Places to Go with Kids Near Houston, Texas: Fall Edition
Fall in Houston is a tiny bit magical. Temperatures are starting (slowly) to drop, which means it’s the perfect chance to spend more time outdoors.
After a typically scorching Texas summer, autumn brings some relief and has allowed us some of the best experiences we’ve had locally. Let me share our favorite places to go with kids near Houston in the fall.
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Table of Contents
- Houston Zoo
- Hermann Park
- Kemah Boardwalk
- Dewberry Farm
- Brazos Bend State Park
- 7 Acre Wood
- Texas Renaissance Festival
- Galveston/Bolivar Peninsula
Houston Zoo
Suggested Visit: 3 – 4 hrs
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Backpack/Water bottles/Snacks or lunch/Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats/Sunscreen
What to Do: The Houston Zoo is one of the best places to go with kids in Houston. It continues to remain our all-time favorite zoo. The 55 acre park is well-planned with mature trees that offer bountiful shade, and has all sorts of animals to see.
We especially love the elephant and monkey habitats! The opportunity to feed the giraffes is a cool experience for everyone, and a ride on the colorful Wildlife Carousel is always necessary.
The zoo also includes the Kathrine McGovern Water Play Park, which is the perfect place to cool down. Likewise, the reflection pool is a great spot to find a seat and take a break from the sun, or have a snack.
We always bring our own food and drinks in with us (NO glass bottles or plastic straws allowed), but there are places to purchase food, too.
Free parking is available, but believe me when I say – go early! In fact, arrive before the zoo opens. If you’re visiting on a weekend it can be extremely difficult to find parking!
Zoo Boo
The number one reason to visit the park in autumn is Zoo Boo! We’ve been to Zoo Boo in October four times, and we think it’s the most ideal time to visit!
The Halloween spirit adds something special to the zoo. Pumpkins dot the grounds, kids (and adults) are dressed in costumes, and candy is dished out throughout the grounds.
On one visit, we even caught employees at the reflection pool in a choreographed dance to Micheal Jackson’s Thriller!
In our opinion, Zoo Boo might be the most fun thing to do with kids in Houston when fall arrives.
Hermann Park
Suggested Visit: 2 – 3 hrs
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Backpack/Water bottles/Snacks or lunch/Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats/Sunscreen
What to Do: If you still have any energy after a visit to zoo, head past Lake Plaza next door to Hermann Park and take a ride on the train at the Hermann Park Railroad.
Hermann Park can easily be done by itself on a different day. It’s a great place to enjoy a picnic. You can also rent a pedal boat to take out on the lagoon.
There are many other attractions including a Japanese Garden, McGovern Centennial Gardens, and the Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children.
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Kemah Boardwalk
Suggested Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Backpack/Water bottles/Stroller for little ones/Swimsuit and towel (if playing in the fountains)
What to Do: Although the Kemah Boardwalk is approximately 45 minutes southeast of Houston, it’s another fun option that is much better visited in autumn.
Among other things, there are amusement rides, midway games, a few shops, and a collection of restaurants that will appeal to any age. We like to wander along the waterfront boardwalk, attempting to spot dolphins in the bay – although to date we’ve only come across fish in the water and cats on the boardwalk!
You can even take a boat ride out on Galveston Bay.
Most of the boardwalk rides seem more suited for older children, but there are some for the younger crew, too.
You can scope out the rules for each ride on their website if you want to plan prior to arriving. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but not unlike what you might pay at a typical carnival.
Don’t forget to visit the Dancing Water Fountains in the Plaza. Autumn cools the sunshine moderately so that the amusement rides are more enjoyable, but Texas can easily still be hot enough that children and adults alike might want to run through the fountains!
On weekends, the entire complex can get crowded, so come first thing.
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Dewberry Farm
Suggested Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Backpack/Water bottles/Snacks or lunch/Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats/Sunscreen
What to Do: Dewberry Farm, 45 miles west of Houston, is a great place outside the city to go with kids for some fresh fall air. The farm offers a HUGE amount of things to do such as a corn maze, jumping pillows, pedal carts, a carousel, rides – the list goes on and on.
Autumn brings with it the pumpkin patch and Fall Festival. If you like to pick your own pumpkin, this is the place to do it. A hayride takes you to the patch, which doubles as the perfect place for family photos, too.
As Halloween approaches older children might like the farm’s Booriffic Nights.
Brazos Bend State Park
Suggested Visit: 1 – 2 hours
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Backpack/Water bottles/Snacks or lunch/Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats/Sunscreen
What to Do: Brazos Bend State Park is one of my personal favorite places to go with my kids outside Houston. In fact, we’ve nicknamed it the Alligator Park. A little less than an hour southwest from Houston, it has always been one of the top places we go for a simple nature walk.
There are numerous hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails throughout. You’ll also find a Nature Center, gift shop, and the George Observatory. You can even book a campsite and spend the night.
Parking is available at various lots that also have restroom facilities. The first parking lot after the entrance sits beside 40 Acre Lake – there’s a playground here and you can access the trail that loops around the lake. This path is more open and we’ve never had much luck spying any alligators here.
Elm Lake
We tend to pass the first parking lot and head straight for Elm Lake.
We prefer the Elm Lake Loop trail that starts from here because it skirts the forest (offering shadier sections) and the lake is larger and swampier. This trail is 1.7 miles. Plus, we always find alligators here!
Some people come to Brazos Bend for the bird watching, but we come to find alligators. Once we were lucky enough to see five, cute baby gators floating together near the water’s edge!
Families and groups often gather for barbecues and get togethers at one of the many picnic tables scattered around the large picnic area near Elm Lake. Here there are towering, lovely old trees draped with Spanish moss.
Brazos Bend has many backdrops for stunning photography, and it really does look very different in each season. Nevertheless, as with most outdoor attractions in Texas, we like it just a little more in autumn when the weather is milder.
Please Note: Although looking for alligators is fun, please, please, please hold on to your little ones and keep everyone including pets away from the edge of the water. At times you might find a gator sunning on the bank next to the path – give them a wide berth.
It’s breathtaking to view these wild creatures in their natural habitat, but they are wild and this is their home! If you are respectful and careful, you can enjoy yourselves without worry.
7 Acre Wood
Suggested Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Ages: Younger kids
What to Bring: Backpack/Water bottles/Snacks or lunch/Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats/Sunscreen
What to Do: Fun farms are excellent places to go with kids to get them out of the city. Another one we like is 7 Acre Wood, located 45 minutes north of Houston in the Conroe area.
Similar to Dewberry Farm there are many activities, but this farm seems more entertaining for children perhaps under the age of ten. There’s a sandbox and also dirt-box play area, playground, puppet show, mini golf, and tractor train ride.
Feeding the adorable baby goats (kids) at the petting zoo is always a highlight, and the animals look healthy and well cared for.
Texas Renaissance Festival
Suggested Visit: 3 – 5 hours
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats and Sunscreen/Comfortable shoes/Cash
What to Do: Further afield one hour northwest is one of the most unique places to go with kids near Houston – the Texas Renaissance Festival!
Period costumes, performers, shops, food, games and rides populate the 77 acres of fairgrounds. Many people dress up and some of the costumes are interesting, to say the least.
Be mindful not all entertainment is family-friendly, but you can pre-plan by looking through what is suitable on the website before you arrive.
You can’t bring in your own food and drink – except for infants and toddlers – but each person may bring in one unopened bottle of water. There’s all sorts of interesting foods within to choose from including turkey legs and a variety of different cuisines.
The festival can be incredibly crowded so arrive early for parking and attractions or expect long lines!
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Galveston Island & Bolivar Peninsula
Suggested Visit: 4 – 6 hours
Ages: All ages
What to Bring: Water bottles/Stroller or wagon for little ones/Hats/Sunscreen. If this is a beach trip: Swimsuits/Towels/Sand toys/Kite/Beach chairs and umbrella.
What to Do: If a day playing in the sand is what you’re after, a day trip to Galveston Island is in order. An hour from Houston you’ll find beach, the Galveston Seawall, and amusement rides at Pleasure Pier.
Fall is the ideal time to visit as there is significantly less tourist congestion.
The Beach
Galveston offers miles of beach, but Stewart Beach is the place to go if you need to rent chairs and umbrellas, want change rooms, and a beach concession. You must pay admission to use this beach.
If you’d rather find free public parking, there’s plenty to be found along Seawall Boulevard at the Seawall Urban Park. There’s also paid parking zones.
Here, miles of broad beach mean beachgoers are more spread out, so it’s never too crowded. It’s an ideal place for a long walk, sandcastle-building, or sunbathing.
The Strand
The Strand is one of the best places in town to go with your kids to see examples of Victorian architecture. The pretty, old buildings have been carefully preserved and create a charming district.
The area offers restaurants, shopping, and ice cream for everyone!
Check out La King’s Confectionary. They have delicious chocolate malts, ice cream, and chocolate treats. They also have taffy pulling demonstrations that are interesting to watch.
Bolivar Peninsula
If you have time, take a short ferry ride to the Bolivar Peninsula. The Bolivar Peninsula has its own beaches, shops and restaurants.
Although we haven’t explored much of the peninsula, on one trip to Galveston we decided to take the free ferry from the Galveston Ferry Terminal to Port Bolivar. Our kids thought it was exciting to drive onto the ferry, park, and be allowed to get out and walk around! It’s only about a 15 minute crossing.
On the peninsula, we passed the Bolivar Point Lighthouse and continued on to the Fort Travis Seashore Park. It was a gorgeous evening, so we stopped here and let the kids play at the playground as the sun began to set.
Unexpectedly, this spontaneous decision created a perfect end to a great day outdoors.
Where Will You Visit This Fall?
There you have it – nine fun places in the Houston area for families that are lovely to visit in autumn!
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