Here are more than 100 activity ideas for SW Houston and Fort Bend families this summer. As always, please check with the venue before going. Enjoy!
Free Storytimes
Barnes and Noble locations
Wednesdays in June and July
Special summer storytimes at local libraries
Tomfoolery Toys and Books
Brazos Bookstore
Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire
Tomfoolery Toys and Books
Brazos Bookstore
Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire
See a Cheap (or even free) Movie
Regal Theaters ($1 each)
Cinemark Theaters ($1 each or $5 for 10 movies)
Santikos Theaters
Studio Movie Grill
Cinemark Theaters ($1 each or $5 for 10 movies)
Santikos Theaters
Studio Movie Grill
Enjoy an Outdoor Movie at Discovery Green, CityCentre, or Sugar Land Town Square
(Click here to see much of the summer fun in one place!)
Summer Reading
Read a new book
Log your reading hours at Houston Public Library, Fort Bend, Bellaire or West U
Half-Price Books
Barnes and Noble
Half-Price Books
Barnes and Noble
See our Big List of Free Activities for more inspiration on more no-cost things to do!
Only in Summer
Only in Summer
Have a water balloon battle
Go to the pool (free to visit City of Houston pools)
See our Big List of Splashpads to find a sprayground to visit
See fireworks on the 4th of July
Eat a sno-cone (we love Hirschy's in Stafford on Hwy 90)
Visit Noah’s Ark pool
Under the Summer Sun Weekday Program at Brazos Bend State Park
Under the Summer Sun Weekday Program at Brazos Bend State Park
Animal Affairs
Visit the new Gorillas at the Houston Zoo
See butterflies at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and boats, too)
Take the Metro Rail
Ride the Hermann Park train.
While at Hermann Park, rent a pedal boat.
Do a Kayak Boat Ride at Discovery Green
Scientific and Space Explorations
Houston Museum of Natural Science - in Sugar Land and Houston
Space Center Houston
George Observatory
Super Science Summer at the Health Museum
Super Science Summer at the Health Museum
Indoor Fun
Go Roller Skating
Attend kid's activities at Michael’s Stores (Passport to Imagination), Lakeshore Learning, Bass Pro Shops (seasonal children's activities), Home Depot First Saturday Kids Activities and Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshops
Free Bowling - at AMF Lanes or find a location at www.kidsbowlfree.com.
See a play at a local children's playhouse
Or a free Houston Symphony neighborhood performance
Visit a Museum for free - here's a list
Enjoy the view from the JP Morgan Chase Building’s observation deck
Visit the Houston Fire Museum
Just hang out at the library – any branch. Kids can learn crafts, play on the computer, or, of course, read.
Take a factory tour at Mrs. Baird’s Bakery (ages 6 and over)
Or, take a tour of Kegg’s Candies to learn all about chocolate!
Learn about Houston at the city of Houston’s Official Visitor’s Center (and see the Single Ladies outfit worn by Houston’s own Beyonce)
Outdoor Fun
Have a picnic lunch or dinner at Williams Tower
Walk the underground tunnel system in downtown Houston
Take a walk around a local college campus
Meet the creatures at the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire
And then play for a while at Russ Pittman Park
Visit the new Martin Luther King Jr. statue at MacGregor Park
See the “Houston” mural
Or, the “We Love Houston” sign
Visit the Presidential Statues (or, officially known as American Statesmanship Park)
Take a boat ride along Buffalo Bayou
Try geocaching
Do you camp? Try it for the first time
See a show at Miller Outdoor Theater
Go fishing (many local parks have stocked lakes)
See an Astros Game
Or a Sugar Land Skeeters game
Try a new park every week
Pick your own berries at Blessington Farms (Simonton, TX)
Hit the Beach
Walk barefoot in the sand at Galveston Beach
Or Crystal Beach. Or Surfside Beach.
Day Trips/Overnight Trips
Hit Schliterbahn – Galveston or New Braunfels.
Or go smaller at Splashway Waterpark in Sheridan, TX
Palm Beach, Zip Line, Ropes Course or all three – at Moody Gardens in Galveston
Try Pirate’s Bay Waterpark in Baytown
Or, try the all new Wet n Wild Spalshtown in Spring
Visit the San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas
Go further to Austin and visit the state capitol
See real alligators at Brazos Bend State Park
Or visit the Sam Houston Statue and Huntsville State Park in Huntsville, TX
Visit a drive-in movie theater in at the Showboat Drive-In in Hockley, TX
Take a short drive to the Sea Center in Lake Jackson
Enjoy the view and rides at the Kemah Boardwalk or Galveston’s Pleasure Pier
Experience the culture and theme-park fun of San Antonio
Fun at Home
Make your own fruit pops
Make your own slime or playdough
Host a sleepover or backyard campout
Make homemade ice cream
Make your own sidewalk chalk
Host a movie night with friends
Run through sprinklers
Make something with duct tape
Play hopscotch
Play a classic game, like jacks or marbles.
Host a toy swap with friends
Or a book swap
Make your own bubbles
Make your own bubbles
Assign your child or children a special day, where they make the rules, pick meals, etc.
Create a summer scrapbook
Or give each child a journal or let them take pictures for a photo journal
Visit a pet store or aquarium showroom
Make smoothies
Plant a window garden
Make s’mores
Let the kids cook (and pick one new thing to master, like a grilled cheese or a scrambled egg or the perfect chocolate chip cookie)
What would you add to this list? Comment and let me know below. Thanks!
