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Free things To Do in Houston

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Update: I’m giving Creating Really Awesome Free Trips, the Houston edition, an update after taking Max on a Houston adventure last weekend. This post was oringially written in 2013 by a native Houstonian, Kristina Grapes, who does not blog anymore. We hit the jackpot of free things to do in Houston!

 

If you only have one day to spend in Houston with the kids, I’d highly suggest checking out Hermann Park. It is a 445 acre green space with a ridiculous amount of fun, free things to do for the entire family. And if the weather is bad, Hermann Park is surrounded by 19 museums! The best news? Ten of the 19 museums are always free. There is no shortage of things to do in this park.

25 Free things to do in Houston, TX with kids near Hermann Park

25 Free Things to do in Houston, TX:

The following free things are located in Hermann Park, near the Museum District.

Insiders Tip: Free parking is available at the large central parking lot in front of the Houston Zoo. Free parking is also available at the golf course clubhouse located at the corner of Almeda and MacGregor and at the Bayou Parkland Pavilion. Get there early, parking fills up fast. There are plenty of paid lots and garage

1. McGovern Centennial Gardens: Max was begging to climb the “big hill” as soon as he saw it from the car window. The grounds are beautiful and perfect for a picnic, and it’s free! The big hill or “mound” as it is called spirals to the top and offers awesome views of the surrounding area. There are multiple gardens including an arid garden, a rose garden, a woodland garden.

Free things to do in Houston, TX with kids

2. Miller Outdoor Theatre: While this outdoor theater is great for free hill rolling any day of the week, its hill is better known for enjoying free shows. There is a small section of covered seats that can be purchased, but the hill is the best seat in the house for families. You can pack a picnic and some blankets and come enjoy the show on the lawn. They even allow alcohol, but no glass.  They have plays, and concerts and the Houston Symphony plays here too. Check out the calendar to see what shows are coming up!

Free things to do in Houston, TX with kids

3. Hermann Park Train: The train takes a two-mile, 18 minute journey around Hermann Park.  It departs from Kinder Station every 25 – 30 minutes, and makes 3 stops around the park. The train costs $3.50 per person and 1 and under is free. If you don’t mind splitting up, you can board the train for free at one of the 3 stops and take a ride back to Kinder Station. Everyone must depart at Kinder Station.

Insiders Tip: Pinewood cafe is next door to the train station and has lots of healthy, kid friendly food options including a build your own grilled cheese! Perfect spot for a picnic after a train ride.

The following museums are always free for everyone:

4. Asia Society Center

5. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

6. Diverseworks

7. Houston Center for American Craft

8. Houston Center for Photography

9. Jung Center

10. Lawndale Art Center

11. The Menil Collection

12. Rice Gallery

13. Rothko Chapel

The following museums are free on certain days and times. For each museum, I also noted what age gets in for free. If you are a student, teacher or in military there is likely a discounted or even free ticket option.

14. Children’s Museum of Houston – FREE Thursday 5-8 pm | 1 & under always free. When we visited, the museum sold fresh made popcorn in the backyard for $1 a bag. This museum plus the popcorn treat was a big hit for my 3 year old! We could have spent hours here.

Free things to do in Houston, TX with kids

15. Houston Museum of Natural Science – FREE Thursdays 2-5 pm | 2 & under always free. Complete with fossils, insects, and gems galore. We love the Butterfly Center where hundreds of butterflies fly around a 50 foot waterfall. If you’re lucky, one will land on your head!

16. Holocaust Museum Houston – FREE Thursday 2-5 pm | 18 & under always free. It is neat to note that all of the docents are decedents of Holocaust victims. They have beautifully moving permanent exhibits and a theater to watch a short film in daily.

17. Houston Museum of African American Culture – FREE Thursday 6-8 pm

18. Buffalo Soldiers National Museum – FREE Thursday 1-5 pm | 5 & under always free

Free museums in Hosuton
Source

19. Czech Center Museum Houston – FREE last Monday of the month noon-4 pm

20. The Health Museum – FREE Thursday 2-7 pm | 2 & under always free. We did not get a chance to visit this one, but it’s a must do on our next trip! Exhibits feature buttons to push, wheels to turn, items to sort and is incredibly educational about all things body. We guarantee the grown ups will learn something new, too. Plus who doesn’t love the chance to walk inside a giant eyeball?

21. Houston Museum of Natural Science – Permanent Exhibit Halls FREE Thursday 2-5 pm | 2 & under always free

22. The Houston Zoo – FREE admission to guests on the first Tuesday of each month, Sept. through May, from noon until closing. June, July, and August do not have Free Tuesday Afternoons. Also, you still need a ticket for free afternoons. You can get one at the gate or get zoo tickets ahead of time here.  | 1 & under always free

23. The Museum of Fine Arts – FREE all day on Thursday | 12 & under always free

24. Houston Bicycle Museum – FREE Thursday 3-6pm | 10 & under always free

Insiders Tip: The Houston Bicycle museum also offers $5 parking all day long. So, if you don’t get a free spot, this is a great deal and very close to the Children’s Museum.

These last 2 are not within walking distance on Hermann Park.

25. Police Museum: It’s free, but only open Monday through Friday. There is an old police car, a police motorcycle, and even a few weapons. Bonus: It’s located inside the police station downtown.

26. Smither Park: A fanciful, functional play land with interactive features including swings, a covered stage, and a marble tower. The park is a mosaic masterpiece made out of materials like broken ceramic, bottle caps, tiles, and sea shells.  My favorite part? Every Saturday, you can watch artists create! The park is part of The Orange Show and is open Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day until Labor Day and only weekends after that. It is $5 per person, kids 12 & under are free. The admission also allows entrance to the other Orange Show attractions including the Beer Can House!

Free things to do in Houston, TX with kids

Have you ever been to Houston, TX? If you need more fun, family friendly ideas here are 14 more free things to do in Houston, TX.

 

Free things to do in Houston


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March 1, 2017 More Free Trips Posts >

« St. Patrick’s Day Food Ideas
Leprechaun Craft for Kids »

Comments

  1. Anjana @ At The Corner Of Happy & Harried says

    May 30, 2013 at 9:57 am

    I am from San Antonio. I have been in Houston, and of course, we visited the most obvious site – NASA, and a couple of the parks. I must visit again, if only to go to the Blue Bell factory! Those ice creams are the best!!

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      May 30, 2013 at 10:04 am

      YES! Blue Bell is the best!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Creating Really Awesome Free Trips: Houston, TX - C.R.A.F.T. says:
    March 1, 2017 at 9:53 am

    […] 4. Museum District: Houston has a huge Museum Scene. There are the “big” museums like Museum of Natural Science, History and the Fine Arts Museum who offer free admission on Tuesdays or Thursdays after 2pm and there is also a free museum day once a year. But of our 19 museums, 10 are free everyday of the year. Here is a lot more information on the specific museums and free days and times of each. […]

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Jamie!
I Create Really Awesome Free Things for your home, wardrobe, kitchen, and kids in Austin, TX with the sometimes help of Andy!
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