There is so much to do regarding the fun stuff in Houston, but it depends on which ones are the best and what suits your needs the most?
Sometimes when you want to be spontaneous and think of something to do with friends or family in the Houston area, the most challenging part can be searching where to go and before you know it, half your day is gone.
Our Best Ideas For Fun Stuff in Houston, TX
So with our guide, we aim to take away the stress of hunting around for something to do by having everything in one place.
Here, you will find everything you need to know about each activity, the location, how much you can expect to spend, fun places to take the kids, and what facilities sites offer.
So with no further discussion, let us take a look at what we think are some of the most fun stuff you can do in Houston, TX.
1. NASA’s Space Center
| Location: | 1601 Nasa Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058 |
| Website: | www.spacecenter.org |
| Attractions: | Nasa space tour, interactive activities, informative, family-friendly |
NASA Space Center in Houston is a leading space and science exploration learning center. Its goal is to be a gateway for people of all ages to explore science, innovation, and engineering learning.
There are many different events and activities to enjoy throughout your visit to the Space Center. These include tours, Astronaut experiences, home-schooling days, business festivals, and much more.
It is the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Being one of Houston’s top attractions, it boasts a variety of interactive displays, space artifacts, and a full-sized rocket and space shuttle. You can hop on board a tram for an orientation tour.
The Space Center Tour is highly recommended. For $65.00 a ticket, you will receive a 75-minute tour on an open-top bus; this takes place in the morning before your space tour begins. You will then be guided through different historic locations throughout the facility. One of them is the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park, where one of the three remaining actual Saturn V rockets is on display and other rockets that explored space. The Apollo 13 Bronze Statue is also a must-see.
You will also get to see real-life astronauts hard at work, which is impressive and exciting for little ones. You will learn all about space exploration and take part in some hands-on exhibits, making it a great interactive trip for the whole family to enjoy together.
If you are traveling with tiny ones, the tour trams are not accessible for strollers, but they are wheelchair-suited. There is also no food or drink available during the tour, nor is it allowed to be bought on board, so be sure to have something to eat before you hop on.
Another attraction not to be missed when visiting the Space Center is the Galaxy Lights. This is priced at $19.95, and children under three years old go free. The combo ticket grants you access to the main Space Center from 3:00 pm, followed by your admission to the Galaxy Lights at 6:00 pm.
During this spectacle, you will experience two high-tech kinetic light displays, which show dozens of suspended lights moving to the beats of music above the central plaza, creating some fantastic shapes and patterns. It truly is a sight to be seen.
In the Destiny Theater, you can watch the original film “Holidays in Space,” This includes actual footage of astronauts celebrating the holidays and retired astronauts being interviewed. These short films are shown every 30 minutes.
Overall the Space Center is a beautiful day out for the whole family and people of all ages and a memorable experience.
If You Like This You May Also Like: 7 Best Parks for Picnics and Pictures in Houston
2. Houston Museum of Natural Science
| Location: | 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030 |
| Website: | www.hmns.org |
| Attractions: | Exhibits, butterfly center, theater, planetarium |
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a popular destination for Houstoners seeking a fun day out. It is actually one of the most visited museums in the United States.
During this self-guided tour of the museum, you can expect to see exhibits such as North America’s largest dinosaur hall and the Gems and Minerals exhibit, which has one of the most expensive collections in the US. There are more than 450 rare gemstones and geodes to be seen.
Some other exhibits available are the Texas Wildlife, Chemistry, The Americas, and African Wildlife. There are special exhibits, too, although these come at an added expense, including The Brown Hall of Entomology, IMAX, and the Planetarium. Check their website for any additional information such as ticket prices, times and dates, etc.
There is a bistro cafe, a coffee shop, and a restaurant in the museum, where you can purchase light bites, artisan sandwiches, freshly made coffee, burgers, fries, and hot dogs.
Be aware that school trips often take place here during the week, so the eateries can get a little busier and quite noisy at typical lunchtimes.
A general admission ticket costs $25.00 for adults and $16.00 for children; this will get you three hours inside the museum.
Why Don’t You Check Out: Top 8 Movie Theaters in Houston, TX
3. Houston Woodlands Indoor Skydiving
| Location: | Houston Woodlands, 26860 Interstate 45 N, Oak Ridge North, TX 77386 |
| Website: | www.iflyworld.com |
| Attractions: | Houston Woodlands, 26860 Interstate 45 N, Oak Ridge North, TX 77386 |
Houston Woodlands Indoor Skydiving is an experience everyone needs to try at least once in their lives. Although it may be pretty costly at $71.45 a pop, it is totally worth it, especially, if you’re looking for something memorable to celebrate that special birthday or want a new and exciting way to propose to a loved one.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience a skydive without the deathly heights or throw yourself headfirst out of an airplane for a very high price? Well, then this activity you’ve been waiting for.
This indoor skydiving experience simulates the adrenaline high you would get from a real free fall but within safe confinements in a personalized environment.
On arrival, you will receive one-to-one assistance from a highly-trained tutor to master the maneuvers you need to master the state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel. You can choose to stay low, soar high, or, depending on your confidence and experience levels; you can try out some thrilling aerial stunts.
This extraordinary experience is suitable for anyone, from seasoned pros to first-timers, as no experience is necessary. There are no restrictions on age, size, or shape, meaning anybody can have the time of their lives.
You will receive two thrilling skydives and a certificate at the end for your ticket price.
This is a beautiful event if you’re looking for a group activity, such as a children’s party or a teambuilding event.
Like Something Different? How About: 5 Best Sensational Drag Shows in Houston
4. Astroville Food Tour with Tunnel Access
| Location: | Niko Niko's at Historic Market, Square Park, 301 Milam Street, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website: | www.astrovilletours.com |
| Attractions: | Walking, sightseeing, food, and drink |
Houston has been named the most diverse city in America. With over 10,000 restaurants, what better place to do a city tour that combines some of the best sights in Downtown Houston with some of the city’s best culinary experiences.
This evening tour takes you to some of Houston’s most prized and award-winning restaurants. It offers everything, from unique restaurants to a massive variety of dishes from all around the world, such as traditional Filipino cuisine, Italian-American, gourmet desserts, authentic Mexican novelties, and much much more. So if you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, this is the tour for you. In total, you will visit seven unique restaurants.
This tour also includes a first-hand look at the largest downtown tunnel system in the whole of the United States and see a memorial for 911, a viewing of two of Texas’ tallest buildings, and the building where the original State Capital.
The tour is accessible to wheelchair users and strollers, suitable for almost anybody who wishes to participate.
The price for this tour starts at $56.70 and begins at 6:00 pm.
Love Food? Check Out: 7 Best Restaurants For A Delightful Dining Experience in Houston
5. The Cockrell Butterfly Center
| Location: | 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston 77030 |
| Website: | www.hmns.org/cockrell-butterfly-center |
| Attractions: | Live habitats, simulated rainforest, waterfall |
Located at the Museum of Natural Science, The Cockrell Butterfly Center provides a great source of entertainment and education for people of all ages, making it a spectacular day out.
During your visit, you will walk through a living butterfly habitat spread over three floors. You will marvel at some of the world’s largest and weirdest live and preserved specimens. Inside this Rainforest Conservatory, you will enter a stunning glass structure built around a spectacular fifty-foot waterfall. This simulated tropical rainforest is filled with 1500 live butterflies, which fly around you while you explore. There are also hundreds of beautiful and exotic plants. The butterflies are imported from worldwide and are indeed a sight to behold. You may even be lucky enough to have one of these gorgeous creatures land on your head or shoulder, which makes for a great photo opportunity.
And in the conservatory, there are many other activities to take part in, like interactive games and quizzes the whole family can enjoy. For instance, you can discover how insects are essential to human nature behind the cenote pool. You can listen to real-life entomologists being interviewed and look at their labs, where you can see specimens up close. This immersive insect environment is perfect for families. There is a giant beehive, puzzles, and picture books for the little ones to enjoy.
A great bonus to the butterfly center is that you can do it on a budget. And being one of the lowest-priced activities in our guide, the tickets are only $12.00 for adults and $10.00 for children.
You can expect to spend around one to two hours at the center. But you can stay as long as you like, and if you decide to move on, there is plenty of other fantastic stuff to see and do within the rest of the museum, making it a great destination if you’re looking to make a day of it.
There is no food and drink available within the butterfly center itself, but there are plenty of dining options at the museum.
Everywhere on the butterfly tour is accessible to wheelchair users and strollers, so nobody has to be left out.
They are open to the public seven days a week, 9:00 am till 5:00 pm.
If You Enjoy A Bit Of Wildlife, Take A Look At: Top 8 Fishing Spots in Houston
Summary
We hope that now you’ve finished reading our guide to the fun stuff, things, and activities to do in Houston, you now have a clear idea of precisely what you’re going to do for your next day out.
If you thought this article was informative, why not check out some of our other Houston guides, such as 10 Best Skyline Views in Houston or 13 Best Boutiques in Houston