Downtown Aquarium
410 Bagby St. at Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-FISH (3474).
The Downtown Aquarium is a spectacular entertainment, dining and meeting complex located in downtown Houston. Dine on a variety of seafood specialties at the Aquarium Restaurant as you are seated around a 150,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium. Enjoy many of our fabulous attractions including the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit with 500,000 gallons of underwater tanks and more than 400 species of marine life and mammals including white tigers. Take a ride on Shark Voyage, where guests travel by train through the center of a shark tank. Enjoy the variety of amusements such as a Ferris wheel, carousel, and many midway games.
Forbidden Gardens
23500 Franz Road, Katy, TX 77493
(281) 347-8000.
Walk through the history, culture, and landmarks of ancient China, such as scaled replicas of Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army, the Forbidden City, and the canal of Suzhou. Open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Road 1 (off I-45 South), Houston, TX 77058
(281) 244-2100.
Pretend you’re an astronaut as you try out hands-on exhibits and behind-the-scenes tours at the Offi cial Visitors Center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
SplashTown
Louetta Road exit off I-45 North, Spring, TX 77373
(281) 355-3300.
Take the plunge and then some at this extreme water park located north of the city. The park boasts towering water slides, as well as gentle wading pools.
Kemah Boardwalk
301 Kipp Ave., Kemah, TX 77565
(281) 334-9880, (877) AT-KEMAH (285-3624).
The Fun Never Stops at Kemah Boardwalk. Climb aboard the Boardwalk Bullet — Coolest Coaster on the Coast — a wooden roller coaster, Ferris wheel, The Red Train, and nine other amusement rides. Kids love the dancing fountains, an interactive Sting Ray Reef, midway games, live music on the plaza every weekend, and lots of great seafood and other tasty fare at 12 different restaurants. Stroll the boardwalk to enjoy passing sailboats and the constant Gulf breeze.
Houston Zoo
1513 N. Macgregor Drive, Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500.
Tour the 55-acre zoo to see the more than 500 species nurtured amid the tropical landscape. Kids get kick out of the McGovern Children’s Zoo area. Located in Hermann Park.
Sam Houston Race Park
7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway West, Houston, TX 77064
(281) 807-8760.
Here’s a sure thing: year-round live thoroughbred and/or quarter horse racing with daily simulcast racing. The racing is on a 7/8-mile turf track and on a one-mile, oval dirt track.
Gulf Greyhound Park
Exit 15, off I-45 South, La Marque, TX 77568
(800) 275-2946
Place your bets on the live races Wednesdays through Sundays, or on simulcast races seven days a week.
Galveston Area Attractions
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark
2026 Lockheed St., Galveston, TX 77554
(409) 770-WAVE.
With its huge array of awesome aquatic adventures, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island can be your personal happy place! During the summer season the park offers more than 32 amazing rides and attractions, including uphill water coasters, thrilling speed slides, kids' water playgrounds, whitewater rapids, relaxing hot tubs, family raft rides, and the Boogie Bahn surf ride. The Wasserfest Heated Indoor Season, October through mid-April, features more than a dozen heated attractions in a tropical, heated indoor oasis.
Moody Gardens
One Hope Blvd., Galveston, TX 77554
(800) 582-4673.
Tropical gardens surround Moody Gardens’ three massive pyramids. Spiral through the world’s oceans inside the Aquarium Pyramid, be wowed by wildlife in the Rainforest Pyramid, and explore science at the Discovery Pyramid.
Lone Star Flight Museum
2002 Terminal Drive, Galveston, TX 77552
(409) 740-7722.
See a large collection of restored aircraft, historical photos, and documentation in an impressive aircraft hangar. At Galveston International Airport (next to Moody Gardens).
