My wife wants to take a trip into Houston this Saturday for some family fun. We need some help though. My kids are 3 and 7. We are considering 3 options: 1) Aquarium- We haven't been so we don't know what to expect. Bang for the Buck? Someone mentioned to my wife that it seemed expensive for what there was to do. 2) The Zoo- My kids have been and both like going but the con is that they have been several times and it won't be really new to them. 3) Moody Gardens- We have been there once before a couple of years ago. I know it is a little more expensive than the others but there is a lot to do. My oldest son enjoyed that trip as well, although the younger one was too little to know what was going on.
Actually, scratch my zoo vote. Change it to other. Show the kids around Houston. Have they ever been to the Water Wall in front of Williams Tower? When I was little, we'd go throw the football in the park near there and go up to the observation deck. It was always fun to walk the stairs back down. And what about the Museum of Fine Arts? Years ago, they had a great children's thing you could do there. It might be a little much for a 3-year-old, but it was PERFECT when I was 7. And, of course, there's the Museum of Natural Science and the Children's Museum. The best part of all this? It's all SUPER cheap, it gets them away from the TV, and you might enjoy yourself there too.
Not only have they been to the water wall they have been in the water wall in the middle of November no less.(accidentally of course) My wife just added that we are going Friday night and coming home Saturday night so we really only need stuff to occupy one day. Is the Aquarium enough for that Wes? I had thought about the MoNS but the last time I went the exhibits were for older kids, I'll have to check out what they have.
Beaumont. We come in to Houston often enough to not be strangers to the city. we were just looking for something fun to do for a day trip kind of thing.
No. I was really disappointed in the Downtown Aquarium. The one at Moody Gardens is much nicer. If you do want to see it, pair it on a day with an Astros' game or something.
Will you all do the two-day pass? We did a two-day pass one time, and we saw almost everything (with the exception of some boring movies) the kids wanted to do. I might do this soon, also. Thanks for the tip!
I would NOT recommend the aquarium. Very overpriced and not much to do. The Museum of Natural Science and the Zoo are close together and are good inexpensive ways to spend the day. Moody Gardens is an hour south of Houston and is a great place to visit, but not cheap either. But you will get MUCH more for your money at Moody than at the downtown Aquarium. Go to a baseball game if they are in town when you are coming.
Thanks for all the tips on the aquarium. That is kind of what I had heard. unfortunately the Stros are gone this weekend, but we are coming back in town in the summer for a game. I think I am kind of leaning towards the Zoo/MoNS the museum has a butterfly adoption for Mother's day this weekend that seemed like something my wife/kids would like. Also I think the oldest would like the planetarium and the youngest would enjoy the zoo again.
My vote goes to Moody Gardens. The zoo gets old and boring, the Aquarium is definitely overrated. I think at Moody Gardens you can get a family season pass for $320. Here is the link. That's a lot, but if you make 2 trips it pays for itself. Right now they have the Titanic exhibit showing, as well as quite a few different Imax's. I hope you guys have a great time if you end up going! Pugs
i would do the zoo and museums too and the weather should be pretty good on saturday. i do recommend the new park in downtown near Toyota Center, Hilton, George R Brown called Discovery Park and that has some cool water fountains for the kids to play in and it's dog friendly if you have one. that is the cheapest and i think most family friendly. the butterfly exhibit at the museums was cool too! have fun and drive safely!
When is the last time you went to the Houston Zoo? It's changing. I love the zoom, i'm a member and my daughter looooves the zoo. We went like 4 times in the last month and she doesn't get tired of it. That was my vote. We went to the Aquarium right before we watched the super bowl this year. It does cost a little much, so with your family size (4) I would say no. I went with my husband and our daughter got in free, so it wasn't that bad for us. It's a cool place though.
I can't believe nobody has mentioned it yet, but if you're coming Saturday, you have to go to the... ART CAR PARADE!!! Seriously, everything else that has been suggested is available year round. The Art Car Parade happens only once a year and is one of those truly unique events in our city. Some may complain that it has gotten too corporate, but it's still quite a trip. It's something that the entire family can enjoy and afterward, I'll second going to check out Discovery Green. I road my bike down there yesterday and it really is enjoyable. They have restaurants for you guys to go to and it's a very pleasant atmosphere. Seriously. Art Car Parade.
