It’s almost back-to-school time. Here’s how to get the most out of the last days of summer break with fun activities the kids in your life will treasure.
Ahh, summertime. When you’re a kid, it’s those couple of months you live for, yet they seem to go faster and faster every year.
But there’s still time to capture some of that summer magic before the school bell rings and the focus shifts to homework. For now, we’ve done the homework for you with some grab-summer-and-hold-on-tight activities that will keep the kids active until they step onto the school bus—and even after.
From interactive exhibits to simple pleasures like sno-cones, Houston’s got it all. These attractions are fantastic, centrally-located urban escapes that can be enjoyed any day of the week without ever leaving H-Town. So get to it!
1. Explore Mythical Realms at the Houston Zoo
Through September 7, you won’t want to miss Mythical Realms at the Houston Zoo. This is a place where fantasy meets reality, where you can wander an enchanted trail and meet the characters you’ve only read about in books.
From dragons to the sea monster Kraken to winged horses, legendary creatures abound, and kids will learn all about how they represent cultures across the globe. Who knows? This fun summer activity might actually give them a leg up in their mythical studies!
2. Catch a flick at Rooftop Cinema Club
A movie may not seem like an exciting way to enjoy summer, but trust me, the Rooftop Cinema Club is so much more than a movie. Kids of all ages absolutely love the experience of sitting outside, popcorn and candy in hand, watching a family-friendly classic.
Arrive early to enjoy the games and photo ops around the rooftop, then settle into an Adirondack chair and take in one of August’s features: “The Princess Diaries,” “Ratatouille,” “The Princess Bride,” or “High School Musical.”
3. Savor a snow cone
Grab a snow cone at one of many Houston establishments that offer summer’s quintessential treat. Bahama Buck’s has several locations around the city, and with its island theme and gourmet flavors like paradise fruit, even the adults in the group can get behind this idea.
Other options for icy treats include Sno Corner, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, and Husky Sno. It’s a simple outing that brings a big smile and helps Houstonians beat the heat.
4. Splash through the city
Talk about beating the heat. Splash pads and water activities abound in Houston, and there’s really no better way to conquer sweat than a dip in cold water.
For the little ones, Noah’s Ark at the Quillian Center offers safe, shallow water, and it sits beside a larger pool for the older kids, making it perfect for the whole family. There’s a reason Noah’s Ark was named Best Pool in Houston. It contains an ark structure with tunnels and a rainbow slide, has mushroom and coconut water drops, and sprays water from Noah’s animals.
This is a pool that will entertain your kids for hours and help them eke out the last bit of watery fun before summer ends.
5. Catch an Astros game at Daikin Park
Nothing says summer like baseball, and when you’re lucky enough to live in a city with a World Series-winning team, you should take advantage.
The Astro schedule is still going strong in August, when you can catch series games against the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. Chow down on some of the best food at Daikin and teach the kids that a baseball game isn’t a baseball game without a footlong hot dog.
6. Join a Friday Bat Chat and watch bats take flight
If you’ve been in Houston for any length of time, you know about the bats that take flight every night from under the Waugh Bridge on Allen Parkway. But did you know that during the summer months, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership hosts Friday Bat Chats?
Through August, adults and kids can join a Bat Chat with a member of the Houston area Bat Team and get an up-close look at the Mexican free-tailed bats that make the underside of the bridge their home for the summer.
We’re not talking about a handful. We’re talking up to 300,000 creatures of the night leaving their roost at sunset to prowl for prey. Show up 30 minutes before sunset on Fridays through August to take advantage of the last of these chats and learn all about these small but mighty flying mammals.
7. Pick some virtual posies at Blooming Wonders at Artechouse
If you haven’t experienced it, you have until August 31 to take the kids to Blooming Wonders at Artechouse, a must-see, all-encompassing virtual garden.
Blending art, technology, and summer’s beauty, Blooming Wonders shows kids just how exquisite nature is. Sure, you’re in an air-conditioned space, but no one in Houston complains about that, especially in August.
It’s the ideal way to immerse yourself in nature while staying cool and comfortable. And bonus! Parents and adult friends can indulge in a cocktail while the kids are chasing butterflies and watching a garden bloom around them.
8. Question everything you believe at the Museum of Illusions
Want to get the kids thinking hard before they even step back into the classroom? Take them to the Museum of Illusions at the Galleria, where they’ll use critical thinking skills to figure out how the heck their eyes keep playing tricks on them.
This wacky museum is filled with rooms that will change your perspective on everything. From illusion rooms to mind-bending installations to images that make you do a double take, everything you thought you knew will become shrouded in doubt.
But rest easy. Tour guides will lead you through the museum and explain what you can’t believe you’re seeing. They also happily take pictures and videos of you marveling at the exhibits, so you have photographic evidence of the impossible.
9. Go ice skating in August
While you’re at the Galleria, don’t miss your chance to really cool off by incorporating a winter activity into your end-of-summer repertoire. Ice at the Galleria is open year-round, and its iconic presence in one of the world’s most popular malls makes it a huge draw when in Houston.
You can’t miss it just outside the food court. Head to the skate rental, which offers skates in sizes from Toddler size 6 and up. Then hit the ice and twirl and glide to your heart’s content. It might even get the kids excited for winter, but at the very least, it will take their minds off the first day of school—at least for an hour or two.
10. Plan ahead at Houston Experience Marketplace
Would you like to keep the summer fun rolling right into fall? The best and most cost-effective way to do that is through the Houston Experience Marketplace. Save 10-40% on Houston attraction ticket prices by buying themed packages that include several H-Town attractions.
For instance, the Air, Land, Sea, and Space Pass gets your family into the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Space Center Houston, Lone Star Flight Museum, and the Downtown Aquarium. The package reflects a 12% discount for adults and a 21% discount for kids, so the savings really add up.
The great thing about living in a city like Houston is that no matter the season, the activities never stop. As you’re squeezing in all the summer fun you can before school starts, remember that there’s a lot more right around the corner.
