{"id":1242,"date":"2024-06-23T05:19:06","date_gmt":"2024-06-23T05:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discover.hubpages.com\/travel\/houston-on-a-budget-with-kids"},"modified":"2024-06-23T05:19:06","modified_gmt":"2024-06-23T05:19:06","slug":"houston-vacation-on-a-budget-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/?p=1242","title":{"rendered":"Houston Vacation on a Budget With Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><time datetime=\"2024-06-23T01:19:06-04:00\" title=\"Jun 23, 2024\">Jun 23, 2024<\/time><br \/><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Houston on a Budget with Kids\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/9ca67c0b80896c7d79d7f3967e115a39.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Houston on a Budget with Kids<\/p>\n<p>Find my tips, full itinerary, &amp; more on how to make the most of your trip to Houston without breaking your budget. Actually, the entire day is FREE (minus money spent on food). I spend LOTS of time planning for trips, and Houston is one of my favorite cities to visit because it&#8217;s so budget-friendly for families. I&#8217;ve included our schedule for our trip if you can only spend one day in Houston and an itinerary of options if you have an extra day or two to spend there. Also included are our favorite children&#8217;s books and YouTube videos we used while preparing for our trip.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>My Best Tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Visit on a Thursday<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Visit on a Thursday<\/strong> as many of the museums are free that day. Our three favorites are the Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Children&#8217;s Museum. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visithoustontexas.com\/things-to-do\/museums\/free-museums\/\">Here is where you can see the full list of museums that are free on Thursdays.<\/a> Also look up Miller Outdoor Theater which has free shows throughout the spring and summer, usually with something happening on a Thursday.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Our Itinerary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>(Arrive on Wednesday night so you can make the most of your time on Thursday.)<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Where to park?<\/h2>\n<p> Park at the McGovern Centennial Gardens. Parking is free and the museums are within walking distance.<\/p>\n<h2>1. McGovern Centennial Gardens<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"McGovern Centennial Gardens\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/b6071cffaef3919793a05ee617325955.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>McGovern Centennial Gardens<\/p>\n<p>Walk around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hermannpark.org\/visit\/mcgovern-centennial-gardens\/\">McGovern Centennial Gardens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There<\/strong>: It&#8217;s a free community garden with multiple gardens. My kids especially loved climbing the ziggurat to get a great view of the area, visiting the vegetable garden at which there was a Master Gardener who shared about what he was growing, and smelling the roses in the rose garden.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time (Expect to Spend):<\/strong> Less than an hour<\/p>\n<h2>2. Hawkins Sculpture Walk<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hawkins Sculpture Walk\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/749918cfa187ad66563eae8edf26b6ab.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hawkins Sculpture Walk<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> At one corner of the McGovern Centennial Gardens Park, quickly walk through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hermannpark.org\/poi\/127\/\">Hawkins Sculpture Walk<\/a> with busts of multiple men who fought for freedom in Central and South America. Walk to the Museum of Fine Arts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> 5 minutes<\/p>\n<h2>3. Museum of Fine Arts<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Museum of Fine Arts\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/2765eb84f021910d21f71a198b79677d.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Museum of Fine Arts<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfah.org\/\">Museum of Fine Arts<\/a> is huge and amazing&#8230;and is free all day on Thursdays. (Their parking garage is also free on Thursday evenings from 5-9pm, but we went during the day.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> At least 2-3 hours<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> There are 3 buildings:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Start on the top floor of the the Audrey Jones Beck Building to view the Ancient Art (Egyptian, Greek), European Art (Medieval, Renaissance, Impressionistic, Pointillist, Cubist, etc.). The ground level floor has American art and pieces (like silver made by Paul Revere), statues, Native American pieces, glass, and statues. The bottom level has special exhibits and a cool underground tunnel to get to&#8230;<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>The Caroline Wiess Law where you&#8217;ll find Asian, African, Turkish, Indian, &amp; Mesoamerican, Native American, and Oceania art, statues, weapons, jewelry, and so&#8230;much&#8230;gold! Be sure to note the wallpaper made from gun powder in the Asian section!<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building is the newest building with mostly contemporary and modern art. That&#8217;s not our favorite style, though it does include a few pieces from well-known artists like Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Matisse, etc. My children&#8217;s favorite part is the interactive mirror on the ground level.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>MFA: Not just paintings&#8230;<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"It includes ancient history pieces,...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/2ba584ab146819d36b7821207325ef63.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It includes ancient history pieces,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"lots of weapons,...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/454ecd3217f2b3a4159044466284109f.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>lots of weapons,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"amazing jewelry,...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/85427d9f98d892210bbb70d9a96b3e6b.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>amazing jewelry,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"fun tunnels,...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/560b4eed10bdace400cbb93258236c8e.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>fun tunnels,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt='and the \"wiggle mirror.\"' src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/6006d9dda787d6722a81653113bce5a8.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and the &#8220;wiggle mirror.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>4. Lunch<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Jason's Deli\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/a1dc2d7da231399f34fb6e8cebf03296.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jason&#8217;s Deli<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unless you brought a picnic lunch with you, you&#8217;ll need to drive to lunch (or eat in a pricey museum restaurant). We opted to drive. Parking was still available in the garden parking lot when we returned.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>If you&#8217;re on a tight budget, stop by <strong>H-E-B<\/strong> (local grocery store) and grab a picnic lunch there. (Also ask the cashier for &#8220;Buddy Bucks&#8221; for your kids.)<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Since we packed so much in today, we splurged (for us) and got <strong>Jason&#8217;s Deli<\/strong> for lunch. We went to the S. Shepherd Dr. location. My kids loved the unlimited ice cream cones that came with the meal. There&#8217;s also a nearby Chick Fil-A.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>After lunch, return to the the McGovern Centennial Gardens Park parking lot.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>5. Houston Museum of Natural Science<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\" Houston Museum of Natural Science\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/bca721fe4a64140d9a172674d545c846.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p> Houston Museum of Natural Science<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hmns.org\/visit\/hours-admission\/\">Houston Museum of Fine Arts<\/a> is free on Thursdays, but the hours change depending on the time of year. Be sure to check. Yes, the line will be LONG to get in, but everyone will get inside. The line moves surprisingly quickly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> 2 hours<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> It has an amazing collection of gemstones, taxidermied animals, fossils, Egyptian artifacts, shells, Native American pieces, and more.<\/p>\n<p>*<strong>SNACK BREAK:<\/strong> Hand out granola bars, cheese sticks and crackers, nuts, or other substantial snacks to munch on while you walk to the Children&#8217;s Museum.*<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"My kids loved watching the Herzstein Foucault Pendulum.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/9625874780f7c7b89655d5ac72a5b410.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>My kids loved watching the Herzstein Foucault Pendulum.<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The gemstone vault is always a favorite!\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/4ce08d907d5d041be909a1be0cc6d44b.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The gemstone vault is always a favorite!<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Ancient Egyptian exhibit is the best I've seen. It's designed to look like you're actually in a temple or pyramid. \" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/c4dd993e257615ccdcc8f3760c99777e.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Ancient Egyptian exhibit is the best I&#8217;ve seen. It&#8217;s designed to look like you&#8217;re actually in a temple or pyramid. <\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"There are also plenty of animals to see. This is much less expensive than the zoo and you'll be able to get great views of them.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/0866df8dfb3c47b096c22b92746aba7f.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are also plenty of animals to see. This is much less expensive than the zoo and you&#8217;ll be able to get great views of them.<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The fossil collection is incredible...literally. Yes, it's evolutionary. We ignore that and just enjoy the amazing collection.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/9a70122c7b10379e74a61c9d26f669df.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The fossil collection is incredible&#8230;literally. Yes, it&#8217;s evolutionary. We ignore that and just enjoy the amazing collection.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Children&#8217;s Museum Houston<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Children's Museum Houston\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/e3c2382742b274164cd7c4445ea398fc.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Children&#8217;s Museum Houston<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmhouston.org\/\">Children&#8217;s Museum Houston<\/a> is free on Thursday&#8217;s from 5-8pm. It will be crowded but it&#8217;s so much fun for the kids! If you can&#8217;t handle the crowds, there&#8217;s usually a bit more space outside.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> 1-2 hours<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> My children love the areas where you can climb up and slide down and the makers space where you can build Legos and test paper airplanes. They also have a career village where you can pretend to have different jobs, an art area, a baby\/toddler play area, simple machines gadgets, water play, a small nature area, and lots more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Are you a member at an <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/FreeMuseumTickets\">ASTC Museum<\/a>? If so, you can get into this museum free since the Children&#8217;s Museum Houston is a participating member. You can instead go on a different day when it will be less crowded.<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The climbing area was the favorite.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/6bb1deff7d8776d4e92808764397e32d.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The climbing area was the favorite.<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"They also especially enjoyed the robots,...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/d563edf3f8e62ebef165219ff93d5364.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>They also especially enjoyed the robots,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Legos, and ...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/0680ee3a8f86a64d2817d5efce885ade.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Legos, and &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"paper planes.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/3a602c5278c460909501488497f80883.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>paper planes.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Miller Outdoor Theater<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Miller Outdoor Theater\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/0f34c01c0810b32767d9051c8e328c9b.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Miller Outdoor Theater<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.milleroutdoortheatre.com\/\">Miller Outdoor Theater<\/a> is an outdoor amphitheater that offers a variety of free shows: plays, ballets, symphonies, cultural events, etc. You can bring camping chairs or a blanket and sit on the hill or you can get a free seat under the covered area. You&#8217;re allowed to bring food and drinks so you can eat dinner while watching the show.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> If you plan to stay for the whole performance, expect to be there for 3 hours. You can leave at intermission (or earlier) if needed.<\/p>\n<h2>Yes, we really did do all that in one day, and no, my children weren&#8217;t melting down at the end of the day. We did all sleep well that night.<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have another day to spend in Houston?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve visited Houston a number of times. Below are some of our other favorite budget-conscious activities.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>1. Memorial Hermann Park<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Feeding ducks at Memorial Hermann Park\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/50df35ba736f854c331fce1fbe141f58.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Feeding ducks at Memorial Hermann Park<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There: <\/strong>Memorial Hermann Park, which is just outside the Houston Zoo and next to Miller Outdoor Theater, has ducks and turtles to feed in the pond, a playground that includes a small splashpad, stroller-friendly trails, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hermannpark.org\/visit\/train-pedal-boats\/\">a train<\/a> (as of 2023, only $3.75\/person)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where to Park:<\/strong> The Houston Zoo Parking lot<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> Less than an hour unless you decide to ride the train<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The train at Memorial Hermann Park is only $3.75\/person and is great if you have a child who loves trains.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/e6213327ff1199cffe5f58398b04aff3.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The train at Memorial Hermann Park is only $3.75\/person and is great if you have a child who loves trains.<\/p>\n<h2>2. The Health Museum (and go back to the Children&#8217;s Museum)<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Health Museum\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/5f334e72e799677a696b27348cfc2e1d.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Health Museum<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to Make It More Affordable:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/thehealthmuseum.org\/\">Health Museum<\/a> is free on Thursday evenings. It&#8217;s next to the Children&#8217;s Museum. It&#8217;s also an <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/FreeMuseumTickets\">ASTC Museum<\/a>, so you can get in free if you have an ASTC membership.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> My kids enjoyed the soundproof booth that measures in decibels your scream and the various physical challenges like measuring how high you can jump. It also has some crawl-through body parts and a few traveling exhibits.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where to Park:<\/strong> The parking lot at McGovern Centennial Gardens, which is across the street<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> Less than an hour unless you decide to watch the 4D movie, which is included<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Measuring your scream in decibels\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/4a61af1abb7cfb8257383630fa69843b.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Measuring your scream in decibels<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Human body display: Your skeleton at work\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/855014b5382962ddbc4a033ad6122253.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Human body display: Your skeleton at work<\/p>\n<h2>3. Menil Collection<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Menil Collection asks that you not take photos inside.\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/0c675169ef5db2634d3c60f6eaf7177f.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Menil Collection asks that you not take photos inside.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.menil.org\/about\/history\">Menil Collection<\/a> is a free art museum with a notable surrealist collection along with some Ancient Egyptian and Greek, African, Native American, and contemporary art pieces. We&#8217;ve been there when we had time to spare, but the Museum of Fine Arts has basically the same types of pieces but is better. The museum workers also tend to not be child-friendly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where to Park:<\/strong> It has a free parking lot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> About an hour<\/p>\n<h2>4. The Galleria Mall (Lunch + More)<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Galleria Mall\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/62a4dd18cc41a1d60a14d12ceba5883b.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Galleria Mall<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simon.com\/mall\/the-galleria\">Galleria Mall<\/a> is a large high-end mall. My kids enjoyed watching the ice skaters training on the indoor skating rink near the food court. They also like visiting the Lego Store, Disney Store, &amp; Swarovski crystal store.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where to Park:<\/strong> It has a free parking garage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> About an hour<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Else to See:<\/strong> Be sure to note the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gerald_D._Hines_Waterwall_Park\">Gerald D. Hines Waterwall <\/a>as you drive out, or walk over and take a few photos.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Houston Arboretum &amp; Nature Center <\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"houston-on-a-budget-with-kids\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/3264f164aba968b8e0a5f15a6d36c560.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There<\/strong>: The <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonarboretum.org\/\">Houston Arboretum &amp; Nature Center <\/a>is a free nature center (though you have to pay for parking). It has a small nature &#8220;museum&#8221; along with stroller-friendly, shaded paths that include some ponds with turtles. There is also a small play area with &#8220;bamboo&#8221; and other items for children to climb. This is a peaceful place to go if you have time to spare.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Parking:<\/strong> They have a parking lot, but you must pay ($5.50\/vehicle as of 2023 &amp; free on Thursdays).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> About an hour unless you take one of the longer walking trails<\/p>\n<h2>6. Discovery Green Park<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Discovery Green Park Playground\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/1b94dae71c2a7ce64cd0bfe343617193.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Discovery Green Park Playground<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverygreen.com\/\">Discovery Green Park<\/a> is a public park near downtown that has a really fun playground, misting tree, splash pad, gardens, sculptures, and free events like musical performances.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Parking:<\/strong> Pay for metered street parking or grab dinner or something to eat at <strong>Phoenicia Specialty Foods<\/strong> and then walk a block to the park.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> About an hour<\/p>\n<h2>&#8230;OR&#8230;if you&#8217;re visiting the first Tuesday of the month&#8230;The Houston Zoo<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Houston Zoo\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/0f244398da4c392970182d506ae92ef3.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Houston Zoo<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to Make It More Affordable:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonzoo.org\/plan-your-visit\/prices-and-discounts\/free-tuesdays\/\">Houston Zoo<\/a> is free the first Tuesday of most months. If you have a zoo membership at an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aza.org\/reciprocity\/\">AZA Zoo<\/a>, you can get 50% off the admission price, though it&#8217;s still pricey. You can bring in your own food and drinks, so that helps.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s There: <\/strong>It has a large variety of animals, a petting zoo, a playground, and an aquarium. They&#8217;ve done a good job adding shade and air-conditioned areas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where to Park:<\/strong> It has a free parking lot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:<\/strong> At least 3 hours<\/p>\n<h2>Special Events: Cultural Festivals, Classical Concerts, Cows, &amp; More<\/h2>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Special Events: A balloon festival we visited in Houston\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/154d9bee91d1f0c9f86b2300364e7633.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Special Events: A balloon festival we visited in Houston<\/p>\n<p>What really makes Houston fun is the variety of events each week. Many of them are free or inexpensive. We&#8217;ve loved attending cultural festivals, classical concerts, historical reenactments, rodeos, etc. You can find out what&#8217;s happening by visiting sites such as: <a href=\"https:\/\/365thingsinhouston.com\/kids-families\/fun-things-to-do-with-kids-in-houston-this-week\/\">https:\/\/365thingsinhouston.com\/kids-families\/fun-things-to-do-with-kids-in-houston-this-week\/<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/houston.kidsoutandabout.com\/\">https:\/\/houston.kidsoutandabout.com\/<\/a> .<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Books &amp; Videos on Houston<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Our Favorite Children&#8217;s Books on Houston<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Only in Texas: Weird and Wonderful Facts About the Lone Star State by Heather Alexander - All book images are from amazon\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/829abcd715866be882195341170a1805.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/3e441e5ce63e32476022459fbd1384b1.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Colors of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston by Caroline Desnoe&amp;Igrave;ttes\" src=\"https:\/\/images.saymedia-content.com\/.image\/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_80\/MjAwNTkwMzg3MzYxMjI4MTUy\/houston-on-a-budget-with-kids.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett \" src=\"https:\/\/images.saymedia-content.com\/.image\/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_80\/MjAwNTkwMzg3MzYyODAxMDE2\/houston-on-a-budget-with-kids.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"111 Places for Kids in Houston That You Must Not Miss by Dana DuTerroil\" src=\"https:\/\/images.saymedia-content.com\/.image\/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_80\/MjAwNTk4MTA2NzU5MjQzMTI4\/houston-on-a-budget-with-kids.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"111 Places in Houston That You Must Not Miss Revised by Dana DuTerroil\" src=\"https:\/\/images.saymedia-content.com\/.image\/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_80\/MjAwNTk3OTU3NTA5MTI5MzI0\/houston-on-a-budget-with-kids.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Only in Texas: Weird and Wonderful Facts About the Lone Star State by Heather Alexander &#8211; All book images are from amazon<\/p>\n<p>1 \/ 6<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0711274061\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Only in Texas: Weird and Wonderful Facts About the Lone Star State<\/a> <\/em>by Heather Alexander shares a variety of information about Texas (plants, animals, geographical features, etc.) and includes a 2 page spread focused on what makes Houston unique.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/089090121X\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Colors of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston<\/a> <\/em>by Caroline Desnoe\u00ccttes features about 60 pieces of art from the Museum of Fine Arts. My children get excited when they see the actual one in the museum from the picture they saw in the book.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0698113594\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\"><em>The Legend of the Bluebonnet<\/em> <\/a>by Tomie dePaola is a Comanche tale about the origins of the bluebonnet, the state flower of Texas. If you&#8217;re visiting Houston during bluebonnet season, you should definitely read this book with your children.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0142401250\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">Armadillo Rodeo<\/a><\/em> by Jan Brett is a cute, fun picture book featuring an armadillo, cowboy boots, and a Texas rodeo. When you&#8217;re in Houston, be sure to drive by the huge armadillo statue with longhorns outside <strong>Goode Company Armadillo Palace<\/strong> (5015 Kirby Dr.).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/3740813725\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">111 Places for Kids in Houston That You Must Not Miss<\/a> by Dana DuTerroil and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/374081697X\/?tag=hubacct7155-20\">111 Places in Houston That You Must Not Miss<\/a> Revised by Dana DuTerroil are both great with good suggestions for additional places to visit if you have extra time. I love that the author includes photos. Just like with art pieces, my children get excited when they see something in real life that they saw in a book.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<h2>Video Overview of Houston<\/h2>\n<h2>Houston Museum of Natural Science: Ancient Egypt Exhibit<\/h2>\n<h2>The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Coffee with a Curator Bradley Bailey<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Are You Driving There from the East?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Stop by Stark in Orange, Texas<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Stark Art Museum\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/0605e097500172f9773027ee64028b48.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stark Art Museum<\/p>\n<p>Stark, which is just off I-10, in Orange is definitely worth visiting if you&#8217;re passing by.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/starkmuseum.org\/\">Stark Museum of Art<\/a>, a free art museum, has an impressive amount of Western art, glass bird and flower figurines, cut glass, and Native American pieces. It also has antique cars. It greatly exceeded our expectations. Expect to spend about an hour there.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shangrilagardens.org\/\">Shangri La Botanical Gardens &amp; Nature Center<\/a>, also free, is equally impressive. It has large gardens, beautiful ponds, a fun nature center, and a children&#8217;s garden. Expect to spend at least an hour there.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Shangri La Botanical Gardens &amp; Nature Center has gorgeous flower gardens,...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/c28a29d668a31392cf97cf3d21389a1c.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Shangri La Botanical Gardens &amp; Nature Center has gorgeous flower gardens,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a fun children's garden, and...\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/c4dcf183c50d532a4439e7c2d7666b1b.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>a fun children&#8217;s garden, and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ponds and other areas that are perfectly picturesque. \" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/dceb118bb5e18cfb48d9fd0aabba7aba.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>ponds and other areas that are perfectly picturesque. <\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking for More Travel Tips to Other Destinations?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Washington, D.C. on a Budget with Kids\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived\/2137a2a15afce7bff3fa1aeb832e29b9.jpg\" style=\"max-height: 500px; width: auto;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Washington, D.C. on a Budget with Kids<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/new-orleans-on-a-budget-with-kids\">New Orleans:<\/a><\/strong> Find my tips, full itinerary, &amp; more on how to make the most of your trip to New Orleans without breaking your budget at <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/new-orleans-on-a-budget-with-kids\">New Orleans on a Budget with Kids.<\/a> Included you&#8217;ll find our trip itinerary for a budget-friendly, kid-friendly one day in New Orleans. Also included are our favorite children&#8217;s books and YouTube videos we used while preparing for our trip, where we stayed, where to park, other places to visit if you have extra time, and more!<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/pensacola-on-a-budget\">Pensacola, FL:<\/a> <\/strong>From the National Naval Aviation Museum to pristine beaches to boardwalks with rare carnivorous plants to history that comes alive, Pensacola is a great vacation destination. Find our 2 day itinerary and additional tips at <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/pensacola-on-a-budget\">Pensacola Vacation on a Budget with Kids<\/a> .<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Niagara-Falls-on-a-Budget-with-Kids-US-Side-Only\">Niagara Falls:<\/a><\/strong> Find my &#8220;I wish I had known ahead of time&#8230;&#8221; tips, full itinerary, &amp; more at my page <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Niagara-Falls-on-a-Budget-with-Kids-US-Side-Only\">Niagara Falls on Budget with Kids (U.S. Side Only)<\/a>. I spent LOTS of time planning for our trip to Niagara Falls &amp; want to share everything I learned. I&#8217;ve included our schedule for our trip and all the helpful tips I found out ahead of time or learned afterward! Also included are our favorite children&#8217;s books, guide books, and YouTube videos we used while preparing for our trip.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Visit-Washington-DC\"><strong>Washington, D.C<\/strong>.<\/a>: Find out our full 5 day itinerary and tips on food, parking, and more at <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Visit-Washington-DC\">Washington, D.C. on a Budget with Kids<\/a>. I also included our favorite children&#8217;s books, guide books, and YouTube videos we used while preparing for our trip.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Grand-Canyon-with-Kids-on-a-Budget\"><strong>Grand Canyon<\/strong>:<\/a> Find my &#8220;I wish I had known ahead of time&#8230;&#8221; tips, full itinerary, &amp; more at my page <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Grand-Canyon-with-Kids-on-a-Budget\">Grand Canyon on a Budget with Kids<\/a>. I&#8217;ve included our schedule for our trip and all the helpful tips I found out ahead of time or learned afterward! Also included are our favorite children&#8217;s books, guide books, and YouTube videos we used while preparing for our trip.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Helen-Georgia\"><strong>Helen, Georgia<\/strong>:<\/a> From multiple waterfalls to a miniature German village to freshly-churned ice cream, find our schedule for our one-day trip to Helen, Georgia along with all the helpful tips we discovered along the way at my page <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/Helen-Georgia\">What to See and Do in Helen, Georgia<\/a>. This is focused on traveling with children and on a budget. I also included where we visited on the way back from Helen, Georgia to Florida.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/field-trips-in-north-florida\">North Florida:<\/a><\/strong> To find our favorite fun, free (or inexpensive) activities and events in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, &amp; Gainesville, go to my post <a href=\"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/field-trips-in-north-florida\">Family Fun &amp; Activities for Kids in North Florida<\/a>. I included my favorite links to find out about local events and our favorite spots to visit and to take visitors from out of town.<\/li>\n<p><\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a9 2023 Shannon<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jun 23, 2024 Houston on a Budget with Kids Find my tips, full itinerary, &amp; more on how to make the most of your trip to Houston without breaking your budget. Actually, the entire day is FREE (minus money spent on food). I spend LOTS of time planning for trips, and Houston is one of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1242"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shannon.wasmer.app\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}