees planted recently along the trail
should ensure a nice relief on those Houston summer hikes. A free sunset
yoga on the third Thursday of each month is a nice add-on to a hike if
you fancy one.
5. Apollo at McDonald's Nassau Bay
A new Apollo astronaut across from the Space Center Houston is back!
Located in front of McDonald's in Nassau Bay, this larger-than-life
statue will take your dining experiences to the next level.
6. Play Space
Address: 1020 W NASA Pkwy, Webster, TX 77598
If you are traveling to the area sans kids, you can skip this one.
For the rest of us trying to make the most out of a trip with the kids, this
place is a game changer. It's big and well-kept with different sections
for kids of all ages, overhead tunnels, balls, slides, ropes, and an arcade.
For the little ones up to 18 months, there's a special gated area with a
ball pit, soft blocks, and wall finger toys. Grip socks are required. Oh, and if you are 21 and older, they serve beer and wine!
7. Baybrook Mall
Address: 500 Baybrook Mall, Friendswood, TX 77546
To grab a bite or just wander around, there's Baybrook Mall and it has
quite a few kid-friendly things to do. Depending on the time of the
year, you can indulge in watching a huge screen on the lawn
during Christmas or summer nights or have your fill of some waffle
goodness while watching kids on the roped tower. They have a nice
variety of shops, cafes, a kids' playground zone, and weekly events to enjoy
in your downtime.
8. Bay Area Park
Address: 7500 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058
Aside from a recently-upgraded kids' playground and a brand-new splash pad, the park offers
numerous amenities for the whole family. This recreational green space
on Armand Bayou has a baseball field, tennis courts, canoe ramps, a dog
park, Oasis Garden, duck ponds, and picnic tables. To spy an
alligator from a safe distance, walk out to the bayou pier. It's a local
hot spot for fishermen and photo enthusiasts.
If you stay until the evening, be ready to encounter at least a dozen
raccoons that are always on the lookout to scavenge any leftover food.
They are pretty friendly, but make sure to keep your distance. If
nothing else, these noisy creatures pretty much own the place at night.
9. Armando Bayou Nature Center
Address: 8500 Bay Area Blvd, Pasadena, TX 77507
As an urban wilderness preserve, this center provides an ideal setting
to safely explore nature. With 370 species of birds and animals that
call this place home, you can explore every facet of the local wildlife
from an armadillo to a bison along a 5-mile hiking trail, as well as
visit the Children's Discovery Area and live animal displays. And as a
Texas-sized fun place, it hosts many special events throughout the year,
including Christmas Bird Count, the Annual Fall Festival, and a pollination celebration, for the whole family to partake.
10. David Braun Park
Where: 18900 Upper Bay Rd., Nassau Bay, TX
While Clear Lake Park is the signature park on the water in the area, one smaller park on the shores of Lake Nassau is also making a splash. David Braun Park at Lake Nassau is worth a stop for more peaceful vibes and fewer people. There's a nice boardwalk along the lake, walking trails, a large covered basketball court, a newly-renovated playground, picnic tables, gazebos, a dog park, and plenty of wildlife. It's a popular spot for fishing and watching ducks among locals.
11. Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library
Where: 16616 Diana Ln, Houston, TX 77062
It's a huge, two-story library that offers a plethora of things to the public. Besides the countless shelves with books, you will have access to the fun play area for children with many open-ended toys, special programs, teen space, art exhibits, and free take-home craft kits.
12. Texas Avenue Park
Where: 17100 N Texas Ave, Webster, TX 77598
This park deserves mention for its baseball-themed splash pad! It's compact but has many water features. The area around the water is covered with artificial grass and has a shade overhead to provide relief from the heat. It also has a playground perfect for kids of all ages, a covered pavilion, a walking loop around the park, and sports fields.
13. Bounce N Play
Where: 2000 Bayport Blvd, Seabrook, TX 77586
A new place in town. Bounce N Play is a vibrant indoor playground in Seabrook geared towards kids ages 10 years and under. Themed areas include a huge jumping pillow, a foam ball pit, multiple slides, climbing features, tunnels, swings, a market corner, a ball pit with a slide, and a special area for the littles ages 2 and under.
14. Sylvan Beach Park
Address: 636 N Bayshore Dr, La Porte, TX 77571
The long hot spell sums up the summer, and pretty much fall and spring,
in Houston. To cool off on a scorching day, Sylvan Beach is probably the
closest thing to taking a refreshing dip around the Space Center. With
lifeguards on duty, a kid's playground, fine white sand, and rinse showers, this beach makes a
great family-friendly destination.
The newly-renovated shaded playground, ice-cream shack, picnic tables,
and fishing pier are also there to help you to beat the heat and make
the most out of a quick beach trip. The parking is plentiful and free.
15. La Porte Library
Where: 600 S Broadway St, La Porte, TX 77571
One of our family's favorite spots to have some relaxing time in an indoor setting in La Porte, TX is La Porte Library. It's a small library but you have to check out their special events for children, teens, and adults filled with all kinds of crafts, sensory plays, and unique events I have yet to see in other libraries in the area. They also have two separate play areas for bigger and smaller kids.
16. Baytown's Arts District
Address: 124 W Texas Ave, Baytown, TX 77520
Once an abandoned and sketchy corner in the historic Texas Avenue area
in Baytown, today this alley is the creative hub for arts and culture
thanks to a local community college. If you are looking to add some
color to your trip, that is the place. There are open-air installations, myriad colorful murals, and an alley with umbrellas hanging on
rooftop cables overhead.
17. Challenger 7 Memorial Park
Where: 2301 W Nasa Blvd, Webster, TX 77598
This is a huge park with miles of scenic hiking trails, plenty of fully-shaded playgrounds, picnic tables under a canopy of lush greenery, covered pavilions, swing chairs, and open green spaces for the kids to run free. The park was named in honor of the seven NASA astronauts who lost their lives in the explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle.
18. Fairy Trail at Stevenson Park
Where: 1100 S. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546
This is a hidden gem of Stevenson Park in Friendswood, TX, that your kids will absolutely enjoy. The Fairy Trail is a mile-long shaded trail inhabited by fairies and some magical creatures! As you walk along, look carefully for their houses in trees. The information display at the entrance to the park has a map that will help you find their hidden homes and give you a glimpse into their magical powers. This is an ever-changing trail that is updated with new decorations each season, so if you decide to return to Fairyland, the experience will be anew. Additionally, Stevenson Park has a great shaded playground for kids of
all ages, featuring some new obstacle-like structures, artificial
grass, and equipment for the littlest. A seasonal splash pad is just a
stone's throw away from the play area.
19. Froberg's Farm
Where: 3601 Hwy 6, Alvin, TX 77511
For the perfect day on the farm, you can visit Froberg's Farm in Alvin. About 40 minutes from the Space Center, it offers strawberry- , blackberry- , and flower-picking depending on the season. The farm's store has homemade canned goods, fried pies, candies, and much more. Plus, you'll definitely want to check out their exciting seasonal festivities, such as the Fall Festival and Christmas Tree Farm.
Note:
- No pets allowed in the fields.
- U-Pick and special festival hours are different from store hours.
- Always call ahead or check out the farm's Fb page before your visit, as weather and crowds may impact open hours and fruit availability.
20. Smither Park
Where: 2441 Munger St, Houston, TX 77023
A sprawling urban space in Houston's southeast displays elaborate artworks made of recycled materials – broken ceramic, bottle caps, tiles, seashells, you name it. Not only this is an absolute quirky hand-made beauty, but it's also free.
Have you been to any of these places before? What did you enjoy most?
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