Looking for a few fun things to do in Houston Texas? Many people think of Houston as a city full of oil companies… oh, and NASA, but there are lots of other fun things to do in Houston too.

It’s a great destination for family fun!

I’ve already mentioned NASA, and I’m planning to tell you more about it, but what about other things to do in Houston?

I will tell you about other great Houston attractions, like Discovery Green Park, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, and several more.

Here are our favorite… 

Things To Do In Houston

1. NASA

NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston is where astronauts are trained. The famous Mission Control, seen in several movies and from where space flights are controlled, is also located here.

That makes it a very exciting place!

Space Center Houston is the official visitors’ center. It has several fun attractions, like Space Center theater, Blast Off theater, Feel of Space, and more.

We even took a tour to Mission Control, which is open to public tours whenever there aren’t any space missions.

2. Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is another cool place that I like a lot. It is a very interesting place where one can learn a lot about the world we live in, and have fun while doing it.

My youngest son loves dinosaurs, which makes the Paleontology Hall a great place for him to hang out. My favorite is the Energy Hall and African Wildlife exhibit.

There are many other exhibits, some permanent and some on display only for for a fixed period.

HMNS has something for everybody.

3. Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum of Houston is within walking distance of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, so it’s easy to spend a whole day in this one area and visit both museums.

The Children’s Museum has some very cool, interactive exhibits for kids. Among many others, How Does It Work? is a science exhibit that shows kids how interesting things work. Moneyville teaches kids about finances and how money works.

I think the Children’s Museum is truly a great place for kids!

4. Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo is also within walking distance of the Houston Museum of Natural Science… another reason to visit this area.

With more than 4000 animals, the Houston Zoo has it all… all kinds of apes and monkeys, lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, bears, birds, snakes, and much more. They even have a white alligator!

Kids like the Children’s Zoo where they can pet animals too (the non-dangerous kind).

The Houston Zoo is one of the coolest things to do in Houston! Don’t miss it!

5. Discovery Green Park

Discovery Green Park is a huge park near downtown Houston and is a great place for families to hang out.

It has huge lawns, a children’s playground, dog runs, a jogging trail, a large lake, water features, two great restaurants, and even an outdoor ice skating rink.

There is even wireless internet available if you need it!

To me, Discovery is a nice place to hang out for a more quiet day or afternoon.

6. Splashtown Waterpark

Any decent water park will have a variety of pool, slides, and raft rides. SplashTown Water Park in Spring, just north of Houston, is no exception!

Can you imagine being launched through a dark tunnel, accelerating down steep, arcing turns that takes you into a bowl, and then end with a splash into the pool below? Well, that’s the RipQurl, and that’s only one of the many rides!

I won’t try to describe every fun activity here, but I can tell you that kids and parents alike ought to have a lot of fun at SplashTown!

With all these fun things to do in Houston, you should have a memorable time in Houston. I know we do!

Why would there be fun things to do in Galveston Texas? Well, it’s an island in the Gulf of Mexico, and that spells FUN!

Galveston has nice beaches, a theme park, a water park, a museum, a nice shopping area, several restaurants, and plenty of hotels.

I like it that most of the fun things to do in Galveston Texas are also located close to one another.

That means you don’t have to do endless driving to get from one thing to another. 

Things To Do In Galveston

Beaches

My kids love to swim. They just don’t seem to get tired of it. So if Galveston only had beaches, I think we’ll still have a good time there.

Galveston has a few miles of public beaches along Seawall Blvd. The water is a comfortable 80°F through the whole summer. Just in case the sun gets too much, we usually get one of the umbrellas that are readily available. We also like to take a few beach toys along.

Stewart Beach

Stewart Beach is really nice. It’s a family beach that has many family activities, like sandcastle competitions, bumper boats, and a mini golf course. It also has a nice playground.

Stewart Beach is a State park. There’s an entrance fee per car, but it’s worth the money.

Poretto Beach

Poretto Beach is another favorite beach in Galveston. You have to pay a few dollars to park for the day. On the beach are chairs and umbrellas already set up that can be rented for the day. There are also floats available to rent, and plenty of food and drinks available.

A great source of information on safety at Galveston’s beaches is the Galveston Beach Patrol.

Moody Gardens

I think Moody Gardens is one of the coolest things to do in Galveston Texas. They have several attractions to visit, like a rainforest inside a huge glass pyramid, aquarium, a science exhibition (discovery pyramid), a collection of lagoons and waterfalls (Palm Beach), and an IMAX theater.

It can become quite costly to visit everything (around $40 per person), so I would suggest you pick one or two to visit. I like the rainforest and the aquarium the best.

Here’s an article about Moody Gardens that I wrote for Vacation Home Rentals – Why You Should Not Miss Moody Gardens In Galveston.

Schlitterbahn Galveston

My kids will tell you that a day at Schlitterbahn water park is one of the funnest things to do in Galveston Texas.

If you’ve ever been to the Shlitterbahn in New Braunfels, you know what Schlitterbahn is all about. If not, and my kids will confirm this, Schlitterbahn is a fantastic waterpark, with water rides for young and old. One of the water slides even goes upwards!

Part of Schlitterbahn Galveston is indoors, which is very nice when everyone gets a little sunned-out, but want to continue having fun.

The Schlitterbahn in Galveston is relatively new. It is smaller, but it is nevertheless a lot of fun. It is located next to Moody Gardens.

Galveston Shopping – The Strand

The Strand in Galveston is an interesting shopping and dining area that has a unique charm to it. There is a wide variety of stores and restaurants to choose from in The Strand. My kids love the horse and carriage rides!

There are several other attractions within walking distance of The Strand. We like to park at The Strand and then explore the area on foot.

Texas Seaport Museum

If everyone needs a break from the sun and would like a little Galveston history, a visit to the Texas Seaport Museum is a good option. It won’t break the bank either.

Among the exhibits at the Texas Seaport Museum is Elissa, a working sailing ship built in 1877.

The Seaport Museum is close to The Strand and Stewart Beach.

These are our favorite things to do in Galveston Texas and we always have a great time!

PS. Also see our pages on Galveston hotels and restaurants.

Dallas is a big city, and to some it may seem difficult to find fun things to do in Dallas Texas… but they’re out there!

We have been there a few times and I want to tell you about the things to do in Dallas Texas that we have discovered! These include some fun attractions, like the Dallas Zoo, Southfork, the Dallas Aquarium, and more.

If you are planning a Dallas vacation, you will also need a few places to eat at, and a place to stay in, so I will tell you about a few great restaurants to try and few hotels to consider (including downtown hotels and Bed & Breakfasts).

Before I continue, when I say “Dallas”, I do mean the Dallas area and that will include other cities too. Now on too… 

Things To Do In Dallas Texas

Dallas Aquarium

The first of our favorite things to do in Dallas Texas is a visit to the Dallas Aquarium (aka Dallas World Aquarium), which is a fascinating place.

They have a big aquarium with an underwater tunnel and several cool exhibitions, like the “Rainforest” (South American jungle), “South Africa”, and “Mundo Maya” (Mayan civilization).

My kids love the Dallas Texas Aquarium. I think yours will too.

Dallas Zoo

Another of my kids’ favorite things to do in Dallas Texas is a visit to the Dallas Zoo.

The Dallas Zoo is near downtown Dallas. It covers about 95 acres and has around 1800 animals! The Dallas Zoo also has a very nice area for little kids.

If your kids like animals, take them to the Dallas Zoo. They’ll have a good time!

Water Parks

There are at least three water parks in Dallas Texas.

Two are two Hawaiian Falls water parks, one in Garland and the other in The Colony. The third is Bahama Beach water park, south of downtown Dallas.

The Dallas Texas water parks are really great in Texas’ hot summers!

Horseback Riding

Horse back riding was one of my favorite things to do as a kid. I had a horse named Dusty and had lots of fun riding her. My kids also like horses a lot, but they don’t get to do horse back riding as often I did.

I was so happy when I discovered the Double D Ranch where we could all do horse back riding in Dallas Texas. There is much more than only horseback riding to do though.

I think it is a great place for kids to get the Texas experience!

Six Flags

Six Flags near Dallas Texas is called Six Flags Over Texas in honor of the flags of the six nations that governed Texas. It is located in Arlington, about midway between Dallas & Fort Worth.

Six Flags has a free-fall tower, a wooden roller coaster, several steel roller coasters, trains, and many other rides that my kids love.

A day at Six Flags is always a fun day in my kids’ lives! I like it too, but these days I check out roller coasters carefully before I get on them!

JFK Assassination Site

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza, Dallas Texas on November 22, 1963. The shots were supposedly fired from the 6^th floor of the Texas School Book Depository building. Today, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is located in this building.

I think a visit to the museum is worthwhile since the death of Pres. Kennedy had such a profound effect on our country.

Southfork Ranch

If you were old enough to watch the TV series “Dallas” back in the 80s, a visit to Southfork Ranch will be a treat.

Since the end of “Dallas”, Southfork Ranch, the Ewing home, has been turned into a tourist attraction. It is located in Plano, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Dallas.

We have been there several times… We once took my parents there. They were big Dallas fans and loved Southfork Ranch. We also went there a couple more times for my kids’ Taekwondo tournaments.

I must honestly say that my kids couldn’t really be bothered because they never watched the show. However, my wife and I enjoyed every visit to Southfork!

TopGolf Dallas

If you like golf or mini-golf, TopGolf Dallas is a great place to go spend a few hours!

I think of TopGolf as a golf entertainment center!

They have several different types of point-scoring golf games to play, including a huge mini-golf course. They also have a bar and a restaurant that serves great meals. You can even host parties there.

This is a place that grown-ups and kids can enjoy. If you haven’t been to TopGolf yet, give it a try. I think you’ll like it!

Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge is a fantastic waterpark in Grapevine, towards the northwest of downtown Dallas.

I won’t say too much here, but I urge you to read why Great Wolf Lodge is something you do not want to miss when vacationing in Dallas.

These are some of our favorite things to do in Dallas Texas. There are of course many more… the Dallas area is huge… and I will be adding more of the best things to do as I discover them. So return to this page often!

I hope you have a lot of fun while visiting Dallas! We do!

I’m guessing you’re planning to head to Corpus Christi for a few days, or are already there, and you’re looking for fun things to do in Corpus Christi.

Is Corpus Christi a boring place with nothing to do, or could you have a good time there?

The good news is that there are plenty of fun things to do in Corpus Christi and the surrounding area. We have been there a few times, and had a great time every time!

An added bonus with Corpus Christi is that it is fairly close to Port Aransas… you could pick a day to go there as well.

Our favorite Corpus Christi activities are a visit to the beach, fishing, a visit to the Aquarium and the USS Lexington, and a dolphin cruise. Here’s the scoop about them… 

Things To Do In Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Beaches

As far as my kids are concerned, one of the first things to do in Corpus Christi on a family vacation is to hit the beach!

McGee beach is located downtown and within walking distance from several hotels. Corpus Christi beach is a little further north along the bay, right by the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington.

Being on a bay protected by a barrier island, these beaches don’t have huge waves. This makes it really nice for smaller kids to play at the water’s edge. The only not-so-nice thing to me was the jellyfish in the water. I think the City makes an effort to clean it all up, but it is still something to watch out for.

I prefer the beach on North Padre Island, which is only about 20 minutes from downtown Corpus Christi. There are better waves, so the kids can have fun with the boogie boards and the skim board.

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Fishing In Corpus Christi

Fishing is one of the fun things to do in Corpus Christi. A good option is to go on one of the bay fishing charter boats. Using “fish finders”, these fishing boats will take you out to wherever the fish is currently biting. One such outfit is C & T Bay Charters.

The Bob Hall Pier on North Padre is a good option too. You can fish there for King Mackerel, Shark, Red Drum, and several other species. The beach around the pier is great. If the kids don’t want to fish, they can hit the waves and have a good time too.

To me, a good option for deep sea fishing is to go to Port Aransas and use one of the deep sea fishing companies there. That avoids spending extra time crossing the Corpus Christi Bay on your way to the deep waters.

Corpus Christi Aquarium

My kids like the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

It’s not a very big aquarium, but it has some very good educational exhibits. The Islands of Steel, an under-water habitat built around a replica of an offshore oil platform, is great. Of course, the dolphins are always a hit.

The Aquarium does seem to be a little pricey, but overall it is a great place to take the kids to.

USS Lexington

Visiting the USS Lexington is one of the really cool things to do in Corpus Christi!

It is a WWII-era aircraft carrier with several airplanes on deck. You take a self-guided tour through the ship. I found it incredibly educational, and it left me in awe of what our armed forces do for us!

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because there are lots of stairs to climb. We went in the summer, and I was glad we wore hats. It gets quite hot on the landing deck. There is so much to see that we spent 2 to 3 hours there.

Visit the USS Lexington if you can. It truly was one of the highlights of our vacation in Corpus Christi!

Dolphins

One of the special things to do in Corpus Christi is a dolphin cruise!

Can you imagine how much kids (and grown-ups) like it to see dolphins swimming up close to the boat, and even sometimes coming close enough to touch them? This is a great experience that my kids love!

Dolphin Connection Texas provides a service that lets you do exactly that! Make reservations though. They are quite popular.

We hope this article has been helpful. All the fun things to do in Corpus Christi can provide a great Texas family vacation to anyone!

PS. Also see our page on Corpus Christi hotels.

I like the German food and beer of Fredericksburg Texas. My wife loves the shopping that it is so well-known for. Fredericksburg is one of our favorite weekend getaways!

I had heard about Fredericksburg long before my family and I went there for the first time.

For some reason people mentioned Fredericksburg more in conversations than any other town in the area. It was always, “Oh, it’s so cool, you gotta go!”

Then, one day we went… what a pleasant surprise!

Here was this charming town with “old-style” stores lining the main street on both sides. Each of the stores seemed to have their own unique character. The sidewalks on both sides were full of people wandering up and down and in and out of stores.

I was immediately intrigued… and hooked… 

Our favorite activities in Fredericksburg are the shopping, the Nimitz museum, and Enchanted Rock. Here is more about them…

Things To Do In Fredericksburg Texas

Shopping

Shopping is undoubtedly a major reason why people visit Fredericksburg Texas! I know that’s the main reason why we go.

The stores are mostly all along Main street. These are not impersonal chain stores… these are charming little stores, each with their own unique character. There are stores for just about any taste… a great variety of stores where everyone is likely to find something they like.

A fun aspect of shopping in Frederickburg is the sidewalk benches scattered along the way. I have enjoyed more than one beer, parked on one of the benches with the kids while Mom is inside a store fulfilling her life’s mission…

I’m not a big shopper, but shopping in Fredericksburg is different… it’s just part of the vibe!

Nimitz Museum

The Nimitz museum in Fredericksburg (aka The National Museum of the Pacific War) is a great place to take the kids, especially when they start getting tired of the shopping.

My kids’ “wow-factor” is all the cannons and guns on display. My “wow-factor” is the incredible history that is told so well.

The distraction of taking the kids to the Nimitz museum also buys my wife some extra shopping time. So everyone wins!

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock is a fun place that we like to take the kids to. They love it there. When my parents visited from out-of-state a couple of years ago, we took them to Enchanted Rock, and they had a great time too.

Enchanted Rock is huge (and I mean massive!) rock about 20 miles outside Fredericksburg. It is great fun to climb to the top, which takes about 20 minutes. I just love the view from up there!

I think Enchanted Rock is well worth a visit.

Rockbox Theater

The Rockbox Theater, just off Main St, is something you simply have to visit! I first heard about the Rockbox from a friend who saw a show and insisted that we go.

They have fantastic musical shows that are very entertaining. The performers are incredibly talented. They also have a Christmas show every year.

This is some of the best live entertainment that you’ll find anywhere in Texas. Don’t miss it!

Fredericksburg Texas truly is a must-visit! For a small Hill Country town, it offers a lot!

The Battle of the Alamo is the event where many men fought bravely against overwhelming odds and died for their freedom!

The Alamo is where Texas liberty was born!

Because of this distinction, I can’t help but feel a sense of respect when my family and I visit the Alamo.

This is one historical site that we love to visit! 

The Battle of The Alamo

To help me better appreciate historical sites, I like to have at least some basic knowledge of its history.

If you don’t know much about the Alamo and the battle of the Alamo, here’s a brief overview…

Also in those days, Anglo-Americans in Texas were called “Texians” and Hispanic-Americans were called “Tejanos”. I’m going to call both “Texans” to keep it simple.

Can you imagine being in such a situation?

When I first heard this story, I wondered why the battle of the Alamo was so important if all the Texan defenders were killed and Mexico won.

Then it dawned on me… These people made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom that they believed in so strongly.

The brave men of the Alamo had not died in vain. From their sacrifice emerged Sam Houston’s battle-cry, “Remember The Alamo!” that led to Texas liberty.

What To Do There

The first time I took my family to the Alamo, we started off by just strolling around the grounds.

We visited the old church where there are exhibits of items from the battle of the Alamo, like a Bowie knife and a rifle.

The Gift Shop has many items for sale, and there are some exhibits too. My experience is that the gift shop can get quite full and it’s easy to lose sight of the kids. Our youngest is the busy one, and so I tend to keep a close watch on him.

Outside the Gift Shop is the Cavalry Courtyard where Alamo staff give talks on Alamo history. This also leads to the Long Barrack Museum where there are more exhibits.

If a potty-emergency arises with one of the kids, there are decent restrooms across the lawns behind the Gift Shop.

How To Get There

My family and I like to visit the Alamo when we also plan a trip to the San Antonio Riverwalk, i.e. the Alamo is right by the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.

Nearby Attractions

Other than the Riverwalk, we also like the Guiness Book of World Records and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not stores that are right across the road as you exit the Shrine of the Alamo.

The Rivercenter Mall is also close by. There are regular movies and the IMAX theater that is always a hit with my kids.

Enjoy the Alamo! It is a special place!