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Old 02-01-2013, 02:35 PM
 
Location: Custer, SD
1,582 posts, read 3,113,804 times
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We are coming to the area for a little over a week early in the summer to visit my parents in Spring, and I am not very familiar with all there must be to do in the "big city" (we currently live in a tiny town in the Black Hills of South Dakota). I have a 12 year old daughter who loves animals, the beach, amusement parks, science and dragons. We will be spending a few days in San Antonio to go to the Riverwalk and Sea World. Any suggestions for fun stuff while we are in Houston? Children's Museums? Zoos? Aquariums? I know it's going to be way hotter than we are used to (and humid, ugh!), so I am hoping for a balance of indoors/outdoors!

TIA!
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Old 02-01-2013, 03:26 PM
 
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Check out Space Center Houston in Clear Lake for the kids

Galveston the Beach for a day or if you want to spend 2 days Beach & strand next day Schlitterbahn water park
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Old 02-01-2013, 04:05 PM
 
Location: Custer, SD
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I will have to talk to her about the Space Center! We are thinking about spending a couple days at the beach, but maybe farther down the coast...
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Old 02-01-2013, 04:54 PM
 
17,183 posts, read 22,971,061 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by no8fann View Post
We are coming to the area for a little over a week early in the summer to visit my parents in Spring, and I am not very familiar with all there must be to do in the "big city" (we currently live in a tiny town in the Black Hills of South Dakota). I have a 12 year old daughter who loves animals, the beach, amusement parks, science and dragons. We will be spending a few days in San Antonio to go to the Riverwalk and Sea World. Any suggestions for fun stuff while we are in Houston? Children's Museums? Zoos? Aquariums? I know it's going to be way hotter than we are used to (and humid, ugh!), so I am hoping for a balance of indoors/outdoors!

TIA!
Museum of Natural History

Houston Museum of Natural Science

12 might be a bit too old for the children's museum, imo. I found it better for 6 to 10 year olds.
Children

She might like the Health Museum
Health Museum

The Houston Zoo is pretty nice
HOUSTON ZOO – NATURALLY WILD - Home

The Space Center is good too.
Space Center Houston | Houston's #1 Attraction for Family Fun

I don't know how often this is open, but it sounds interesting
Houston Museum of African American Culture

Quote:
Children’s building blocks have been used to craft an enormous amount of things, from the Empire State Building, to famous people. Caroline Plantation will be the first attempt at a full scale reproduction of a slave plantation. Loosely based on the Wavering Place Plantation located in South Carolina, the piece will feature over 7000 legos. Accompanying the Caroline Plantation will be Slave Facebook, an experience of what it was like for slaves to use social media in their day.
The Discovery Green water station can be fun for a while too.
FREE Summer Fun in Houston at Mom's Travel Tales :: Sharing the adventure of family travel
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Old 02-01-2013, 06:21 PM
 
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I would have to say avoid the Space Center. We took our daughter and it seems they haven't invested any money since I went on field trips as a kid 20+ years ago.

I can't speak for the Spring area but things close to me in the Clear Lake area that my daughter loves:

Moody Gardens (Lots to do. An indoor rainforest, aquarium, IMAX movie, etc).
Kemah Boardwalk (On the bay. Restaurants, rides, carnival games).
Houston Zoo
Schlitterbahn (It's got an indoor heated section for the winter time).
Galveston Pleasure Pier
Dave and Busters (Tons of Arcade Games).
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Old 02-01-2013, 07:26 PM
 
Location: Houston, TX
8,898 posts, read 20,037,085 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by no8fann View Post
I will have to talk to her about the Space Center! We are thinking about spending a couple days at the beach, but maybe farther down the coast...
Space Center Houston is different than the Space Center tour of 20 years ago or the general Space Center tour. Its a different exhibit and facility. Space Center Houston is a venue just for kids with a lot of fun and a lot of educational stuff as well. For amusements (we don't have a real amusement park anymore) you can try the Kemah Boardwalk or Pleasure Pier in Galveston, both owned by the same developer and overpriced but kids and families seem to really enjoy it.
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Old 02-01-2013, 07:53 PM
 
Location: Dallas, TX
112 posts, read 200,487 times
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Some things I found to do with my stepsons (10 & 12) when we moved here last summer:

A second vote for the Museum of Natural Science-they loved it and the Butterfly Center:
Houston Museum of Natural Science

A little ways away from Spring, but not too far and fun if she likes science:
Little Beakers Science Lab for Kids

Some other indoor activities for when it's too hot/stormy outside:
Shankz Miniature Golf & Birthday Parties, The Woodlands, Atascocita, Humble
Color Me Mine - Cypress, Texas
Jump On In Parties & More

Haven't been to this yet, but it is free and looks interesting:
Sam Houston Boat Tour | The Port of Houston Authority
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Old 02-01-2013, 10:04 PM
 
Location: Custer, SD
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Thank you so much for all the wonderful ideas!
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Old 02-01-2013, 10:18 PM
 
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Just note...the shanks in Atascocita has closed down. But I second everyone's suggestions.
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Old 02-03-2013, 06:31 AM
 
Location: Pearland, TX
3,333 posts, read 9,187,149 times
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Try the Aquarium Downtown too.
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