Need Suggestions for Daytrips or Mini-vacations in the Houston Area

For a day trip you could try The Oil Ranch in Hockley, TX. (about 45 minutes from The Woodlands) They have a website... www.oilranch.com. My boys had a lot of fun there. You can take a picnic lunch and spend the day doing pony rides, playing in the hay, swimming, etc.

The Childrens Museum is GREAT!! The last time I took my girls, it was $5 each to get in...they have tons of activities for the kids...there are playhouses, a bubble factory, face-painting, etc. Check out their website -
www.cmhouston.org.

Have fun!!

I just noticed that someone else suggested Old McDonalds Farm - it is on 1960, just east of 59 in Humble/Atascocita area. I think they have a train ride, a pool, and all sorts of animals. Also a good choice!

K.,

My sister-in-law just wrote a book this year called "Free Texas". It is fun, family things to see and do in Texas that are FREE! I know you can get it at some book stores like Barnes and Noble, but you can also get in online at www.showandtelltexas.com! You might want to check it out!

Hi K.,
You could go to Moody Gardens in Galveston and stay in a hotel. You could also go to the Aquarium for a day trip. I am from Buffalo, New York and have family in Chicago ~ so "welcome" Yankee!!! I love The Woodland's too. If you haven't already gone ~ you should go to The Fellowship of The Woodland's. It's a great non-denominational church and there is a lot to do for families and kids all the time. It is West of I-45 on 242. (I think that's right!) Also you could take them to Market Street ~ especially in the evenings. You and your husband can have a Starbuck's and let the kids splash around in the fountains in the park area. It's like a Normal Rockwell painting on weekends ~ you'll love it. Market Street is in The Woodland's next to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell pavilion.
Enjoy and have a great summer!
D.

Short Day Trips:

Houstom Museum of Natural Science at the Mall, followed by a trolley ride and an ice cream cone and playing in the fountain at Mkt St.

Woody's Feed Store on Robinson Rd -- follow Woodlands Parkway EAST to dead end and then turn right and jag left over the RR tracks and go another mile or so past the first 90 degree curve and just the yellow metal church building. They have organic honey, soaps, eggs and a bunny named Jack and several horses to admire. The folks running the store are kid friendy and it's a nice 2-hours side-trip. Just watch the kids around the parking lot as large trailor rigs do back-in to pick up hay and horses, etc.

'Real' Vacations:

If you sign up for Travel Zoo's weekly specials, they have som eincredible deals to all-inclusive Mexcian resorts in Cancun/Cozumel and these place do family vacations just right. SOmeitme you can go for as little as $400 pp, kids stay/eat free.

Overnight in San Antonio - water parks, river walk, just because

Galveston - stay n a nice hotel and do a couple of morning beach walks, see a movie, eat hot dogs on the beach, go to bed early ....

Good luck and have fun!

K.,
to add to your responces already you might want to stop by one of the hotels in your area and just pick up some brochures they always have gobs of stuff to do in the Houston area, some of the brochures have coupons in them.

I don't know where it is, but my coworker's teen son works at Old McDonald's Farm, which is (to my understanding) a petting zoo with swimming pool, etc. Maybe you can get a hotel/motel room in the area and hang out with the animals for a couple of days.

Hi K.!
Have you tried the aquarium downtown or the Children's Museum? We enjoy both, and they are air conditioned!!!(it's getting so hot!) We have also taken day trips to Galveston...so much to do there!!!
For overnighters, there is a resort and convention center that is very child friendly, and a favorite of our family for 18 years. It is now called The Retreat at Artesian Lakes.(formerly known as Chain-O-Lakes) It is about 1 1/2 hours from The Woodlands in Romayor,Texas. Log cabins on the lakes with swimming, fishing, canoing, and enjoying nature!! And there is always The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. Great place for families..and in your own backyard!! Hope you have fun!!!
J. B

Hey K.,

I am so right there with you. We have been around, but my best suggestion is a book called: "The Houston Mamas handbook." It has everything there is to do around Houston, from free activities to more spendy things, but it is a Great guide to the Houston area (and I believe there are others published for other areas by the same authors).

Have FUN :)

Check out Kemah... we stayed at the Boardwalk Inn, but it was a little pricey. There are wonderful bed & breakfasts in the area, but a few do not accept children. There's the boardwalk, great restaurants, rides, shops and I'm hoping we can go down for a weekend again! www.kemahboardwalk.com

galveston is fun. besides the beach, there is moody gardens, and other places.
we like brenham, with the ice cream factory, and the mini horses.

The Mercer Arboretum on Aldine Westfield, just north of FM 1960.
The Childrens Museum in Houston is awesome.
Kemah is alot of fun, wear a swimsuit! However careful on weekend nights. I've heard it can get a little wild & wooley.
I've seen a Childrens Museum at Woodlands Mall but haven't heard much about it.
Schlitterbahn in New Braunsfel is a blast, very family. You can bring in a cooler & food. Plenty of picnic tables. There is one in Galveston too. I haven't been there. It is smaller that the one in New Braunfels but has the same concept.
Galveston itself has alot -the Strand, The Hurricane of 1900, tram tour of the Island, the pay for beaches are a bit nicer and have changing rooms/showers & bathrooms. Definitely ride the ferry over to Boliver Island. You can ride it in your car or walk on (that way you don't have to drive off and get back in line to get back). Bring bread to feed the birds off the back, the kids will get a charge out of it. There are tours of the old family houses, although that may not interest the kids as much. The train museum is good and kids have room to be kids.
If you get down to Corpus Christi, the Aquarium there is VERY kid friendly!!
Near Corpus is Port Aranus/Mustang Island that is a small beach town but has NICE beaches many right off where you are staying or you can drive on the beach. There is a marine education center done by one of the Univeristies with a little museum inside. They were pretty kid friendly there. There is also a bird reserve that gets some different birds. Bring mosquito spray!!!
Welcome, I moved here 17 years ago. I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and lived out near Rockford before moving here. Don't miss the winters, but then I love the warm and the beaches nearby!!

Check out this website.. She gives lots of ideas for fun and kid friendly things to do.
www.ninaloca.com

Good luck and have fun!! =)

Have you been to the kids museum yet in the Woodlands? It's an offshoot of the main facility in downtown Houston. If I remember correctly it's a science museum of sorts .. with interactive exhibits for children. There is a cost to get in, but not bad. I also seem to remember it being located in the market square area ... near the waterway and the Woodlands Mall.

You can also visit SplashTown at I-45 and Louetta. It's a huge park and my little ones loved it.