Houston Attractions

Listed with the links to their web-sites and google maps are attractions in and around Houston.  They all require admission and are indoors unless stated otherwise.  No advance reservations, or scheduled classes are needed unless noted differently.

Nature Discovery Center is housed in a 1925 house with two discovery rooms upstairs perfect to explore on a hot or rainy day.  The Center also hosts free story & craft time every Wednesday at 4pm.  It’s located in the Russ Pitman Park at 7112 Newcastle, Bellaire. FREE!

Pump It Up has inflatable slides, obstacles, etc. with pop-in playtime that you don’t have to reserve in advance – just show up & pay for some jumping fun (kids 2-5 only). They also host birthday parties, camps, etc. The closest Bellaire location is at 6030 S Rice Ave., Houston, TX 77081.

Chuck E. Cheese’s opens at 9am every day and it’s the best time to go there and beat the crowds.  Numerous arcades, games, and rides for all ages.  There are many Houston locations, but the one in West U is located at 5535 Weslayan St., Houston, TX 77005.

Green Scenes Toys is a toy store that has a separate space for hosting play dates and birthday parties.  Best to call in advance to assure the play room is available.  It’s located at 9002 Chimney Rock, St. E., Houston, TX, 77096.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is a 155-acre nature sanctuary in the middle of Houston.  Though mostly an outdoor venue with 5 miles of nature trails, it does house a Nature Center building with Discovery Room offering interactive exhibits and activities.  It is FREE and located at 4501 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX 77024.

Downtown Aquarium has multiple exhibits, games and rides and is located at 410 Bagby St @ Memorial Dr., Houston, TX  77002.

Houston Zoo is mostly an outdoor attraction though it does have several indoor exhibits along with a newly added 4D theater. It’s located at 6200 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030.

Houston Museum of Natural Science has permanent and special exhibits,  planetarium, butterfly center, and IMAX theater.  It’s located at 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030.

Children’s Museum of Houston has recently expanded and is truly a spacious wonderland for kids with a specially designed toddler (0-35 mos.) area on the top floor.  It’s located at 1500 Binz, Houston, TX 77004.

The Health Museum has a 4D theater in addition to permanent & special exhibits.  It’s located at 1515 Hermann Dr., Houston, TX 77004.

Houston Fire Museum is a 1898 two-story fire station turned into a museum with several firetrucks for kids to climb on.  It’s located at 2403 Milam St., Houston, TX 77006.

Space Center Houston has several different attractions and exhibits such as two theaters, NASA tour, Starship Gallery, Kids Space Place, etc.  It’s located at 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058.

Wonderwild is an open play indoor playground with the train, jumping pillow, climbing structure etc. that also hosts birthday parties and classes.  In addition to the Woodlands location, the one closer to Bellaire/West U is located in Heights, Corporate Centre Shepherd, 707 N Shepherd Dr #500, Houston TX 77007.

Playscape at the Sugar Creek Baptist Church has a very fun climbing structure and it’s FREE to play unless you are reserving it for a birthday party.  It’s located at 13333 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 200, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Stomping Grounds Playland is an indoor playland with a big & fun climbing structure for bigger kids, and a separate toddler area.  Moms have plenty of lounge chairs to sit, relax & order drinks or food from the café.  It’s located at 15415B Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Speedy’s Fast Track offers Go-Karts (single seater & double seater), Miniature Golf (both outdoors), Arcade, and Laser Tag (both indoors).  It’s located at 11440 Hempstead Rd., Houston, Tx 77092.

Jump Sky High has all trampoline floors and walls. You can purchase jump time or reserve it for a birthday party.  It’s located at 10510 Westview Dr., Houston, TX 77043.

Sky Zone is an indoor trampoline park very similar to Jump Sky High. Jump times start every 30 minutes.  It’s located at 10207 S. Sam Houston Pkwy. W., Houston, TX 77489.

Laser Quest is a 2 story laser tag arena.  Out of two Houston locations, the one that’s closer to Bellaire & West U residents is located at 13711 Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX 77077.

Laserzone is a 3 story laser tag arena.  It’s located at 4125 Hwy 6 Sugar Land, TX 77478.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving is an indoor skydiving experience that creates true free fall conditions, just like skydiving, without having to jump out of an airplane. Ages 3-103. Located in Memorial area at: 9480 I-10 Frontage Rd., Houston, TX 77005.

Zuma Fun Center has two Houston locations with indoor video arcades and outdoor attractions such as mini golf, go-carts, bumper boats, and battling cages.  The location closer to Bellaire/West U residents is located at 6767 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074.

Putt-Putt Fun House though in Webster, TX it’s worth the drive as it’s spacious and has both indoor attractions such as bumper cars, laser tag, 3D motion theater, etc. and outdoor attractions like bumper boats, putt-putt golf, and battle zone.  It’s located at 806 E. NASA Rd. #1, Webster, TX 77058.

Segway Outback offers Segway offroad racing with 9 challenging courses to race on. All riders must be over the age of 12 to participate.  It’s located at 5000 Katy Mills Cr., Unit 745, Katy, TX 77494.

Memorial City Mall is an indoor mall that, in addition to shopping, has a Double-Decker Carousel, a Children’s PlayCastle (FREE), and an ice skating ring.  It’s located at  303 Memorial City, Houston, TX 77024.

Galleria Mall is an indoor mall that, in addition to great upscale shopping, has recently added a toddler sized interactive playarea (FREE) on the second floor close to the Saks Fifth Avenue.  It’s located at 5085 Westheimer Rd., Suite 4850, Houston, TX 77056.

IKEA has a playroom where kids (potty-trained and diaper free) can play for FREE for up to 1 hour while parents shop. It’s located at 7810 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024.

Oil Ranch is a farm with the train ride, pony rides, hay ride, petting zoo, animal barn with a play area and mount of hay in which kids can swing into with a rope.  It’s worth driving to 23501 Macedonia Hockly, Texas 77447.

Kemah Boardwalk is an outdoor amusement park operating daily for the better part of the year.  It’s located at 215 Kipp Avenue, Kemah, TX 77565.

Moody Gardens is comprised of three large pyramid shaped buildings housing the 1) Rain forest, 2) Discovery, & 3) Aquarium exhibits, RideFilm theater, 3D theater, 4D theater, Colonel Paddlewheel boat, and Palm beach.  It’s delightful for young & old and is located at One Hope Blvd., Galveston, TX 77554.

Pleasure Pier features family-oriented attractions including rides, midway games, a wide selection of food venues and retail shops.  It’s located at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, 2501 Seawall Blvd., Galveston Island, TX 77550.

Bayou Wildlife Park is 80-acres of natural habitat with pony rides, petting zoo, and best off a tram ride where you get to see and feed the animals.  It’s located at 5050 FM 517, Alvin, TX 77511.

Brazos Bend State Park is a 5,000 acres nature preserve that offers camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, fishing, alligator sightings, along with the George Observatory. It’s located at 21901 FM 762 Needville, TX 77461.

In addition to the above mentioned venues, it’s also worth checking local libraries, McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A indoor playrooms, or parks (separate tab) when kids need the change of scenery or to run off some steam.  These would all be FREE.

© 2012 by Maja Samardzija, All Rights Reserved